Having a large computer mounted to your handlebars is not quite so odd anymore. With powermeters and GPS devices it is not unusual to see maybe more than one gadget. Check out a pic from my recent ride.
(Things are starting to get crowded)
The Cerevellum would like to be the next cool gadget to mount on your handlebars. The gadget is still in the concept stages with a few prototypes already developed. The core feature is a video display from a rear -facing camera mounted on your handlebar ends. The rearview screen is an evolution of the large SUV mounted cameras that allow you to see what is behind without craning your neck. This was a necessary feature for gigantic SUVs and it seems like a natural extension to cycling.
The concept of having a video display showing the view from behind you is nice for many reasons. First off you can throw out those helmet mounted mirrors. They look dorky. Next you have the safety of seeing what is coming up behind you which is very important especially in high-traffic areas. For racing you can look behind to see if you have a gap when attacking or see if the person behind you is suffering so you can go on an attack.
The advantages are great, but compare a $300+ video display that requires you to look down vs. an ever-present $20 helmet mirror, the idea of looking dorky and having a couple of bucks in your pocket is not bad.
The initial prototype took a Nintendo handheld unit with a camera mounted in the ends of the handlebars. The battery life was enough for a two hour ride. The full production concept looks to go beyond the simple functionality of the rearview camera called Hindsight. After all, the Hindsight camera features does take up a portion of real estate on you handlebars, so to make it more viable they feel the need to incorporate more functionality. The functionality will not be built by Cerevellum, but they will create a new standard use of “modules” where functionality can be added or removed by plugging little devices into the bottom of the device. The plan is to allow other companies to build modules that would add functionality to the main unit such as GPS, Powermeter and anything else.
The marriage of the various components looks to be ambitious since you have to ask major industry players to build a new product that would plug into the hindsight base unit. The concept is great, but how do you get Garmin, Polar and others to build these units?
You experienced the problem before. Your cycling shoes are soaked after a wet ride or race. Up until now the best way to dry them was to either load them up with paper towels or completely open them up to dry. A company called L.I.D (Life In Detail) created a shoe dryer primarily for folks who suffer from sweaty feet. Athletes such as cyclist, triathletes, runners etc. who battle the elements can use something to dry out their wet shoes other than an extra pair.
Cool gadget call FLEX which is a cyclo-computer that will wrap around anything. The secret is the use of e-paper which is basically a flexible LCD display that does not need a hard face or encasing.
The Kodak Gallery team are one of the few if only teams to be using the new SRAM Force gruppo on their bikes. Back in June during the Rochester Twilight Criterium, I was able to get a closer look at the gruppo. Walking by the Kodak mechanics I started fiddling with one of the spare bikes. I ask the mechanic how the riders like the new “double tap” shifting. He replied saying that it was easy to use and tried to explain how it works. It was difficult to understand without actually riding a bike to test out the theory.
I then asked if there was a learning curve and if it was steep. The mechanic replied saying that it did take a while for the riders to get used to the system, but once they got the hang of it, it was second nature.
Later on I was able to snap a few pictures at the start line as a KodakGallery riders parked right in front of me.
The Segway is bad enough with a range of 24 miles and a top speedof 12.5 mph. Now comes the latest bad product, the treadmill bike! Take a bike and put a treadmill on it. It is like running inside, but outside on a completely unnecessary contraption. The next invetion will be pedal powered legs. Here is a video with people using it. The funniest part is when a guy tries to take it on the bus. Notice they cut away beofre he is on the bus since it does not look like the handlebars will clear.
Gizmodo picked up the lasted review from Pez Cycling of the new BMC SLC01. The bike that weighs the equivalent of five cellphones (assuming a Razr) made the Gadget news blog because of the use of the small strands of carbon fiber.
As for Pez, he has a very extensive review of the BMC. It is a bit biased as it is for personal use.
I admit to being enamoured of BMC bikes, my personal ride for 2005 was their SLT01 Team Machine – regaled in full Phonak colors [and stolen from my garage!... Tech Ed].
Glad you got a replacement Pez! I was never near your garage… not that anyone was asking me, but just to be sure…
Seriously though, the review at Pez has some great insight into BMC’s development using Carbon fiber, and how they shaved 10 ounces off of last years model. Hint: they went to an all-carbon frame by removing the aluminum lugs.
Bring out the Lucas Brunelle in you with Samsung’s new Camcorder. It features a music player and still camera with the basic video capturing functionality. What is most impressive is that it has a detachable lens that can be mounted on your handlebars, helmet or anywhere else you can think of to capture your next ride. The best part is that the lens has a range of 9ft, so it looks like no cables are needed!
