News Archives - June 2013

Forget earphones for cycling – Cynaps offers the skull phone

No one can be certain whether or not it’s dangerous to cycle while listening to music on headphones, but an alternative approach to traditional ear buds or headphones that does not drown out ambient sound is possible by using bone conduction. Cynaps is the world’s first Bluetooth, bone conduction headset incorporated into a hat. Sewn into an ordinary-looking baseball cap,…

Beautiful bicycle bells

Trust the Dutch to know what makes a good bicycle bell. Apparently it’s all in the choice of metal. While the alloy used in the most basic models (the type that’s fitted by law to all cycles sold new) might be cheap to produce, it’s sound is tinny and inferior. By comparison, traditional bell metal comprises mainly copper and has…

Bicycle stunts then and now: Edwardians vs Danny MacAskill

The extreme stunt riding of Scottish street trials maestro Danny MacAskill has gained him a following of many millions – his first film, a five-and-a-half-minute video posted on YouTube in April 2009, brought his incredible skills to the attention of the world and has been viewed by over 32m people – but bicycle stunt riding dates back more than a…

Floating BBQ hub is the ultimate in al fresco dining luxury

How can a decent sort of person have self-respect when their barbecue set-up doesn’t include at least sixteen different grill attachments, a roster of specialised implements and wireless technology? The answer is, of course, a resounding- ‘they simply can’t’. Thankfully, a Stateside retailer have taken the al fresco charring of flesh to its natural conclusion – the Barbecue Dining Boat.…

Paravelo: The world’s first flying bicycle

A new British design of bicycle called a paravelo that transforms into an easy-to-operate aircraft, requires no licence to ride or fly, soars to altitudes of 4,000ft and folds down small enough to store in the hallway, has been launched today. The paravelo: • Takes off from any open space and reaches 4,000ft • Travels at 15 mph on land…