Early this year, I had written a post on the Isotruss bike frame from a strictly structural and engineering point of view. Read it here if you haven't.
While it was not known then how exactly the folks behind the bike would manufacture it and bring down the costs, we now know that they have taken many streamlining steps in both their manufacturing and management areas.
However, while all this has served to get all the production inhouse, giving the ability to lower costs, control quality more and produce a higher number of frames per year, they still haven't tackled some of the issues everyone has been talking about ever since the news of this design hit the media.
For example, apart from "the cheesgrater" and the "mobile geological reservoir" that people have been naming it, I see two other disadvantages that may or may not seem obvious.
Where can a rider fit his water bottle cages? Is this bike the "Hydration Killer"? And what about the sharp edges of the isotruss structure that could potentially hurt a user during use?
The somewhat partial yet important shielding effect from splashing water of a solid seat tube, top tube and down tube iseffectively eliminated. This can be a problem, while riding in rain since the rider is now subjected to a new stream of attacking water in the directions shown above.You can't tell someone not to ride in the rain either.
Many new bicycle manufacturers getting into the cycling scene think being "light weight", "super-strong" and seeming "fast" are everything.
While those are important, a lot of them do miss on function, the aesthetics, the overall riding experience and most importantly, customer satisfaction.
With so many companies in cycling competing with each other for customers, if one of them effectively fail to address these issues, they are in danger of easily losing to someone else. The customer is everything! Ignoring that aspect is a trade off you can't afford to make.
If anyone from Delta 7 is reading this, like you did on my previous post, you're most welcome to post some comments as to how you're going to tackle each of the issues. Where is the frame 'skin' that you've been talking about? Is that an add-on or are you not considering its possibility any longer?
Update : There were mentions of glue-on water bottle bosses in the comments to this post. A reader alerted me to a closeup picture where you can see this.
Cozy Beehive reader Jon commented that during his test ride on the Arantix Mountain Bike at this year's Interbike, he found the ride performance only so-so compared to equally priced MTB models. But another interesting comment from him was that he found the seatstay-seat tube junction was so "huge" that it was hitting his legs on "almost every pedal stroke".
Courtesy : Acidinmyleg's Photostream (Notice the water bottle cage, pretty impressive 'glue on' bosses)
Looks like this is something Delta 7 has to sort out - yet another bone in its throat on the MTB side.
UPDATE (10/3/2008) : I just wanted to let you all know that during the outdoor demo of this year's Interbike, there were multiple failures on some of the Isotruss demo bikes!! Here's the confession from Delta 7 (via reader comments on Bike Rumor) : " Unfortunately there were two failures during the demonstration at Bootleg Canyon. The batch of bikes made specifically for the event had an epoxy failure and the head lug disconnected (came apart) from the IsoTruss tubing. Complete analysis is still being worked on. The company went to great lengths to gather a few bikes from previous production runs to have available for the demonstration. "
To demonstrate the ineffective sealing on some of the cheaper grades of bicycle bearings out there, a sample bearing was placed on a flashlight. The orange light leaking across the gap from the seal and the bearing race speaks for itself.
2 years ago we were in the abstinence related industry, when we introduced our revolutionary breakfast meals for persons with an addiction to winning more times than necessary.
Prominent athletes all around the world tasted it and later, burped with exhaustion and retired.
The rest, like they say, is history.
At the time, we were the only vertically integrated, stiff yet compliant company to introduce this to market, with about 18% lesser (bi) cycle time to get it to said market than our chasing competitor.
Our track record in this regard has been exceptional, to say the least.
Continuing in our traditions of providing custom made solutions to completely custom made problems, we've discovered the need to comeback again after a 2 year hiatus. Only this time, for a new cause, for a new goal.
What's this, you ask?
Permit us to elucidate.
The problem of Global Cancer Epidemic takes 8 Magazillion lives every year.
The problem of Global Stupidity haunts 18 Bagazillions more than any other Epidemic combined.
So we asked ourselves - which one is greater? Note that apart from a whole lot of constipated thinking, the human mind yields nothing else fruitful in this regard, since its not designed to fathom Magazillions and Bagazillions.
Many lengthy comparisons on an array of supercomputers later , we've settled for an answer.
Understanding that Stupidity exists on a massive scale on the Globe, we've decided to concentrate our resources to providing solutions in specialized areas, such as the field of Longitudunal Testing In Human Performance Research (L.T.H.P.R). Market analysts have prompted us that one facet of the Global blunder we're after may just be running amok in this area.
So after many many hours of tweaking and extensive anonymous surveys with our panel of erudite lab mice, we introduce our latest innovation geared towards the error prone research fellow investigating high profile athletes. Yes, you heard right.
Savestrong is simply a clean-looking USB Flash Drive with a whole lot of space. It is, however, exclusively designed for saving imaginary, non peer-reviewed research information and any other raw data that doesn't make sense.
Note that it will not work with anything else. An embedded lie detector within the instrument gauges whether the information being saved is accurate or not. If accurate, a red light blinks and all of the data in the drive will be discarded.
The exterior of Savestrong is yellow in color to remind everyone that no, we haven't forgotten about the other problem of the world, which is cancer.
Savestrong - Yellow in color with the look of a mouse, perfect for any lab
So permit us, editor, to make a case for Savestrong out to all human performance researchers attempting longitudinal testing :
Firstly, we here at Savestrong respect your telepathically acquired research data, and understand the mess of digging it up for debates when it spans long periods of time.
We also believe in minimalism. Savestrong adequately protects you from the inability to respond with information in court or in other relevant scientific debates of our time by saving all the holes and flaws of your data into one tiny 100 GB space.
Longitudinal Testing (L.T.H.P.R) is not an easy task.
It essentially involves continuously studying an imaginary subject not present on a stationary bicycle at the time of testing, for an extended period of time. All this provided that the subject has a reasonable alibi for being away. Bathroom breaks, space tourism to another planet, a pasta dinner with the wife, absconding with money... all may count, depending upon the protocols laid out in the study.
L.T.H.P.R Explained
But with Savestrong, all you need to do is just point the Flash Drive at your imaginary research subject on the laboratory ergometer. To one's amazement, the instrument promptly picks up any imaginary performance variables no matter what heck of a longitude the actual subject may be on!
Savestrong is Longitudinally Forgiving
In addition, for proper research etiquette and accountability, the Savestrong Flash Drive puts the T back in Transparency.
It is completely transparent!
That's right. Now, with this vast design improvement, any whitecoated researcher can see at once see the data he's saving by peering into the Flash Drive, as the data inches away like an earthworm into the secure depths of Savestrong's handsome electronic interiors.
Then, you may do anything with all this performance information as you please.
Plug this into your incorrect formulas and you have a paper for the media!!
Bring it to court and win umpteen lawsuits!
Blackmail your research subject for a handsome ransom.
Or place it into one of our specialty freezers and you have years of reliable environment proof storage within a storage.
So, lets sum up our ideas once again.
Grilled over "minor" errors?
Blasted over accountability?
Fired in the name of scientific misdemeanor?
Most of all, missing key data?
We ask the perpetrators of junk research to fear not, take a deep breath and call us here at Savestrong today.
Preparation is paramount while facing the hard times shelled out from your peers in the academic fraternity. Traditionally, matters have always been Fight or Flight in research circle debates.
We now hope that with Savestrong, things will only be Fight or Fight, with absolutely no room for any more flights with Delta efficiency.
Savestrong!
Call : 1800-SAVE-MY-SCIENTIFIC-REAR....For A Quote
1. RETRO TREND IN BICYCLE DESIGN : If you're a keen observer of the design world, the blending of the retro with the modern is the latest trend. Some say its even the future. Retro is now seemingly everywhere, from automobiles to home interiors to fashion design. Its also extending to bicycles. The retro trend is honing in on bicycle design in places like Germany, says an Earth Times article. And different bicycle manufacturers have different design ideas for style. Some interesting statements in the article were about Cannondale and Volkswagen :
Carmakers such as Volkswagen have also discovered the retro trend in bicycles, reissuing two series of Bonanza bikes whose features includes banana seats, high handle bars and three gears. The company has produced 500 each of the models 1976 and Goal. The bike costs around 350 euros in Germany. While Volkswagen emphasizes originality in its remakes and Bergamont is using new materials to spur on a spirit of old bicycle purism, the manufacturer Cannondale is combining modern engineering with a classic appearance indicating a direction that the retro trend could take. Cannondale's 2008 model Vintage looks like a bicycle of yesteryear with its black matt finish and natural-coloured leather seat and handle bar grips. But the classic facade conceals modern-day accessories such as hydraulic disc brakes and an automatic lighting system.
2. CANNONDALE PONG : Speaking of vintage bikes, remember the Cannondale pong prototype? Bizarre but really cool looking. James at Bicycle Design had a take on it on his blog two years back.
3. DERRINGER CYCLES : On a somewhat related retro note, an interesting shop called Derringer Cycles in LA, California and its industrial designer founder, Adrian Van Anz, carry the design system of thought that the most ideal urban vehicle is a cross between a Ducati and a vintage Schwinn, with a style that picks the athletic image of a board track racer. However, it must be said that it is still considered a motorcycle.
I have not seen many plug a 49cc 4 stroke Honda engine in place of water bottle cages and a multigallon fuel tank on the top tube of a retro pedal bike before, so this is a treat for the eyes. Did someone point out to proper stand over heights and blasphemous Q-Factors?! Hell yeah!
4. POWER-WAY INDUSTRIAL BICYCLE HUBS : I have to admit that I have not seen a well designed and gorgeous looking wheel hub anywhere like a Chris King. But the Taiwanese do know a thing or two about style as well.
I'm very interested to know more about this whole patented 'O Cricoid Spring' design with 6 pawls. Sounds a lot like Greek to me right now. When it comes to putting quality information for the potential customer on their website, the Asians are a little behind.
Apparently, the man at Power-way had a case of writer's block while on the side, also managed to mangle the English language like some Caterpiller D9 Bulldozer.
Rest said, Power-way, we like your purts and Princippies!
I was delighted to not worry about braving New York City traffic to get to the 4th Clinton Global Initiative since Kaiser Network was webcasting the whole thing live starting at 10am today.
Okay, so among the audience were 60 heads of state, 5 Nobel laureates, more than 100 CEO's, other leaders of the world...blah blah...
So then began the Opening Plenary.
Bill Clinton called Lance Armstrong and Mayor Bloomberg to the stage after introducing his cancer initiative.
"This commitment is to broaden the scope and reach of the Armstrong Foundation from a national to an international effort to support cancer survivors and make cancer an international priority. "
"Its an 8 million dollar effort over 5 years to launch an international awareness campaign and create grassroots movements in countries across the globe, to convene the Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in Paris at the end of the 2009 Tour de France, where world leaders will commit to making cancer a priority in their countries."
Lets just hope Lance and his brigadiers won't smash the traditional Paris ending at the Tour.Its still about the race, you know.
"This is an exceptional commitment by an exceptional person", concluded Clinton before stepping off.
Lance was then given the opportunity to speak. He didn't waste any time to start reminiscing how much he missed seeing the massive Magnolia tree in the White House Rose Garden that changed a 7 minute private time limit with the former President to almost an hour (the same lines he told to Vanity Fair). What goes on in the Rose Garden, stays in the Rose Garden.
Well Lance, we would rather that you not talk about trees and grass anymore. Look, get on the bike. And stay away from vegetation. Have you looked at your water bill lately, sir? No more Magnolia trees for you!
Anyway, Lance then said something about the idea that "we have the medicine and the technology to save lives but we do not apply it.If we're not applying the medicines we have, we're failing morally and ethically."
Lance, the terrible fact is, the rich-poor divide unfortunately brings these medicines and technology only to the doorstep of the rich. And major multi-billion dollar drug companies find it more profitable to TREAT as opposed to CURE and ROUT out cancer as long as they have the ability to patent, sell and make profit. Why is there so much indifference to cancer prevention? And wouldn't we all be economically better off if there was no cancer at all?I'm hoping whatever you're planning out addresses root causes as well.
Then his speech slipped into cycling. "For some of you who may have not heard, I have decided to race my bicycle again."
He added that he feels, "racing my bicycle all around the world is the best way to get the word on cancer out."
"Its no different from when Bono goes out to concerts, he talks about these issues (like poverty)"
I see. So you take his concert idea, and he takes your wristband idea in return. Fair trade.
Lance continued about how a single person won't help, and the importance of partnerships.
"Partnerships make it possible.."
Armstrong referred to his partnerships such as with the Nike corporation, whose sale of Livestrong wristbands results in '100%' of all proceeds going to the cancer cause.
"I may not guarantee an 8th Tour victory" and ended his words by saying "..but I will guarantee that the Livestrong message will touch all aspects of society."
Lance, why shying away from an 8th Tour win? Didn't this race kick start your engine well? Bill Stapleton has more optimism than you. But then again, he can't ride a bike.
Lance handed the spot to Mayor Bloomberg who gave his support to Lance's effort.
"This time, its not to win.... but to beat... and its beating cancer thats the real objective."
Somewhere at that point, he looks to Lance and apparently jokes, speaking of his unshaken belief in Lance's cancer initiative:
"Its.. just like riding a bike, you get on and pedal....what's so complicated about all of this?"
Nice one, Mayor. The global politics of cancer...all these team shufflings, and signings and sign offs, all the shakeups going on across the Atlantic from the riders to the fans to the broadcasters to the Tour organizers, all the people who're upset and worried about Lance coming back and putting his legacy on the line, the others who don't want to see him again.... yeah, what is so complicated right?
"With this latest comeback, Lance has come up with an innovative way to galvanize awareness about cancer."
No he didn't. He took Bono's idea. :)
"I will make sure that this opportunity is not wasted. Between now and July next year, my foundation will work with Lance and Livestrong to ensure that when people watch the Tour, they consider cancer prevention." But will this mean our TV sets in July will be flooded with advertisements left and right?
"..part of our partnership [with Lance] will focus on the anti-tobacco initiatives that my own foundation has launched around the world.."
"We know how to reduce tobacco use, but what we need is the political and community leadership to get it done."
"Only 5% of the world's population is covered by any of the most effective strategies like taxes on tobacco, smoking bans and hard hitting commercials....."
"....that's why my foundation has commited 375 million dollars to empower and encourage governments to take action and make their countries smoke free, and that's why I was thrilled to have enlisted the help of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which has contributed another 125 million dollars to this effort."
He talks a bit about why he was unpopular with his smoke free city plan, and how he's been able to reduce teenage smoking in the city by over 50% as a result. True or false?
Finally, the "Lance, you're my hero" lines don't fall out of place.
"Lance is our hero for the day, and for the week, and for the month, for the year, and for all time."
Claps and cheers go around and Clinton gets the mic to say some final, serious words.
"We have been friends for a long time...but I want to say something...."
"The world has its fair share of genuine victims, from the genocide, the children in the conflict, the horrible things that have happened to the people in Darfur, the people hit in Haiti and elsewhere in the recent natural disasters...."
"But its better if the smallest number of them possible think about themselves as victims...and instead think about what they can do to change their own circumstances, to seize control of their own destiny, to build a different future."
And what power do they have to do so to change circumstances? They need help.
"The thing I've always admired about Lance Armstrong [from selling bracelets around the world and surviving cancer and all that], is that the whole message is that do not think about yourself as a victim"
Finally, Clinton concludes about Lance, "He's a walking advertisement that works!"
And that was it. Both the Mayor and cycling ex-champion Lance walked off.
Little else was said about what his "Global Cancer Initiative" is afterall and how he and his team plans on raising the said 8 million dollars from.
Lets hope the follow up press conferences (I hear its packed!) and tomorrow are more fruitful. Pay attention to Interbike.
* * *
UPDATE : I couldn't listen to the post press interviews. But I found this on Velonews :
"I look forward to racing with him [Contador]," he said. "Alberto is the best rider on the planet right now. We have to understand that, have to respect that. I'm not sure I can ride that fast right now. I hope it works out."
Is it just me or is the waning confidence a little obvious?
He also denied reports that he was angling to purchase Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), owner of the Tour and other prestigious events, quipping:
"First of all, I don't have that kind of money."
Additionally, from the press conference video, he said , "Second of all, its very hard to believe an American, not to mention a Texan, can buy that event. I'm not aware of anybody who plans to buy ASO or a percentage of ASO."
Whichever clever journalist at Sydney Morning Herald decided to perpetrate that junk...
1.A technical R&D article published earlier this month in the international Sports Technology Journal discusses the engineering considerations, design tools and developmental processes of a new front suspension system developed by RockShox (now with SRAM). It has been authored by Jeff Baltes, a senior design engineer at SRAM. This should be a nice paper to read because extreme freeriding requires extremely durable frames and suspension systems with front and rear travel of 160mm or more, and this study describes the design process and testing of such a suspension system called Totem fork.
According to the paper abstract :"For the benefit of engineers working outside the bicycle industry, this paper describes some engineering considerations related to the development of a new model full suspension bicycle fork. The impact of market forces on the development process is considered, and a description of various design tools currently in use is provided. A detailed model of a new fork travel adjustment feature is included, along with simulation results (FEM) produced by this model. The paper also includes an overview of the laboratory testing resources that are used to ensure the robustness of contemporary bicycle components."
I'll keep an eye out for more details about the paper. Alternatively, you can inform me by email if you happen to get a copy!
UPDATE : I was able to get a copy of this paper from Corporate Communications Manager Alina Boey. I have uploaded it for you to download and read.Click here to download the PDF file.
2. How difficult is it to get a patent on a new bicycle design?This article from The Telegram (Torrington, WY) about a retired farmer-turned-inventor's efforts will give you an idea. My advice is : If you have an idea about something related to bicycles, it better be good and novel because the general rule of thumb is that everything you see in a typical bicycle has already been invented twice!
3. Shimano's new Di2 has officially launched in Europe. Well, no big deal except that it is no longer called Di2, but SEIS : Shimano Electronic Intelligence System! Sounds like some cybernetic organism to me (ala Terminator 2).
4. If you're going to be at Interbike this year, be sure to check out Booth# 1459, the site for the Go-One pedal powered mobile. What a classy transportation idea!!! In an ideal world, I would certainly get myself a velocipede than put money into a motorcar! No need of insurance, no need of gas, no oil changes... I bet you'll get your return on investment pretty soon.
If you won't be able to make it to Interbike, you can now also testride Go-One in Maywood, NJ.
5. HEKLUCHT PUMP : I have a very small list of great ideas put to practice. One in that list will surely be this, something that appeared a while back - a bike stand that doubles as a frame pump!
Designed by Studio HiMom, the product has been conceived for an art project in Ypenburg (a newly build neighbourhood in the Netherlands). Eight products will be placed in front of eight houses. The goal of the project is to stimulate an interaction between neighbours, while pumping up the tyres of their bicycles. The hurdle is made out of polished stainless steel. Read more here.
6.Obesity and high oil prices are good news for the world's biggest bikemaker, Giant Bicycles - states the Economist. Giant's stocks have held up fairly well and since 2004, wholesale prices of bikes have gone up by 23% in Europe, 45% in America and almost 50% in Asia, even as thousands of low-cost factories in China, including some run by Giant, churn out boatloads of cheap bikes. Be sure to read the article, because there is a small mention of an upcoming Giant frame design with built-in lightweight shock absorbers. Did I tell you that I like secrets?
7. Gavin Smith's bicycle design for people with disabilities.
The idea is to give physically challenged people the confidence to ride independently. Read more here.
8. Rocket Science Sports, apart from fancy skin suits and bags, also make and sell aerodynamic bottles with dimples on them. Don't forget : water is only aerodynamic as the vessel its contained in.
From the mouth of the horse itself :
I think none of those figures would be something I'd be overly concerned about, but hey, like they say 'Every Second Counts...' , right?
At this point, I'm mostly gravitating towards Novus Racerus Infestus with a slight leaning for Gearheadicus Stubbornous Erectus since people also get old with time and start doubting everything. :)
Furthermore, with all the rumors perpetrated by some doofus about how relentless, high-mileage cycling on paper thin saddles can rob one of their person-hood, there should be a mutant species included somewhere in this list named something like :
One of the best cases I've seen for the use of wood in structural applications is put forth by Renovo Hardwood Bicycles of Portland, Oregon.
Wanting to separate away the wrong, yet common perception that perhaps cheap quality consumer woods might be used on their frames, they say :
"Consumer wood products are not engineered for light weight and high performance, nor are they joined, fastened or finished to endure challenging outdoor conditions and high loads, so knowledge of wood based on commonplace wood products is no more relevant to a Renovo frame than it is to other high-tech, all-wood structures like: a 350' laminated wood bridge in Norway, the magnificent 154' wood yacht Scheherazade, and the Falco all-wood 200 mph airplanes. These modern engineered applications of wood are designed to last a lifetime in highly stressed, adverse conditions."
Yes that's right. Some of the most marvelous designs out there incorporate the tried and true strength and toughness of engineered wood such as the following :
I was surprised to learn that the "Timber Terror" Mosquito was built out of laminated plywood! To take that to brutal war must have had the designers pretty convinced about the suitable properties of wood to begin with!
Building an eye-catching yet strong bicycle frame out of Douglas Fir might be now easy task for the family run company, but all that colorful background experience from engineering lighting fixtures to building composite kit airplanes and other wood products might help. Besides, Mr. Wheeler was always a bike nut since college days.
The bike has a relatively non-aggressive and comfortable frame weighing anywhere from 3.5 to 4 pounds. All the wood is bought kiln dried through vendors with the appropriate moisture content and then cut/machined with their aresenal of high tech saws and CNC machines.
The frames are made starting with two halves, bonded along the center line using modern adhesives in a climate controlled room and are then cured in their facility for additional strengthening of the bond.
Metal inserts are placed in the structure at the headtube, seat tube and bottom bracket areas. The bottom bracket shell is bonded to the frame with epoxy and fastened mechanically. According to Renovo's testing, over 2000 pounds of force is required to tear the shell off the frame. So unless you've handed your bicycle to your pet elephant to ride on Sunday morning, you'll be fine!
The exterior of the hardwood monocoque is then given a thorough refinish.
The bike's sizes may be standard, but everything else is custom built, according to the customer's choice of grain, color and type of wood!
A Bike Depot Team rider with his broken Kestrel R700 frame after he crashed into a guard rail at high speed during the Tour of the Catskills stage race a couple of weeks back [See more race pictures here]. I'm not sure what speed he was going down at. Separation occurred in the front triangle at the headtube junction.
First off, I must say that cycling is a fun and healthy sport. Its green and hip. Its easy to learn. You can take it to as high an intensity as you want. It can be easy, it can be painful but both have their benefits.
Wearing Lycra and tight fitting spandex is one of the precursors to enjoying a serious bike ride, but the very thought of that puts many off (such as G.W Bush).
I have to say that it has its benefits.
For example, did you know that the gorgeous Heidi Klum fell for musician Seal (not the most talented in the good looks category) when she first saw him walk out of a Hotel gym in bicycle shorts?? Ha!!
If you don't believe me, just forward this video to 5:45, where Oprah asks the couple how they first met. Hear what she says.
Wow! :) There you go!! So you men out there! Wear bicycle shorts, because thats what the ladies like!!
Anyway, coming back to the original objective of this post, lets take a thorough look at the some of the famous who's whos, the movers and shakers on T.V and elsewhere who take time off to be with something as mundane as a bicycle, enjoying the simplicity of rhythmic pedaling motion. If you have any more names and pictures to append to this list, do drop in a comment!!
Reverend Al Sharpton at a critical mass ride early this year. Nice Fuji. No helmet in NYC?!! I hope he didnt get smashed down by an NYPD cop like in this video.
Want to dash away from the Paparazzi? Sure, hop on a bike !! While most people would ride flashy expensive cars to a Hollywood club, comedian Dick rode a bike to Parc. Then a bouncer kicked him out and all Andy had was a bike to get away from nosey cameramen.
The Conservative Mayor of London is well known for his love of cycling. Infact, he bikes to work regularly and has been the victim of several bike thefts. The Mayor has had to get to Parliament at times so quickly that he was recently involved in a controversy where he blasted through six red lights and was hammered by the media and public for his negligence! He also attends cell phone calls while riding! Nice!
Everyone's (un)favorite president is pretty lighthearted about faking WMD threats and going to war with other countries for fun. But when he's on his mountain bike, bloody hell... he means business! People who have ridden with him have come back and told the rest that the President could easily make a competitive Cat 5 rider. :)
From the comforting Republican surrounding of the White House lawn to the world class trails of communist Beijing, its World domination on a mountain bike!
His equipment? The President bombs down hills on a 4000 dollar TREK. You'll be assured that this is a one of a kind paintjob!
Chloe looking good there in a bicycle with a basket. Look at that big chain ring! Sweet! Oh hell, cell phone again?! She must be trying to ignore the papz.
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." - Einstein
Einstein spent so much time writing papers that he rides this bike like he never saw one before, smiling like a baby in the process. If only had he unraveled the more detailed mysteries of the bicycle other than the fact that to keep your balance you'd have to keep 'moving', how many more puzzling books, stupid bike forums and arrogant technical faggets could we have eliminated. Sigh...
You'll love this. Eric Clapton, besides being fond of his blues playing guitar, was also an avid cyclist as a youngster. Clapton also supported unique bicycle marathons through charity from concerts.
He probably still rides bikes when we're not bothering him.
World famous daredevil stuntman poses with his bicycle in front of his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I wonder if he was headed for a weekend warrior ride in full costume?! We'll probably never know.
Did you know that Zappa, one of the legends of Rock and Jazz actually started out making money playing the bicycle as a musical instrument?? Bizarre as it sounds, Zappa was a thorough entertainer even back in those days.
George Clooney bought a sweet house at Lake Como, the same place Lance lived around when he was training for the Tour. Carefree, with his baseball cap turned around, George hits the trails with his college friend Tate Donovan. He also gathered publicity at a point with a proposed bike ride with none other than Bono around the Irish countryside.
My favorite supermodel rides her bike!!!! Venga venga, Gisele!!!
From the look of it, she seems like she's in a hurry to get somewhere. She is the highest paid model in the world, so she's probably busting ass just like any of us to get to work! 100 points for that!
Just a suggestion, Gisele. I bet Tom Brady wouldn't be too pleasant seeing the ugly saddle sores so invest some of that 33 million you pocket, in Spandex!!!! You'll even look hotter! 0 points for that.
Hillary Duff showing her bike handling skills with a starbucks coffee in one hand and a Marc Jacobs handbag hanging off the right handlebar. Just don't fall with the coffee....!!
Hillary shown above having a blast between shooting sessions with Evan Ross, riding on his handlebars. Ahem....cough cough.
Rumor is that Chavez wanted to step up his game on the international nuclear scene so he threw some of his oil money sitting in his vault for a nice Atomic bike.
J. Lo completed her first Triathlon in 2 hours and 28 minutes at the Nautica Malibu Traithlon on Sept 14 this year. The secret is out. The gym won't help much. Start riding to lose weight!!
After he retired from flying Space Shuttle missions for NASA, former astronaut John Herrington started riding his bike, and when I say biking, serious biking! He once embarked on a 4000 mile bicycle ride from Cape Flattery on Washington's Olympic Peninsula to Cape Canaveral in Florida. For what??
To promote student interest in science, technology, engineering and math!!!
Channel 4News Presenter and Journalist has seldom hidden his enthusiasm for biking, and claims there's hardly a day when he doesn't ride.
When Phil Liggett moved out of the CTC President's chair, Jon Snow was the next best candidate who could fill in Liggett's craze for cycling. CTC, by the way, is the UK's National Cyclist's Organization.
Sen. John Kerry is a true bike warrior, and rides like a pro!
Unlike Bush who's shy to appear in public in Lycra, John doesn't give a damn about it. All he wants to do is get out there and bust his ass to ride strong. He was so involved with biking issues that he even held a press conference once in a bike shop in Worchester, MA.
He's apparently much classier than Bush and most of the rest of us, getting an all-campy $8000 custom Serotta for the fast rides. Check out this NYT article comparing Bush and Kerry's riding styles.
You would think this star NBA player with a towering 6 foot 8 inch frame is the least likely candidate to take up cycling. But he's proven everyone wrong. Apparently, Lebron happens to be a multi-sport athlete and spends a lot of time biking in the off-season.
He didn't want to stop there, and so also went ahead and bought a stake in the Cannondale bicycle corporation. What that means is that Lebron is literally an owner of Cannondale!
He also hold a ride for kids called the Kid's Bike-a-Thon every year and the proceeds directly benefit charity.
James' bike is a custom made caffeine colored Cannondale 29'er with Lefty fork and Hollowgram Si Crank
Potential President of the USA to be rides bicycles on weekends. Barrack actually seems to be made like a climber. Running in election to be the most powerful man in the world and being this thin translates into a very high power to weight ratio!!!
Owen likes to chill out on his bike too and was once spotted on a dating ride with Kate Hudson...who's also been linked to Lance. Wow, do you see the common thread between all these characters??
The Grey's Anatomy star is also an avid cyclist. He reads Bicycling Magazine, has met Tom Boonen, rides the Charity part of the Amgen Tour of California every year and rides a nice looking Specialized Roubaix to top that all up.
Canadian actress loves to live the green life, riding her bike in Toronto. She reportedly said in an interview that she does not own a car and that in Toronto, her only mode of transport is her bike. Way to go Rachel!
It is well known fact by now that this famous comedian loves to bike and is a total bike geek. He's a bike collector and a staunch supporter of Lance and the Livestrong ideals. According to some sources, he has about 50+ bikes in his collection!!! I very much envy him because he's got one of those neat Independant Fabrication Stainless Steel bikes (953 Reynolds'). Said Robin once, "When I'm riding my bicycle I feel like a Buddhist who is happy just to enjoy his mundane existence."
I wonder if all his biking and bike collection landed him his second straight divorce from his partner?!
Its almost hard to miss a movie featuring Russell. Heck, he's perfect! Being one of my favorite actors, it was surprising to see the Gladiator star abandon motorized means of transport to ride his bike to the supermarket.
Sarah likes to save up money and bike ride instead. Here, she looks pretty chic with the pink urban cruiser but how on earth is she going to ride with those high heels?! You know what, I think this is a photo op. But the girl actually rides! MORE :
Its strange. Sheryl Crow is a fitness buff, but she happens to be a cancer survivor just like Lance. Whats more, she was Owen Wilson's first love interest until Lance had to come and snatch her. After they divorced, Lance went for Owen's other girl, Kate Hudson!!! What a playerr!!!! Correct me if I'm wrong.
Before all this craziness began, Sheryl was linked with Eric Clapton, who was also into bicycles as we mentioned before. Whats the common thread here?
Btw, I respect the fact that Sheryl rides her bike. She's pretty serious too I think. According to some sources, she attempted to ride up the Alpe D'Huez on her TREK Madone, and accomplished it in a time of 90 minutes. Not bad.
For anyone to go up the Alpe on a bicycle is hardly anywhere close to average recreation.
When not acting, Tobey exchanges his Spidey costume for the nice looking Italian jerseys and riding shorts. Then he hops on his Colnago and off he goes like a rocket.
Here's a famous picture of ex-UK Prime Minister Tony Blair cycling through the streets of Amsterdam to an EU Summit. Blair was present at this year's Beijing Olympics to actively support British cyclists.
After all the therapy for sex addiction, ex-X Files lead actor David Duchovny was spotted at the the Nautica Malibu Triathlon along with other celebrities.
Early this year, I had written a post on the Isotruss bike frame from a strictly structural and engineering point of view. Read it here if you haven't.
Where can a rider fit his water bottle cages? Is this bike the "Hydration Killer"? And what about the sharp edges of the isotruss structure that could potentially hurt a user during use?
Close up view (via Bike Rumor)
Courtesy : Acidinmyleg's Photostream (Notice the water bottle cage, pretty impressive 'glue on' bosses)
