bike

You're stuck in wall-to-wall traffic and home prices that you cannot hope to afford your home (even, apparently, if you're a millionaire). Why not move out to Utah? The grass isn't greener, but the mountain biking trails are awesome.

Here's a glimpse of my favorite: The Bobsled. I rode it this morning with my helmet cam on. Sheer bliss.… Read more

What ever happened to old-fashioned sirens? We hate the way that just one tap on the obnoxious horns of today's fire engines routinely make everyone jump out of their skin. But there's a something on the market that can give everyday sclubs like us a chance to do the same thing right back--from a bike, no less.

The frame-mounted "Thunder Horn" claims to emit a 115-decibel auditory assault, which Technabob says is the equivalent of "standing in the front row of a Metallica concert." Brando, its Hong Kong-based manufacturer, warns not to use it … Read more

There are scads of devices designed to monitor performance while running on the track or treadmill, ranging from MP3 players to running shoes. But digital health equipment pioneer Polar has made it a mission to come up with an electronic fitness aid for cyclists as well.

The CS600 is like an on-board computer with its own software, which Gadgetell says was developed with the help of six teams from last year's Tour de France, "evaluating your heart's performance, bike speed, altitude and cadence." But be warned: Good health often comes at a price, and in this … Read more

Even in this day of permanently affixed earphones, some people insist on enjoying their music the old-fashioned way, in the open air. And cyclists are no exception.

The only problem is that some speakers created specifically for bike frames are, as colleague Jasmine France would delicately put it, fugly. iHome, however, is trying to remedy that with its "Bike to Beach Bicycle Speaker" for the iPod.

The sleek design of the $100 " iH85," as it's also known, makes it look something like a rifle scope. But MobileWhack says it's supposed to add brawn to … Read more

Shimano has begun selling a new automatic-shift bicycle gearing system--but these gears aren't for gearheads.

Instead, Shimano's Coasting system is designed for the easily daunted cyclist. The three-speed transmission works on flat or flattish terrain. It includes a built-in coaster brake--the kind where you backpedal to slow the bike--because Shimano found that a lot of people were intimidated by those crazy handlebar-mounted brake levers.

I'm not in the target market, but after a test ride I concluded the Shimano's automatic bike transmission has merit. The biggest hitch is that a bike costs $450 to $700--potentially … Read more

While it won't go over with the biking cognoscenti who prefer a polished Italian-made drivetrain, the occasional leisure cyclist may find this a fun toy along the lines of the suitcase bike.

Hammacher Schlemmer is selling a chain-free 3-speed called the Belt Drive Bike for $500

As it says in the name, the bicycle has a lube-free Kevlar belt in lieu of a bike chain. The company claims that its lightweight and grease-free belt system needs no tension adjustment, and will not slack or slip.

Ergonomic adjustable 9-inch seat, 19.75-inch aluminum frame, and 26-inch tires with stainless steel … Read more

We were feeling a tad guilty for pointing out a special remote for kids yesterday. So to do our part in promoting physical fitness among our youth, today we're offering this bike simulator so kids can get in some stationary cycling while playing their video games.

Why, you might ask, wouldn't parents tell their kids to take real bikes outside and ride them? Because that wouldn't be very virtual now, would it? Duh.

The Raw Feed notes that Fisher-Price has hired ancient fitness guru Richard Simmons to help promote the "Smart Cycle," but we'll … Read more

These days, you can "mod" (that's the cool, techy way to say "modify") just about anything these days. iPods, Xboxes, computers...you name it. And now Spluch is showcasing a yet-to-be-released product (due out next month) that lets you mod your mountain bike into an "all-terrain riding machine." Called the Ktrack, this kit will turn your bike into a contraption that will ride on snow and sand. Cool, right?

But I'm skeptical. First of all, keep in mind that this is a kit, which means that there's always the chance that … Read more

There are several very interesting location-recording Web sites right now, like Platial, 43 Places, Wayfaring and Flagr. They all record locations and let you tell a story about them. EveryTrail, a new site in early development, adds a wrinkle: It will record your path between waypoints, not just the stops you make.

Why would you want this? To record a favorite hike or bike ride, perhaps. This site lets you share your route with others, for those trips where the point is the traveling.

EveryTrail requires that you have a way to record your movements, of course. You'll need … Read more