rock the bike blog

About

admin — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:20:03 +0000

We're bike people. We're inventors and advocates working away in a sweet little workshop in Berkeley, California, pushing the limits of bike culture. Our dream is to help spread the spirit of the bike into the broader culture by organizing, entertaining, inspiring, educating, and inventing new ways to get the message out there. And more importantly, we help our customers spread the message in their communities. Rock The Bike is Hiring! (March 2011) Do you like to work with your hands, the computer, and phones? Help promote Rock the Bike's innovative products to schools, bike people, event planners, and musicians. Please read more here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M6YDtE3vJWFqkC4turla3oWaV4S_u5hJDZRv... Contact Details: Gchat and email: RockTheBike(at)gmail(dot)com Local and (International) calls: (+01) 510 548 2453 Toll Free: 1 888 354 2453 Snail Mail/Shop Address:

Rock The Bike

1336 Channing Way, Suite B

Berkeley CA 94702

Want to get inspired?

Follow our rad photoblogs on Flickr:

Two of us use Flickr, documenting daily life in Rock The Bike-landia. This is often the most up to date feed of our story.

Rock The Bike

Rock The Bike Founder Paul Freedman, a.k.a. Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper, flickr handle: "Rock The Bike" Paul went out into the front row at Lincoln High School for this shot of a Youth Speaks slam poetry session, pedal powered by Rock The Bike. Paul's at all the Rock The Bike events, which he faithfully documents as well as his own custom Soul Cycle creations, including his ongoing tall bike project, El Arbol. His bike rapping alterego Fossil Fool is known for hosting the bomb street parties.

Leifcycle

Our product designer and engineer, customer service free agent, tubobooming Leif, a.k.a. leifcycle Leif stopped to take this series of our intern Jeff bending the boom tube of a Fender Blender Pro.

See our best videos on YouTube

Rock The Bike:

These are our polished videos. All of these went through an extensive editing process, so we pick and choose our projects. Enjoy! If you want to see them in their high-def glory, pick up a copy of our "Bike Culture Blowin Up" DVD, published in December 2008, free when you order a Down Low Glow, Fender Blender, Mundo, Xtracycle, Incredibell, you get the idea.

One of the highlight videos from the 2008 San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival.

Fossil Fool

Fossil Fool caught this video of Pete Brandt The Bike Rapper and Rock The Bike's senior bicycle customizer, Fossil Fool's YouTube videos are quick edits of fresh material from the life of Fossil Fool. Most don't even have a title screen. ----------------------------------------- The bike is about so much more than transportation or environmentalism or physical fitness. It's about bringing the element of magic into our communities. You can't ride a bike and not be part of a community. We hope that our inventions and outreach efforts help more people experience this magic. We're developing a new school of bicycle advocacy, working off of the old writer's adage "Show, don't tell." If you want more people in your community to ride bikes, then get out their and show them how fun, cool, and sexy it is. We make the kind of bikes that make died-in-the-wool car people want to ride bikes. We get pulled over by cops when we're riding. Not because we've done anything wrong. They just want to know where we got our bikes. Too much of bicycle advocacy is about guilt-tripping and negativity. You're too fat. You're stinking up the planet. You're causing traffic. The 'Sex Appeal School of Bike Advocacy' is about accentuating the positive, not guilt-tripping and alienating people. We love it when a driver rolls down and asks for directions. OK, maybe not a Hummer driver. Anyway, it's about shining our light brightly and spreading a positive message in the community. If we happen to kick a little ass while doing so, that's fine too.

Rock The Bike message spreads to Australia

sophie — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:28:40 +0000

We got this fantastic email from a potential customer in Australia, who's been following our progress on the web: "I like your philosophy -- over the last two years I've got into bikes in a big way, I gave up cigs for it, it's helped my mental health, my relationships and I've re-discovered my competitive spirit by entering a few mtb and road races. Now I'm gearing up to make my commute more like a lifestyle rather than just something I do when I feel like it. Your journey has inspired me further along those lines. Cheers, Tim" One of the most satisfying aspects of being in this business is knowing that we're inspriring people to change their lives for the better. Thanks, Tim!

Kryptonite lock as self-defense for cyclists?

sophie — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 00:30:47 +0000

Last night Thao and I biked to Yoshi's in Oakland and caught the last set, a tribute to jazz drummer Elvin Jones. On the BART on the way home, we sat across from a couple of stylish hipsters on fixed gear bikes. We did the obligatory mutual inspection of each others' bikes for a few moments and then settled into the ride under the tunnel. A few minutes later I noticed the couple was holding their Kryptonites, passing them back and forth, comparing the size. Both of them had one of the smaller U-lock models, about 6 inches in length and 5 inches wide. Next thing I know, the guy was demonstrating how to punch someone by using the lock as extra weight in his fist. The extra weight, he said, made the punch that much harder. She said "I always thought it use it more like this..." and swung it by the U part. He said, "No you still want to hold it by the barrel. When you go for the punch, if the guy ducks, you can let the shackle swing around. That way you get an extra six inches of reach he wasn't expecting. So I was thinking about this and wondering, is it beneficial for cyclists to even think along these lines. None of us wants to think about needing to defend ourselves when we're riding our bike. But occasionally, cyclists do get attacked. In my immediate area around Berkeley, San Francisco, West Oakland, I have heard of several muggings happening to cyclists for no apparent reason. I wonder whether I should even write this on a web site where we are explicitly encouraging people to ride their bikes at night. First of all, everybody assumes certain risks throughout their daily lives. If you stay home and watch TV all day, you risk terminal boredom. If you get out and ride your bike, you risk an accident or *very rarely* an attack by strangers. I want to emphasize that this phenomenon is very rare, but has happened often enough to people in my direct circle of friends, that I think it is a real phenomenon. I have no statistical evidence to say whether bicyclists are more likely to be mugged than walkers or drivers. Also, none of the people I know who have been attacked while riding were seriously hurt. Unfortunately, each of these attacks fit a similar pattern -- a group of guys in their young 20's steps out of a car or off the sidewalk, blocks the way of the biker, and then either verbally hassles or physically attacks them. The motive seems to be more 'something to do to prove one's manliness' than theft. However, the attackers will probably take what you have anyway. One of my friends was carrying vinegar to a dinner party and the attackers demanded it, thinking it was liquor. So what should you do to prevent this from happening to you? First, examine your regular routes and consider the risk level. Ask others about the safety issues... "Have you ever had any problems in _______________ ?" Don't ride in stealth mode. Lights are good for your safety. You want to be seen by vehicles. The danger of being attacked by muggers is very minimal and not well established. It's not known whether bright lights are positive, negative or neutral. However, the danger of being hit by a car is well-documented and easily preventable with lights. Trust your instincts. If you don't like a situation you're riding towards, turn around and take another street. Recently I was on my way to West Oakland, I didn't like the way a group of guys was walking across the road, because one of them wasn't crossing with the others. I was scared they could surround me. So I turned around and took another street. I was close enough for them to realize why I was turning around. I heard them making fun of me. I have no evidence they wanted to attack me, but it didn't feel right, so I turned around. Don't whip out your kryptonite and start swinging, unless your name is Jackie Chan. Using a weapon creates the possibility that the weapon will be used against you. This is especially true if you encounter a group. Practice your verbal defenses. "Stop!" seems like an effective one, but I'm not a self-defense expert. One of my friends was able to escape a threatening situation by yelling "WHERE is the LOVE in your HEART?!!" at the top of his lungs. Be a positive member of your community. Volunteer. Meet the neighborhood kids when they're 10, 13, and 15. Work on your bike on your front steps and offer to help them with their bikes. When they're 18, 21, and 23, they'll know you as a cool person (and they'll be into bikes.) I welcome comments on this topic and think its valuable for cyclists to share experiences.

Hip Hop in the Park Cruiser Ride!

sophie — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:31:42 +0000

Where: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco CA When: Sunday September 3 2006 1PM Beach Chalet San Francisco Starting at:The Beach Chalet, riding along JFK, to King Jr Drive, to MLK Jr Drive, pass Mallard Lake, arrive at Elk Glen Lake Cove. If anyone can clarify the route for me. Please post a comment! The party is at Elk Glen Cove. The event is free, so tell a friend! Check the flyer out at http://true-skool.org/index.htm

Fremont Cruiser Routes/Meet Up Spots

sophie — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 00:32:40 +0000

The Fremont Cruiser rides are not official yet. I have just been getting together with a couple of friends and doing rides to get some dinner and roll around the area. The blog title says "Fremont Cruiser Routes" but the main emphasis for this blog is to list and describe the places we usually ride so that other interested riders might be able to catch us on any random night. The "Fremont" ride actually included 3 different cities which border my area; Fremont, Newark and Union City. Some of the places we frequent on our night rides are Paddy's Coffe Shop (Union City), Tapioca Express on Decoto Road (Union City), the Lake in Newark (when the sprinklers aren't dousing us), Tapioca Express at Pacific Commons (Fremont), Suju's Coffe Shop Thornton Avenue (Fremont), Juan More Taco Thornton Avenue (Fremont), during the day time; Lake Elizabeth in Fremont, Paseo Padre loop up the hill past Mission Blvd with a stop at Mission Coffe House (Fremont). These are a few of the places we ride so if you see us out there, link up and roll! I'm hoping to make the LAST SATURDAY NIGHT of EACH MONTH an official night. Look out for flyers at local bike shops and cafes. If you are interested in doing the rides, bring your blinkies, helmet, a repair kit (just in case), proper clothing and an open mind for some bike fun! To sum it up: When: September 30, 2006 7:30PM, Where: Juan More Taco Restaurant (Fremont, Ca), What: Fremont Cruiser Ride! Bring a friend!

First night rides we've all had them

sophie — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:33:44 +0000

I remember the first time when I was a kid and I thought about riding my bike at night. My folks thought I was crazy. As I got older without a car and not really needing one, I began to explore the joys, perils, and experience of riding a bicycle at night. At first it can be a very nerve racking experience. I remember riding home from practice 7 miles across town back to my house, no lights, no bright clothes, not even reflectors. Rolling on the sidewalks and the terrifying suburban overpasses. Cars flying by you and I wondered if I would make it home or end up in the newspaper the next morning as a statistic. The fear is terrible! When I got my first light set up, I felt better, "well at least I'm legal now and its better than nothing." I rode around Lake Merritt in Oakland California with my friend Libra. Good times! About 2 years ago I met Fossil Fool at a Sunday early morning South Cyde Cycles Bike show. I was drawn to his "Soul Cycle" which still is the COOLEST Bike sound system ever, and he showed me the Down Low Glow, which I thought was kinda weird, crazy for a bike. I ended up getting one and enjoy riding a lot.

New chain = Happy biking

sophie — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 00:34:32 +0000

Installed a new chain tonight. This isn't really front page news, except I wanted to remind people about the benefits of installing a new chain, and ways to tell when you need to do so. Installing a new chain has a few important benefits. Normal riding causes chains to stretch, which wears your gears out faster (leading to 'shark's fin' shaped gears on your chainrings and cogs. Eventually your chain will slip or 'kerchunk' when you pedal hard. This is dangerous and uncool. At this point you're looking at spending real $$ for a new chainring set, cassette, and chain. 1. Replacing your chain before it stretches too far makes the rest of your drivetrain last much longer. If you do the math, installing new chains saves you money because it means you don't have to change cassettes and chainrings as often. (They will probably wear 2-3 times faster if you don't replace your chain.) A new chain is a $10-20 part at a bike shop. Rock the bike customers, in a couple weeks you'll be able to order a new chain through our ecommerce section. 2. It makes your bike feel new again. A new chain is silent and has that 'sweet spot' feeling. It's also more efficient; you'll be going about 1% faster, or something. 3. It's not a hard repair. You'll feel manly, or womanly. Replacing a chain is greasy, but not hard. If you have a decent chain tool , the whole thing can take less than 15 minutes. So when do you need a new chain? A chain will start to squeak more when it's worn. It will also make a high pitched shimmery "crrrrooooiiinnnk" noise when you pedal hard. The noise sounds like a bunch of coins spinning on a metal table and coming to rest. If you suspect yours is worn, it's worth measuring it with a chain wear indicator (buy one?) or a ruler . I replace my chain about once a year. Not a big deal. Just thought you'd enjoy hearing about one way to make your bike last longer and funner.

BCAT Workshop Day

sophie — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:35:52 +0000

I worked at the BCAT today helping Fossil Fool do some shop cleanup, and some of the tedious steps in building the Down Low Glow. Good times, yeah the work was pretty simple as far as labor is concerned, sweeping up the shop, organizing products, storing stuff, preparing shipping materials, necessary steps in keeping the products moving smoothly. Once all these things are in place the work can begin! I'm happy to be helping with one of my favorite bike products on the market, and I take pride in being a small part in actually getting these things out to people so they can enjoy them! The next day is coming soon and this will only go on until the semester starts so I really hope to engage in the process and learn as much as I can about the systems of DLG, electronics, bike stereos and just enjoying bike culture and tech talk. Always good times!

I Love the Buddy Bike

sophie — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 00:36:51 +0000

So I've been thinking about the elements of a great cruiser ride. I won't go into the obvious ones right now, but I want to share one of the ones that's not so obvious.

Getting a lot of people into a small area.

If you're throwing a party, you want to fill the room. That's when the energy rises to that special point, and people start to dance. On a bike ride, it's the same. It won't have that party ride feeling unless you've got a lot of people in a small space. But how do you do that on bikes without causing accidents? Well, you get tandems and rickshaws and fill them with people. Then you pick a relatively flat, easy route, and keep the speeds mellow. The element of conversation is so much nicer when people are close together. And the music doesn't have to be turned up as loud when everyone is close enough to hear it. As long as you're going to involve tandems in your cruiser ride, you might as well seek out a "Buddy Bike" or Side-by-Side tandem. I should be careful using the term "Buddy Bike" because it's now a company making special-needs tandems (bikes that a 'normal' adult and a special needs kid can ride together.) "Buddy Bike" used to be a small company making side by side tandems. It's an idea that has never 'caught on' but will, once there is a healthy bike cruising scene in every city and town in this country. Thao and I rode a Side By Side tandem at the Oregon Country Fair and the experience was so much nicer than any other tandem I've been on. Yes, front-back tandems are fast and sleek, but they don't give you that "Slide over baby" feeling. The people in the picture above seem like they have a death grip on the handlebars. But it wasn't hard to ride with my arm around Thao as we cruised the outer grounds of the Oregon Country Fair. The tandem has two wheels, i.e. it is lots of fun to take turns and coast down hills. Some side-by-side tandems have three or four wheels. This may seem obvious to you, but bikes with more than two wheels aren't bikes at all. So they may have great characteristics and they may be lots of fun, but they won't feel like a bike. They won't take turns like a bike. The side by side tandem may catch a lot of wind resistance, but it's fun to ride. And when you're cruising, fun trumps speed. I am hoping to build up a side-by-side tandem in the next year and put a sweet little sound system on it for the SF Cruiser Ride. http://www.cyclelogicpress.com/US/26USA.html http://www.citynoise.org/article/917 http://home.vicnet.net.au/~tandem/gallery03.htm

At least 10 bike sound systems at the last critical mass

sophie — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:40:20 +0000

I went to the June Critical Mass with Thao and some friends. We rocked two Soul Cycles (linked by wireless broadcast.) On the way there I was nearly knocked down by a taxi. A fellow biker immediately jumped off his bike, threw it down (a nice single-speed), and prevented the taxi from moving while I got my bearings back. At the ride there were at least 5-10 other bike sound systems. It made the mass very noisy. Most of these systems were pretty hacked together things, not much to look at. My friend Hector had been working on his -- he added some bright red fake fur to make a passenger seat. Not my style, but hey. It got me thinking about bikes and amplified music. I have been rolling my Soul Cycle around San Francisco for three years now, and the response has been 99% positive. But, I depend on the goodwill of the community to explore this art further. When 10 music bikes show up at Critical Mass, it definitely takes away the shared experience for other folks. Conflicting musical styles and clashing soundwaves makes this potentially ethereal experience into another thrash session. The next week I was up at the Oregon Country Fair. The Fair limits amplified music to designated music stages. This means you can't have a boombox at your camp, and you can't roll the Soul Cycle. We did it anyway, of course, but we limited our excursions to a few and tried to keep it on the periphery of the fair grounds. But I have to say... The no amplified music rule was really special. At night, groups of friends would simply walk the paths of the fair. Acoustic guitars had no problem being heard. We sang and rapped for cookies, noodles, and tiramisu. Spontaneous freestyle cyphers popped up, and the whole fair had a magical, ran-away-with-the-circus feeling to it. So that got me thinking about the limitations of Soul Cycling. Yes, it does elevate the mood of a cruiser ride, but it also prevents other creative expressions from popping up. Since coming back, I've been listening to music lower, and only turning up when people are really gathered around and dancing. (When they crave the bass.) It's important to show respect to the community. This means turning down if you're stopped outside someone's house. Think about the music you're playing. Does it make other people smile? Do you have a kill switch on your handlebars? You should. A kill switch can help to diffuse any sort of negative situation whether it be a cop, a neighbor, or one of your own friends who wants to tell you something. Cruising with music is not about playing music loud. It's about elevating the spirit of the neighborhood.

Working with NinjaCat.com on new site design

sophie — Mon, 29 May 2006 00:41:17 +0000

The talented Memphis Graphic Designer Christopher Reyes of Ninjacat.com has begun working on the new face of Rock The Bike.com

Products

admin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:33:30 +0000

Fender Blender Pro

Built from the ground up as the ultimate expression of human power, this Fender Blender can hold its own at schools, festivals, trade shows, fundraisers, and events of all types. More info

Buy Now

V3 Mundo Cargo Bike With a frame as stiff as a tree trunk, and a riding position that's comfortable and upright, this simple cargo bike will win you over with its good looks and utility. More info Buy Now	Fender Blender Universale Turns any bike into a party bike! Our most affordable bike blender, it's also great for schools, camps, and fundraisers. More info Buy Now
The Biker Bar Bring the element of Social Biking to your next event with the Biker Bar, now available for event rental in San Francisco, and for sale as a complete unit or as a DIT (Do It Together) kit. Better than solar panels and biodiesel generators, the Biker Bar gets people talking and pedaling together as they power a concert, a cooking demonstration, or whatever your creative mind envisions. More info Buy Now	Pedal Power Rig The Pedal Power Education Rig is a hands-on way for you to teach energy conservation without guilt trips. More info Buy Now
Xtracycle Adds cargo and passenger capacity to the bike you already own while improving the comfort and handling. More info Buy Now	RTB Clothing Rock The Bike shirts and soon hoodies. More info

Frequently Asked Questions

admin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:41:06 +0000

Questions about Rock The Bike
Questions about Rock The Bike Products

Questions about the Down Low Glow

[learn_more caption="Questions about the Downlow Glow"] Content goes here [/learn_more]

Questions about Bike Blenders
Questions about Fast Charger helps you get the most from your battery.
Questions about Fender Blender
Questions about Mundo Utility Bicycle
Questions about Soul Cycle Chopper
Questions about Soul Cycle DIT Head Unit
Questions about Soul Cycle Mothership Cabinet
Questions about Soul Cycle products
Questions about Xtracycle Sport Utility Bikes
Questions about the Brooks Saddle
Questions about the Incredibell

Questions about Rock The Bike Products

admin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:45:20 +0000

Questions about the Down Low Glow
Questions about Bike Blenders
Questions about Fast Charger helps you get the most from your battery.
Questions about Fender Blender
Questions about Mundo Utility Bicycle
Questions about Soul Cycle Chopper
Questions about Soul Cycle DIT Head Unit
Questions about Soul Cycle Mothership Cabinet
Questions about Soul Cycle products
Questions about Xtracycle Sport Utility Bikes
Questions about the Brooks Saddle
Questions about the Incredibell

Questions about the Down Low Glow:

Questions about the Down Low Glow

admin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:11:10 +0000

[learn_more caption="What powers the Down Low Glow?"]

The Down Low Glow comes with a lightweight NiMh rechargeable battery. It weighs 10.5 oz and is the heaviest component of the DLG system. It is weatherproof and has a high quality coaxial power connector that mates with our DLG chargers, and with the DLG light tubes. It also has a foam strip underneath the outer rubber layer, to prevent road vibrations from dislodging it.

12V nominal
2200 mAh

_____________________________

[/learn_more] [learn_more caption="Will it fit on my ride?"] The Down Low Glow fits a wide variety of vehicles. Most bicycles, including kids bikes, recumbents, tricycles, fixed gear racing bikes with tight front-wheel clearances, and full-suspension mountain bikes can be fitted up with no problem. The Down Low Glow light tubes are 12.75" long and have approximately 10" of wire connecting them to our power driver box. Between the battery and the power driver box is another 12" of cable. The simplest way to mount the DLG on an unusual bike is to purchase our single tube system. The single tube has the most trouble-free mount, and really throws a lot light, too! But if you're set on going with the dual-tube system, just give us a call or email us a photo of your bike / vehicle, so that we can tell you what (if any) special order parts you'll need. For other types of vehicles, such as electric wheelchairs, longboards, and golf carts, the fit will depend on what your vehicle offers for mounting points. Check the underside of the vehicle and look for the structural frame tubes. If you can spot frame tubes with a diameter in the 1-3" range, with enough room to fit our light tubes (12.75" long) that's good news. You'll be able to use our standard large-diameter mounting pieces. We also carry adhesive-backed mounting pieces that work well on flat surfaces. These cost $5 a piece, and you can use either one or two of them to get a secure mount on your vehicle. You can order these by phone. If you want to go with a dual tube system on an unusual vehicle with frame tubes of larger than 1" in diameter, please special order your DLG so that we can send you only the large diameter mounts. If you have questions or aren't sure, please call us at 888-354-BIKE or email us your question. ___________________________________________________

[/learn_more] [learn_more caption="Can I ride in the rain with the Down Low Glow?"]

It's late, it's rainy, and you really just want to get home. But don't forget about safety, because rainy nights are when you most need good lighting. Fortunately, the Down Low Glow is suitable for use in the rain. There have been issues with the Down Low Glow's wet weather performance in the past. Read on to learn the most common issues with rain. We've been selling the Down Low Glow since 2003, and waterproofing has been our number one durability challenge since day one. Each winter we learn a little bit more about what it takes to sell a product that's ready for bike commuters to use rain or (moon)shine. Here's the latest information, as of January 2008. The seals on the lights tubes are doing very well. We are now getting very few reports of condensation inside the light tubes. The batteries are water-resistant and no longer have a power switch that is vulnerable to water damage. (A waterproof power switch is now optionally available.) We are now using a flexible waterproof adhesive to seal the connections between the light tubes and the power driver box, which have been the source of many water-penetration failures in the past. Unfortunately even now that we know how to sell systems with perfect seals, we've discovered that the Down Low Glow's performance/brightness is affected by water on the wires between the light tube and the power driver box. This problem is worse when it is cold. Keeping your lights dry between uses, and using a fully charged battery are good ways to combat this phenomenon. Using an all-nighter battery (especially if you plan to use a dual-tube system) is another way to keep the system voltage high when riding in the rain with the DLG. What follows is information about our waterproofing efforts from 2007 and before. --------------------------------------

Down Low Glow water torture Originally uploaded by Rock The Bike.

Starting in 2005, we turned some serious energy towards waterproofing the DLG. We dunked and thrashed a dozen of our light tubes in a trash can to test how well the epoxy seals are doing at keeping moisture out. The initial results weren't perfect; 10 out of 12 tubes were hermetically sealed. The failures showed condensation inside the light tube that evaporated after the tubes were kept in a warm dry room for a few days. Keep in mind that the abuse these tubes saw is far worse than what yours will see on a rainy commute. We kept working on the waterproofing epoxy seals and did another test in the summer of 2007. This time 10 out of 10 light tubes passed the test in hermetically sealed fashion. We also recently redesigned our battery packs so that customers wouldn't have to plastic bag them in the rain. The previous version had a power switch that made it easier to turn the DLG on and off. But the power switch wasn't waterproof. It also made it harder for people to recharge the battery, because they had to remember to keep the switch in the ON position. Our own friends were showing up to social rides with batteries that would last 10-15 minutes. And when we'd ask them about it, they'd say 'I thought I charged it...' So we figured, let's do away with the switch until we can figure out a way to make it both waterproof and user-friendly. Our current waterproofing isn't perfect, but we are now seeing far fewer water-related failures than even 6-12 months ago. Go Ahead! Ride in the rain, while we continue to develop even better waterproofing techniques. If you're one of the few customers with a DLG system that has been damaged by water, we'll replace it, as long as it's within the 1-year warranty. [/learn_more] [learn_more caption="Can I mix two colors within a Dual-tube Down Low Glow system?"] Content goes here[/learn_more] [learn_more caption="Can I ride offroad with the Down Low Glow?"] Content goes here[/learn_more] [learn_more caption="Can the Down Low Glow be stolen? How can I prevent this?"] Content goes here[/learn_more] [learn_more caption="Do cold temperatures affect the Down Low Glow?"] Content goes here[/learn_more] [learn_more caption="How does the Down Low Glow compare to traditional front and rear bike lights?"] Content goes here[/learn_more] [learn_more caption="I'm having trouble choosing between the dual and single tube Down Low Glow. Can you help me choose?"] Content goes here[/learn_more] [learn_more caption="What color should I get to maximize my safety?"] Content goes here[/learn_more]

Shortcodes

admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:23:32 +0000

Button Varieties

Using our buttons shortcodes, you can easily create a variety of buttons. These buttons all stem from a single tag, but vary in color and size (each of which are adjustable using color=”" and type=”" parameters). Furthermore, advanced option buttons have been integrated into the post page text editor, allowing you to instantly generate buttons of any type without having to write the shortcode markup yourself.

Small Buttons

Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text

Icon Buttons

Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text Button Text

Big Buttons

Big Button Big Button Big Button Big Button Big Button Big Button

2. Content Boxes

Content boxes are a great way to grab your visitor’s eye and direct them to important content within the post. The ElegantThemes shortcode pack comes with five box variations, all of which stem from the [ box ] shortcode and are adjustable using the type=”” parameter. These boxes have a fluid width that automatically adjusts the the size of its parent element. In this example, each box is placed within a [ one_third ] column.

Warning Box

Warning
Curabitur luctus, dui ut tempor convallis, arcu sapien euismod ante, in pretium nunc ante sed purus. Nunc quis quam sit amet ipsum tempus mollis. Curabitur nisi erat.

Download Box

Download
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Info Box

Info
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Bio Box

About Me
Curabitur luctus, dui ut tempor convallis, arcu sapien euismod ante, in pretium nunc ante sed purus. Nunc quis quam sit amet ipsum tempus mollis. Curabitur nisi erat.

Normal Box

Normal Box
Curabitur luctus, dui ut tempor convallis, arcu sapien euismod ante, in pretium nunc ante sed purus. Nunc quis quam sit amet ipsum tempus mollis. Curabitur nisi erat. In placerat rutrum felis, eu lacinia nunc eleifend.

Easy Tooltips

Now you can add beautiful tooltips to any element by wrapping it in a [ tooltip ] shortcode. Below are a few examples of how the tooltips could be used when combined with text, images, and even other shortcodes!

Allowing your post to be promoted via the various social media networks has never been easier. Now you can add social media buttons to your posts quickly and easily using the various social media shortcodes provided.

0diggsdigg

Column Layouts

With the column layout shortocdes, however, you can now break down your content into any number of advanced layouts giving variety and hierarchy to your post. Columns can be created in halves, thirds, fourths and two-thirds.

One Half

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Custom Icon Lists

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DropCaps

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Oorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec laoreet, purus et interdum feugiat, lectus ante pellentesque tortor, ac volutpat orci libero et libero. In ac gravida leo. Donec ullamcorper pretium vulputate. Nulla in dignissim lectus. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Quisque pharetra ultricies arcu, et semper nunc suscipit quis. Quisque suscipit lacus ut nulla lacinia elementum. Aliquam vehicula quam ac leo auctor vel sagittis tortor consequat.

Porem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec laoreet, purus et interdum feugiat, lectus ante pellentesque tortor, ac volutpat orci libero et libero. In ac gravida leo. Donec ullamcorper pretium vulputate. Nulla in dignissim lectus. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Quisque pharetra ultricies arcu, et semper nunc suscipit quis. Quisque suscipit lacus ut nulla lacinia elementum. Aliquam vehicula quam ac leo auctor vel sagittis tortor consequat.

Quotes

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Donec laoreet, purus et interdum feugiat, lectus ante pellentesque tortor, ac volutpat orci libero et libero. In ac gravida leo. Donec ullamcorper pretium vulputate. Nulla in dignissim lectus. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Quisque pharetra ultricies arcu, et semper nunc suscipit quis. Quisque suscipit lacus ut nulla lacinia elementum. Aliquam vehicula quam ac leo auctor vel sagittis tortor consequat.

Quisque suscipit lacus ut nulla lacinia elementum. Donec laoreet, purus et interdum feugiat, lectus ante pellentesque tortor, ac volutpat orci libero et libero. In ac gravida leo. Donec ullamcorper pretium vulputate. Nulla in dignissim lectus. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Quisque pharetra ultricies arcu, et semper nunc suscipit quis. Quisque suscipit lacus ut nulla lacinia elementum. Aliquam vehicula quam ac leo auctor vel sagittis tortor consequat.

Shortcodes 2

admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 01:13:36 +0000

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admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 01:30:03 +0000

Blog

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Email Us

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:32:51 +0000

Email Us

Please feel free to contact Rock the Bike via Info@RockTheBike.com or you can leave a message using the contact form below.

Paul Cumpian Rocks The Bike

sophie — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:03:55 +0000

Paul is a Dunun playing Xtracycle rider from the Bay Area who has been a presence on Critical Mass rides for as long as I can remember. He's also supported Worldbike's work in Kenya by raising funds from his music community. He was recently captured by the San Francisco Chronicle doing what he does best -- shaking it up, baby!

Schwinn Grey Ghost for sale

sophie — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:04:56 +0000

2004 Schwinn Grey Ghost for sale.

Squirrel Riding Companion

sophie — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:05:56 +0000

Riding Squirrel by Max Chen Had a chance to go riding with San Francisco Bike Culture artist Max Chen last week. He created this magical riding squirrel to keep him company on his city jaunts. Check out Max's other bike artwork . See the video .

Thanks SF Veloswap!

sophie — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 00:07:09 +0000

Thumbs up from the next generation for Rock The Bike!Thanks Everyone for a great Veloswap and an auspicious Rock The Bike debut! Nate, Katie, Jojo, Erica, Mike, Thao, and I had great time meeting so many of you. Thanks for all the positive energy. Hopefully you got one of our holiday gift guides. If not, I'll post it soon on this page. You can always call us at 888-354-BIKE for helpful answers to your questions. Rock the Bike!

Why I love Critical Mass

sophie — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:08:11 +0000

d by fossilfool

Aloha Single Speeders kick A.S.S

sophie — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:09:45 +0000

I hope that google can find Rock the Bike and connect us with the Aloha Single Speeders of Honolulu.

Honolulu Cruising

sophie — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 00:10:45 +0000

Greetings from the cruising streets of Honolulu, Hawaii!! I got into town and went directly to the bike shop to pick up a bike. I chose to purchase a bike instead of renting because my friend that lives on the island doesn't own his own bike so i ended up giving it to him after I return to the mainland. After checking out a Eki Cyclery, and "the Bike Shop" on Bretania Ave I ended up at the dreaded Wal-Mart to get the Kulani Envy Green 7 speed 26" cruiser. Suprisingly a nice bike! The hills in town were not very steep so climbing was pretty easy. Ala Moana beach park has plenty of beach side paths crossing over a creek and a VERY nice park to see plenty of people BBQing, playing Ukulele, jogging, walking and just hanging out. Just a beautiful Tropical Hawaiian Day! The night rides were even more fun. Traffic was slow as we cruised down Kalkaua Avenue enjoying the tradewinds and the warm night air. IF or WHEN you get out to Hawaii, DEFINITELY rent a bike and cruise around town. YOU WILL ENJOY IT!!

Public Space

sophie — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 00:12:18 +0000

What's your definition of public space? When does public space end? Do you want this?

Let's Greenwash this city

sophie — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 00:13:41 +0000

Why, when suggesting that riding a bicycle is an important part of building a 'greener' city, does PG&E pick a recumbent bike with a big flag sticking out the back? Why not an everyman's bike that readers will see and say to themselves, "Oh yeah, I could do that." Why is he all alone, trying to stay between the MUNI rails, with a car about to pass him on the right? Isn't this the exact situation that my friends have in mind when they say "I don't feel comfortable biking in the city"? Why do they say "Green is this guy"? They might as well write "Green is that guy". 'This guy' puts him at a distance from us, the mainstream reader. What if, instead, PG&E chose a younger, sexier -- no offense -- model, maybe a woman, on a stylish city bike, in one of the bike lanes that SFBC has fought so hard for, with three other bikers flanking her in the background (as is often the case on Market St. in the morning hours)? Instead of saying "Green is this guy," they could personalize it by saying "Green is Karen Jones". If you've seen "Who Killed the Electric Car?" you know that, just because a company advertises a product, doesn't mean that they necessarily want people to buy the product. In the case of the electric car, there's strong evidence that GM and Toyota wanted to kill their electric car programs and were only advertising them to fulfill the legal requirement in California. In the case of PG&E's Let's Green This City campaign, they are advertising individual action such as bicycle riding, but obviously not doing it in the most persuasive way they could.

Counter PG&E's PR

sakura saunders | Wed, 01/31/2007 - 8:47pm

Hey! I am part of a group of people that set up a website with a lot of facts that counter PG&E's deceptive greenwashing campaign. It's called letsgreenwashthiscity.org, so I thought that you might enjoy it! here's a couple of facts from the site: PG&E owns 0% solar and 2% wind facilities PG&E's ClimateSmart program is a bandage solution to climate change, it is a consumptive response to climate change (it has customers pay to plant trees to offset their emissions) and does nothing to address the root cause of global warming. Also, their stated goal for this program is a mere 5%! go to letsgreenwashthiscity.org to read more. thanks! sakura

Inspiring public dance performance on the side of a building.

sophie — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 00:15:35 +0000

You really have to experience this type of thing in person, but here's a taste. Dancers from Flyaway Productions in San Francisco, under director Jo Kreiter, transformed a building into a stage. Inspiring dance on the side of a building. Rigged with climbing harnesses and lit up brilliantly with stage lighting, they flipped and danced to the delight of spectators below. Please see my Flickr slideshow and YouTube video for more of this inspiring performance. It was truly the most amazing public piece of art I've seen in a long time.

What's Your Locking Style?

sophie — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 00:16:49 +0000

Do you have a locking style? How you lock the bike may affect how you Rock the Bike. Here's one that caught my eye recently: Bike locked to trash can in front of Metreon Close-up bike on trash can.: Guess he's not worried about the paint job.

What do you want to see?

sophie — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 00:17:48 +0000

Cruiser rides are a lot of fun.

Fremont Cruiser ride event summary

sophie — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 00:18:23 +0000

BikeKlubBboy's log. Earth date: 5 October 2006 14:45 Hours. Location: Fremont, California The Pope, Daniel and I got to JMT (Juan More Taco) about 620 to chow down on some great Juanchos Nachos, Juan Dogs and a Juan Big Quesadilla.

Is that his full time job?

sophie — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:19:28 +0000

I saw the Muscle Car guy again! This time in down town San Francisco. I heard him first about 3 blocks away. I thought it was a union protest or something. Then as I got closer I heard "We are at War!" and I knew it was him, and there he was! Is this is full time job? It was a Monday morning... Weird..

DPW and DLG

sophie — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 00:21:30 +0000

I got a call from a customer named Frank who wanted to see the Down Low Glow in person before buying. We made an appointment to do so at my home office in the Mission while he was on break from work. At 10:30 this morning, Frank arrived, in a DPW Street Cleaning truck. This is what I saw when I opened the door. Frank up closer. Frank is a street sweeper who commutes to his job from the East Bay on BART and bike. He rides a basic, heavy full suspension mountain bike. I'm pretty sure the Down Low Glow he bought today cost more than the bike he rides! Frank said he saw someone rocking the Down Low Glow on Valencia st. and flagged him down to find out about the lights. I installed the single tube version installed on his bike in about 3 minutes. Thanks Frank -- hope to see you on the street soon.

Muscle Cars for Fear

sophie — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:22:48 +0000

I went to Napa on the 9/11 5th anniversary to work with framebuilder Curtis Inglis. On the way back, Ed and I were picking up some snacks at Safeway when this guy started broadcasting a tape of Michael Savage through a megaphone strapped to the hood of his muscle car. When we walked up to ask him about what he was playing, he was holding the mouthpiece of the megaphone up a boombox. The tape he was playing was vitriolic "Close the borders!" stuff. I appreciated the irony of the moment, because I had been working with Curtis on frames for Soul Cycles and this car was like, this guy's Soul Cycle. Except instead of playing Marvin Gaye, he was playing right wing radio. And it had no bass.

American Auto Terrorism

sophie — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 00:24:30 +0000

I went out to a local Tapioca Tea Shop to get a drink last night.

Reggae DJ Trike

sophie — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 00:25:23 +0000

Apparently, it's not uncommon in Jamaica to see guys rolling around with sound systems on their tricycles, and not only that.

Baby on bike what message are you sending?

sophie — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 00:26:50 +0000

Turntabling while Cruising?

sophie — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:29:40 +0000

Peter Eland of Velovision Magazine emailed me this photo of a sound system, taken at the Eurobike trade show a few weeks ago. The custom fiberglass work is very clean, with the rounded corners, and trap doors. I also like the choice of speakers -- the aluminum cones look very sleek and integrate well with the white cabinet. The design for the top surface is simple and looks very stable. Is it stable enough for the needle on that turntable to stay in the groove out on the street? Or does it only work on the carpeted halls of the trade show? I'm very curious. Perhaps DJ Jojo can tell us if it's possible to roll while turntabling. If you set the needle to the heaviest setting, perhaps? Adding any instrument to a cruiser ride is a great way to take the creative potential higher. The turntable may not be the most practical choice, but since when is Soul Cycling about practicality? The iPod is practical, but isn't itself very interactive. This sound system also gives us a chance to talk about one of the hardest challenges in bicycle audio: form vs. function. The bicycle is such a beautiful, iconic form. As a designer, I want to compliment it, accentuate it, emulate its simplicity. But the demands of audio are such that we need large speaker cabinets in order to achieve good bass. Bass is so critical to feeling the music in your body, which makes you want to move and dance. It makes you feel like you're cruising 'in the music', not listening to music on your bike. Reproducing good bass requires a resonating chamber. I can't tell you how big because it depends on the size of the woofers you use and their electomagnetic properties. I use the Loudspeaker Design Cookbook as a guide. What makes this challenge harder is that bass gets lost in the street because you don't have the walls of a room to reinforce it. It's not enough to not scrimp on bass; you have to overcompensate. Ultimately, this sound system, despite its professional execution, looks fairly blocky. Sometimes this is unavoidable, particularly if you want to have a powerful system. I think these guys could have done a little better to avoid their sound system dominating the bike. But maybe that's not the aesthetic they were going for.

Does that thing fit on the bike shuttle?

sophie — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 23:32:00 +0000

We often get this question from peope who use BART and the bike shuttle. And I'm happy to say, yes. An Xtracycle fits on both BART elevators (tipped up) and on the bike shuttle. It takes a little finesse to go on Caltrain with an Xtracycle, because it exceeds the 80 inch length limit, and many conductors are strict. City buses can work if you remove the front wheel, and place the hook over the top tube of the bike.

Does that thing fit on the bike shuttle?

Fossil Fool vs Kool Herc

sophie — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 23:33:17 +0000

I rigged my favorite speakers to my new Soul Cycle Chopper, to prototype the sound of my new custom cabinet. To power the speakers, I used a small digital amplifier similar to the ones in our Soul Cycle Head Unit. Above: Fossil Fool's new ride -- the Soul Cycle Chopper. This shot reminded me of the classic image of New York's first hip hop DJ, Kool Herc. Kool Herc, pioneering hiphop DJ's classic convertible Kool Herc was the first to introduce the spoken word (rap) to dance parties, and the first DJ to play just the breaks, or sweet moments of a song, instead of the whole songs.

Utility Bicycle prototype makes it to Worldbike shop in Kisumu

sophie — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 23:35:54 +0000

Worldbike.org's Technical Lead Ed Lucero is back in Kisumu, Kenya, retrieving bicycles for the upcoming "Design for the Other 90%" exhibit at the Smithsonian, and prototyping full-length cargo bikes. Go Ed!

Utility Bicycle prototype makes it to Worldbike shop in Kisumu

Human Power Research in the Rock The Bike workshop.

sophie — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 23:37:42 +0000

If this video doesn't make you want to buy an electric bicycle, something is wrong.

sophie — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 23:40:39 +0000

Electric guitar solo, daring stunts, beautiful models, special effects, yeow! Skip ahead about 30 seconds in if you're short on time.

Fossil Fool Chosen for Brooks Saddle Home Page

sophie — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:42:09 +0000

This photo of Fossil Fool and a guest rapper won the Brooks Saddles photo contest and will be on their home page. Story of the photo: I was street performing in North Beach, San Francisco, during one of the San Francisco Cruiser Rides, and this crowd of people walked by and started really reacting to the music. One of them said he had something to say a cappella, so I handed him the microphone and let him do his thing. He was really getting into it. Brooks Saddle Home Page

Where stolen bikes go BY JUSTIN JOUVENAL

sophie — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 23:44:13 +0000

Here is a GREAT article I found in the San Francisco Bay Guardian. www.sfbg.com I really enjoyed reading it and got some great insight about stolen bicycles. Enter the urban underworld of open-air chop shops, steal-to-order thieves, and brazen fencing networks, where San Francisco's most pervasive crime is ignored by the authorities BY JUSTIN JOUVENAL Chasing my stolen bicycleEnter the urban underworld of open-air chop shops, steal-to-order thieves, and brazen fencing networks, where San Francisco's most pervasive crime is ignored by the authoritiesBy Justin Jouvenal › news@sfbg.com">news@sfbg.com I stalked across the parking lot of the Mission District's Best Buy. Like the hordes of people that streamed into the store, I was there to do a little shopping, but it wasn't for a flat-screen TV or an iPod. I was in the market for a stolen bike. I bypassed the aisles of buzzing electronics and headed around the back of the store to a trash-strewn alley. It was empty except for a beat-up white van with its side door ajar. I took a nervous breath and knocked on the side. A blond man in a sweat-stained undershirt threw open the door to reveal what looked like an upended Tour de France chase car: piles of tire rims, gears, and bike frames were scattered everywhere. The powerful stink of unwashed bodies stung my nostrils. A man in a tracksuit slumbered on a seat. The blond man looked sleepy and annoyed but waited for me to speak. My $600 bike was stolen — the third in five years — from my Mission garage the night before, and it's here I was told by a bike messenger that I might find it. These guys were rumored to be bike thieves operating in the Mission. "Hey man, have you seen a black and gray Fuji Touring?" I asked, employing a euphemism. "No, we don't steal bikes," the man said, catching my drift. "We collect bikes off the street, repair them, and then sell them. We're like independent businessmen." Interesting way of putting it, I thought, as I glanced at the "businessman" slumbering on a van seat. I glanced around the van half expecting to see my Fuji, but it wasn't there, so I left. As I trudged home I stewed. I had lost more than $1,000 worth of bikes in San Francisco. Bike theft is a virtual right of passage for most cyclists in the city, and the city's thieves seem to operate with ninjalike stealth and efficiency. One cyclist told me how a thief stole his locked ride while he picked up a burrito from a taquería. He wasn't away from the bike for more than five minutes. The city's thieves have even won a silver medal for their efforts: in 2006 the lockmaker Kryptonite ranked San Francisco as the nation's second worst city for bike theft, behind New York. Gradually, my anger hardened into resolve, or more precisely, a mission. It would be virtually impossible, but I would set out to find my bike. The thought that my life would mirror the plot of a Pee-wee Herman movie was more than a little amusing, but I had a job to do. In my months-long quest I crisscrossed the city, chasing down Dickensian thieves, exploring the city's largest open-air market for stolen goods, and finally landing in the surprising place where hundreds of stolen bikes — perhaps yours — end up. Unwittingly, I pedaled right into San Francisco's underworld. THE GURUS OF GREASE Bike theft may seem like petty street crime, but it's actually a humming illegal industry. Consider this: thieves steal nearly $50 million worth of bikes each year in the United States, far outstripping the take of bank robbers, according to the FBI. And in San Francisco's rich bicycling culture, thieves have found a gold mine. About 1,000 bikes are reported stolen in the city each year, but the police say the actual number is probably closer to 2,000 or 3,000, since most people don't file reports. "It's rampant," Sgt. Joe McCloskey of the San Francisco Police Department told the Guardian. I sought out McCloskey, the SFPD's resident expert on bike theft, and another man, Victor Veysey, to give me a wider view of San Francisco's world of bike thieves and possibly a lead on where I might find my bike. Several cyclists had recommended Veysey, saying he could provide a "street level" view of bike theft. Veysey is the Yoda of San Francisco's bike world. For more than a decade, the 39-year-old has worked on and off as a bike messenger, mechanic, and member of the city's Bike Advisory Committee. He also ran the Bike Hut, which teaches at-risk youth how to repair bikes. And he's in a band that plays a tune called "Schwinn Cruiser." Despite their different perspectives (the city's police and biking communities are not the best of friends), McCloskey and Veysey painted remarkably similar pictures of San Francisco's black market for bikes. In the wide world of illegal activity, bike thievery seems to occupy a criminal sweet spot. It is a relatively painless crime to commit, and city officials do little to stop it. As McCloskey readily admitted, bike theft is not a priority for law enforcement, which he said has its hands full with more serious crimes. "We make it easy for them," McCloskey said of bike thieves. "The DA doesn't do tough prosecutions. All the thieves we've busted have got probation. They treat it like a petty crime." Debbie Mesloh, a spokesperson for District Attorney Kamala Harris, said most bike thieves are not prosecuted, but that's because they are juveniles or they qualify for the city's pretrial diversion program. The diversion program offers counseling in lieu of prosecution for first-time nonviolent offenders. Bike thieves qualify for it if they steal a bike worth $400 or less. Mesloh said the District Attorney's Office prosecutes felony bike thefts, but it doesn't get very many of those cases. "The DA takes all cases of theft seriously," Mesloh wrote in an e-mail. As for the police, McCloskey was equally blunt. "You can't take six people off a murder to investigate a bike theft. [Bike theft investigations] are not an everyday thing. No one is full-time on bike theft. As far as going out on stings and operations, I haven't heard of one in the last year. Bike theft has gone to the bottom of the list." McCloskey's comments were particularly interesting in light of the conversation I had with Veysey, whom I met at the Bike Hut, an off-kilter wood shack near AT&T Park that appears as if it might collapse under the weight of the bicycle parts hanging on its walls. Veysey has a loose blond ponytail and greasy hands. He wields a wrench and apocalyptic environmental rhetoric equally well. "Bikes are one of the four commodities of the street — cash, drugs, sex, and bikes," Veysey told me. "You can virtually exchange one for another." Veysey believes bike thefts are helping prop up the local drug market. It sounds far-fetched, but it's a notion McCloskey and other bike theft experts echoed. The National Bike Registry, a company that runs the nation's largest database for stolen bikes, says on its Web site, "Within the drug trade, stolen bicycles are so common they can almost be used as currency." Veysey believes the police could actually take a bite out of crime in general by making bike theft a bigger priority in the city. Perhaps bikes are so ubiquitous in the drug trade because they are so easy to steal. McCloskey and Veysey said thieves often employ bolt cutters to snap cable locks or a certain brand of foreign car jack to defeat some U-locks. The jack slips between the arms of the U-lock and, as it is cranked open, pushes the arms apart until the lock breaks. A bike-lock maker later showed me a video demonstrating the technique. It took a man posing as a thief less than six seconds to do in the U-lock. As with any other trade, McCloskey and Veysey said there is a hierarchy in the world of San Francisco bike thieves. At the bottom, drug addicts (like the one Veysey believes stole my bike) engage in crimes of opportunity: snatching single bikes. At a more sophisticated level, McCloskey said, a small number of thieves target high-end bikes, which can top $5,000 apiece. In 2005 police busted a bike thief who was specifically targeting Pacific Heights because of its expensive bikes. The thief said he wore natty golf shirts and khaki pants to blend into the neighborhood. The Internet has revolutionized bike theft, just as it has done for dating, porn, and cat videos. McCloskey said thieves regularly fence bikes on eBay and Craigslist. In August 2004 police busted a thief after a Richmond District man discovered his bike for sale on eBay. Police discovered more than 20 auctions for stolen bikes in the man's eBay account and an additional 20 stolen bikes in a storage space and at his residence. When bikes aren't sold outright, they are stripped, or in street vernacular, chopped, and sold piece by piece or combined with the parts of other bikes, Veysey said. He said people occasionally showed up at the Bike Hut trying to sell him these Frankenstein bikes. But by and large, McCloskey and Veysey said, bike stores are not involved in fencing stolen bikes. However, McCloskey said bikes stolen in the city often are recovered at flea markets around the Bay Area. He believes thieves ship them out of the city to decrease the chance of being caught. The National Bike Registry reports bikes are often moved to other cities or even other states for sale. The idea of Frankenstein bikes was intriguing, so I told Veysey I was going to look into it. He suggested I make a stop first: Carl's Jr. near the Civic Center. I was slightly perplexed by his suggestion, but I agreed to check it out. FAST FOOD, HOT BIKES "Welcome to the San Francisco Zoo — the human version," said Dalibor Lawrence, a homeless man whose last two teeth acted as goalposts for his flitting tongue. His description of the place was brutally apt: a homeless man banged on one of those green public toilets, shouting obscenities; a woman washed her clothes in a fountain; and several crackheads lounged on a wall with vacant stares. I was at the corner of Seventh and Market streets. City Hall's stately gold dome rose a short distance away, but here a whole different San Francisco thrived. Men slowly circulated around the stretch of concrete that abuts UN Plaza. Every so often one would furtively pull out a laptop, a brand new pair of sneakers, or even — improbably enough — bagged collard greens to try to sell to someone hustling by. Seventh and Market is where the city's underground economy bubbles to the surface. It's a Wal-Mart of stolen goods — nearly anything can be bought or, as I would soon find out, stolen to order. McCloskey estimated as many as three in seven bikes stolen in San Francisco end up here. The police periodically conduct stings in the area, but the scene seemed to continue unabated. I made my way to the front of the Carl's Jr. that overlooks an entrance to the Civic Center BART station. I didn't know what to expect or do, so I apprehensively approached three men who were lounging against the side of the restaurant — they clearly weren't there for lunch. I asked them if they knew where I could get a bike. To my surprise, the man in the center rattled off a menu. "I've got a really nice $5,300 road bike I will sell you for $1,000. I've got another for $500 and two Bianchis for $150 each," he said. I told him the prices he listed seemed too good to be true and asked him if the bikes were stolen. People gave them to him, he explained dubiously, because they owed him money. I asked him about my Fuji, but he said he didn't have it. I walked around until I bumped into a woman who called herself Marina. She had a hollow look in her eyes, but I told her my story, and she seemed sympathetic. She sealed a hand-rolled cigarette with a lick, lit it, and made the following proposition: "I have a couple of friends that will steal to order — bicycles, cosmetics, whatever — give me a couple of days, and I will set something up." I politely declined. McCloskey said steal-to-order rings are a common criminal racket in the city. Police have busted thieves with shopping lists for everything from Victoria's Secret underwear to the antiallergy drug Claritin. In one case, McCloskey said, police traced a ring smuggling goods to Mexico. A short time later a man rode through the plaza on a beat-up yellow Schwinn. He tried to sell the 12-speed to another man, so I approached him and asked how much he wanted for it. He told me $20. With a modest amount of bargaining, I got him down to $5 before telling him I wasn't interested. Just before I left, two police officers on a beat patrol walked through the plaza. Sales stopped briefly. As soon as the officers passed out of earshot, a man came up to me. "Flashlights," he said, "real cheap." INSIDE A CHOP SHOP After striking out at Seventh and Market, I figured it was time to investigate the chop shops Veysey mentioned. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) reports bicycle chop shops operate all over the city. Thieves strip bikes because the parts (unlike the frames) don't have serial numbers and can't be traced as stolen once they are removed from a bike. The parts can be sold individually or put on another stolen bike to disguise it, hence the Frankenstein bikes that show up at the Bike Hut. When Veysey told me about bicycle chop shops, I pictured something from a '70s cop movie — a warehouse in an industrial district populated with burly men wielding blowtorches. But the trail led me somewhere else entirely: Golden Gate Park. SFBC officials said they had received reports from a gardener about chop shops in the park. When I called Maggie Cleveland, a Recreation and Park Department employee responsible for cleaning up the park, she said they do exist and would show me what she thought was one if I threw on a pair of gloves, grabbed a trash bag, and joined one of her cleanup crews. I agreed. Shortly before 8 a.m. on a foggy, chilly morning, the crew and I picked up mechanical grabbers and industrial-size trash bags and then climbed a steep hill near 25th Avenue and Fulton Street on the Richmond District side of the park. We plunged into a large camp in the middle of a hollowed-out grove of acacia bushes. The camp looked like a sidewalk after an eviction. Books and papers vomited from the mouth of a tent. Rain-soaked junk littered the camp, including a golf bag filled with oars, an algebra textbook, a telescope, and a portable toilet. A hypodermic needle stuck in a stump like a dart and a gaudy brass chandelier swung from a branch. Amid the clutter was one constant: bicycles and their parts. A half dozen bikes leaned against bushes in various states of repair. There were piles of tires and gears scattered around. The noise of the crew had awoken the residents of the camp. A man and two women sprung up and immediately tried to grab things as the crew stuffed the contents of the camp into trash bags. They grew more and more agitated as two dozen bags were filled. Cleveland said the group may have been operating a chop shop, but she didn't have definitive proof, so they were let go with camping citations. I asked one of the campers if their bikes were stolen. "We find this stuff in the trash. There's an economy here. We exchange stuff for other stuff," he said. Cleveland said the camp was typical of what the crews find around the park. One of the most notorious campers goes by the name Bicycle Robert. Cleveland said park officials have found a handful of his camps over the past couple years. One contained more than two dozen bikes, but Robert himself has never turned up. Occasionally, cyclists will get lucky and find their bikes at a chop shop. Max Chen was eating dinner in North Beach one night when his Xtracycle, a bicycle with an elongated back for supporting saddlebags, was stolen. Chen didn't hold out much hope of getting it back, but he put up flyers around the neighborhood anyway. The next day Chen got a call from a friend who said he saw a portion of the distinctive bike behind the Safeway at Potrero and 16th streets. Chen went down to the spot and found a group of guys with an RV, a handful of bicycles, and a pile of bike parts. His bike was there — sort of. "The frame was in one place, and the pedals were on another bike. Other parts were on other bikes. I pointed to all the stuff that was mine and had them strip it. My frame had already been painted silver," Chen told me. Not surprisingly, one of the men said he had bought Chen's bike from someone in the Civic Center. Chen just wanted his bike back, so he forked over $60. The guys handed him a pile of parts in return. WHERE BIKES GO TO DIE A few days after the trip to Golden Gate Park, I finally got around to doing what I should have done when my bike was stolen: file a police report. Frankly, I waited because I held out little hope the police would be of any help. It's true few people get their bikes back through the police, but that's in part because most people don't try. In fact, the police are sitting on a cache of stolen bikes so big that it dwarfs the stock of any bike store in the city. SFPD Lt. Tom Feney agreed to show it to me, so I trekked out to Hunters Point. The police stolen property room is located in an anonymous-looking warehouse in the Naval Shipyard. Feney ushered me through a metal door to the warehouse and then swept his hand through the air as if pointing out a beautiful panorama. "There it is," he said. Behind a 10-foot chain-link fence topped with razor wire, row upon row of bikes stretched along the floor of the warehouse. There were children's bikes with hot pink paint, $2,000 road bikes, and everything in between. In all, the police had about 500 stolen bikes in the warehouse. The bikes are found abandoned on the street, recovered from stings on drug houses, and removed from bike thieves when they are busted. Many of the bikes aren't stolen — they've been confiscated during arrests or are evidence in various cases. The department can't return the stolen bikes because the owners haven't reported them stolen. After holding them for 18 months, the police donate the bikes to charity. I intently scanned up and down the rows looking for my bike. I didn't see it. My last, best chance for finding it had disappeared. My heart dropped knowing my Fuji Touring was gone. Feney ushered me out the door, and I began the long, slow walk back to the bus stop. The most frustrating part is that it doesn't have to be this way. Police and bicycle groups said there are some simple steps city officials could take to cut down on bike theft, but the issue has long slipped through the cracks. Officer Romeo de la Vega, who works the SFPD's Fencing Unit, said he proposed a bike registration system a few months ago, but it was shot down by the police brass. De la Vega said he was told there simply weren't enough officers available to staff the system. Under his plan cyclists would register their bike serial numbers with police. In return the cyclists would get a permanent decal to place on their bikes. De la Vega said this would discourage thieves from stealing bikes since it would be clear they were registered, and it would speed bike returns. With police officials claiming there are few resources to combat bike theft, it seems logical they might reach out to the community for help. But officials with the SFBC report just the opposite. "In the past we've tried to connect with the police to jointly tackle the problem, but we haven't had much luck. We don't even know who is handling bike thefts," Andy Thornley, the SFBC program director, said. Thornley said the coalition is willing to use its membership to help police identify chop shops and fencing rings around the city. He said the police need to do a better job of going after the larger players in the bike theft world and the District Attorney's Office needs to take a tougher stance on prosecution. Ultimately, Thornley said, enforcement is not the key to reducing bike theft. He said the city must make it easier for cyclists to park their bikes safely. The coalition is crafting legislation that would require all commercial buildings to allow cyclists to bring their bikes inside — something many currently prohibit. The coalition would also like to see bike parking lots spring up around the city, with attendants to monitor them. Supervisor Chris Daly, who is an avid cyclist and has had six bikes stolen, said he is willing to help. "It's clear we are not doing very much," Daly said. "I think if there were a push from bicyclists to do a better job, I would certainly work toward making theft more of a priority." *

Do LED's improve the environment over fluorescents

sophie — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 23:45:09 +0000

We've been considering redesigning the Down Low Glow to use an LED light source. As opposed to fluorescents, LEDs don't contain any mercury. That means the factories where their made don't have mercury vapors. But is there a seamy underside of LEDs? Maybe so. Got a comment?

Working on taxonomy data conversion

sophie — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 23:46:37 +0000

There were several vocabularies that hadn't been converted. This was causing various problems, especially with simplenews.

Forums converted

sophie — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 23:47:43 +0000

I finished converting the forums to Category. I had to guess some of the structure, so if something is in the wrong place, it's my fault. The posts aren't converted yet, as I have no clue where stuff is supposed to be.

Using the DLG in the rain

sophie — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 23:48:10 +0000

It's late, it's rainy, and you just want to get home. But don't forget about safety, because rainy nights are when you most need good lighting. Fortunately, the Down Low Glow is suitable for use in the rain. Down Low Glow on a rainy night. Really the only thing you have to know about using the DLG in the rain is that the battery must be plastic-bagged. If you forget to do this, water will penetrate the power switch, causing corrosion. It won't keep you from getting home in a pinch. But a few days later, if you're unlucky, you'll try to turn on your lights and nothing will happen. (If this happens to you, rock the switch back and forth 10-20 times, HARD! This usually breaks up any corrosion. Once again, keep this from happening by sticking the battery in a ZipLock sandwich bag, then mounting as normal. Enjoy and ride safe!

Down Low Glow water torture

This year, we turned some serious energy towards waterproofing the DLG. We dunked and thrashed a dozen of our light tubes in a trash can recently to test how well the epoxy seals are doing at keeping moisture out. Well, the results weren't perfect, but 10 out of 12 tubes were hermetically sealed. The others showed condensation inside that evaporated after the tubes were kept in a warm dry room for a few days. Keep in mind that these tubes were completey submerged and knocked around underwater. The abuse they saw is far worse than a rainy commute. So, while the current level of waterproofing is far from perfect, it's good enough for us to say "Go Ahead! Ride in the rain, while we research better water proofing techniques." If you're one of the unlucky customers with a DLG that has been penetrated by water, we'll replace it, as long as it's within the 1-year warranty.

PG&E got it right on this one.

sophie — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 23:49:44 +0000

This bus ad in PG&E's Let's Green This City campaign, gets it right.

PG&E got it right on this one

DLG enhances nighttime mountain biking.

sophie — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:50:42 +0000

Take to the woods with your favorite mountain bike, a high intensity headlight, and the Down Low Glow. The Down Low Glow adds an otherworldly ambience to night-time trail rides. Your friends will appreciate the additional light when they're chasing you down a gully. Ride like your normally ride. The Down Low Glow's special shockproofing means you don't have to slow down on your favorite trails. Pictured is a Light & Motion ARC headlight. This lighting system costs nearly $400, but in our opinion, it's worth the money. The main benefit is the crisp, clear, white light, and long battery life. The bike shown here is an Xtracycle Sport Utility Bicycle (Their FreeRadical kit extends your favorite mountain bike, adding cargo capacity and improving the stability through mud, gravel, and dry leaves.) Challenge yourself, but don't forget to use the buddy system when riding off-road at night. Injuries or mechanical problems can quickly become serious when your lights wear out and the cold sets in. So ride safe, and enjoy!

My bamboo seatpost broke today.

sophie — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:52:16 +0000

It was refreshing because I got to see the limits of the wood glue and bamboo technology.

Gabe from Shake Your Peace reveals plans for his Soul cycle

sophie — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 23:53:42 +0000

This is gabe's schematic drawing of the P/A he built for his touring rig. It includes a ported plywood box, a big 10" woofer, a tweeter, a 200 watt car amp, and a rechargeable battery. Gabe chose an amp that is bridgeable, meaning he can put the full power of the amp into one speaker. Also, take a look at the steps from the amp to the speaker. First there's a crossover. That splits the bass from the treble so the tweeters don't get damaged by bass freqencies. Then on the way to the tweeter there's a LPAD. That's a knob that allows gabe to turn the tweeter up or down to dial in the balance of woofy bass to crisp tweeter notes. Here's wishing Gabe luck on his tour to Utah this April!

Let's Greenwash this city

sophie — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 23:55:27 +0000

Should a chopper bicycle have a fake gas tank, fake tailpipe, or fake engine?

sophie — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 23:56:19 +0000

Hey bike people, There's an awesome discussion of an amazing chopper bicycle over at chopperbicycle.net. Part of the discussion get into the issue of whether a beautiful chopper like this should have a fake engine that is purely cosmetic and offers no functional benefit to the rider. So what do you think? Yes chopper bicycles do owe their lineage to chopper motorcycles. But on the other hand, a chopper bicycle is a beautiful thing, a bicycle thing. It's a different experience to be on a chopper bicycle from a chopper motorcycle. Don't direct motorcycle visual cues like fake engines and tailpipes stick out like an "I'd rather be riding a motorcycle" T-shirt? I guess I've made my own views clear, but wait! What about gas tanks? Of course, they're just like fake engines and tail pipes, right? Well, maybe, but c'mon, did you look at the swept back 'tank' on the 'NostalgiaRider's' chopper above? Holy *&y$! It's freaking beautiful! Drop a comment below!

Nate's baby due soon..

sophie — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 23:57:54 +0000

Kaety is due soon.

SomaFM.com helping me get through the night

sophie — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:02:06 +0000

Yo what's up bike people, people of the bike!? I just wanted to say that SomaFMis helping me get through the night. I highly suggest you check it out. They've got 12 different flavors of electronic music, all available in 128bit Mp3 streams. So if you're stuck in front of a computer tonight, put that on and you'll be happy. I've been working all day on the new Rock The Bike web site. I'm so psyched. Drupal has come a long way in the last year since I've been learning it. Or maybe it's that my knowledge and comfort level have improved also. But everything is clicking tonight, my bike brothers and sistas. Rock the bike is going to feature a network of cool cruisers in dozens, no hundreds of towns and cities across the country and stretching out to Holland and Japan too. You can see a bit of that future in the current site. Check out the upcoming Southbay Cruisers community ride, for example. It's been led by my man John Silva of Redondo Beach. Right in the heart of car culture USA, John is going to lead a cruiser ride with his new Soul Cycle. He says the reaction locally has been great so far and he's got the support of a few different bike shops. Well some new improvements we're uploading soon, the whole process of organizing cruiser rides will be a lot easy and fun. You'll be able to put together an email list using the 'organic groups' section of our site. And you feel like putting a ride together, just click a button and your people will get the message. The BAM 12 people show up at the cafe ready to cruise. How cool is that? It's all about the impromptu. How can you really plan a cruiser ride if you don't know you'll have cruising weather? I've struggled with that a lot at the San Francisco Cruiser Ride. Peace, Fossil Fool

Introducing my fleet/my wish list

sophie — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:02:56 +0000

Ahhh, those days when you can just let your imagination go. Today, I'm in the mood to dream about some bike stuff. For those of you that know me, I don't have one bike!! I have one FLEET of bikes. Too many to store in one place. So, I started out with my original Schwinn Predator BMX from my childhood, bought a Diamondback Beach Cruiser Islander 7 speed, a Schwinn Grey Ghost single speed coaster Stingray (for sale!!), a Grey Ghost 5 speed stingray, Specialized Sequoia elite model road touring bike, Marin Muirwoods citybike with Xtracycle Freeradical (the soon to be Soul Cycle), and a Kulana 7 speed green beach cruiser (stationed in Honolulu Hawaii). The fleet is 7 strong! Its a funny feeling when your friends come over to visit, just hang out and someone gets the idea of taking a cruise around town to get some dinner or drinks, they rush the garage, grab every bike off the wall or cieling hook, your ride down the street, look around and EVERY BIKE AROUND YOU IS YOURS!! I will post pics up soon!! My wish list. Well 2007 is full of new projects endeavors and bike life.

Come out August 11th to Alemany farm 11am

sophie — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 21:48:03 +0000

I'll be there playing to start things off for the bicycle music festival. www.justinancheta.com cheers, Justin Ancheta justin@sinclairband.com (I really want to get one of those cool portable music bikes) - anyone that can help out... I'd appreciate!

I wonder how it feels facing backwards

sophie — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 21:49:56 +0000

The Juvinals, a punk band from Reno, uses Conference Bike as performance rig

sophie — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 21:52:45 +0000

Slovenly Pete has modified his Conference Bike (seen below in full neon regalia on the Playa) with a drumset and 10 channel mixer. The video screams for itself.

Ice(Blue)Down Low Glow in Midnight Ridazz video?

sophie — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:57:03 +0000

Noticed a couple videos on www.midnightridazz.com of what appears to be a recumbent rider with an Ice Down Low Glow at a recent ride. It's about 1 minute in. Check ' out!

Flow Toys festival rig

sophie — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 21:59:49 +0000

Sean and his wife run www.FlowToys.com -- they make light toys for Poi dancing and staff spinning. They recently came out with a new product called the FlowLight, a cool fish-shaped toy with about a dozen different light modes that look especially cool while spinning or moving. The LED's flicker in ways that cause a 'persistence of vision effect'. Sean was heading to the Oregon Country Fair, a multi-day festival, to sell his wares. He tricked out his Xtracycle with bins to showcase his staffs and store his inventory. There are shimmering reflective holographic stickers on the main triangle of the frame. He also purchased some custom "ghost" colored Down Low Glow (a light purplish white). Sean came up with a custom kickstand for his rig too. It should be noted that Xtracycle frames have a cantilevered rear section. So supporting it from the rear is not appropriate for some applications, like bike blending, when there will be a rider on the bike.

July 4-eva 2007 SF Cruiser Ride

sophie — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:04:04 +0000

This bike ride was a transforming experience that forever changed my life and you should go to every one from now on. Diverse throngs of people cheered us on as we paraded through the city streets with Fossil Fool the Bike Rapper leading the way, and Gabe and JoJo providing the amplification of the jams. we danced with families to uplifting house-funk from an outlook in the golden gate park whilst delivering a message of true freedom and independence through bikes and music. we watched the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks from the beach at crissy field with barry white and opera from pucchini as the soundtrack. Pucchini received applause from the crowd when complemented by a fireworks spectacular. We had a freestyle session near the fisherman's wharf with some radtastic 15 year old kids. These culture creating/transcending rides are not to be missed! love to you all, see you on the next social adventure- Sarah

A bicycle may be the perfect place to listen to music. But you have to think big.

sophie — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:05:24 +0000

Soul Cycle Slim in action at Halloween Critical mass in San Francisco Many have tried putting speakers on bicycles. And there are even a couple handlebar-mounted products on the market that amplify an FM radio or an MP3 player. The difference between a Soul Cycle and those other products is sex appeal and sound quality. The sound quality of these handlebar mounted units is always compromised by forcing full range music out of tinny sounding speakers in tiny plastic enclosures with no capacity to reproduce bass frequencies. They sound no better than listening to your music on a laptop at full blast from across the room. So music lovers turn to headphones, which, in theory provide perfect stereo separation and plenty of bass. But in practice, the wind seems to whip between the headphones and your ear. The wires are constantly getting caught on your brake levers and yank your earbuds down into your aural canal when you rise to climb a hill. And you take a real hit on safety by isolating yourself from the noise of approaching vehicles and pedestrians. But none of these annoyances even approach biggest problem of headphones -- that you can't share your music. How awesome is it to drive a car to the beach with four friends, all singing along to Hotel California? Those social experiences are not only possible on a bike; indeed they're even better than they are in a car. Because there is so much engine, wind, and road noise to overcome, most car stereo systems can't match the clarity and presence of music on a Soul Cycle . In fact, one of the most common reactions bystanders have to a Soul Cycle is "That sounds better than my car!" Soul Cycle Slim at a recent Mission District Party On a bicycle, the listening environment is much more favorable than in a car. The background noise is 100-1000 times lower than a car, creating a black velvet background for your favorite music. And because the background noise level is so low, you don't have to turn your music up very loud to experience the immersive effect of hi-fi stereo. You'll be listening to music in a volume range where your speakers can show the true clarity. Soul Cycle Slim is lightweight enough to carry up a flight of stairs to a train platform unassisted. The volume will be just perfect for conversation, either with your passenger or with a friend alongside you. But when you want a little extra power to enter a barbeque (or just a bar) in style, it's there.

Looking for cruising partners

sophie — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 22:10:08 +0000

Hey...I live in Mt View ca and am looking for cruising partners. I can travel from San Jose to SF to Santa Cruz. I have a Phat cycle linkage chopper and a GT Slick Daddy. Anyone interested email me.... crh4978@yahoo.com CRH

The Soul Cycle head unit Rocks!

sophie — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 22:11:02 +0000

I've been using the soul cycle head unit with two Infinity 2 way 6 x 9 car stereo speakers that I picked up on close out special at Best Buy. The system rocks our Southbay Cruisers rides in Hermosa Beach,CA. I've found it loud enough for cruiser rides of 20 - 35 people. People on the ride get a kick out of the fact that there is actually a stereo on my bike too. I love that it is so small - even smaller than the picture makes it seem. And I love that it has just one set of wires to connect to your speakers. And the battery seems to last forever. I've ran it for as long as 5 hours at a time without charging it. I can easily take it on and off of my xtracycle and I don't need a trailer for it. If you want a stereo for your bike that's loud enough for a cruisers ride, yet quiet enough for your cruisers to hold an audible conversation, and you can't afford a custom built soul cycle, this may be the one for you. You could probably build one yourself for less money, but if time is a valuable commodity to you, and you aren't a bike stereo building guru-check out the soul cycle head unit.

Discovering Alternate Uses of the Down Low Glow, and rolling with the Long Tall Sally, an Xtracycle Tall Bike

sophie — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:12:31 +0000

Kipchoge and Eco invited me to a hard-rocking Manu Chao show on Wednesday night and uncovered a new use for the Down Low Glow. Our group of eight people was dancing in an enormous crowd at Bill Graham Auditorium. The room was dark, save for the strobe lights coming from the stage. A few minutes into the show, we were already dispersed through the crowd. I caught a red glow in the corner of my eye and saw Kipchoge holding this intensely bright red line in his hand. It took me a minute to figure out he had grabbed the Down Low Glow from my bike. Our group came together and danced for a few songs before splitting apart again. Later we put the Down Low Glow on the floor and had a great disco circle a few minutes before a really hard moshing number came up and I grabbed the lights so they wouldn't get kicked. Then after the show I still had the lights in my pocket, and our group was totally split up. So I went out to my bike and just there making a peace sign with the DLG tubes sticking out from my finger in a big V. Within a few minutes, people I didn't know were standing next to me, calling their friends on their cell phones, saying "I'm next to the guy with the neon lights!" Kipchoge got up on the Long Tall Sally, the first ever Xtracycle tall bike with a passenger deck up at the top level! I had seen pictures from Interbike last year of an Xtracycle Tall Bike made by Aaron from Ride Your Bike.com, but there was no upper deck on that one. Kipchoge's is pretty sweet. I wish I had a shot of him and Eco 'crowd-surfing' it after the Manu Chao show, but alas, here are a couple from the night after, coming home from the Citizen Cope show at the Grand. And don't miss this video. Whoah, apparently Kipchoge is not the only one to think of a tall bike with a passenger seat. And not only that, it's also called the Long Tall Sally.

BART attendant loved my Down Low Glow, then gave me a ticket.

sophie — Sat, 26 May 2007 23:15:00 +0000

OK, maybe this will seem like a small thing to you, but it meant a lot to me. I was coming home from the workshop on my racing bike with the Envy Green DLG, and I hit the West Oakland BART stop as usual. The BART attendant was walking back to her booth, and she stopped and said "Ooohhh, that's a nice light! I don't think I've ever seen one like that." So I told her a little about it and gave her a card. She said "that looks like a great gift for father's day." Then as I was buying my ticket, she waived me over and handed me a $3 ticket. I told her "that's the nicest thing anyone on BART has ever done for me." And she said, "That's a shame."

What's your locking style?

sophie — Fri, 18 May 2007 23:16:51 +0000

Do you have a unique locking style? How you lock the bike may affect how you Rock the Bike. Here's one that caught my eye recently: Bike locked to trash can in front of MetreonBike locked to trash can in front of Metreon Close-up bike on trash can.: Guess he's not worried about the paint job. Close-up bike on trash can.: Guess he's not worried about the paint job.

Bike to Stern Grove '07 Festival Concerts

sophie — Sun, 13 May 2007 23:18:22 +0000

http://www.sterngrove.org/concert_dates.html What's up SF Cruisers? This year there are so many great free concerts at Stern Grove. I'd love to have the SF Cruiser Ride mobilize a daytime cruise to a bunch of these. My suggestions are in bold. Which ones do you want to hit? Post comments here and lets get the schedule nailed down so we can publicize it in the Guardian or Craigslist.

June 17

HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS The Paul Thorn Band June 24 THE IDAN RAICHEL PROJECT HYIM & the Fat fOakland Orchestra (No hiphop headliners at this years show -- this is as close as we get. Should be fun.) July 1 PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers Classic New Orleans jazz band. Should be very hot. Lavay Smith is a great vocalist. July 8 SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY James Gaffigan, Conductor July 15 OS MUTANTES Los Amigos Invisibles July 22 Breathing Under Water, FEATURING ANOUSHKA SHANKAR & KARSH KALE Non-Stop Bhangra Collective July 29 ANDY PALACIO & THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE EMELINE MICHEL August 5 HUGH MASEKELA GOAPELE Hugh Masekela is an amazing African trumpet player who has created some very warm jazz instrumentals. I'll definitely be at this one. August 12 SAN FRANCISCO BALLET Helgi Tomasson, Artistic Director Ballet in the sunshin. Irrestistible. August 19 SAN FRANCISCO OPERA

A Beautiful Stretch cruiser

sophie — Sat, 12 May 2007 23:19:16 +0000

Thanks to Bike Rod N Kustom for posting this amazing cruiser, Elliot Norris' Full Tilt. If you've never read BR&K before, it's highly recommended. Great community site for the custom chopper and cruiser scene. A new 'edition' of this web magazine comes out, roughly, three times a year. And the editors host a cool series of events in Louisiana and New York.

Fossil Fool teaches workshop on Hi Fi Bicycle Cruising Systems at Maker Faire May 20, 21

sophie — Fri, 11 May 2007 23:21:34 +0000

At the Maker Faire (www.makerfaire.com) May 25 and 26, Fossil Fool taught a workshop on how to make a one-of-a-kind bicycle audio system. Topics included: - Overall concepts - Picking amps and speakers and batteries. - Designing a wiring harness and front mounted controls. Jacks, connectors, wire gauges, switches, etc. - Building a music cabinet. Overview of the different cabinet making options -- wood, fiberglass, etc. How to deal with ports, calculate speaker volumes, and make airtight cabinets for good bass response. Also, a few topics on 3D design. - Picking a good base bike (no, not bass bike). What makes a bicycle suitable for a Soul Cycle mobile audio system? We'll review the options: Xtracycle Sport Utility Bikes, Side By Sides, Commuters bikes, etc.

Taste of Finland's bike culture: Jopo Freak

sophie — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 23:23:04 +0000

Check out the full description of Olli Erkkilã at Bike Rod 'N Kustom. The linkage system creates an amazing sense of space in the front of the bike. Could be perfect for a compact sound system that flows with the lines of the boom tube. Nice stuff, Olli!

Jo Kreiter Strikes Again 10000 Views on Flickr

sophie — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 23:23:59 +0000

Jo Kreiter strikes again.

I was booking it on my Xtracycle to catch the last transbay shuttle when I saw people looking up, pointing at a skyscraper. I turned quickly to see this -- dancers performing beautiful flowing choreographed routine on the side of a building. Check out the rest of the photos in this Flickr photoset to see more of Kreiter's amazing work. Also check out this video! Also, today we passed 10000 views on our Flickr photostream. We use Flickr like a photo blog, to show you the world through our eyes. Life in the Rock the Bike workshop, what we see on our way to work, Custom projects, and of course shots from last night's cruiser ride. Thanks everyone, for checking out Rock The Bike's photos on Flickr.

SHAKE YOUR PEACE! your underway in Utah, crowds "Awed" by the band and their human power

sophie — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:25:43 +0000

Here's a Gmail chat transcript with Gabe today, reporting on how our sponsored Human Powered P/A is doing: me: What's up Shake Your Peace? Gabe: waddup Rock The Bike me: I've been following the blog -- nice work so far! Peace to your pops. Gabe: right on. I'm updating it right now pics from the Salt Lake shows etc It's been way harder to keep it updated then I thought it'd be me: Sweet, well I'm working away too. Just wanted to say hi. Also, I had a great music session with your man Aaron. He's totally the guy i Need on my Soul CYcle project. Gabe: right on slick. Lemme tell you about the pedal-generator though real quick. First, people LOVE the DLG me: Right on!!! Gabe: I've found that having a voltmeter right in front of the pedaler is a pretty crucial design element we've had the power go out about 6 times or so ~ all quickly remedied by an immediate burst of quick pedaling but having that there to show the pedaler where they are in relation to 12V would be pretty bad ass if I have time I might rig one up myself this week ~ After every show there's an explosion of rubber shavings all over my frame, gears, and all around the bike the side wall of my tire is totally flat me: whoah Gabe: I've had to move the generator unit almost a centimeter more over when I screw it down, the tire's so far eaten I'm going to have to start flipping my tires, front to back, and rotating it etc me: Got a spare? How many shows so far? Gabe: I've done 6 pedal shows 2 non pedal radio appearances 8 total about 12 hours of pedal-powered music me: That's got to be a record. Gabe: I think the side wall engagement for the generator could definitely be improved. Having an assembly that resembles a biketrainer stand would take care of that... but I'm super proud of the speaker cabinet, generator, your wiring, and all the pieces and parts. It's solid, and it's doing a great job People are totally awed. Tons of people are super inspired. me: Yeow! You're like the piper for 2007 Gabe: And Utah's the rats [smile]

New Worldbike prototypebeing born in Kisumu

sophie — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 23:27:45 +0000

New prototype being born

Worldbike employee Jacob is a great welder and metal worker. Here he prepares the seatstays for welding. Local materials, including 'furniture pipe' were used to Chop 'N Drop this stock mountain bike into a load carrying utility bike. Keeping the original rear triangle intact allowed Ed and Jacob to keep the design simple, with less chance of rear wheel misalignment.

New Worldbike prototypes sweep Juacali district in Kisumu, Kenya

sophie — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 23:30:20 +0000

Ed Lucero's been ripping it up at the Worldbike workshop in Kisumu. Check out the beautiful curves on the cargo rack section. When bent right, curves are strong, light, and reduce the number of welds. They also reduce the number of poky things sticking out from the side of the bicycles. This photo is unusual for another reason. The woman in the foreground is one of the only female Juacali workers in Kisumu. Test ride, Kisumu#2 Worldbike

Pedal powering the Soul Cycle at Austin's Moonlight Cruise

sophie — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 20:24:12 +0000

I've been thinking about the comparisons between Bike Culture and Hip Hop culture. One of the cool things about Hip Hop is that it has four clearly defined elements: Rap, Breakdance, Graffiti, and DJ'ing. It seems like Bike Culture could have similar pillars: tall bikes, critical mass, night rides with music, riding in the rain, fixing a friend's flat tire, etc. Perhaps human power might be one of these pillars also? Here's a video shot in Austin at their annual Moonlight Cruise. We were at one of the rest stops, and I popped the Choprical Fish onto it's beefy center stand and pedal powered some dance music. You can get a sense of how well attended this ride is, especially considering it began at 2AM!

Using bike culture music to send out the bike vibe on the Clif Bar 2-Mile Challenge

sophie — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:34:22 +0000

Above: Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper, extols the bike lifestyle as ultra-long distance rider Paul McKensie pedal powers the Choprical Fish music bike. Two bike-based music acts, Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper, and the Ginger Ninja's, are on tour with the Clif Bar 2-Mile Challenge. On the 2-Mile Challenge tour, a specially customized schoolbus rolls into public locations -- a college campus, a farmer's market, or the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica -- and rolls out the red carpet. Spectators walk on to the bus and see video screens of bike culture around the world, including footage shot at the San Francisco Cruiser Ride, and footage of bicycle use in East Africa, provided by Worldbike.org. As spectators move through the bus, they can punch in their address at a computer to see cool locations (cafes, bike shops, etc.) located within 2 miles of their home. They then make a personal pledge to ride, and learn about different bicycle options that will work for them -- folding bikes, Sport Utility Bicycles, etc. Outside the bus, the musicians extoll the bike lifestyle with clever lyrics and catchy tunes. The Ginger Ninjas, led by frontman Kipchoge Spencer, have been performing in Northern California for the past 8 years, and are about to launch a major bicycle-based tour to Mexico. The Bike Rapper, Fossil Fool, (yours truly) has recently taken his street-performing styles to the next level, hosting impromptu human-powered dance parties in his hometown of San Francisco. The musicians engage directly with the audience, and pull them into the interactive 2-Mile Challenge bus.

Debuting the UMDJ on a sweet social ride in downtown Austin

sophie — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 20:36:08 +0000

photo: Faster Panda Kill Kill So DJ Manny and I made the bold move of scheduling a social ride to debut the UMDJ on my last night in Austin. It was a major push, the fourth day in the workshop. We attached the bottoms of the main speaker cabinets, screwed the tweeters into their horns, created a wiring harness, installed a control panel with four switches into the rear of the right cabinet, mounted the amp on the underside of the DJ table, welded in a mounting bracket for the battery, and installed the lighting inside the frosted translucent polycarbonate cabinets. The ride was scheduled for 8 O'clock. We connected the last wires at 7:45 and immediately blew the fuse in the amp. Wired the polarity backwards! What a basic error! That's what happens when you rush. Miraculously, the next door neighbors had two new fuses. I fixed the wiring, hit the switches, and bam! Cabinet lighting works! Rear Down Low Glow works! Front Down Low Glow works! Amp turns ON! Quick, load the UMDJ and the Choprical Fish... in the... Nissan Armada? Dang! I hate for the first journey of any new party bike to be in a fossil-fuel powered vehicle, let alone the biggest SUV ever made, but we were late for the ride. Sometimes you have to put people ahead of principle. Oh well, we can't win every battle. And DJ Manny is planning to leave it downtown so he can ride it to future gigs. As we rolled up to the starting point of the ride, we saw 40 bikers waiting in the Whole Foods parking lot. I begged DJ Manny to park a block away so we could roll in under our own steam. My fingernails scraped the dashboard as he pulled into the lot. We were half an hour late and he just wanted to get there as soon as possible to be kind to people who were waiting. We opened the trailer and unveiled the UMDJ in all it's glowing, mothership glory. DJ Manny took the first spin on the rear-facing DJ table. Maintaining eye contact with the crowd as he spun tracks, he stoked the party energy. People rode directly behind the UMDJ, pushing it up hills, basking in the beat. The music was hard hitting, dance worthy beats. My favorite track was the dance remix of "Just Another Excuse", which came during DJ Big Face's set. Bob Farr and I shot about 30 minutes of video of the ride. I'll try to post it soon. I want you guys to experience it, even if through a YouTube window. It will inspire.

I've been quietly amassing inspiring, amazing, and hilarious street culture and street art videos for three years

sophie — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:42:48 +0000

I've been posting these to You Tube for the last few years. Here are a few of my favorites. 1. Three women sat at the top of the escalator. A roller blader took a hundred foot lead in, then cleared the women and took the escalator backwards. 2. I immediately went for my camera when I saw this woman. I had my friend Emily stand just outside the frame of this video so I could grab the action incognito. 3. I first met Austin at the Crissy Field pullup bar last year. He's dope. What more can I say. 4. BMX pro Pete Brandt practicing at Embarcadero and Market in SF. 5. Bike Culture from San Francisco. Inventor Max Chen twists, chops, and distorts bikes to make a big visual impact. This pet squirrel is one of his simplest mods, but one of my favorites as well. (more) 6. Live Billboard Project. Dancers under the direction of Jo Kreiter transform a brick facade into a stage with beautiful acrobatics and great lighting and music.

Loving Austin's bike culture

sophie — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:51:40 +0000

Amanda pedals the Choprical Fish at one of the stops on last night's sweet moonlight cruise, which began at 2AM on a local pedestrian bridge. This annual ride was up there with the best social rides I've experienced. More pictures to come. Thanks Austin!

Cool email from Tokyo

sophie — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:53:22 +0000

I was double-checking the address for a customer named John from Tokyo. I asked him how he heard about the Down Low Glow: " Hi Paul, I'm a BMX street rider in Tokyo (from SF/ Bush St) and last night I was nearly run down (GTA style) by a Taxi. Same story different town, right? Well I knew that my lame head set light wasn't cutting the job, so I had to find something that would really work and look cool too. After about an hour of searching the net, I found your photos on flickr.com. Man, once I saw your product and the cool photos I was 100 percent sold. And duuuuuuuuuuuuuuude, I can't wait to hook up my lights and cruze the streets like Night Rider. I bet I'll get lots of inquires about the lights too, so if you want some business coming from the East could you send in some stickers or something that I can pass out? You know if you have the time. Thanks again man and all the best, John"

Check out the latest build/ process photos from Austin on the UMDJ

sophie — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:56:45 +0000

I'm trying to keep our Flickr account well stocked with process photos from Austin. Check back in with this page -- it'll reload a random selection of process photos. Click any of the photos to learn more of what we're up to.

www.flickr.com

Rock The Bike's Ultimate Mobile DJ Rig photoset

Looking for a cool social ride in Austin Monday night? Spread the word.

sophie — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:58:45 +0000

Hey I know there's a lot of people reading this who have friends in Austin. So please pass it on! We'll be debuting the new UMDJ, DJ Manny's new performance rickshaw, and cruising downtown. Here's the flyer designed DJ Manny himself.

Welcome to Austin! Working with DJ Manny this weekend on Ultimate Mobile DJ

sophie — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:00:57 +0000

DJ Manny and I are collaborating on the Ultimate Mobile DJ rig, a rickshaw-based 1000-watt DJ system with a typically 'foolish' combination of elegant wiring, neon regalia, and multi-person capacity.

Manny is a well-known DJ who has recently opened for Prince, Bob Dylan, Matisyahu, Thievery Corporation, and Sofa Surfers. He's ready to take is act to the streets! Now we've got 4 days to turn a pedicab into a party bike. It'll be my fastest Soul Cycle effort to date. Fortunately, Manny's welder Francisco is quite enthusiastic and capable. I'll leave from here on Tuesday morning to rejoin the Clif Bar 2-Mile challenge. It's a bit Fossil Foolish to fly here. But I really wanted to take this gig. I loved Manny's vision and I think he's going to take the street party culture to new levels. I brought my Choprical Fish with me to Austin. Last night in Vegas I had to hustle to pack into two boxes. (The airline only charged me for one.) I'll be doing the Moonlight Ride tomorrow with Austin bike people.

Down Low Glow as a rear safety light

sophie — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:03:11 +0000

Joining the 2-mile challenge tour

sophie — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:05:43 +0000

Fossil Fool and Lisa on the Choprical Fish

What's up bike people? I've been riding like crazy over the past few weeks. Meeting some great people, hosting good street parties in the Mission District. The new bike's been handling so well. That's my friend Lisa on the back in the picture. We were taking a photoshoot for the upcoming 2 Mile Challenge Tour, planned by Clif Bar. I'll be joining my friends and fellow bike culture musicians the Ginger Ninjas on the tour. The name derives from the fact that 40% of car trips in this country are two miles or shorter. In October and November, the tour will hit college campuses to promote the magic and logic of bicycling to students. I'll be one of the entertainers on the tour. It'll be our job to use our music, our art bikes, and our bike culture juju to persuade college kids of the righteousness and sexiness of bicycling, as they get prepared to make major life decisions -- first home, first job, first commute. Bike culture blowing up! Hope you guys get out and rock the bike this weekend!

Without you, bike culture is a ghost

sophie — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:08:28 +0000

One way or another, you have found yourself at Rock the Bike. I'm going to take wild guess here and say that you care about bikes, you love bikes. But why? What is it about bikes that we care about? What do they represent. A bike is just a bunch of steel, rubber, maybe a little leather here and there. It's bike culture, the magic of the bike, that we love. And it's not the gear, the kit, the bike, the steel, the titanium, the electronics, that makes bike culture. It's you. It's your spirit, coming through the streets of your town, your smile, your creativity and light radiating to the eyes of children and onlookers, encouraging them to experience life fully. Bike culture can be photographed and videotaped, but can it be experienced through a screen? Without you, bike culture is a ghost.

The Southbay cruisers welcome "Fossil Fool" to Venice Beach, CA

sophie — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:10:36 +0000

Hosting an impromptu cruiser ride in Venice,CA, the Southbay Cruisers welcomed Paul Freedman, "the Bike Rapper" to Southern California. It was an awesome ride with Fossil pumpin' up the jam with the "Choprical Fish". We ran into a small crowd along the beach in Venice and Fossil entertained the crowd with a little Fossil Fool rap, while others in the audience pedaled away to keep the music alive. We also were fortunate enough to take part in a group rap session along the way. Thank you Paul! You rock! Come back again soon!

Fossil Fool hits the road. In Santa Monica / Venice Beach this weekend.

sophie — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:12:27 +0000

photo: Paul McKenzie I've had some serious wanderlust recently and decided to head to Southern California. I've been wanting to stuff a few things in my bag and travel as a street performer with the Choprical Fish. The night before my train, I had a photoshoot for the upcoming Clif Bar 2 Mile challenge, along with Gabe from SHAKE YOUR PEACE! and his friends from Utah. The 2 Mile Challenge is an upcoming college campus tour to promote bicycling. After the shoot, I packed my messenger bag with clothes and we all rode to Embarcadero BART so I could sleep in the workshop. What an amazing send off. We cruised by the ball park, where a game was letting out. We sang a call-and-response song as we were threading our way through the crowd. Epic! It was my first time really traveling with the Choprical fish, so I put in a long night getting the bike road worthy. I never got around to sleeping. The next morning at 6 I rode to the Amtrak in Emeryville from the workshop. I don't have many occasions to ride the Choprical Fish without music, so that morning was very sweet. I swear the birds were responding to the squeak of my disc brakes. The Amtrak people were friendly and did non make me put my bike in a box. I dismantled the audio components and stowed them as luggage. In Bakersfield I transferred to an Amtrak bus, and the bus driver gave me my own storage bay. The hardest part of the journey was figuring out how to get from downtown Los Angeles to the beach. I rolled the Purple line to Wilshire Western and rode from there -- about 16 miles. It took about two hours. I ain't built for speed! Once I got to the beach, it wasn't long before I found the 3rd Street Promenade and set up as a street performer. Put the bike into human power mode and pulled up people to pedal. A few guest rappers of diverse ethnic backgrounds rapped in a Spanish, English, and Japanese. Pretty sweet welcome.

When the local bike bar's grill chef gets a pizza delivered

sophie — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:14:19 +0000

I really wouldn't ordinarily post this, I like Zeitgeist, but my burger (supposedly hot off the grill) was cold. And they served with biodegradable forks, fine, but where do I compost it? And then I saw this and had to post it.

Shot at last week's Songbird party in San Francisco

sophie — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:15:42 +0000

Kipchoge shows up for a little late night rabelrousing with the Long Tall Salley. Kipchoge rolls 'round the nest.

Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper, on WIRED home page entertaining at Bar Camp Block with the Choprical Fish

sophie — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:30:38 +0000

From Wired online

"Off the Grid

DJ Fossil Fool provides the BarCamp soundtrack. Pedaling a wired-up bike, he generates the power needed to run his sound system and light show."

We eat our own dog food

sophie — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 21:34:36 +0000

Shipping DLG to Burners

One evening I dropped off a DLG to a customer on 18th St. in San Francisco. As he opened his door and walked down his steps towards my glowing bike, he said "You guys really eat your own dog food." We are a bicycle based business. We do not have a company car. We use public transportation and bike to work. We ship our products on our Xtracycle SUB's. Being a bike based business has been a conscious choice. We've had chances to buy and use cars that were very affordable. And we do borrow vehicles occasionally for distant or especially awkward tasks, perhaps 4-5 times per year. The main benefit of being a bike-based business is that we get to be out there in the bike community. It helps us connect with future customers and employees. And it feels good to carry your DLG orders to the FEDEX depot on our bikes.

Dozens of beautiful Bicycle Music Festival photos

sophie — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:36:46 +0000

A big thanks to all who pedaled and performed at the bicycle Music Festival. More photos at Flickr : http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=bicyclemusicfestival&w=all If you took photos at the BMF, make sure to tag them on Flickr with "bicyclemusicfestival" so that they'll appear in this search.

Hernan Battiato performs at Alemany Farmers Market

Sanjay got on the Choprical Fish and started singing soulfully along with the JB's.

sophie — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 21:44:14 +0000

Late in the evening, after Gabe and I had officially closed the Bicycle Music Festival, Sanjay got on the Choprical Fish and began singing very soulfully along with the music. I passed him the mic and he shredded the place!

Sanjay got on the Choprical Fish and started singing soulfully along with the JB's.

I'm my nephews hero

sophie — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 17:27:36 +0000

It wasn't a pretty scene when his mom and dad decided it was time to go home... All lit up for post Thanksgiving dinner ride

2-trike tandem with blue and red DLG lights

sophie — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:52:11 +0000

We've been riding a two-trike tandem with DLG lighting on both units. It's fairly flashy going across Minneapolis on the Midtown Greenway. Here's another view: just the one trike, on the new bike bridge on the Midtown Greenway trail:

For those of you who were worried whether Mike Cobb made it safely to Portland...

sophie — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:54:04 +0000

He competed gleefully in a muddy cyclocross unicycle race.

Passenger eye level, a little known subtlety of social biking

sophie — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 17:55:18 +0000

After helping Myles install the Xtracycle FreeRadical on his Cruz Bike recumbent, it got me thinking once again about the passenger experience. On most long bikes such as the Xtracycle and the Mundo, the passenger's eyes line up roughly with the middle of the back of the rider. This limits the front visibility of the passenger and leaves them to simply trust that the rider knows what they're doing. By serendipity, Myles' Xtracycle build offered a much different passenger experience. As you can see in the picture, my eyes as a passenger lined up with the top of Myles' head, allowing me a nearly complete view of the road as we cruised. Another subtlety of the passenger experience on the Cruz Bike / Xtracycle combo is how close the rider's and passenger's heads are to eachother. This makes conversation so much more easy going. You don't lose nearly as many words to the wind, and you can talk to each other the same voice you'd use in a room. The Cruz Bike isn't for everyone, so before you run out and buy one, you should know that, like other recumbents, it's going to make it more difficult for you to climb hills. There's no way to climb 'out of the saddle' like you do when you need a burst of power on an upright bicycle. When I designed the Soul Cycle Convertible Chopper, my goal was to provide both the powerful leg extension of an upright bicycle with the attitude, comfort, and passenger experience of a chopper / semi-recumbent bike. Above: Lisa can see over my shoulders while cruising on the Choprical Fish, based on the Soul Cycle Convertible Chopper frameset. Photo: Paul McKensie Above: When it's time to climb a hill on the Soul Cycle Convertible Chopper, the seat comes into upright position, allowing full leg extension for maximum power. Photo: Fast Boy.

Jay Broemmel stuns art bike world with the Dragon Bike

sophie — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 18:01:10 +0000

Jay's only been riding the new dragon bike for a few days now, and I had the pleasure of cruising with him last night as we dropped off some homemade apple pie (a la mode, of course) from our pot luck dinner to a friend who was tending bar at the Lone Palm on the other side of the Mission. The Dragon bike is one of three art bikes that will be on display at the Dec. 14th Bike Culture Night at The Rev. What I love about Jay's art bikes is the degree to which he throws the rules out the window and follows his own direction. The red paint job on the new dragon is still pristine and glossy. The Sweetskinz tires still have the little furry rubber hairs everywhere. Jay is the second frame builder / customizer to my knowledge who has modified a frame for the Down Low Glow. The Dragon Bike also has a couple of very trick mechanical features. The eyes (which are blue LED headlights) move left and right when the handlebars move (click the You Tube video to see). And the jaw bites when you squeeze the left brake. Jay was also careful to follow Chinese tradition -- the Dragon holds a pearl in its left claw. See more close up images and video on the Dragon Bike.

Two YouTube videos capture the feeling of cruising with music

sophie — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:06:51 +0000

It's hard to capture on video the feeling of a good cruiser ride, but these two come pretty close. The first video, made by ultradistance rider Paul McKensie, was used on the tourbus of Clif Bar's excellent 2-Mile Challenge. It was shot with a handful of friends and Clif folks at my place in the Mission. It's got a beautiful shot of Mafiosa and I cruising in front of Mona Caron's Bikeway Mural. The second was shot by Wild Johnny, who leads the South Bay Cruiser Ride down in Redondo Beach. This one was shot at Santa Monica Critical Mass from his Xtracycle with a backwards facing web cam. Despite the grainy video, it's got some good, spirited footage. Check out wild dance sequences, especially the first few seconds of the video. Although the video itself is set to some groovy rock music, all the people dancing in the video were getting their beat from John's Soul Cycle Head Unit. There are a handful of cool testimonials about the product, including one from John. While we're on the subject of backwards-facing video shoots, last night I helped out a local electro pop band called The Rubies make a music video "I feel electric." The Swedish director Mattias wanted to capture some of San Francisco's bike culture and wanted to use bikes with the Down Low Glow.

Support your local environmentalist

sophie — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:10:59 +0000

About a week ago, when San Francisco Bay suffered its worst oil spill in 20 years, Jon and Adam took their boat out, saw that no one was doing any cleaning, and started wondering what ordinary people can do to fix a problem as massive as a 50000-gallon oil spill.Earlier this year, they bought a 50-foot steel-hulled sailboat to turn into a research and design vessel, the Magnet. They went out on the Bay to look at the damage to the bridge piling. Adam observed that the shape of the concrete 'bumper' on the Bay Bridge supports "looks awfully similar to the blade on a can opener." Expecting to see glassy reflective pools of oil covering the water, they instead observed huge clumps of spongy oil. They were able to pull some of these into their craft using a fishing net with holes the size of limes. That night they were over my house for a pot luck dinner with the Ginger Ninjas. They were showing me their photos from the day and were really shaken up by their day on the bay. Apparently the Coast Guard had raced over to their boat and shouted through a loudspeaker to get away from the bridge, even they were just out there scooping up oil and taking pictures. I helped them start www.oilspillsf.org , a blog of their research and DIY efforts. Did you know you can get a blog up and running with its own URL in about 25 minutes these days? As bike people, you and I may not think too much about the waters adjoining our commutes and pleasure rides. I commute underneath the bay on BART twice a day, and didn't notice the oil spill, or even hear about it in the news, until Adam called me to ask if I wanted to go out on the Magnet and help. If you owned a boat and cared about the oceans, and a cargo ship crashed into a bridge in your bay, what would you do?

Ginger Ninjas and SHAKE YOUR PEACE! performing at Free pedal powered show this Saturday in SF

sophie — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:14:35 +0000

A very solid offering in the current west coast bike culture is the Pleasant Revolution Tour including sustainable rockers SHAKE YOUR PEACE! and the Ginger Ninjas. Their San Francisco tour stop is this weekend. This Saturday is the big show. Read on, bike people. Read on. THE PEDAL POWERED PICNIC! SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 FREE FREE FREE! With music by: SHAKE YOUR PEACE! snoopy snoopy snoopy snoopy snoopy kaBLAM! SONYA COTTON music as haunting as a headstone, full and purposeful as a boat sail, and as glistening as a bank robbers treasure STITCHCRAFT female folk duo "leading the new San Francisco folk sound" - State of Mind Music Magazine (or something like that) and THE GINGER NINJAS fronted by XtraCycle co-founder Kipchoge Spencer and Uruguayan singer Eco Lopez, it's political and humorous rock & roll 1pm: BIKE RIDE! Meet with your picnic basket and warm clothes @ the NE corner of Dolores Park for a music-thumping social bike ride through the Mission, Castro, and Panhandle up to the top of Buena Vista Park, where a woodland stage and an 800 watt human-powered PA system await. 2pm: CONCERT! 2pm - SHAKE YOUR PEACE! 2:40pm - Sonya Cotton 3:20pm - Stitch Craft 4:00pm - Ginger Ninjas. 5:03pm - SUNSET~ We'll watch the sun set over the city and kiss and make a wish...

We bid adieu to Mike Cobb: welder, seamster, bike mechanic, bicycle customizer.

sophie — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:19:53 +0000

Mike's been a member of our West Berkeley workshop community since 2001. His devotion to bicycle advocacy and mechanics, and high quality worksmanship has been a great example to the rest of us.

I don't always agree with Mike on every subject. For example, he refuses to make eye contact with drivers at a 4-way stop, because he doesn't want them to get in the habit of always letting cyclists go first. It's not that he doesn't want to give them the satisfaction of letting the bike through. It's that he doesn't want fellow cyclists to get accustomed to cars letting them through -- the cyclist might get hit if the car driver doesn't feel like waiting. Like I said, Mike's got some strong opinions, but you got to admire a guy who lives by his principles. He walks the walk and he bikes the bike. The picture you see above is Mike riding a little commuter he built up for an ex-girlfriend who is recovering from Carpal Tunnel syndrome. Hence the upright stem, and the basket mount welded to the head tube instead of attached to the handlebars (less load on the hands). Within the Rock the Bike world, you might know Mike as the guy who invented and makes our 'Second Wind Bicycle Cog Wind Chimes', which by the way, make a fabulous bike gift around Christmas time. He's also helped me build up bikes for custom jobs like the Soul Cycle Slim. I'm proud to be riding wheels Mike built on my Choprical Fish. We wish Mike the best of luck as he brings his sewing machines, metalworking tools, and tremendous talent and spirit to Portland, to fulfill his long term wish of returning to the Pacific Northwest. If you're in need of a caring, creative, affordable, and resourceful bicycle customizer in the Portland area, give Mike a shout.

When the ninjas show up on bicycles, you know things can't be that bad.

sophie — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:30:22 +0000

The Ginger Ninjas are on their way to Mexico. Here's a little shot of my garage late last night. There were two more in there tonight. The Ninjas and Bicycle Music Festival co-organizer Gabe Domingez's project, SHAKE YOUR PEACE!, along with 8 other people, are 300 miles into the tour.

Innovate or Die, Dante!

sophie — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:31:43 +0000

Dante is on the cutting edge of research into human powered amplification. We set him up with a bench in our workshop, and he's putting the finishing touches on the Ginger Ninja's touring rig as I write these words. Dante helped Rock The Bike develop an offering for an Xtracycle-based DC motor mount for human powered music systems. Now he's working day and night on a 4-bike human power setup for the Ninjas. No one's had a chance to hear it in action yet, but it'll probably be 5 times louder than the setup we used for the Bicycle Music Festival. It's amazing how the project just totally flows through our community. First Blender man Nate got the bug, then me, then Kipchoge and Dante. With each handoff, we get more experience. Dante is now the most knowledgable guy in our community when it comes to human power. It's a rad collaborative atmosphere, knowing that we're producing powerful tools for sending out the bike vibe, the peace vibe, and the party vibe, through bikes and music. The title of this posting refers to a video competition from Specialized on Human Power.

Our commute home.

sophie — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:41:10 +0000

When your new assembly and shipping employee has a hernia, and he's carrying a heavy messenger style backpack with the used mountain bike frame you gave him strapped on it, and he's on the cell phone with his father as you ride home to West Oakland BART together, telling his dad he has back pain that shoots down his left leg, and you know he doesn't have health insurance and is fighting the system to schedule his surgery, you don't just keep riding. You stop, take his pack, and strap it to your Xtracycle, even though you're already carrying your own stuffed messenger bag, 8 DLG's, and a box of Schwalbe tires that the Ginger Ninjas need for their tour. Because you can. And then, when you take a few pedal strokes, you 're surprised how good it feels, not the good samaritan act of helping your employee at the end of a long day, but riding the bike itself, and you say out loud, "Whoah, it's even easier than before; I think the load is more balanced now. I must have been fighting it a little before." When those types of this things happen to you, on a regular basis, you're riding an Xtracycle. OK, here's another one. I was literally in the BART the other night and an attractive grad student pulled her face out of her text book to say "Nice bike. What do you carry on that?" And it's not the first time it has happened. I urge bike people who haven't seriously considered getting themselves a long bike to let these anecdotes sink in. It's only by experiencing magic scenes like these that you understand how transformative it can be to have a dependable, nimble, fun cargo hauling ride like the Xtracycle or the Mundo.

How to build a chopper bicycle without electricity

sophie — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:56:36 +0000

With its bulging top tube and kinked handlebars, Monroe's new ride shouts 'Stretch Chopper.' Even the large front wheel, while certainly outside of the standard chopper aesthetic, seems pleasantly contrary. But while this frame was certainly chopped and dropped, it wasn't welded. Monroe simply chopped an old JC Higgins cruiser frame and mated it to an Adams Trail-A-Bike (the kind used to help kids get the feeling of pedaling) and then pounded loops of chain down over the joints, where the two frames meet. I had a chance to test-ride the chopper at the pier where Monroe works as a bike mechanic and metal worker. It was pretty satisfying. The leg extension wasn't as full as I would have liked, but cruising and turning felt great.

Amusing Midnight Ridazz home page

sophie — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 18:57:51 +0000

I was looking for some of Wild Johnny's photos on the Midnight Ridazz site. I thought it was amusing that right next to the headline "Don't be Scared to Ride Your Bike," was a photo of a huge wound that someone had apparently sustained on a Ridazz bike ride. I'm not trying to spread hate towards the Ridazz, who have built a successful night ride community in LA, with dozens of upcoming rides at any one time. On the other hand I think bike people have to be aware of the aesthetic and message we're putting out into the world. Are we glorifying Pabst Blue Ribbon and irony? Or Bike Blended Smoothies and creativity? Are we scaring children? Or amazing them? Are we bringing people together or pushing them away? The aesthetic of pain runs deep in the bike community. Think about the knees and ankles of fixie riders. It's no accident that the Ridazz can fill up an album with crash photos, some involving head wounds. Why glorify pain? Did you forget to send Fight Club back to NetFlix? To me, it's like we're saying "Yup, it doesn't get better than kickin' back with a PBR and talking about the great crashes we've had over the years." Well, it does get a lot better than that. There are things we can do as bike people that have a far greater potential to elevate and inspire, both ourselves and others.

Cruising Salem, MA in Style

sophie — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 19:00:06 +0000

When I picked up my dual tube ice blue Down Low Glow system, my intentions were mostly for safety and a small amount of style. I was in no way prepared for the kind of popularity I'd get because of the bicycle system. My commute takes me through the center of Salem, MA, the Witch City of the world. This is where all the tourists come to see the place witches were burned and spend a lot of money on useless things. My commute would take me through the main pedestrian walkway where people would be, and it wasn't until this October, and more specifically yesterday, that I figured out that my bike is something amazing here. There's plenty of bicycle-social groups here, but none of them go out cruising for the sake of showing how much fun socially riding can be. For one example, there's a bicycle pedicab service that runs through downtown. When they saw my blue bicycle coming up, they were awestruck with its concept, and wanted to get their own to customize their tricycle rides even further than the pinstriping and other detailing work that they had done. Riding through a walkway yesterday, some tourists stopped me to take photos. They loved the idea of it, and it was amazing seeing the smiles on children's blue-lit faces as they walk by. Salem, MA. is filled with culture and social diversity, but I think the one thing it has been lacking is a bicycle culture. Maybe its because of the winter weather that keeps people from trying to ride their bicycles dependently, I don't really know. All I can say is that this tradition from the West Coast has started to make an impact here on the East Coast, and there's plenty of people who want to be part of it! Way to go Rock The Bike!

Sending out the bike vibe in Al-Anbar province

sophie — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:36:40 +0000

Robert, a marine stationed in Al-Anbar province in Iraq, will be sending out the bike vibe on his base with a new chopper bicycle and some Ice Blue DLG. Apparently, even on the base, there's a problem with drivers not seeing cyclists. Here's his email: Hey Paul, I was looking for a cool chopper bike and while surfing the internet I ran across a web site called www.aztlanbicycle.com and they sell your lights. So I decided to shop around and see where they come from. I found your web site and pretty much read the whole thing. I'm in Iraq and needed something to break the monotony. I think everyone is going to get a kick out of my chopper bike with the neon lights. Here is the link to the bike that I am having sent out here, http://www.xyzbikes.com/news/lowrider-beach-cruiser/ . Now if you can imagine the ice blue dual kit on this bike, you can see how excited I am about getting the kit. Thank you so much for selling such an awesome product. You can bet I will recommend your product to all of my fellow Marines. Maybe we can get a bundle deal out here since the people driving don't see many of us riding bikes. Take care, and I look forward to receiving the kit.

Dave's new Bionx installation. Looks like it was made for it, huh?

sophie — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:38:00 +0000

Dave gave me a chance to test the Bionx on his Jai Bike prototype. It has four assist settings. Even on the lowest one, "1", I felt a very solid boost. "4" just made me laugh. It was so different from regular bicycling, I didn't know what to make of it. But Dave's analysis (and Todd's from Clever Cycles) is that the electric assist is more for carrying heavy loads up hills than 'cheating' on the flats. The problem is that once you have the 18 pound Bionx system installed on your rig, it will feel, well, 18 pounds slower unless you use the boost. So you'll probably end up boosting all the time. The battery is easy to remove, but not the hub motor, obviously. I've now ridden the Bionx, the Stokemonkey, and my friend Sean's home brewed electric rig. I've enjoyed each test ride, but they don't stick with me. I don't wake up, ever, saying to myself "I need one of those." I'm glad it's out there as a car-trip-replacer, though.

Nice writeup of SF's human powered music scene in World Changing

sophie — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:14:56 +0000

Environmentalists and change-makers "World Changing" have done a nice recap of some of the action in San Francisco's human powered music scene this past summer, featuring Bicycle Music Festival co-organizer Gabe Domingez. Read "Gabe Dominguez's Quest for Sustainable Rock & Roll".

Soul Cycle on Wired.com

sophie — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:19:16 +0000

Just spotted the soul cycle photo on Wired.com I know it's from the Austin Moonlight Cruze because that's my Xtracycle behind Paul's bike. Looks like someone has photoshopped it and obscured Paul's saddle. Ain't my photo either.

A Bike Wedding Parade..

sophie — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:22:01 +0000

One of my favorite tall bikes.

Trailer-based bike sound systems

sophie — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:50:00 +0000

Many people use bike trailers to bring the beat at large group rides like Critical Mass. Trailers make it easy to get started, since you can use a simple box rather than having to engineer a cabinet that surrounds your rear wheel. But trailer-based systems put the beat much further from your ears, meaning that you have to turn up the volume much louder to feel like you are 'in the music'. This means you'll end up using much more powerful amps and speakers, and larger, heavier batteries. All this means that you are much less likely to use a trailer-based party bike for impromptu cruises (with 5-10 friends) and more likely to save it for larger, planned rides. I love the bike culture touches this fabricator put on his system - the bike wheel and sprockets used as speaker grills. But there's no escaping the fact that this system, and all trailer systems, look like a bike towing a box. In my opinion an integrated long-wheelbase party bike, a Soul Cycle, is a much much easier way to create a cosmic 'craft'. This was the sound system at the mc3 performance ride

A closer look at Jay Broemmel's Dragon Bike

sophie — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:51:42 +0000

Jay's Dragon Bike was a big hit at last night's Bike Culture Night and will be on tonight's New Year's Cruise. Unfortunately Jay was out of town at a race last night, but was cool enough to let me borrow the Dragon. On the way to the event, walking down Valencia with the Dragon, all the eyes were following us from various restaurants and cafes. It made it easy to hand out flyers for the event. On our way to return the Dragon Bike to Jay's garage after the event, Mafi and I headed down Lexington St., where this time of year, they have beautiful lights and decorations. We stopped under the disco ball to show off some of the sweet details of Jay's new Dragon Bike .

Recorded "I am a Fossil Fool" again

sophie — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:53:46 +0000

I recorded "I am a Fossil Fool" again last night. Only Rock the Bike members can download it -- look for the "attachments" link below after you register or log in. My throat was pretty scratchy from the flu, so I'll have to redo the vocals again soon . But I wanted to get something out on Rock the Bike so you all can play it at your New Year's Eve rides and parties. I'll be performing this one live tomorrow at Bike Culture Night. Hope you can make it if you're local. I spent most of the winter break learning Ableton Live and making music in the attic studio. With the flu and the weather recently, I didn't mind sitting at home with my reference manual on my lap, clicking the mouse a few thousand times while I finally wrapped my head around this amazing software.

From the "If You Got It, Flaunt It" Files...

sophie — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:55:32 +0000

How photographer and bicycle advocate Derek Pearson ends a hard day in Olympia.

I bet they're going to have even more fun in the Spring

sophie — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:56:50 +0000

Adam, Joey, and Karl are the hosts of the Rochester Cruiser Ride. If they're this passionate in the snow, you can bet they'be putting together some great rides in '08

Jay Broemmel takes director's seat for bike culture remake of Road Warrior.

sophie — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:59:15 +0000

In Choad Warrior, post-apocalyptic leather clad warriors ride bicycles and fight for their precious fuel, beer. I was an extra in the movie, and the main character even uses the microphone of the Choprical Fish in one scene. Here are some of the better shots from the day I participated. Fresh off the heels of his fabulous Dragon Bike, Jay turns his talents to the screen. If you're in the Bay Area, Jay's hosting a James Brown themed Christmas Eve event at the Uptown. Also check out "Art Bikes are Meant to Be Ridden."

Feel It Robot: Your Tuesday Dose of Bike Culture

sophie — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:01:47 +0000

Check out "Let's Ride Our Bikes" on Feel It Robot's MySpace page. The electo punk quintet from Bangor, Maine sent us the track earlier this week. I'd post an MP3, but I think it benefits bands to send traffic directly to their MySpace pages. Someday soon it'll be up on Rock the Bike Radio, for sure. Stay tuned for that in '08.

Great parody of San Francisco fixed gear scene

sophie — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:04:02 +0000

Warning: Lots of swearing. And very funny! Thanks to DJ Bento for the tip.

Three supercool Down Low Glow experiences that happened so fast I couldn't take a picture

sophie — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:06:29 +0000

Been pushing really hard lately at the workshop and left tonight after 10. I'm entertaining tomorrow at Specialized's holiday party. We'll be doing a cruiser ride with employees and apparently lots of cool kids. I wanted to finish up as many Down Low Glow shipments as I could tonight so I don't have it hanging over me this weekend. Anyway I was heading home the usual way towards West Oakland when I saw a nice white blinky in the distance coming towards me. I thought "this must be a self-respecting biker. I wonder if I know them." Then the bike turned right at an intersection a few hundred yards away. Oh well, guess I won't get to find out, I thought. Then I saw the bright blinky again, only a few feet away from me. "Paul?" "Robert!" "I thought I saw the pink glow off in the distance." "Cool, it works!" I met Robert when he was working at Pedal Express, which used to be headquartered right next to Rock The Bike. I hadn't seen him much since he started Law School last year and we caught up for a couple minutes before saying goodnight. ------------- Civic Center BART. Two teenagers point to my bike when I get off the train. I stop, pretending I don't notice, and switch on my Hot Pants Pink Down Low Glow (Dual Tube system for maximum street glow.) "Cool, it's got ground effects too!" Then peeking back from the escalator, I see them ducking down to see me. and the pink glinting off the stainless steel. Then I realize my ticket doesn't have enough money so I add 50 cents at the ADD FARE machine. The machine spits back my ticket and a dollar in change! ------------- Text from Mafi: "I just saw you passing by the Elbo Room with the pink glow. Good night Bambino."

New Pleasant Revolution video on YouTube..

sophie — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:07:59 +0000

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P1EU9az-RQ Edited video from the Dec 1st, 2007 Southbay Cruiser 'Pleasant Revolution' Ride.

Generator Project

sophie — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:09:53 +0000

HI I am on The Pleasant Revolution Tour. I designed and built 4 bike generators for an expedition tour though Mexico. I am currently working on these prototypes on this tour. I would like to keep you all informed of my progress. Each bike has a generator that can be engaged on the fly, or set up on a center stand, to generate power while moving or stationary. There is a 12-volt 6amp Lith. Phos. battery that can be charged with a solar panel (BRUNON foldable 12v 26w panel), or with the Generator. Any 12v device can run off the 12v Batt., solar panel, or the generator. dante

Recent night activity

sophie — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 17:11:26 +0000

French Impressionist rises from Grave, posts beautiful bike photos on BikeRubbish.com

sophie — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:12:44 +0000

Big thanks to Derek Pearson for the latest in a series of shots taken near his home in Olympia, WA.

Midnight Ridazz article in LA Times

sophie — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:13:56 +0000

This artical appeared in the calendar section of the 12/6/07 LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-gd-cover6dec06,1,4172580.story?c...

Is there a pinch of martyrdom in your bike advocacy?

sophie — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:15:22 +0000

I had an interesting exchange with one of the volunteers at the SFBC's fabulous Winterfest party last night. I said "Hi" to the volunteer as I approached one of the food tables. He was surgically picking the turkey out of his sandwich. He said: "Normally I would eat a vegetarian sandwich, but since I'm not a strict vegetarian anymore, I'm leaving it for someone else." At this point in the night, there were three platters full of turkey and beef sandwiches, and one vegetarian platter. I said: "You're taking the turkey out of a turkey sandwich. It's just a bread and lettuce sandwich now. Why don't you eat the one you want?" "I remember how it was when I was a strict vegetarian. The vegetarian option always ran out first. I used to hate it when meat-eaters would eat the veggie option to feel like they were doing something healthy, leaving the vegetarians without food they can eat. So I'm just doing it out of consideration for them." I was sort of impressed at how principled he was, but at the same time, his action was a metaphor for the guilt trips and self-denial that bug me about bike advocacy in general. Too many 'Should' statements, like "You should ride a bike because of Global Warming," or "You should ride a bike because of Traffic," or "You should ride a bike because you need excercise." But think about it. How did you react the last time someone told you you should do something? You probably said, "Thanks, Mom!" Why would it be any different when you tell someone about riding a bike? Today's bike advocates tend to be very effective at lobbying local governments for the things committed cyclists need, like bike lanes and public transit access, and less effective at increasing the overall numbers of cyclists on the road. Since 2003, Rock the Bike has been exploring and innovating new ways bike people can pump up the volume on their outreach, without guilt tripping their friends and family. If there's more than a pinch of martyrdom in your bike advocacy style, you might want to consider our approach. The whole reason we're involved in the Bike Music Scene is that the concerts and cruiser rides draw people in naturally, through the power of music. Once they show up, they start asking the more experienced bikers for help getting back on a bike after (a) their tires went flat two years ago or (b) their last bike got stolen. Our Down Low Glow bike lights (which we just sponsored for the fifth year at Winterfest) are probably the only bike lights on the market that can make SUV drivers want to give biking a chance. I went back to the food table later in the night, after the Extra Action Marching Band shredded the venue as the featured performers. I didn't see the volunteer around, but I did notice that there was still half a platter of veggie sandwiches, but no meat. The volunteer's self-denial was for naught. When you "Show, Don't Tell" the benefits of biking, you're tapping into a much more powerful way to get your message across to your friends, and, well, to make change in general. To begin, keep it positive. Focus on the things you love about biking, and do them -- don't talk about them, but do them -- as much as possible. If you love them so much this should come naturally. But don't stop there. Make it social. Host rides to concerts you and your friends are interested in seeing, have weekly repair sessions on your front stoop on Sunday mornings, clean your bike and trick it out with colorful parts and lights. Focus on doing the things that will activate the excitement of the people in your life. Leave the guilt trips to their moms!

The Pleasant Revolution comes to Hermosa Beach, CA

sophie — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:16:37 +0000

The Southbay Cruisers would like to extend their thanks to the following for another successful cruiser ride in Hermosa Beach,CA: The Ginger Ninjas Shake Your Peace for taking time from their Pleasant Revolution Tour(www.pleasantrevolution.net) to ride and perform for us! They were awesome! This was our best ride ever! Also special thanks to Fossil Fool for creating a special rap/set list for our special Pleasant Revolution Ride. You rock! Check out pictures of this event on www.southbaycruisers.com. If you are in the Los Angeles,CA area come check out our rides too!

How to take part in a cruiser ride 300 miles away without burning any fossil fuels

sophie — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:17:38 +0000

Kipchoge and Wild Johnny kept inviting me to the Pleasant Revolution tour stop in Redondo Beach. I really wanted to cruise and perform with my friends, not to mention take part in a huge Xtracycle / Down Low Glow rally, but I didn't have a way to get there. I haven't had significant-other access to a vehicle since February, there wasn't a carpool option, and the idea of flying or renting an SUV to get to a bike ride didn't ziggle with my zooglea, as we say in the Kombucha business. So ended I staying up all night Friday, making them a special Fossil Fool cruising mix in Ableton Live, complete with shoutouts, DJ beatmatching, and crossfades. We're talking crossfades, people! Apparently it went over really well. See google chat transcript below with Kipchoge. (If that download link dies, please let me know.) I'm really hoping that Rock the Bike can become a vibrant channel where local (or distant) DJ's can get their music heard in the streets, and cruisers can get access to more interesting mixes than they'd come up with on their own. I have nothing against "Billie Jean" but when you're talking about playing loud music in the streets, you have to bring a mix, not just the warhorse classics.

Kipchoge: really nice ride. the mix was rad and super appreciated. I didn't tell anybody before blasting it and suddenly everyone thought you were there! me: Awesome! Kipchoge: very cool every time your emceeing and singing came on. me: I'm so happy to hear it. I was looking for a way to take part that wouldn't destroy my chances of getting a productive start to the week. Kipchoge: yeah, super low impact traveling! me: I actually had a real breakthrough on Ableton live on Friday night. I'd been struggling with the basic concept of Live but it clicked on Friday. So I stayed up till 4 working on the mix. In the future I'll be able to crank them out faster, but i was learning. And having fun.

Our nation's newspaper of record devotes serious column inches to bicycle music systems

sophie — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:19:57 +0000

My dad caught this one early this morning. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/29/nyregion/29bikes.html

"The bikes roar, but the booming sound has nothing to do with engines — because there are no engines. They are ordinary bicycles, not motorcycles, although these contraptions look and sound more like rolling D.J. booths. They are outfitted with elaborate stereo systems installed by the youths." Read More »

Bat for Lashes brings bike culture to MTV

sophie — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:22:22 +0000

I spotted this bike video on YouTube, of rising musicians "Bat For Lashes' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1wnOUH2jk8

Tis The Season

sophie — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:24:50 +0000

Sheldon Brown Memorial Ride in Austin

sophie — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:14:37 +0000

Southwest Cycling News' Bob Farr, a.k.a. RudeBoyRobbo, shot some beautiful images of a ride in Austin in memory of Sheldon Brown. I think San Francisco needs to host one. I'll send out an invite to the SF Cruisers, and put it out there on Craigslist for Friday at Sunset. Meeting point: The Rev: a cafe at 22nd & Bartlett.

Sheldon Brown made me feel proud to be from Newton, Mass

sophie — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:17:04 +0000

I heard the sad news that Sheldon Brown, one of the Internet's enthusiastic purveyors of cycling knowledge, has died. If you've ever tried to figure out the difference between 7-speed and 8-speed chain, V-brakes and cantilevers, chances are you ended up in encyclopedic pages of www.sheldonbrown.com . And if you were a kid growing up in Newton, Mass, Brown's bike shop, Harris Cyclery, is where you might have bought your first mountain bike. It's certainly where my dad took me. As a teenager, I worked at a competing shop in neighboring Belmont; I don't have strong memories of Brown. Sheldon Brown's internet sensibilities were ahead of his time. By placing such importance on quality information, he gradually built a loyal following of mechanics both professional and homespun. His site is also surprisingly easy to use. To give you a sense of his character, here's what Sheldon Brown, here's what he had to say about the quirky plastic eagle zip-tied to his helmet in the above picture (shown on every page of this site):

" My "Panache" is a plastic eagle which probably began life at the top of a small flag pole. It is a road find. It is held on to my old Bell Image by a plastic zip tie. This is a marvelous conversation piece, and has broken the ice on a great many contacts with strangers. Someone on the 'net once said he thought it was cool, but that he could never do something like that, 'cause he still cared what people thought of him. Well, I too care what people think of me! I hope people will think that I am:

Independent minded.

Original.

A person with a sense of humor.

Somebody who doesn't take himself too seriously.

I believe that Igor conveys these attitudes as well as any clothing accessory could.

Sound System Bike

sophie — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:20:59 +0000

Nice three wheeled system from Germany.

SF Cruisers on Clif Bar home page

sophie — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:21:55 +0000

Clif Bar has posted a groovy 4-minute video of the SF Cruisers in action, shot last September. Look for "Soul Ride" on their home page. Clif has been working on bringing everyday cycling into their bicycle advocacy work. Their 2-Mile Challenge Tour promotes the concept of biking and walking within one's '2-Mile Radius'. Here's the YouTube version of the same video, shot by Paul McKensie.

Three different varieties of B17 Brooks Saddles now in stock

sophie — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:23:30 +0000

Snapped this shot of the Special Edition Honey B17 on my way home last night. The 'Special Edition' refers to the large hammered copper rivets that hold the leather to the saddle's steel sub structure. Rock the Bike has been selling Brooks Saddles since 2006, and we had the honor of being the second winner of their photo contest last spring: We have three variety of Brooks' popular B17 in stock: Black, Honey, and Special Edition Honey. Once again, here's why you should ride a Brooks B17:

After a short, tolerable break-in period, it wil be the most comfortable saddle you've saddled up to.
It's better for issues of bloodflow than narrower, more racy saddles, because it's wide enough to support your sit bones, and it breaks in to your anatomy
It's made of leather, which is cow skin, which is infinitely more breathable than foam rubber. Leather saddles are cooler in hot weather.
It lasts and lasts. The one on the red bike above might be two months or two years old.
Style, legacy

Here's a standard edition B17 that I happened to spot on the way home last night: Notice that the rivets that hold the saddle together are smaller and silver in color. Other than this, there is no difference between Special Edition and standard B17 saddles.

Defining Bike Culture

sophie — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:26:19 +0000

A friend told me he had used the Rock The Bike web site to help a co-worker understand what bike culture is. That got me thinking, what is bike culture? I looked on Wikipedia and was unsatisfied by the old Bike Culture entry, so I wrote a description and updated the Wikipedia entry. What do you think? Comment here or update the Wikipedia entry.

Bicycle culture

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Bike culture is a set of art, music, and community events offered by passionate bicyclists seeking to inspire beginners, rally the faithful, and express their love of bicycling as a life choice. Those who have made bicycling a lifestyle choice, not a mere recreational habit, often see see bicycling as a movement they want to help grow. There are several paths people use to convince others to try biking: Practical improvements, Logic and Facts, and Bike Culture. Practical Improvements include measures at the level of local government, such as bike lanes , improved parking facilities, and access to public transportation, as a well as products that improve the bicycling experience, such as flat-resistant tires and simple, effective safety products. These techniques help address the common objections to bicycling: "I don't feel safe", "my tires are flat", "what if my bike gets stolen?" The path of Logic and Facts seeks to convince and ground the decision to ride bikes at the logic level. Examples of Facts include: "Bicycling helps you integrate exercise into your daily life, which is something you need anyway," "Bicycling is an important way to reduce your personal impact on Global Warming," and "Bicycling makes our cities more liveable by reducing traffic and improving community interactions." Facts, strong as they may be, enter the brain and park themselves in the repository of facts. And while we may call facts to ground and rationalize decisions, only our emotions can bring us the point of making changes in our daily habits and lives. Bike Culture accesses these feelings directly, through music and art and through group rides and events. Recognizing that bicycling for transportation represents a significant departure from a more established automobile-centered how-to-live archetype, and therefore requires a strong emotional basis, Bike Culture artists, musicians, and organizers seeks to use their offerings and events to embolden these emotions, and push people farther along in their own personal transformations. Bike culture consists of:

Bike Music

Bike Film

Bike Rides, often noncompetitive in nature. Includes Critical Mass, Midnight Ridazz (more info below).

Art Bikes, often impractical for transportation purposes or fantastical, such as tall bikes, choppers, unusual multi-person human-powered vehicles, and human powered floats.

Printed word: Blogs, haikus, zines and magazines, stickers, spoke cards. Books include: Thomas Stevens with his narrative "Around the World on a Bicycle," Mark Twain with his essay "Taming the Bicycle" and H. G. Wells with his novel The Wheels of Chance were early contributors to bicycle culture.

Spoken word: Slang, rap, poetry

Arts and Crafts (both handmade and mass manufactured): An example of visual art is Mona Caron's Bike Mural.

That's like 8 bags I didn't bring into existence.

sophie — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:27:39 +0000

Lately I've been carrying sturdy plastic bags with me to waterproof my Xtracycle. So when I headed to the market to buy supplies for Bike Blended Smoothies on a rainy night in SF this past weekend, I just grabbed the bag I had with me. As I went through the produce section, I started putting all the separate fruits in their own bags, which I then would put in my basket. Then I started thinking, "so many bags". So I just put everything in my sturdy plastic bag, as an experiment. It all made it back fine to my place, though checking out took a little longer than usual.

Murray Neil's combined passions: Bikes, Kites, Community

sophie — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:29:36 +0000

One of our Flickr friends, Murray Neil, a New Zealand bike culture head and Xtracycle rider, combines his love of photography, kites, and biking in his crystal clear aerial shots. He fabricated his own kite-based aerial photography rig and uses the photographs to document, among other things, which bike lanes he finds effective and which intersections still need work. In the photo above, Neil can be seen as a tiny dark blue figure in the sand to the left of the bridge on the far side of the river. You can even see the faint line of the kite's string. Even cooler, the red and white object halfway across the bridge is his friend Ted, who had seen his kite line and biked over to say "hi." Unlike airplane based aerial photography, Neil's is quiet, cheap, beautiful, and non-polluting. Now that's community.

Bike Commuter from Seattle posts an extremely safe rig on Flickr

sophie — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:30:28 +0000

Click the photo to see his notes on the various safety products

RJL20 is one of our Flickr friends. I saw his picture of his Xtracycle commuter rig this morning.

If only they got that excited over actual bicycles

sophie — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:32:11 +0000

OK, so apparently there's a little YouTube trend called the Human Bicycle. Here's one of the more humorous ones:

The last tandem I'd ever think to build

sophie — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:34:08 +0000

In the back to back tandem, riders face away from each other for an aero position. It's pretty much the opposite of social biking

Planned Obselescence

sophie — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:35:03 +0000

After seeing The Story of Stuff on a couple of my friends' gmail status messages, I saw the 20-minute online movie and got motivated to take myself out of the loop of planned obselescence. Then a week later I made the mistake of putting my iPod in my pocket next to a magnetic toy. The iPod hard drive was dead instantly. The toy was fine. I thought about replacing the iPod with one of the newer ones. But I've had it for almost three years, and it's never had a problem before that couldn't be fixed by resetting it. So I decided instead of spending $300 on a new one I'd buy a replacement hard drive for $70 on eBay, and a screen protector. I followed the excellent video instructions on ifixipodsfast.com and fixed the iPod in about 15 minutes. I didn't have a non-marring pry tool handy so I used a small electronics screwdriver. It left a very small mark on the one side from prying. Then I applied the screen protector, basically a clear sticker, to the ipod screen. I bought it thinking that it would prevent further scratches to the iPod screen -- that my screen wouldn't get any worse than it was. But when I applied the screen protector, the screen instantly took on it's original glossy look. None of the scratches accumulated during 3 years of ownership were visible any longer. I have a suspicion that a lot of people throw away electronics simply because they look old. If more people knew about screen protectors, maybe they could save their money for other things, or spend less time working and more time having fun riding bikes.

New York bike photographer seeks catharsis on Flickr after wreck

sophie — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:38:30 +0000

After posting the series of her wrecked Surly on Flickr, 50 or so other bike heads piped up with moral support and gratitude for her luck at emerging with only a 'bruised ass'. She reports that "no part is salvageable". i am a lucky, lucky girl...

Victim of thwarted bike jacking keeps riding

sophie — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:40:00 +0000

I did a double take when I saw it too. I think someone tried to lift this bike over the parking meter. Fortunately, it's still rideable. I saw the bike locked at the same meter a few weeks later. Unsuccessful bike jacking

New Years 2008 Cruising Mix

sophie — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:41:37 +0000

Download link: http://download.yousendit.com/E2EB4F057D7B2644 My goal was to take some the music that hit me hardest in 2007 and mix it seemlessly into an hour long cruising mix. The tempo and mood starts kind of chill and cruisy, then gets a bit more headnoddy, and progresses to set-down-your-bikes-and-dance level. It features a lot of musicians I met or hung out with in 2007:

Hernan Battiato opens up the mix with a digeridoo song
Kid Beyond "Wandering Star"
Mafiosa Felice "Wayaya"
Sahaja Uprockers "Hear This"
A DJ Sergio mashup
Isaac James and Borinna Mapaka

So play it in Hermosa, play it in Boulder, play it on the Pleasant Revolution, play it in Austin, play it in Rochester, play it in Carrboro, and whereever you are, bike people. Please let me know what you think. Please join or login to post your comments. Here's a track listing:

Hernan Battiato, track 2, from Viajista
DJ Krush, 3rd Eye, from Meiso
Sahaja Uprockers, Hear This, from "From The Beginning"
Kid Beyond, Wandering Star, from "Amplivate"
Roy Ayers, Liquid Love, from "Virgin Ubiquity II"
Buju Banton, Wanna Be Loved, Til Shiloh
Nightmares on Wax, Date with Destiny, Mind Elevation, Disc 1
Dzihan & Kamien, Ocean Air, Freaks & Icons
Isaac James and Borinna Mapaka, Track 16, from "Isaac James and Borinna Mapaka", recorded in Paris
Nightmares on Wax, Thinking of Omara, from "Mind Elevation Disc 1."
Next Impressions, thanks DJ Toast
Edie Brickell, What I am, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars
Black Star, Definition, from "Black Star"
Fossil Fool, Fossil Fool Mix Tape, set to Headhunters, Chameleon.
Talib Kwali, Reflection Eternal, The Blast
Nightmares on Wax, Playtime, A Word of Science
Mafiosa Felice, Wayaya, produced by Fossil Fool
Hall and Oates, I Can't Go For That, from "Looking Back"
Arrested Development, Give A Man A Fish, from 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life
Crown Heights Affair, Dancin'
Aretha Frankln, Jump To It, from "Jump To It"
Saint Etienne, Kiss and Make Up, from Foxbase Alpha
DJ Sergio mashup of Love Sensation by Loletta Holloway
Saint Etienne, She's The One, from Foxbase Alpha
New Order, World, from Republic
Bob Sinclair, World Hold On, from Western Dreams
Eagles, I Can't Tell You Why
Madan Exotic Disco, Cafe Mundo Electro Word Experience
JSTARS, Tripping the Light Fantastic, Put Me on a Planet
Chicane, Saltwater, from Behind the Sun
Isaac James and Borinna Mapaka, Track 8.

Tandem tall bike as seen during Critical Mass, Sept 2006

sophie — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:42:24 +0000

I've been thinking about building a Tandem Tall Bike. I like the up-down potential. This tandem shot at Critical Mass in Chicago, is an absolute stunner, and hints at the potential impact of a top-bottom tandem.

If you ride more than 1 mile in a rain shower, your Down Low Glow is likely to dim.

sophie — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:43:48 +0000

What's up bike people, I had a great ride home tonight from my friend Leila's house. I had three tubes of Hot Pants Pink Down Low Glow on my Xtracycle and it was really laying down a beautiful cloud of light on the wet streets. The rain had just started when I turned on the lights. They turned on fast, and stayed superbright till I turned onto York St. a mile later. That's when I looked down and saw that the front tube in my dual-tube system was noticeably dimmer than the rear tube, and the single tube system I use on the rear of my xtracycle was about half-bright also. It wasn't the first time I'd noticed the way rain affects the DLG, but it was the most precise I've been able to measure it, and I'm not the only one who's noticed either. Eugen from Denmark writes:

"Hej! My name is Eugen and I bought the down low glow a few mounths ago and I have a question. At the beginning both tubes worked fine but now the tube which is placed on the back of the bike doesn´t glow as strong as the big tube. I was wonderring that maybe it had something to do with the temperature or the humidity because the wether in Denmark is rainy. I took the lights off and now both tubes work fine but I was wondering if this problem appears again what I should do??"

So there you have it. I hate to disappoint the hardcore commuters out there, but facts are facts. Your Down Low Glow may not stay superbright after miles and miles of riding on a rainy night. In fact, it will probably fade to about half it's regular brightness." Now that we're aware of the problem, we're working on finding a solution. I'll keep you posted. If you've figured out tricks for using the DLG through sustained rain, let me know. Fortunately, the seals on the tubes are doing pretty well these days. We're having far fewer returns due to condensation than last year, and our sales are higher. So the good news is that your DLG are less likely than ever before to have any lasting damage from the rain. But that doesn't solve the problem of them not shining as brightly when wet. One immediate tip I'd recommend to DLG owners is to keep your bike in a dry place whenever possible when you're not on it. (Or bring the DLG inside with you if you know your bike will get rained on.)

Have welder, will travel: Mike Cobb's mobile welding rig

sophie — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:45:12 +0000

ike Cobb came up with a trailer-based mobile welding setup that allows him to bike anywhere in the Portland area, and repair anything from a bicycle frame to, well, a broken spatula. The setup includes a thick wool sweater, welding hood, lightweight inverter-based welder, angle grinder, and various other tools. Alas it requires plugging into AC current, but at least it doesn't require 220-volt current. He's learned to weld without a workbench, which requires modifying his technique to use his right elbow to work the amperage contol pedal. He also rolls with a padded cordura nylon ground mat and kneepads. The welder is protected against rain by a stretch rain cover that hugs the rails of the Blue Sky Cycle Cart. The folding Bike Friday can be packed into the trailer, and hoisted onto an AMTRAK train without a surcharge. Check out the full web album or contact Mike through Rock the Bike.

Ginger Ninjas Perform at Southbay Cruiser Ride 12/01/07

sophie — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:46:49 +0000

Here's the Ginger Ninjas performing '10 cents' at a recent Southbay Cruiser ride... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L0Vz_may-s

Nice performances Fossil Fool & Mafi!

sophie — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:48:43 +0000

I was entertained at the Revolution Cafe in San Francisco at Bike Culture night by Mafi and Fossil Fool while visiting the bay area for the holidays. The place was jumpin' with Mafi playin' the Quatro(spelled right?)and then when Fossil Fool took the Choprical Fish outside to the sidewalk where spontaneous dancing erupted, as well as some mixed drinks from the Bike Blender. Thanks Fossil!Pics and videos to be posted soon.

Bicycles take to the Freeways in Los Angeles...

sophie — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:27:37 +0000

a daring new group is now planning for rides on LA's 405 freeway.... http://www.midnightridazz.com/viewStory.php?storyId=1185

A baby-jogger based sound system with beautiful form.

sophie — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:28:55 +0000

Most trailer based and baby jogger-based sound system look like this: It's really refreshing to see one that creates a new form, the audacity to use a front-firing 15" subwoofer! Yet it still doesn't look like a big bubble, thanks to the clever sheet metal work. "Thumper"

Bike Culture Blowin' Up, Car Culture Goin' Down in Los Angeles...

sophie — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 06:30:35 +0000

April 22nd, 2008 has officially been declared Car Free Day in Los Angeles. The birthplace of the Freeway is making way for the bicycle - 15,000 are expected to participate in this celebration. See attached link for more info... http://www.wilshirecenter.com/earthday/documents/LACityEarthDayApprovedM...

The coolest lighting setup we've seen in awhile

sophie — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:31:59 +0000

Check the latest lighting mod from photographer Derek Pearson: A Pink Fink / Xtracycle combo with custom skateboard snapdeck, Envy Green Down Low Glow (matching the skateboard wheels), Plush Red DLG in the front, and quad Serfas TL 1000 taillights. "Those taillights are serfas tl 1000 and I'm bummed to say that they just discontinued the line. Raddest taillights ever."

Weird coincidence

sophie — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:35:16 +0000

This afternoon in the workshop I got a call from Joel, the drummer from Afrolicious and Pleasure Maker (Thursdays at the Elbo Room). I met Joel when we were on the 2-Mile Challenge tour together. He said, "Sorry I couldn't make it to your gig last week, I was working." "Doing what?" "Moving." "Moving? Like for cash? "Yeah." "How much they paying you?" "18 an hour." "Dang, I'd offer you work at Rock the Bike, because we need help with assembly and packing and shipping right now, but we normally pay only $12." "That's OK man, I'd totally work for you, because I believe in what you're doing." "Really? Thanks Joel." "No problem. And you should come by the Elbo tonight." "Thanks, I'll try to make it around 11. Can you put me on the guest list?" Then I got home, had dinner and got a text from Julia about an event at Cellspace. "OK I'll swing by, but I'm going to Elbo later." The exhibit at Cell Space was an incredible cardboard city about 20 feet by ten feet, with a miniature helicopter floating around. There was a miniature remote control helicopter flying through the skyscrapers of the cardboard city. It's up until April 17. Gotta go see it! Anyway, after checking out the city, I suggested a cruise so we left. It was me, Julia, and Tyson, whose chain sounded like a chorus of crickets. We had a great ride up to Billy Goat hill, and watched the city. It was late so I had to coax them to come with me to the Elbo Room. But it was a downhill cruise awaiting us so it wasn't that hard. Three abreast on Cesar Chavez was really nice. Julia was saying we felt like a bike gang. The Plush Red Down Glow on my my mom's Electra was sweet. Sometimes it's good to ride a totally simple bike. I can see the appeal of fixed gear bikes. I just love me knees. Anyway, we roll up to the Elbo Room. The woman at the door let all three of us in. Sure enough, Joel was in his element playing along on traps with Afrolicious. During a set break I got to introduce him to my friends and catch up a little. We danced until 1 or so and then cruised. I sprayed Boeshield on Tyson's chain and said goodbye. I headed upstairs and parked in front of the computer like I normally do when I should be sleeping. I checked the What's Hot page on Rock the Bike. I noticed a comment on my post about JoyRider clothing, entitled bicycle fashion:

"Bravo! A clothing line that is not centered around spandex! At Velo Vogue, we also applaud cycling in normal fashionable clothing. Clothing lines such as Joyrider will help de-marginalize cycling for transportation! Looking good!"

So I clicked the link and sure enough it's a hip little blog about San Francisco bicycle fashion, with lots of fun photos. And there at the bottom of the page, ladies and gentlemen, was Joel Elrod, riding with a companion in Golden Gate park, wearing a black hat and a cool T-shirt:

New Down Low Glow video set to "Boda Boda Rap" by Fossil Fool and Lawi One

sophie — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:38:54 +0000

Here's a cool video compilation of the Down Low Glow shots we've posted to Flickr over the last two years. The music in the video is a track called "Boda Boda Rap" I worked on when I was working in Kisumu, Kenya for Worldbike.org . My partner and friend Ed Lucero had found us a sweet apartment, and he had been there for almost a year when I arrived in March 2006. I was trying to help Ed finish up the marketing and monitoring for the Big Boda Trial Market, for which I had raised the funds. It was hard work selling bikes in Kenya, but Ed and I had great teamwork and lots of fun together. Anyway at night at the apartment, Ed's friends would come over. When they met me, I told them I was a rapper and gave them a sample. I told them I was writing a song about the Boda Boda bicycle taxi operators. The next night they came back with Lawi One, and we hit it off immediately. He installed a bootleg copy of Fruity Loops on my laptop and we would make beats until the battery died, then go out cruising in the warm Kisumu night air. He wrote a verse and I wrote three. On my last night in Kisumu, Thao and I took a cab to his recording studio in a dank basement. It was me, Lawi One, and his friend who wanted to sing backup but who I thought had no rhythm. We laid down the track in about 4 hours. Thao and I left to get on the night bus to Nairobi. A month later Lawi One emailed me the MP3 and it's the only thing I have of the song. But my other friend Chris Okiri emailed me to say that the local radio station was playing it every so often. I lost touch with Lawi One last year. I think he moved from Kisumu to Sweden of all places. But I don't have his email anymore. Maybe someone who knows him will search for his name on the internet, see this and contact me.

Grocery Run...

sophie — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:40:55 +0000

Cat wanted a ride too..

Spring Update

sophie — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:42:28 +0000

What's up bike people? I just wanted to give you a little update on Rock The Bike as we head in to the Spring. Rock The Bike is growing! Last year this time there was only one employee, me. Now there's five of us! I'll get you a picture soon. There's Emmeline, who balances the books and crunches the numbers, Paul, our in-house pro videographer \ photographer \ extreme athlete, Leif, our product designer, and Melanie, our customer service rep and outreach specialist. And I am now working 100÷ on RTB, having stepped down from running Worldbike, as I had since 2003. (A huge salute to Worldbike's new director, Kristna Evans, who is on a mission to take Worldbike from a rough-and-ready grassroots bike-focused nonprofit, to a international poverty-focused NGO using bicycles as a tool for economic empowerment.) With each of RTB's key new hires, we shift from amateur to professional in their area of focus. And as I hail this moment of losing our amateur status, I must acknowledge that we've been less than perfect in some areas this past year, including our customer service. So if there's anything that's bugging you about about a Rock The Bike purchase or product, please let us know. In particular, if you had to deal with a delay of more than 2 weeks on a Down Low Glow purchase without proper communication from us, and would like a shipping refund, please let us know. Please use the contact page on the left and select "customer service" as the topic. Phew, now that we've got that out of the way, let me tell you some of the cool things we're working on this Spring. I guess I'm ready to announce that we're hard at work on a new version of our flagship product, the Down Low Glow. I've used the DLG almost every night for the past 5 years. I've used all the colors except Royale Purple. I love the DLG and know that there are aspects of the current version that I'm really going to miss. But the new version will without a doubt solve the waterproofing problem we've battled from day 1, and be much simpler, with fewer things to attach to your bicycle in order to use it. The new DLG will be a much more 'manufactured product', whereas the current one was I think correctly described as 'cottage industry' by Velovision's Peter Eland. We currently make every DLG system by hand in our West Berkeley workshop. There are so many parts and so many steps involved in making it, many of which are rising in price, that we are now forced to raise the price of our trickle-charged DLG systems by about 10÷. The price change will go into effect April 8, so please take that into account if you are planning to buy one. Customers who purchase a DLG system between now and our early summer release of the new DLG will get access to industry pro-deal pricing on the new one. So if you're psyched to buy the DLG now, go for it. I promise you won't regret getting started sooner than later with this amazing product! Let's see, what else? We're now the exlusive North American distibutor for the Yuba Mundo, a heavy duty cargo bike that will make a great platform for custimizing to your unique cargo. We're becoming, in a sense, long-wheelbase bicycle specialists, because we also carry and install the Xtracycle FreeRadical. So if you want unbiased advice on which cargo \ utility bike platform is right for you, please contact us. We entered the Bicycle Film Festival with an extended version of our Innovate-Or-Die piece on the Choprical Fish. We'll be doing lots more on-the-ground documentation of San Francisco's bike culture in the coming year, now that Paul McKenzie is on board. We've also doubled our square footage in our workship. Well, I think that about covers it. If you've read this far you must be interested in our little company and our crazy mission to "bring the light, bring the beat", and help each of you truly rock ou on you're two-wheeled thing. I thank you for your support and interest, whether you're a customer, a fan, or just a web surfer. Yours, Paul a.k.a. Fossil Fool

Stopped on my commute...

sophie — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:43:37 +0000

My commute to the Rock the Bike workshop takes me past the Embarcadero, where, if I'm lucky, I'll see flatlander Pete Brandt practicing his latest 'links', or sequences of moves.

Snowy Commute

sophie — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:45:01 +0000

You Go Jeff. Snowy commute

The beauty of track racing captured by SF's Koshi

sophie — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:46:57 +0000

Speedform

Why don't 'they' make more stylish clothing for commuters? 'They' do.

sophie — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:48:15 +0000

Do you wonder why they don't make clothes for bike commuters with more subtle style, less spandex, and fewer bright logos? They do. Sometimes you just have to wait until 'they' come by your workshop community looking for welding help on a clothing rack.

Why don't 'they' make bike clothing that is more stylish? 'They' do.

Nan Eastep heads up Joyrider Clothing -- a custom line of clothing and bags for city riders. This is the front of her new bike bag, which features a really spacious roll-down bag, some nice front pockets for phone and wallet, and a structure that hugs your sides to support the weight as you rock back and forth on climbs. http://joyriderclothing.blogspot.com/

Bike Culture and traditional advocacy -- a powerful combo for growing and sustaining a movement to two wheels

sophie — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:48:30 +0000

New BART car design allows long bikes to fit without blocking doors

Heading home last night I spotted a new blue print of a bicycle on the wall of one of the BART cars. I wheeled my Xtracycle into that car and parked it in the new stretched out 'Bike Space'. It was as if it were made for my Xtracycle. On other BART cars, my rig sticks halfway into the doorway, which can slow other passengers down at stops. Usually I try to avoid commute hours and tuck the bike in as much as possible, but with the new layout, I won't have to. The new design removes one seat from the train, allowing full leg room for the passenger sitting by my front wheel and full access to passengers at the door. Commuting by BART had never been stressful with my Xtracycle -- the other passengers were always cool -- but the new design makes it easier for every one. I also have to give it up for the non-carpeted floors. They feel much more 'subway' and less 'commuter rail'. This cool improvement to BART's design is probably the result of some hard-working bicycle advocate working within or with BART. And these types of practical improvements -- bike lanes, parking, public transit access -- are exactly what traditional bike advocates do best. But focusing on practical improvements is only half of what it takes to grow our bicycle movement. We also need passionate bike culture heads to do the work they do so well -- outreach. Working together, Bike Culture's outreach and traditional bicycle advocacy's hard-fought improvements are a powerful combination that can grow and sustain the bicycle movement.

Water bottle-based music systems help you hear (but maybe not feel) your music

sophie — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:52:31 +0000

A couple new products are helping bike people cruise with music this spring. The Gadget Bottle is a functional water bottle that has no batteries or speakers, but its unique shape allows you to strap a cell phone with an internal speaker and listen to your MP3s as you ride. It fits inside a standard water bottle cage. At 2:35, inventor Steve Lach takes a phone call from his wife, holding the entire Gadget Bottle to his ear, with his flip phone securely rubber banded in place! No problem with one-handed use while cruising or training. To up the volume a bit, the iHome2Go Cycler is a rechargeable black water-bottle shaped single-speaker music system that conceals an iPod and includes a handlebar mounted control. Eugene, Oregon-based bicycle advocate and customer Shane Rhodes, a.k.a. The Bike Phantom, recommends it and says the volume is big enough for a small cluster of riders to hear the music. With a 3" speaker, the Cycler isn't going to deliver satisfying bass hits. It's a basic law of speaker design that the smaller the speaker and its enclosure, the harder it is to get good bass response. But how important is bass response on a bicycle? I think it's essential, and Rock the Bike is obviously committed to the path of building bicycle music systems with cabinets large enough to deliver satisfying bass. With good bass, you and the people around you feel 'in the music'. Without good bass, you can sing along with your friends to your favorite songs, which is a wonderful experience. But it's a different experience than cruising in the music, which feels a bit like being in your own music video. Plenty of people disagree with me on the importance of bass response. Others are more hardcore than I am:

Musician Peter Mulvey stays local, in "Look Ma, No Gasoline" tour.

sophie — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:57:27 +0000

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=662120 For a healthy Friday afternoon dose of bike culture inspiration, follow the link above and check out Peter Mulvey's video. After making a career as a singer/songwriter he admits "I've had a great old time" touring Europe and North America by plane and car, "and I've burned a lot of gasoline doing so." For a week and a half last fall, Peter stayed closer to home, hitting shows in Fort Atkinson, Madison, Green Lake, Osh Kosh, and Sheboigan Wisconsin.

Jacob Kramer 1 year hence, confirmed bicycle lifestylist

sophie — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:00:20 +0000

Jacob bought and installed his Xtracycle at Rock the Bike. ( www.flickr.com/photos/rockthebike/372539035/ ) Now he's tearing up the town and using his bike on dates (with Down Low Glow of course). Note the flowers (not on Valentines day).

I used to think one person on a tandem was sad. Not if they're wheelying the thing from the stoker seat

sophie — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:02:20 +0000

Si, se puede! It can be done! Sins & Sprockets -- Ghostriding the whip with a tandem

Specialized President Mike Sinyard pedals water-purifying Aquaduct trike in Tour of California prologue.

sophie — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:03:39 +0000

From our Flickr friend MacPaulster's account: "Hats off to Mike Sinyard, CEO at Specialized Bicycles, for riding the winning "Innovate or Die" contest entry, Aqueduct, in the charity Prologue of the Tour of California 2008. The pedaling of this rig powers both the drivetrain of the tricycle and the pumps that purify water. The machine is intended for Third World countries where clean drinking water is challenging to find. The bike can be ridden to the questionable water source, where the tank in the rear is filled. Then, while the bike is ridden back, water is filtered into the reservoir on the front. Additional water can be filtered while the bike is stationary by disconnecting the drive train. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U-mvfjyiao

New article in the LA Times 2/18/08

sophie — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:06:29 +0000

Fewer Drivers Over a Barrel by Ron White LA Times 2/18/08 Believe it or not, more of us in LA ride more and drive less... http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gasdemand18feb18,0,794487.story

Jacquie Phelan gives the low down on women and bicycling at Velosport in Berkeley

sophie — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:07:48 +0000

Geoffrey and I headed to Velosport after work to hear Jacquie Phelan, the former women's mountain bike champion, discussing her experiences as a woman in the world of mountain bike racing. Here are a few highlights: At 15:35: "I am a racer... I'm intensely competitive. I'm more motivated when I can tell the person next to me has an issue with me passing them. It's like getting a caffeine suppository... Maybe it's the testosterone... There's got to be a safe place for that to come out... So you don't actually beat people up..." At 22:00: A woman in the audience who has worked with Jacquie in the past relates a story of Jacquie pulling her Eldridge Grade (Mount Tam) with a bungie cord. At 28:00: Jacquie tells a story about Honda sponsoring the Safe Routes to School program in Marin Country. The son of Joe Breeze notices that, in the instructional DVD she was required to play, all the cars are Hondas except for the one that mows down a little kid on a bike.

Who wants $20 a month to ride their bike to work?

sophie — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:29:35 +0000

Following is an excerpt that I received from an email from the League of American Bicyclists... On May 21, 2008, prior to the Memorial Day recess, the House passed H.R. 6049, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008. Included in the legislation is a $20 per month transportation fringe benefit for bicycle commuters to cover costs of commuting by bike. We are expecting the Senate finance committee to take up the measure the week of June 2nd, and would like to have the Senators who previously co-sponsored S. 858 (Bicycle Commuters Benefit Act 2007), sign onto a joint letter, being distributed by Senator Wyden, to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Finance Committee asking them to adopt the House provision. For details on this provision and a 'Take Action' link contact the League of American Bicyclists (www.bikeleague.org) DISQUS...

Street performing at Lightning in a Bottle this past weekend.

sophie — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:30:42 +0000

This was one of about 10-15 short performances I did during the festival. Later in the video you see footage of Brenda talking about the bike she just one from New Belgium and Clif Bar. I thought she was rad so I sponsored her with a Down Low Glow for the bike she just bought.

Mundo bikes are highly customizeable

sophie — Wed, 28 May 2008 05:36:16 +0000

Mundo owners are starting to trick out their bikes with passenger seating, lighting, cargo planks, and more. snap deck

Mundo with lighting

sophie — Mon, 19 May 2008 05:38:10 +0000

The Mundo is fun at night. I added two headlights, Plush Red Down Low Glow, and a Cateye taillight. Mundo with lighting

Performing at Lighting in a Bottle in Santa Barbara this weekend. Be there!

sophie — Mon, 19 May 2008 05:40:28 +0000

Psyched to be performing at my first festival this summer. Will be teaming up with New Belgium to host a cruiser ride on Saturday afternoon, and a late night party, as well as numerous daytime 'street performances'. Come on down!

Performing at Lighting in a Bottle in Santa Barbara this weekend. Be there!

'Twas the night before Maker's Faire...

sophie — Sun, 18 May 2008 05:42:31 +0000

Human Power, the writing's on the wall

sophie — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:44:51 +0000

And today coming back from the beach I passed Mona Caron's new mural in progress in Noe Valley and saw this cool little detail: In it, a gym currently at the corner of 24th and Church is replaced by a Pedal Power center, which people pedaling away on energy-harnessing bikes. On the roof of the Pedal Power center, a band jams away, using the power from below. Caron painted her favorite musicians into the mural. You can clearly make out stiltwalkers from La Malamana, and the distinct figure of the singer Rupa . Every time I street perform with the Choprical Fish, someone asks me: "What if we could have a whole gym generating energy?" Well, at least in the post-apocalyptic eutopia of Mona Caron's new mural, we can.

My down low glow and soul cycle head unit at Santa Monica critical mass...

sophie — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:46:49 +0000

SHAKE YOUR PEACE! returns to Utah, touring by bicycle under human power

sophie — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:48:50 +0000

Sustainable Rock 'n Rollers are back in Utah, touring by bicycle and using their Human Powered P/A system sponsored by Rock the Bike. Above, Sonya Cotton and SHAKE YOUR PEACE! front man Gabe Dominguez sing a duet on Park City TV.

Street performing at KFOG Kaboom last night

sophie — Sun, 11 May 2008 05:53:08 +0000

Had a great time performing with Ken the mad scientist, Joel, Zori, Mafi, and Daniel last night at the KFOG Kaboom. We had completely sustainable sound -- solar charged keyboard amp, and human powered vocals. We performed about 2 hours in an area filled with tailgaters, for tips, food, and fun.

You said it, not me.

sophie — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:56:35 +0000

Seen on my way to work yesterday.

Bike cuts through foam on Ocean Beach in this dreamy video with original music by bike culture producer Nat K.

sophie — Sat, 03 May 2008 05:58:41 +0000

Band schedule for Maker Faire this weekend.

sophie — Sat, 03 May 2008 06:00:30 +0000

What's up SF Cruisers, Have you heard about the Maker's Faire happening this weekend? It's a big event at the San Mateo fairgrounds, featuring inventors, crafters, and interactive artists from around the Bay Area. This is Rock the Bike's second year at Maker's Faire and this year we are producing the Pedal Powered Stage. With three human power generating bikes, we'll have enough power to get 200 people dancing. We have a great location at the Faire at it's been well promoted. Come down and enjoy it. Here's the Saturday Night Lineup: 5:30-6:15 SHAKE YOUR PEACE! Sustainable Rock n' Roll. 6:30-7:30 Yacouba and the Spirit Gatherers. West African dance music. Sunset 8:00-8:45 Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper. Here's the full line up: Complete band schedule -- both days. 1:00-2:00 Extra Action Marching Band (unamplified) 2:30-3:00 Ira Marlowe 4:30-5:00 Onyx Ashanti 5:30-6:15 Shake Your Peace! 6:30-7:30 Yacouba and the Spirit Gatherers 8:00-8:45 Fossil Fool SUNDAY 5/4 - PEDAL POWERED STAGE – MUSIC STAGE 3 (SOUTHWEST CORNER OF CENTRAL MALL) 12:00-12:30 John F. King II (unamplified) 1:00-1:30 Tarantulas Jug Band 2:00-2:30 Crank Ensemble 3:00-3:30 McPuzo & Trotsky 4:00-4:30 Lee Maverick Band See you there!

Mundo waiting faithfully at the parking.

sophie — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:12:08 +0000

All I got to say is it's been a long time since I've had a bright red bicycle and it rocks! This Mundo is a cheerful little guy. Kind of a cross between a monarch butterfly, a gazelle, and a hippo. The single speed is great. On Wednesday I carried 100 pounds 1.4 miles up a gradual hill to town, and the ratio felt good to me. Not too hard, not too easy. Then I rode to town today with about 60 pounds. Same solid feeling. Gear felt right. Then after dropping off the goods at FEDEX I was riding it down the hill unloaded, and it feels basically just as stiff and solid as when it was loaded down. The frame doesn't budge. It's kind of like riding a tree trunk. But as much as this bike doesn't feel zippy, due to its weight, it's reassuringly strong. Today I sprinted for a yellow light with the 60-pound load, and it felt really good. It had pickup. And the drivetrain is so positive that I know I can put 100% into each pedal stroke. It's our new townie. And we invite you to take a test ride. We'll be at the Maker's Faire this weekend running the Pedal Powered stage. Come take a ride, and pedal power a few songs while you're at it!

Mundo waiting faithfully at the parking.

A couple straps was all it took.

sophie — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:16:02 +0000

Hauled a Mundo and another box to FEDEX yesterday on Rock The Bike's cheerful new utility bike.

Rubies roll with the down low glow in "I Feel Electric" video

sophie — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:18:24 +0000

In the new Mattias Johansson video for the Rubies song "I Feel Electric", the three members of the group first appear standing over cruiser bikes tricked out with the Down Low Glow.

BionX, Solar Recharge

sophie — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:20:41 +0000

First a simple intro: I want to talk with people with more experience using the bionX system to expand their range and success in commuting. Details to come as soon as I figure out how to click "submit" and get it to work Frances, Omaha

Five months in to the Pleasant Revolution tour, The Ginger Ninjas reach Chiapas

sophie — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:21:46 +0000

http://www.pleasantrevolution.net

Happy Earth Day!

sophie — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:24:12 +0000

Just in time for the busy Earth Day and bike-to-work advocacy season, we set up our Fender Blender to be easily towed to events behind another bike. Now clients won't have to throw it in an SUV if they'd rather bike it to their event.

Midnight Ridazz of Los Angeles Mourn Glo Rider

sophie — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:26:48 +0000

Mark Nealy, commonly known as glo rider passed away in March of this year. Known as the guy in his recumbent bike who shot many pics and videos of the midnight ridazz, and experimenter with neon lights. The Midnight Ridazz held a ride in his honor last week. Here is a link to pics from the ride... http://www.midnightridazz.com/artist.php?artistId=396

Feeling of comfort and coolness

sophie — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:43:26 +0000

As I rolled thru the busy park at night. I had my DLG green envy on. The "Oh look at that light", "Cool Light" and where did you get that light? shouts and questions were coming from all over the park as I rode along. DLG is the major piece of equipment that raises attention for cyclists. I have yet to use them and not get into conversations with people about my DLG. I tell them they are handcrafted in San Francisco, and it seems to make them appear even more mysterious. It just adds to the DLG mystique I guess. Riding at night is way more comfortable than during the day because of the DLG system. I hear cars leaving the lane or at least giving me way more space than sans a DLG. So yes I feel they are worth it. The only downside is that if your are a hurry, the conversations you get into will slow you down. It is great because slowing down and being part of the community is a lot better than speeding through and never knowing who you live with. Peaceful riding, Carl

The Carpoon

sophie — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:44:15 +0000

This is a stunt video, not an education video. The idea was to recreate a tool I read about in the book "Snowcrash". The device is called the carpoon and it costs $5. The Carpoon: Designed to attach to large slow moving vehicles and allow a bike to quietly skitch behind it. Enjoy.

Trails and tribulations

sophie — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:46:17 +0000

well, finding this company was a bit of a god send; I've been looking into getting either a Trek 520 Touring, and new 2008 Ralliegh Sojourn (new touring bike w/ disk brakes) or simply a Surley Long Haul Trucker and more than likely adapting an Extra Cycle frame/bags. Came out of the library 2 days ago, and saw the most interesting bike I've seen since the Dutch beer delivery rig crossed my sights, a mtn bike w/ this type of extension BUILT IN! :D Then, after getting ahold of a retail shop by the same name (Fraser) I found y'all. Has anyone tryed to mount a Burley D'Lite or Corsair XT trailer to one of these, and what were the limitations? I wld love to hear back on this. Aaron, Da Hobo wit'da mojo ;)

Happy 4th of July!

sophie — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:49:04 +0000

All we need now is for rock the bike to come out with bright white DLG and we would have been very patriotic ;) (those red ghosties above the bikes are balloons tied to the snapdeck)

Don't worry, no cubicles yet.

sophie — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:50:05 +0000

photo: Paul McKenzie Welcome to Rock the Bike, where we average 2.5 laptops per employee. Yes, we are thrilled to reach untold levels of productivity in our airy new office! This room had always adjoined our workshop but only now did we have a chance to use it, after 2 years in Unit B and 7 years on Channing way. Leif, Ben, and I put in the bamboo floor and built the desk. Took us two days. And we're stoked. We can open that window and pass invoices and packing slips to whoever's working in shipping that day. When it's closed the space is fairly quiet and dust free. It's fun rolling around on bamboo. The materials for the project cost us less than $50. Guests will have a space to look at product literature, press clippings and bike magazines, Rock the Bike videos, all while checking out the action in the bicycle customization station on the other side of the window.

The Original Suicide Shift

sophie — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:52:03 +0000

This bike is just one of the antique racing bikes hanging on the wall of my neighbor Gian Bongiorno's shop. It's one of Campagnolo's earliest shifting mechanisms. Apparently Fausto Coppi won the Tour on it. To operate it, you pull one lever to undo the axel quick release. At this point, the axel is imobilized in the dropouts only by notches in the dropout! Then you pedal backwards, using the other lever to change gears. Once the chain has moved to the new gear, you redo the QR for the axle, then pedal forward. Apparently these were popular because they were light weight, but they caused many accidents.

Bicycle Music Festival coverage from The Bay Guardian

sophie — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:53:36 +0000

Cruiser Ride Organizers....So you want to entertain like Fossil Fool

sophie — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:55:16 +0000

...but you don't have his skills behind the mic, or a custom made soul cycle is not in your budget. Don't fret, you can still get the bike party going Southbay Cruiser style. 1)Get yourself a soul cycle head unit (or build your own stereo) I like the soul cycle head unit because it's small, it's light, it's stealth if you ride through areas with the police aren't too excited about bike stereos and it's affordable(get other cruisers in your group to chip in to share one for your rides if you need to.) Down low glow on an xtracycle is a nice added touch but you can attach a soul cycle head unit to a regular bike if you an xtracycle is out of your budget. 2)Get yourself a roland microcube battery operated amp, mic and cord (This is a light weight PA set up. Not the best sounding in the world, but good enough for around a campfire or vacant street at nigh. throw in some rechargeable double AA batteries) 3)Print out the lyrics to your favorite songs to sing along to. Put the songs in a binder. Load the songs on your ipod. Now when you find the right time/place on your ride. Bust out your gear and start singing along with the music pumpin' out of your soul cycle head unit. This is karaoke for the streets. And even if you aren't a great siinger, it only takes one person to get everyone into the right mood to want to jump up and sing their favorite 80's tune or whatever. Dancing follows. (If I uploaded them correctly)here's a few karaoke/dance pics from the most recent 'A Pirate's Life for Me' Southbay Cruiser ride on 6/20/08.

Rolling with 88 weighted keys -- preparing for a Live On Bike performance

sophie — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:56:33 +0000

Some interesting scenes from the workshop this week, preparing for BMF. The musical part starts at 3:05. It was awesome to see the expressions on our neighbors’ faces as we cruised around West Berkeley with Janaysa singing and playing. Folk / Soul singer Janaysa came by the workshop on Tuesday to test-ride the piano mount on the Mundo. She was initially ‘concerned’ but left on a high after a good try out.

How does it feel to pedal power live music?

sophie — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:59:32 +0000

Live at Maker Faire 2008 from Rock the Bike's Pedal Powered Stage. Watch in high quality by clicking twice on the video itself and selecting "Watch in high quality" on the YouTube page: Video from Rock the Bike’s Pedal Power stage at Maker Faire this year. The sound system we’ll be using at Saturday’s BMF is even better. Nice clips of SHAKE YOUR PEACE! performing, as well as Yacouba and the Spirit Gatherers, and Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper.

Folk/Soul singer Janaysa set to Rock the Bike at Bicycle Music Festival this Saturday!

sophie — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:04:44 +0000

We had a great practice ride tonight in the neighborhood around our workshop. The aTractor Seat and custom bamboo piano mount were both strong and comfortable, allowing her plenty of leg room. She practiced about 5 songs, giving me time to see how the bike handled. The handling was difficult but manageable. Even the slightest uphill made it noticeably harder to maintain a straight line, because her weight is so far behind the rear axle. The frame was up to the task, but the front end just felt light. I had to really maintain focus and keep my arm muscles tensed at all times. The sound of her voice and piano playing made it all worth it, though. I'm really excited to bring her unique music to the streets at BMF, live!

Flickr

sophie — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:07:23 +0000

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

The Bicycle Music Festival will be June 21st 2008 in Dolores Park

sophie — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:08:39 +0000

Kronan artwork

sophie — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:11:01 +0000

Nothing like a beautiful hand painted fender. Yeow!

Xtracycle carries three adult men. Can you spot the trick?

sophie — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:12:46 +0000

Just in time for Bicycle Music Festival, the aTractor Seat for live-on bike music performances and superior passenger comfort

sophie — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:16:02 +0000

Just in time for Bicycle Music Festival, we've come up with the aTractor Seat for live on-bike music performances and superior passenger comfort. It all started one night when we were sitting around the cafe on one of these rare warm San Francisco nights. I didn't have a Soul Cycle with me. I had the Mundo. And Mafi had her cuatro, so we decided to have an 'acoustic night,' and had a beautiful ride with lots of sing-a-longs. The experience got my wheels turning and I started looking for ways to turn the Mundo into a serious performance bike. The aTractor Seat is a mod to the Mundo's frame that allows us to mount an IKEA tractor seat rigidly to the Mundo's frame. The frame is so stiff, that I can carry a passenger on the very rear of the rack, and I still don't feel any appreciable frame flex. The front end does get a little light, because there's so much weight behind the rear axle, but not enough to make me nervous, unless we're talking about a 200lb passenger. I took my landlord Nick in Berkeley to lunch today. He weighs about 170. The front wheel never picked up, but the steering was a little less immediate. Anyway, I wanted you to see the types of mods that you can easily do with a Mundo. The tubing on the Mundo is thick-gauge steel, not boutique thin-walled cromoly. You can take this to any welder and they'll be able to weld a bracket on there for you for your surfboard, skis, camera mount, whatever. Here's a cool new video we just uploaded about the Mundo, featuring a new song of mine, "Sendin' Out":

Clif Bar Rocks the Bike with Soul Cycle Mothership on 2-Mile Challenge tour

sophie — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 05:19:35 +0000

When Clif Bar wanted to pump up the volume on their "2-Mile Challenge" bike advocacy tour, they turned to Rock the Bike for a human-powered Soul Cycle Mothership party bike. The party bike helps spread smiles at events and increase the numbers of visitors to Clif Bar's 2-Mile Challenge bus. The bio-diesel burning, retro-looking tour bus is a rolling exhibition of bicycle transportation options and inspiring bike culture stories. Ryan Mayo, Clif Bar's Mobile Marketing Manager, had this to say: "We feel strongly that there is great need for people to start thinking creatively about using the bike as a means of transportation to fight the effects of climate change. With our Soul Cycle Mothership, we're dropping climate neutral beats and inspiring others as we ride!" Clif Bar has found that the element of music helps increase the numbers of visitors on their 2-Mile Challenge bus. The Soul Cycle Mothership makes a personal connection with event goers as they stream by. Inspired participants can pedal-power a couple songs, and even sing karaoke-style through the Mothership's PA system. And 2-Mile Challenge Tour staff can make announcements over the music, pulling people in when the crowds get heavy. When crowds are light, they pop the bike off the beefy dual-sided kickstand, switch to battery mode, and get mobile. Mayo adds, "Last week at an event, I was cruising around the venue with the Soul Cycle Mothership, when Bob Marley's "Get up, Stand Up" came on the player. I cranked the volume dial up and turned heads throughout the whole place. People threw their fists in the air and sang along as I rode by - Don't give up the fight! The sound infectiously spread smiles throughout as we shared our organic Clif Bars with the people."

RTB customer Eric D. of Dreamless Studios tricks son's bike with Down Low Glow and special effects fog

sophie — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 05:24:11 +0000

Oh, almost forgot. Spinners too.

Cruising with ElliptiGO inventor Bryan at sunset along the Embarcadero

sophie — Sat, 31 May 2008 05:25:57 +0000

Click "more" below to see the video. I met Bryan at Maker Faire, and immediately got the idea to get some DLG under the foot platforms of his invention on a sunset cruise. It was the first time we've mounted the DLG in a way that it moves relative to the frame of the bicycle. Bryan invented the ElliptiGO out of frustration with driving to the gym to use the Elliptical trainers.

Sailing to Hawaii on a raft made of 15000 plastic bottles. Environmentalists with guts.

sophie — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:34:01 +0000

Not content to sit back and talk about the issue of plastics polution in the Ocean, Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal are sailing from Long Beach to Hawaii on the "JUNK" a raft that floats on pontoons made of plastic bottles. Apparently 10000 pounds of plastic are added to the ocean from the city of Los Angeles each day. The 15000 bottles in the JUNK weigh only 350 pounds.

Daytime DLG

sophie — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:20:29 +0000

Southbay Bicycle Rodeo - It was a Carnival Event

sophie — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:23:38 +0000

BICYCLE RODEO RECAP: A CARNIVAL EVENT... I know I've said this before, but this had to be one our best, if not our best event. About 35 of us started off our journey into the old west at Hermosa Pier on Saturday August 16th, 2008, with our cowboy hats,boots, and spurs, our water guns at our sides for protection as we headed into the wild wild west of yesteryear. With Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks booming from the soul cycle, weheaded up the Esplanade where we were greeted with waives and cheers from neighbors and a few passing cars. We made our way to the barbecue pits at Valley Park in Hermosa Beach where we hosted our first ever Southbay Cruiser Bicycle Rodeo games! We saw Diego and Faith pound our our Texas bootstyle pinata to pieces in our first event. Pinata bashing then led to our now infamous wheel barrel Bull races.Mary Caldera, our new assistant organizer, made us some bull horns towear for just this special event. Several teams of two battled it out for our bicycle rodeo/olympic gold, silver, and bronze medals. Victor and I took on Team Great Britain (Ziv and friend) in the first match.Our behinds were quickly eliminated. Others stepped up to challenge them. It was some of the most competitive bull racing in the history of the LA bike culture scene that I've ever witnessed, with several near collisions. John and Zack's team took the gold, by edging out the assistant organizer team of Speedy Shari and Galloping MaryCaldera, followed by Team Great Britain taking the bronze medal. From there we moved on to western style jump roping. Diego amazed us with his skills there and reminded us of what it was like to be a kid again. Inspired, we all jumped in and eventually double dutch jumped rope. From jump roping we moved onto to doing some Napolean Dynamite style “sweet jumps” on our bikes with Tony, Mary, “Dr.Alan”, Ziv, and Neal showing us how it’s done. We ended the night singing karaoke around the barbecue (with our new upgraded karaoke speaker) and dancing. Tina showed us how to two step to some country tunes on the soul cycle, and we danced to some old school Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington. It was an awesome night and we look forward to more! Some pics areposted of this event. More to be posted later. If you have pics of this event, please post them. CRUISER OF THE WEEK: Speedy Shari has launched herself into the southbay cruiser scene-literally when she won several Bull Races on Saturday night. She’s also well known in the short time she’s been riding for blazing a trail along the bike path, leaving nothing but burnt rubber in her wake. We love having her on the rides and we love that she is starting to lead some of her own. Congrats Speedy! THEMED RIDES FOR SEPTEMBER: The Roller Derby Ride II: Jocks and Cheerleaders...Bring It on! – Sept 13th, 2008 - Details will be posted on our website soon. Meanwhile save the date. We will ride out, dressed as jocks and cheerleaders, to watch the Angels City Derby Girls compete in El Segundo. Two of our Southbay Cruisers will be in this game. Southbay Bicycle Music Festival: The Pajama Jam – September 20th, 2008. We have two returning acts: The 3 Heads, & Delfina plus two other acts: Kris Angelis, and Jennifer Vazquez. Details will be posted on our webiste soon. In the mean time save the date. OTHER WEEKLY CRUISER RIDES: Jolly, and Neal, as well as new assistant organizers Galloping Mary Caldera, and Speedy Bones Shari are posting weekly cruiser rides. You will start to see these on our Facebook calendar soon. These are smaller rides that mostly run along the strand-we light fires at dockweiler, barbecue, sing to guitar music etc. on these rides. Pictures for this ride will be posted soon on www.southbaycruisers.com Have questions about the Southbay Cruisers? Send us an email to info@southbaycruisers.com -john

Newest Configuration

sophie — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:26:46 +0000

Put a couple headlights on the stoker handlebars for full headlight sweep.. View from the cockpit.

San Jose Bike Party 17 August 2008

sophie — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:36:38 +0000

http://www.myspace.com/sjbikeparty First of all, I really enjoyed the ride Fri night. I had a FANTASTIC time with the ride. I think that so far the ride is pretty good and has a lot of potential to be a GREAT POSITIVE event in the South Bay. Some of the concerns I have listed below. A common call and response to alert riders ahead of "BIKE DOWN" or other concerns to get the ride to stop or slowdown. * Walkie talkies and set them to a common channel to communicate. * Encourage helmets and lights and safe conduct. Some of the GREAT things about the SJ Bike Party: * The fun vibe from MOST of the people. * Friendly positive riders. * People looking out for one another. * ALL THE COOL DIFFERENT STYLED BICYCLES. * JUST BEING OUT ON A BIKE! Some of the BAD things about the SJ Bike Party: * Too many drunk riders; I saw a girl fall into a parked car, another lay her cruiser down and another riders tire hit her head. * A guy got $100 dollar ticket from SJPD for drinking a beer on his bike RIGHT IN FRONT OF SJPD. (for the record, he didn't give up the course of the ride, he didn't know it or have a directions list) * The guys doing graffiti tagging "BIKE PARTY." That's a sure-fire way to get the ride shut down before it begins. * Crude behavior by some of these "Animal House" type of drunkards * A female rider that flipped off some drivers while running a red light. * The cowards kicking over newspaper boxes and causing damage to the environment by littering. Come on now!! Overall I had a great time in spite of the drama from SJPD, the crude behavior from some of the participants and getting lost due to some mishaps. I'd do it again!

Cool Kids - Black Mags

sophie — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:41:29 +0000

This is some fresh new hip hop about BIKES!

Rolling with Mafi at Critical Mass

sophie — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:04:51 +0000

DLG Taillights

sophie — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:08:39 +0000

So the serfas taillights are all going out the window. We keep the dlg on the back 24 hours a day now. It's amazing how much more visible we are from the back even during the day with these on. Hopefully they get back in stock soon, I need more!

Check out this bicycle sound system I found on a midnightridazz thread..

sophie — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:10:27 +0000

...have you ever seen anything this intense on a bike? http://www.midnightridazz.com/forums.php?topicId=4143&pgnum=1

Tandem Action

sophie — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:11:29 +0000

Last nights configuration. A little green under the deck to make the spinning rear wheel stand out. It doesn't show so great in pics, but it was pretty cool. I'm ditching the serfas taillights for a dual red tube of dlg. Talk about a killer taillight - check that swath of light I have the blue lights angled a little more toward the garage here(which would be the car side of the bike).

Rock the Bike's "The Choprical Fish and the Urban Mobile DJ" debuts at the Bicycle Film Festival in SF

sophie — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:12:41 +0000

Photo: DustinJ. Please check out the piece below.

Sendin' Out the Bike Vibe, Sendin' Out the Peace Vibe.

sophie — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:24:32 +0000

Joel Elrod, LiveOnBike drummer, and an explanation of the LiveOnBike Mundo

sophie — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:39:02 +0000

Skip ahead to 00:24: This video gives a taste of the LiveOnBike performances we've been doing on SF Cruiser rides this summer. Joel Elrod, who had just finished playing a gig with Pleasuremaker, is drumming on a SPDS electronic drum machine. The signal from the SPDS is carried from the back of the Mundo to the front where it enters a DIT Head Unit containing a Rolls MX56c 4-Channel mixer and Shure Wireless body pack microphone, and DoubleWide Down Low Glow battery that powers the SPDS and a dual tube DLG system for 5 hours. Skip ahead to 1:15. The LiveOnBike rig also has a microphone seen in this video of Janaysa performing at the Bicycle Music Festival, but it takes longer to set up, so we haven't been using it with Joel. The signal of the Shure body pack on the LiveOnBike rig is caught by the receiver on the backrest of the Choprical Fish. I select the tracks from an iPod on the control panel of the Fish. When I pick a new track, Joel listens for a few moments and then picks up the beat and improvises on the playing-card-sized rubber pads of the SPDS. Both Adam (pilot of the LiveOnBike Mundo) and I have the ability raise and lower the volume level of the SPDS. When I was piloting the bike for Janaysa, I was able to set her vocals and keyboard levels independently using Channel 1 and Channel 2 of the MX56c. We were experiencing a very short range with our wireless transmitter that night, as you can hear in the first moments of the videos. The DIT Head Unit uses the excellent 1-button KlickFix handlebar mounting system, and the wiring harness simply Velcros to the bike, so we can convert the Mundo from Town Hauler to Rock Star in only 5 minutes, and that includes mounting the SPDS and aTractor seat. I know that's lot of names for you, but well, that's how we did it.

First Ever Southbay Bicycle Music Festival - An intimate musical bicycle cruising night round the campfire

sophie — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:14:34 +0000

We couldn't have picked a better day to celebrate the first ever Southbay Bicycle Music Festival, July 19th, 2008. On a warm sunny afternoon we met at Hermosa Pier, sang happy birthday to Cruiser of the week "Tony', then we headed off towards the Esplanade cruisin' to the Beatles 'Magical Mystery Tour'. (What can I say, it felt like we were heading off to Woodstock so the mix was leaning a little towards the '60's for this ride)We had a few newbies and some returning youngsters like 2 year old Lola Martin and her 3 1/2 year old sister Sophia, who came with their dad Roger. (Sophia and Lola are former Southbay Cruisers of the Week’ as well.) As we made our way to Valley Park we were greeted by Makena, one of our featured artists, all set and ready to perform for us thanks to help from 'Amy 'The Wonder Woman' who missed the ride so that she could decorate the park with posters and banners and help the musicians set up. She was also helped by Mary Caldera-who along with Shawnee made two awesome posters just for this occasion. (See pics on www.southbaycruiser.com) After settling down to a barbecue, Makena kicked off the evening's performances which included some classic and orignal hawaiian music which inspired us to get up and dance. All the way from Hilo, Hawaii, Makena was awesome, feeding our souls with island tunes like 'Ulupalakua' and 'Waikiki Hula' It was sure nice to finish a ride in a park and be greeted by Hawaiian music. This duo has performed on MTV and around the world and it was awesome to have them kick things off! They even taught us a little about Hawaiian culture between sets. As the evening set in we lit our bonfire and were mesmerized by Manhattan Beach's Delfina. Although only 18 years old, and with only one year of guitar/singing behind her, you'd think she'd been playing since the day she was born. Filling up our souls with stirring original tunes like 'April Eyes', and 'Ritmo Porteno', this Argentian born rising star had us all on the edges of our rocks around the bonfire. Were it not for the fear that our shared battery powered amps might run dry, she could have performed for us all night long. Next came The 3 Heads. Acoustic rock legends in their hometown of Eureka,CA, these four took our makeshift stage around the bonfire, and picked up on what Makena and Delfina had started. Belting out original tunes 'Undertow', 'Holiday', and their anthem 'World Was Ours', these guys really helped set an intimate mood around the campfire with their acoustic guitars, bass, and cajon. Their jokes between songs were even more entertaining. At one point they broke into a spur of the moment spontaneous 'Southbay' rap song at the end. We were even entertained to one encore performance although, we would have loved to heard them play a few more. We finished off the night with some karaoke performances including a few from Victor and his son singing some classic Doors. It's hard to follow up to acts like Makena, Delfina, and The 3 Heads, but we had to try, and we had fun doing it too. Last but certainly not least, we helped benefit 'A Window Between Worlds', (www.awbw.com) a local Venice,CA based group that helps abused women and children get a second chance on life by providing then with safe housing and an art healing program. We brought them canned foods, art supplies, clothing, and $20 in cash donations. We are looking forward to the next Southbay Bicycle Music Festival. A year seems a little long to wait, so we might have this become a semi annual or possibly even quarterly event.

I was searching for bike rap on YouTube and this came up

sophie — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:22:39 +0000

Joey Mac, bicycle customizer.

sophie — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:22:09 +0000

Joey leads the Rochester Cruiser Ride, and is developing a fleet of 'Spaceliners' he restores and customizes.

Hottie Bikewash

sophie — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:26:31 +0000

hottie carwash Originally uploaded by Ray Tracing A reminder from Flickr's RayTracing that cleaning your bike regularly helps you catch mechanical issues before they become serious. For example, just running a rag over your bike, you'll feel bolts that need tightening, and notice a stiff link in your chain. "Hottie Carwash I was on my way to an Alley Cat race on a hot afternoon when I encountered a group of, um, hotties offering their carwash services to passing motorists, none of whom seemed to be too interested. My bike was pretty filthy, and they got it sparkly clean! Thank you hottie carwash!"

Bike culture in LA is clashing with Car culture...

sophie — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:32:37 +0000

On July 4th, in an annual ride which attracts hundreds of cyclists in Los Angeles, two cyclists - excellent road racers I'm told - were apparent victims of road rage. The driver in the car was an ER doctor, who according to witnesses, yelled at the cyclists then cut them off, and then slammed on the brakes in front of them. The road where the cyclists were hit has become quite attractive to cyclists in recent years. Needless to say, these are dangerous times in LA, as car culture meets bike culture. see the story on the attached links.... http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bike9-2008jul09,0,6023414.story

Highlights from Bicycle Music Festival: SHAKE YOUR PEACE!

sophie — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:35:01 +0000

SHAKE YOUR PEACE! performs "Juss A Little Bit Mo" at the Precita Park stop of the 2008 Bicycle Music Festival.

Looking for a bike-based paramedic/EMT to use the Lifebike

sophie — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:37:32 +0000

Before turning our focus to bike culture and bike safety, we developed a system called the Lifebike for bicycle-based paramedics and EMTs to use at large crowded events such as July 4th, parades, sports events, etc. Four of us prototyped the Lifebike in our Berkeley workshop, in time to throw it in a station wagon and drive to the national IPMBA (Cops on Bikes) annual gathering in Ogden, Utah. It was Ross Evans (inventor of the Xtracycle), Nate Byerley (inventor of the Bike Blender, now leading Xtracycle), and Mike Cobb (bicycle customizer and master seamster, now at Portland's Clever Cycles), and myself. Prior to stepping into the prototyping process, Mike and I rode along with ambulance-based paramedics in San Francisco on two occasions, and interviewed bike-based paramedics. The City of Boston was the first major EMS department to try the LifeBike, during a 3 month trial including the July 4th festivities in Boston. The major advantages of the Lifebike, when compared to traditional EMS bike setups:

Hightly customizeable with large foam-padded dividers similar to a professional camera bag. Position the dividers where you want them using the large Velcro strips. Then slide your gear in place. This is superior to the top-loading approach of pannier-based systems.
Carries any size defibrillator, not just the miniature defib units.
Carries a full size or folding backboard. You can immobilize a person, saving precious minutes while an ambulance or golf-cart style vehicle is making its way through the crowd.
Top pack uses Xtracycle snap-hooks. You can grab it and walk up a flight of stairs without having to carry the whole bike.
Top pack is insulated -- good for IV fluids.
Hard sides protect gear from pokes and kicks while moving through a crowd.

Now that we're full-on with Rock the Bike, we no longer have time to push this project forward. We're looking for a cool bike-based EMT or paramedic to take our prototype on extended loan, use it to the fullest, document it on Flickr and Rock the Bike, and help grow the project. Ideally it will be a Bay Area person, who would be up for taking part in bike events like the Bicycle Music Festival. If you know of people who'd be a good fit for this opportunity, please let us know. Rock the Bike community members will be picking a new home for the Lifebike prototype in a poll that will be open on Sept. 1st-3rd. Until then, we'll be accepting requests. To apply, simply add a comment to this post, explaining how you'll use the Lifebike prototype.

One More Car

sophie — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:40:36 +0000

This pedal powered car didn't go over well with Toronto Police, but the four perps handled the situation gracefully.

RTB crew pedal power largest tree planting in FUF's history, meet Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, back him up at the Grand Ballroom

sophie — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:28:18 +0000

Posted by fossilfool

The day started with a 7AM bike ride to the outer sunset for Friends of the Urban Forest's DigIt event.The Mundo is carrying our new 600 watt JBL PRX535 speaker. Two straps is all it took to secure the 70 pound speaker.

Our job was to up the energy of the event with pedal powered music, and allow event organizers to make announcements to approximately 400 volunteers at registration and lunchtime. Timberland sponsored the event, and they're making a short film about it. Above, the documentary crew wanted an interview. Photo: Aufdencamp.

After the initial wave of volunteers went out into the nearby neighborhoods to plant trees, Stone Gossard of the band Pearl Jam checked out the stage and got excited about potentially pedal powering his set at the Grand Ballroom that night. Photo: Aufdencamp.

Stone and his bandmates picked up the spirit of the pedal power immediately. Photo: Aufdencamp.

We used the Mundo to carry gear to the event, and also as one of the three pedal power bikes. The two red tubes elevate the rear wheel of the Mundo and allow you to pedal it in place. A tire-rubbing generator is mounted on the top of the chassis.

After the event we rode with our gear to the Grand Ballroom. Photo: Aufdencamp.

Set up was fairly straightforward, being our second time of the day. Photo: Aufdencamp.

The plan was for the band to play their first song through our Pedal Powered Stage, then switch to the venue's main speakers.

Instead they played their whole first set through our stage. Audience members swapped out on the different bikes during song breaks.

"Voltage is dropping -- Go! Go! Go!" Photo: Aufdencamp.

Stone and his band played a great rock set ranging from Hank Williams to a cover of 1999 by Prince. Photo: Aufdencamp.

Below: Play an audio clip of Stone Gossard adlibbing about our Pedal Powered Stage during the nighttime set at the Ballroom.

Stone Gossard (of the band Pearl Jam) ad libs about the Pedal Powered Stage

Biketoberfest, Sat. 10/18

sophie — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:31:31 +0000

Hey Bike Rockers - There's a fun looking bike event on Sat. in Fairfax, Biketoberfest: http://www.biketoberfest2008.org/ Lots of nice, local handmade bikes, beer and music. That's the good life, right there. word. JB Here's a pic of Nate Byerley from Oct.fest 2007 mixing up a smoothie on an Xtracycle (photo by Mo Gaffney)

Milk crate tech. John leaving for the day with outgoing DLG shipments.

sophie — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:34:03 +0000

Heading home from Sausalito on the Golden Gate Bridge with my Miyata Touring bike

sophie — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:36:14 +0000

photo: Paul McKenzie

Street performer mounts upright piano on bike, rolls to gigs, plays Rock n Roll with wild abandon

sophie — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:37:56 +0000

If anyone knows the official web site for this performer, please pass it on.

Junk Raft complete mission to Hawaii

sophie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:41:30 +0000

Wonder what happened to the environmentalists sailing to Hawaii on a raft made of 15000 discarded plastic bottles? Well, they dodged hurricanes, collected ocean samples, found plastic in the bellies of fish they caught for food, and managed to meet up with their friend Roz Savage, a fellow environmentalist rowing a motorless craft to Hawaii. Their route to the 808 state, after some initial windless drifting from LA, basically looks like a straight line. One might think, "Hmm, not bad, maybe I should build a raft out of plastic bottles." And there would certainly be no shortage of bottles for you to try it out, which is precisely the idea behind the Junk's voyage. The crew of the Junk and their LA-based support team certainly raised my personal awareness of plastic consumption with their mission and blog. I've tried experiments like zero plastic bag shopping trips and have remembered to bring my own water bottle in my messenger bag. The crew of the Junk are planning a bike trip from Vancouver to Mexico to continue to spread the word about their work. And they're looking into Rock the Bike's Soul Cycle music systems to be able to host social rides and speak through the microphone at their events. And here are a couple more links while we're on this topic: Chris Jordan Photography - Strangely beautiful, profound photos depicting American consumerism. Bring your Own: Resources and data for using less plastic.

Janaysa performs Cat Power's "Maybe Not" LiveOnBike at the Bicycle Music Festival

sophie — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:42:18 +0000

One of my personal highlights from this year's BMF: Also check out the video piece on making the LiveOnBike rig:

Sorry, we should have told you sooner, but we're backordered on our two most popular items

sophie — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:45:02 +0000

I'm sorry, we really should have told you sooner. Both the Down Low Glow and the 6-Spd Mundo are unfortunately out of stock. It seems that whenever I tell friends in casual conversations that we're backordered on the Down Low Glow, they usually congratulate me as if this is somehow great news for Rock the Bike. But I wish we could get all of our current orders out tomorrow. It's just that we are unfortunately operating on a very limited stock of our rechargeable batteries. More are on the way, but by sea. On the plus side, a limited by-air shipment will be arriving soon. And we are aiming to fill DLG orders placed now in time for Halloween. We will even offer free shipping to those who place an order before the 14th, if you do not receive your DLG by Halloween (US only offer). Mundos are due in early November. The Mundo has simply been selling faster than we have anticipated. We're fortunate that more Mundos are already on a boat approaching the Panama Canal, but we're unfortunate that only 75 are on that boat. If you want one before Spring 2009, please order soon so that we can hold yours. With such critical, mainline items out of stock, you may be wondering, what's in stock? The bright red "Ziegelrot" single-speed Mundo. Perfect for flatter terrains. Simple, strong, fun to ride, cheerful. We also have cool upgrades that fit the bright red Single Speed Mundo perfectly, like the yellow and red "Hazarea" Sweetskinz tires seen on our shop Mundo. For Bay Area folks, please come to our Berkeley Workshop to test-ride and purchase fully-built Single Speed Mundos. Bike Blenders. Both Fender Blender X and Fender Blender Universale (FBU, formerly B3 Mini) are in stock and shipping. Bike Blenders bring people together around bikes and fruit. What could be better? A great tool for growing the bike movement, teaching kids about healthy eating, and drawing a crowd at festivals. Xtracycle FreeRadicals (and expert installations for Bay Area folks). The Soul Cycle "In The Pocket" Head Unit. Our simplest Mobile Audio System. And other good stuff like Righteous Kickstands, Incredibells, Sweetskinz, all good stuff. We are hustling to get the Down Low Glow and Mundo 6-Speeds back in stock. We'll keep you up to date. When will my credit card be charged? Orders placed online will have their cards charged at the time of purchase. Orders placed over the phone will have their cards charged within a few days of shipping.

Models rock the DLG and Mundo at Momentum's Urban Cycling Fashion Show in Las Vegas

sophie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:48:40 +0000

Photos and video from the Momentum Magazine's Urban Cycling Fashion Show in Las Vegas (part of the Interbike Trade Show). Urban Cycling Fashion Show

More Highlights from San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival 2008: Fossil Fool and Joel Elrod perform "Sendin' Out"

sophie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:51:19 +0000

Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper, and drummer Joel Elrod perform while cruising the streets of the Mission District in San Francisco at the Bicycle Music Festival held in June, 2008. Joel keeps the beat on a SPDS drum machine mounted on the LiveOnBike rig, a modified Mundo Cargo Bike, whose signal is sent wirelessly by a Shure bodypack microphone to the Choprical Fish (Fossil Fool's bike) and then wirelessly amplified by two other Soul Cycles rolling alongside.

SJ Bike Party - 20:30 17 October 2008 Campbell/San Jose California

sophie — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:53:37 +0000

SJ Bike Party has been a lot of fun. Try to come out!

19 Sep 2008 SJ Bike Party - "Yellow Ride" Review

sophie — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:59:00 +0000

Hello Bike Blog Readers, Well I'm a week late in writing this blog, but better late than never. First off, I work Friday nights so I have to get off and LEAVE work ASAP since I am off duty @ 20:00 sharp. I usually have people meet @ my job and we carpool to Campbell together. It can be challenging to get people to arrive on time, but thankfully we finally got together and made it to the Campbell Water Tower with about 12 minutes to spare before the ride start. Two of the riders in my group were first timers; Bike Party Newbies. New comers are ALWAYS WELCOME! I heard comments of "Wow, look at all these bikes." and "Oh my gosh, this is crazy." when riding in close proximity on narrow trails. Since SJ Bike Party has no official "leaders", one of the "courteous riders" began the evening with a ride start speech covering all the guidelines to having a fun, safe, responsible, pleasant ride. With all the enthusiasm and energy on standby, the ride finally began with a cheer and we did the traditional cruise through downtown Campbell. Our group was greeted with cheers, "Hey!'s, Hi's, and smiles." The ride down the creek trail was a good time. A cool addition to the party were the Longboard riders! I had to tell them personally; YOU GUYS ARE SAVAGE. You ride long skateboards and keep up with bicycles! It was an amazing sound with 100+ bikes funneling into trail entrances. Some moments were close for some riders, thankfully I didn't see anyone get knocked down. The sound of bike going over wooden plank bridges is WAY COOL. A Cruiser Bicycle got a flat tire (read my Cruiser Ride Checklist to prevent this) and needed a tube so I decided to give up my only reserve tube since I am a believer in good will will return good in the future. They were VERY THANKFUL and APPRECIATIVE. SHOUT OUT TO Hyland Family's Bicycles of San Jose, Ca. They invited me to come by and get a tube from them since the bike tire I helped fix was from their store. VERY NICE PEOPLE. Some of the trail turn were pretty sharp and narrow, but fun since we were at a slow pace and we even had a "Traffic Jam" of sorts sitting on our saddles waiting to pass through some narrow turns. I said to my close riders "Hey, its better than sitting in my car on the 101 freeway. We've got snacks, fresh air, friends, and our bikes!" Lisa (a Bike Party regular) shared some Licorice and candy with the group. The smiles and thank yous' around showed agreement. Some of the other new elements of the ride were the VERY SHORT stops at random parking lots, it was just enough time to grab a sip of your drink, chat for about 2 mins, then get ready to roll out again! Another new fun element of the SJ Bike Party was the "Drag Race Sessions." After the riders all assembled on the pavement, one of the race coordinators would call out "Anyone wanna race??" So there were different categories, Fixed Gear Racers, Mountain Bikes, BMX, Cruisers? This session was fun to see and participate in. One of the highlights of the evening was the CEMENT SLIDES. These Cement Slides are in the middle of a neighborhood park on the East Side of San Jose near a suburban neighborhood. People brought flat cardboard boxes to slide down. Some of the more daring people tried taking their bicycles down the slide. From my angle I saw that a Mountain Bike and a Fixed Gear were successful with great cheers, a Beach Cruiser was not as lucky. Whoever went down the slide they were supported with fantastic shouts of cheering and support. A great sight to see indeed. During the slide session, SJPD cruised by to say hello. I heard some riders say hello to the officers, and the officers asked "Are you guys protesting something?" The rider replied "No we're not protesting, we're just on a ride with a few friends." Within minutes of the police visit, a lot of the SJ Bike Party riders began to roll out onto the street. Our last stop was the SJSU Campus, a quick rest and then roll back to the Campbell start point. The weather was great, not too hot, not freezing. So, SJ Bike Party thank you for a great time, and see you on the Anniversary Ride in October! Peace, love and bikes. DJ Jojo dj2xjo@hotmail.com

Southbay Bicycle Music Festival II: Another Cool Night in Valley Park...this time wearing our Pajamas

sophie — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:20 +0000

When we first received the idea of holding a bicycle music event from the San Francisco Cruisers, we thought we would hold it once a year like our Northern California Cruising compatriots. But we had so much fun at our first event in July, and we have such great weather down here in Southbay Los Angeles, and with such a wealth of musical talent to choose from how could we wait a whole year before doing another Bicycle Music event? With that in mind, the Southbay Cruisers held their second Southbay Bicycle Music Festival on Saturday, September 20th, 2008. We had an awesome time at our first event, and even better time at this event. The evening started out at Hermosa Pier where about 20 of us headed off on a 10 mile cruiser ride through Redondo and Hermosa Beach. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and although the sun was still shining high over head, we rode down Hermosa Avenue in our pajamas and waited for nightfall, amid cheers from passing drivers, people waiting in line at the Hermosa Comedy House, and apartment dwellers along the way. We saw some unique pajama outfits includiing those of Faith, Jolly, Mary, Speedy Petey, Sparky, Hercules, Two Step Tina, Liliana, Jeffery. and Nick, who although concerned about whether he might get arrested cruised in his underwear the whole way. Arriving at Valley Park we were greeted by another 20 or so people, as we settled into a night of feasting around the barbecue pit. We anxiously waited for our first performers, Kris Angelis and her sister Alix, to perform for us. Performing her original tunes ‘Painted Eyes’ and ‘No Place Like Home’, and ‘Manifest Destiny’ these young up and coming performers captivated us with their harmonies and unique blend of country/folk rock acoustic guitar music. (Here is a link to a youtube video of Kris and Alix performing one of their songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voz7EdEuPVk ) Next came Jennifer Vazquez, “The Bronx Babe” voted the best unsigned independent artist in Los Angeles in 2005. Playing songs from her most recent album including “Lone Pine” and her yet to be released “Strawberry Milk”, Jennifer held the spotlight well, which was composed of various bicycle lights and an ice Down Low Glow from the xtracycle aimed at our performers who sat on park benches next to the barbecue pit. I first spotted Jennifer three or four years ago performing at Santa Monica Promenade and was glad to finally see her perform for us at our Southbay Bicycle Music Festival II. Returning Southbay Bicycle Music event veterans, The 3 Heads took our park bench center stage next. Belting out “Undertow”, ‘Home” and their anthem “World Was Ours” brought us to our feet as we danced on the grass. Especially noted are Jolly’s interpretive dance to “World Was Ours”. We even saw them bust into their own acoustic rap song. We had some challenges on this ride. Sparky stepped up to help a cruiser repair two flat tires along the esplanade. No sooner did the 3 Heads take center stage that one of their capos busted. And finally, playing late at night in Valley Park we learned about the importance of staying off the grass when the sprinklers turn on. We also raised close to $200 for A Window Between Worlds(www.awbw.org), this money went towards our goal of $500 to sponsor a woman to go through their Art Healing Program. This was so much fun we can’t wait to do it again. Pictures of this event are posted on the ‘Photos’ page of www.southbaycruisers.com . More Youtube videos of this event to be posted soon.

Antioquia is on Tour to Santa Cruz

sophie — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:03:22 +0000

Ran into Antioquia on my way to work. The band got seriously inspired by riding around San Francisco with us at Bicycle Music Festival this year and are now on their way to Santa Cruz on Xtracycle SUB's. It's a shake-down tour, getting used to being bike-touring musicians. In the future they're hoping to have their own pedal-powered PA system for live shows. Here's one of their videos below from performing at the Bicycle Music Festival in June. Check out their upcoming shows this weekend and October 7 at the Elbo Room in SF!

Fossil Fool and Friends entertaining at Solano Stroll

sophie — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:05:36 +0000

Thanks to Carrie from Xtracycle for this cool shot, that captures the street performing we did this past weekend at the Stroll. 2 Soul Cycles (one pedal powered), live drumming from Joel Elrod, and percussion from Paul Cumpian of Dunun Liberation Front and Mafiosa Felice. Plus Fossil Foolin'

Fossil Fool and Friends

SJ Bike Party "The Yellow Ride"

sophie — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:07:49 +0000

So far (in my group) we are rolling 13 people deep. Are you down?

Kyle Watson's $10K Cruiser

sophie — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:11:47 +0000

Wanted people to see this bike by Kyle Watson, an industrial designer from Detroit. I love the segmented design and the pounded steel saddle. What a pleasure this must be to cruise the local routes.

FreeWheelin lends bikes, spirit at DNC and RNC

sophie — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:14:02 +0000

Above, an elephant bike spotted at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, photo: jacob.scheckman Bike blending in the street on one of 1000 FreeWheelin' loaner bikes. In both Denver and Minneapolis, the bike advocacy crew FreeWheelin' provided 1000 loaner bikes to both residents and convention goers, easing traffic and keeping bikes on the minds of convention leaders. Shown above mixing smoothies on the road using Rock the Bike's Mini Bike Blender. Freewheelin kept track of their totals, which reached 7500 rides at the RNC.

Ran into some cool BMX'ers last night

sophie — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:16:30 +0000

Cruiser Ride Checklist

sophie — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:17:36 +0000

Cruiser Ride Checklist Hello Bike People, Here's a list of stuff to help you prepare for a night of bike fun with friends on the streets. These are just suggestions to help you have a good time with the least amount of problems. Murphy's Law can be minimized on a Cruiser Ride if you prepare! DJ Jojo Cruiser Ride Checklist/Guidelines 1. Your Bike a. A is for air • Inflate tires to rated pressure as listed on the sidewall of the tire • Use a pressure gauge to insure proper pressure • Check for damage to tire tread and sidewall; replace if damaged b. B is for brakes • Inspect pads for wear; replace if there is less than ¼" of pad left • Check pad adjustment; make sure they do not rub tire or dive into spokes • Check brake level travel; at least 1" between bar and lever when applied c. C is for cranks, chain and cassette • Make sure that your crank bolts are tight; lube the threads only, nothing else • Check your chain for wear; 12 links should measure no more than 12 1/8 inches • If your chain skips on your cassette, you might need a new one or just an adjustment d. Quick is for quick releases • Hubs need to be tight in the frame; your quick release should engage at 90° • Your hub quick release should point back to insure that nothing catches on it • Inspect brake quick releases to insure that they have been re-engaged e. Check is for check it over • Take a quick ride to check if derailleurs and brakes are working properly • Inspect the bike for loose or broken parts; tighten, replace or fix them • Pay extra attention to your bike during the first few miles of the ride 2. Supplies- a. Patch kit, pump, multi tool, tire levers, pedal wrench, and wheel nut wrench. These items are invaluable for roadside repairs. b. Helmet, gloves, comfortable layered clothing, footwear, bandana (makes helmets more comfortable and absorbs sweat), hair tie for long hair. c. Sunglasses/eyeglasses d. Lip balm, sunscreen 3. Navigation-Directions list, map of the local ride area, or if you want a GPS system (this can cut some of the fun out of random turns and twists in an urban exploration ride.) 4. Communication-Mobile phone, walkie talkies- These can be quicker than cellular phones in contacting other riders for fast easy communication. 5. Safety- Lights (front and rear) should be in working order with fresh batteries. First Aid Kit- This is the type of item that is often neglected. My rule is = "Its better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." 6. Food-Snacks to share, an energy bar, Cliff bar, fresh fruit is always good, vegetables, nuts, trail mix, goodies of your choice. 7. Hydration- WATER lots of it-I drink a lot of water when riding, so I fill my camelpak up and that pretty much covers me for the ride. You can also carry a couple water bottles in your frame cages or in a pack. You won't regret it. Gatorade or other sports drinks are good too. Although some riders bring alcoholic drinks on party/cruiser rides, I STRONGLY discourage it #1 its dangerous, #2 its a bad representation of bicycle culture, #3 alcohol is a diuretic and dehydrates your system, making your more thirsty, and #4 ITS ILLEGAL!! 8. Camera- A great way to record and share your experiences! Shoot pics of riders, bikes, and the places your go!

Winter wonderland in Portland

sophie — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:56:03 +0000

Bike people are coming out of the woodwork on Flickr to show their stuff in the snow.

Hermosa Beach Public Works Commission Meeting: Making a More Bike Friendly Hermosa Beach

sophie — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:57:43 +0000

Hermosa Beach Public Works Commission: Creating the Master Bicycle Plan This meeting provides a unique opportunity for residents AS WELL AS NON RESIDENTS to give feedback and suggestions on a proposed Hermosa Master Bicycle Plan. This is your opportunity to make Hermosa Beach more bicycle friendly. In this meetup up, you will help choose the direction of how bicycle friendly a city Hermosa Beach will become in the years to follow. The power is within you to create positive change for a more bicycle friendly world, at this meeting. Attached is a thread with a map showing a new proposed bikeway that is being planned for Hermosa Beach. Come and let the committee know your thoughts on this proposed bikeway as well as any other suggestions that you want to see make Hermosa Beach more bicycle friendly. http://thisishermosa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=508 YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A HERMOSA BEACH RESIDENT TO ATTEND. ALL ARE WELCOME. The meeting starts at 7:00PM at Hermosa Beach City Hall (corner of Valley Drive/Pier Avenue-right next to the Fire/Police Departments) I will be riding my bike from work to get to this event. But for any of you who want to ride in together, give me a shout and we can meet up somewhere. For more information on this meeting contact the Public Works Commissioner Julian Katz (juliank@msn.com)

The 3 heads to Perform at Southbay Cruisers 2 year Anniversary Ride 1/17/09!

sophie — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:00:47 +0000

Southbay Cruisers,

As we move into 2009 there 4 rides set up over the next 2 months, including our ROCK STAR Two Year Anniversary Ride which will feature live performances from The 3 Heads!!!

UPCOMING RIDES...

The Rock Star Ride! - Two Year Anniversary Celebration with live Music from The 3 Heads!!!!

Saturday, January 17th, 2009

Meet at 7:00PM - We Ride at 7:15PM

WHAT: We will celebrate two years of cruisin’ the Southbay with a Rock Star Celebration Ride! We will dress up as rock stars-real or imaginary from any era - 50’s to present day. (In fact, if Jazz, or blues are your thing, dress up as a jazz musician if you want or any kind of musician)As usual along our 8 - 10 mile slow to moderate paced cruiser ride we will listen to a variety of music from the soul cycle bicycle stereo system.(Dressing to the occasion is encouraged but not required.)

The ride will end at Valley Park in Hermosa Beach(corner of Valley Drive/Gould Ave) where we will warm up to a bonfire/barbecue/karaoke, host a few games and be entertained by The 3 Heads!!! (www.the3heads.com) (Yes, acoustic rockers The 3 Heads, who performed at the Southbay Bicycle Music Festivals I and II, are back by popular demand performing for us again around the post ride bonfire. If you saw them at last years Bicycle Music events you know they are one of the best acoustic bonfire acts in LA. If you've never seen them before you won't want to miss them.

SUGGESTED DONATION: $3 The ride as always is free. $3 to cover the cost of firewood and the band would be nice if you plan on attending the post ride event.

As usual, if you want to eat or drink at this ride bring food/and or drink.)

WHERE: Ride meets at our usual spot in front of:

The Lighthouse Cafe

30 Pier Avenue

Hermosa Beach, CA 90045

WHEN: Saturday, January 17th, 2009

We Meet at 7:00PM/Ride at 7:15PM

BRING A HEADLIGHT FOR YOUR BIKE TO THIS RIDE!

Bonfire Ride to Dockweiler - Tues, February 10th, 2009

Meet at 6:45PM/Ride at 7:00PM

Meet in front of the Upper Deck/Whole Foods(409 Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach - corner of Beryl/PCH)

Jolly will be leading this ride out to Dockweiler where we will light a bonfire, play guitars, sing, do some high flying ninja kicks in the sand, eat and drink hot chocolate-pretty much whatever you want. Jolly encourages you to come in your pj's or come as you are.

Bonfire Ride to Dockweiler - Wed, February 25th, 2009

Meet at 6:45PM/Ride at 7:00PM

Meet in front of the Upper Deck/Whole Foods(409 Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach - corner of Beryl/PCH)

Solvang Cruise - Pre Bike Race Route Ride - February 20th, 2009

Tony, our newest Assistant Organizer is setting up a ride in Solvang on February 20th. This is not an official Southbay Cruiser ride, but sounds like alot of fun.

Bicycle Street Smarts link. (Details of this ride can be found on www.meetup.com/southbaycruisers.com)

CONGRATULATIONS NINJA CAT MARY - SOUTHBAY CRUISER OF THE WEEK!

Well I know that she’s been cruiser of the week before, but I think after the awesome ride that she led on Sunday, January 4th - ‘A Ride to Old Town Torrance II’ that she deserves it again. We had a nice little crowd of 17 people showed up to Wilson Park. Ninja Cat Mary led us around Old Town on a picture perfect Sunday morning as we crossed railroad tracks, skipped a little rope in a park, and of course chowed down some Foster’s Freeze ice cream.(Pics will be up soon on www.southbaycruisers.com) Thanks for leading us Ninja Cat Mary! (See Mary in her 15 minutes of fame on the homepage of www.southbaycruisers.com)

Who would you like to see as Southbay Cruiser of the week? Send us your suggestions to info@southbaycruisers.com

OTHER INTERESTING INFO...

(This Item I found on this week's LA Bike Coalition Newsletter)

Time to Act! We need your help with the Economic Recovery Bill

LACBC has been submitted Ready to Go bike projects to Tunderhead Alliance and Transportation for America last month. Now it's time that Our elected officails here from you.

In January Congress and the President will sign an economic recovery bill that will include hundreds of billions of dollars, many of which will go to build transportation infrastructure, but very few of which include bicycle and pedestrian projects.

It is critical that we ensure that bicycle and pedestrian projects are included among the projects to be funded with federal economic stimulus funds.

TELL YOUR MAYOR AND GOVERNOR TO INCLUDE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY BILL

Tell Them:

·      There are over $2 billion worth of "ready-to-go" bicycle and pedestrian projects across the U.S. that can create jobs right now.

·      Bike and pedestrian projects are quick. Because they are smaller, states and cities can spend the money quickly and IN the local economy.

·      Building biking and walking infrastructure creates jobs. Bike and pedestrian infrastructure is more labor intensive and less material intensive than building roads, thus netting more jobs for dollars spent!

·      Sidewalks and bike lanes makes streets and downtowns into destinations for shopping and entertainment. Investing in walking and biking facilities helps local business and is an investment in the local economy.

·      24% of all trips in the US are less than a mile, 40% are less than two miles. Walking and biking facilities, including those that connect to transit, give American families economical transportation options and lay the foundation to address some of our nation's major crises, such as climate, energy, and health.

·      A recovery package that includes funding for transportation infrastructure but does not include investments to improve bicycling and walking denies the current trends in transportation and the safety needs of the American public. Bicycling has increased in the US - in some cities its increased more than 35% in the last two years.

·      Biking and pedestrian improvements also help wean us for foreign oil and support a healthy and sustainable future for America!

Send letters to:

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

200 North Spring Street, Room 303

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Phone: (213) 978-0600

Fax: (213) 978-0750

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

State Capitol Building

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (213)897-0322

Fax: (916)558-3160

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY FROM THE LA BIKE COALITION...

GO GREEN EXPO

When: January 23 - 25, 2009

Where: LA Convention Center

More info: www.GoGreenExpo.com

LACBC is an official sponsor of Go Green Expo in Los Angeels and will be providing Bike Valet.

Go Green Expo is a truly unique event from the ground up. Go Green Expo will change not only the public's perception of environmentalism but also how events like this are produced and managed.

Get hands on experiences with "eco-friendly" alternatives to current everyday products and services.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH BIKE VALET AND AT OUR INFO BOOTH

get in free to Expo!

If you are interested in volunteering, please email aurisha@la-bike.com

That is all. Have a good weekend!

-john

www.southbaycruisers.com

Out with friends

sophie — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:05:35 +0000

With dlg, we look forward to shorter days :)

Mobile go go dancing party bike on the streets of New York

sophie — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:21:29 +0000

I heard from Andrew about his dancing bike months ago, but he didn't have, ahem, a clean photo. Well, here's the New York Post's take on it. Click the photo for more. New York Post's article on the PoleRider.: I really wish Andrew had emailed me this one when he told me about the rig two months ago. Nice shot, and a pretty phat party bike. You went there.

Thank You Fossil Fool for another Awesome Night of Cruisin'!

sophie — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:11:00 +0000

When we learned that Fossil Fool and his Choprical Fish were in town for the weekend and up for a Cruiser ride we headed off to Marina Del Rey to meet him for a night of bike rapping. After hooking up at the bridge over the jetty at Marina Del Rey we headed off to Dockweiler and some nighttime campfire rapping! Here's a video of the highlights of our adventures... Pics are posted on www.southbaycruisers.com THANK YOU FOSSIL FOOL! COME BACK AGAIN SOON!

Evil Forces and Villains Beware: Raging Fires and Falling Ash Couldn't Stop The Super Hero Ride II

sophie — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:14:34 +0000

(Southbay Cruisers" Super Hero Ride II Recap) Had the evil forces of the world had ganged up on us on Nov 15th? It started like many other days in Southbay Los Angeles. Blue skies, a slight breeze, warm temperatures reaching close to 80 degrees....Yes! This is gonna be awesome! No wind, no rain, unseasonably warm temperatures....what more could you ask for from a November Cruiser ride? Then about 3 hours before the start of the ride a large brown cloud overhead starts to creep over the ocean. What the? This must be the evil forces of the world decending upon us, trying to stop the Super Hero Ride II! Of course we all know it was fires raging throughout the Southland, one as close as Palos Verdes, that helped create this large brown cloud. We hope that all of you that have family and friends in the areas affected directly by the fires are OK. We know that many of you had intentions of showing up to to the Super Hero ride but have asthma or other health related issues or concerns, which prevented you from attending. Or maybe you had loved ones you we’re concerned about in the areas directly affected by the fires. We hope all is well with everyone living in those areas. At any rate, we couldn’t let the evil forces of the world stop us from our Super Hero Ride II. The Smoke and ash in the Southbay along the beaches didn’t appear to be nearly as bad as other areas. In fact I saw a huge barbecue along the Strand on the way to the ride. And so the ride went on as scheduled, and oh what a ride it was! We met at our usual spot at Hermosa Pier. All kinds of Super Heros from the Justice League and even a few Super Heros that we had never heard of of showed up too. Batman, Super Girl, CatWoman,Lucha Maria....Lucha Maria?....Well that was one of the more creative Super Heros on the ride. We definitely saw some creativity with costumes. No cape in you wardrobe, do what one girl did and tie a target bag around your neck to become the Target Super Hero. Lucha Maria(Mary)decorated her bike by painting old rags from her dad’s wood shop. And Super Hero Sara, as always had one of the most creative costumes of all(see pics on www.southbaycruisers.com) We started off with a little Supersonic jump roping while we waited for others to show up at the Pier. One lady in her 70’s even joined in to do some jumps, proving that jump roping is for the young as well as the young at heart. About 20 of us then set off on a course destined for Valley Park. To the tunes of Wonder Woman, Batman, and Raiders of the Lost Arc booming from the soul cycle we headed up Hermosa Avenue amid cheers from neighbors and people passing in their cars. We were joined by Julio and his stereo system, Jolly(aka Catwoman),Mary(aka ‘Lucha Maria’),Super Hero Sara, and others. We eventually made our way to Valley Park in Hermosa Beach where we were greeted again by some new friends from Mira Costa High. “Hey are you guys the Creepy Cruisers?’ No, were the “Southbay Cruisers, last month’s ride was the Creepy Cruise, this month it’s the Super Hero ride...” While Julio and Mary got the barbecue started we got our first game under way. Super Hero Wheel Barrel Racing. 5 energetic teams stepped up to the challenge and the competition was fierce but only one team walked away with the gold. Next was Super Hero Arm Wrestling where we saw the Catwoman(Jolly) battle Lucha Maria!(Mary) for the the coveted Spiderman Mr. Potato Head doll. It was a a fierce battle with Catwoman scoring an upset. Catwoman was later challenged by our Mira Costa friends to defend her title. Let me tell you, these kids...cheerleaders...we’re strong! Next up was the Spiderman Web Wrapping. Nothing like wrapping a friend or significant other in toilet paper in a park late at night. Chris and Mary, our Mad Scientists took the gold there. We then took to some three legged races(see the pics below) We spent the rest of the evening dancing, climbing trees, posing, giving piggyback rides, and generally acting goofy. Not unusual for us on a Saturday night in Valley Park. Just another great ride behind us now.  Thanks to Mary for taking many of the pics and for helping to organize this ride! See pics of this ride on www.southbaycruisers.com

Let's Get Visible: Momentum Crew posts bike safety music video.

sophie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:18:15 +0000

Channing Way gets some new signage

sophie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:21:14 +0000

New Bike Culture cafe in East Bay looking for kitchen crew

sophie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:11:44 +0000

Craigslist posting:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/fbh/912671196.html

_________________________________________________

Startup Bicycle Culture Cafe!!! (oakland/berkeley/emeryville)

Reply to: job-912671196@craigslist.org [?]

Date: 2008-11-09, 8:35PM PST

Startup bicycle service salon and culture cafe is seeking a cafe/kitchen manager. Must have 2+ years management experience in a cafe/restaurant/bar environment. The position will be an opportunity to design and run a kitchen in a unique casual dining and cultural space which fosters and supports cycling, healthy living and good food! Oakland-area location is currently in negotiations. Cafe slated to open late winter/early spring.f

Competitive salary with ownership/investment incentives. We are open to any level of involvement, from a vested employee with incentives to a full investment partner. Send resume and cover letter for consideration.

The Bicycle Salon is a revolutionary business concept whose time has come! It will combine a pub-style eatery with a non-traditional bike shop where the focus will support of the growing East Bay bicycle culture. We will not retail bicycles, but focus instead on unparalleled service with do-it-yourself workstations and technical assistance in a "salon" style format that will set us apart.

The cafe portion of our enterprise will serve food and beverages throughout the hours of operation. We will adhere to the principle of simplicity in preparation, offering a limited but authentic menu, selecting a few items to specialize in. We aim to be a destination not simply for our service station, but for our few exquisitely prepared menu selections! The lounge will include a resource library with bicycle related books, periodical subscriptions, and wireless connectivity. Covered and indoor bicycle parking will always be available.

The service department will be open concurrently with the cafe as a unique offering to the bicycle culture of the SF Bay Area. It will feature both DIY workstations for self-repair, and professional mechanics available on a walk-in or appointment basis. We will draw customers who need bicycle repair and those who will be drawn to the energy of a space bustling with good food, tinkering, and a non-traditional atmosphere that celebrates cycling!

* Compensation: DOE - salary plus incentives / Full Investment Partner

Stopping by the field on a foggy night.

sophie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:14:30 +0000

Cool moment, amazing light, had to stop and take a shot of our trusty new 18-Speed Mundo.

Welcoming Solano Cyclery, Ken's Bike & Ski, and The Bicycle Chef to the Rock the Bike

sophie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:40:20 +0000

Ever since Interbike we've been signing up some great new Dealers. Here's a small profile of a few of them: The Bicycle Chef, in Sacramento, CA With their recent move to a spacious spot on N Street just outside Downtown Sacramento, The Bicycle Chef has redoubled its commitment to supporting commuters and lifestyle cyclists. Manager Whit told me that they actively support sustainability by encouraging customers to keep and repair old bikes. They make a lot of people smile that way. And it only boosts their reputation when people are rolling around town, psyched that they've got that good bike feeling again and all they had to buy was a pair of brakes and new tire. And now they're going to be the Sacramento joint for Mundo test rides. They've got the affordable, bright red single-speed Mundo, perfect for flat cities like Sacramento. Ken's Bike & Ski: This is the kind of shop you want to buy a bicycle from. Ken's is huge in size but still owner-operated, and has been in business for decades. I could tell by the questions Ken was asking about the Mundo as he pondered it over, that this shop that supports every sale with superior service over the life of the bike, not just the first year or the 30-day tuneup. In other words, it means something to buy a bike from Ken's. I personally prefer not to test ride bikes in a parking lot, and conveniently, Ken's is located next to a few good residential blocks where you can pedal hard and test the bike out. They've also got the bright red single-speed Mundo in stock. Solano Cyclery: Located on Solano Ave. in the Berkeley/Albany area, Solano Cyclery was our host for the street party / Xtracycle rally on Solano Stroll. This fellow Xtracycle dealer has a great reputation for quality service and shop spirit. They picked up the Down Low Glow when they heard about its unique Side Visibility safety benefit. Another cool shop that cares about your safety and style. Definitely worth a visit, and they have the Down Low Glow in stock, which is more than I can say for Rock the Bike at the moment.

Southbay Cruisers: The Roller Derby Ride III Recap...

sophie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:43:38 +0000

The evening of November 1st, 2008 started off with a threat of rain, but our spirits weren’t dampened as it turned out to be another great Roller Derby Ride! The weather turned out to be just perfect. We met at Hermosa Pier and got things kicked off with some jump roping on Hermosa Pier. With the Super Hero Ride right around the corner, and given that Roller Derby players are pretty much Super Heros in their own right, we headed off to the Toyota Center cruisin’ to our Super Hero mix. Our route was one of our favorites. Starting off on the Southbay Bike path, we eventually made our way through residential Manhattan Beach, the Manhattan Beach Mall, and then industrial El Segundo. Our favorite part of the ride took us underneath the Douglas Station “Roller Coaster” Tunnel where we had fun racing back and forth a few times before continuing on our journey to watch the Angel’s City Derby Girls compete. Once there we were treated to another intense roller derby match. We’re still bascially lost on the rules of the game. Let’s see the jammer, she’s the one with the star, scores all the points, and everyone on her opposing team is trying to stop her, right? At any rate it was an intense game with many spills and falls. And we saw our very own Southbay Cruiser Sonia Sanchez help her team, the Block Steady Crew, to victory against the Prison City Derby Dames. We cruised back to Hermosa after the game and finished the night eating at Rocky Cola Cafe. It was another awesome night of cruising. We look forward to more Roller Derby Rides next year! For photos of this ride and a look at other upcoming Southbay Cruiser Rides see our website at www.southbaycruisers.com . Up Next...The Super Hero Ride III: Cruiser Ride/Barbecue/Games/Karaoke on Nov 15th! This will be EPIC!

Just Picked Up some Waterproof Speakers for some Winter Cruiser Rides...

sophie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:48:57 +0000

Although we're fortunate to not have nearly as much wet weather here in Hermosa Beach,CA as other parts of the country, that doesn't mean you won't get caught in a downpour on a cruiser ride. Granted, no one melts in the rain. However rain as I'm sure you are probably well aware, isn't the best thing in the world for a bicycle stereo system to be exposed to, and can easily ruin one. What's more even though it doesn't rain as much in So Cal as in other parts of the country, you can get some pretty foggy nights on a fairly regular basis here near the beach. As we head into this time of year it's not uncommon to come back with damp dripping speakers whether it's raining or not. With those factors in mind I set forth to find me some waterproof speakers and I ran across these by Pyramid... http://www.shop.com/31697375-p.shtml I actually picked these up (Pyramid 5071WP 2-way Waterproof Speaker System) from Amazon for about the same price...I think Etronics was the seller on Amazon that I bought them from. I was a little skeptical at first about them. I couldn't find one third party review about these speakers anywhere on Amazon. However, my buddy Julio, who also has them on his bicycle stereo system swears by them. So i picked them up and hooked them up to my soul cycle head unit. They sound awesome! I just connect them to the stoker bar on the back of my xtracycle, although they are small enough that you could probably bungee them onto a rack on any bike. The lows and the highs come out really clean, and I can turn up the volume much louder than my last pair without much distortion. And of course the added benefit that they are waterproof makes them one less thing to worry about while on a cruiser ride. Of course the soul cycle head unit and my ipod cost considerably more than the speakers. Both of those items are definitely not waterproof, but I've found that placing a couple plastic see through bread bags over the head unit and ipod keeps them dry. Heck use a third bag if you are concerned. Curious what other people's strategies are for cruisin' in the rain with a stereo system. Obviously it's not something most of us plan to do. But undoubtedly at some point you could get caught in the rain.

Like Where's Waldo for Halloween Critical Massers

sophie — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:55:34 +0000

Video: LalaVirnana See if you can spot yourself in this still shot of last Friday's Halloween Critical Mass passing under a downtown building. Plus, check out the Down Low Glow in action at 0:55 through 1:30! I had no idea it would be that visible from above. Plus, what the heck are the light up tires you see at 3:39 - 3:50? And check out MonkeyLectric in effect at 4:00 The funny thing about this footage is that I thought I was in the back of the pack, but there was still 4 minutes worth of Critical Mass behind me. Also, Check out McKenzie's tunnel footage from last Friday:

Checked Flickr and found we're not the only ones carrying other bikes on the Mundo.

sophie — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:57:56 +0000

Photo: MacPaulster. Being able to quickly improvise a towing or carrying rig that gets two bikes across town with one rider is one of the Mundo's unsung features. This is one of those features that you might read, and say to yourself "I'd never do that." But then you find yourself in a situation where, you know, it would just come in handy. This is a lifesaver on social rides. If you're the bike person in your group of friends, you can bring an extra bike to the start of a ride. Or, say someone gets a flat on their front tire, but you're only a mile from home. Might be simpler just to tow that thing than bust out the patch kit. Above: Greg from Portland tows a bike and flowers. The Stumptown Mundo crew Mundo towing a mundo for delivery to a customer. Mundo towing Xtracycle, courtesy: Cycle9 Not towing, carrying, in this photo. With the Mundo's steel chassis as stiff as it is, all you have to do is strap the frame of the silver bike to the Mundo in a couple different places using cam straps. Then I used scraps of cardboard as separators to keep the paint job intact. By the way it's a 1983 Stumpjumper. I was bringing it to the shop to convert it to a blender, see the finished product here: www.rockthebike.com/node/1618 Stumptown Mundo crew towing a townie. A closeup of the Stumptown Mundo rig. Two bungees and a U-lock, y'all! Greg from Flickr carrying his recumbent

My people in London are up to some good stuff.

sophie — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:19:52 +0000

Sam Valiant is a Flickr friend, so when posted this new sound system in progress, i took note. Serious bass potential with this rig. Something tells me I'll meet Sam some day. DSCF1477.jpg

Dig It crew posts Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam rocking a cover of "1999" on Pedal Power

sophie — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:22:09 +0000

Stone Gossard has been touring with an event series called "Dig It," sponsored by Timberland and partnering with tree planting groups such as San Francisco's Friends of the Urban Forest. Rock the Bike helped bring the element of Pedal Power to his performance this past Saturday at the Regency. Initially the plan was for Stone to perform one song through our Pedal Power Stage, and the rest through the massive installed line arrays at the venue. But the band liked the experience and the sound quality so much they played their entire first set through the Pedal Powered Stage.

Southbay Cruisers News Update for Oct 20th...

sophie — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:26:34 +0000

For those of you that are interested, here is the latest info on the Southbay Cruisers as well as some bicycle related news in Los Angeles... CONGA CRUISERS INVADE VALLEY PARK: Creepy Cruise II Ride Recap! (pictures and a Youtube Video are now posted on www.southbaycruisers.com) I didn't think we could top the Bicycle Rodeo Ride last month. But, in fact, I think we may have indeed done so. Another cool autumn evening greeted approximately 30 Southbay Cruisers as we met at Hermosa Pier for our 2nd Annual "Creepy Cruise" on Saturday, October 18th, 2008. We saw quite an array of costumes including Jolly's Dorothy costume, a shy and reserved Tito dressed as...well we're not sure what, but then again we never are quite sure with Tito, and Gin Master Jean, or was it Lucille Ball? Some of us honestly couldn't tell the difference. She was dynamite! We met new comers Danielle(little Red Riding Hood) and Kelly in their tricked out Halloween bikes and bearing glow sticks for everyone. Come back you two wed love to see you ride with us again! We saw Energizer Bunny Lili, her daughter and even her dog on the Cruiser ride and at the post ride barbecue. We saw Ziv, the knight, and his Home Wrecker sidekick. And we saw pirate Liliana, who brought a few friends with her as well. We saw some old school Southbay Cruisers rejoin us including David "Electric Assisted" Dutra coming from his new home in Long Beach, and Dr. Alan took time to meet with us after a long day of mountain biking. We headed off up Catalina Avenue, and the Esplanade to the tunes of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and Oingo Boingo's "Dead Man's Party" and howled at the moon in unison while we cruised the Esplanade. Eventually making our way to Valley Park in Hermosa for our post ride barbecue/bonfire event, we were met by a handful of local teenagers asking us, "Is this really what you guys do on a Saturday night?" Needless to say they joined in with us and we all had a blast! We started off the evening with a little jump rope, witnessing the athletic skills of our new high jumping teenage friends that joined in. We then moved on to Pinata busting where Pajama Jammer Ally, used all her mental and physical might to literally knocked the pinata off the rope with two or three swings. After scrambling for the contents of the pinata, we became Toilet Paper Zombies. This race to toilet paper your partner, brought to us by Ninja Cat Mary and toilet paper purchased on sale at the 99 Cent Store in Hawthorne proved that you can have fun while even on a budget, as the photos illustrate. Amongst the contestants was Pajama Jammer Ally. Ally was buried alive in the sand at our last ride and this time found herself getting mumified alive. We then moved on to Wheel Barrel racing where our new teenage friends in the park dominated. With youth on their side, they edged out all of us taking first, second, and third place. But we all had fun in the process, as the rest of us relearned what it was like to be a kid again. Next came Bobbing for Plumbs. Not a sport for those with a weak heart. We learned that plumbs dont float. And we saw one of our new young teenage friends dominate. Beating everyone, including all his friends in a matter of seconds. Could this become a new Southbay Cruiser Olympic sport? The evening went on with barbecuing, a group Karaoke, Star Gazer Jeffery climbing several trees while he made Tarzan yells, Dracula attempting to fly off one of the park benches, and our first ever spontaneous Southbay Cruiser Conga dance around the park. Yes, it was another awesome night of cruising. And we look forward to more cruising at our upcoming Roller Derby Ride III, and Super Hero Ride II ! TINA IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND RECOVERING WELL! We look forward to seeing her at some of our events soon! CONGRATULATIONS NINJA CAT MARY: SOUTHBAY CRUISER OF THE WEEK! Ninja Cat Mary is well known for earning her recent Southbay Cruiser World Champion Intergender Pajama Wrestling Title Belt by defeating Jeffery at a recent bonfire ride. She was also a huge contributor to this week's "Creepy Cruise II" cruiser ride. She hauled most of the karaoke equipment, wood, and games to the ride. And in fact, she came up with alot of the ideas for the games, made some awesome hot chocolate as usual, and as well she carved us a pumpkin. Without her, this would have been just another ride. See Ninja Cat Mary in her 15 minutes of fame on the homepage of www.southbaycruisers.com UPCOMING RIDE: THE ROLLER DERBY RIDE III: A Night to Dis Member Saturday, November 1st, 2008 Meets at 6:45PM/Rides at 7:00PM Ride Starts and Ends in front of The Lighthouse Cafe at Hermosa Pier We will meet at Hermosa Pier, then ride to watch the Angels City Derby Girls play at the Toyota Center (555 Nash St, El Segundo, CA). After the game we'll ride back as a group. We've outlined a fun, bicycle friendly route to and from the game. We've also arranged for a Southbay Cruiser discount ticket offer for the game. Click on this link:http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/44381 (password is 'cruisers')to purchase tickets for $10; $5 off the regular price. I'll also have a limited number or tickets on the day of the game that you can purchase as well for $10. Our Roller Derby rides have always been a blast! See the Southbay Cruisers Calendar page on meetup.com to RSVP and for more details. THE SUPER HERO RIDE II Saturday, November 15th Meets at 7:00PM/Rides at 7:15PM Ride Starts and Ends in front of the Lighthouse Cafe at Hermosa Pier Time to dig up those Superman Tights and Star Wars light sabers, the Super Hero Ride II is nearly upon us! Our first Super Hero ride was a blast, and this one will be even better! Our journey will start at our usual spot in front of the Lighthouse Cafe (30 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach, CA) and will take us on a 10 mile slow to moderate paced cruiser ride through the streets and neighborhoods of the southbay. Our Super Hero cruiser ride will end at Valley Park in Hermosa Beach (corner of Gould Ave/Valley Dr.)where we will barbecue/bonfire/karaoke and test our Super Hero skills through feats of mental and physical strength. Dare to leap tall buildings in a single bound...or maybe just a milk carton or two...come experience the Super Hero Ride II !!! As always, if you want to eat at the post ride barbecue please remember to bring food. We will supply charcoal and firewood. You will need to bring whatever you want to eat at the ride. See the Southbay Cruisers 'Calendar' on meetup.com for more information and to RSVP. This will be epic! A WORD OR TWO ABOUT BICYCLE LIGHTS AND LICENSES With the increase in bicycle commuters in Los Angeles I think it's entirely possible that you will see more police enforcing existing bicycle laws. I sent out an email last week about how police in downtown LA are starting to ticket bicycle riders who don't have a license on their bicycles. This is an old law in Los Angeles, that has largely been not enforced until recently. After I sent out the message last week one person on this email list wrote me back saying that if you go to the Redondo Beach Police station during regular work hours that they will give you a free bicycle license. I haven't verified that yet myself. And I'm really not sure if Southbay cities are going to start to enforce this law as well. I would say it's entirely possible. If any of you learn more on this topic please let me know and I'll share it with the group. When it comes to bicycle lights however, the law is clear and is being enforced more by police in the Southbay. Bicycle head lights are required when you ride at night. At the recent Creepy Cruise II, I had one guy approach me who said he was recently given a ticket in Manhattan Beach for not having a bicycle headlight. I've seen Police in El Segundo and Redondo also pull cyclists over for not having a headlight. With that in mind, I want to remind everyone to put a headlight on your bike when you ride with us. If you don't have a headlight you can bungee a flashlight on your handlebars. You can also place a light on your helmet. I bring a limited number of headlights and flashers to our rides that you can purchase. Please email me if you want to take advantage of buying one. By the way, I have one spare Down Low Glow, for the ultimate in night riding side visibility protection that I loan out on rides. If you want to test one out on one of our rides please contact me before hand. The law also requires that you have front and rear reflectors and reflectors on your pedals and tires. To learn more about lighting and reflector requirements at night, please see the "Safety" and "Prepare" sections of www.southbaycruisers.com BICYCLE SKILLS CLASS I saw this advertised in the LA Bike Coalition Newsletter... WHEN:Sunday October 26th, 2008 10am-3pm (reg. 9:15am) Saturday November 1st, 2008 9am-3pm WHERE: Community Corp., 502 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401 COST: Day one $15 LACBC members/$20 non-members Day two $25 LACBC members/$30 non-members Register: www.la-bike.org The Road 1 course is designed to give cyclists age 16 and up the confidence and skills they need to ride in all types of city traffic situations. League of American Bicyclists certified League Cycling Instructor Ron Durgin teaches this practical ten-hour program. Day one features a comprehensive presentation on the principles of bike safety, helmet fit, and basic bicycle maintenance. On day two, attendees will develop bike-handling skills and learn essential evasive maneuvers on a vacant paved area. Participants will then apply what they have learned and receive constructive feedback that encourages safe riding techniques during a 5-6 mile road test. Day two requires a bike in good working condition and a CPSC or SNELL approved helmet. Participants who successfully pass this course receive a Road 1 certificate. The class fills up quickly. Please email or call Ron Durgin 424-288-1747, rdurgin@gmail.com to reserve your spot. NEXT STEPS FOR THE BICYCLE COMMUTER ACT This I also saw in a recent LA BIke Coalition Newsletter... The Bicycle Commuter Act, which, as part of the federal Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, will initiate a tax-code change, beginning in January, to allow companies to give up to $20 a month to workers who pedal to work. It would be tax-free to cycling commuters, and a tax write-off for employers. Riders could use the subsidy to defray commute costs, such as bike tires or lights, helmets or rental fees for bike lockers at work. The League of American Bicyclists and its allies are working on Capitol Hill to finalize details about how the tax benefit will be implemented. The League is taking the lead to ensure that implementation guidelines are established prior to the provision's effective date: January 1, 2009. To get answers to some of your questions and regular updates go to: www.bikeleague.org/news/ That is all for now. Enjoy your week! Ride safe! -john www.southbaycruisers.com

It starts to become an addiction....

sophie — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:01:34 +0000

But how were dinner guests supposed to go riding with us at night? Trouble in Suburbia..........

"Battle of the Helmets" SJ Bike Party April 2009

sophie — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:51:16 +0000

Dear Bike Blog Readers, After a long winter of being busy and not able to make the cold weather rides, I finally returned to the wonderful world of San Jose Bike Party. My first ride back of the season was actually the March “Psychadelic Robot Ride.” Although I enjoyed this ride, I didn’t have much time to prepare for it so I just kind of rolled with the route up to as far as I could. I had another commitment that night so I won’t write a review of it. At any rate, back to the point of this blog entry; “THE BATTLE OF THE HELMETS” 17 April 2009 Friday. We arrived at Dick’s Center on Bascom Ave. SJ at about 7:40 P.M. which gave us plenty of time to eat our brown bag dinners, and prepare our bikes for the ride. There were already about 10-12 people in the lot already waiting for the meet up to begin. After enjoying two burritos from Juan More Taco in Fremont, Ca we prepared out bikes, checked our gear for the evening and donned our helmets! My friends Harry and Tim were on their way down to ride so this time we had more than the usual 2-3 riders in our group. Surprisingly we had more people come out and ride than planned but when it comes to bike rides THE MORE THE MERRIER!! We had 3 first timers and 5 veteran SJBP riders. There was a contest for best decorated helmet at the beginning of the traditional ride start announcements but I missed out on it because I was helping some people with tires. Harry found his tube was flat up arriving, so thanks to first time rider Tim that followed the “Cruiser Ride Checklist” Harry had a spare tube! First victory of the evening! The ride began heading south onto Bascom Ave headed for Campbell’s Rock Bottom restaurant parking lot. We got a little confused as to where to ride and ended up in the lot getting jammed with bikes going left, right and stopping in the middle of a moving bike lane. After getting back on course, we kept following the mass of bicycles headed through the city streets. MOST of the bikes were very peaceful, cool people being friendly to people on the streets, drivers and passers by. I felt sorry for this 4 door civic that got caught smack dab in the middle of the bike ride. Some riders were passing the car up on the driver side boxing it in the middle of the lane! I was calling out to the riders near me to keep right and let the car leave, but only one voice in a sea of hundreds is quickly drowned out. The route was well planned out with some long stretches of straight paths along city streets through down town strips, and SOME wide streets to accommodate cars AND bikes. This plan was GREAT, the RIDE went smoothly for most of us at least, A couple good and bad things about the “Battle of the Helmets Ride.” GOOD =) 1. Well planned out route. Give gratitude to the SJBP planning committee. They work hard to plan rides! 2. The loop that leads back to the origin. Usually we end up @ SJSU and have to make a long haul back to Campbell in the cold after riding, tired, hungry and kinda quiet and lonely if you’re a soloist. It was great to unwind back at the lot with friend to talk about the ride! 3. Good vibes from some of the “guides” helping keep riders in line. 4. A BIG THANKS to the helpful Los Gatos Police!! They helped block traffic to keep the SJBP rolling together, AND helped a few riders that went down by giving first aid!!! 5. A BIG THANKS to the positive riders that would help others, show courtesy, respect and a love for SJBP and bike culture by just being cool! 6. A friendly hello and a wave to all the fun people in cars that would talk to SJBP riders friendly and to the party people on the sidewalks smiling and waving to us as we rolled by! You make the ride better!! 7. SUPER SAVAGE POINTS to the Unicycle riders and the hand cycle guy, you guys rock!! 8. To all the Bike Party positive people that help others, share a smile, a friendly conversation, cheer, and bring good energy to the ride, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!! Without you, the ride would become a disaster! Thanks for Rocking the Bike!! BAD = ( 1. First of all SJ Bike Party has more than once stated who is welcome and who is not. I’m not going to go over this again. 2. The South Bay Police agencies have BEEN very supportive of our ride simply by NOT SHUTTING US DOWN!!!! They could easily roll on SJBP at the first block and road block us in which would be a huge mess and literally destroy all that we have come to enjoy as our monthly pastime! 3. My point for #2. Don’t F it up by cussing out cops, littering & throwing things at motorists (they are just commuters, not bike rider killing terrorists). 4. Be respectful. If you want to talk trash to police and I quote “$!#@%ING PIG! GO GET A REAL JOB!!” Hey rider with the black beanie, SHUT UP!! Man up and say that to the officer’s face. Coward! 5. To the guys that got pulled over, I don’t know why you were sitting on the sidewalk by the police car, but whatever you did, don’t show up next time and do it again!! 6. To the crazy riders, don’t ruin the SJBP by riding against traffic on a 2 lane downtown respect drivers right to share the road with us! Don’t cross into a red light left turning intersection when cars are carefully trying to cross!! You’re asking for a trip to the hospital or funeral home!! 7. To all the people I saw and didn’t see crash, fall over, wreck or get hurt. This ride was themed “BATTLE OF THE HELMETS”. A fun way to encourage helmet use, and save some injuries and casualties!! USE THEM!!! Peace and chain grease.

If you're an old school SF Cruiser, you'll probably dig this mix

sophie — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Folks who were on our cruiser rides back in 2002-2005 will appreciate this new mix: "Old School Minidisc SF Cruiser Music" I left a lot of this music behind when I changed from using good ol' Minidiscs to an iPod. My sister recently lent me her Minidisc player so I could listen anew. I threw all the good songs into Ableton Live and created an hourlong mix from them. Hope you like it!

Thanks Central Park! Rock The Bike NYC is alive and kicking.

sophie — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:08:46 +0000

Rock The Bike says a huge thank you to Central Park Conservancy for getting us involved in Earth Day 2009, and helping us get Rock The Bike NYC off the ground. Here are some of the highlights from our visit to New York over the past 11 days. We had a blast meeting the public at Earth Day. Above, Pedal Powered Spin art. We debuted our new multi-person pedal power system, the Biker Bar. Three bikes share a common drive shaft, that turns a powerful generator on the fourth bike, an Electric Mundo (blue bike on the left) Unfortunately, in its first outing, the Biker Bar was no match for the power-hungry PA equipment that event organizers supplied. The power consumption of the audio system was approximately 300-400 watts with one person speaking on a microphone, not even any music playing. Ever since we started doing Pedal Powered Stage events, clients and organizers have been asking "Why can't we use the speakers we already have?" Good question. We commonly answer "Because we use the new generation of digitally powered speakers, and their higher efficiency makes pedal power possible." But in the process of working with Central Park and other clients, they kept asking... So with Central Park, we accepted the challenge. We put our efforts into making the Biker Bar powerful, simple, and efficient. We told them "Sure, you can." But on the day of the event their equipment's power draw was just too much. Suddenly Pedal Power felt really hard. When a chain snapped, we talked with the Central Park team and decided to focus on our other offerings and let their music stage run on wall power. Luckily they had that backup option at the ready. In future events, we definitely plan to have a 30-45 minute battery backup, which will allow us to fix mechanicals or other issues without letting the performers down. Luckily, the Spin Art station and the Bike Blenders were a huge hit. Kids of all ages were able to make Spin Art and pedal for other kids. Above, the Tropicalia team making bike blended smoothies. We had bright bikes and big smiles to share with the crowds. And tricks to share... Above, Sara floating on a Mundo. Galen ollies. We biked everything back to Brooklyn on a hot afternoon. Travis piloted the Biker Bar, which becomes a cargo trailer to get gear home from an event. Just add the wheels! The Electric Mundo helps haul the 250 pound load up and over the Williamsburg Bridge. Above: Rolling back from Central Park with our crew, friends, cousins, and the Choprical Fish. Getting ready for Central Park was a huge task. We arrived a week ahead of time and only set our tools town to pack for the park at 2AM the night before. Check out the preparations below: First things first! How about a social ride to get to know each other. Leif keeps the beat as Galen and Lopi haul gear across Brooklyn with Mundos and the trailer. We set up a little workshop at Brooklyn's 3rd Ward. Below, hand stretching the frame of the Mundo to fit the electric rear wheel. We generated many sparks and generally looked bad ass with our protective eye wear. We solved engineering riddles. Above trying to anticipate issues with the drive train of the Spin Art station. We used the Choprical Fish as transportation bike and 'getter'. Above, 75 pounds of Sealed Lead Acid batteries. Of course having the Fish in New York meant there were a few impromptu street parties and even a cypher around town over the past week. Above, freestyle session in front of a school in Soho. A teacher came out and said "How about a song about getting back to class?!" Fossil Foolin' at a 3rd Ward party. In our last couple days in town, we picked up a couple cool new Mundo dealers. Above, Brooklyn Bike and Board are your Mundo people in Brooklyn. Map. Leif delivering Mundos. The same bikes we used to get work done in New York are now for sale and ready to ride at two locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. And in Manhattan, cargo bike innovator George Bliss picked up the Mundo for The Hub Station in Soho Many thanks to the Rock The Bike NYC crew for their hard work and excellent hosting.

Pedal Powering Earth Day concert in Central Park, launching Rock The Bike NYC!

sophie — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:41:29 +0000

What's up bike people? Rock The Bike will be sending out the Bike Vibe from the heart of New York City on Sunday, April 26. Come help power the music on our new multi-person Biker Bar pedal power rig. We're teaming up with the Central Park Conservancy on an awesome Earth Day event. We'll also be bringing pedal powered Spin Art for the kids, and hooking up local smoothie business Tropicalia with Fender Blenders. Rather than truck gear to New York and back, we're building our most advanced Pedal Powered Stage to date, and then leaving it in New York in the capable hands of Rock The Bike NYC. Now they can bike to music, arts, and cultural events all summer long, carrying all the gear, spreading music, community, and bike love in New York. In addition to the Pedal Powered Stage, Rock The Bike NYC will also have Mundo Cargo Bikes and Fender Blender Bike Blenders for test rides and rental, and the Down Low Glow for night rides. The first social sunset cruise is coming up this Thursday in Brooklyn. Please pass it on to your New York friends. The event at Central Park is a free, all-ages daytime event that will offer gardening, crafting, tree-climbing, walking tours, live music, and the occasional bike rap from Fossil Fool on the Choprical Fish. Ride to the park, kick back, and celebrate Earth Day with some DIT (Do It Together) entertainment. Meet the talented crew of Rock The Bike NYC. Check out their hilarious MTA Service Specialists parody site, protesting the recent fare hikes on the New York subway. Time: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT Place: Naumburg Bandshell (mid-Park at 72nd Street) Central Park, New York City

Progress on El Arbol is brisk. Aiming for Maker Faire.

sophie — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:44:13 +0000

Jay Broemmel welds the head tube on El Arbol.

Came up with a footrest system. Rear swingarm extended. Originally uploaded by Rock The Bike

We hate spam as much as you do.

sophie — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:47:21 +0000

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. ---------- 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.

Are you a film festival afficianado?

sophie — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:51:32 +0000

We're looking for someone who's as passionate about film and film festivals as we are about bikes and bike culture. We want to submit our videos to small, big, quirky, progressive festivals. We need someone who knows how this all works to help us pick some good ones and do the applications. This is a volunteer position. We'll give you a budget to pay registration fees. You write the applications on your own time, get a credit in the film, and then bask in your glory when we get selected and screened. If this is you or someone you know, please get in touch by using the "Press Inquiry" category on our contact page. Big thanks in advance!

Crew of Junk Raft to rock a Soul Cycle on their 'Junk Ride' West Coast ocean advocacy tour.

sophie — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:56:41 +0000

Junk Raft. The name alone arouses curiosity. A Junk is a type of Chinese sailing vessel that dates back to the Han Dynasty. And they were used for extensive ocean voyages. But what is a Junk Raft? In the case of eco-mariners Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal, The Junk Raft is an ocean vessel crafted from junk plastic bottles, a Cessna 310 airplane fueselage and various other 'junk' materials. The Junk Raft recently sailed from California to Hawaii to protest the growing pile of trash in our oceans. These plastics end up in the bellies of Albatrosses - things that really shouldn't be floating out there, like lighters and toys. They don't break down, not in the albatrosses and not in the ocean itself. And it's that very durability of plastic that has made the Junk Raft's courageous voyage possible. Marcus and Joel literally netted up 15000 bottles from the waste stream of Los Angeles, forming two pontoons that floated them all the way to Hawaii. And what a journey it was. Now Marcus and Anna Cummins, another plastics crusader, are teaming up, in more ways than one, and hitting the road, biking from Vancouver to Baja on the Junk Ride. To help them tell their story, we created Bike Speak. Marcus and Anna wanted a small, self-contained thing they could carry with them on their tour, that would allow them to host cruiser rides, and do pedal powered slideshows and presentations at schools and parks. At the same time it had to pack enough punch to address a reasonable size crowd both indoors and out. They already had a Fender Blender X, so they we made an Xtracycle-compatible cabinet and a generator attachment that can be used with the Fender Blender base, without requiring tools to switch back and forth to smoothie mode. With the human power module, a volunteer can pedal the system to run the amplification while Marcus and Anna give their talk. And with the Fender Blender bike blender system, they can serve up fresh smoothies to the crowd after the talk while enjoying great sounding music pumped out by the system’s internal rechargeable NiMH battery, good for an estimated 14 hours of light and music. With each custom Soul Cycle that comes out of Rock The Bike, we try to push the envelope a little further. A few of us had been sketching hinged cabinets with two modes: stereo for cruising, and unidirectional for public address. Hence the flip-up action. We followed the snapdeck aesthetic, following the curves at the head and tail. The curve at the tail is functional. It matches the Fender Blender base. We used an ultra efficient amplifier for amplification and four Pro Audio full-range speakers. These speakers are small and extremely lightweight with alloy housings and neodymium magnets, weighing only 1 lb each! A crossover protects the tweeters. The entire finished cabinet, with speakers, amplifier, battery, mixer, voltage regulation system, microphone, and integrated lighting weighs in at a only 12 lbs! By far our lightest Soul Cycle to date. A two-channel mixer is built into the controls. This stereo mixer will enable Marcus and Anna to play background music from their laptop's slideshow program, while speaking through a lightweight microphone we provided. We came up with a custom voltage regulation circuit to protect the internal battery, mixer, and amp from the motor. The circuit also taps a little power to trickle charge the battery. We also added a separate noise suppression circuit to mute static from the generator. When the cabinet is flipped up, the user has access to a small “cubby” door. Inside the door is a small storage compartment where the microphone, cords, and handlebar mount can be stored when not in use. The handlebar mount will accommodate an iPod or other mp3 player and features a battery fuel/voltage gauge. This gauge will tell the user the current charge state of the battery while also giving the human power pedalers an indication of how their pedal power is affecting the system. Be sure to check the Junk Ride schedule for news about Marcus and Anna’s latest educational adventure and the Bike Speak system. During the Spring and Summer of 2009 Marcus and Anna will be touring the West coast. SF-Cruisers can expect a Junk Ride social ride with Anna and Marcus when they come through San Francisco. Like the Junk Raft's epic sail to Hawaii, the Junk Ride mission is not easy. At last check Marcus was mentioning that he intended to tow a raft so that the pair could ford rivers. Rock on! Send them fanmail on their blog, and please stay tuned for more on that social ride.

Carbon Neutral press conferences

sophie — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:01:40 +0000

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.

Thanks Earth Hour Pedalers and Bands, for rocking it at the 2009 Debut of the Pedal Powered Stage!

sophie — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:18:54 +0000

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:

How stereomind shot this photo is anyone's guess.

sophie — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:24:27 +0000

Originally uploaded by stereomind

Brlliant shot from one of our Flickr friends.

High School students create Human-Powered Hovercraft

sophie — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:31:19 +0000

Thoroughly documented and accompanied by the Police, this video shows an awesome DIT project coming together. Will it float?

DanceSkateLive: Rasta lighting in effect with skate on Shakespearean stage and door hinged.

sophie — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:34:57 +0000

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.

DanceSkateLive: Rasta lighting in effect with skate on Shakespearean stage and door hinged.

Manicato Performing at the 2008 Bicycle Music Festival under Pedal Power

sophie — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:02:20 +0000

Service Bulletin for Down Low Glow systems sold in late 2008, early '09.

sophie — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:18:12 +0000

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:

Send your light tubes back and let us fix it. See instructions at the bottom of the page.
Change your technique: Use a twisting technique as you undo the power connector, rather than a direct pull.
Use a drop of lube. Boeshield, TriFlow, even chain lube can make this connector feel significantly easier to do and undo.
Do the fix yourself: Expand the inner bore of the male power connector. You can do this at home if you have an index of numbered drill bits. Use the non-drilling side of the bit: First #39, then #38. Insert the male connector (the one on the light tubes) as far as it will go. The connector should now have a much easier push / pull force.
Upgrade to the waterproof pushbutton switch for $18. Shown below, the waterproof pushbutton switch allows you to turn the Down Low Glow on and off without physically disconnecting the power connector. This is faster, can be done with one hand, and puts less strain on the connector.

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.

Send it back. Skip to the bottom and follow the instructions to participate in the recall.
Do the fix yourself. We use a short piece (about 1 inch long) of flexible 1/4" vinyl tubing to strain relief the wire as it exits the battery. Cut a slit the tubing, turning it into a sleeve that you can slide down the wire. Heat up the area with a hair dryer or heat gun. Push the tubing down past the glue line -- half in and half out. Reseal the are with a flexible adhesive such as Plumber's Goop.

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"

Mike Cobb: Urban Cyclocross, Backwards Circles, No Handed Trackstands, Skids, Stairs.

sophie — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:25:41 +0000

Former member of our Berkeley workshop community. Now lives and works in Portland, but comes back to hang out and do welding / fabrication jobs in the Bay Area, such as fabing a security fence for Tip Top Bike Shop in Oakland.

From the informative illumination files...

sophie — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:32:29 +0000

From the folks at speedvest.com comes a reflective vest that displays your speed to the drivers you're passing in city traffic. If all cyclists wore these, it could deliver a message about how effective cycling is as urban transport. Personally, my favorite way to deliver this message is simply to beat my driving friends to the next destination on a night out. Music is “Do the Spoke” by The Golden Greats, a musical project of one of the inventors.

Soul Cycle Tear Drop coming together

sophie — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:44:38 +0000

My Soul Cycle Teardrop project is coming along nicely. Lessons learned at Rock the Bike have come in handy in building the unit. It's amazingly rewarding -- and time consuming -- to build a one of a kind project of your own design. Makes me realize why we have to charge a fair price to build custom sound systems for our customers. But in the end you have something really unique. I've had the opportunity to check out my lighting, but not the sound just yet. Can't wait to hear it. I'll continue to update my Flickr set with the progress, so feel free to comment or ask questions...or for that matter make suggestions! Check out the full photo set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/macpaulster/sets/72157612483184893/ Enjoy.

Concept invention in blog echoes the need to define one's space on the road.

sophie — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:47:06 +0000

Bike light concept echoes the need to define one's space on the road.

Bloggers at Altitude have beautifully illustrated a concept for "Light Lane," a bike light of the future, one that helps cyclists define their space on the road. This has been one of the goals of the Down Low Glow from day one. The concept light uses a laser to project the lines of a non-existant bike lane on the road around you, along with a clever bike symbol behind you. Meanwhile, the Down Low Glow, which is not a concept, uses a fluorescent light source to project a diffuse cloud on the road, as seen below. I don't know the relative efficiency of lasers vs.fluorescent lamps, or whether the photo of the Light Lane, shown above, is real is real or a composite created in Photoshop. Down Low Glow throughs light on the road around the bicycle, defining your space in traffic.

Teardrop Soul Cycle taking shape in MacPaulster's shop

sophie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:52:01 +0000

Paul McKenzie's been building this one in his home workshop. Sealed rear facing subwoofer and two full-range mains. More to come.

Thanks Sunday Streets fans and crew!

sophie — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:38:22 +0000

Morning ride: Crew pumping up the District for Sunday Streets.

Set up our Pedal Powered Stage on the Great Highway, with dancing on the beach. Photo: Steve Rhodes

First we loaded the Biker Bar with hundreds of pounds of audio gear.

The custom V1 Mundo trailer hitch flexed a bit under this extreme load, but basically it was a very controllable ride.

Adam entertained in Golden Gate Park on the way to the beach.

We set up a 5-bike Pedal Powered Stage on the Great Highway -- two electric Mundos and the Biker Bar.

Cousin Ken pitching in on the Biker Bar, with Arie along for the ride.

Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper, with guests Mafiosa Felice, Terry, and Jared May.

The scene from a nearby dune. Photo: Steve Rhodes

Cops threatened to shut down Tornado Rider. So we moved.

And they shredded the venue.

Hoop Jam with Movement Maker Mei.

All photo montages: Steve Rhodes

This is the 36V 18Ah Sealed Lead Acid rechargeable battery that helps us get up and over the hill from the Mission to the beach.

Rolling the 'Long Things' bundle.

Fully loaded Biker Bar, probably 275 pounds of gear, including bass drum, two JBL PRX535's, and the Fossil Fool tent.

We made $52 in tips. Thanks to all the fans who pitched in for Tornado Rider and the Rock The Bike crew. This is what we did with the money.

Late night gear return mission.

Don't get offended if your cocktail's bike blended.

sophie — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:42:15 +0000

Thanks to Raul and Warren for their theatrics at this year's Earth Hour celebration in San Francisco. On to technical details. Note how Raul fills the pitcher about 1/3 to halfway with ice, then adds the alcohol and juices to just over the top of the ice. Then Warren pedals for about 30 seconds to wild applause from the crowd.

Rock The Bike Roadies, Please discuss amongst yourselves

sophie — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:44:27 +0000

Roadies, we need to establish how we wrap cables. What do think of this one? Looks like we'll need a lot of velcro, but it will keep our cable clutter down.

Thanks SF Marathon runners and pedalers

sophie — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:46:19 +0000

Rock The Bike brought our Pedal Powered Stage to the finish line of the San Francisco Marathon, where fans, runners, volunteers, and the crew pedal powered the awards ceremony. Above, Viv team volunteers helped us get a groove going between the different award classes. Even marathoners who'd podiumed -- note the ribbon around this pedaler's neck -- summoned the energy to power the sound system for the award ceremony. One described it as "Good Recovery". The two Electric Mundos shown above offer amazing stability, with their Lunar Lander kickstands, and an excellent size range for pedalers of all ages. The runner above was able to get his son pedaling along side him. Above, arriving at the venue with our gear strapped to the Biker Bar. The wooden cover that protects the pedal power equipment mounted to the aluminum chassis also stiffens the overall structure, making it predictable and safe to ride with hundreds of pounds of gear. Depending on the distances and terrain where you'll be riding, we recommend using the Mundo 1000, our electric cargo bike. The Mundo 1000 has plenty of pickup to get you up the hills, and its long wheelbase helps you get a stable ride when towing the Biker Bar. Although few people biked to the event, we were able to get the Biker Bar involved in the Pedal Power effort. This was the first time we had dropped a tandem on the Biker Bar, which couples the output of three bikes mechanically in a cromoly tube. It's cool to think that the biker bar could actually harness six pedalers' power! Our six-foot Pedalometer shows fans and pedalers the health of the pedal power system as measured by voltage. Better than mystery powders, what could be better than a fruit smoothie after a hard run? Luckily the Fender Blender Pro was in effect. Above, our early morning gear run to the event brought us unexpectedly onto the route itself. Rolling back from the Marathon. Leif cruising no-handed on the Xtracycle with unclaimed flowers, pulling the Fender Blender Pro in trailer mode.

Modeling clay - another way to mount your tunes/smart phone:

sophie — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:49:30 +0000

http://lifehacker.com/5319400/make-a-handlebar-phone-mount-with-modeling...

Thanks, Grind for the Green!

sophie — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:51:47 +0000

Rock The Bike pedal powered the Grind For The Green hip hop conference this past Saturday in San Francisco. JMellion and another rapper.


Two bikes held it down. The Choprical Fish and...

A Mundo 1000 Smoothie break at Lunch.


Speakers included M1 of Dead Prez.

One the way back we hit the Bicycle Film Festival Street Party.

Jay Welding Anchor point for rear suspension on El Arbol

sophie — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:56:32 +0000

In this shot you get a clear view of the rear suspension of El Arbol. Note the extension of the rear swingarm. This both provided an anchor point for longer suspension coils, and a footrest for the rear facing passenger. Here's a cool video that shows how Jay sets up for a weld, then lays down a stack of dimes.

Welcome, young Jedi

sophie — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:36:14 +0000

This is what happens when people get the passion for a new way of transportation. A way that challenges you and inspires others. This is what happens when you really want a bar table. Photo:Band Of Bicycles Rides and Events: Band Of Bicycles

Making beats while you ride.

sophie — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:52:22 +0000

Two fresh ideas: http://una-love.com/beat-bike.htm http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/15/switchbike-goes-from-bicycle-to-chopper-in-seconds-flat/

Turning Green presents Chico Bicycle Music Festival

sophie — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:57:47 +0000

Great footage from Chico's first ever Bicycle Music Festival.

Thanks to the bands, fans, and volunteer crew for an intense, awesome San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival

sophie — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:07:31 +0000

Tornado Rider performed "I'm a Falcon" at our first ever night venue, Pier 7. Loyal BMF fan Josh pitching in pedal power for Tornado Rider. The day began at 7:30 with a huge mobilization of audio and pedal power gear, banners, Fender Blender, and more. At Golden Gate Park, Tom from Parks and Rec informed us that, although he loved the intention of our event, our use of the park would be illegal without a sound permit. Previous to this year, we had never applied for permits for BMF venues, and had never had an issue. When police did stop by BMF in '07 and '08, they smiled and moved on. We also received mixed advice from city hall officials, some telling us "why bother with permits?" and calling our attention to unpermitted but community-approved events like Critical Mass and the Dykes on Bikes parade. We also believed the BMF is a community service and that we shouldn't have to buy permits to put it on. In retrospect, the lack of permits for this year's BMF sapped a lot of our energy on the day of the event, and three awesome bands were unable to perform. We wish we had followed through with the permit process. At the same time, it's a testiment to the awesome goodwill for our festival that many fans stuck around and enjoyed the bands, listening to Tin Cup Serenade, Stitchcraft, and Ma Muse perform acoustically, as we waited to set up our Pedal Powered Stage. Above, Ma Muse, performing acoustically in Golden Gate Park. Photo: Xtracycle, Inc. Four of us went to on a mission with three golden geese to try to get an emergency permit. Meanwhile, two crew members found a larger event in a nearby meadow and asked them to umbrella us with their event permit. We set up the Biker Bar in time for Antioquia's performance. Our new Pedalometer uses a fan to push a can up and down within 6' tall tube. Orange, Green, and Red show desired system voltage. Pedalers found the new system quite intuitive. We hardly did any pedal power coaching all day. Above, pedalers on the Biker Bar. Our merch flasher offering Stichcraft's new CD, Beyond the Hoolaboo. SHAKE YOUR PEACE! leads the LiveOnBike daytime ride with guests Cello Joe and Sonya Cotton (surfing the Radish and singing wirelessly). Above, leaving Golden Gate Park after Antioquia's performance. All three bandmembers stood and sang, which made it easy for the huge ride to see them and sing along to originals and an occasional cover, including "Shake It Up Baby!" Scott handled the mixing on the back of the Electric Mundo. The 24V battery was so strained from helping us up the hill, that power to the mixer cut. I used the throttle more lightly after that, straining to pull the 600 lb load up to the altitude of Haight St., where SHAKE YOUR PEACE! rocked out. The large wooden case is how Ma Muse's supporters helped them transport their half-size bass to BMF from Chico. Interior of the Bass Case. Photo: At Dolores Park, we found permit shelter from the Dolores Park Movie Night, and Oona Garthwaite was able to perform her set. Pedal powering Oona on the Biker Bar. Photo: busbozo Jazz Mafia vocalist and Shotgun Wedding Quintet frontman Dublin performed LiveOnBike on the Sunset Cruise. Daniel sat in on Cajon. Scott worked the knobs for Tornado Rider. Leif's new Soul Cycle, the Turboboom, provided the platform and party lighting. Scott focused on getting the best possible sound for our stripped-down 2-bike system. We could have set up the Biker Bar as well, but wanted to conserve space for walkways, since we were sharing the pier with fishermen. Above: Sammey from Chico arriving in SF the day before BMF. On Friday afternoon, BMF volunteer Adam met a crew of 8 riders from Chico including performers Ma Muse. Aaron from Seattle's Aaron's Bike Repair trained in for BMF and is currently riding down the coast for pleasure with his friend. We threw the Mothership on his Xtracycle so he could help amplify our mobile performances.

Testing out the Biker Bar as a LiveOnBike rig after Bicycle Music Festival Roadie Picnic

sophie — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:11:46 +0000

Testing out the Biker Bar as a LiveOnBike rig after Bicycle Music Festival Roadie Picnic. Today we had our first ever Bicycle Music Festival Roadie Picnic, a minor miracle a week before BMF. We successfully tested the Biker Bar in its new role as 3-person direct generator. We eliminated the link between the Bar and the Electric Mundo, when in generation mode. A lot of and engineering went into that idea, in the search of perfect, use-every-part-of-the-buffalo approach (having the Mundo's powerful rear wheel serve as the generator for all for bikes.) But the chain link caused problems at all three of the Biker Bar's first outings. So we eliminated it, adding a 15 pound permanent magnet generator to the end of the bar instead of driving the Mundo's rear wheel. In doing so, after cranking down bolts and filing down a few rough edges, we cut 90% of the noise. The Biker Bar is now relatively quiet.

We also had an informative and constructive conversation with a neighbor who was concerned about the noise. We immediately cut the noise on our sound check, but told him we wouldn't be able to cut the volume next weekend, because our goal is to rock Dolores Park with awesome bands and the best Pedal Powered Stage in the landia. He seemed to have a twinkle in his eye by the end of the talk. After proving that the Biker Bar is ready for action as a generator, we tested its new role as LiveOnBike rig. Above, Gabe and Heather get their balance. Then on my way home from droping off a friend, I was playing bluegrass on Valencia, at the very end of a beautiful Sunday evening -- warming trend sticking around til BMF, I hope. A plaid-shirt, tight-jeans wearing guy rode up next to me just to say he was really looking forward to BMF. Yeah! Festival time!

Janaysa LiveOnBike at the 2008 Bicycle Music Festival

sophie — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:16:11 +0000

Below we debut our entry in the 2009 Bicycle Film Festival: "Janaysa LiveOnBike". New footage. New smoothcam effect. Enjoy... ...And then come to the San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival, June 20, so you can directly experience this year's innovations in LiveOnBike performing

Thanks Maker Faire! See you next year at the Pedal Powered Stage.

sophie — Sun, 31 May 2009 03:20:45 +0000

Thanks to the Maker Faire community, bands, pedalers, and crew! Maker Faire was a blast this past weekend. See you next year at the Pedal Powered Stage. Oona Garthwaite performing on Saturday at the Pedal Powered Stage. The Maker Faire community provided all the power used to amplify the bands. Cello Joe performs under pedal power at Maker Faire.

Justin Anchetta performing on the Pedal Powered Stage, framed by the Biker Bar and the Rock The Bike tent.

The Biker Bar was mostly in effect on its West Coast debut. When it worked, it worked very well, and the noise level coming from the gearbox was acceptable, especially mounted as it was on grass. But there were several mechanical issues, all of which stemmed from spec'ing hardware that was too wimpy for the task of securing the gear box to the frame. The wood screws we chose pulled out of the 3/4" plywood on Saturday afternoon. Since we had added between the gear box and the plywood, a shockproofing layer to reduce noise, there was room for the screws to flex and work loose. We switched to our 2-bike system shown above. On Sunday, reinforcements arrived. Leif and Idran brought tools and better hardware from Berkeley. 5 Cent Coffee's Smitty Delacroix taking a Ukelele solo whilst pedaling the Electric Mundo. Kids pitching in some Human Power on the Biker Bar.

It was the first event where we used a proper pro-sound setup, with the mixer located out in the audience, where Gabe, our sound guy, could make eye contact with the bands and make adjustments as needed. Bands enjoyed better sound quality than any previous Rock The Bike event. We had two JBL PRX535 main speakers, and one JBL EON 10" monitor, all digitally powered.

At the end of the second day, we challenged two pedalers to produce as much power as possible for a 10 minute dance session. It felt like the entire Faire collected at the Pedal Powered Stage to jump and shake one last time before the event closed.

We had our West Coast debut of Pedal Powered Spin Art. One of the really nice things about Spin Art is that little kids can easily pedal it. Blending requires more power and for kids, this requires a certain focus. In our Fender Blender video, you can see the look of determination on 8-year-old Arthur's face as he blends a smoothie. Compare that to the relaxed expression of the girl above. That's the difference with Spin Art. The level of physical exertion for Spin Art is much lower, so kids can get totally immersed in the Spin Art without needing to think about their next pedal stroke.

The Spin Art station doubled as a bike blender, cranking out ice cold smoothies for the crew.

Mafi makes a sign for Spin Art.

The weekend started with an awesome group ride from Dolores Park. Photo: Dustin Jensen

The weekend started with an awesome group ride from Dolores Park. Cello Joe added his beat to the music from our Soul Cycles.

The Biker Bar was carrying the speakers and several instruments for the bands. The old SLA battery for the Electric Mundo only lasted the first quarter of the ride. After that we had to push up the hills and at intersections to get it started.

Luckily we had strong pedalers with good attitudes. Oliver took it for the last 8 miles.

Justin Anchetta took the middle leg.

Each night after the Faire, we took Caltrain back to the City and rode home with loaded up Mundos and Xtracycles.

Gabe of SHAKE YOUR PEACE! leading a singalong.

We got a little dance party going on the Caltrain at the end of Day 1.

My tux for the Prom

sophie — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:12:04 +0000

Borrowed Jay's tux for Mission High's Green Prom. We'll be pedal powering 4 hours of dance music for one of San Francisco's largest high schools.

Pedal Powering Youth Speaks assembly at Lincoln High School

sophie — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:19:46 +0000

Big thanks to Lincoln High School and ESLI for inviting Rock The Bike to two days of environmental assemblies and education. Above, Youth Speaks' Brian rocks the mike as Lincoln High athletes power the audio gear (and answer questions while they're at it.) Below, riding to the event early in the morning, hauling the massive JBL PRX 535 speaker. It happened to be Bike To Work Day.

Now go change the world

sophie — Sun, 10 May 2009 15:36:30 +0000

Urban trials rider Danny MacAskill shows his incredible skill and creativity in this inspiring 5 minute video. Great music, too, from Band of Horses. Set in Edinburgh, Scotland. Thanks for the link, Chris Tom!

Pottery wheel score!

sophie — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:42:42 +0000

Metrofiets cargo bike scores pottery wheel! Imagine the possibilities -- a mobile pottery session / performance ride.

Pottery wheel score!_03 Originally uploaded by METROFIETS

Cargo Bike Sketches from David Moskovitz on Flickr

sophie — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:46:35 +0000

Awesome array of cargo biking options in this back of the envelope sketches from one of our Flickr friends.

Cargo4

Tall bike tandem pops up on Flickr

sophie — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:55:54 +0000

Amazing to see other art bike creators and customers thinking on similar lines at the same time. I love the concave downtube on this medium-tall tandem. Very similar ideas here to El Arbol, my own tandem tall bike. The Mutandem LIVEZ and Freak Tha Beach FUN!

Repeating our warning to check your Down Low Glow system for signs of insulation breakdown and bare copper.

sophie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:19:44 +0000

The battery output wire on the Down Low Glow has a certain amount of insulation. But with repeated flexing that insulation can break down. Please look at the battery in the picture and compare it to yours. The black insulation has kinked and separated where it exits the pack, and you can see the white and red insulation of the inner two wires underneath. This is a result of repeated flexing of the wire. It is worse in cold places where the insulation can be brittle. Our goal with this announcement is to keep you riding safely with the Down Low Glow, and to prevent needless short circuits. In our experience, most of these short circuits happen because the type of wiring damage shown above has escalated to the point where the white and red wire jackets have also crumbled, and bare copper is visible. If a customer continues using the battery at this point, the output wire may twist, bringing the two coppers into contact with eachother. When copper touches copper, a short can start at any time, but it still may take days or weeks of use before it happens, if it happens. Short circuits are scary and can create lots of foul smoke and possibly a few seconds of a small open flame. They can melt surrounding plastic objects like nylon backpacks. You certainly wouldn't want to hold one in your hand. But in our experience they are unlikely to start a fire. We shorted five batteries outside our workshop underneath a newspaper, and none of them ignited the newsprint. The sputtering, smoky part lasted about 2-3 minutes on average before the pack had dispensed most of its energy. About a year ago we tried to recall batteries from a specific, problematic production period in 2008. But since this type of failure invoves wiring, and all Down Low Glows sold to date have wiring, we are asking that you simply check out your system to see if it has this type of wear. We want to replace batteries that show this type of wear. If you have one that's showing signs of wear, please either follow the DIY steps to prevent further wear on your battery, or send it back to us for replacement or service. We worked with our battery manufacturer on this issue and are now selling batteries with a thermal fuse that prevents short circuits. We've also beefed up the strain relief on the wire leaving the pack. Down Low Glow systems sold today are much less likely to fail in this manner. We have a reputation for excellent customer service and for being generous with warranty periods. If there's something bugging you about your Down Low Glow system, or anything else you bought from Rock The Bike, please let us know.

Are all Down Low Glow systems destined to fail in this manner eventually? No!

New units have better tapering strain relief.

All DLG systems can last if you follow these Dos and Don'ts:

Don'ts:

Yank the wires when disconnecting the battery from the charger or from the light tube(s). Yanking puts unneeded strain on the wiring. Don't carry or swing your Down Low Glow battery by the output wire:

Dos:

Do hold your battery pack by the pack itself: Use two hands to pull the main power connector apart. Same for removing the battery from the charger:

DIY repair:

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.

New to Rock The Bike? Here's a quick intro with links to our most popular products.

sophie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:33:22 +0000

The Fender Blender -- a Human Power base station.

As seen on Jay Leno's holiday gift guide, and a Rock The Bike exclusive. The world's finest bike blender now doubles as a Human Power base station when you drop in one of our compatible generators without tools. Available in three different styles, starting at $249. Made in USA.

Mundo Cargo Bikes and Xtracycle Sport Utility Bikes

We ride useful bikes like the Yuba Mundo cargo bike above and the Xtracycle SUB (Sport Utility Bike) below to get back and forth to Rock The Bike events, deliver our goods, and live life. Not only do we sell bikes, we help design them and customize them. No one puts load-carrying bikes to the test like Rock The Bike; trust us when it comes to your bike decision.

Pedal Power gear

The Biker Bar, Electric Mundos, Electric Fender Blender Pros, The Pedalometer, JBL loudspeakers, and our dependable Pedal Power Utility boxes. Welcome to our weekend. We're the undisputed experts for building Pedal Powered Stages for event audio. So call us if you need: consulting, a quote for a build, advice.

The Down Low Glow -- Unmatched Side Visibility for night riding.

Photo: K'Tesh The Down Low Glow is a rechargeable safety light offering unmatched Side Visibility and huge style points. The Down Low Glow 1.0 has been discontinued. Contact us to get on the wait list for the new version of the Down Low Glow. Follow our product development on Flickr!

We're also a Bike Culture crew that Pedal Powers events, mostly in the San Francisco area

Our Pedal Powered Stage events are where we bring it all together. Pedal Powers music events and political rallies in the Bay Area. We have a number of event offerings but the primary ones are our Pedal Powered Stage and our music production. We co-produce the San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival, and have appeared at: Earth Day Central Park, West Fest (40th Anniversary of Woodstock), Often there is some sort of athletic feat involved, such as getting our gear across town by bike. We are developing partnerships with bike culture crews and pedal power people in other places. We support them with technology (Pedal Power gear), know how, and promoting the field in general.

Pastana Surfs Valencia as Rock The Bike crew roll from Bike Expo to nighttime gig at Baobab.

sophie — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:54:52 +0000

Of the three in our crew that can surf Mundos only Adam Pastana has the sense of foundation that allows him to dance while surfing. We were on our way from the SF Bike Expo to power the Genie and yours truly at Baobab Village last night. My parents have told me to take this off our homepage and focus on selling the Down Low Glow. I think it's rolling street theater and an absolutely stunning breakthrough in rocking the bike (lowercase). It's inspiring to me, so I hope that, despite the obvious safety considerations, it's inspiring on some level, to you too. Besides that, this brief video shows three of our most important products in action: firstly the Mundo, which we already knew was stiff as a tree trunk and danceably strong, is apparently a great handling surfing bike too. A bike this rigid and predictable is going to be reassuringly stable when you carrying a passenger or a serious load. Adam's not only surfing the Mundo, he's also carrying 30 pounds on one side of the bike in a GoGetter bag while towing a 75 pound Electric Fender Blender Pro from one event to another. Two other bikers pass on the right, with the Down Low Glow providing excellent Side Visibility; one is towing a racing bike on a Mundo. So you see, it's not just a video, it's how we put our gear to the test, week in, week out. If you want to buy your bike products from some place where they all drive to work and click the mouse all day, go right ahead. But if you're looking for people who ride, who push the envelope, who break and fix things, people you can trust with gear recommendations, you've found the right place. Welcome to Rock The Bike.

Surfin' Mundos with the Rock The Bike Crew in SF

sophie — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:00:03 +0000

Adam Aufdencamp spreads his wings on his first Mundo surf. Below: Video of a Sunday Night Mundo surf with Pastana and Masha. Footage: Aufdencamp.

Yuba's new V3 Mundo is here, offering numerous parts upgrades and usability improvements

sophie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:48:49 +0000

Yuba releases its all-new V3 Mundo Cargo Bike, with numerous upgrades and usability improvements, making this already beloved bike a true tool for mobility, fitness, and community. Stylish, tough, and highly customizeable, the V3 Mundo stands at the ready for all sorts of missions. The new 21-speed drivetrain and the impressive weight savings -- 9 pounds lighter than the original V1 Mundo -- mean more riders can enjoy a true cargo bike, in more terrains, with no sacrifice in the Mundo's legendary stiff ride quality.

Above: 36-spoke front and 48-spoke rear wheels with sealed-bearing hubs mean fewer popped spokes and a stable ride when carrying passengers and heavy cargo. With a max payload of 440 lbs, the Mundo is still the heavyweight of the long-wheelbase cargo bike world. Riders have raved about the predictability and surefootedness of the frame, which become all the more apparent when the bike is loaded down. The 48-spoke tandem-strength rear wheel with its new sealed bearing hub and oversized axle, is a big part of why the Mundo feels so stable when hauling loads.

Above: 4 strap guides keep straps from slipping, and 24 threaded customization points make it easy to mount running boards, locking equipment cases, custom equipment racks, and Mundo accessories. The chassis-style loading system has evolved, with welded strap guides, ensuring your straps won't slip from road vibration. The Mundo is now easier to customize to your unique cargo applications. Threaded braze-on points positioned throughout the cargo rack allow customers and businesses to integrate specific cargo racks, signage, tools, etc. Yuba's huge and water-resistant GoGetter Bag is a great way to carry smaller and softer loads like food.

Rock The Bike uses Mundos to haul music equipment to their Pedal Powered Stage events.

For many people a Mundo is the "most comfortable bike I've ever ridden". The long wheelbase makes handling easy and predictable, and puts road shock further from the spine of the rider. The Mundo's upright riding position gives the visibility riders need to steer, signal, and pedal effectively through traffic. The rider's weight is evenly distributed between the drive wheel and the steering wheel, making quick accelerations and maneuvers safe and decisive. All this comfort, safety, and control gives riders a chance to relax, breathe, and begin to integrate physical fitness with everyday tasks: dropping the kids off to school, picking up supplies for the home, and doing deliveries for a small business.

Above: Yuba's Peanut Shell childseat installed on the rear rack. There's still room for picnic supplies or a second child seat.

Families will appreciate that the new Mundo's rack accomodates up to two standard child seats. Yuba's new Peanut Shell is the simplest choice, as the mounting hardware have been chosen to match the rack. Adam dropping his girls of to school with a Mundo in San Francisco. Bigger kids can sit directly on Yuba's top deck, and rest their feet on the bags or the Side Loaders. The Mundo's new customization points make it easy to add full-length running boards to the Side Loaders for a stylish and secure footrest. And as the kids grow up, they'll be able to ride the same bike mom and dad used to drop them at school. The Mundo's low standover height and long seatpost accomodate riders from around 5' to 6'3", and the adjustable stem can be positioned to give the desired room in the front.

For mixed terrain, the Mundo now comes stock with a 21-speed drivetrain, including Shimano Acera front and rear derailleurs, Shimano shifters, and lightweight forged alloy cranks. The frame accomodates fat tires, up to 2.75", meaning that riders with potholed or offroad routes can get the suspension and control they need. For those in wet climates, the stock fenders and disc brake tabs will enable them to get the best performance in the rain. The standard V-brakes have gotten many positive reviews from Mundo customers.

The welded and reinforced rear rack offers chassis style loading for rigid objects like equipment cases. Previous generations of Mundos had a bolt-on rear rack.

Bike shops and home mechanics who assemble the new Mundo will love the simplicity of assembly. The all-welded cargo system and full-size carton means the build is now well under an hour, with most key parts (derailleurs, brakes, cranks) installed at the factory and in need of only minor tuning. The V3 Mundo starts at $1099, and includes fenders and a sturdy side kickstand. Most customers will add the $115 GoGetter bag, and a $16 pair of cam straps. A cargo-strength center-stand will be available in early 2010.

TreeHugger post confirms that at least 70 percent of accidents between bikes and cars are related to Side Visibility

sophie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:54:34 +0000

A TreeHugger post confirms the importance of Side Visibility for cyclists, stating that 60% of accidents between bikes are cars are due to broadside impact alone (and broadside is only one of several accident types that can be considered "Side Visibility" types). This is consistent with what we've been saying about Side Visibility all along. Every rider has to make their own decision about safety -- whether to wear a helmet and what type of lighting to use. But this evidence definitely supports the Side Visibility. In fact, what they call a "broadside is far more common. They are defined as " any crash when a bicyclist hits or is hit by a car on a perpendicular road." Yokota at Cyclelicious clarifies it as "That's when a motorist goes straight through an intersection even when there's a bike right in front of him" 60.5% of the accidents were caused that way, compared to only 13% by the right hook. I enjoyed seeing their black and white drawings of intersections, similar to the ones I made in SketchUp 4 years ago to show the Side Visibility benefit of the Down Low Glow : Check out an excerpt from a recent Down Low Glow testimonial on the topic of Side Visibility: I have had many situations where a car has come to an intersection where they had a stop sign and I did not, at least half a block ahead of me, with no other traffic on the road to prevent the car from pulling out, and they waited for me to pass. This situation has happened many times since installing the Down Low Glow.

Thanks Fair Oaks St. and the Yes Men! for too much fun in San Francisco Halloween weekend.

sophie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:58:47 +0000

Late night Haunted Hay Ride on the Biker Bar, cruising down 18th from the Castro to the District, with five European tourists along for the ride. Rockin' Halloween colors on our way to Fair Oaks St. with a Masked Masha rolling a Mundo with the Down Low Glow. At sunset, yeow! Whoah. Amazing weekend. So much gratitude to the crew, the people of Fair Oaks St., and the Yes Men! Kai and Pastana showed up Saturday afternoon to help mod the Biker Bar into a Haunted Hay Ride. Tara had texted me earlier to "try 6th and Bryant as a source for $15 hay bales." Then on the way there I realized she was sending me to the wholesale flower market. Thanks for the tip, T! I pulled in and immediately saw a bale in a stall. One cam strap on the Mundo. Back to the house. We reduced the hay to useful cushion sizes and cam strapped Kai's birdcage to the Biker Bar. Kai bringing Pooh into the mix.

Do you wanna go on a Haunted Hay Ride? Yes I wanna go on a Haunted Hay Ride? Do you wanna go on a Haunted Hay Ride? Yes I wanna go on a Haunted Hay Ride? When you wanna to go on a Haunted Hay Ride? Hmm, I dunno, how about now?

We kept the dancing going for the big kids for another couple hours.

Sunday Afternoon. Do it again.


Heading to the San Francisco debut of the Yes Men's touching and hilarious "The Yes Men Fix The World"


Adam practicing one of the building block skills for no-hands surfing.







The lucky recipients of three $4 million Survivaballs.


Escorting the Survivaballs from the Roxie to the closest Chevron. 


The Yes Men used the march as an opportunity to tout the 
benefits of the Survivaball. Rock The Bike supplied the mobile P/A and 
later the Pedal Powered Stage for the rally. 



 








 















We turned up the dance music, including an exhuberant "I Will Survive."


After the Chevron protest, we kept the afterparty going. 
The Mundo 1000 has been holding it down as our most efficient pedal power bike. 


If you've read this far and you're local, 
you'll probably want to join our SF Cruisers email list, 
and come out Monday night to Dia De Los Muertos with the Rock The Bike crew.

Band of Bicycles plan to host LiveOnBike radio broadcast on Biker Bar foiled by rain

sophie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:10:08 +0000

The photo shows Travis from Band of Bicycles hauling a WFMU radio DJ and his guest around Brooklyn on the practice session for a LiveOnBike radio broadcast. The actual broadcast was foiled by rain. Practice ride:

13 Rock The Bike crewmembers pedal power two huge events in two days.

sophie — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:24:02 +0000

It was a big weekend. We hit the road Saturday to Pedal Power the 350.org rally at Justin Herman Plaza. Lauren from Greenpeace on the mic. The Biker Bar's swingarms were recently gusseted (the triangles). They're much stiffer and the bar is functioning well these days, though our electric bikes have the edge in efficiency. After the rally, we got an afterparty going. photos: Steve Rhodes Adam and Tara clowning around after the gig. We packed up and cruised the Embarcadero. Above, Leif following a tight path through the crowd. The Mundo 1000 was short a battery all weekend. so we developed ways to get it around the city. Sunday morning in the park with Scott McDowell of Hyde Street Studios, Rock The Bike's most experienced sound guy. Soul Medic getting the Pedal Powered Stage jumping at West Fest. Kai and Pam powering Oona. Kai went big, powering the show for about 50 minutes.

Thanks, Life is Living! Rock The Bike pedal powers epic 4 hour BBoy Battle in West Oakland.

sophie — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:31:42 +0000

A huge shout out to YouthSpeaks and the crew behind Life Is Living, where we pedal powered our first BBoy Battle yesterday! After the usual morning rustiness and coffee, we rolled to the Ferry Building to catch the Alameda-Oakland Ferry and biked to Defremery Park. We set up a 4-bike Pedal Powered Stage. The Biker Bar and the Mundo 1000 powered our JBL PRX-535 mains and Mackie SRM150 Monitor. We had 3-5 power cuts over the course the day, but they were all positively received, in the sense of being a welcome reminder that the sound was, indeed, pedal powered. The listening levels were loud but still on human scale; the crowd was able clap along and shout, and their cheers could cut through the mix. We ran the DJ booth (two turntables, DJ mixer, laptop, audio interface, external hard drive) off an extension cord from a park facility shed 100 yards away. The spirit of the BBoy battle was strong and positive. Above, two breakdancers share a quick shoulder bump after a bout. At one point I dispatched Tara to tell the organizer we were ready to blend smoothies. She came back with a box of pears and reported "you were supposed to bring smoothie supplies for 50 people." Check that, text Leif: "We have pears. Need ice, juice, cups for 50." Leif rogered that, and showed up a half hour later with the juice, soy, walnuts, a lemon, ginger, bananas, frozen blueberries, and 12" long chef's knife and cutting board, and we proceeded to go to town on the smoothies, dropping refreshment on the pedalers all afternoon. Both Tara and I entered the breakdance competition. And both of us were gonged within about 20 seconds, despite busting our best moves. The music was up loud enough that neither of us could hear the gong. So the MC had to get on the mic and say "You just got gonged!" Pretty fun though. Unlike at our live music events, the beat never stopped at the BBoy battle. There were a few power cuts, but the beat would be back within 20-30 seconds. Between bouts in the battle, the emcee would call for freestyle dance, great stuff. A proper battle ensued. The MC called for crowd to sit so the pedalers could see. The Pedalometer was in effect, helping the group of pedalers keep system voltage in the sweet spot. (The green). Rolling back to the city on the 5:30 ferry. Captain gave us shit. Sea gull shat on me. Had to unload and reload Biker Bar. Otherwise no sweat.

Highlights from 2009 San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival

sophie — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:53:16 +0000

This short highlight video begins with the Bicycle Music Festival faithful rolling away from Lindley Meadow in SF's Golden Gate Park to Dolores Park. SHAKE YOUR PEACE! performs LiveOnBike, joined by Sonya Cotton and Cello Joe, leading a raucous singalong of Joey's "Silly Song". With Joey and SYP!'s Gabe Dominguez using the Biker Bar as a mobile stage, they salute the people of Dolores, and the cops, who want to pull the plug. But BMF co-directors Gabe and Fossil Fool persuade the powers that be to let the festival stay, and the BMF roadies quickly set up the Pedal Powered Stage for performances by Oona Garthwaite and Sean Hayes. The Biker Bar sheds its wheels and becomes a stationary 3-person generator. Sean performs "TurnAroundTurnMeOn" with drummer Ezra Lipp, also a BMF volunteer. While waiting for the festival to arrive from Golden Gate Park, nearly 3 hours behind schedule, Sean had serenaded the park acoustically. Texting back and forth with Ezra, who was with the festival, Sean decided to stick it out. Similarly Oona's band had already headed to our backup venue, Alemany Farms, and it wasn't easy to convince her that it was really back on in Dolores. But both played inspired sets. Enjoy!

NY Post on climate change: We're Screwed

sophie — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:58:43 +0000

Check out the Yes Men's latest brilliant spoof of the NY Post.

Roll with the Down Low Glow this fall.

sophie — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:01:18 +0000

Photo: Joey Mac Stay safe and have a little fun this fall with a bike light as phenomenal as you are. Pictured above is a dual-tube Down Low Glow system, paired with a rear blinky. We now offer a discount on our rear blinkie when you purchase a Down Low Glow. Just look for the "Add a blinkie" option at checkout. Here are 16 more reasons to roll with the Down Low Glow this fall.

Band of Bicycles to pedal power Moby at Age of Stupid opening in NYC

sophie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:04:39 +0000

The pace of progress in the field of Pedal Powered live events is brisk. Last week in New York, I helped Band Of Bicycles implement the latest improvements we've been developing for the Biker Bar, our multi-person generator, and on Monday they'll be using it to power a set by Moby at the premiere of the film Age Of Stupid.

Biking Rules PSA competition, deadline Sept 28

sophie — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:07:17 +0000

I stumbled across this NYC-based competition to promote bike culture! $4,000/new Kona top prizes. RTB DLG or other video could work perfectly... copied from http://bikingrules.org/PSA: What is a Biking Rules PSA? A Biking Rules PSA, or public service announcement, is a media message, moving or still, that will help promote bicycling and improve the public image of cyclists. What kind of media qualifies as a PSA? Still Images: including photography, poster art, graphic design, illustrations... Videos: including narratives, documentaries, animations, and any other moving image. Entrants can submit both Do-It-Yourself Videos made with cell phones or consumer grade cameras or High-Definition Videos made with professional HD or HDV Cameras (see our Discount rental offer with DCTV!) All Images and Videos must fit into one of two categories 1. Biking Rules Street Code 2. Why Biking Rules How do you submit images or videos? Online from this site! All images and videos must be submitted by September 28th to be considered for the prizes and the Biking Rules PSA Festival. Who can submit? ANYONE! The Biking Rules PSA Competition is open to media makers worldwide. Winning Submissions will be selected by a jury and screened at the Biking Rules Film Festival in New York City in November 2009. Why submit? You will be in the running for great prizes, including up to $4,000 and a new Kona bike. Submission is FREE and all entrants will receive a Cycling Commuter kit!*

Highlights from Vancouver Bicycle Music Festival online

sophie — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:12:53 +0000

Heather from Stitchcraft performs LiveOnBike at the Vancouver Bicycle Music Festival. Photo: Momentum See all the highlight photos on the Momentum blog.

Climbing up El Arbol for the first ride

sophie — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:20:19 +0000

My dad's been suggesting that I test ride El Arbol as soon as possible before sinking the hours into custom fiberglass work on the trunk, roots and branches. Not a bad idea. OK, so it didn't have brakes or pedals, but at least now the frame has at lease now been heat treated. The ride was great. Tall bike people know that a tall object can actually be easier to balance. The classic example: try balancing a ruler in your palm, then try a yard stick. As you can see in the photo below, El Arbol is about a foot taller than Jay's tall bike, part of his BayView Space Agency fleet. This makes it easier to balance at slow speeds. On my first coast, I mounted using the hood of a pickup truck and had Ydran and Adam give a running push in the slightly downhill direction on Channing. The ride is solid. No noticeable frame flex, and that's before the added stiffness of the fiberglass trunk and branch. The balance was easy, even at slow speeds. I only one little adrenaline jolt on the whole test ride, when I took a roundabout and experienced rapid decellaration. By the end I was doing my own running starts and dismounts in both the uphill and downhill directions. It was Adam's idea to jam some pipe in the captain's bottom bracket. That was hope stepped up and down onto the frame, as you can see above. I had been a bit concerned that the small wheels that originally came with the A2B would make the ride twitchy or sluggish, but it was neither. The traction was great, ans slow speed manuevers felt smooth. I knew that Jay was leaving for his honeymoon yesterday, and that Tuesday would be our last work session. We welded in the cable management for the root-deployment system. I'll post more photos soon. On Wednesday I borrowed a truck to get the frame over to Garner Heat Treating in Oakand. The guys were totally pro and enthusiastic about the project. Apparently there are two ways to restore strength to an aluminum frame after it's been welded. The more involved one heats the frame to within 30 degrees of liquid, which leaves the frame soft and succeptible to bending under its own weight. Typically at this point bike builders put the frame back in a jig to check alignment. Because El Arbol is a giant frame and a one off, there's no jig. So we chose the other method, which brings up the frame only to about 300-400 degrees. This method stress relieves the welds but not to the full 'T6' strength of the aluminum. With the average wall thickness of El Arbol's frame being much greater than that of say a Cannondale, I'm not too worried about the strength being compromised. After bringing the frame back to Rock The Bike, I waited till about 6 last night before ditching the computer and throwing parts back on it. We tied the roots against the frame, since the deployment system isn't ready yet, and I through an Envy Green Down Low Glow on the bottom tube. Lots of props from the neighborhood, a good omen!

Tornado Rider performs "I'm a Falcon" at Sunday Streets

sophie — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:29:14 +0000

One of our favorite local bands, Tornado Rider, performed their hit "I'm a Falcon" on the Pedal Powered Stage we hosted at the August 6th edition of Sunday Streets. As lead singer Rushad Eggleston sings and plays his wireless electric cello, 5 pedalers supply the pedal power on the Biker Bar and two electric Mundos, while checking the status of the pedal power system with our 6' pedalometer.

Pedal Power intern Jeff's final report

sophie — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:34:11 +0000

Interning at Rock The Bike’s Berkeley, CA workshop has been an exciting and challenging learning experience. RTB is a fast growing sustainable company with a diverse product line to manage so there is no such thing as a dull day with repetitive tasks. I worked closely with their team of engineers to refine their existing product line. I had a hand in the prototyping/testing, CAD revisions, and assembly of the Mundo cargo bikes. I worked with their fabricator Gian Bongiorno building Fender Blender Pros. As the human-powered intern, I worked extensively troubleshooting and building The Biker Bar. I had a blast running pedal-powered performances on the weekend at The Makers Faire, Bicycle Music Festival, and the San Francisco Marathon to name a few. I loved brainstorming with RTB engineers on how to make a design better, then stepping into the workshop and physically building my design. On the technical end, I helped spec generators and gearboxes, learned electrical principles, analyzed forces placed on a design, and used CAD. On the physical end, I performed metalworking, woodworking, electrical work, bicycle maintenance, and operated sound equipment. Working with the RTB team was a very worthwhile and personable experience. If you’re looking for a jam-packed insight into bike culture I would highly recommend applying for an internship with RTB!

Bicycle Music Festivals coming up in Portland, Seattle, Vancouver

sophie — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:36:07 +0000

If you're a bike person in the Northwest who's been following our entries about the San Francisco and Chico Bicycle Music Festivals, it's now time to ride to your own. August 15 - Eugene, OR August 16 - Portland, OR August 22 - Seattle Bicycle Music Festival August 29 - Vancouver, BC

Thanks Bicycle Music Festival fans, crew, and bands for an amazing 2010 festival!

sophie — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:32:42 +0000

Justin Ancheta performing LiveOnBike at the 2010 San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival, co-produced by Rock The Bike. Fans pedal powered 7 hours of live local music. Here you see the three key elements of a Pedal Powered Stage in action:

Generators: In this case a Biker Bar (the 3-person rig in the foreground) and two Electric Mundos.
Pedalometer: The floating beer can in the tube rises and falls, showing pedalers how hard to pedal.
Pedal Power Utility Box: the box on the table. It accepts inputs from up to 7 pedalers, smooths out the peaks and valleys of Pedal Power, and serves up clean pure sine AC power to our audio gear. Protects circuitry behind a plexiglass panel.

As usual with our local events our trusty roadies hauled all of our Pedal Powered Stage gear to and from the venues on cargo bikes, such as the Mundo and the Xtracycle. In the foreground special Roadie guest Aaron from Aaron's Bike Repair in Seattle carries his girlfriend and tows our Biker Bar. Strong! Once we set up our Pedal Powered Stage, we wasted no time getting band after local band amplified. Here's the Tri Tip Trio breaking it down at Golden Gate Park. El Arbol in effect as a two-person generator. Locura got the dancing started at Showplace Triangle, our night venue. photo: Aufdencamp Obo Martin, LiveOnBike. photo: Aufdencamp 1st time Golden Goose Lindsey rolling with the pack. The Golden Geese are the volunteers who shake the buckets for musicians after each set. Untitled from TyrellVoightKampff on Vimeo. Karlanga's Silk Performance from TyrellVoightKampff on Vimeo. Our night venue: Showplace Triangle, the largest of San Francisco's popular "Pavement to Parks" mini parks. It was our first time offering monitored bike parking at one of our events. Thanks Sam and the crew from DPW for your help!

See our best videos, all time, in one place.

sophie — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:03:08 +0000

1. Debuting LiveOnBike at the 2010 SF Bicycle Music Festival. Shows our preparations for the LiveOnBike element of the 2008 Bicycle Music Festival, co-founded and sponsored by Rock The Bike. 2. Old School Human Power Research in the Rock The Bike workshop with Nate Byerley, inventor of our Fender Blender bike blenders, Marquist, neighborhood kid, Paul Freedman, founder of Rock The Bike, and Gabe Dominguez, musician and co-founder of the San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival. See where we caught the bug for human power! 3. Mundo Surfing, circa 2009. Rock The Bike's Pedal Power coach Pastana came up with an amazing new way to ride, and we've been surfing ever since. 4. Fossil Fool, LiveOnBike at the 2010 Barcelona Bicycle Music Festival. Great camera work and daytime light make for a clear demonstration of the LiveOnBike concept. Part of the 2010 Pleasant Revolution bike tour. 5. Fender Blender Bike Blenders available from Rock The Bike. We take bike blending very seriously. Check out the three types we make! 6. Side Visibility with the Down Low Glow. Notice how much brighter the Down Low Glow is from the side than regular blinkies. Please note that as of winter 2010 the Down Low Glow is off the market for a major redesign that will be ready soon. 7. The Mundo Cargo Bike. Rock The Bike helps test, design and engineer the Mundo and we love using it in our Pedal Powered Stage. 8. The Choprical Fish and the UMDJ -- Documentation of a Fossil Fool original Soul Cycle and of collaborating on the UMDJ in Austin, Texas. Keep in mind, this is 2007 Technology. 9. BONUS VIDEO! Don't watch!

Fossil Fool performing LiveOnBike at the Barcelona Bicycle Music Festival

sophie — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:27:04 +0000

Highlights from a LiveOnBike performance on my latest custom Soul Cycle, the Blue Whale, at the first ever Barcelona Bicycle Music Festival, timed to coincide with the 10-10-10 global day of action on climate change. The video shows clips of three songs: "Funky Quadricycle", "Rock The Bike Rider," and "No Bikes In The Yard". Brock was pilioting the Blue Whale, and nearby Kipchoge was carrying bassist Jared May. The video shows off the great passenger hauling capabilities of Cargo Bikes like the Mundo, the base bike of the Blue Whale. This was my first LiveOnBike performance on the Blue Whale, which contains the audio elements a 3-way JBL PRX 535 speaker. The top surface of the Blue Whale's fiberglass cabinet is a wide tractor seat, allowing the performer to shift his weight and face riders to the side and rear of the rig. The Blue Whale has a horn-loaded midrange and tweeter mounted on a pole that can pivot to any angle. When used as a LiveOnBike rig, the mid/high horns face obliquely to the rear, where they direct the sound to the mobile audience and serve as a monitor to the performer. The main 15" bass woofer faces to the right, away from the performer, but the large bass port faces left. Bass frequencies are fairly omnidirectional to begin with, but the port facing left means that the bass truly envelops the performer. The music cabinet is custom made to fit the Mundo V3 cargo bike, designed for carrying gear and passengers. The weight of the cabinet, battery, and the performer was probably close to 250 pounds, well within the rated capacity of the Mundo. The power source for the amplifier was a pair 12V NiMh batteries rated at 4AH. The Class-D Crown amplifier that came with the PRX 535 has been modified to accept DC power, rather than AC, which eliminates the need for a bulky and inefficient AC/DC inverter. The batteries used on the Blue Whale weigh only 4 pounds. The DC modified Crown amplifier is problably the most efficient audio amplifier around, and is available from Rock The Bike on a custom basis. The DC modification also makes the Blue Whale an exceptionally efficient Pedal Power rig. The backing tracks are stored on a modified Kaossilator Pro looping synthesizer, which you can see on my left leg. I can trigger samples A, B, C, and D while performing, enabling me to take a song into a breakdown section or drop out the beat for a funny rhyme. The Kaossilator Pro has a built in mic preamp eliminating the need for a separate audio mixer. Nearby, Jared plays bass while sitting on a JBL 512 speaker. The Barcelona Bicycle Music Festival is part of the Pleasant Revolution tour of Europe. The Pleasant Revolution has been touring Europe by bicycle since late May, and will next head to Portugal in time for a Bicycle Music Festival of Lisbon next weekend. I joined up with the Pleasant Revolution in late September. The goal of the Bicycle Music Festival is to help bike people grow the movement with an inspiring all-day event featuring local and bike-touring bands. We hit three venues, all in Barcelona's parks and plazas. As we cruise between venues, performing LiveOnBike or playing dance music, we pass out flyers and call out the festival venues pied piper style, helping to increase turnout on the day of. Thanks to Pamela and Christian and the other volunteers of the Barcelona BMF. Thanks also to Jared and Joey for playing along with me (bass and bucket drum) and to Brock for piloting the Blue Whale. Big thanks to Jonathan Grevsen for editing and shooting the video.

Do It Together: Making a spin art machine for your Fender Blender

sophie — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:30:08 +0000

Hello there, This is the Rock The Bike design of a spin art machine. Please feel free to modify the design and please share your design with us! For best results, we recomend previous wood working skills and mechanical aptitude. TOOL LIST Power hand drill drill bit set - atleast a handful of bits in the 1/8" through 3/8" range Riveter (optional but recomended - inexpensive ones can be found at Harborfreight.com) Router or Jig-Saw (Router recomended) Screw driver Metric allen key set Coping saw MATERIALS LIST 1. 2 bicycle rims of the same inside diameter. Try to find some beat up ones that can't be used on a bike any more. 2. Wiggle wood - a type of plywood that is flexible in one direction. Get a peice that has length =inside rim circumference by 7-9 inches (taller wiggle wood makes it less likely that little droplets of paint will escape but it also makes the action deeper and harder to see the action) 3. Plywood- 3/4 to 1 inch thick, and a little bigger than the rims (this will be the spin-art box, stationary base platter). 3/4 to 1/2 inch thick, can be an inch smaller than the rims ( this will be the turn table). 4. Bearing assembly and fasteners- Fasteners:3x counter sunk m5x20 machine screws , 3x counter sunk m5x16 machine screws and 6x m5 threaded inserts Specialty parts: 2x sealed cartridge bearings, stationary axle w/ flange , and bearing housing/pulley. Source: Rock The Bike 5. Brake assembly- A nice feature, (but not 100% necessary if you are rushed for time, and can be added later) it allows the spinning platform to be stopped with a pull cord, instead of waiting for the table to slow down on it's own after each artwork is complete. 2 screw in eyelets, 4-5 nicopress aluminium sleeves, 1 piece of leather 1/2 inch by 5 inches, 1 bicycle brake cable, 1 brake handle, 1 spring.

6076K51

1 Ft.

Leather Center-stock Flat Belting, 1 Ply, 5/32" Thick, 3" Min Pulley Dia, 1/2" Width

3896T31

1 Pack

Aluminum Oval Compression Sleeve, For 1/16" Rope Diameter, 3/8" Sleeve Length

92865K1

Pull Cord Starter Handle, With 80" Nylon Cord

6. Pulley assembly- 1 small, 1 large, 1 1/4-20 bolt and is long enough to attach both pulleys to the bottom wheel rim (1/4" x 2.5" in our case), 2 1/4-20 nuts and one nylock nut. 9466T63 High-Strength Nylon Pulley for Wire Rope for 3/16" Rope Dia, 3" OD, 800# Wll 94729A230Polypropylene Unthreaded Round Spacer 1/2" OD, 3/8" Length, .252" ID

3434T38

Pulley For Wire Rope, Delrin, For 3/16" Rope Dia, 1-9/16" Od

7. Drive belts- 1 small belt 25 inches and 1 larger belt 30-44 inches. (unstretched, straight length)

	6178K21	1 Each	Coil Spring Round Belting, 3/16" Od, 10' Length, Carbon Steel
	6178K31	1 Pack	Carbon Steel Connectors For 3/16" Od, Coil Spring Round Belting

8. Table legs- 3 legs with attaching hardware (Optional - the spin art machine can also be attached temporarily or permanently to a table you already have) Ikea - Vika Curry http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70105292 9. Rivets & washers qty50+ 1/8" diameter . (can also be accomplished with small scews and nuts if you don't have a riveter 18-8 SS General Purpose Flat Washer No. 4 Screw Size, 5/16" OD, .02"-.04" Thick, packs of 100

97530A030

1 Pack

Alum Wide Thk Range Blind Rivet W/stl Mandrel, Domed, 1/8" Dia, .251-.437" Material Thickness

10. Decking screws or similar, qty 10, 3/4" to 1.25" length (hardware store) ASSEMBLY 1. Cut plywood circles using a router or jig saw (router will give more consistent circles and better ballance for your spinning platter), be sure to mark the center points of the cirles.

stationary base platter -same diamete as the outside of the rim
turn table - an inch or two smaller than the inside of the rim

top side of art turn table, show with paper ready for painting 2. Drill 6 to 8 evenly spaced holes in the bottom side of the lower rim. Use these holes and small wood screws to attach the lower rim to the spin-art box base. 3. Cut the wiggle wood to the desired height but leave it a little long on the length. 4. Place the wiggle wood inside the lower rim in desired location. carefully trim wiggle wood to length trying to keep the gap between the ends to a minimum (do not attach the wiggle wood to the lower rim until after step 6). 5. One hole will need to be made in the wiggle wood big enough for the pulley assemble to fit through. We made ours approximately 1 inch by 5 inches. This hole should start just above the top of the bottom rim, 1 inch tall and 5 inches wide. We used a drill to start the hole then a coping saw placed inside the drilled hole to create this 1 x 5 inch rectangular hole. 6.Drill one hole through the bottom rim and spin-art base for the pulley assembly attachment bolt to go through (placement is not too important just try to make it as vertical as possible). 7. With the wiggle wood in position (make sure the pulley assembly hole and the pulley assembly mounting holes line up), use the spoke holes as a guide to drill holes in the wiggle wood for the rivets to go through ( we only used half of the spoke holes, every other one was plenty). 8. Attach the bottom rim to the spin-art base (we used pop rivets with washers to attach the wiggle wood to the rims, small nuts and bolts could also be used). Repeat step seven with the upper rim and attach it the same way you attached the bottom rim. 9. Bolt the bottom of the bearing assembly to the center of the spin-art base. 10. Attach the the bearing assembly to the turn table - carefull to center it as closely as possible. Us the machine screws from the spin-art kit. 11. Install pulley assembly, stack the pulleys with the larger one on the bottom. Washers my be used to ensure that the pulleys stay loose enough. See picture above. 12. Install brake assembly. Use one eyelet to attach the brake cable end to the spin-art base. Use the other eyelet to attach the brake tension spring. Measure the distance from the attached end of the brake cable to the center of the bottom bearing assembly. This is where the leather will attached. Cut the brake cable to length and attach the cut end to the pull handle.

Roll with Rock The Bike to Maker Faire: Lots of great talent on the Pedal Powered Stage this weekend

sophie — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:34:28 +0000

Quick links: Full event info: Maker Faire Info and RSVP for the Ride to Maker Faire from Dolores Park with the Rock The Bike crew: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=530605644#!/event.php?eid=316015644330&ref=ts $5 discount for anyone who rides to Maker Faire at any time. Our proposal for Maker Faire 2010: Pedal Powered Stage Music Lineup Saturday: 1pm Annie Bacon (singer songwriter) 2 Shovel Man (plays a shovel remarkably well. Great entertainer.) 3 DJ Concerned (awesome song selection, keeps the vibe) 4 Gomer Hendrix (Hendrix cover band) 5 Get Back Crew (East Bay Hip Hop, Thanks Kato! Possible BMF band) 6 Zahira and Band Of Mystics (Jared May, Travis, and Kevin back up 2 vocalists. Possible BMF band) 7 Fossil Fool's sunset dance party! Music Lineup Sunday 1pm 5 Cent Coffee (americana) 2 The SHE'S (Punk!) 3 Tyler Smith. (singer songwriter) 4 The Mama's Boys (bluegrass) 5 Justin Ancheta

Thanks to the Outdoor Program Crew and Willamette Valley Music Festival for an amazing week in Eugene!

sophie — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:40:53 +0000

photo: Hansen Huge thanks to the crew from the University of Oregon Outdoor Program, where Rock The Bike built a Biker Bar and related Pedal Powered Stage gear last week. Our work culminated in the all-day Willamette Valley Music Festival. In many ways this was an ideal project for us, working hand in hand with local bike people, transferring knowledge of producing bike music events, and enjoying many fun rides throughout the week. To get our gear to Oregon, we rented a full-size truck. Rolling past the refinery in Richmond on our way out of the Bay was a sober reminder of the carbon footprint of out-of-town gigs. Pedal Power intern Jeff Hansen (hereforth "Hansen") met us in Eugene, ready to work! Looks like he's been taking care of himself since last summer. Here is the project space we used, the Outdoor Program's huge 'barn.' It's under renovation right now and the crew will be pedal powering the opening party, June 4. There was a very open community vibe throughout the week with many supporters and bike people coming through to pitch in here and there. A reporter from the Eugene Register-Guard snapped this rad photo of Pastana, Hansen, OP's Dave Villalobos, and yours truly, on El Arbol. El Arbol served as a pedal powered shop radio at various points in the week. Our daily commute to the Barn was 3 miles from our vacation rental house. Alex truing up El Arbol's rebuild wheel -- 10 gauge spokes! Jared May joined on Thursday night, adding his bass stylings to several short 'tweener' sets El Arbol served as a two person generator and a functioning speaker that helped the pedalers feel 'in the music.' photo: Hansen. Northwest Community Credit Union turned out hundreds of smoothies with their first generation Fender Blender Pro. At 4PM the festival audience got on their bikes and joined for a LiveOnBike performance by yours truly, Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper, with Jared May on bass.

photo: Hansen

Jared picked a few effects pedals to strap to the footrest area, and we cruised without incident on my new rear wheel -- Thanks Alex! The ride the night before had taught us an important lesson about how the weight of the passenger affects the deployment of El Arbol's roots. Through trial and error the night before Jared found out that the rear facing passenger needs to stand on the footrest, taking weight off the roots at the moment of deployment and retraction.

photo: Hansen

Just two months ago, I was copying a tractor seat from IKEA to create the rear facing seat in a block of pink foam. At the end of the ride, we set up in a plaza near the festival for El Arbol's first street party! For the headliners, CunninLynguists, we powered DJ Flip Flop's turntables and monitors. It was a fairly easy load, only 80 watts, and we never let him down. What follows are dimly lit photos that show the scale of the event, one of Rock The Bike's largest in terms of crowd size. In the shot below, the two dancers above the crowd are on the backs of OP's Mundo 500's. The bikes themselves are completely hidden. Here are the two Mundo 500's earlier in the evening when the crowd was much smaller. Alex returning event promo the day after the festival.

Building a Pedal Powered Stage and pedal powering the Willamette Valley Music Festival all this week in Eugene.

sophie — Sat, 01 May 2010 20:45:32 +0000

Starting this Tuesday the 4th, Rock The Bike will be in Eugene, Oregon building a Pedal Powered Stage with the U of O Outdoor Program. We'll be building a Biker Bar, the 3-person pedal power system and LiveOnBike stage we debuted last year. It will be the key component of Eugene's Pedal Powered Stage. We're also delivering two Mundo 500's -- powerful electric cargo bikes that double as efficient pedal power generators when isolated with our Lunar Lander kickstand. The five pedalers' efforts will flow into a Pedal Power Utility Box, and the state of the pedal power will display in a 6' tall Pedalometer. Our crew will include Pastana, Pedal Power intern Jeff Hansen, bassist and experienced bike rocker Jared May, Cara, and yours truly, Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper. Pastana has been one of Rock The Bike's most loyal crewmembers, and he's one of the reasons we create magic at our events. At our Earth Day event at USF he was the one who cornered a loose goat, roped it with a cam strap, and proudly marched it back into the quad: Jeff the Pedal Power intern is back! Last summer he helped us build our Biker Bar and learned how to crew Rock The Bike events. He lives to build pedal power gear. Jared May on bass: Cara is an experienced bike tourer and will be holding down our crew table and merch station. Come say hi and get on the email list.

Moving the technology forward.

We are excited to improve the Biker Bar and to test our new Pedal Power Direct Circuit. In the photo above you can see how the orange rear supports of the swingarms will relieve the bar. This is also the first time we will be building our own trailer chassis out of raw aluminum stock materials. Earlier this week I borrowed a truck and shopped for metal in Oakland. The Direct Circuit accepts incoming power from the pedalers and feeds it directly into the JBL powered speakers without a AC/DC inverter. This cutting edge circuit comes out of a collaboration with our electronics genius Jake in our Berkeley workshop. It has the potential to improve the efficiency of a pedal powered music experience by up to 30%.

Four years in development.

The work in Eugene follows four years of active research into Pedal Powered music. Check out this early video of R&D on the Pedal Powered P/A: More recently our collaborative work has taken us to Brooklyn, NY, and Austin, Texas, where we have built Pedal Powered gear collaboratively with Band Of Bicycles and Pure Austin Fitness. The Outdoor Program heard about Rock The Bike through the Pleasant Revolution, who also use our Pedal Power gear.

Pedal powering the Willamette Valley Music Festival, Saturday May 8

Check out the complete lineup: http://musicfest.uoregon.edu/music.htm And on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fossilfool?v=info#!/event.php?eid=112432352116882&ref=ts Yours truly, Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper, will be performing LiveOnBike at 4PM on Saturday! Live on which bike? El Arbol of course: El Arbol has the same enclosed volumen and audio componentry of a JBL PRX535, our favorite pro-sound speaker, and is a powerful two-person generator: At most of our events we try to pedal power the entire music experience, including the monitors, mixer, mains, and any instruments that plug in. Depending on what instruments a band uses, we have been able to get the entire music experience down to 200 watts! However at the WVMF, the organizers wanted a bigger sound than we can provide, and will be bringing in a hanging line-array system like the photo below: The power consumption of the audio equipment at WVMF will be closer to 2000-5000 watts! What can we do with Pedal Power in the context of a festival that's bringing in such heavy equipment? We can help the musicians hear. 7-8 pedalers will power 4 on-stage monitors (3 JBL PRX 535's and one Mackie SRM 450). The pedalers will be positioned right next to the stage where they can make eye contact with the musicians. Powering the stage monitors should make for a intimate connection between the pedalers and performers, though perhaps less so with the audience.

A key stop on a rapidly developing West Coast Bike Culture route.

Now that Eugene will have a Pedal Powered Stage, the West Coast is quickly becoming a destination for bike touring musicians. In theory these bike touring musicians can carry just their instruments, play acoustic shows in the small towns, and pedal powered shows in the larger cities, like San Francisco, Eugene, Portland, Chico, Seattle, and LA. Last year the Pleasant Revolution World Bicycle Tour passed through Eugene, inspiring them to raise funds and build the pedal powered stage. Who will be next?

Highlights from 2010 Earth Hour community party

sophie — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 20:49:48 +0000

Thanks to the fans, roadies, bands, Market Bar, and the city's Neighborhood Empowerment Network. El Arbol had its Pedal Powered Stage debut. My cousins were crawling all over it. Here my 220 pound cousin Jonah and a girl pedal power stereo right while two other girls play on other parts of the tree. Five of us handled the late afternoon gear haul mission. Jeff and Geoff high fiving on 3rd. It was a pretty easy haul. No real hills. Hauled the pedalometer on a newly fiberglassed El Arbol. Roadie and bandleader Justin Ancheta's helped me with the flberglassing alot over the past week so that the Arbol would be in shape for the gig.

Loading up Guella's gear at Audio Box studio.

Rock The Bike roadies Kai, Geoff and Jeff, and Guella's lead singer Dave on the way to the gig.

Setting up the gig at Market Bar. Photo: Kai.

Guella rocking out under pedal power. Two of our best generators, the Electric Mundo and the Electric Fender Blender Pro (at stage left) powered all of the band's instruments, the mixer, one JBL PRX, and lighting. Big ToDo puppeteers treated us to a bike rap! Late night gear return mission. Aufdencamp surfs in the distance as Leif tows two Fender Blender Pros behind a Mundo.

Back ordering Dual Tube DLG systems until we can troubleshoot brightness issue

sophie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:53:51 +0000

We noticed that the majority of recent customer service issues with the Down Low Glow involved our Dual Tube systems. The most common issue is: "One tube is bright and the other is dim, even with a full battery." or "They take a long time to warm up" We have backordered this item until we can troubleshoot the problem. We suggest substituting a single-tube system, which offers excellent Side Visibility, street glow, and battery life. Unfortunately there's no easy way to turn a Single into a Dual later, but you can add a second Single tube system, which gives you the option of lending one out to a friend or using them both on one bike. Here's a post that further explains the benefits of the Single Tube System: http://rockthebike.com/lights/downlowglow/singletube Some of our dealers are still offering dual-tube systems. We encourage you to make sure these dealers still have stock in their dual tube systems, as we will not be able to fill drop-ship orders during the backorder period.

LiveOnBike footage from Feb 5th "Road to BMF" benefit

sophie — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:57:06 +0000

Thanks to Big Top Coop for posting this video summary of The Genie's LiveOnBike performance, and of the gallery space at The Road To BMF benefit. Enjoy. Lots of great shots of Rock The Bike products in action also: The Down Low Glow, the Biker Bar, Mundo Cargo Bikes (also used here to carry the camerawoman).

Thanks Bicycle Music Festival Fans, Crew, and Bands for a fantastic Road to BMF opener

sophie — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:59:41 +0000

In the true spirit of the Bicycle Music Festival, we pedal powered five bands, went LiveOnBike with a scratch guitarist, fed and quenched sweaty pedalers with tea, kombucha, pies hauled in by bike and a local street chef, and featured a contortionist, a unicyclist, a bootleg beer garden, and a quartet of breakdancers, putting us squarely on the Road to this year's SF Bicycle Music Festival.

Mark Wessels serving up a delightful unicycle performance. The Shotgun Wedding Quintet rocking after midnight. We rolled these platforms in Donkey Kong style for a captivating Tara Quinn performance on contortion and aerial hoop. Photo: Kai Photo: Kai Genie Live on Bike on the Road to BMF from Adam Aufdencamp on Vimeo. The Genie's LiveOnBike performance. Afterwards I heard lots of great feedback on The Genie's music, but one repeated request was to create a raised stage for our LiveOnBike performances. People in the back couldn't see him.

Above: School kids rushed to the fence as the Genie sound checked the day before The Road To BMF. Photo: Leif After the LiveOnBike ride, we hauled the speakers off the Biker Bar and converted it to Pedal Power mode, sound checked Justin Ancheta, and got the party started. Above: Shotgun Wedding Quintet Our Pedal Powered Stage gear included two Electric Mundos and the Biker Bar. We also brought out the Fender Blender Pro, hooking up the pedalers with smoothies. For my performance I wanted to show both my passions, bike rapping and bicycle customizing, so I debuted my new tall bike, El Arbol. It's still in progress, but the frame, drivetrain, and roots are complete after a year of hard work in the Complete Fab workshop with welder Jay Broemmel. I rode it into the room, deployed the roots, made rock signs, climbed down, and then pedal powered the lighting, which outlines the shape of the tree. The night after, a few of us went for a 10 mile ride to the Richmond and back, deploying the roots numerous times as we wiggled through the Haight, and enjoying ample 360 visibility from the pedal powered lighting. I wasn't the only bicycle customizer showing off two-wheelers at the Road To BMF. Above: Jay Broemmel tightening the Dragon Bike's clutch. Many thanks to those who came out to enjoy this night of music, food, circus, and bike culture. Although we weren't able to secure a liquor license because BMF's non-profit status is still in progress with the San Francisco Parks Trust, we were able to raise hundreds for BMF. Many thanks to Honest Tea, Bike Basket Pies, Sol Cocina, 21st Amendment Brewery, Cell Space, Big Top Cooperative, and all the performers. Got photos, and video from the Road To BMF? Send us a link!

Update from Austin's first Pedal Powered spin class

sophie — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:08:54 +0000

Rock The Bike is helping Pure Austin Fitness pedal power their spin class. Pure already owns two of our Fender Blender Pros, and the goal of the current project is to convert these bike blenders to pedal power generators using our latest technology, then use them to pedal power the audio in their spin class. Here are some shots from the work I did in Austin over the past five days. On Friday I met up with Pure Austin's Beto Boggiano at his workshop. We chopped off the dropouts on the Fender Blender Pro frames, in order to respace them for the new generator hubs. We used the generator hub itself to position the dropouts at the correct width, rather than, say, measuring the distance with a caliper and then holding the dropouts with a pair of vice grips. The gym mats and wood are to lift the hub and hold it at the correct position for tacking. Here's a shot of the inside of our generator hub. The copper coils move past rare earth magnets that are bonded to the inside of the aluminum hub shell, creating an electric charge that makes current flow through a cross-bridge rectifier. From the Wikipedia page on generators: A generator forces electric charges to move through an external electrical circuit, but it does not create electricity or charge, which is already present in the wire of its windings. It is somewhat analogous to a water pump, which creates a flow of water but does not create the water inside. The source of mechanical energy may be a reciprocating or turbine steam engine, water falling through a turbine or waterwheel, an internal combustion engine, a wind turbine, a handcrank, compressed air or any other source of mechanical energy. Above: Beto tacking the dropouts back on in their new position. After welding the dropouts back to the frame at the correct width, it was time to rebuild wheels around the new hubs. The rim and tire add mass that creates a flywheel, smoothing out the pedal power. Plus, with a tire back on, the tire-rubbing bike blender interface will still completely functional (though optional). Pure Austin will be able to rotate the blender's roller away from the tire during the spin class (to minimize noise and power loss), and then move it back to crank out smoothies for the cyclists after the class. Before the trip, Rock The Bike's engineer Leif had encouraged me to build the wheels ahead of time so that I could devote my time to installing the system once in Austin. Unfortunately I ran out of time preparing for Austin and instead brought rims and spokes with me. I ran into a number of issues. In the photo above, note the spoke nipples poking way out of the rim. I'd built up the wheel as a one cross when the spokes were spec'ed for a two-cross pattern. Fortunately, these missteps and delays gave me a chance to bike around Austin on a bright blue Mundo and meet several cool salesmen and mechanics at Bicycle Sport Shop, Austin Bikes, and Mellow Jonny's. I was impressed how much people in Austin already knew about the Mundo and its development, considering there are only a few Mundo riders there. I got stopped in front of bars for test rides and one rider even flagged me down... "Is that a Mundo?" It's amazing how well educated and networked bike people can be about the products they buy. The Monday 6PM spin class came and went without Pedal Power. I did get to see Beto, the gym's owner and most experienced spin coach in action, which was great. The big black box on the floor between the palm tree and the instructor's podium is a digitally powered JBL PRX subwoofer. The main speakers are mounted to the ceiling. You can see one of them at the top of this image just right of center. The mains are powered by two rack-mounted amplifiers, out of view. Hopefully we'll be able to Pedal Power both the amps and sub. But we won't know until we try. Above: Bob Farr, an old-school Austin Xtracycle rider, and pedicabber, showed up Monday for the Pedal Power Workshop at Pure Austin. The technical delays described above limited our ability to fill the sweaty gym air with solder fumes at the workshop, but I was able to show Bob lots of good data and parts on paper and on Pure's public iMac. The next day Bob showed up to help me bust out the last few details of installing the generator wheels. Here Bob is pedal powering 80 watts of LED lighting, a successful test of the Electric FB Pro. Above: tracing a round object to mark a cut in the wheel covers, making room for the larger hub. We succeeded in electrifying both of Pure's Fender Blender Pros. The next step on the project is to build them a Pedal Power Utility Box. I would have liked to have the triumph of a pedal powered spin class, but at least we finished the primary goal of converting the two FB Pros they had, and I won't have to fly back to Austin to complete the project. Pure will have time to thoroughly test the system before using it at their fitness expo, March 6.

Fantastic pedal power social dynamics in the BBC's powering-a-house experiment

sophie — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:25:01 +0000

I love how the pedalers get grossed out as they see the father of the house preparing to take a shower. It's always cool when you can let the pedalers get the best seat in the house at a music event or let them in on a secret. At Rock The Bike's Pedal Powered Stage events, we serve up smoothies to the pedalers, bike blended of course. We're thinking of putting the pedalers on a raised stage and lighting them at our Feb. 5th event. The other moment that's just classic about this video is when people continue running into the room to add more power and bring the system voltage back to the green. At first, they're wearing the nice uniform: red jersey and cycling shorts. But as the system voltage continues to get clobbered by the energy hogging electric shower, the producers themselves run into the room wearing street clothes. And you gotta love the cheering from the crowd when they successfully bring the voltage back from the brink. A hot shower is, of course, one of the hardest things you can possibly pedal power. Apparently it takes 70 people to do so, (approximately 6000 watts!) Music is just the opposite. 1 person pedaling can get generate about 50-80 PDW (people dancing wildly), reminiscent of how an ant can carry 50 times its own weight in food. Why is music so efficient? Is it just a coincidence that pedal powering music is easier than pedal powering lighting (even LED lighting), projecting a movie, or cranking out a smoothie, in terms of the number of people who can enjoy one person's effort? I think not. Think back to the ancient roots of music: drumming in the Savannah of Africa or the plains of North America that would bring people from a wide distance to gather at the fire. Music and dancing may be a cosmic gift of our evolution, a tool for humans to form communities, and therefore better band together, meet challenges, and fight external threats. This is the theory put forward by Barbara Ehrenreich in her book "Dancing In The Streets: A History of Collective Joy"

Thanks Urban School!

sophie — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:28:53 +0000

We had a blast last night at the Urban School, pedal powering their first dance of 2010. Thanks to Lucy, Lucas, Catherine and all the students and teachers. As with any Rock The Bike event, we invite people at the event to pedal. The kid in the foreground is pedaling the Choprical Fish, which is powering the lighting at the dance. Justin's pedaling the Mundo 1000 during the sound check, one of our two bikes equipped with our Grasshopper generator system. Despite their abundance of energy for gogo dancing and freaking, the Urban School students were a bit hesitant about joining in the pedal power effort. I felt good that we had shown up with a 6 person crew, including Adam, Masha, Hugh, Justin, and Ally. But we were doing 90% of the pedaling. Normally, the GP (general public) does more like 40-50% of the pedaling. I tried pulling students in and there were a few cool students who kept pitching. But honestly the freaking on the dance floor was so prolific, that it was obvious that's where their minds were. So after a while, I stopped walking out into the crowd using a Down Low Glow like an airport landing guide, and just pedaled. I thought back to David Butcher and how he holds it down at festivals, pedaling away on the Prime Mover. I found new time trial position I liked on the Fender Blender Pro, and entered a crank, sprint, lactic acid! cycle. Out of saddle sprint! Lactic acid. Two students get on, both girls. I adjust the seat for one of them and the indicator on our inverter already drops into the red. "Pedal hard! Go for it. " I look around for crew and don't see any one. The LED is floating in the red, occasionally hitting blinking red. I know I'm going to need to save this party. I hate having to be intense with the pedal power coaching, but I was yelling, "Pedal, Pedal, Pedal!" every time I saw that blinking light. I was trying to get in a hamstring stretch, but I kept having to coach the girls on the bikes. And my communication with the DJ wasn't to the point where I could make eye contact with him. He was killing it anyway, and I liked the fact that we were driving the PRX hard. Screw the stretch. I tap out with one of the girl and go into another sprint on the FB Pro. Justin's back! The other girl taps out and we bring the LED back to orange, and green. It was kind of like that all night. Three electrics would have helped, but really we just needed more from the students. I think some type of introduction would have helped. The students probably didn't know what the function of the pedal power bikes was, other than to climb all over them and have a blast. No, they knew, but the hormones were too strong. Freaking trumped! Rock The Bike has left the building. We only brought one of our PRX speakers this time. The other is in the shop on a pedal power integration project. See more photos from the night on Flickr.

Chicago has a long, tall history of innovation in the field of tandem tall bikes

sophie — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:36:09 +0000

El Arbol will not be the first tandem tall bike. Check out this lamplighting bike from Chicago at the turn of the 20th century. Read the Full story here: http://www.rat-patrol.org/Archives/Eiffel.html Or how about this family contraption, complete with treddle-powered sewing machine: Thanks Flickr friend Whymcycles More recent but also notable, from Chicago Critical Mass, via Georgeaye. The photo has been viewed 4500 times on Flickr.

Hosting Pedal Power workshop at Pure Austin Fitness Jan 18, plus Thursday Night Social Ride 1/14

sophie — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:38:45 +0000

Tell your friends in Austin, invite Lance if you know him... Rock The Bike is coming to Austin. I'll be working with Pure Austin Fitness on a new Pedal Powered spin class. Along with the gym's founder Beto (also a bicycle maker), we'll be converting the Pure Austin's 2 Fender Blender Pros to electric generators. If all goes well, this roomful of spinners will have loud, clear pedal powered music. On Monday the 18th, at Pure's 5th St. location, I'll hopefully be putting the finishing touches on wiring up a Pedal Power Utiltity Box. If you come to this workshop, you'll learn about how to create a Pedal Powered Stage, and how to host pedal powered events. Gym Address: 907 W. 5th St. Austin TX 78703 Time: 5-8PM I'll also have the new V3 Yuba Mundo. Come test ride this awesome cargo on a wee social ride to follow the workshop. Speaking of social rides, I'll also be out at the Thursday Night Social Ride next Thursday the 14th. Please tell your Austin-based friends to say Hi. I'll have friends-price Down Low Glows with me and a Mundo for test-riding.

Both Sunday Streets and Maker Faire post their dates for 2010

sophie — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:49:44 +0000

Last year's Dolores Park to Maker Faire Social Ride. Photo: dustinj Maker Faire is back May 22 and 23 at San Mateo Fairground. Rock The Bike is aiming to make the Pedal Powered Stage event more fun this year and once again host the Dolores Park to Maker Faire Social Ride starting at 9AM on Saturday May 22.

Sunday Streets going huge in 2010.

Above: Sunday Streets' founder Susan King taking us through the route maps for the 2010 season. This year, all Sunday Streets days will go 10-3 instead of 10-2. The extra hour is key as it will help the Rock The Bike crew sleep in a bit and still bring out the Pedal Powered Stage. Many thanks for this compassionate update to one of our favorite events. Schedule

March 14: Embarcadero, starting at Fisherman’s Wharf and PIER 39, south to China Basin and Terry Francois Blvd.
April 11: Along the Great Highway, coinciding with World Health Day’s “1,000 Cities, 1,000 Lives” international event, as one of thousands of cities hosting simultaneous car-free events worldwide.
April 18: Bayview, along 3rd Street from King and 4th (Caltrain Station) to Bayview Playground.
May 23: Bayview, in conjunction with the 3rd Street Corridor Project and Bayview Merchant’s Association’s “3rd Street Festival.”
June 20: Mission, along Valencia and 24th Streets. The day after Bicycle Music Festival. Epic weekend in SF!
July 11: Mission.
August 22: Great Highway/Golden Gate Park.
September 19: NEW: Western Addition, exact location TBD.
October 24: NEW Civic Center/Tenderloin, exact location TBD.

Jay pedaled! National TV debut of the Fender Blender Universale

sophie — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:53:06 +0000

To our delight Jay Leno climbed on a stylish white and orange step-through cruiser with a properly installed Fender Blender Universale bike blender (FBU) and blended what appeared to be a daiquiri, about 15 minutes into his show as part of the Last Minute Gifts segment. He pedaled for about 15 seconds, though to be honest I was too busy celebrating and making rock signs to count accurately. Jay had a medium-slow cadence and seemed very comfortable on the bike, smiling his trademark chinny grin and joking as he went -- "for the active alcoholic!" Although his leg extension wasn't optimized for power output, he had no problem crushing ice. He did not tuck in his pant leg prior to pedaling. Watch the segment on Jay's site: fast forward to 25:00 if you're in a rush. Above: The Fly Stick Van De Graaf effect levitation wand, one of the cooler toys on the segment. Of the 13 products he selected, only three -- the FBU, the Fly Stick Levitation Wand, and Snow To Go instant snow -- fell into the category of positive, educational, or amazing. The others were novelty gags. Six of the products were off-color: a stripping, singing Santa, a pole dancing alarm clock, and two products that involved sticking something (a pencil to be sharpened and a beer bottle to be opened) into the backside of an animal. Two were personal care products gone awry -- a head massager and a facial treatment system. At $249 The FBU was the most expensive product on the segment. The others (apart from the Deer Rump bottle opener) were all in the $30-and-under price bracket. All of the products were available through the internet. Not a single mainstream store such as Target was mentioned. When the producer emailed today to say that Jay had selected the FBU for the show, I had to think for a minute where I'd be able to watch it -- there hasn't been a TV in my place for two years. Luckily Adam had one and was willing to host a viewing party. Four of us from the Rock The Bike crew, plus his two housemates, were there to take it in. At the top of the show, we took bets on whether Jay himself would pedal the bike, or an assistant. Heading into the segment, 4 out of 6 in our SF viewing party thought he'd do the deed. But at the last moment Grace changed her bet and it was 3 and 3. above: Adam updating Facebook status to "Jay Rocks The Bike" moments after Leno cranked out a frozen cocktail. When the show first contacted us a few weeks ago to request an FBU, we offered to send it to them complete and built up on a Jamis city bike. We figured that they're busy TV people, not bike people, and they'd probably rather have us install it. No thanks, they said, just send hthe boxed FBU. Clearly installation was straightforward for them. The rack was perfectly level and the pitcher sat directly over the rear wheel. above: the FBU installed on a classic Stumpjumper with Sweetskinz tires. Invented in 2006 by Nate Byerley, the FBU is our most affordable bike blender, and it's the one that a lot of schools, nonprofits, and summer camps buy. Earlier this year our engineer Leif redesigned the FBU so that it goes on and off a bike without tools (once you install the aluminum rack). When the blender base is removed, you've got a strong, light, functional rack you can use to commute, carry groceries or boxes. Every FBU we sell is adding carrying capacity to the bicycle fleet of America! Bike blending is the most approachable, affordable way to demonstrate human power at an event or school. It's a great conversation starter -- literally an awesome ice breaker -- and one of the few products that can raise environmental consciousness without a guilt trip. It gets people pedaling at events, which reminds them how awesome bikes are. Kids love it! Check out the awesome testimonials we've posted for the product. We also recently came out with a human power generator that's compatible with every Fender Blender we've ever sold, so that a school that bought one, say, in 2007 can now add the generator and use their FBU to make power for a music system, lighting display, etc. Many thanks to Jay and the producers for helping to spread the cheer and magic of Pedal Power at the holidays.

Yuba's factory team takes first in the two-wheeled division at food-hauling cargo race "Supermarket Street Sweep"

sophie — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:05:24 +0000

Team Yuba's Ben Sarrazin hauled 330 pounds of food, mostly rice, to a food bank to win the two-wheeled division of the "Supermarket Street Sweep. Rock The Bike ran support for the race. The overall race winner, Jeremiah Ducate, hauled 900 pounds on a Reuben Margolin cargo trike. Together the riders in the load-carrying race brought in over 8500 pounds of food to the San Francisco food bank. The required cargo on the manifest weighed only 30lbs, which is nowhere close to the Mundo's 440-pound payload. So we stopped in Chinatown to load up 300 pounds of rice. The price went up $4 during our visit. Thanks to Geoff for pitching in. Yet another good chance to "ride long distances, carry heavy loads." We had a crew of eight supporting one rider. A bit overkill, perhaps, but a nice way to spend a Saturday. As you can see in the video, carrying the rice on the Mundo was, for the most part, quite stable. I was able to surf on top of five sacks of rice, which was a bit more scary than other forms of bike surfing. The view from the Choprical Fish on 3rd St. After the race we picked up Adam's girls and went on a dusky sunset cruise.

How to surf a Mundo

sophie — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:14:05 +0000

Here's a very clear demonstration of the technique. See how the calf muscle hooks the front of the saddle? That's how you control the bike. The rear foot plants forward of the axle.

What's Rock The Bike planning for Maker Faire this year?

admin — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:17:59 +0000

photo: Aufdencamp This year at Maker Faire we're psyched to be featuring the evolution of El Arbol, our flagship music bike, and inviting Maker Faire goers to help complete it by adding leaves to its Canopy. Over the course of the 2-day Maker Faire, the Canopy will fill up with drawings of projects and inventions, Pedal Powered Spin Art, scrap paper decorations, and other lightweight scraps from around the Faire. In the works since 2008, El Arbol is a 15' tall rolling tree with several unique features including the first-ever deployable 'roots', shown deployed above. These 6' wide stabilizers (please don't call them training wheels) swing out on command, allowing the tree to remain upright at low speeds and stop signs, and to be used as a Pedal Power generator. El Arbol also features a state of the art 2-person Pedal Powered Stage with amazing audio clarity, thanks to the vertically stacked speakers in its trunk. Two people pedaling can provide plenty of energy to amplify a band's performance to an audience of hundreds. Process: We'll display a series of poster-sized photos from the making of El Arbol on the sides of our 10x10 tent, engaging Faire goers in the creative process that goes into a multi-year project like El Arbol. We hope to inspire Faire goers to think big and get inspired for their own projects in the coming year. Over the last four years, Faire goers have seen Rock The Bike progress from making party bikes like the Choprical Fish to creating a 6-bike Pedal Powered Stage. Now we are setting our sights on creating a Pedal Powered circus using El Arbol as the equivalent of the circus tent. photo: Aufdencamp Above, testing out the rear branch of El Arbol as an aerial rig. We plan to feature some of the aerial artists in our crew at this year's Maker Faire.

No guarantees it'll work for you but here's how I fought the tall bike law in court and won.

sophie — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 18:46:07 +0000

California's Vehicle Code prohibits tall bikes, stating you have to be able to put your foot down and stop safely. I agree with the 'stop safely' spirit of this law. We don't want to be seeing people keeling over. But tall bikes are fun, can be designed to be safe, and are great for Bike Culture events and rides. Here's how I designed a tall bike that keeps to the spirit of the law, and then successfully defended myself in court! When I started making my tall bike, El Arbol, three years ago, I knew it was going to be bigger and heavier than the other ones I'd seen. So I began looking for ways to stabilize it at low speeds so I could stop without needing to put my hand on a nearby truck. Kipchoge riding his Long Tall Sally in San Francisco traffic. I saw the retractable stabilizers on the truck below on my way to work. My early sketches show retractable wheels pivoting from fairly far back on the frame, and at a fairly steep angle. At this point I thought the system would rely on pneumatic pistons to 'drop' the extra wheels down on command, then raise them back up. Later I realized the 'roots' needed to be much wider and pivot from closer to the center of the rig, to offer the most stabilization. So we experimented with various angles, and then welded in aluminum head tubes to house strong headset bearings that would allow the roots to swing smoothly. I devised a cable system that would yank the roots out at low speeds, and then allow them to swing back to a nesting point at the rear swingarm. Below, Jay welds in a bracket for a pulley that allows a cable to pull the roots out when I stomp on the lever that's welded 2/3 of the way up the head tube. When you stomp on the pedal at the end of the root deployment lever, it hooks into a catch so that the roots stay out. See the detail shot below. Here's a video that shows how the roots swing out and retract: OK, so now the root system worked. Next we used fiberglass to create a hollow tree trunk 14" in diameter, root, and branch. I show the fiberglass process in depth on my build log for El Arbol, but here are the highlights. Basically, I shaped foam using a hot wire, razor swords, and cheese graters, then used fiberglass in exactly the same method as Papier Mache. Then I removed the foam and bonded the fiberglass pieces to the aluminum frame. The fiberglass add lots of integrity to the overall system. It's very easy to balance and ride El Arbol. The rear suspension and the 3" tires help a lot. Once the roots are deployed, the rig is over 6 feet wide and 8' long. It's extremely stable. Now that we're using the tree at Rock The Bike events, it's not uncommon for people to climb up and down to get up to the branch while two others are pedaling. The root system has no problem dealing with the awkward side loads involved in these maneuvers. OK, so I built a bike tree with deployable roots and I started taking it out to events to have fun, make music, and get people smiling. I love that with art bikes like El Arbol and Jay Broemmel's Dragon Bike, the art comes to you. You can be walking down the street, and suddenly you hear music, see some people riding by having a good time, and one of them is 6' up on a tree branch. It's a breath of fresh air. You continue on your way with a smile, and you didn't have to decide "I'm going to see some art today." It's a little different and very visible, so even though San Francisco is a pretty liberal city when it comes to enforcement of bicycle related offenses, I did get pulled over at Critical Mass when I drifted to the back of the group, where the motorcycle cops ride. I deployed the roots, climbed down and talked to the officer, pointing out the safety features, how I am able to keep both hands on the handlebars, how wide the roots are, etc. He thought that the rig was illegal due to its height, but couldn't recall the tall bike statute by heart and wrote me up for no front headlight instead. I thought that was odd considering how bright the Down Low Glow was shining, but he had to pick something, i guess. I took care of the ticket and kept riding. To do the story justice I have to add the following detail: Sometime after I got the first ticket but before the second, we had the Bicycle Music Festival. It was an awesome day, but one of the most challenging aspects, and a huge wakeup call for me, was the failure of the Roots of El Arbol. More than once. The first time was the worst. We fell hard. My friend and percussion player Mafi was sitting below me on the stoker seat. Obo Martin's bass player Tom was facing backwards on the rear LiveOnBike seat. I hit the ground and did a kung fu roll, Mafi got banged up and ended up getting acupuncture, and Tom survived with only a cosmetic scratch on his bass. A bolt in the root system had snapped and one of the roots flopped away while we trying climb out of Golden Gate Park. 300 people were watching. My mom was watching! The crowd waited for me to fix the roots so I could get back up and continue the LiveOnBike ride to Showplace Triangle. It was an intense moment and it happened again on Church St., this time one of the plastic outrigger wheels wearing through a plastic bushings and falling off. Fortunately I was able to do an emergency jumping dismount to prevent injury. Also fortunately, we had an awesome LiveOnBike performance by Justin Ancheta to keep the ride positive and musical. We made it to Showplace Triangle and continued the Festival. Shortly after BMF I was back in Jay's shop after hours, replacing the weak links of system, beefing it up. Stronger cables. Stronger stops. Stronger springs. An engineer friend on Flickr sent me a pair of pneumatic wheels with quality metal hardware. They soak up bumps and help the roots roll more smoothly and quietly. Fortunately, we've had a perfect safety record ever since BMF. Only one person has ever really been hurt on El Arbol. Back to the story. A month later, I was on my way to a Fix Fell protest in which we were shutting down the ARCO station at Fell and Divisidero. A lot of people were dismayed by the BP Oil Spill and wanted to do something about it, so we set up a blockade across the entrance to the ARCO station (a BP brand). This particular ARCO station has an unfortunate placement at the mouth of the main East-West bicycle route in San Francisco, the Wiggle. Cars have to cut across the bike lane to get into the gas station. If there's a line at the gas station, cars will block the bike lane and bikes have to improvise, squeezing through the gaps like blood cells in a clogged artery. So I was riding El Arbol to this protest. I was rounding the corner at Dolores Park when the I saw the same officer talking to a couple other motorcycle cops on a break. He smiled and gave me a hand motion to come over, and I think he said "I have something to show you." It was unclear whether I was getting pulled over, and I was running late for the protest, so I gave him a shrug and kept riding. I guess in retrospect it was pretty obvious what was going to happen next. He caught up to me on Church St. and pulled me over. This time he had researched the tall bike law and cited me for it. My arguments ranged from "C'mon man, I'm not hurting anyone" to nitpicky " I went through the process and scheduled a court date. When the day came I printed out photos, put the video on my laptop, and rode El Arbol to court. photo: Aufdencamp I got to court on time, in fact court was running late. I wasn't the only one in the hallway with pre-courtroom jitters. We shuffled into the courtroom and I took a seat at the front. They handed out a stack of documents to a few of us. Mine included a police report from the officer that was pretty damning. I was called out into the hallway to talk to the DA. She gave me the choice to either schedule a trial for August or do it then and there, but waive a bunch of rights, including my right to cross examine the officer. I decided to go for it since I didn't want to have the issue hanging over my head all spring as we're t working on the Canopy whick will double its height. So I'm back in the courtroom and the commissioner is moving through a couple dozen red light and stop sign violations, most people pleading guilty to get a reduced fine. Soon I look around and realize I am the last one in the courtroom. The commissioner says "Who's this guy?". The court officer figures it out and then the commissioner says "OK, Where's the DA?" The DA walks in, we meet at the two podiums in front of the bench, and the commissioner starts reading through the documents including the police report. There's a silence, then he picks up his eyes and looks at me. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" "Basically it has four wheels. It's not a bicycle. Here are the pictures. "Show them to the DA." I did. Yes passed them to the commissioner. "But you were operating it as a bicycle when the officer stopped you." "OK. More importantly, I believe in the spirit of this law. I think we should be riding safe vehicles when we're coming through the community. And thiis is a safe vehicle." "It doesn't look very safe to me. How is it safe?" "I keep both hands on the brakes at all times. The two wheels that swing out make it six and a half feet wide. "How do you climb up it?" "You make sure the roots are out and then you just climb up it." "No, I mean how do you do it?" he said. "Well you step on the root beneath the branch, and then you step on the pedal and you swing over." I noticed that he kept flipping through the photos as he talked to me. There were only three shots. At one point he stopped questioning me, asked the DA if she had anything more to say, and said "It is novel. Dismissed." "May I ask what "It is novel" means?" "It means I've never seen it before." So I walked out of the room with my DISMISSED slip, snapped a couple pictures up on El Arbol, and rode home.

See a dynamic highlight video from the 2010 San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival, featuring Rock The Bike's Pedal Powered Stage

sophie — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:29:25 +0000

Start a Bicycle Music Festival in your town? Talk to us for advice on the gear you'll need! Start a conversation about your Pedal Powered Stage this month and get free shipping. Please use the contact page or call 888-354-2453.

German electronic music performance powered by Rock The Bike Pedal Powered Stage

sophie — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:46:56 +0000

Watch as a Brazilian reporter covers a German electronic music event a park, pedal powered by Rock The Bike gear and the Green Music Initiative. The Portugese is a bit hard to follow in the beginning (though she interviews people in English later), but the Pedal Power dynamic is great throughout. The gear shown in the video is: Rock The Bike's Biker Bar, Mundo 500, and 6' Pedalometer.

UMDJ Crew at Maker Faire Austin

sophie — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:05:57 +0000

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.

Bicycle Music Festival riders climbing a big hill from Alemany Farms to Precita Park

sophie — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:44:08 +0000

Fender Blender Pro

admin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:30:18 +0000

The Fender Blender Pro was built from the ground up as the ultimate expression of human power. Designed for day-in, day-out use, the Fender Blender can hold its own at schools, festivals, trade shows, fundraisers, and events of all types. The Fender Blender Pro brings together fun, fitness, health, nourishment, and sustainability. Designed and built with love in the Bay Area. Good for thousands of smoothies with minimal hassle and maximum fun. Features: Blends in front: makes bike blending more fun and social. Ensures the best results. Very friendly to adults and kids (down to approximately 10-year-old kids). widely adjustable seat height and handle bars offer comfortable and easy grip position. Many good surfaces and options for your branding: wheel cover, chain guard and large diameter tubing. Available in Blue, Orange and Red or in your custom color, please read more about custom frame colors and branding options. Comes with fully illustrated instructions for setup and use, view and download them here. Assembled dimensions: 60" long, 42" tall, 30" wide; shipping carton dimensions: 42x36x11 inches. Weight: 55 pounds *NEW UPGRADE OPTION* Commercial grade VitaMix blender - 2x the volume and 2x bigger blades, giving better circulation of ingredients for faster, more consistent and gratifying blending. Other attachments such as The Light Bike efficiency education kit can eaily be bolted in place of the blender drive in under 5 minutes.

V3 Mundo Cargo Bike

sophie — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 20:43:26 +0000

Get that 'useful' feeling.

The Mundo is a long-wheelbase bike with a stout welded cargo rack. Its one-piece frame fits a wide variety of riders, from approximately 5' to over 6'. The slack seat angle and upright bars put you in a relaxed, upright position in traffic. The steel chassis and Side Loader racks offer a unique loading experience. Pass a steel-buckled cam strap through the four strap guides, or anywhere else through the frame, and you access the core strength. Carrying rigid shapes like amps, speakers, crates, boxes, is extremely surefooted. No appreciable frame flex even for 100-200 pound loads. (The Mundo is rated to 450lbs). Use the threaded customization points to mount your custom project. Boris giving the kids a ride around the block. The long wheelbase and predictable handling make the Mundo an ideal bike for towing a trailer. Above: getting gear home from a Rock The Bike event on the Biker Bar. The Mundo's designers have spec'ed quality wheels, including a 48-spoke sealed-bearing rear wheel with oversized axle. When you start carrying passengers and heavy loads on a long-wheelbase bicycle, you'll quickly come to appreciate the value of a strong rear wheel. The Mundo comes with oversized semi-slick city tires, providing a stable, smooth ride. We encourage our customers to shop around and investigate their options for utility bicycles. The Mundo stands out by offering exceptional value, simplicity, and amazing ride quality.

Fender Blender Universale

sophie — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 21:10:22 +0000

Crank out smoothies at your party, school, or cafe with pedal power!

The FBU is the most affordable way to bring the magic of human power to your school, organization, event, camp, or home. Almost any bike will work. Pop it on a stationary stand, and start blending! The advantage of the Fender Blender Universale (FBU) is its simplicity. After a secure installation of the included universal rear rack, you can take this bike blender on and off your bike in under a minute without tools. This means you won't have to take a bike out of commission just because you want to use it for bike blending. You can use your favorite bike for everyday transport and then blend when you want to. The basic Fender Blender Universale set up includes a universal rear rack that will attach to nearly all Mountain bikes (26" wheel size), Hybrid/Road bikes (27"/700c wheel size), young adult bikes (24" wheels) and *as of Nov 2011* children's bikes (20" wheels). The included rear rack features vertical adjustability which allows for the range of compatible wheel sizes. This solves problem of your rack sitting at an angle because you happen to have a small or large bike frame. A sturdy rear rack like the one included with your FBU is a great help for other human powered feats, like buying blendables at your farmers market. Included in the box are fully illustrated instructions to get you setup and blending ASAP, or view and download them here. INNOVATIVE MOUNTING SYSTEM Two stainless steel hooks hold the blender base in place and secure the blender to the rack. Unique clamping design allows for a range of blender positions that accomodate tire widths of up to 2.25 inches. Machined plastic parts are dishwasher safe, virtually unbreakable and made of 85% recycled material. Hand-drawn instructions show you how to get the best results. Call us for helpful customer service if you're confused. New Bearing is good for side-chain activities like Spin Art Every Fender Blender Universale has our new custom Pedal Power Bearing (PPB), with a groove for side chain activities like Pedal Powered Spin Art. You can start making a splash at events with Bike Blending, then later expand your offering with Spin Art. The FBU fits the mountain bike or city bike you already have. Dust off that old bike and bring it back into service by bike-powering treats for your guest, students, and fans. We are currently back ordered, but eagerly expecting some parts next week that will allow us to build more and be shipping again by the 4th of April, 2011.

Bike Blender parts now made from recycled milk jugs

sophie — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 21:26:47 +0000

Rock the Bike is excited to announce that the custom plastic components of all the Fender Blenders are being made from 100% recycled or reused plastic. Historically, these parts have been made of virgin HDPE (high density poly ethylene), and now will be made from a recycled source of the same material - recycled milk jugs. Rock The Bike has always sought to make products that help individuals tread lightly on the planet. Making sure that our products utilize as much recycled materials in the manufacturing process and contain as many recyclable components as possible is an exciting way to deepen our commitment to being a truly environmentally minded outfit.

Fender Blender Pro frame made in Berkeley

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:27:46 +0000

We've made hundreds of Fender Blender Pro frames in our Berkeley workshop. Because of this we're able to meet tight deadlines and execute custom frame colors and branding for our clients. Here are a few shots of the process.

Video shows three different Fender Blenders available from Rock the Bike

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:30:37 +0000

Fender Blender available for rental

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:32:18 +0000

The Fender Blender is available for rental for Bay Area events. Please contact us to pencil your date into our rental schedule. We provide training and tips on recipes. Our Fender Blender also has removable wheels so that you can tow it to your event with another bicycle, and wheel it around your event. If you'd prefer to pick up the Fender Blender with a vehicle, any station wagon or small SUV will be able to handle it. It can be disassembled to lay flat, then reassembled at your event location by tightening a few bolts.

Draw people to your event with a Fender Blender

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:36:30 +0000

If you're interacting with the public at events, whether it be a trade show, a performance, a marathon, or a science faire, the Fender Blender can help build excitement at your booth. Kids are magnetically drawn to the simple red frame, and they can pedal their own smoothies, or just turn the pedals for fun. Once people are gathered at your booth, what you do from there is your own choice. But having a natural, fun, guaranteed effective way to bring people in can't hurt.

Brand your Fender Blender with your logos

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:38:15 +0000

Your Fender Blender can be tricked out with your custom logos and colors. The large wheel covers are easy to customize with your company's logos or graphics. Please find out more in our FAQ section: What do you offer for customizing the frame color and printing our design on the wheel and frame of the Fender Blender Pro? Please call us at 1-888-354-BIKE to discuss options or get a quote.

Custom aluminum chain guard keeps your pants clean

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:39:23 +0000

The sleek brushed aluminum chain guard comes standard on all Fender Blenders. It keeps pants clean and prevents the chain from ever slipping off the gears of the bike.

Non-Proprietary parts, easy to maintain

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:40:19 +0000

From the gears, handlebars, and bearings on the blender, to the Oster blender blade and pitcher, you won't have a problem finding and replacing any of the parts on your Fender Blender. Should your chain wear out (after thousands of smoothies, mind you!) Any bike shop should be able to service your bike blender.

Sized for large and small riders

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:41:10 +0000

Designed to fit riders from 10 years of age on. Just adjust the seat height for smaller or taller riders and let them loose. Designed for maximum rider particpation, and superb ease of use.

Shipped ready to ride

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:42:52 +0000

Simply bolt on the lateral feet with included hardware, tilt the handlebar into place, load your blender pitcher and get to work! Premium product designed for nearly instantaneous customer implementation. Ship to your tradeshow and have it up and running in fifteen minutes!

Locally made components are built to last

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:43:49 +0000

The curved steel frame is locally welded. The machined plastic parts are made of recycled plastic, and are dishwasher safe and virtually unbreakable. The square drive shaft is heat treated and hardened for maximum life. All hardware is stainless steel and will never rust. Frame is powder coated for long life/outdoor use. The Fender Blender uses a simple friction drive to spin the blender blade fast, while remaining simple and easy to service.

Rock solid for passenger transport

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:46:11 +0000

The beefy steel tubing and integrated rack design of the Mundo makes it easy to carry friends, kids, and spouses. The top surface of the Mundo requires some padding before it's passenger-ready. A trail blanket would do nicely.

Customizing a Mundo with bamboo running boards

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:50:08 +0000

It's easy to customize a Mundo. We used a jig saw to attach bamboo running boards for a dad in San Francisco. The oval holes allow straps to pass through for securing loads. See the full How-To documentation on Flickr. Please note it is no longer necessary to use self-drilling screws into the Side Loaders of the Mundo, as the Mundo now has threaded customization points. Here's the finished product, with a child seat for his daughter:

Lighter Mundo

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:51:04 +0000

The creators of the Mundo have made the current model 13 pounds lighter. The new model is noticeably sportier on hills, and easier to carry down a flight of stairs. The weight savings is related to the narrower gauge tubing in the Mundo's carrier. The carrier also has fewer tubes. All Mundos sold by Rock The Bike as of June 2009 have this improvement.

If there's something you find reassuring about having a tailight this powerful, this large, on your long bike or commuter bike, trust your instincts. Get the Down Low Glow.

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:55:00 +0000

Down Low Glow as a rear taillight. Photo: Rob Arnaud For years we've been selling the Down Low Glow as a Side Visibilty and Ground Effects light for bicycles. Some of our customers have been trying it out as rear light, and I finally set it up that way for myself. The results are in. Never has it been this much fun to take the lane. The Down Low Glow makes a killer taillight on any bike with a rear rack. The complete sweep of visibily of the Down Low Glow outdoes anything else on the market, and the bright red light around your bike communicates to drivers what part of the road is theirs and what part of the road is yours. You can rotate the DLG's light tube so its brightest light hits the eyes of drivers. The DLG is brightest at the extreme angles of its light tube, as you can see by the hard transition to from the Plush Red on the ground near the rear wheel to the Royale Purple from the DLG system mounted on the downtube and chainstay of this Mundo. The other bright band from this rear-mounted tube is the one aiming right at the camera. Stand your bike up near a wall and rotate the light tube until the brightest band of light come up the wall light. Angle it up at eye level of drivers approaching you from the rear in cars and trucks. Speaking of trucks, have any of you driven at night on a highway with decent truck traffic lately? It's obvious when you see a trucker who cares about their rig and their own safety, because they illuminate it with large bright lights and reflective tape. Why do they do it? Because driving probably feels a little better, a little less stressful with all that safety gear, and because they probably have pride in their rig and don't mind communicating that pride. You can do the same with your bicycle. Make a bold statement about bike culture and your own safety at the same time. And with the Down Low Glow, you won't need a CB radio to talk to other bike people. You can just say "Hi." One last point. I have yet to verify this with an neurobiologist, but anecdotal and visual evidence suggests to me that the Down Low Glow could be an inherently more effective bike light because of its size. My theory is that our brains are wired to think that bigger is more important. Therefore, a point source of light, like a strobe or an ultrabright blinky, even if it gives off as many lumens, can't catch the eye of drivers like the Down Low Glow. The Down Low Glow has a 1-foot-long, 1-inch wide light tube. My theory is that this longer, wider source of light simply trumps the importance of smaller ones in the brains of drivers. Try the Down Low Glow risk free for 30 days. We look forward to getting you Glowing.

Create a top deck for the Mundo that allows for both passenger transport and utility

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:56:07 +0000

Joe of the blog Urban Simplicity has posted the process he followed to make a top deck for his Mundo.

Customize your cargo bike at Rock the Bike

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:57:14 +0000

Gian welding mouning tabs to a Mundo frame. If you have a specific idea for a bike-based business that requires customizing a bike, you'll find Rock the Bike to be a valuable resource. We've been adapting bikes to specific applications for years, including food-delivery and preparation, music events, education, and more. We'll take a thorough listen to your unique project idea. It may require the services of our next door neighbor Gian, a metal fabricator, machinist, and welder. Or it may be a woodworking task that we take on in our workshop. Leif cutting honeycomb When you schedule an appointment at Rock the Bike, you'll not only get to test ride bikes like the Mundo and Xtracycle, you'll be talking to a team of people who have come up with creative, simple solutions for musicians, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and families. Janaysa and the LiveOnBike rig

Correct assembly of Mundo's chain guard

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:58:11 +0000

The Mundo's chain guard mounts to a steel bracket that is between the drive-side crank and the bottom bracket. To keep the box small, this bracket is rotated 90 degrees so that it is parallel to the ground. Before installing the drive side crank, this part must be rotated so that it is perpendicular to the ground. The second image shows the correct orientation.

Optional Hebie BiPod Kickstand simplifies loading

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:03:20 +0000

The Mundo's frame accepts standard kickstands, including the Hebie BiPod kickstand. We recommend the BiPod, because it provides the right combination of strength and simplicity needed for utility bike. The BiPod is not a true cargo kickstand. If it were, it would be much wider. Therefore you cannot expect the BiPod to keep your bike upright when loading heavy loads on one side of the bike. With this limitation in mind, the BiPod does improve the experience of everyday loading enormously. Over the course of a single shopping trip to a farmer's market, you may use it 10 or 20 times.

Great for around-town deliveries

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:04:08 +0000

We use the Mundo to carry heavy boxes to the FEDEX depot. We use basic cam straps to secure the loads.

Mundo comes with a standard braze-ons for Fenders, a rear light, and a front dynamo

sophie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:05:05 +0000

The Mundo rear carrier includes a plate on which you can install a rear-light. The fork has a plate where a dynamo can be attached. Fenders also.

Bicycle fenders can be attached to the Mundo.

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:31:47 +0000

The Mundo frame and fork comes standard with fender eyelets. You will need fenders wide enough to accept 2.3" tires.

Mundo accepts standard child seats

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:32:48 +0000

Carrying kids on a bike safely doesn't have to mean enclosing them in a trailer. Some child trailers are built like rally cars, creating a safety cage around your child. But a bike towing a trailer is also much longer than a normal bike, which means that you and your child are more exposed when crossing streets, turning in an intersection, etc. Why not keep your child closer to you, on a long-wheelbase bicycle that's built to carry heavy loads to begin with? Standard childseats can be attached to the Mundo platform. The Bobike maxi, maxi+, junior work, the Hamax line too. The childseat attaches on the seat-tube like on any regular bike. Note that it’s necessary to help the plastic spread a bit around the carrier. No longer blot required. If you already have a childseat great, if not I would recommend to select the bike once you have the seat.

Carry heavy and large boxes with ease

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:33:41 +0000

If you find yourself driving short distances to deliver your most recent EBAY sales to the post office, you'll love the flexibility provided by the Mundo. Its heavy duty rear rack carries plenty of weight, and the large surfaces make it easy to tie loads down. Large boxes can either rest on the top rack, or on the lower load-carrying racks. With a cam strap, you'll be able to cinch these loads to the frame. Many people wonder whether carrying heavy loads on a bike is tiring. The answer isn't a simple yes or no. It depends on the terrain, distance, and on the complexity of strapping loads down. Another important factor is the ability to immobilize your load. If your loads wiggle and shift while you ride, those movements can make your journey more tiring. As you gain experience with a product like the Mundo or the Xtracycle, you'll be able to reduce your loading times and better immobilize your loads.

Mundo rear rack: Ready for customization

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:34:32 +0000

The Mundo's rear rack was designed to make it easy for you to customize to your needs. The surfaces and tubes are mostly orthogonal (i.e. parallel), making mods easy. Spend less time in the workshop and more time riding. The picture above is a simple modification that attaches large Rubbermaid waterproof bins to the Mundo using sturdy hooks. The parts need to attach the bins to the rack cost approximately $12, and included: - Stainless steel, nuts, washers, and bolts. - Hooks. Tools used: - Drill - Screwdriver. Parallel lines and right angles may seem like a small thing, but when you have only an here and there to spare on customizing your utility bike, you'll appreciate the simplicity of an easy to customize rack.

Mundo's wheelbase and overall length are a hair shorter than Xtracycle sub

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:43:14 +0000

Heading to Berkeley with Ben last week, I observed that he was able to squeeze into the BART elevator without picking up his front wheel. This can only mean that the Mundo is shorter overall than my Xtracycle. I'm not sure customers will notice the difference on the road, but for the occasional tight elevator, it's a nice bonus.

Carry adult passengers in style and safety

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:44:10 +0000

If you're like a lot of Rock the Bike readers, you've been building up a base of stength in your legs over the course of 5, 10, or even 20+ years. Sure, you may not measure your electrolytes or enter the local Sunday morning races, but you're certainly an athlete, and you can't be blaimed for wanting to show off now and then. We all do. So what to do with your legs of steel? You could get a nice light bike and go fast, or you can get a heavy duty utility or sport utility bike and dazzle your friends as you ferry them around town. Carrying passengers is one of the beautiful win / win activities. You get the appreciation of your passenger and admiration of onlookers. Your passenger gets a ride from the train station or to the picnic. And you get a little workout as you spin up hills or cruise the flats. Passenger-carrying is fun and social -- you can talk as you cruise -- and definitely sends out the bike vibe. It's also one of those activities that looks harder than it is. It's not unreasonable for a strong cyclist to carry a passenger 5-10 miles. The speeds will be noticeably slower on hills, but not on the flats.

One size really does fit most riders

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:45:38 +0000

The Mundo's long wheelbase and low top tube allow riders of all sizes to enjoy the ride. Most mountain bikes can't accomodate a wide range of riders, because they tip backwards on hills when a tall rider extends the seatpost. However, the Mundo's long wheelbase allows tall riders to set the seat height where they like it. When you ride this bike hard, even on steep hills, you can't pull the front wheel off the pavement, because the rider's weight is distributed between the wheels. This also makes the Mundo a safer bike, as your front wheel, the steering wheel, always has enough weight on it to make safe turns. Smaller riders, down to 5 feet, will appreciate the low standover height on the Mundo's frame.

The Biker Bar

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:48:27 +0000

The Social Power Plant for events.

Bring the element of Social Biking to your next event with the Biker Bar, now available for rental in both New York and San Francisco, and for sale or DIT (Do It Together) kit purchase in other places. Better than solar panels and biodiesel generators, the Biker Bar gets people talking and pedaling together as they power a concert, a rally, or whatever your creative mind envisions. Three regular people on a Biker Bar can deliver a steady 200 watts of clean AC power, and up to 600 Watts at peak moments. That may not sound like much when you compare it to an incandescent lightbulb, but that's the point. We should be celebrating things that can use less power. And music, fortunately, is one of those things. The wattage ratings of audio equipment such as amps and speakers will always be higher than their average power consumption. This is because music is spiky in nature. When the beat hits or the bass is heavy, instantaneous power consumption is high, but between the beats, the power use is low. So three pedalers on the Biker Bar do have the power to get people dancing. The Biker Bar converts to a heavy duty 8' cargo trailer that helps you transport speakers and Pedal Power gear to an event. You can tow the Biker Bar with any bicycle, but if you live in a hilly area and intend to use the Biker Bar to carry equipment to and from events, we recommend an Electric Mundo, as shown above. The Biker Bar can also be used as a mobile stage for LiveOnBike rides. Above, SHAKE YOUR PEACE! perform at the 2009 Bicycle Music Festival in San Francisco. Here's how it all works. After you arrive at an event with the Biker Bar and unload it of your gear, you pull the floor sections off it and set it on the ground as walkways people will use to get on and off the bicycles. [note these photos show an early prototype, but the basic idea is still the same.] Doing so reveals three rear swingarms and the bar itself. Lift up the swingarms. Remove the trailer wheels with a simple cotter pin, and set the Biker Bar on the ground, on its vibration-isolating rubber blocks. Now take three bikes -- almost any geared bicycles in good working order will do -- and imoblize them on the bar using the sturdy swingarms. Pumping up the tires is essential to acheiving an efficient transfer of power to the bar itself.

The most democratic, grassroots way to power your event.

Up until now, the model we and others have used for pedal powered stage events is that special people bring special bikes to an event, each having its own generator. The public then takes turns powering the concert on the special bikes. The bikes' outputs are coupled electrically, using wires. This model gets ordinary people pedaling, reminding them of their long lost bike love. The Biker Bar allows you to use ordinary bikes, which takes it to the next level. Everyday people not only power the concert, they save the concert, by supplying the last, critical piece of gear, their bicycle. And the power, rather than being coupled electrically, is now coupled mechanically by the bar itself, making the Biker Bar an extremely intuitive system to understand. This makes the Biker Bar the most grassroots way to power your event's stage. Photo: XtracycleInc Three rear wheels transfer power to a 2" aircraft-grade steel tube, perfectly round and straight, that floats on precisely aligned bearings (skateboard trucks). The large permanent magnet generator shown above quietly converts pedalers physical effort to electrical power. With 150-250 Watts of average power and the headroom to reach 1000-Watt peaks, you can run a respectable Pedal Powered Stage that gets hundreds dancing at a music festival, including mains, monitors, mixer and lighting. And you can easily haul it all there with the Biker Bar. studio photos: RockTheBikeNYC

Biker Bar doubles as a cargo trailer rated for hundreds of pounds of gear

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:50:47 +0000

If you're interested in offering a Pedal Powered Stage in your community, the ability to haul it there without a Pickup truck is a major plus. The Biker Bar can carry the speakers and gear you'll need to get to and from gigs. The wooden top platform stiffens the overall spine of the trailer, making it more predictable to ride with heavy loads.

Fewer wires means fewer headaches

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:51:24 +0000

When pedal power is coupled mechanically in the bar itself, there are fewer wires to tape down, trip over, and trouble shoot. It's also a more intuitive and cool way to join pedalers' efforts. In practical use of bicycle music systems, we've found that the majority of system failures are due to wiring and strain relief issues, not actual component failures.

The Biker Bar uses regular bikes, requiring no customization

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:52:23 +0000

Previous designs of pedal power systems have relied upon special bikes customized with individual generators. The Biker Bar allows you to use ordinary bikes, which takes it to the next level. Everyday people not only power the concert, they save the concert, by supplying the last, critical piece of gear, their own bicycle. And the power, rather than being coupled electrically, is now coupled mechanically by the bar itself, making the Biker Bar an extremely intuitive system to understand. This makes the Biker Bar the most grassroots way to power your event's stage. You don't have to wait until the general public arrives to get the Biker Bar set up with bikes. Organizers, volunteers, and staff can supply the bikes also.

Pedal Power Rig

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:54:50 +0000

Pedal Power Education Rigs - Single Rider Kits

Teach energy conservation, nutrition, physics, and bike skills, in a positive way that students can feel.

The Pedal Power Education Rig is a hands-on way for you to teach energy conservation without scare tactics, guilt trips, or lectures. It's physical. When students pedal the bike, they can feel the energy draw of the different different devices they plug in, including different lightbulbs, laptops, and their favorite music. Here are the functions of the Pedal Power Education Rig. Please note that some features are optional. The following list denotes a complete system.

Blends smoothies or generates power -- switch modes without tools, using the same press-in fitting for the generator as for the blender pitcher.
Cranks out 110V AC or 12VDC power -- 300 Watt AC inverter integrated safely in DIT Head Unit. 12 VDC mode can use any car electronics devices. This bike was powerful enough to run the wall-powered speakers for a school's assembly!
Down Low Glow indicator (the green light in the picture above) -- when the bike is powered up, the DLG is on. The Envy Green DLG is a great symbol of the bike and green movement.

This bike has the following key benefits.

Lessons about conservation and nutrition are much more likely to stick when students are physically involved. Students can feel the pull of various devices in their legs. When they feel the difference between an incandescent and a CCFL lightbulb, they'll be more likely to turn lights off and switch their family's lights to CCFL. When they know what it takes to blend a smoothie or grind coffee, they'll be more open to putting good ingredients in that smoothie and learning about the Fair Trade movement.
Inspires students to take one of the most important steps to reducing their impact, replacing car trips with bike trips.
It's social. It's a cool thing to be the one pedaling, creating the power that blends a smoothie or amplifies a microphone. This puts the students in a position to be better ambassadors of these messages of change. It's a great icebreaker at events.
Can be used for Green assemblies such as Earth Day, and other events, to power the microphone. In an outdoor setting, this may be simpler than using a generator or long extension cord.

Our Pedal Power Education Kits are highly customizable and below you will find 3 of our most popluar versions with many optional components. 2. The Comparitor the rider can compare with the power of their legs: - any 2 electrical devices plugged into 110v outlets, with the flip of a switch - incandescent vs compact fluorescent light bulbs, display case and wiring included -directly power 12v or 110v devices (complex electronics which need variable amounts of power are not recommended) -also includes voltage and current meters -a green DLG light, attached to the bike Both come with a Envy Green Down Low Glow indicator light, that can be attached to the bike, drawing the audiences' attention and illuminating when the system comes to life when it's pedaled up or going dim as the system discharges or voltage gets too low. Both of these can work on FBU, FBX or FBPro. The kit is compatible with all three Fender Blenders

Universale - attaches to any bike
Xtracycle - added utitily (pictured)
Pro - Highly visible blending in front and includes the stationary frame

In the case of the Fender Blender Universal and Xtracycle, the Pedal Power Education Rig is mobile. An educator can ride to a school, teach a class, then ride home, carrying all the supplies needed on the bike. This is especially true with the Fender Blender Xtracycle, shown below:

Xtracycle

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:56:34 +0000

Xtracycle Sport Utility Bicycles

Xtracycle's FreeRadical allows you to turn your favorite bicycle into an SUB. And we guarantee that you'll start using your bicycle in ways you never thought possible beforehand.

"Isn't that just like a bike trailer?"

Not at all. Trailers get left at home because they're not fun to ride. The Xtracycle is even more fun than a normal bike, because it's long wheelbase has unique and positive ride characteristics, and because you have a place to give your friends a ride. Shopping for a week's groceries, going camping for the weekend, picking up your friend from the train station; these are all things you can do spontaneously, without having to plan when you need the capacity to do so. With a trailer you have have think ahead of time, "Am I going to need my trailer today?" Turn your bicycle into an S.U.B. The FreeRadical is the coolest, lightest, most maneuverable, easiest-to-use way of adding serious cargo capacity to your bicycle. We've been riding and selling the Xtracycle for over 5 years, and we use it to drop off packages to the FEDEX depot in Berkeley when you place an order for the Down Low Glow. It's super quick to load, fast and nimble to ride, and it's always ready when you need a place to carry sports equipment, picnic supplies, musical equipment, and your friends. Did we mention you can carry people? It's not a joke. You really can carry people miles and miles with this bike. The FreeRadical kit comes from Xtracycle, a Socially Responsible business in California. It helps you lead a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle, without sacrificing your own sense of fun and style. The kit includes:

FreeRadical frame extension
Two FreeLoader bags with
One plywood snap deck
One build kit with chain extension and longer cables.

Installation takes about 2-3 hours, but is a one-time deal. You have to be comfortable dealing with cables and cable housing. A good test is whether you've installed a rear derailleur or a pair of brakes before. If you haven't, it's better to take your Xtracycle-ready bike and the FreeRadical to a trusted mechanic.

Carry your kids on the Xtracycle's sturdy Snap Deck

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:58:57 +0000

The woman in the photo had never ridden an Xtracycle SUB before. She tried it first unloaded, then with her two kids. She reported that the ride was stable and fun, not much different from a 'regular' bike. In this video, you can see her taking a turn into the parking lot at the end of her test ride:

Every Xtracycle customer gets a quick and dirty body position analysis

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:01:08 +0000

When you start carrying heavy loads on your bicycle, things like seat height, seat angle, and handlebar height make more of an impact on your comfort, enjoyment, and power. After 12 years building up bikes, reading guidebooks, and comparing notes with professional bicycle fit experts like Curtis Cramblett, we've got the basics down. We are not physical therapists or bike coaches, but you probably don't need a professional fitting right off the bat. What you need is to get your bike to a safe, comfortable position, and then try it out for a while and listen to what your body tells you. In about 5-10 minutes of fitting, we can get a customer 80% of the way to an ideal fit, and prevent most serious problems like knee pain. This service is available for free as part of our standard installation, and is only available to our customers in the Bay Area.

RTB Clothing

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:02:47 +0000

Represent.

If not otherwise noted, these shirts are printed in San Francisco on American Apparel organic cotton blanks.

The Down Low Glow

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:11:24 +0000

The only safety product cyclists can't wait to use.

Please join our mailing list to be notified when we launch the new and improved Down Low Glow. We have suspended sales of the original Down Low Glow to focus on getting DLG v2.0 ready to roll! We expect to have it back on the streets by Spring of 2011. We guarantee it will be worth the wait! Thanks for your patience, and please read on to find out more about our favorite safety product. More than a bike light, the Down Low Glow provides the 'cool safety' experience customers rave about. With the Down Low Glow bike lights on your two-wheeled thing, you can worry less about getting hit, and focus more on the joys of the night ride:

Rolling with friends on a moonlit cruise.
Clearing your head with the cool night air.
Taking a special someone out on the town.
Getting your heart beating on your way home from work.

The night ride is quality time. Don't waste it wondering whether cars will see you. When it comes to your safety at night, don't pick a bike light that's "better than nothing." With six beautiful colors to choose from, the Down Low Glow is a premium-quality, one-of-a-kind product, featuring a lightweight rechargeable battery, easy no-tools mounting kit, shockproof light tubes, and picture-book owner's manual. The whole system weighs in just over a pound. It won't slow you down, but it will enhance your safety. Check out all the features of this amazing bike light.

h the Down Low Glow, Xtracycle, and Quad Serfas taillights." src="http://rockthebike.com/sites/rockthebike.com/files/images/Derek-chopper.preview.jpg" border="0" alt="Derek Pearson customizes a chopper with the Down Low Glow, Xtracycle, and Quad Serfas taillights." width="455" height="304" />Derek Pearson customizes a chopper with the Down Low Glow. Great for social rides: Rolling with the DLG is also extremely cool. People often say it reminds them of the neon lights on Lowrider cars. But really, it's much better, because you don't have to lean out the window to enjoy the effect. The DLG throws a cloud of neon light on the ground up to 10 feet in all directions (depending on the level of street lighting). With the DLG, you can start organizing cruiser rides and social rides in your city or town. To a concert, to a field to watch a meteor shower, to the café, or to your friend’s house. On the way there, you’ll hear people shouting “Nice bike!” and “Your bike is tight!” It’ll feel good knowing that you're changing the way people think about bikes, just by rolling by. When you read about how the Down Low Glow was invented, you'll know it's perfect for cruiser rides, social rides, and music cruises. Provides effective side visibility and breathing room: The Down Low Glow is the only bicycle safety light with GSR ("Gimme Some Room") Technology. The whole point of GSR technology is to make you and your bike seem wider on the road than you actually are. GSR technology helps make it clear to drivers what part of the road is yours, and what part of the road is theirs. So when cars pass you, they are likely to give you more breathing room.

"Cars make a very wide pass around us at night :) Since we went crazy on lights, there's never even been a close call, a lot of cars will actually give us the full car lane on 2 way streets if there's nothing coming the other way..." -- Derek Pearson, Corvalis, OR.

Did you know that nearly 70% of all nighttime bicycle-car collisions are due to side visibility? Most LED-based safety lights aim forwards or backwards. The Down Low Glow provides superior side visibility to blinkies alone. Will it fit my bike? Installation is easy, requires no tools or zip ties, and is not permanent. The DLG fits bikes of all types and sizes from racing bikes to 20" BMX, to recumbents. It takes about 5-10 minutes to put the Down Low Glow on your bike for the first time. When you get good, you’ll get it down under a minute or two. For the single tube version of the Down Low Glow, installation times are about 50% lower. Either way. you'll be out rolling on a cloud of colored neon light the same night you receive your order. See loads more photos of the Down Low Glow on our Flickr account. We strive for 100% customer satisfaction and offer Rock The Bike's store wide 30-day risk-free satisfaction guarantee. But be warned. Very few people have ever returned the Down Low Glow. Do you want to get glowing tonight? Get pricing, select your color and options for your Down Low Glow by clicking the Buy It Now button below.::

>" src="http://rockthebike.com/sites/rockthebike.com/files/imagecache/gallery_image-1_and_one_third_ratio-450px_width/downlowglow_chugradphoto_0.jpg" alt="" />

Six Great Down Low Glow colors to choose from

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:13:40 +0000

No problem matching the DLG to your bike. We have six awesome, superbright DLG colors to choose from. But don't just pick the one that's closest in hue to your two wheeled thing. Each color has its own mood, its own feeling. They'll all keep you safe, but each color sends out a different energy. We'll try to run down the colors to help you choose.

	Ice Blue: Our most popular color. Very cool, confident, kind of playful. Stealthy. A bit intimidating.
	Envy Green: Think space aliens landing in UFOs in 1950's B Movies. The mothership has landed. Some say this is our brightest DLG color, and it certainly pops out against the asphalt jungle. As the name implies, it inspires envy on night rides.
	Plush Red: Intimate, suave, bold. Think crushed velvet ropes. Plush definitely helps you work it on a bike date. Also extremely eye catching.
	Fossilized Amber: A rosy tinge and a lot of orange go into our Fossilized Amber. If you're into sunsets and sunrises, you'll love this color. Not only is it beautiful, it's also street legal. Some states have laws prohibiting certain colors on the side of a vehicle, but amber is always allowed. In practical, daily use, police officers do not bother Down Low Glow customers, because they respect bicyclists who take safety seriously. But if you're the type of cyclist who likes to stick to the letter of the law, you'll appreciate our Fossilized Amber. And from a safety standpoint, it's even a hair brighter than our plush red because of its light colored filter.
	Hot Pants Pink: A superbright color for the pink fanatics out there. Work it girl!
	Royale Purple: Some people are purple people. And for them, everything must be purple, including their bike lights. Note, this color is a subtle step down in brightness from other DLG colors, because purple is a darker hue than blue and green. So if safety is your primary goal, consider picking another color, or compliment your DLG system with some blinkies.

One photo and two videos from now, you'll understand how Side Visibility and the Down Low Glow protect you on night rides

sophie — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:19:25 +0000

Above, Rock The Bike's piece on the benefits of Side Visibility. Above, a YouTube video by Livewombat, an enthusiastic customer, shows how bright the DLG is when viewed from the side. Front and rear safety lights (blinkies) protect you well in many riding situations. But blinkies are weakest when viewed from the side. Unfortunately, side visibility is the most common cause of nighttime bicycle-car collisions. Every time you approach a turn or an intersection, your side visibility is key to drivers seeing you. Bike commuting, early morning training, and sunset rides should be inspiring, relaxing, fun and invigorating. And they can be, when you take the right safety measures. To feel relaxed and confident at those intersections, you need to know that drivers from all angles, especially the sides, can see you as early as possible. That's when the Down Low Glow really protects you. Due to its unique tubular design, high output mini-fluorescent lamps, and integrated chrome reflector, it's even brighter from the sides than it is from the front. It hits the angles like no other light. And cyclists like you regularly email us to say how much safer they feel. Here's just one sample email: "I’ve become familiar with white-knuckling it down Culver Road [in Rochester, New York] at night as I pass the busy expressway intersections, then two lanes become one, then construction zones and parked cars are added to the mix. Tonight, I felt worry-free. It’s as if someone was laying out a green carpet for me as I traveled down the road." -- Adam Durand, [full review.] [more testimonials] Most cyclists don't realize how important side visibility is to their safety at night. It turns out that the majority of nighttime bicycle car collisions, nearly 70%, are related to side visibility. And the Down Low Glow is a better source of side visibility than any other bike light on the market, making it a smart choice for your visibility. Pair it with front and rear blinkies for the ultimate safety package. You can wait safely for your spot in traffic, then make your turn without rushing, confident that drivers will see you from all directions. Side visibility demonstration of the Down Low Glow bike lights Above, a 3D model of an intersection shows different angles from which cars need to see you. See more examples, including some from the New York Times. "My wife got a chance to use it on her way home from work and she absolutely loves it. She felt like she finally got some respect on the road, even having one car come to a complete stop when it saw her. It seems to have inspired her back on her bike again, especially for night riding!!!" -- Si from Alabama. That's serious safety. Now that you've read about how the DLG prevents many nighttime collisions, you'll want to see how it helps you speak up for your space on the road to drivers approaching from the rear.

Oona

admin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 04:50:24 +0000

Website link:

http://oonamusic.com

Oona is one of Rock The Bike's premiere dance pop bands, a perfect match for pedal power to the next level of excitement. The Examiner in San Francisco put it this way... "Oona Garthwaite is a force to be reckoned with. Her talent level is through the roof, on a level reserved for those musicians who stop you in your tracks and suck the breath out of you with awe—and her stage energy is unique, energetic and equally mesmerizing. And that’s just Oona—the rest of her band is just as talented. One phrase the band uses to describe themselves is “the dance-pop of your dreams,” (Amber Gregory, Examiner), and that is a pretty perfect description. Check out the press below and music links. PRESS & CONTACT For booking information, please contact Dave at oonamusic@gmail.com

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_aYB2upAkk&feature=player_embedded

DJs Manny and Bigface

admin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:11:28 +0000

Website link:

http://www.iscratchvinyl.com/

Austin-based mobile DJs Manny and Bigface worked with Rock The Bike to trick out their rickshaw with a 1000-watt sound system. They'd been DJing in clubs for years and wanted to take their act mobile so they could bring the beat to outdoor events.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cchoLMKe530&feature=player_embedded

Justin Ancheta

admin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:33:54 +0000

Website link:

http://www.justinancheta.com Hailing from San Francisco, California, Justin Ancheta's ’eclectic style of reggae flavored indie-rock, funk and jazz has created a buzz throughout Northern California. With a sound that appeals to fans of all ages, he has opened for the Wailer's, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Charles Neville, and Ricky Skaggs, to just name some. Justin Ancheta’s style combines such diverse influences as Thom York from Radiohead, Michael Franti and Spearhead, and Nick Drake. Ancheta's music is not afraid to stretch a toe, and even a thigh, over the boundaries. The songs are down-to-earth and moving: the type of songs you catch yourself singing long after the concert is over. Ancheta has crafted some of his current fan favorites such as “Lost Fate”, and “Appreciation” from past albums 'chamber' and 'Make My Day'. His first solo LP in 2007 helped bring Justin Ancheta’s signature sound to the masses. Ancheta has fronted the acclaimed band of Northern California, "Sinclair" and later "Pills & Jackets." He has toured heavily around the West Coast. He has been nominated three times for the Sacramento Area Music Award after becoming the darling of Sacramento’s premier nightclub scene at Harlow’s and Marilyn’s. He also won the Sacramento State University Battle of the Bands. The band has sold over 12,000 copies since moving to San Francisco and just released their first international acoustic debut album 'Evolution” in early 2009. A new EP is due in early 2011. Justin and Cello Joe performing in Girona on the 2010 Pleasant Revolution Tour Ancheta has been featured at numerous Rock The Bike events as well as the San Francisco BMF Live-On-Bike stage. He is an adamant touring bike musician who as joined Shake Your Peace for a Utah Music Bike Tour as well as The Pleasant Revolution European Music Bike Tour through France & Spain. He has helped customize two bikes, the Blue Whale, and El Arbol, and is currently working on his Yuba Mundo 500 customization for touring to schools and events nationwide for education and music sharing. For Booking such an event, Please contact: justinancheta7@gmail.com Check out the next Rock The Bike event when Justin Ancheta is there and you will see him in action, along with the possibility of a cameo with Fossil Fool, Shake Your Peace, or one of the many other bands Ancheta puts his skills into. www.justinancheta.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDwT28RkPB4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q24sR5eqn9g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yugngHAZPXI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wnEKKl8ycY httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDwT28RkPB4&feature=player_embedded

Optimize the Moment of Recognition

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:32:14 +0000

The Moment of Recognition (MOR) is the moment when two bicyclists, heading the opposite direction, have a clear view of each other and either wave, nod, ring a bell, recognize each other as friends, or simply pass each other. MOR often takes place at a 45 degree angle. This is also the angle when your Down Low Glow lights are at their brightest, which means that people passing you will see you and your bike in its most eye-catching state. It's a little thing but it makes daily life as a cyclist more fun. People who know you are more likely to shout your name and pass you with a smile. People who don't know you will appreciate that you're out there making a positive statement about bikes. Bring the Beat, Bring the Light. Rock the Bike.

Down Low Glow power management enhancements yield 25% longer battery life Dual Tube systems

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:37:39 +0000

If you're like many Rock the Bike readers and community members, you crave the Side Visibility the Down Low Glow provides, but you already have a handful of devices you need to remember to charge up regularly -- your cell phone, digital camera, and MP3 player, to name a few. The longer these devices last between charges, the more the benefits of using them outweigh the hassle of having to remember to recharge them. And with 25% longer battery life, the Down Low Glow just took a big step in the right direction. By working closely with our suppliers of rechargeable batteries and CFL lamps, we've increased the capacity of our batteries without increasing their size or weight, and reduced the power consumption of our light tubes without decreasing their brightness. Here are the numbers from recent testing with a fully charged, standard DLG battery.

GSR Technology -Gimme Some Room!

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:53:27 +0000

GSR (Gimme Some Room) Technology. Funny name, but it really works. GSR technology refers to the erie bands of light jetting out to the sides of your bicycle, extending well into a full lane of traffic even under street lights. This helps you show drivers visually what part of the road is yours, and what part of the road is theirs. No other safety light communicates a boundary like the Down Low Glow. We can obviously make no guarantees as to the behavior of drivers, but it's been our experience that they really respond favorably to the Down Low Glow. They simply give more room, more often, when passing from the rear. The effect is tremendous when the DLG is paired with a rear blinky. Basically, the light from the blinky hits the driver from far away, maybe a quarter mile, with its focused, directional LEDs. If you've got a decent blinky, then by this point the driver is probably already aware that there's a bike ahead. Then, as soon as they get within a few hundred feet of your bike, an unusual stripe of bright colored light appears. It catches they're attention. And it's at this point that most drivers, in our experience, slow down and yield more space. Check out these testimonials on the subject: "Let's talk about the GSR Technology...I was not crowded once by a vehicle on Market St. yesterday. Not once! Now it could be a very strange coincidence . But not likely, I don't think I've ever experienced that on Market during commute time in my lifetime. I am very happy and can't wait to go ride some more at night." -- Josh from San Francisco. "At night on dark country roads, cars give me a wider berth than they do in daylight --they can see me, but they don't know what I am, so they play it very safe. Plus, my first night out, a neighbor's kid followed me into my yard at the end of the ride because he just had to know where I got them. " -- Ian from Upstate NY. "I never imagined cars on narrow Tokyo roads would give me so much room." -- Byron from Tokyo GSR Technology goes hand in hand with the amazing side visibility the Down Low Glow provides. Side Visibility is what helps you be seen sooner in rare, close-quarters emergency situations, typically happening at or near intersections, when an extra quarter-second of a driver's attention really counts. GSR Technology is what covers you in non-emergency situations. These are the situations where, if you normally use blinkies, you probably would have been plenty safe without the Down Low Glow. But just because these situations don't threaten your life doesn't mean they can't be improved. Ask yourself, if there were a bike light that based on anecdotal evidence alone, is likely to increase the average distance cars give me at night, wouldn't I want to at least try it? Getting passed from the rear by a car is probably, statistically speaking, your number one fear. That is, the majority of bike riders fear getting hit from behind the most of out all road situations. So why not make that experience a little less nervewracking. The Down Low Glow appears, from our experience and that of the customers quoted in our testimonials, to grab the attention of drivers in a new way, a way that leads them to yield more of the lane, and hopefully the complete lane, to you. These moments, these non-life-threatening moments, including getting passed from the rear, probably happen dozens of times to you in a single night ride. As so, you'd probably notice even a modest improvement in your coolness, calmness, and collectedness as these moments occur. And GSR Technology will make a big difference in you feeling that way. Enjoy the relaxed ride you'll get from GSR Technology, one of the unique benefits of the Down Low Glow.

New DLG Owners Manual

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:21:49 +0000

We put a lot of thought into the new manual, so that you wouldn't have to. The pen and ink drawings include only the information you need to quickly and securely install the Down Low Glow on your bike. If you would like a copy of the Owner's Manual, please email us and we can email it back to you. We will also try to get it up on this sight for download soon. Illustrator Nathan Welch first met the Rock the Bike crew while visiting the bay in 2006. Now rolling with the DLG in D.C., he teaches drawing, and loves to ride his bike and his Vespa. Download the manual below.

Simple video shows how to install the single tube Down Low Glow system

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:28:22 +0000

Winterize your rig with the Down Low Glow

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:30:05 +0000

Derek from Olympia, Washington is doing it ( www.bikerubbish.com ) . Racer Rolf Hebenstreit from Northern Idaho is doing it. Jeff Youngstrom will probably be doing it next time it snows in Issaquah, Washington, now that his Down Low Glow has arrived. Mary Arnesson will be doing it in Minneapolis this winter, given her penchant for riding all year round. If you're the type of rider who heads out in the snow, we want to be right there with you.

"The snow reflects the DLG lights nicely." -- Mary Arneson.

"Hey Paul, They're awesome on the snow!! Cars slow down a block before they get to me! They must think I'm a "UFO" !!! I ride to work almost every day from -2 degrees to about 15 degrees in the morning. "DLG" & Nokian studded snow tires ROCK! The extra waterproofing is doing the job nicely. Thank you again for a great product and great service. Over the bars..... Rolf. P.S. Sorry No photos yet, it's too cold at 5AM!!!!" -- Rolf Hebenstreit, master-class mountain bike racer, all-season commuter. From 2004.

The 'extra waterproofing' Rolf talked about is now standard on all Down Low Glow systems.

Jeff riding home from work in the snow. That's the spirit! Once you get past your initial hangups about gettng wet, riding in the rain and snow can make you feel so alive! You're out there, flakes hitting your face, landing on your hands, odd sounds coming from your tires as they get caked. Sure, you probably wouldn't want to do it every day this winter, but you probably won't have to. The few cars that are out there with you in the snow will need to see you. So in addition to adding a UFO look to your rig, the DLG will be creating a wider buffer space between you and drivers. They'll be more likely to slow down sooner and cut you a wide berth than with blinkies alone.

Sleek, water-resistant light tubes

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:42:30 +0000

The Down Low Glow's light tubes are lightweight, sleek, and very futuristic, with their chrome reflectors and end caps. They are shockproof, low profile, and water resistant(10 out of 10 recently passed a dunk test). They weigh next to nothing, as nearly all of the weight in the Down Low Glow system is in the 1lb battery pack. Most of our customers choose to leave them on the bike all the time.

Unlock the portal of social biking

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:43:22 +0000

If you're the bike guy or gal in your family or circle of friends, the Down Low Glow will help you pull people in to the social biking experience. They'll see that biking is the perfect way to relax and get the night started. And with the Down Low Glow, you'll be keeping them safe as you cruise the city or the neighborhood. Many less experienced bikers worry about safety around sunset and after dark. And rightfully so. But with the Down Low Glow, you can calm their fears and show them the fun, social side of biking. Before you know, people will be gathering at your place on Friday night, wanting to cruise on the bikes in your garage. Our single tube DLG systems are a great way to go if you're interested in hosting social rides. They're easy to install and move from one bike to another, and they're our least expensive DLG systems, so you can buy a couple and have one ready for a friend to join you on your next cruise. Mix the colors to get beautiful color fades happening under your bikes as you ride.

No tools or zip ties required to mount your Down Low Glow

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:45:20 +0000

Many bike lights need to be installed with a screwdriver or a wrench. The Down Low Glow has a secure, shockproof mounting system that requires no tools to install. Just stretch the rubber straps around your frame and pop the DLG's light tube into the plastic clip. We searched long and hard at industrial trade shows to find a clip that was easy to use, durable, and sleek. As you can see from the photo above, it doesn't interfere with the brake and shifter cables on your bicyle. For our dual tube systems, there's are a couple velcro cinch straps to tighten in addition to this clip. We could have used zip ties in our mounting system. But zip ties are a single use product. So you'd need more of them if you ever want to move the Down Low Glow to another bike. A lot of our customers have more than one bike and want to move their lights from bike to bike depending on who they're with, how far their going. On one night, I might take the cruiser. On another night, I might need to carry something, so I take the Xtracycle. If I'm leading a social ride, I'll take the Soul Cycle. Our no-tools mounting kit makes it easy to have fun with your entire bike fleet, and loan your Down Low Glow lights to friends, too.

The Down Low Glow's lightweight components won't slow you down

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:47:21 +0000

Just because you've decided to stay safe and stylish when you commute by bike doesn't mean you want to load your rig down with extra weight. The kid inside you still enjoys edging out that spandex-clad racer to the last gleamings of a yellow light. You love tight turns and fast descents and you don't want your bike to slow you down. Luckily, the Down Low Glow only adds a little over a pound to your bike. You can still lift it up on your shoulder for the flight of stairs to the subway, and you won't notice the difference in your cruising speed. Sure, some people pay hundreds of dollars to shave a couple ounces off their wheels, but weight on your wheels and weight on your frame are totally different due to a physics phenomenon called rotational mass. Adding a pound to your frame is hardly noticeable. Let's say you want to go on a fast daytime ride. You can remove the DLG's battery with a quick tug on the wide Velcro strap, and you've instantly gotten rid of 85% of the weight of the product. Most people who hold the DLG's shockproof light tubes in their hands at Rock The Bike trade shows say "Oh, this weighs nothing." So rest assured that adding the amazing visibility and cool safety of the Down Low Glow to your bike won't slow you down. Keep your bike svelte and safe with the Down Low Glow.

Shockproof light tubes

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:48:27 +0000

A lot of people ask us if the DLG is suitable for the type of hard city riding they do. Fortunately, our patent-pending shockproofing technique that protects the superbright lamp from breaking inside its housing. You can ride offroad, down stairs, off curbs. Just ride how you normally ride. The Down Low Glow is also made with a shatterproof exterior housing similar to the material used in bulletproof glass. Rocks and parking meters won't break it. So relax, and ride. Check the video below for more on shockproofing.

Dual Tube DLG Systems

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:49:39 +0000

Maximize your visibility and the curbside appeal of your two-wheeled thing. The Dual Tube DLG systems give you the most possible light and help you pull in more "Cool Bike!" shout outs than any other bike light. With one shockproof light tube under your front triangle (down tube) and one under the rear (left chainstay), you'll be cruising on a full carpet of neon light. The dual tube system provides almost three hours of bright light on a fully-charged battery. To extend this time, you can carry a spare battery, get the double-wide extended life battery or go with the Single Tube system instead.

Single Tube DLG Systems: cool, safe, and simple!

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:50:36 +0000

Great for kids and commuters. When you want to experience Cool Safety in it's simplest form, you'll want to pick up a Single Tube DLG system. Single tube systems look great, are easy to install, and have long battery life when compared to our dual tube systems (5-6 hours versus 3 hours). If you're the type of person who likes to move lights from one bike to another, or take them off your bike because you're concerned about theft, you'll like the fact that the single tube system has fewer parts to keep track of. Single versus Dual. One might quickly conclude that the Single tube system is half as bright because it has half as many light tubes. But consider the position and the angle of the light tube. The single tube system, mounted on the down tube of your bicycle, hits the side angles so that when you're in an intersection, cars entering from different streets can see you. When you look down to catch your own aura as you ride, the light from that forward mounted light tube stretches to the edges of your peripheral vision. As the rider, you won't perceive the Dual Tube system to be twice as bright as the Single. So if you're looking for a great gift for a kid, bicycle commuter, or anyone who's got enough things to worry about already, get them a Single Tube system. If on the other hand, you're looking to take the street glow to the max and create an all-out party mode for your bike, you'll be more psyched about our dual-tube systems.

Bike Blenders

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:54:29 +0000

Fender Blender Bike Blenders

A bike blender from Rock The Bike is an amazing way to bring people together. You can raise money for charity, host a bike party, blend refreshments at a race, and teach kids about healthy eating and power in a way they'll always remember. All of our Bike Blenders are handmade in our workshop. Designed and assembled with love for you to crank out the smoothies and the pedal power. The three models of Fender Blender (FB) bike blenders are

Check out a short video for an intro to bike blending and some key differences between the three models.

Brooks Saddle

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:12:59 +0000

Brooks Saddles is one of the oldest, most respected names in the bicycle business. And they owe their reputation to their outstanding product, the Brooks leather saddle. These saddles often last 20, 30, or 40 years, far longer than any gel seat. And they're much more comfortable because the leather -- which is, after all, the skin of a cow -- really breathes and stays much cooler than other saddles. Part of the reason it stays cool is that the leather is not supported underneath by a thick layer of insulating foam. It floats over an outer metal structure, like the skin of a trampoline. Brooks Saddles come in many varieties, and have different colors available. But we've chosen the most simple and classic of these offerings, the B17, in Honey and Black.

Soul Cycles

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:13:49 +0000

Soul Cycle Mobile Audio Systems Add the element of music to your next social ride with one of our amazing Soul Cycle mobile audio systems. There's nothing like walking down your front steps to a glowing, inviting Soul Cycle, setting your iPod on the handlebar-mounted control deck, flipping a couple switches for lights and music, and riding off to the bumping bass of a Bob Marley track. All Rock The Bike Soul Cycles offer powerful bass, amazing ease of use, durability, and great styling! Fossil Fool and Lisa cruising on the Choprical Fish, a custom Soul Cycle. We cut our teeth making Soul Cycles for San Francisco's Critical Mass rides, and we've innovated some of the most powerful features in today's exciting world of bicycle audio: handlebar mounted controls, backlit speakers, and streamlined looks. If you want to build the ultimate party bike, install your Soul Cycle system on an Xtracycle SUB. Then you'll be able to carry a friend, bring the beer, chips, salsa, and the tunes! A fully custom Soul Cycle with the Xtracycle FreeRadical, complete with Mahogany backrest, brushed stainless steel control deck, and Brooks triple-sprung saddle. We offer a range of Soul Cycle systems to match your needs and your budget. From the ready to roll Soul Cycle Head Unit, to our affordable DIY kits and wiring harnesses, to our one-of-a-kind, fully customm handmade cosmic Soul Cycle cruisers, YEOW! Until you've experienced a Soul Cycle social ride, you won't understand the power of seamlessly combining bikes and music. Picture a group of friends (old and new) cruising to the sounds of Marvin Gaye, his lyrics of peace and love coming through rich and clear, while your friends sing along, "Brother, brother..." The scenes of the city flowing by, people giving you a thumbs up or a shout of support, spreading joy, pied piper style, as your group increases in size with more bikers. Some people wonder "Why would you want to listen to music on a bicycle?" Read why a bicycle is actually the perfect place to listen to music. Above: The Soul Cycle Mothership fiberglass cabinet. We run each Soul Cycle design through a rigorous series of tests: the BART cop smile test, the bass-sets-off-car-alarms test, the screaming, dancing teenagers test, etc. Oh, and we test the wiring and battery packs of each one too. A lot of soul goes into our Soul Cycles. We know these bikes will help you spread your love for bikes and music in your community. Contact us to find out which design is right for you. Please call us toll free at 888-354-BIKE.

The Righteous Kickstand

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:14:56 +0000

Kickstands are Cool Again!

A quality kickstand won't slow you down, won't let you down, and won't let you fall down. But it will make your entrance a lot cooler when you roll up to a cafe at night with your Down Low Glow laying down a cloud of purple neon beneath you. And when you step off your rig and flick the kickstand down, you can leave your lights on for a few minutes while you say hi to your friends, buy yourself a beverage, and take a seat. The 'Righteous' kickstand makes it all possible. Righteous! Kickstands are cool again. The 'Righteous' kickstand is the coolest way to keep your bike upright when you're stopped at the cafe. Stop looking for walls to lean against! With your Self-Righteous kickstand, you'll always have a suave arrival. Technically speaking, this kickstand is a real champ. It clamps on the rear of your frame, which actually makes it faster and more stable than the standard mounting point (behind the bottom bracket.) Plus, it doesn't block the rear tube of a Down Low Glow Dual Tube System. It's made of aluminum, and features a 4-bolt mount (rather than the usual single-bolt mount that is prone to loosening). It's aluminum engineering is beefy enough to make it the kickstand of choice up at Xtracycle (where they carry heavy loads frequently). It's got only one moving part. You'll have it forever. Why did kickstands go out of fashioned back in the nineties? It has to do with the anorexic mountain bike industry doing anything it could to sell lighter bikes. Anything that made bikes heavier was now taboo, even if it made biking much cooler in everyday life. But get this -- most of the people buying those lightweight mountain bikes were riding them around the city (or college campus), places where you really need a kickstand. Now, if your wondering, will this kickstand make me slower? The answer is no. Yes, it adds a little under a pound to your bike. But this weight is low down on the frame. Where you really want to be concerned about adding weight is in your wheels. If you want to go faster, get strong, lightweight wheels with high-quality slick tires, and pump them up to 80 pounds of pressure. Compared to the minor slowing impact of mounting an accessory like the Righteous Kickstand, focusing on your wheels will make a major difference you can actually feel.

Magnesium Pedals

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:15:45 +0000

Fender Blender Bike Blenders We've been using these pedals on our custom Soul Cycles for the past few years. They're wide, grippy, stylish, and give a rockin' look to both cruisers and commuter bikes. These pedals are compatible with all non-BMX bicycle cranks. It's a nice upgrade or gift item if you prefer riding in normal shoes without straps and clips. Moving away from click-in and toe-clip pedals doesn't have to mean a downgrade in performance. For shorter trips, a platform pedal can be just as fast. The grippy surfaces and pins mean your foot will never slip. And the target is so large, you don't have to position your foot in just the right place. Just get on and stomp.

Shimano's M324

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Shimano's M324-Platform and clipless pedal all in one Since switching to Shimano's half-platform / half-clipless pedal, the M324, I'm now wearing street shoes about 98% of the time when I ride. These were the things I loved about clipless pedals before using the M324:

I enjoyed the feeling, at the end of a hard day at work, of putting on my special 'go fast' shoes, and heading home with a purpose.
On long days in the saddle, clipless is more efficient because you can contribute energy on the full pedal stroke, not just the down part. You're getting your hamstrings more involved.
The actual feeling of clicking in, the sound and sensation, is pretty cool.

But I always had these frustrations:

You are going out to the cafe. You don't want to wear your special 'go fast' click-in shoes. So you put on street shoes, but the clipless pedals dig in and make them uncomfortable.
Ditto, but when there's water involved your feet slip off the metal surfaces, or the pedals roll under your feet at unpredictiable moments, and they become a safety hazard.

If you're in the situation where you don't want to give up clipless because you love the performance, but you're constantly wearing street shoes and riding in discomfort, you'll love Shimano's platform / clipless solution. Contrary to many people's first impression of this pedal, it is not hard to use. The pedal hangs the same way each time due to the relative weights of the flat and clipless sides. This means that when you're wearing street shoes you can always step on the correct side of the pedal if you step down and backwards. When wearing SPD (Click-in) shoes, you can always step on the click-in side by stepping forward and down.

Sweetskinz Tires

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:18:18 +0000

Make your wheels pop!

These fun cruiser width street tires help you turn your two-wheeled thing into a party bike. If you enjoy the feeling of rolling up to cafes and bike events on your stylish cruiser or commuting bike, you'll love the effect of the Sweetskinz. They provide unmatched curbside appeal for your wheels. They're drop-dead gorgeous. Sweetskinz look great with the Down Low Glow The bright colors of the Sweetskinz look amazing when you roll with the Down Low Glow. Experimentation has revealed that Ice Blue and especially Envy Green and has a phosphorescent effect on the Nightwing color scheme shown above. All Sweetskinz tires also include integrated reflective patterns in the tread. It's easy to see which part is reflective whenever you take flash photos of your bike with Sweetskinz installed. Here's an example: As you can see, the part that looks silver / grey in the daytime, becomes active at night when light shines on it. Leif to the rescue A recent blowout on the rear Sweetskinz on our LiveOnBike rig (not during a performance, thankfully) has cast doubt on whether Sweetskinz are up to the task of cargo bike use. That particular tire was a year old and still had some tread on it. You may feel it's worth the risk to have the effect of the Sweetskinz, or you may choose to put a sturdier tire on the rear and roll with Sweetskinz in the front. Otherwise, the weight and tread durability of these tires is about average, and they do not have integrated flat protection. The cruiser tread pattern doesn't have a center rolling strip and is therefore a bit slower than your average street / commuter tire. They had a good reason to do it that way -- the raised areas of the tread protect the color in the recessed areas. Certainly for use on a city bike or cruiser, Sweetskinz pumped up to 60-70 psi will roll well, with very few flats. (Flat tires are much more likely when you ride with 20-40 psi.) We carry only the 26" Cruiser-tread version of this product. If you'd like other styles or colors, please call 888-354-BIKE to inquire about placing a special order. Sold as a pair only. Price is for the pair.

Unique Gift Ideas

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:19:28 +0000

This is our guide to great gifts for your favorite cyclist!

We've updated our selection of unique gifts with some great products that are sure to please your favorite cyclo-phile! Check out the links below to our selection of Rock-the Bike approved products. We select these products with thousands of miles of riding under our belts, so you can give them as gifts with confidence. Our recommendations are from the heart. Here are some ideas to start with:

Got a high-class cyclist in the family? A Brook's leather saddle is sure to impress, hand made in England.
Know someone who rides with headphones? An In-the-pocket SoulCycle Head unit will give them the ability to stay groovy, without compromising safety. It's a plug-and-play handlebar audio amp that produces professional sound quality and easy set-up!
Handmade Second Wind Chimes are a beautiful way to "shout from the rooftops" an authentic appreciation for gear ratios.
Choppers, beach cruisers and low riders can add some flair with "Fire" or "Ice" colored Sweetskinz tires, which have relective designs for added safety.
An Incredibell is a great gift for any rider!
Anyone who commutes to work will appreciate our Rock the Bike Rescue Kit, which includes our favorite multi-tool plus a tire patch kit.
Night riders love to know you care: get them a Blinkie to prove it!
Anyone who carries heavy loads on their bike will enjoy using our reflective cam-straps instead of bugee cords.

Still not sure what to get? Browse the "Available Products" section below for more ideas, or give us a call at the workshop and we can talk you through it. If you don't see what you're looking for here, we may be able to specail order it. All of these products can be shipped directly to the recipient.

Bike Culture DVD's and Music

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:20:20 +0000

Share the best of Bike Culture video and music with your friends and family and give them a taste of the creativity and spunk of the bike community. Rock The Bike's unique entertainment offerings include original music by bands in the Bay Area, performing at the Bicycle Music Festival. You'll see videos of other rides and events and video documentation of custom projects and product development in the Rock The Bike workshop. Together these videos and songs tell the unique story of our growing movement. So, what is Bike Culture? It's a way to express our passion for community, music, outta-the-garage innovations, art bikes, and of course the bicycle. And it's the subject of our new DVD, Bike Culture Blowin' Up!, Vol. I. Bike culture is quintessentially local and street level, a modern day folk culture. Everyday people like us are nurturing it; writing the songs, planning rides and events, and fabbing up the art bikes, Soul Cycles, and tall bikes that 'amaze small children' in our community. It's also a perfect example of how the internet is helping people of niche interests connect. Some of these DVD's will go as far as Kazakstan and Japan. Internet tools like YouTube (subscribe at www.youtube.com/user/rockthebike ) and Flickr (befriend us at www.flickr.com/photos/rockthebike/ ) are helping us reach distant collaborators and fans. The short segments on Bike Culture Blowin' Up are all available individually online, but the DVD has much better video and sound quality. Some of the segments are product-oriented (we cover the Down Low Glow's Side Visibility, the Fender Blender product line, and the Mundo Cargo Bike), but most are done for the art and to spread the spirit of the bike. You'll notice several highlights from the 2008 Bicycle Music Festival in San Francisco, sponsored and co-organized by Rock the Bike. Last year we had folks training in from as far as Seattle to join us for this inspiring all-day event. The 3rd annual 2009 BMF will happen in San Francisco on June 20. Be There! And if you're inspired to get something started in your community, the Rides & Events tool on the Rock the Bike web site is a cool way to get the word out. We hope you enjoy and share this disc with bike people, event organizers, and friends. More info on this DVD and its segments can be found at www.rockthebike.com/Bike-Culture-DVD , and you can leave suggestions for future videos, events, or collaborations there.

Pedal Power Utility Box

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:21:57 +0000

5 pedal power inputs, 1000-watts of pure sine AC output, and overvoltage protection built in.

This handy utility box has puts all the essential circuitry safely beneath a polycarbonate cover, so wires don't get yanked at events. Dealing with wiring is often the most confusing part of planning and building a Soul Cycle or Pedal Powered Stage. Why not let the pros handle it? Rock the Bike has been building wiring harnesses and handlebar mounted control panels since 2003. The Utility Box includes the following features:

Five 24-volt pedal power inputs (suitable for hub-motor systems like the Electric Mundo, Electric Fender Blender Pro, and the Biker Bar)
System voltage output, for use with Pedalometer
Overvoltage protection
75-Farad ultracapacitor bank
1000-watt Pure Sine Wave inverter with two outlets.
Closable lid, protects jacks and equipment during transport, heavy duty handle
All wiring protected but visible through clear polycarbonate cover
Uses twist-lock connectors (shown below)

Rear Blinky

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:22:50 +0000

Complement your Down Low Glow's side-visibility with a durable and really bright blinky.

The Down Low Glow, optimized for side visibility, can't shine backwords as well as a blinky, with its directional LED. We've picked a simple, durable blinky with an easy mounting system - mounts on a bike frame or clips to your clothes. It uses regular AAA batteries.

Modified JBL loudspeakers

sophie — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:23:42 +0000

DC Modified

Rock The Bike exclusive! Our Pedal Power DC mod eliminates the need for AC power, making Pedal Power much more efficient.

An awesome combination of light weight, efficiency, and audio clarity. The Rock The Bike modified JBL PRX loudspeaker has been the cornerstone of the most pioneering Pedal Powered Stage crews including Rock The Bike and the Pleasant Revolution. Most bike music projects use car audio components, because they are cheap, widely available, and work on 12 volts DC. (And 12 Volts is easy to create with Pedal Power, or store in a motorcycle battery). However car-audio equipment is not suitable to amplifying musicians at a concert because it does not have the efficiency, overall listening levels, and clarity required. That's when you need Pro Audio equipment. Our modified JBL PRX loudspeakers are the best of both worlds. They provide concert quality sound and are ready for DC power, i.e. Pedal Power! Normally, Pro Audio equipment all runs on AC power, which must come from a wall socket, gas generator, or inverter. Our Pedal Power Utility Box contains a pure-sine wave inverter to provide a stable source of AC power. This is a fine way to go if you already own PA gear. But if you're starting your Pedal Powered Stage from scratch or are ready to upgrade your loudspeakers, go with the Rock The Bike Modified JBL PRX mains. Elevating the speaker on a stand puts the midrange and tweeter above ear level, which really improves the clarity of the music when there are multiple rings or rows of people listening.

The Light Bike

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:22:26 +0000

The Light Bike - CCFL Incandescent comparison station Billboards and television advertisements can only go so far. The Light Bike delivers an energy conservation message in a way that people can feel. By flipping its single switch, pedalers can feel the difference between Compact Fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs. (Hint: the CFL bulb feels about half as hard.) A single switch on the Light Bike flips between Compact Fluorescent and standard incandescent light bulbs of equal brightness. Above: Sir Richard Branson pedals a Light Bike at the Virgin Festival in Baltimore. If you're really serious about delivering an energy conservation message in a guilt-free way, you need to consider pedal power. Our Juice Pedaler line of bike blenders has proven that people love to get on bikes and pedal away at festivals, schools, museums, and events. With the Light Bike they get both the pleasure of pedaling and the message of energy conservation. A few seconds is all it takes for people to 'get' the difference between the two light bulbs. The video below shows some of Rock the Bike's unique pedal power bikes in use at the Virgin Festival in Baltimore. The Light Bike can be seen at 1:40

Spin Art for Fender Blenders

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:26:13 +0000

Pedal Powered Spin Art

Amaze attendees at your event with Pedal Powered Spin Art. It's so easy it almost requires no supervision.

With just a few pedal strokes, you can get the platter of your Pedal Powered Spin Art station spinning at 5000-10000 RPM, enough to produce dazzling spirals, circles, and streaks as you squirt paint on the paper. Comes with appropriate height stand or table top mounting system.

Electric Fender Blender Pro

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:28:20 +0000

Our quietest, most powerful and compact human power generator.

It's the most efficient, easy to use, compact, and quietest Pedal Power generator we know of. We use it as one of the key pieces of gear in our Pedal Powered Stage.

The Electric FB Pro is a combination of a Fender Blender Pro and a brushless hub generator. The Electric FB Pro's high efficiency comes from it's direct chain drive and large, brushless, hub generator - no friction losses from tires rubbing on rollers. It is more than capable of powering a music system and getting very impressive results - one person pedaling can get 50 people dancing to high energy DJ music, when paired with efficient speakers.

If you're wondering about pedal-powering a particular device or appliance, check the wattage rating on the label near its cord or in the product manual. A single Electric Fender Blender Pro is capable of producing up to 600 watts of usable electricity. This wattage, of course, is dependent upon how strong your pedaler is! You can expect to produce 100-200 watts by pedalling with a "cruising" pace.

Above: a prototype in action at a Pedal Powered performance of Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam) last October.

As you can see, the Fender Blender Pro frame fits a wide variety of riders, down to a 10 year old kid.

The Electric Fender Blender Pro is not a functioning transportation bicycle, but it can be easily towed behind another bike with the optional trailer wheels. The base price of the Fender Blender Pro is $1699, add a generator flywheel ($616) and a Pedal Power Utility box ($1450).

To power more intense applications, such as a performance of a live band or long strings of lighting, you can connect multiple FB Pros. The Pedal Power Utility box accepts power from up to 6 bikes. Please inquire about quantity discounts.

We explain custom branding for the FBPro here: http://rockthebike.com/node/10191

Mundo Kickstands

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:31:54 +0000

Kickstands available for the Mundo cargo bike

We've selected two kickstands that are compatible with the Mundo Cargo Bike. Pictured above is the BiPod, a center stand. It performs well for top loading. Hebie Single Adjustable Kickstand Also available is the Hebie Adjustable Kickstand, pictured above. This one-sided kickstand has a screw-on foot that can be set to any length, allowing you to get the balance you desire.

Lunar Lander Kickstand

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:38:00 +0000

Completely immobilize your Mundo, turning it into a workstation, display, or pedal power station.

No other kickstand we've tried comes close to the amazing stiffness, width and simplicity of the Lunar Lander. It's danceably strong. The Lunar Lander is made of 2" steel tubing, making it as strong and stiff as the Mundo itself. It weighs about 10 pounds for the pair, and can be easily strapped to your rig or rolled into a "long things bundle" with a shipping blanket. Only a Mundo frame could handle the extreme rear positioning of this kickstand. The stiffness of the Mundo's frame means you get no apreciable flex, front to rear, or left to right, while pedaling on the bike in stationary mode. That makes the Lunar Lander perfect for human power applications like generating power for our Pedal Powered Stage. Above: Wilson, a 220-pound man, pedal powers Rock The Bike's Halloween street party at Fair Oaks, on the Mundo 1000, which weighs 85 pounds unloaded. But it's also carrying a 70 pound speaker and a go go dancer. That's how strong and stable the Lunar Lander is. That's danceably strong. Please note: This is not a true kickstand, because it is not foot deployable. You have to use your hands to guide the notch into the triangular nook in the Mundo's rack. It is somewhat awkward to do this without an assistant, though with practice you can get it down to about 30 seconds if the Mundo is not loaded. You can also use the Mundo as a work station. Above, the Lunar Lander turns the Mundo into a sawhorse.

Mundo 1000

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:39:12 +0000

Mundo 1000 Electric Cargo Bike

An electric configuration worthy of the Mundo's amazing cargo capacity that doubles as a powerful generator.

If you're planning to use your Mundo in hilly terrain or over long distances, and with heavy loads, you may be a good candidate for the Mundo 1000, a heavy-duty electric cargo bike. You can still get a great workout pedaling the Mundo 1000. Simply use as much throttle as you need to get through the challenging parts of your route.

Mundo 500

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:43:23 +0000

Electric Cargo Bike and pedal powered generator

Save time on your commute and cargo missions. Save the party at your events.

This item is available on a made to order basis. Please call 888-354-2453 or email for a quote. We will ask you questions about your needs and terrain, then determine what components to spec for you and get back to you with a quote within a day. The big fat hub in the picture is the Mundo 500's motor / generator. Depending on your needs, you can set it up for high-torque or higher top speeds. With the Li-Ion battery and controller mounted underneath the carrying surfaces of the Mundo, you won't be reducing the awesome cargo capacity of the bike. You can still use all the Mundo's accessories like the GoGetter bag. Because the electric wheel is the rear wheel, the Mundo 500 can be used as a very efficient pedal power generator. It's shown above in the foreground at a recent Pedal Powered Stage event as part of the Sunday Streets in San Francisco. The Mundo 500 has the same low standover height as a regular Mundo. At events and for human power use it fits a wide range of pedalers. It's the most efficient generator in our Pedal Power Stage fleet. In transportation mode, the Mundo 500 is an excellent performing electric bike. We've paired the Mundo 500 with a 10Ah 36V Li-Mn battery. The range we've been getting in mixed terrain is approximately 15-25 miles at 15-25 miles per hour, with near constant pedaling. Higher speeds increase the wattage used and therefore reduce your range. If you need to get 10 miles away at max speed, bring your charger and top it off before the return trip. It is possible to use the Mundo 500 as a glorified scooter, not pedaling at all. However, you'd be looking at vastly reduced battery life and no workout. Being able to throttle without pedaling is a major benefit in city traffic. It helps you keep speed while you change gears, among other things. It also helps a lot at traffic lights and intersections. With the Mundo 500 you can still pedal hard and arrive at your destination out of breath. You'll just be getter there in less time. The controller automatically adds as much oomph as you need to go the desired speed. We're not the first to introduce a 500-Watt electric bike with a rechargedable Lithium battery pack. What makes this offering unique is the combination with the Mundo Cargo Bike. A Mundo 500 is the base bike of Fossil Fool's most recent Soul Cycle, the Blue Whale. The photo above shows his touring load on the Pleasant Revolution 2010 bike music tour of Europe. In addition to the custom fiberglass speaker cabinet you can see a 50 pound food box, a messenger bag, and camping mat. On the far side is a GoGetter bag filled with clothing and electronic music gear. See the recent related blog posts for this product to read more about the tour! There are several key benefits of using a Mundo as the base of an electric cargo bike.

Carrying capacity. With a steel chassis cargo rack and an evolved and customizeable carrying system including the huge GoGetter bag, sold separately. The 500 Watt motor helps you climb hills with less pressure on your knees. You'll be able to truly use the cargo hauling capabilities of the Mundo to the max. Equipment, shopping, music gear, sports gear, computers, and passengers.
Long wheelbase = stable and safe. Many electric bikes use a short-wheelbase geometry frame or cheap suspension systems, and feel iffy at best when leaning into turns. These types of bikes are more likely to develop a speed wobble. If you carry a load on a regular electric bicycle, the load is likely to be higher, changing the center of gravity. The Mundo's long-wheelbase frame offers great control on turns. The rider sits between the two wheels, not over the rear wheel, so there's even weight on the drive wheel and the steering wheel, and road shock doesn't go straight up the spine as it does on shorter bikes. The large cargo chassis offers plenty of space for carrying heavy things low, keeping your center of gravity low.
Frame stiffness helps the motor perform optimally. The added weight of the rear wheel on an electric bike makes frame stiffness a priority, especially on a long wheelbase bike. Luckily, the Mundo has the stiffest frame available on any cargo bike.
Experience the amazing StandAlone kickstand. In the photo below note how the StandAlone holds the fully loaded Mundo 500 upright on the bow of a ferry with no guard rail. The StandAlone was designed by Rock The Bike's engineer Leif who also engineers for Yuba.

Waterproof Top Loading Bag

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:44:37 +0000

This transparent, stiff bottomed bag has a fold over/strap down top to keep water out. It fits and straps securely to the Mundo cargo rack with its own strap and a cam strap.

Fender Blender X

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:49:21 +0000

Fender Blender Xtracycle

The original Fender Blender bike blender. You can toss this in one of your Xtracycle bags, roll to an event, set up your rig, and start cranking out smoothies or Margaritas. Inventor Nate Byerley (a.k.a. the Juice Pedaler) created this product so that he could make money and smiles at summertime music festivals in California. Together with his friends and employees, the Juice Pedaler cranked out over 10000 smoothies. You too can start a bike blended business, or just a local phenomenon. The Xtraycle and the FBX are a great combination. During the week you commute and do the shopping. On Sunday, you roll to the park and crank out smoothies at the Barbeque. You can set up your bike for blending without tools. A special kickstand called the Rock Sturdy kickstand allows you to pedal in place.

BUILT TO LAST

Machined plastic parts are dishwasher safe and virtually unbreakable. Square drive shaft is heat hardened and plated for maximum life. All hardware is stainless steel and will never rust.

INGENIOUS ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM

Curved grooves in bottom platter allower blender mechanism to swivel into our out of the way of the tire. The only adjustment tool you need is a flat screwdriver or better yet, any small coin will work! Allows the FBU to be used with tire widths from 1.25" to over 2.5"

FAST FRICTION DRIVE

No electronics necessary! Just use the inherent gearing advantages of a bicycle to spin your B3 blender at over 12,000 RPM. System is designed to protect your bicycle from damage while maximizing efficient energy transfer between rider and blender.

COMPATIBLE WITH OTHER B3 ACCESSORIES

Will work with Bottle Blender accessory, ideal for mobile blending and blending with children, as well as all 12V electricity generation equipment. Using the optional Bottle Blender accessory, your Mini B3 blends while you ride safely. Prop your bike up on your Rock Steady Stand and you have a human power generation station whereever you ride!

EASY DISASSEMBLY

Easily disassemble your Mini B3 with standard bicycle tools to clean components after a day of blending. Most parts are designed to last a lifetime, and when your bearing needs replacing, it's easily accomplished by a bicycle repair shop

Kickback Stand

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:52:09 +0000

Kickback Stand -- Xtracycle-compatible center stand

Finally, a center stand for the Xtracycle platform that's stable enough to permit sideloading your FreeLoader bags. It's 24 cm wide, wide enough to load medium-weight boxes and loads on one side of your rig. The one drawback of the Kickback Stand is that to use Footsies at the same time, the Footsies must be modified. That being said, you may find you don't need the Footsies since your passengers will have a 'peg' that extends from the side of the Kickback upon which to rest their feet.

DLG Accessories

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:53:32 +0000

Down Low Glow Accessories and Spares

Here you'll find all the parts that got left behind on your last trip to Miami. Spare batteries, fast chargers, new tubes.

Smart Charger

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:54:53 +0000

Smart Charger helps you get the most from your battery

Our smart charger makes it fast and easy to charge your DLG battery safely. Just connect it to your DLG battery. You'll see the charger's LED light turn red. After the charge cycle completes, the LED turns green, and you're ready to cruise again. The smart charger takes all the guess work out of charging your battery. The smart charger also has the advantage of accepting both 110 and 220 AC power, all that's needed is a plug adapter if you are somewhere without North American style outlets. So if you travel a lot, this is the one to get.

Pedalometer

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 03:02:13 +0000

Six Foot Tall Pedalometer

Fun, accurate, motivating, and visible from anywhere in the venue.

The 6' tall Pedalometer is an amazing help at Pedal Powered Stage events. This precisely calibrated system uses a fan to blow an indicator (beer can) within a 6' tall clear tube. Different colored sections correspond to dangerously low, dangerously high, and 'sweet spot' voltages.

Soul Cycle DIT Head Unit

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:33:20 +0000

Whether you're putting the finishing touches on one of our Soul Cycle Mothership cabinets, or working on a human power project of your own creation, the wiring can be a major challenge. It's usually the last thing you do, after getting the physical forms and fit dialsed. This means you're likely to be be running up against a deadline when it comes time to wire up your creation. That's when the Soul Cycle DIT Head Unit can really come in handy. With this Head Unit you instantly have:

an attractive control panel that's perfect for either cruising or stationary use (ex: human power demonstrations.)
Mounts on your handlebars with the excellent KlickFix quick release system. Secure, quick, fun, and suave. Click. Click. Ready to cruise.
Comes with the 8-way Neutrik quick-release electrical connector. Road tested strain relief and wire management! This means you can separate the Head Unit from your wiring harness with a single twist-lock move.
The top surface of the Head Unit is a removable plate of polycarbonate. Drill it, cut it, customize it, then attach it with four screws. If you make a bad mistake, throw it out and start again without sacrificing the whole head unit.
Can be reused for new projects. You might have a great time with your Human Power bike at indoor events in the wintertime, then want to create a Soul Cycle to lead social rides in the summertime. The Head Unit can be rewired and repurposed.
Optional Rock the Bike build configurations include a 4-channel mixer -- helps you rap or make presentions. Wire micophone jack into the top panel. You'll get the effect of "plugging in to the bike."

In The Pocket Head Unit

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:38:54 +0000

The In-The-Pocket Head Unit is the brains and brawn of your cruising experience. Inside this small, handcrafted, dovetail joined wooden box is a 30 watt digital amplifier and a rechargeable battery good for 5-10 hours of cruising. The Soul Cycle makes it so easy to go cruising, you can literally be out doing it the first night you receive your order. From the moment you get the inspiration to cruise, you can have your speakers and the head unit set up in five minutes or less. The Soul Cycle Head Unit mounts positively to your handlebars using the German-engineered KlickFix system. It's a one-button release, so when it's time to roll into a restaurant, you can take the head unit with you. Similarly the output cord on the head unit uses a twist-lock connector, making it easy to attach and undo. 30 watts may not sound like a lot when compared to 1000-watt Car Audio subwoofer amplifiers. But that's the great thing about bicycle audio. On a bike there's no engine noise to compete with, and the wind noise is also greatly reduced. Another thing to keep in mind when comparing wattage numbers is that audio power is measured exponentially, so a 1000-watt amplifier only plays music about 2.5 times louder than a 30-watt amp. In practice, the Soul Cycle Head Unit is big enough to deliver a satisfying bass thump on dance music, and get 5 or 10 of your friends singing along to David Bowie, Aretha, Pavorotti, or whatever music you like to cruise to. This Head Unit has no speakers and therefore doesn't make any sound on it's own. It contains an amplifier and a built-in rechargeable battery. You simply pair the Head Unit with household or car audio speakers of any size, from bookshelf speakers to tall party speakers. The Xtracycle Sport Utility Bike helps with carrying the latter category. If you're trying to make your party bike as sleek as possible, you may want to consider one of our custom speaker enclosures. They'll fit perfectly on your rack or seatpost, make your setup time even lower than with bookshelf speakers, and turn your everyday transportation bike into a party bike.

Soul Cycle Mothership Cabinet

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:41:51 +0000

When you're feeling the need to "bring the beat, bring the light" in your community, you need to at least consider the Soul Cycle Mothership cabinet, designed for the Xtracycle and Mundo. The Mothership provides a stunning alternative to building your own cabinet . With that preamble, let's introduce some of the features of the Soul Cycle Mothership cabinet:

This item is a separate purchase from our Soul Cycle Head Unit and our new Soul Cycle DIT Head Unit. The new Soul Cycle Mothership cabinet is fully compatible with the Soul Cycle Head Units we have sold over the past few years and will sell in the future.
The fiberglass cabinet is extremely strong. Fiberglass is an amazing material for how light and strong it is. On two occasions I've seen my Choprical Fish fall on its side, one time off a curb! And it literally just left a scratch. This cabinet is designed for all types of terrain, from a smooth concrete boardwalk, to the fireroads leading to your secret eco-party. It can survive being dropped, though why would you want to? It's so cute.
Beautiful lighting mods will abound. We've only scratched the surface with what can be done on the lighting front. You can either choose to customize it yourself, or let us take a stab for you.
Internal shelf allows you to place an amp, rechargeable battery, or other electronics like a wireless microphone. This will be a removeable slat that you can essentially pull out of the cabinet when you need to change or troubleshoot something.
Available with amp and speakers. Price listed is for cabinet itself.

I got the idea to make the Mothership last year after I had completed the Choprical Fish. I was jazzed about what can be done with fiberglass, but scared about how long it seems to take each time I take on a new project. I wanted to be able to turn out an attractive fiberglass cabinet for a customer without having to turn my life upside-down. And I wanted it to be easy enough I can train someone to do it in a day. Hey, you only live once! You know, there haven't been too many times in history when you can click "Buy It Now" and score something as downright life-changing as this Soul Cycle Mothership cabinet. And also there haven't been too many times in history when our planet was as much in need of everyday superheroes as it is right now. I promise you that the environmental toll of making this product -- the epoxy resin, polyurethane moldmaking rubber, and gas it took FEDEX to get it to you, etc. -- will be made up a thousand times over with the amazing catalytic effect it will have on people in your community when you roll through playing your music. You have no idea how many people ask me about getting a bike because they know me as "the guy who rides through the Mission with that rad party bike." And it feels good to know that through this unique branch of the bike culture arts -- cruising with music -- we can inspire so much positive change, while fully rocking out, of course.

Custom Soul Cycles

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:44:05 +0000

We consult with bands, vocalists, DJs, and other people passionate about music and bicycles, to design systems that work with their needs, aesthetically, cost-wise, and functionally. The best examples of Rock the Bike's custom work included: The Choprical Fish The UMDJ: Ultimate Mobile DJ The SHAKE YOUR PEACE! human-powered performance rig Bike Speak Music & Public Address system

Choprical fish gets a bath -- Custom painting available

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:46:02 +0000

Above, Oscar paints the frame of the custom-made "Choprical Fish", human powered party bike. After riding for 2 years with no paint job on the frame, it was time to protect that frame. Although I enjoyed the aesthetic of rolling up with bare metal, it's even nicer to have a glossy blue fade.

Classic Soul Cycle music cabinet

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:49:37 +0000

This is where your work week ends and your nightlife begins. Rock your next social ride with a Classic Soul Cycle. This is your basic, workhorse Soul Cycle. It comes ready to customize with a nice cosmic paint job. It's got controls right where you want them -- the handlebars -- so you can DJ while you ride. This Soul Cycle could be the foundation of a very fun series of Cruiser Rides in your town this summer. It's upgradeable and expandable. It's fully compatible with our Soul Cycle head unit. And, you can add a bazooka bass tube for extra bass. Or you can build up a custom system for more power by using our wiring harness and your own car amp. You can even connect it wirelessly to a second Soul Cycle for 'surround sound' cruising.

Add a Bazooka Subwoofer to your soul cycle for extra bass

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:52:18 +0000

Achieving satisfying bass response is probably the greatest challenge of bicycle audio. It requires lots of power, and a sizeable resonating enclosure, adding weight and heft to your rig. But without bass what's the point?

Soul Cycle Convertible Chopper

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:56:59 +0000

Think back to your favorite characters in your favorite superhero movies. Now picture them on a bicycle. How would they roll up, if they rode a bicycle? Now what about you? You've made a commitment to changing the world. You're a leader in your field. You ride a bike because you want to help spark a change in our culture. But do you want to fall comfortably into the 'upstanding citizen' persona that's been cut out for bicycle riders in our culture? No! You don't want to make any quiet statements. You're ready to stir it up and raise the roof. You're ready for a Soul Cycle Chopper. What makes the Soul Cycle Chopper different from ordinary choppers? Many chopper bicycles have that jaw dropping effect on bystanders that only a custom stretch bike can. The only problem? They can't climb hills. They're utterly impractical, until now. The Soul Cycle Chopper was designed in San Francisco, by a passionate bicycle commuter, to climb SF's hills, and to have maximum curbside appeal. It even has a rigid integrated cargo rack that allows you to carry your work clothes, laptop, or four bags of groceries. When you're truly ready to Rock The Bike, you need a Soul Cycle Chopper. The key to the Soul Cycle Chopper's design is the patent-pending linkage seat system, which allows you to ride in four different positions: Chopping, Cruising, Commuting, and standing. In it's relaxed position, you've got pure attitude. But in its upright position, you've got full leg extension for 100% power. You can sit up and cruise, or leave forward on to the portion of the handlebars near the stem, and get an aero position. And if you need to climb a hill, you can either drop the gear and spin, or stand and push. You'll always find a way to ride that's comfortable in the moment. If you need to get somewhere in a hurry, just come forward into the commuter position. On Friday night, when it's time to lead a social ride, just drop and chop.

Build Your Own Soul Cycle

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:58:24 +0000

Buy your Soul Cycle in kit form to make a party bike on a budget! We offer plans and guidance to people who want to build up a Soul Cycle on their own. Building your own Soul Cycle is a fun and approachable challenge. The skills you'll need are basic woodworking and electronics assembly skills. No soldering is required! We've taken all the hard parts and done it for you. Our unique Soul Cycles are customizeable with your artwork and lighting. Pair it with the Down Low Glow for a sizzlin' ride. Here's what comes in the basic DIY pack for the Soul Cycle Classic:

Wiring harness: This is like the circulatory system for your Soul Cycle, connecting the switches and audio source on the front of your bike to the battery, amp, and speakerbox on the rear. Saves you the hard work of wiring up your Soul Cycle.
Parts list, with recommendations for purchasing supplies online. Your parts budget for a Soul Cycle Classic will be around $550. This parts list should save you about $200-400 over what you'd pay if you didn't have our recommendations.
Woodworking blue print. This includes the cut list and build procedure for a Soul Cycle Classic. There are multiple angles for the blueprints and it's easy to read. You just need access to woodworking tools and 2-3 weekends of shop time, and you'll be able to turn out a great looking Soul Cycle Classic!
A copy of Fossil Fool's e-book, "Soul Cycle Mobile Audio: A Guide to Cruising with Music" The cost of the kit is $375. For an additional 175, I can complete the entire control panel, leaving you to buy supplies and build only the music cabinet.

Rock Sturdy Kickstand

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:23:51 +0000

A two sided kickstand that plugs into your Xtracycle FreeRadical frame. The Rock Sturdy has no moving parts and cannot wear out. It's a stainless steel kickstand that can solidly support your Xtracycle up-right application, whether it's blending smoothies, powering a soundsystem, or selling your wares.

Hello world!

admin — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:20:03 +0000

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V3 Mundo Cargo Bike

sophie — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 20:25:04 +0000

Down Low Glow accessories

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:15:36 +0000

Fast Charger

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:53:42 +0000

Fast Charger Helps You Get the Most from your Battery

Our smart charger makes it fast and easy to charge your DLG battery safely. Just connect it to your DLG battery with the power switch in the ON position. You'll see the charger's LED light turn red. After the charge cycle completes, the LED turns green, and you're ready to cruise again. The smart charger takes all the guess work out of charging your battery. We chose a very gentle trickle charger to include with the DLG, but even so, it can still overcharge if left on the battery for days at a time. Sometimes a full trickle charge will take 6 hours; sometimes it will take 12 hours, depending on how low the battery is. The fast charger only charges as much as the battery needs. So you don't have to monitor it. And it takes a fifth of the time. The smart charger also has the advantage of accepting both 110 and 220 AC power. So if you travel a lot, this is the one to get. We offer European and UK compatible cords, just add a comment when ordering if you need the Euro or UK plug style.

All Nighter Battery for the DLG

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:47:29 +0000

Extra Long Life Battery -- For Worry Free Commuting and All-Night Rides

Extra long life battery -- for worry free commuting and all-night rides.

Above: the All Nighter DLG Battery shown beneath a standard DLG battery. If you find that you are running out of power too early on your dual or single Down Low Glow system, there is a new option: the All Nighter DLG Battery. It's twice as long, twice as heavy ~22oz, and offers run times of 7 hours superbright light for a dual tube system and 14 hours for a single tube system. This makes for a worry free week of commuting or a great fit for nighttime festivals, social rides, and charity rides.

Complete contents of the Soul Cycle Head Unit

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:59:12 +0000

The Soul Cycle Head Unit comes with four parts:

Head Unit, containing an internal 30-watt amplifier and internal rechargeable battery.
KlickFix handlebar mounting system (includes all necessary mounting hardware. Please specify if using oversized handlebars.)
Trickle charger (Fast Charger is available as a $60 upgrade)
Wiring harness, connects your bookshelf speakers or custom speaker enclosure to the Head Unit with a twist-lock connector.
Audio connector (has headphones plug on both sides. Connects iPod or MP3 player to Head Unit
Adhesive-backed Velcro strips, to give extra non-slip security for your iPod or MP3 player while cruising.

No speakers are included with your Head Unit. If you want Rock the Bike to create a custom speaker box for your bike that will sound great with your Head Unit, please call us at 888-354-BIKE. Otherwise, you can use household bookshelf speakers, or automotive 6x9 speakers. An Xtracycle Sport Utility Bike is the perfect way to carry these around on your bike.

Blank Journal

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 22:13:42 +0000

If you're fed up with getting a new digital organizer thingy every 2 years, we highly recommend these sturdy, simple blank journals. In our experience, using a paper journal has several distinct advantages over the latest gizmo:

It's romantic. The feel of pen on paper inspires you to greatness.
You're less likely to lose it. It's larger. If you do lose it and you provide a "if found" notice at the front, people wil probably contact you. (It has low street value).
It has an inner pocket for both inspiring mementos and minutia like receipts and such.

Second Wind Chimes

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 22:14:27 +0000

Think hammocks, sun tea, gardening, and sea breezes. Sleep in and wake up to the sound of your wind chimes in the breeze outside your bedroom. Daydream about sunny bike rides on a stormy day. Handmade in our Berkeley workshop by inventor/craftsman Mike Cobb. Around the workshop, Cobb is known for his passionate recycling and reuse. He has been seen hack-sawing aerosol cans to separate the recyclable metal from the plastic nozzle. Prior to developing the 'Second Wind' chimes, he manufactured "Oyster Buckets" bike panniers and "Tube Saver" innertube-enclosed patch kits while running the green business he called Cobbworks in Olympia, Washington. Mike personally selects and removes the valuable parts from bikes destined for landfills, transforming this trash into a beautiful item for your home. These hand-made chimes help you transform an ordinary afternoon into a relaxing excursion. Made from salvaged bicycle parts including cogs, chainrings, freewheel bodies, cranks, chains, and derailleur cables. No two are the same. Offers a resonant-chime in medium breezes. Protected with a light coat of acryllic varnish, these chimes start out with a glossy shine, but are not weatherproof. They will develop a rusty patina over the years. However, as the various metals -- cromoly steel, aluminum, and nickel-plated steel -- take on the color of age, the stainless steel cables and brass hardware maintain their integrity.

Lockable Grips

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 22:15:56 +0000

Lockable Grips, By Pedros

They'll never slip around, even in the rain.

In the world of Product Design, 'Contact Points' are the places where a human interfaces with a product. On a bicycle, the contact points are the pedals for your feet, the seat / saddle for your rear end, and the grips, shifters and brake levers for your hands.

When a friend walks up to you and complements your bike, their hands will probably reach for the grips and brakes. And if you want to improve your experience on your bike, one of the first places to start is with the grips and other contact points.

We've been testing a few different types of bike grips and are excited to recommend Pedros Lockable grips. These grips have three really important things going for them:

1. They feel great on your hands. The small diamonds are just the right hardness to cushion your hands on harsh roads, yet they feel really secure in tense situations.

2. Never come loose in wet weather. Normal bike grips are vulnerable to water penetration, which can cuase them to rotate around your handlebars on wet rides. But this is exactly when you need your bike to be predictable and surefooted. Get a pair of grips that will never be slippery when wet. The Pedros Locking Grips tighten to your handlebars with machine screws. They don't rely on friction.

3. No hairspray required. Have you ever had to run to the store to buy some Aqua Net because you wanted to pull a pair of grips off? (Hairspray acts as a lubricant when wet and an adhesive when dry.) We love hairspray just as much as the next pyromaniac, but when it comes to working on bikes, it's cooler if the parts just work as they are without having to spray beauty products on them. Because they install with an 3mm Allen key, the Pedro's Locking Grips don't require any lubrication or force to install.

4. You can modify these grips to your desired length by cutting them down with a hack saw. They have two locking points. If you remove one of the two locking points (as might be necessary if your bike has twist shifters) you can still get a very secure mount on your handlebars.

Incredibell

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 22:17:10 +0000

Incredibell Pedestrian Alert System

The Incredibell is a solid brass bell that mounts cleanly to your handlebars. It's got a double action, meaning that you press it once, you hear two bell strikes. And these aren't wimpy ceramic dinner bell tinkles, either. This is solid brass, people! The sound really carries and has a beautiful tone to it. Everyone who hears this bell loves the sound of it. The double action is also handy for adding percussion to the music on a cruiser ride. More on that later. During the 90's having a bell was one of those things we were taught to look down on for no good reason. The dominance of 'performance' emphasis in the bike industry turned useful accessories like bells and kickstands into 'excess weight'. The bell is back. The Incredibell is small. It weighs just about nothing. Only a truly heartless bastard would steal it. It's about the most cheerful thing on your bike. It is simply the coolest, most dignified way there is to say "I'm coming. Please be careful." If you don't have one, you'll just end up grumbling unrecognizable noises or clicking your brake levers at some grandma or a cute female. These behaviors contribute to the perception that bicyclists are 'wierd,' 'geeky,' and self-centered. By contrast, ringing a bell evokes all the charm of the bike aura and spreads the love, big time. So get yourself a bell! I used to have a girlfriend, who, every time she came over, she'd ring her bike bell outside my apartment to let me know she was home. All the way up in the attic I'd hear the mellifluous tones and run down to greet her. That bell, ladies and gentlemen, was an Incredibell.

Pedal Powered Stage Gear

sophie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 23:26:10 +0000

This is the gear we use at our own Pedal Powered Stage events, including the San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival.

A Pedal Powered Stage is a system that must include ALL of the following: - generator(s) - loudspeaker(s) and audio gear - protection circuitry and voltage buffer - wiring and interconnects - pedalometer The following elements are optional: - lighting Creating a system yourself can be a great team-building experience but has a serious learning curve. Working with Rock The Bike, by buying our gear outright or scheduling a 'barnraising' (collaborative build), will get you up and running much more quickly and with higher quality components. You'll be able to put your focus on organizing events much sooner. Let our experience work for you. We've been Pedal Powering music events since 2007. This will translate to less frustration and more empowering moments when you use our gear at your events. We would be happy to assist you in customizing a quote for your Pedal Powered Stage. Please note that the items in this category are often made to order. Please help us help you by giving us enough time to do our best work. Please read: "What are the technical elements of a Pedal Powered Stage?"

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