February 15, 2016Leave a Comment
Several weeks ago I asked the Internet which road bicycle fenders should I install and you, loyal readers, responded with surprising enthusiasm for the Crud Roadracer Mk2.
February 15, 20161 Comment on Shaquille O’Neal’s new 36 inch bicycle was designed in Santa Cruz
Update: After three years of development, your DirtySixer bike for tall riders now available for pre-order on Kickstarter. This project was fully funded within 17 hours of launch!
Shaq had a Cannondale Killer V2000 bike custom built over 20 years ago to fit his 7’1″ frame. Even with the outsize frame geometry, this bike looks like a small wheel folding bike next to Shaq. Compare it against the “DirtySixer” bike he took late in 2015, which features a frame designed for large people on 36 inch wheels.
February 12, 20161 Comment on A step through frame from Faraday Bikes
February 12, 2016Leave a Comment
Do you know about those delivery bicycles with small front wheels and large front baskets? In Japan, these bike are apparently marketed for carrying your pets.
This is the Coloco “Potta” — pronounced “po tah” (think how a Japanese person might pronounce porteur) — which retails for the equivalent of $360 American plus shipping.
Another example is the Maruishi Pet Porter, available in the “stylish” X frame shown below, or the more traditional frame that they describe as “cheap and cute.” These Maruishi bikes are more expensive than the mail-order Coloco bikes at around US$500.
The pet carriers are designed specifically for the bikes. The bikes themselves include features such as a locking steerer so the front wheel doesn’t wobble and fall over when parked.
At least one Japanese dog blogger reviews the cheaper Coloco bike.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Maruishi tried to sell entry-level road, mountain, and touring bikes in the US market without much success. Some low-end Maruishi bikes were also sold under the Jamis brand. Maruishi still sells the entry level “Emperor” line of touring, cross and road bikes to the Japanese market.
February 11, 2016Leave a Comment
Visit NAHBS to see the method behind the $50 Spurcycle Bike Bell the weekend of February 26, 2016 at the Sacramento Convention Center.
February 11, 2016Leave a Comment
For Throwback Thursday, here’s this reminder to buy your tickets online ahead of time for the 2016 North American Handmade bicycle Show in Sacramento. The last time NAHBS visited Sacramento in 2012, over 8000 bike enthusiasts mobbed the Sacramento Convention Center on the Saturday of the show. Those with tickets walked right in, while those who bought at the door waited in line.
This year’s show takes place February 26 – 28 at the Sacramento Convention Center, just a few easy bike-riding blocks from the Sacramento Amtrak station. They haven’t said so yet but they generally provide valet bike parking at NAHBS, though you can expect this to be filled to capacity by about noon on Saturday. I think I plan to drive there on Friday, so drop me a line if you want a ride-share from Santa Cruz or the South Bay.
You can buy tickets online at the NAHBS website. If you can’t swing the cost of admission, they still have volunteer opportunities available in exchange for a t-shirt and a day pass, which I think is a pretty sweet deal.
