Here is Something You Want to Paste in Your Hat. "Dont's for Cyclists" (1895)

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A friend and diligent researcher passed these along from the Los Angeles Herald, 1895.

Don't, oh don't appear in public on a wheel wearing a silk hat.
Don't carry matches. It is cheaper to borrow and more socialable.
Don't climb fences. The bicycle is unfitted for the steeplechase.
Don't forget your tool bag, unless you want to lead your "bike" home.
Don't hold too tightly to your handle bars. The vibration is tiring.

Enjoy...

And my personal favorite:

Los Angeles Herald, Volume 44, Number 73, 23 June 1895

Thanks, TQ!

Joe @ BCN

Human Infographic: GOOD Attacks Traffic in Los Angeles (Video)

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GOOD rounded up a flashmob of Angelenos to illustrate how big of an impact we could have on Los Angeles traffic if just 3% of us switched to biking or public transportation instead of driving.

L.A. cyclists might recognize a few familiar faces. 



Read more at GOOD.

The Man Who Lived on His Bike (VIDEO)

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Guillaume Blanchet spent 382 days biking the streets of Montreal filming this montage of mundane awesome with a GoPro Hero.

I wish my bike commutes were this exciting. Enjoy!


THE MAN WHO LIVED ON HIS BIKE from Guillaume Blanchet on Vimeo.

I love being on a bike. It helps me feel free. I get it from my dad. 
After 382 days spent riding through the streets of Montreal, being sometimes quite cold, sometimes quite hot - and sometimes quite scared, I dedicate this movie to you, Yves Blanchet :-)

Music by Paul Maco at studios apolloEnd credit music by BamprodSFX by Sonart, post by Minh TranSpecial thanks to Yvan Bilodeauand Renée Lacombe 

The Bicycle Animation (Video)

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Katy Beveridge experiments with proto animation (really early basic animation) in contemporary design, using bicycles.



The soundtrack (by Stefan Neidermeyer) is made up of various bike noises recorded during the filming process which Stef then remixed to make the amazing soundtrack.


Here's another great bikey animation by Tim Wheatley.

The Cyclotrope


The Cyclotrope from tim Wheatley on Vimeo.

The Holstee Manifesto, on bikes. (VIDEO)

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The Holstee Manifesto is a call to action to live a life full of intention, creativity, passion, and community. Perhaps there's no better catalyst to encourage living by these principals than the bicycle itself.

Enjoy.



Hat-tip to Doobybrain.com

Joe @ BCN

Five Ways to Pedal Power Your Devices

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Why should racers have all the fun? They've got Powertaps and fancy electronic shifting, carbon fiber and aerodynamics, but how has the cycling industry been reinventing the wheel for bike commuters?

Perhaps the most interesting innovations for cyclists of the commuting variety will integrate our digital lives and devices with our otherwise utilitarian and low-tech machines. We ride to work, school, to shop and socialize, and can't always rely on battery power or a nearby outlet to power our smartphones and other gadgets. 

Here are some more sustainable, and self-sufficient innovations we found that can provide pedal power to your digital devices.

1. USB-equipped bikes that can charge your mobile devices. 


These German-made bikes have built-in USB ports.

From Springwise.com:

As part of Silverback’s 2012 Starke line for city use, the Starke 1 and 2 models both come equipped with a built-in USB port. As cyclists pedal, energy is generated by the bike’s front-mounted dynamo hub, which can then be used to charge GPS units, smartphones, MP3 players and other low-voltage devices via the bike’s USB port. Also powered by the dynamo is the bicycle’s lighting system, according to a report on Wired. Pricing and availability have yet to be announced.  Read more

2. The SpinPOWER I4 iPhone 4 Bicycle USB Charger Kit

A dynamo-based kit, this product comes with everything you need to self-install on your existing bicycle, and powers a number of accessories from your iPhone 4, MP3 players, lights and more. 

Available in our online store. 

3. Nokia Bike-Powered Mobile Phone Charger

Earlier in the year, Nokia launched their own dynamo-powered phone charger.

Ten minutes in the saddle produces enough power for 28 minutes of talk time, or 37 hours of standby time.

It looks like the product is currently only available in Europe, but hopefully Nokia will spread the bike-love to the U.S. and around the world soon. You can view the product at Nokia's Europe site here.

4. PowerFilm USB Solar Panel Charger

Probably more geared toward tourers and long-distance commuters, why not slap one of these on your Pannier and keep your your batteries charged on the way to the office?











5. The DIY Solar Altoid Tin Solar Charger

What can't you make out of an Altoid tin?

With under $20 and only a handful of parts, you can make your own and power your device on the go. Hack away. Read more at Discovery.com

The best is yet to come for bike commuters, and hopefully our best biking nerds are hard at work bringing these products to market. Have a tip on such a product you'd like us to check out? Let us know!

...and what ever happened to "power dressing"?

Joe @ BCN