This Week: 1. Worked on making the mLite available into the US in the next few months. 2. Capped off another record breaking month in Bike Trailer sales. 3. Tested out an Extrawheel bike trailer while watching my little sister take some names. Last weekend I was down in Phoenix to watch the opening round…
Commute by Bike
Mexico City: Commute by bike, or else
Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard ordered city workers to commute by bike on the first Monday of each month, meeting with administration secretaries, sub-secretaries, and general directors and telling them not to take his cycling program lightly. Ebrard said a primary goal is to demonstrate the viability of bicycles as a means of transportation in…
We report, you decide
Reported variously in the Times of India, DailyIndia.com, Mumbai Newsline, Daily News and Analysis and Sahara Samay comes this whopper of a tale: Vinod Punamiya is an unusual sports lover. Last week, he made a world record by covering 140 km – from Mumbai to Dombivli – on his bicycle in 2 hours 20 minutes….
Commuting 101: Bike Shaped Objects
A Word about Bike Shaped Objects Bike geeks like me and the other authors of CbB often snicker about the “Bike Shaped Objects” (BSO) sold at the mass retail discount stores for less than $200. They’re heavy, ugly, inefficient, poorly engineered, poorly designed, and poorly assembled by the same guy who scoops the the dead…
Ride-Alongs
It has been noted here before, but bears repeating: one way to get more people out of their car seats and onto bicycle seats is to ride along with them on their initial trips. Makes perfect sense; strength in numbers and all that. With that in mind, I’ve seen some interesting spins on that idea…
Bike Trailer Videos Part 4
To wrap up this collection of bike trailer videos, I found a few videos that get into the message of bicycle transportation.
Selling the Revolution
This video was put together by the Xtracycle crew when they were first getting the Xtracycle out there. It tells the story of the Xtracycle by presenting the noble ambitions of the company and the product, the biases against it, and how the Xtracycle can improve your life.
Studded tires
Nashbar studded tire Originally uploaded by richardmasoner. Although my icebiking friends in Alaska continue to use their studded bike tires, most of the Northern Hemisphere has escaped the grip of winter. Al asks, though, about information on studded tires. This photo shows my Nashbar studded tire. Nashbar sells a 700×35 version also for CX and…
Commuting 101: Cleaning Up Your Act
You’ve made the decision; you’re getting on the bike and riding to work. There are some employers who will welcome you with shower facilities, lockers and the like. There are many more who will not. In the event your employer falls in the later category, you can still find ways to get cleaned up once…
mLite
This Week:1.Shipped out our largest quantity of bike cargo trailers for one week (11).2.Placed orders with all of largest suppliers BOB, Burley, Xtracycle & Ortlieb.3.Got ahold of a new light by Weber of Germany.It was a great week for sales. The first week of Spring ushered in great demand as people gear up for the…
Bike Trailer Videos Part 3
Gathering together bike trailer videos, I’ve noticed that Xtracycle users have by far been the most prolific with posting their videos.
This seems to be evidence of the inspirational and fun nature of the Xtracycle. When you get on one you just want to party. The inventions that the Xtracycle has inspired include a bike mounted blender system, a neon lighting system sold through the Fossil Fool, music systems that mount onto the Xtracycle’s Snap Deck and much more.
Here are a couple of videos of the good time to be had with an Xtracycle.
First time bike commuters
With the weather and gas prices both heating up, I’m seeing mentions in the blogosphere of folks trying bike commuting for the first time. Becky in Milwaukee dusts off her old Raleigh for her eight mile bike commute. Maria in Albuquerque is looking at a five mile bike ride in her multi-modal train plus shuttle…
Bike Trailer Videos Part 2
There are two ways to generalize how bike cargo trailers are used:
- Ride to work, pick up groceries and pick up anything else you can think off and haul it around town.
- Go on an epic voyage.
While all bike touring voyages are not equal they all seem epic as they are being prepared for and undertaken.
Here are some inspiring videos of tours that can truly be called epic.
Socks
This Week: 1. Ordered socks for the BikeTrailerShop.com 2. Updated listings for Burley Trailers with photos of their new hitch design. 3. Discovered a bike case/bike trailer for coupler & folding bikes, the Turtle Tow by Bilenky Bikes. 4. Discovered a light that mounts on flags for Bike Trailers, recumbents and any other devise with…
Help for our friends in the media
Ah, Spring is in the air! Seems like articles about cycling are in bloom as well. As a public service to those who have publication that have not written an article about people commuting by bicycle, we present the following media template: You will first need to find a local cyclist who is willing to…
Bicycle commute videos
When I search for “bicycle commute” on YouTube, 234 bicycle commute videos are returned, most of them numbingly dull. So, of course, I had to create my own seven minute video to bore everybody with. This video shows portions of my 22 mile ride up El Camino Real from San Jose, California to my office…
Reasons to commute by bike
“Recycled Cyclist” in Massachusetts writes that he commutes by bike for the wrong reasons — that is, he commutes by bike because — get this! — he actually likes to ride his bike. What a novel concept! He doesn’t ride to save money, to save time, or to save the environment or to improve his…
Bike Trailer Videos Part 1
I’ve been gathering up videos involving bike cargo trailers for your viewing pleasure. Though not a category likely to be given an award by the academy anytime soon, there is definitely some creativity and enthusiasm in all of these short films. Over the next week I’ll be posting my collection.
Bicycle safety quiz
Safety is always a big topic among cyclists. We usually share the road with multi-ton motorized vehicles. Motorists depend on safety features built into their vehicles such as restraining belts, air bags, crumple zones, antilock brakes, and traction control not to mention the safety provided by the mass of the vehicle. For cyclists, protective equipment…
Bike commuter benefits act of 2007
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) announced his plans to re-introduce the Bike Commuter Benefits Act. The bill would amend a section of the IRS code to include bicycles in the definition of transportation covered by fringe benefits. If passed, it would provide strong financial incentives for employees to bike to work. Currently, employers may offer a…
Don't Need It 'Til You Need It
20 years ago I thought bike helmets were silly and didn’t wear one. Back then I only commuted by bike occasionally, about a 20 miles round-trip, in traffic, and I never worried about safety issues. 17 years ago my wife convinced me that since my children were getting bike helmets, I should too in order…
Today's gas saving tip
Gas prices are spiking all around the United States. Blame who you like — Republicans, Democrats, Environmentalists, Big Oil, Communists, Fascists, Terrorists, whoever — the fact remains that you are ultimately responsible for the gas you buy. In that spirit, I present today’s gas saving tip, which is the title of this blog! Commute by…
El dia de ir al trabajo en bicicleta
Denver BTWD Spanish Flyer. Originally uploaded by richardmasoner. That mouthful is Spanish for “Bike to Work Day” or, literally, “The day of going to work on a bicycle.” In my area, many of the more visible bike commuters tend to be nerdy engineers riding fairly expensive rigs with pricey accessories and clothing. To us engineers,…
Shop Drawings
This Week: 1.Had a look at the drawings for the new workshop. 2.Started writing about 30 posts for the Bike Trailer Blog simultaneously. 3.Spent way to much time messing around in the world of Search Engine Optimization. My buddy Pete showed up with the layout for the new workshop. It’s looking nice. Now its time…
Bykaboose Trailer Review
Bykaboose trailers has been around for about 10 years now manufacturing the Gecko and the nearly identical, and slightly smaller Newt Cargo Trailers.
The Bykaboose Gecko and Bykaboose Newt are two afford ably priced trailers that offer solid performance. There most unique feature is there pop up design that allow them to easily collapse down for storage or travel.