Shimano Shuns Cables for Full Electronic Shifting

Shimano Shuns Cables for Full Electronic Shifting: "Japanese parts manufacturer Shimano is launching an electronic shifting system for high-end road bikes that it claims will vastly improve performance and reduce maintenance. By replacing the conventional levers that pull wound-steel cables through protective housings with solid-state switches and rubber-coated wires, there's no chance for road gunk to clog things up and interfere with shifting, or, for that matter, your post-ride beer."

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How much water do I need

Quick Tip: Drink to This. Do you know your sweat rate and, thus, how much to drink while cycling? Here's how to figure it. Weigh yourself naked before riding and then again after. Each pound lost represents two cups (16 fluid ounces or 480 ml). To this amount, add the quantity of fluid you drank during the ride. Take the total and divide it by the hours you rode. This is your hourly sweat rate -- the amount of fluid you should drink during each hour of riding for optimal hydration. Test yourself again when cool autumn weather replaces hot and humid summer conditions. (Source: Jenny Hagemann, MS, RD, in UltraCycling magazine, http://www.ultracycling.com)

The Bicycle Tutor - Bike Repair Video Tutorials

The Bicycle Tutor - Bike Repair Video Tutorials

30 Defining Tour de France Moments: Slide 29

30 Defining Tour de France Moments: Slide 29

EzraKlein Archive | The American Prospect

AFTERNOON INTERLUDE.
In Hungary, the Ministry of Economics and Transport actually has a Deputy Minister for cycling by the name of Adam Bodor. Bodor's job, put simply, is to get people on their bikes. And so they've produced this ad campaign, meant to convey the idea that cycling is sexy (basically safe for work, but use headphones):
EzraKlein Archive The American Prospect

Bike's rear-view mirror checks your heart rate

(Credit: Cerevellum)

If Cerevellum sounds like some Latin term from a medical dictionary, it would be entirely appropriate because it's the name of a new heart-monitoring device. But this one isn't attached to your arm or chest--in fact, it's not affixed to the body at all. Try the handlebars on a bike instead.

The Cerevellum doesn't stop there either: While checking your ticker, this gadget also serves as a GPS system and a digital rear-view display similar to those seen increasingly in cars. According to ProductDose, this all-in-one device has a 3.5-inch screen and 32MB of space to store your fitness data, as well as a 4-hour battery for those who ride that long (unlike us).

All this doesn't come cheap at $299, but we suppose there's some consolidation savings because you won't have to buy three or four separate products for these various functions.

World's First Wireless Bicycle Speaker for iPod to be Unveiled

The Waldmeister: a bike made of wood

One day all bikes will be made like this. Maybe. We spotted this wooden wonder, the Waldmeister, at Eurobike. It really is beautifully made and was without doubt the greenest bike at the show. There were two versions on display: one with road and the other with off-road wheels and tyres.
Made in Germany from copper beech ply, the the road bike is built up with Xentis Kappa carbon wheels (interestingly they haven't opted for wooden rims), a Chris King A-headset and singlespeed cog, Truativ bars, stem, seatpost and cranks and a Brooks Swift titanium saddle. The consensus among the bike journos present was that it should work, in theory. None of the mountain bikers were that keen on the thought of taking it down some technical trails, though.

In a typically German eco-friendly yet cutting-edge combination, Waldmeister's philosphy is to marry traditional wood-crafting skills with precision engineering and to use 21st century materials like carbon and titanium. And all this while embracing a back to basics approach - hence the bike's singlespeed build. And if that copper beech finish isn't to your taste, you can have the frame veneered in a variety of wood types including Birdseye Maple, Ash and Walnut. Just keep an eye out for woodworm.

The New Baby

Out with the Bianchi, in with the Torker....

Beautiful Bianchi Cafe Racer

Ain't she sweet.

Internal 7 speed Hub. 18.5"

Saddle
Bianchi Viscount with flashing LED light
Seatpost
Alloy, 27.2mm
Other
Fenders; kick stand; chain guard; leather grips