Keefer Madness

Specialized Shiv Returns as a Full Bike — For Triathletes

// October 7th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling

So a couple years back at the Tour de France, Specialized showed off a Shiv frame and it soon was sold as a frame-old pricey aerodynamic bike. You add the wheels and components.

Now, Specialized has redesigned the Shiv, ignoring the UCI rules and making this Specialized bike well.. specialized for Triathletes. It looks great, and the integrated fluid “tank” in the down tube is really cool. UCI sanctioned event participants will continue to have to rely on the time-tested Transition line or the S-Works Shiv TT Module that’s still listed separately from the new Shiv at a pricey $6,100.

Even though it’s not up to UCI rules, I wonder if it’d pass for things more in reach of us normal folk — like US Cycling events? Complete bikes’ prices range from
$1,550 for the Shiv Elite A1 Apex to a whopping $12,700 for the S-Works Shiv Di2. Specialized, if you’re listening, I’d love to get anything in that range to review.

Check out the promotional video below.

Specialized Shiv press release

Printing a Bicycle with a 3D Printer

// September 29th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling, Tech, Video

The article said this is oldish news, but it’s the first I’m seeing it. These 3D Printers are freaking awesome. They actually built a bike using a 3D printer. Great demonstration.

From cyclelicio.us

A Town Without Cars: Bicycle City

// September 28th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling, Eco, Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Man, on the surface, I’d love to live in a town like this — it’d be safer and cleaner. But how do you get deliveries from FedEx, furniture, etc. I’d love to at least visit and try a town like this.

I miss being able to bike to work — maybe will be able to revisit that concept (or at least a partial) starting this coming summer when we’re in our new office building.

A Town Without Cars: Bicycle City

A Look at the US Cycling Industry

// August 24th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling

Here’s an interesting article about the United States cycling industry: past, present and future.

I do take a little issue with some of the articles points. I really don’t think that the electronic shifting is a major milestone, motivator for most riders, including club and racers. I’ve never ridden a bike with electronic shifting, and maybe there is some crazy catharthis that occurs after riding a bike that has the system, but I think that this as one of the first points of stimulus that the article notes kind of clouds the rest of the article.

Read it for yourself. Maybe I’m just overreacting to their analysis that it’s going to be a revolution.

A Look at the US Cycling Industry

Morning Ride in the Rain: Nice Change of Pace, or at Least Weather

// August 18th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling

My 2009 Specialized Tarmac hasn’t seen rain much at all—save a puddle spray here and there. I changed all that Sunday morning. Saturday was plagued with rain&mdashl pretty much all morning and into the afternoon, squashing my hopes of a nice long ride. With the 2011 NC Ride Without Limits a little more than a week away, I’m trying to squeeze in every possible mile in to make sure I don’t bonk horribly on either of that weekend’s century’s worth of miles.

Well this past weekend’s weather just wasn’t playing nice. I thought I found a window in the weather Sunday, only to get hit with big raindrops pelting me 10 miles in or so. Bummer.

Well, kind of. With the sweltering heat we’ve been having in the past months, the rain was actually refreshing, and you know what? It really didn’t affect the ride negatively. Sure, upon arriving home, I had a longer time cleaning up the bike, but other than that, it was actually a nice change of pace.

Riding in a straight line, with the tires, spitting a circular pattern of moisture actually looked pretty cool, and both my Garmin Edge and my triple-baggied phone in the jersey pocket performed just fine. Checking the Garmin, my speed was not affected much at all, only taking it easy with braking and cornering.

While I’d much rather be riding the sun, an occasional ride in the rain is actually refreshing and welcome this time of year.

Bontrager Computer/Stem Integration Concept

// August 16th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling

Love the look of this computer integrated in the bike stem, but I question the utility. That screen would have to be pretty tiny. I can’t picture the amount of information my Garmin Edge 500 has displaying well on a stem-integrated screen, and I can’t picture me wanting a computer that gave me less data than my Garmin. I love having three screens of rotating data, including a screen of current data and another of averages (including speed, cadence, heart rate, etc.). No way that all would be feasible in a little old screen like this one would need.

I guess I wouldn’t be the target for this concept. It would be more aero than a computer sitting atop the handlebars or stem. Personally, I’d rather have more data than a little more aero advantage.

This seems a bit high-tech for Bontrager (tech), but hope they’re heading down the road of more tech-related R&D.

Bontrager Computer/Stem Integration Concept

Goodyear Developing Self-Inflating Tires

// August 12th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling, Planes, Trains & Automobiles

This seems like a great way for drivers to maximize their vehicle’s miles per gallon. It’s just a matter of if this ever sees the light of day, and if it ends up being affordable. Can you imagine though, over the lifetime of your vehicle how much money you could save by having the four pieces making contact with the road always optimally inflated.

Only hurdle to overcome with this would be how to adjust as temperatures rise and fall.

Obviously, I can envision this as an application for cycling as well, though I wonder if the low-air, but high pressures would work with a system like this.

Regardless, will be keeping an eye out for this technology, and hopefully it will be a little more reliable than most vehicles’ tire pressure monitoring systems.

Goodyear Developing Self-Inflating Tires

Support Us in the 2011 NC Ride Without Limits

// August 11th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling, Personal Crap

It’s been a long time since I’ve done a charity ride—and it may be even longer since Amanda volunteered at one.

In two short weeks, we’re both going back to our old roles for the 2011 North Carolina Ride Without Limits, helping to raise much needed funds and awareness for United Cerebral Palsy and Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia, to help provide equal opportunities and access for children and adults with disabilities.

It will also be the first time I’ve done 200 miles in a single weekend— well ever. Please consider making a contribution in the Keefers’ names. You can learn more about this really amazing cause and our story behind why we’re going to be riding/volunteering on April 27-28:

http://www.ridewithoutlimits.org/goto/keefer

By the way, keep an eye on my RunKeeper Elite account on those days. I’m going to set it up so you can track my route in near-realtime.

U.S. Postal Service Issuing Cycling Postage Stamps in 2012

// July 31st, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling

Not a stamp collector whatsoever, but I want to get a set of these next year. I tweeted this one out yesterday, but thought I’d post in on here as well— cause I really am digging the artwork the United State Postal Service put together for this set of stamps for next year.

Bicycling Postage Stamps

State-of-the-Art Bikes and Tech at the Tour de France

// July 30th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cycling

Already missing the biggest bike race of the year? Yeah, me too. It’s a great time though for bike tech—all kinds of new bikes and bike toys. Bicycling.com did a nice little gallery of some of that new two-wheeled goodness to come out of the 2011 Tour.

State-of-the-Art Bikes and Tech at the Tour de France