Padded Shorts » tech

The Bicycle USB Charger

extra — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:07:29 +0000

Just found this one, nice little simple thing and by the looks of it will do the job. If you just need to charge something via USB this is the one. Most mobile phones and mp3 players let you do that now.

The Bicycle USB Charger allows the charging of electronic devices from a standard bicycle dynamo. Simply connect to a bottle or hub dynamo, attach to your bike, and plug in your mobile phone, mp3 player, GPS, or any other device able to charge via USB.

And at £25 it is probably the cheapest dyno hub charger around, unless you build it yourself.

LINK : bikeusbcharger.com

Cycle Show 2010

extra — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:16:39 +0000

From the 7th of October until the 12th of October is the time to look at some bicycle related p0rn at the Cycle Show @ Earls Court, London.

The Cycle Show once again sets the scene for all cycling fans across the UK. Enjoy a fabulous day out and see the very best 2011 bikes, clothing & accessory brands before they hit the high street.

This is also your opportunity to get on bikes and test them on our four tracks. Treat yourself with some retail therapy in the Cycle Store. We have doubled its size to hold even more clothing, helmets, shoes, lights and more for the coming season.

LINK : http://www.cycleshow.co.uk/

Bike Doctor App

extra — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:21:57 +0000

Just as I stopped using my iPhone look at the new application that came out, Bike Doctor App. I wonder if they are going to make an app for the phone I’m using now.

Never again get caught out whilst cycling with a repair you can’t do. Bike Doctor App will take you through repairing your bike step by step with instructions even a complete beginner can follow.

LINK : Bike Doctor App

Bicycle lawn mower

extra — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:25:03 +0000

I can remember years ago where I was cutting grass for my folks, neighbours etc to get some pocket money.

I enjoyed doing it at my grandparents since granddad always kept the lawn mower sharp and well oiled and my grandmother would always “pay” me well in cake and food :)

Where else where I really had to work hard, to earn my keep, and push erm struggle the mower around the lawn as they were never well kept.

Yes it is showing my age since it was back when motor lawn mowers was unheard off.

Though I wonder if this contraption would helped with the struggle at least it would have made more fun.

LINK : lawn mower tricycle doesn’t makes lawn mowing any more fun
LINK : bike lawn mower hybrids make lawn upkeep more fun

Plea to parent part II

extra — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:17:56 +0000

Today a trainee at one of the schools I’m working at at the moment came up and said that she’d got a new bicycle over the weekend. Lucky girl, I said. Let’s go down and check it out before we go out on the road. No need, she said, they checked it down the shop.

Anyway I had a quick look over and found …

- The head set was very loose.
- The steerer was loose, I could turn it very easily.
- Front left break pad was rubbing on the rim.
- The front break lever went all the way to the handle bar and still didn’t stop the bicycle.
- Front and rear tyres not pumped up.
- Front inner tube valve was at an angle.
- Rear suspension was that loose that it was very close to falling apart if I lifted the bicycle up.
- The saddle was loose.
- Rear left break pad was fitted upside down and VERY loose.
- Read left and right break pads rubbing against the rear tyre.

Oh and some good news: the indexing was spot on. When I was fixing all these things I asked my trainee again did this bicycle get checked in the shop. Yes, she said, Toy’s R Us checked it over before we got it. It took all my strength to keep my jaw in place but I think she spotted the shock/horror/anger in my eyes, since she kept asking if this bicycle would be ok to ride after I had worked on it.

Please parents, a toy store ain’t a bicycle shop! Yes, they might be selling bicycles but it is not a bicycle shop, where you will get GREAT service by someone who KNOWS what they are doing in a shop that is DEDICATED to bicycles and is not selling milk and tea etc.

Cycling with Google

extra — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:14:10 +0000

Google have now added route planning on their maps for bicycles. I have missed that for some time, since I always have hit Google Maps to see where I’m going and then started to plan my route. But only to find out that I couldn’t get Google to make a route that I would enjoy on my bicycle and then had to open up an other website that did it, which is just annoying.

The sad news is that it is only in the use US for now so everyone elsewhere have to wait. I do hope that the many men and woman at that big G are working hard on the cycle routes where you live.

LINK : biking directions added to google maps

LINK : http://maps.google.com/biking

The Firefly bicycle light

extra — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:28:41 +0000

I’m all for the idea of making us cyclist more safe on the roads. But this one is only a gimmick.

The Firefly bicycle light uses a passive Infrared sensor to detect vehicles approaching from behind – the closer they get the brighter it shines. Its other clever trick is that it uses a set of white LEDs to illuminate the rider’s back and the road beneath the bike.

I take it that this is to be used at night, but if other road users fails to see you with your normal rear light in normal your riding position. Then they will still fail to see you with this on. Its up there with the laser light I talked about a few weeks ago.

Pump your lights

extra — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:27:53 +0000

Yeah I know you might think I have lost it here, but now I do mean pump your light. As in charge your lights while pumping.

Now what a great idea have a light that you charge while pumping or just use your pump to charge when your batteries are running a bit low.

20 seconds of pumping suffices for 45 minutes of track-illuminating LED power. Simply pump up your tires, or perform the pumping motions merely to recharge the device, then clamp it into its holder and away you go.

Even though it did win a Eurobike 2009 award it is still just a prototype.

LINK : treehugger – bike light tire pump recharges while pumping.
LINK : formpasch – PUYL bicycle pump and portable light combined

Cycle snacks

extra — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:28:18 +0000

The Spanish inventor Pep Torres invented a cycle vending machine. Where you have to cycle to get a treat, e.g. you have to burn some calories before you can eat your candy.

Even the Times call this the The Human-Powered Vending Machine and put it in its top 50 best Inventions of 2009.

Absolutely a great idea though the only problem I have with it is that if I wanted say M&Ms before getting on the bicycle. I’m pretty sure that after a “bike ride” on it, I’m not up for just M&M’s I want more – like cake or a fry-up :)

LINK : treehugger.com – human powered christmas vending machine

Pardo, a tricycle ?

extra — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:42:53 +0000

Now this tricycle looks a bit mad in a good way.

Instead of pedalling you have to kick/push with your legs to get the trike to move forward. It does looks fast and very suspensioned (if that is a word) which it has to be since you are laying on your chest on the tricycle.

I wonder if it fits a 6’4″ person. The best part is that the tricycle can be folded up for easy storing and when you are moving about when off the trike.

Can I have a go, please ?

LINK : treehugger – Move Like a Cheetah with this Incredible Human Powered Vehicle