News Archives - August 2013

The Piaggio motorcycle you can drive on a car licence

With urban populations on the increase, commuters who prefer the freedom of personal transport will have to take a more flexible approach to the type of vehicle they choose. Congestion charging, restricted parking, traffic jams and increasing fuel costs have already pushed many towards two wheels, but a 300cc scooter from Piaggio that can be ridden legally on a car…

Eccentric weather protection for cyclists

Like a bicycle, the umbrella is a design of such simplicity that it no longer needs to evolve, but that does not stop people trying to make improvements. Nubrella is a shoulder-mounted, folding canopy designed to shield people, including cyclists, from rain, wind and snow. The device has already found customers in 70 countries and a new-and improved version has…

Say goodbye to earphones for cycling

Much is said about the risks of cycling while listening to music, but a new type of ear phone, which forgoes speakers in favour of ‘surface sound technology’, promises a safer alternative. Sound Band fits behind the ear and uses a process referred to as surface-excitation to produce sound without the need for traditional in-ear speakers. According to the designers…

Kids’ bicycles for grown-ups

How well do you remember your first bicycle? Whether you are old enough to have owned the iconic Raleigh Chopper, went straight into BMXing or inherited a hand-me-down off-roader, the sense of achievement and freedom that comes with owning your first bike is the same, and leaves a memory that lasts into adulthood. Looking back further still, few can remember…

Watch your back: A bicycle mirror for your wrist

The traditional handlebar-mounted mirror has gone the way the way of the mudguard and is no longer regarded as a desirable accessory by most cyclists. The handlebar-mounted configuration has evolved into a sleek, bar-end arrangement  but the thriving market for bicycle accessories has spawned all manner of alternatives, including spectacle frame-mounted designs and now a pop-up rear view mirror worn on…