Tag: BICYCLE

Green vehicles, for many people, have become status symbols rather than just modes of transportation. For example, take the BlackTrail BT-01 electric bike. Manufactured in a limited run of 667 models by Germany's PG-Bikes, this electric hog retails for around $80,000. It's built from lightweight carbon fiber and aerospace aluminum, and weighs just 44 pounds. A 2.5 hour charge on the 17Ah Li-ion ...

Last Tuesday, Leigh Fazzina was racing her bike through the woods in Connecticut when she suddenly drifted away from the rest of the cyclists competing in the mini-triathlon. As she was furiously riding downhill toward the main bike trail, her front wheel ran into some gnarly tree roots, and she crashed in a grand fashion. The 36-year old from Philly wasn't familiar with the Connecticut ...

With so many geeks riding bicycles, it was only a matter of time until the two-wheeled mode of transportation would get wired. An Instructables.com user recently posted a set of DIY instructions that demonstrates how to rig a bike to power USB devices. The user took a regular USB car adapter, and connected it to a voltage regulator, which leads to a stepper motor mounted near the bike's rear ...

A certain segment of the population is currently in love with two forms of transportation: bicycles and anything electric. That demographic, then, will be happy to meet their next enviro-crush: Stephen Britt and his Fast Forward electric bike pedals. According to Britt, the slightly lazy cyclist need do nothing more than replace his old Saucony-platforms with these suckers, and grin as he pumps ...

Let's face it. Casually riding your bike around on a calm, summery afternoon might be a pleasant experience. But wouldn't it be a whole lot more pleasant if you could pedal around town and produce seizure-inducing synthesized music at the same time? With a device called the Velosynth, you can. As explained in this slightly annoying demo video from the creators at EFFALO, the Velosynth "allows ...

California banned texting while driving a motor vehicle more than a year ago, but now, one lawmaker wants to extend this ban to include cyclists. According to NPR, State Senator Joe Simitian drafted a law, which is currently in the Senate, that would make it illegal to use a cell phone while riding a bike. This ban seems like common sense to us, but, of course, reactions have been mixed. "These ...

What would you do for a free meal? According to BBC News, the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Copenhagen is giving guests a $36 meal voucher if they ride an exercise bicycle for 15-minutes -- or until they produce 10-watts of electricity. This program, which launches April 19th, will not only reduce the hotel's carbon footprint, but it will keep guests healthy. An iPhone that shows how much power your legs ...

The Web is teeming with the unrealized ideas of both students and established designers who set out to produce astonishing renderings and prototypes for unusual products. Unfortunately, due to the lack of time, money, or technology, many of those products never progress from the planning stages to the mass market. But that doesn't mean we can't salivate over them, nevertheless. What will our ...

Looking to get a head start on that New Year's resolution to lose weight? Well, if you're in Manhattan, Duracell can help with that, and you can help generate some renewable energy while you're at it. According to Inhabitat, Duracell set up its Smart Power Lab in Times Square. Volunteer can pedal stationary bikes called Power Rovers, which will then generate the electricity needed to light up ...

Usually, you have to hop on a plane for Japan -- or at the very least, find a savvy importer -- to get your hands on the best new gadgets around, but to land a Copenhagen Wheel, you won't have to go quite as far. Unveiled yesterday by a team of MIT students at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, the aptly named Copenhagen Wheel is aimed at city cyclists ...

These days, everybody's looking for "greener" ways to get around town. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise us to discover that our mom had ditched her SUV for a bicycle. This wasn't the case until fairly recently in the U.S., but the Japanese, ever the technology mavericks, were green when green wasn't cool. Need evidence? Just check out these bike models from Shukuno Rintendo that Today and ...

The economic slump has been tough on all kinds of businesses, even whorehouses. When money is tight, it looks like paying for sex is one of those extras people just can't afford. But one brothel in Berlin isn't taking this news lying down (Excuse the pun). According to The Associated Press, Maison d'Envie, or House of Desire, is giving a $7.50 (5€) discount to all customers who either ride a ...

Being that most of us here at Switched are based in New York City, and that we're all poorly paid bloggers, it should come as no surprise that we often rely on pedal power to get around. Considering that, it goes without saying that we enjoy combining our love of gadgets with our two-wheeled transport. So we're jazzed about the Spooklight, a bicycle taillight that, at least on paper, sounds ...

There are a variety of ways for lonely technology and science geeks to meet new friends and take part in exciting new activities, like going to conventions, visiting chat rooms, and signing up for dating services. If you're skilled enough, though, you could just build your own companion. According to Gizmodo, a man named Carl has constructed Joules the robot specifically to occupy the empty ...

Recipe for Internet success: Take at least two things (the more, the better) that are popular right now. Jam them together. Post photos or video online. Enjoy your 15 seconds of meme fame. That recipe seems to be working for Rusnan, a reader at autobloggreen, who decided to mix the Web's love for all things steampunk (a steam engine and rust) and eco-friendly (a bicycle), with sheer ...