Thanks to our new coders R.J. and Kevin, we’ve gotten our SPAM situation under control. Thanks for your patience while eliminated the SPAM comments.
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What’s up bike people?
The SPAM situation on RockTheBike is totally out of hand and I apologize for it. It’s an embarrassment to have these types of negative links on RockTheBike, because we pride ourselves on being positive people offering our community-minded, family-friendly site and videos. Fortunately help is on the way. Our new coders R.J. and Kevin are on the case. It should hopefully be resolved within 1-2 days. I will keep you updated.
SHAKE YOUR PEACE!’s Gabe Dominguez pedal powers a press conference of Salt Lake City’s mayor Rocky Anderson, opening their Live Green festival. May 2007.
Below: Rock The Bike’s Paul Freedman pedal powers a press conference for San Francisco’s Wade Crowfoot, announcing the city’s endorsement of pedal power.
Pedal Powered Stage 2009 Debut at Earth Hour SF. Photo: Steve Rhodes
Thanks to everyone who came down to the Earth Hour celebration at Market Bar in downtown San Francisco, where Rock The Bike had the 2009 debut of our Pedal Powered Stage. We biked in all the gear and pedal powered all the lighting and sound equipment and smoothies, making Saturday’s event Carbon Negative. A Carbon Negative event is one that has such an inspiring effect on participants that it causes individuals to reduce their carbon impact in the coming months and years.
Big thanks to Guella and Justin Ancheta, and Fossil Fool for their performances, to Raul and the Market Bar crew for their hospitality, and to Mayor Newsom and the Neighborhood Empowerment Network for sponsoring the event. Check the Video from CBS news.
We debuted two new Mundo-based Pedal Power bikes: the Electric Mundo and the Lunar Lander. More photos and info to come on both those projects.
The Rock The Bike community came out strong for the event. Here’s a shot of art bike creator Jay Broemmel cruising on his Schwinn Broom:
Originally uploaded by stereomind
Brlliant shot from one of our Flickr friends.
Come on down to Market Bar at the Ferry Building this Saturday Night and be part of the celebration of Earth Hour 2009. Rock The Bike will be setting up the Pedal Powered Stage and hooking up Justin Ancheta, Guella, and Fossil Fool with some good clean pedal power. Other highlights include the Sustainable Living Road Show, and hopefully a flatland BMX performance by Pete Brandt (video). Lineup below.
It’s Earth Hour, people! Don’t forget to turn off all the lights in your home before heading out to catch the music. Also remember to unplug those pesky chargers and wall adapters for devices you only occasionally use. Earth Hour this year could reach a fifth of the planet. Check out the participation map on their site. It’s your choice whether to power down and chill in your neighborhood, or head out to join us at the Ferry Building, where you’ll see many of San Francisco’s landmark buildings turn their lights out, groove to Justin, Guella, and the Bike Rapper, and help us to pedal power two hours of local live music!
Learn more about Earth Hour 2009 in this City Hall news conference:
Lineup:
7:00 — Pete Brandt sunset Flatland performance
7:30 — Guella
8:30 — Justin Ancheta
9:30 — Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper
Thoroughly documented and accompanied by the Police, this video shows an awesome DIT project coming together. Will it float?
I’ve been working on this Soul Cycle for a local street performer who calls her act DanceSkateLive. She hula hoops on roller skates, and has enough left over composure to debrief the populace on environmental issues like Global Warming or the history of roller skating.
It’s been sweet getting involved with Make Magazine. I can’t think of another $15 magazine that I’d actually want to buy. We appeared at the Maker Faire in the Bay Area, and DJ Manny and Big Face represented at Maker Faire Austin.
Anyway, I wanted to post this shot because it’s good side view of the UMDJ rig. Manny recently installed the white skirt underneath the DJ booth. He wanted a place for sponsor logos.
It’s cool to see how he’s been getting local businesses involved in his project, including a sushi restaurant, a night club, and a fitness club. Cruiser Rides should be thinking along these lines more often. we have the potential to bring dozens or even hundreds of people to local businesses each week, whether it be cafes, restaurants, or bike shops. Many of these businesses are in real need of local outreach strategies that actually work.
Down Low Glow systems made by Rock the Bike in October 2008 through January 2009 may have a flaw that can cause premature wear and, in the worst case scenario, a battery short circuit.
How do I know if my DLG unit has the problem?
There are two related but distinct problems. Either of them is grounds for partipicating in the recall. If your DLG system has either of these problems, we’d prefer to fix it and return it to you. You’ll be more likely to enjoy using it for its entire working life.
Problem 1: Stiff power connector.
Test: It requires more than a casual push / pull to plug and unplug your Down Low Glow battery.
Effect: The stiff power connector makes it more likely that you’ll yank the wire that leads to the battery.
Solutions:
Waterproof DLG Switch
Problem 2: Lack of proper strain relief on the power cable exiting the battery pack.
Example of strain relief damage on Down Low Glow battery’s output wire.
Examples of batteries before, during, and after the affected period.
This problem was excacerbated when our manufacturer switched from a flexible waterproofing adhesive to a harder, more brittle adhesive.
Test: Your battery may have a bead of sealant around the top and the bottom that is bluish / purplish in color and slightly filmy in its translucency, as shown in the picture. In the photo above, the battery with the rubberband is the one that has this adhesive. Note that the battery on the left has a less bulky sealing adhesive that appears black. We have seen fewer failures on batteries that use the flexible adhesive. The battery on the right has had our fix applied — a piece of flexible tubing that adds strain relief where the power cable leaves the battery.
Effect: Over time, and especially in cold weather, the adhesive can kink and damage the wire. The black insulation can fail, exposing the inner wires, which have their own insulation. In the worst case, the insulation of the inner wires can fail as well, exposing the copper conductors.
Action:
Examine your battery to see if wire damage has already occurred at the point where the wire exits the battery. If so, you would see the black wire jacket either crumbling or split, and you may see the white and red insulation of the inner wires. If you are able to see any bare copper wire when you inspect this area, you must take extra care when packing the battery for shipment to eliminate the chance of a short circuit in transit. If you are concerned it may be a shipping hazard, please let us know, so that we can provide alternate instructions.
If it’s starting to show damage, get it fixed.
If your battery is showing minimal damage or none at all, please take the following preventative action now to reduce yanks on the output wire:
1. Pinch output wire as shown to prepare for taping step.
2. Wrap tape over one side of the loop.
3. Wrap tape over the other side of the loop. The tape prevents yanks and tugs from creating strain on the wire where it exits the battery pack.
The mod shortens the battery’s output wire a bit.
OK, I have decided to let you fix my Down Low Glow. What should I do now?
If your Down Low Glow system has either of these issues above, please use the contact page and select “Winter 2008-09 Down Low Glow Recall” as the topic. Please indicate what you will be returning. For example:
“Hi Rock the Bike,
I would like to participate in the recall. I checked and my battery has the adhesive shown on the recall page. Also, my power connector is too stiff. I will be returning my light tubes and battery.
Thanks,
Rob”