Frodat WTF: Awesome Cargo Bike Bench

   I don't know if this is a functional bike, but it sure is a cool idea:

Bike Bench

   If you like riding bikes, and talking about bikes, you probably will like sitting on a bench made out of a bike!

Electric Assist Trailer

   Electric assist is changing the way people ride bikes. Daily commuter electric bikes make traveling by bicycle more convenient. Not without controversy, Moab put a blanket ban on electric bikes on the surrounding trails. Even the big boys like Cannondale, Specialized and Trek are making electric bikes.
   Whether you like e-bikes or not, combining electric assist and cargo bike capability opens a lot of opportunities. Check out Cargo Carla. They make trailers that has an electric assist built in.

Cargo Carla

   The trailer has wheel in the front providing a lot of stability, a low design further keeping the load stable and a braking system to keep everything under control. The design means that it can easily be uncoupled from the bike and used as a pallet jack style hand cart.

Hand cart mode

Some of the facts:
- Because of the three wheels, it is super diverse.
- It is mounted on almost any bike at the seat post, and unmounted just as easily.
- Their site boasts an impressive 300 pound weight limit.
- The electric wheel is a hub mounted model that has a proven effectiveness in the market already.
- In addition to poewr, it has brakes, giving far more control over the heavy loads.

Lumber hauler

Check out a video of it in action here:

In action

   With a price tag of just shy of $3k, it is not an investment to be taken lightly, but for the right application, might be the perfect choice.

In the wild

New Wheels for the SuperSix

   I have been rocking the same road wheels for two bikes now, a really great pair of Mavic Ksyriums. As the miles have been adding up, there have been some noticeable age indicators on these wheels: a creak in the front wheel; the free hub body needs cleaning and greasing about 2 times a season, and the wear indicators are getting shallow.
   I came across this great lightly used set of Ultegra wheels on CraigsList, and decided to update my bike. These area pretty standard training wheel, "good for anything up to a race." which is accurate for what I'll use them for.

Old (top) and new (bottom)

   One thing I didn't want to do was take on a huge weight penalty. Here is how the weight difference shakes out. Weights were taken without tires, skewers or cassette:

Mavic front: 1 lb 8 oz

Shimano front: 1 lb 8 oz

Mavic rear: 1 lb 14 oz

Shimano rear: 2 lb 2 oz

   So there's a +4 oz difference - totally acceptable for a new wheel set. If anything needs to be addressed on my bike it is the crank - a heavy replacement for the failed FSA SLK last fall. 

   As the wheel set is newer, the free hub body is set up for an 11 speed so I had to get a spacer from Sports Garage to fit my current 10 speed group:

10 speed spacer

   This was a simple addition and with a little adjustment it was shifting smooth. Here's a show with the new wheels:

All set up!

   While at it, I decided to put on some new rubber as well. The Continentals I was running were getting pretty beat up.

Tire damage 

   I got some Michelin Dynamic Sport tires I was excited to try out. They are 28c tires, larger than the 25c continentals. On the first ride I found out that there really wasn't sufficient clearance with the monster 28c tires, so I reverted to some 25c's. Big tires are going to have to go on the cross bike someday.
   Some of the reviews I read on the Ultrgra wheels said mounting was challenging because they are tubeless, but I was able to get these on with no tools. Maybe those reviewers need to work on their arm strength.

Friday WTF: Bike Periscope

   Kickstarter: solving problems in new and pointless ways. This product is a little mirror you put on your bike, so you can look down when riding and not hit stuff.

Is this you?

   Seems like you could, you know, just look where you are going. Here's a couple shots of the prototype:

The Pediscope

Mounted up

   I'm torn between the silliness of this, and the forward thinking. This product might not be perfect, but maybe it is a step on the way to something that is awesome, who knows. The kickstarter has ended, and while the founder raised $6k, he fell short of the $20k goal, so this will not go into production. 

Full Suspension Throwback: Kestrel Rubicon

   I was over at The Pro's Closet a while back picking up some parts I got for a sweet deal, and saw this bike sitting in the front area. They have a great collection of bikes and this is a perfect example. It was even the subject of an in depth post of their own.

1999 Kestrel Rubicon

   Why read their post with their copywriter and professional photographer when you can read mine with speculative facts and camera phone pictures?
   This bike was designed with what was cutting edge when it was raced in the 90's. Here are some of the more noticeable features:

Monster Chainring
 One of the first things that stands out is the huge chainring. Downhill races back then usually ended with some kind of downhill sprint, and having a huge gear allowed racers to pedal at 40+ mph. It is a single ring in the front as there was no climbing needed. Clearance must have been a nightmare.

Chain wheeeeeeel

Rim Brakes
   This bad boy is also equipped with hydraulic rim brakes. These are still popular with trials riders for their superb power, but are inferior to disc brakes for modulation and heat dissipation. These things have power, but your rim would be white hot at the end of the race.

Magura rim brakes

Quick Release Axles
This bike has 9mm quick release skewers, state of the art at the time, but not nearly as strong or stiff as current thru axles. These allowed the wheels to come off easily, which may or may not be desirable on a downhill bike.

Two Shocks
Hard not to notice that the bike is sporting two shocks at opposite ends of a rocker arm. This is not factory, and is actually the brainchild of rider Kurt Stockton. He came up with the idea of replacing the link with another shock, increasing the travel from 4.5 to around 8". This did a lot to slacken up the handling and give more sag to the bike, something most bikes back then lacked.

Modified suspension set up

Original suspension set up

Custom Clutch Derailleur

   There is an arm hanging off the back of the bike with a spring connecting it to the derailleur. This is an early attempt at a chain tensioner. Modern derailleurs have increased spring tension in the guts, called a clutch that provides a stiff platform for shifting. This keeps the chain from slapping the chainstay like a wet fish. This mod tightens up the whole system, and keeps chain slap to a minimum at the expense of simplicity. 

Chain tensioner

   It is cool to see where technology has come in the last 15 years. Safe to say...

   

Here is a bunch more (professionally written) info on the bike:

Bike Radar review:
http://www.bikeradar.com/us/mtb/gear/article/throwback-thursday-1995-kestrel-rubicon-comp-kamikaze-41390/

Blue Book page and value (not as much as you'd think):
http://www.bicyclebluebook.com/searchlistingdetail.aspx?id=70679

MTBR Review:
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/bikes/bike-full/kestrel/1999-rubicon-comp/prd_349922_95crx.aspx

Pink Bike
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/1995-kestrel-rubicon-comp-now-that-was-a-bike.html

Belt Drive BMX

   Belt drive bikes are not exactly new to the scene, but still are an uncommon sight. Around here, we see a lot of Spot bikes fitted with belt drives, especially the Acme and the Ajax commuter bikes.
   While perusing the Yess BMX Facebook page, I found an interesting article on their belt drive BMX bike. The post was about Drew Motley winning the 2016 ABA BMX Cruiser title on a Gates Carbom Belt Drive bike.

Drew Motley

   Drew is the first person to win a title on a non-chain drive bike, which is pretty exciting. The Yess post did a great job of explaining the pros and cons of a belt drive, as well as including some cool pictures.

Freewheel and frame break

Chainring (Beltring?)

Pros
- Belt drives are less susceptible to mud and sand
- The belt-driven drivetrain weighs nearly half what a chain drive system weighs
- Silent running
- No stretch
- No need to lube or much maintenance of any kind

Cons
- The only solution for a broken belt is a new belt - no repairs
- Belts are easily damaged, you must handle with care
- Installation, tensioning and alignment are lengthy processes
- The big one: Frames must be built with a break to allow for the chain. Additionally, as the Yess post points out, you must have clearance on the drive side chainstay for the sprocket to pass. The system is wider than a chain drive and needs more space.

   The Yess site had listed that the belt runs great when packed with mud, which I don't think is much of an advantage. Being able to leave your bike dirty is't really an advantage. Here's a shot of another bike fitted with a disc brake, very cool.

Yess!

   So are belt drives the new normal for BMX? Probably not. The advantages are something more attractive to your commuter looking for a clean, easy low maintenance bike than a racer who won't shy away from wrenching. It is still very cool to see new technology trickling into BMX! 

Yakima Celebrates the National Parks Centennial

   Yakima is launching a new line called StreamLine that boasts aerodynamics, strength and versatility. The new system is launching in coincidence with the National Parks Service celebrating 100 years. To celebrate this, Yakima is also giving away a limited edition cargo box with National Park Service graphics:

The Box

   The artwork is pretty neat designes based on some of the best features of our National Parks. You can share a photo with #YakimaNPContest for a chance to win a limited edition Centennial ShowCase cargo box.

   The National Parks Service also celebrated by waiving entrance fees earlier this month. For a list of the free days for the year, check out their site.

Close up of the artwork

   So go check out your local National Parks. Here a shot of one of my favorites:

Independence Monument