Blinkie lights are an absolute necessity for everyone but those who only ride at noon in sunny weather. You should really have at least a rear blinkie light on any bike that even has the most remote chance of being caught out during sunset or fog, let along night time. Princeton Tec has raised the bar on rear blinkie lights with the roughly $30 Swerve, featuring a pair of 1W LEDs and a for-real switch that puts gummy push button switches to shame.
The Swerve ships with batteries (2 AAA cells) and a unique mount that allows mounting on a variety of surfaces at whatever angle is needed. The two piece mount is held together, and on the bike, by one of two elastomer o-ring type bands. While it does easily attach to seat posts and seat stays, I found it overly complicated and the elastomer bands prone to breaking. I find most blinkie mounts less than ideal and typically prefer zipties anyway for their added security. The pair of super bright 1W LEDs is the heart of the system and each has a different beam pattern, one wide and one direct lending an all encompassing flash that definitely makes those behind you aware of your location. Bright enough to be seen in daytime, you’ll find in groups it is handy to switch it to steady as it’s pretty distracting to ride behind. Just as designed. I’ve not seen a blinkie brighter than the Swerve, this is an eye-catching light.
Continue reading ‘Princeton Tec Swerve Tail Light’
Our friend Jimmy is taking part in The Ride to Conquer Cancer, a 150 mile ride from Louisville to Lexington and back, through Kentucky’s famed Bluegrass Region on the weekend of September 26-27, 2009. He survived Neuroblastoma some 15 years ago, and wants to make sure others have the same fighting chance.
Visit www.ridetovictory.org for more info.
By BillDozer – www.messnyc.net – From Urban Velo #1
While the proper institution of Bicycle Polo was begun over a century ago in the wilds of Pakistan, and maintains much of the refinement and dignity of it equine forbearer, we of the city environment have mutated and bastardized this gentlemanly game into something that suits our more reckless and drunken lifestyles.
About five years ago in Portland, a few of us bike messengers, upon learning of this new pastime from some peers in Seattle, decided that we should establish standard rules for play. Although rules seemed counter-intuitive to the haphazard and utterly disorganized nature of the game, it was agreed that should disputes arise, there should be a standard against which they are judged, so as to keep the game going—the most important thing.
We arrived at the title: Little Beirut Style. Now, each city has a few of their own localized rules, in keeping with the DIY ethos, but these are the skeletal basic rules, to guide the novice into a simple understanding of that sport over which we are so fanatical:
Continue reading ‘The Novice’s Guide to Bike Polo’
Interestingly, the Track Fights series does not involve track bikes or fixed gear bikes at all. It’s a Tuesday evening road crit in Brisbane, CA.
Visit www.sexualcamel.blogspot.com for more info.
Photographers, would you like to be featured in the pages of Urban Velo with your own photo gallery? If so, get in touch and send us some samples. Feel free to post a link to your Flickr photostream below, or just drop us an email. Below are examples of past galleries.
Issue #12 Gallery – Brenton Salo
Issue #11 Gallery – Fyxomatosis (Andy White)
Issue #10 Gallery – Ed Glazar
Issue #9 Gallery – Jose Martinez
Issue #8 Gallery – CMWC (Brad Quartuccio)
Issue #7 Gallery – Ezra Caldwell
Issue #6 Gallery – NAHBS (Brad Quartuccio)
Issue #5 Gallery – Various Artists
Issue #4 Gallery – Various Artists
Issue #3 Gallery – Various Artists
Issue #2 Gallery – Various Artists
For more information, email jeff@urbanvelo.org.
After about a decade of using a single-strap messenger bag for the vast majority of my on-bike duties this past summer I had the chance to borrow a friend’s Chrome Ivan for a spell, and may have been forever changed. Messenger bags and backpacks each have their merits; the former allows easy access to content without removing the bag, the latter distributes weight more evenly across the shoulders and is more comfortable off the bike. Few hard wearing waterproof backpacks with the features that make messenger bags so popular have been around up until the last few years, with this roll-top version being one of Chrome’s takes on the two-strap form.
The Ivan is built around the waterproof, seam-sealed main chamber with a roll-top closure. This has proven to be completely waterproof in my experience – water stays out and leaky things stay in. It’s rather cavernous, measuring a full 27″ deep and 16″ wide when open. A pair of wet-dry exterior pockets are sized just right to fit most u-locks, small tools, maps and other things best kept in easy reach. Another pair of flat pockets allow you to access sections of the bag between the Cordura exterior and roll-top interior liner. The molded foam back is comfortable even when the bag is full of cans or small boxes, and the formed shoulder strap yoke spreads the load evenly across the shoulders. The straps themselves are full length split velcro to easily attach a radio or cell holster and have sternum and waist straps to keep things tied down.
Continue reading ‘Chrome Bags Ivan Roll-Top Backpack’
The Ride Journal is a journal of personal stories about cycling that crosses all of the artificial barriers people on bikes tend to put up between themselves presented in a 148pg full color book form. Quite nice I must say, it is really an incredible collection of images and stories in a format suitable for the bookshelf, each numbered from an edition of 1000. Most of the pages are devoted to short one page reflections on personal journeys or times on a bike, given events and cycling groups. The few longer pieces and art for art’s sake lend a good balance to the journal. The entire production is pure quality, with some star contributors hidden within. This is a worthy addition to any cycling library, I’m glad I finally purchased one for myself when I saw it on the shelf at Condor Cycles. Available for about $20 shipped, there is a minimal 7 pages of advertising within, with all of the proceeds of the project going to Re-Cycle Bicycle Aid for Africa. Volume 2 will be available shortly, with pre-orders being taken for those eager to see it first.
The first annual Long Beach Grand Prix Bicycle Festival will feature a professional road race, expo and a host of bike culture events. They expect up to 800 racers will take to the streets downtown, and thousands of spectators will attend. The event will help draw attention to the Long Beach Bicycle Master Plan, which calls for various bike lanes, Safe Routes To School, improved signs, a public awareness campaign and other elements.
Visit www.bikelongbeach.org for more info.
You know… I could have used a bike like this last night.
Ben’s Cycle has earned a solid reputation in the fixed gear community. People who read the cutting edge magazines and follow the hippest blogs are quite familiar with them. They not only carry the the most sought-after products, they make their own stuff under the name Milwaukee Bicycle Company.
While many bike shops closed their doors in recent years, blaming the proliferation of internet sales and eBay auctions, Ben’s Cycle jumped in with both feet and rose to the top of the game.
What some people may not know is that Ben’s Cycle is not the new kid on the block. Not by a long shot. Ben’s Cycle & Fitness was founded over 80 years ago in 1928. It’s been family owned and operated the whole time—founded by Ben Hanoski in 1928, he passed it on to his son Larry, and now 3 generations later it’s owned and operated by Ben’s grandson, Vince.
Visit www.benscycle.net for more info, or check out their blog.
Betty Basket Liners are shopping bags designed to fit into a bike basket. When removed, they look like a handbag or shopping bag, not like something that came off of a bicycle. Ideally, this product will encourage more fashion-conscious people to use their bikes for shopping trips.
According to Tara Byrnes:
I created these fashionable and functional bike basket liners that not only keep things from falling out of your basket but also double as an eco-friendly handbag for shopping trips, etc.
You can’t really argue with that. For more info, check out www.bettybasketliners.com.
Surly turns 11 this year, and they’ll celebrate by drinking.
Another way they’ll be celebrating is by releasing a limited edition bike based on their original frame design, the venerable 1×1. According to Surly:
In 2009, the 1×1 turns 11 years old. The 1×1 was at first called the Rat Ride, before the name Surly existed, but for all practical purposes it and Surly turn 11 (because… wait for it… we go to eleven).
The anniversary bike is a modernized version, meant to nod to the past and smoke up with the present. The frame is disc only (no canti mounts), in black with red Rat Ride decals and a commemorative 1×1=11 decal also in red. The hubs are Surly hubs powdercoated red, with 24″ ltd. ed. disc only Large Marge rims sporting 24×3.0″ Hoggy G slicks (almost 26″ infalted diameter). The Torsion Bar has red lettering also. MR. Whirly single speed crank completes the Surly package. Oh, and the tires shown in the image were stock Hoggys. The aniversary bike’s tires will have red hotpatches.
Visit www.surlybikes.com info.
From Prolly is not Probably:
The 2009 Red Hook Criterium is an unsanctioned race through a desolate post-industrial part of Brooklyn. Brakeless track bikes are mandatory for riders. The field will be a mix of semi-professional cyclists, bike messengers, and urban cyclists. The race consists of 16 three quarter-mile laps featuring several hairpin turns, a fast sprint through the parking lot of a chain retailer, a cobblestone stretch, and a sprint finish. Start time for the race is 11pm on Saturday night, and assuming a 2-minute lap time, will last roughly a half-hour. Bus and automobile traffic on the course, even if kept to a minimum, is a near-certainty.
Read the whole story at www.prollyisnotprobably.com.
Studio Gelardi created the Contrail for the Design21 “Power to the Pedal” Design Competition, with the basic rules being that the design; Builds Biking Communities, is Made from Recycled Material, is Human Powered. The Contrail is a device meant to leave a faint chalk line behind the bike under the premise that it will act as a reminder to motorists and a guide for cyclists. File this one under interesting ideas.
The old cycle: More cars on the road –> more percieved danger for bikers –> fewer bikers on road –> even more cars on the road.
The new cycle: A few bicyclists ride with contrail a couple times per week –> faint lines on the road inspire curiosity and remind bikers where it’s safe to ride –> new bikers are encouraged to ride and use contrail –> contrail lines get brighter as community grows.
First seen at Make.
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Blinkie lights are an absolute necessity for everyone but those who only ride at noon in sunny weather. You should really have at least a rear blinkie light on any bike that even has the most remote chance of being caught out during sunset or fog, let along night time. Princeton Tec has raised the bar on rear blinkie lights with the roughly $30 Swerve, featuring a pair of 1W LEDs and a for-real switch that puts gummy push button switches to shame. 
The Swerve ships with batteries (2 AAA cells) and a unique mount that allows mounting on a variety of surfaces at whatever angle is needed. The two piece mount is held together, and on the bike, by one of two elastomer o-ring type bands. While it does easily attach to seat posts and seat stays, I found it overly complicated and the elastomer bands prone to breaking. I find most blinkie mounts less than ideal and typically prefer zipties anyway for their added security. The pair of super bright 1W LEDs is the heart of the system and each has a different beam pattern, one wide and one direct lending an all encompassing flash that definitely makes those behind you aware of your location. Bright enough to be seen in daytime, you’ll find in groups it is handy to switch it to steady as it’s pretty distracting to ride behind. Just as designed. I’ve not seen a blinkie brighter than the Swerve, this is an eye-catching light.
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