Jalopnik: bicycle

NYC Cyclist Gives Cab-Hailing Tourists A High Five

Wes Siler — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:20:00 EDT

Typically an act of frustrating desperation, a cyclist has turned hailing a New York City cab into a congratulation. He's probably trying to get people to think about cycling instead of taxis, but really he's just scaring commuters and tourists.

Frankfurt Auto Show: Bauer Vintage City Cycle

Mike Bumbeck — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EDT

Along with a multitude of oddball oil burning two and a half box hood-scoop equipped hatchbacks in Frankfurt are more bicycles than you can shake a fist at. Most are set up for city trawling, some complete with mini trailer balls for what we assume are human pulled trailers. This vintage Bauer caught out eye first day in, and looked as if it had seen a few chancellors after logging many miles.

Big Bike Wheel Keep On Turnin'

Ray Wert — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 12:45:00 EDT

Apparently the Woodward Dream Cruise ain't just all about the cars — but about the bikes as well. And when we say bikes, we don't mean something by Harley-Davidson or Suzuki, although there's plenty of those hangin' round these here parts. Rather, we mean the two-wheeled people-powered kind of transportation. And this here proud Mary bike's got a serious case of a swollen back wheel. Maybe the owners should apply a cold compress to it or something — you know, to cut down on the swelling.

The Lancia MomoDesign Urban Bike

Ray Wert — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:45:00 EDT

We hear it was a passion for motor racing that led Gianpiero Moretti, the former race driver to found the design company Momo to market his steering wheel he'd used to win the '64 Formula 1 World Championship. His success in marketing a steering wheel led him to think he was good at designing other stuff using race-inspired themes. Thus was born MomoDesign — a company fulfilling the needs of men like "Maximum" Bob Lutz for high-end luxe fighter jet helmets as well as wrist watches and leather motorcycle jackets for Euro-trash d-bags. The latest partnership for Moretti's designing machine is with the little Fiat-owned Italian automaker Lancia, first working on the MomoDesign Ypsilon Sport, and now it's for — cue the drum roll — a bicycle! It's called the Urban Bike — and umm, it's a nice looking limited and numbered series bike with a full carbon handlebar and Shimano 8-speed gearbox. Full press release on the bike filled with the ~~all-Italian~~ all-French taste for 'savoir vivre' after the jump. Also, Momo's website claims some connection to the new Transformers movie, but for the life of us we can't figure out what that connection is. – Ray Wert

Lancia MomoDesign Urban Bike: the first two-wheel Lancia cabrio
The Lancia MomoDesign Urban Bike, a hypertechnological bicycle, is a product of the rewarding, ongoing, partnership between Lancia and MomoDesign. Constructed in a limited, numbered series, the new two-wheeler stands out for its beautifully refined design, high technology, and attention to detail with everything at the service of the utmost comfort. These are the winning features that have always been part of Lancia cars, as can be seen in the MomoDesign Ypsilon Sport, the new twin soul (dynamic look and innate elegance) version which further enhances the range in the eyes of the younger clientele, always on the lookout for a sports vehicle at an accessible price.

An expression of the all-Italian taste for style and 'savoir vivre', the new Lancia MomoDesign Urban Bike is distinguished by the quality of its materials and the technological solutions adopted. For each component the aim of the material adopted was to guarantee maximum lightness combined with best performance. For example, the carbon fibre used for the monocoque (is the lightest technology available for building sturdy structures) with titanium reinforcements, a light, strong material that is compatible with carbon. The fork, handlebar, seatpost, mudguard and pannier are also in carbon fibre. And again with lightness in mind, magnesium (a compound also used in Formula 1 and in racing motorbikes) has been used for the pedals and aluminium for the wheel rims and flat spokes: the best solution because it does not rust. Finally, prestigious Frau leather lines the saddle and grips.

The new Lancia MomoDesign Urban Bike embraces the best technology available in the sector. For example, the rear eight-speed gearbox tucked invisibly away inside the rear wheel hub offers maximum versatility whether riding on the flat and on the steepest climbs. And again: the belt (not chain) transmission not only makes pedalling smoother and more comfortable, but it does not dirty the way normal transmission chains do, so making it possible to use the bike dressed for the office. Finally, the frame with its bow shapes which are highly effective in soaking up roughness in the terrain and the wide section tyres, guarantee greater safety on uneven roads, making dampers and suspensions superfluous.

Spec Sheet

Frame: Full Carbon monocoque with titanium reinforcements

Fork : Carbon with aluminiuim head tube

Steering series: integral with the 1.1/8 inch headset with FSA bearings

Handlebar: Full Carbon

Transmission: pulleys and toothed belt

Brakes: Shimano disc 160 mm front and rear with mechanical calliper control

Gearbox: Shimano 8 speed inside the rear hub

Saddle: San Marco

Seatpost: carbon tube with saddle support head in aluminium

Tyres : Maxxis Xenith 26 x 1.50 slick

Wheels: Shimano hubs with aluminium rims and flat spokes

Pedals: magnesium anti-slip

Sizes: M

Weight: 10,900 kg

Proper Use of Scrapers

Mike Bumbeck — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:00:00 EDT

Back in early 21st century Oakland we started to see later eighties and early nineties Oldsmobile Cutlass Cieras, Chevrolet Celebs, Buick Park Aves, and even the occasional Pontiac 6000 rolling up and down San Pablo. At first they were mostly stock, but time brought Daytons and plenty of metalflake. We found out later these cars were collectively known as Scrapers. Although the whistle tip fad has come and gone the Scraper lives on, and has come to influence the kids. They're always coming out with something new in the O, and the Trunk Boiz got some ~~hella~~ hekka critical mass. – Mike Bumbeck

Save Your (Grandparents') Generation: Youngsters Rolling In Oldster Whips [Internal]

Van Man vs. Critical Mass

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 15 May 2007 23:15:00 EDT

A number of us around here are cycling enthusiasts and a majority of the regular Jalops have spent time living in the Bay Area, where cyclists — especially in Berkeley and San Francsico — have decided that yes, they do in fact hold the lease on the area's byways. So much so, in fact that there's a very real tendency for them get extremely aggressive when one nearly plows a two-wheeled denizen, despite the fact that the cyclist in question was making an illegal maneuver. So the story of 70-year-old Harlan Head, who ended up in a serious altercation with Berkeley Critical Mass riders yesterday simply doesn't surprise us. Head's claiming he was assaulted. The riders claimed Head yelled, "I'm sick of you people," and drove into them. Both parties deny the allegations. Based on our experience with Bay Area bikes-not-bombs enthusiasts, we wouldn't be surprised if both accusations are true. – Davey G. Johnson

Accounts clash on Friday's row with bikes, van [SFGate]

Late Night Los Angeles: Bug-a-Mino

Mike Bumbeck — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:30:00 EDT

Spied at the beginning and end of a Midnight Ridazz urban cycle crawl was this fine example of German engineering meeting California utility. Long buried in the memory of a cell phone, this image is only now resurfacing from an Echo Park past to work its way into the pantheon of minos. We pedaled the ride on a fourteen year old Bridgestone MB-3 accompanied by cycling daredevil Cole Coonce. We can't remember if the Bug-a-Mino had anything to do with bicycles. Bicycle ride helicopter escort was supplied courtesy of the LAPD. – Mike Bumbeck

Go, Go, Mister Show! Group Wants to Shut Down Chicago Auto Show

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 10:49:53 EST

Guess we'd better make other plans for this week, lest we run afoul of one pro-bicycle group that aims to shut down the Chicago auto show. The group, AutoShowShutdown.org recently launched a web parody of the Chicago show's site, on which they provided counterpoint to the show site's content. The group even rebuffed a cease-and-desist letter from the show's organizers, with the support of online free-speech advocates the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Their plan is to protest the show's "egregious display of automobile glorification" this coming Saturday, the first of the show's public days at Chicago's McCormick Place. Kind of reminds us of ourselves when we were wee lads protesting arrogant roadway bikers. Of course the only slogan we could come up with at the time was "We won't pedal, death to false metal!" Right, we didn't quit our day jobs. – Mike Spinelli

Press Release:

For Immediate Release

The Arctic ice cap is melting, and the polar bears are angry. They're coming to Chicago to help save their habitat. And now the auto show's lawyers are angry, too.

A new website, AutoShowShutdown.org, launched earlier this week as a parody of the Chicago Auto Show website to raise awareness about global warming, automobile fatalities, and other negative effects of private automobiles, and to promote sustainable transportation, has irked the auto industry. A letter sent from a lawyer representing the Chicago Auto Show threatens: "[T]he Chicago Automobile Trade Association and the Chicago Auto Show demand that you immediately cease and desist use of its marks in every way whatsoever. Should you fail to immediately take necessary corrective action, [we] will seek damages against you for trademark infringement."

The polar bears are ready for a fight. "I'm not scared of lawyers," said Snowball, a 1,000-pound polar bear. "There are many prior legal rulings that say industry can't use trademark infringement threats to squelch free speech and silence their critics. And besides, we polar bears are the only species that actually hunts humans, so those lawyers better be careful."

"It's time to save Snowball and all polar bears," said Dan Korn, an Auto Show SHUTDOWN Festival ringleader. "Chicago cyclists are proud to join up with our furry friends from the north to help save their homeland by riding bikes more and driving less. We demand that the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and the Chicago Auto Show immediately CEASE AND DESIST their egregious display of automobile glorification."

"The Auto Show can't stop thousands of citizens from attending the SHUTDOWN Festival, so they're moved their attacks online to try to shut down free speech," said Jason Schultz, an attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) representing the Auto Show SHUTDOWN Festival. "That just won't fly under the flag of the First Amendment."

WHAT: Eighth Annual Chicago Auto Show SHUTDOWN Festival
WHEN: Saturday, February 10, 2007, 11:00 am
WHERE: Meet at Daley Plaza at 11 am, ride to the McCormick Place Cermak Road Entrance at 12 noon.
WHO: Snowball and dozens of his furry friends, along with hundreds of cyclists, and special guests.
HOW: Street theatre, bicycles, and other fun activities.
WHY: To peacefully SHUT DOWN the Auto Show, to save the polar bears, and to save the humans too!

Auto Show SHUTDOWN festivities will include:
* Polar Bear Bicycle Parade, Stunt Riding Demonstration, Muffler and Snow Tire Juggling.
* SUV/Canoe Trade-In Area. Prepare for the flood before it's too late!
* Unveiling and test rides of the cheap, fun, and non-polluting Vehicles of Tomorrow.
* Snowball the Bear, Uncle Sam, Superman, Santa, the Rev. H. Antiford, and other guests!

The Auto Show Shutdown Association is a group of individuals working to run the Auto Show out of town, and have a good time doing it.

[via Carscoop]

Not Deckchair, Dekochari!

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 08:00:00 EST

We were talking to Antonio tonight; he wanted advice on buying a cheap van he could tow a Toyota with. We suggested a Chevrolet, as parts are cheap and plentiful. We then suggested he do it up dekotora style. Imagine a cross between a Japanese custom van and a '70s sin bin. How can you lose? So, as Los Jalops are wont to, we then got to obsessing and ran across Japan's dekochari subculture. Dekochari are sort of like Chicano lowrider bikes. Only much, much weirder. – Davey G. Johnson

Pimp My Bike [Planeta Rosa]

Fake Hoon of the Day: Bicyclist v. Cops

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 08:30:36 EDT

Carscoop brings us this clip, indicating what happens when steroid rage meets law enforcement. A bicyclist on an interstate highway outruns police in a typical chase video shot from a helicopter. Undoubtably a viral video with some arcane commercial purpose, this one's clever enough to pass along. Aaaa, choo! – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Hoon of the Day: Swiss Rocketman [internal]

Opel Antara Flexes That Ass: Saturn's New Vue-To-Be Sports Techie Bike Rack Goodness

Ray Wert — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 16:14:55 EDT

We guess the euro boys n' girls are big fans of biking. All we know is we can rarely get our asses out from behind the laptop long enough to even ride a bike, much less require a rack to carry them. Nonetheless, we're sure there's a decent sized chunk of the population — both in Euro-land and here in the good old US of A — that'd love what Opel's cooked up. It's called the "Flex-Fix" and it's coming as an add-on for the '07 Opel Antara and Corsa. It's a rear-end hatch popping open and pulling out a two-bike carrier out of the bumper without the need of tools. And speaking of tools, the Antara's expected to replace the tool-mobile that is the current Saturn Vue. No word if we'll get this little tech-goodie over here, but if Saturn knows what's good for them, they'll drop it into some accessory package. Maybe they can call it the "trail mix" option pack. Full press release below the jump and gallery located via the link. – Ray Wert

[Opel Antara Flex-Fix Gallery]

Always Ready: "Flex-Fix" Also in New Opel Antara

# Integrated carrier system already successfully debuted in new Corsa
# Practical innovation available for 4WD crossover as of early 2007

R sselsheim. Following the successful world premiere of the integrated rear carrier system "Flex-Fix" in the new Corsa, Opel will offer this innovative, exclusive extra with the new Antara as of early 2007. The four-wheel drive crossover Antara is currently debuting at the Paris Motor Show and will be available at Opel dealerships in a few weeks.

Having already established the interior flexibility benchmark with the Zafira's patented "Flex7" seating system, Opel now sets new standards in exterior on-board flexibility with the practical Flex-Fix system. It can carry up to two bicycles and be easily pulled out like a drawer from the rear bumper, so no tools are needed at all. Two major benefits compared to conventional bicycle carriers are the more convenient loading, as bicycles do not need to be lifted as high, and the fact that Flex-Fix is always available, because it is an integral part of the car.

Quick and spontaneous

Owners of SUVs and crossovers like the Antara are often active people who want to transport bicycles, just like the Corsa's young target group. This is where the spontaneity and versatility of Opel's Flex-Fix perfectly matches the needs of these customers. It is capable of transporting loads of 40 kilograms and is suitable for standard bicycle tire sizes of 18 28 inches.

In the Trixx concept car at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show, Opel first presented the idea of increasing car cargo capacity with a permanently integrated carrier system that disappears into the body when not in use.

But there was still much work to be done before it could be used in a production car; all important car design specifications, such as crash safety, had to be met without compromise, and the system had to be quick and easy to use, requiring no prior technical knowledge.

Tough tests before use in production cars

As the Flex-Fix system is an integral part of the vehicle, it must conform to Opel's strict requirement that it last the car's lifetime. The steel parts are therefore not only galvanized, but are also primed via cataphoresis and protected by a resilient topcoat to withstand years of abuse from grit and road salt.

Jeremy Clarkson Angry White Van Man?

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EDT

We still have no real evidence whether Clarkson still strides among the living, but we do know he's being implicated on a rash of assaults on cyclists in Oxford. Cyclox spokesman James Styring says, ""It could be that the Jeremy Clarkson-types have taken umbrage to cyclists." Apparently, a number of the assaultees have been attacked by a man driving a white van. Shown here is Clarkson, having exited his Starion in Oxford, immediately before commenting, "Did you see that? I was damn near nearly knocked down by a cyclist." Anyone in the Euro press-fleet biz know if Jezza was loaned a white Transit or similar in the last few weeks? Could the whole "death" thing be a ruse to cover his underground bicyclist-bashing scheme?

'Jeremy Clarkson-types' carrying out attacks on Oxford cyclists [24Dash]

Get On Your Recumbent Bike and Ride: Canadian Designer to Attempt 24-Hour Record

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 11:29:37 EDT

Considering we spend most waking hours thinking about vehicles with motors, though we do travel by bike on occasion, we never considered how far we could bike in 24 hours. If we had to guess, it'd be in the mid-double-digit range (after a substantial break-in period, of course). One tech entrepreneur and triathlete, however, plans to break the current record for human-powered travel of nearly 635 miles in a 24-hour period. He'll be doing it in the "Critical Power," a recumbent bike sheathed in a carbon-fiber faring — the work of a Canadian designer using several software packages and (we're guessing) several cases of Canadian Orange soda. The venue for the attempt is the Redwood Acres Motor Speedway in Eureka, Calif.

Bullet on Wheels Aims for 24-Hour Human-Powered Vehicle Record [Ride Room]

Related:
Hoon of the Day: Swiss Rocketman [internal]

Hey Naked Bike Riders, Can't We All Just Get Along?

Ray Wert — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 13:35:33 EDT

We've always been good to cyclists — we've only a hit a few over the years. We feel the two aren't mutually exclusive and that bikes and cars can, like Ebony and Ivory, live together in perfect harmony. Some of our best friends work with bicycles, so we can't be all that bad. So then why do the nudists want to rain on our symbiotic love-in by protesting against petrol-dependence and "car culture" with some kinda crazy naked bike race called the Ciclonudista? Don't they know how much that hurts all the work we've done building a dialogue with cyclists? And all of it's been thrown away by some hippie who likes a banana seat between his butt cheeks.

Nude cyclists race around the world to protest 'car culture' [Raw Story]

Related:
Electric-Powered Honda Civic Bicycle? [internal]

Hoon of the Day: Swiss Rocketman

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 11:51:21 EST

Maybe not a Hoon in the strictest sense, but definitely one in the broader Jalopnik sense, the Swiss Rocketman is truly a Swiss man unafraid. Literally rocketing down a stretch of tarmac — on a bicycle fueled by more hydrogen peroxide than the members of Poison applied through the entire 1990s — Genevois Alec Beney hit nearly 150mph back in 1999. The clip is old, but true hoonage knows no age. (Send 'em to tips@jalopnik.com.)[Thanks to Steve for the tip.]

Swiss Rocketman [Streetfire.net]

Related:
More Hoons of the Day [internal]