NPR is running a great article about a Brooklyn, NY bike shop that teaches you how to build your own bamboo bike.  Not only do you get the priceless bike building knowledge, but you also get to keep the bike.  In our article from July of this year, we talk about the rise in bamboo bike sales for Calfee bikes in the UK.  The downside is that Calfee bikes will run you nearly $5000.  You can build your own bamboo bike at Bamboo Bike Studio for around $1000, and most of …

Bright Bike kits are the brainchild of Michael Mandiberg.  They are simple DIY kits for making your bike much more visible to cars at night.  Just look at the video on the Bright Bike website for a better idea of exactly how dramatic the difference is between a bike with the kit, and without.  Whats included for the $15?  

Most people who lock their bikes up in a big city every day usually just remove the quick release bike seat in favor of a more permanent system in order to keep their saddle out of the hands of thieves.  Not this clever individual.  Instead of locking the seat in place, why not take it with you, and use the empty tube to hold your umbrella in case of that unexpected rain shower.

The Make blog is following a Virginia man’s progress as he works to custom build a hauler/cargo bike with electronic assist power.  His plan is to have the bike easily haul 80 lbs. of cargo.   As of right now, he is still waiting on the parts to build the bike (which he will document in part 2 of the segment).  What is interesting is a detailed list of the parts he chose, and the reasons for choosing them.  The frame he chose is an obvious one, the Surly Big Daddy …

My home town LBS, The HUB Bike co-op of Minneapolis, sponsored an event for people to design the most unique and useful bike gadgets.  Originally conceived by Brady Clark and engineered by Mykle Hansen, the SPEED-VEST is a cycling vest that uses electro-luminescent wire, a cyclocomputer, and an Arduino to show your current speed on your back for all to see.
With a reflective vest, and a giant glowing billboard on your back, we have yet another way to be seen while commuting to work (in style).
Click here for a complete …

One of the most intimidating parts of getting into road cycling is bike maintenance and repair.  It can be very frustrating to pay $700 or more for a new bike, and the only bit of bike knowledge you have is throwing WD40 on the chains to keep them from squeaking (which you should NOT do).
There are a couple options that we’ve discussed, such as getting into Park Tool School, or reading Zinn & The Art Of Road Bike Maintainence.  The third option, bringing it into your local bike shop, is …

When I am not working or on my bike, I am usually fidgeting with electronics.  Recently, I have stumbled upon an electronics project that combines my love for both biking and electronics.  Spoke POVs aren’t exactly a new phenomenon, but an increase in available DIY kits, at a reasonable price, are making it easy for everyone to create their own Spoke POV setup.
First, let me explain what a POV is.  POV stands for Persistence Of Vision.  Without getting technical, it is roughly the same idea as a flip book.  In …