Back to the Future, Antique Chainless Bicycle!

This is a very cool bit of news that I just found on Bicycle Newswire and decided there was too much good stuff not to share the whole announcement with you....

A lone surviving copy of a bicycle from another era, a chainless 3-speed relic manufactured in early 1900, has been recovered and is being restored; called "The Hill-Climber," it was the first multi-speed bicycle to be produced in America. A bicycle believed to be the first production model in America to employ multiple-speed gear ratios has been found and is being restored to original condition. When found, only the patented gear-changing mechanism was still attached to the rusty frame. A nationwide search for replacement parts and information about the company that produced it has been undertaken.

Before this discovery, the first-known production multi-speed bicycle was marketed under the Columbia brand in 1903. It featured a two-speed "kickback" hub, and was also a chainless bicycle. The story of "The Hill-Climber" has recently been published in a book titled "Restoration." It is available on the Amazon-affiliate website Createspace at https://www.createspace.com/3382245

The inventor of this 3-speed bicycle, Peter J. Scharbach, called it "The Hill-Climber." It was originally produced by Scharbach/Hoerth and Company in San Francisco in 1902. Research shows that the company also tried to produce an early automobile. It is not known how many of these bicycles were sold during its production years from 1902-1904. Chainless bicycles are manufactured today by a few companies, but the product form is not widely known to bicyclists.

The surviving Hill-Climber, a frame with a shaft-drive (like an automobile) instead of a chain, has three bevel gears at the rear wheel, and shift linkage to change speed ratios. It was stored in the basement of a retired dairy farmer outside of Pe Ell, WA, after spending most of its life on his farm junk pile. His father, John K. Muller, and many residents of the area invested in a manufacturing company formed with the inventor in late 1903. Assembly operations were moved from San Francisco to Chicago in early 1904. Mysteriously, all their investment was gone by the end of the year, and the company folded.

A descendant of the inventor was found living in Arizona. His great-grandfather was a blacksmith, inventor and entrepreneur whose patent for the chainless bicycle is still being referenced today. Remnants of the bicycle business are a few surviving photographs taken at a product roll-out event in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, c.1902. An advertising flyer, and other surviving documentation, was found in the possession of relatives of John K. Muller.

The bicycle is scheduled to be on display at the 32nd Annual LeMay Auto Collection show August 29, 2009, near Tacoma, WA. For details go to http://www.lemaymuseum.org

More information about the bicycle, its restoration, and its place in history can be found at http://www.fusionstudios.com/hill-climber.

You Say Commuter, I Say Urbanista

Well, this weekend, hubby and I got in a bit of riding and it was absolutely great! He's a happy camper riding his new bike, sporting a Kryptonite lock, bien sur...a beautiful Opus urbanista. If you're not familiar with it, check it out...www.opusbike.com. Sorry, can't find 'em too easily in the States yet, but hopefully our neighbor to the north will decide to change that in the near future because they are lovely bikes to ride!

Warm sun on our faces and a nice breeze at our backs (most of the time!). Of course, today there are a few sore muscles in places that I'd forgotten and a longing for some new cycling gear that I hadn't thought much about in the depths of the soggy month of June. But, I wouldn't trade those things for the world. Happy Days!

Watch Out For That Bike Lock

Here at Kryptonite we've been picking up on an unsettling trend lately. Be aware and beware! It seems that in some cities enterprising bike thieves have been targeting bikes that can be easily broken, putting their own lock on the bike and leaving for later pick up. When they return what does the passerby see? Nothing out of the ordinary - a guy unlocking a bike with a key and riding away. Don't get me wrong, even a lightweight, flimsy lock can serve a good purpose, but when you need to make sure your bike isn't stolen, don't risk becoming a target like this. Make sure your lock is strong enough to do the job all day, or all night, until you return.

Bike To Work Week

Just a reminder that next week is Bike to Work Week! Kryptonite hears from a number of cities and towns at this time of year that are hosting great events to get more people out on their bikes and we applaud every one. Whether your bike is old, new or somewhere inbetween, dust it off, pump up the tires, put your helmet on and join the fun. Fewer cars, fewer fumes, less traffic, more happy people in the office. What's not to love? Well, maybe the BenGay smell from the people that haven't ridden in a while, but other than that?? :-)

Bicycling to New Jobs

by Martin Larsen, messenger

Bicycle street vendors in Copenhagen are forging new ways for the city.

There were new businesses on bikes this summer as a couple of guys started to sell coffee from trikes. They are quite popular.

Now that the cold has descended on the city there are half a dozen rolling soup kitchens moving about the core providing hot meals to those in need. Fortunately they tend to their jobs while being at their bikes. A lot of the messengers have had to change from the traditional Copenhagen lock that just attached to the frame and was enough for working until the last year and a half . There has been an upswing of theft targeting messenger bikes. So now something like 75% of the messengers in Copenhagen use Kryptonite mini locks to keep their tools safe.

The Royal Flush Poker Run

by Eric Anastasia, National Sales Manager, Bicycle

Last week I helped support an alley cat here in Boston. The guys who put it together are also opening a new shop soon in an undisclosed spot in the Harvard Sq. area….stay tuned. openbicycle
These guys are real good guys and are super energetic about bikes and the community that surrounds it. They are a focused and progressive crew that are making huge efforts to help build the urban cycling culture in the city that I have called home for the past 10 year. (damn, time flies).
Anyway with 20-degree weather, gusting winds and our first snowfall, The Royal Flush Poker Run was better than we imagined! Over 80 people from all over New England collected cards, drank beer, ate burritos, completed the Poker Run and partied to their heart's content. Here are some pictures of the night.

Photos courtesy of Justin Keena - http://www.justinkeena.com/

Happy First Century!

Props and Happy Birthday to Josh, the eleven year old son of a good Kryptonite friend in the UK, who did his very first Century ride this weekend....yes, you read that correctly...eleven years old, one hundred miles on his bike....boy, do I feel like a lump!

For pix and more details from his proud dad, check out http://quickrelease.tv/?p=662

Can You Say Road Trip??

Back from my desert vacation (which was wonderful, thank you!) just in time to learn that the US Bicycle Route System project, which has been not much more than a vision for the past four years has become a reality! For more information about this advocacy triumph check out www.adventurecycling.org/usbrs . (Nice to read about something uplifting for a change...) Just think, if this project is fully executed we could have as many as 50,000 miles of an interstate cycling route network. How's that for a road trip?!?

bEautiful!

Take a look at this new E-bike reviewed in the Wired blog....nice!....http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/10/review-a2b-elec.html

Oh, and, nice anti-theft strategy being employed by the owner...:-)

Bike Friendly or Not?

The League of American Bicyclists announced its first annual report on the most bicycle friendly places in the US. Want to know if you're living in the right place? Go to http://www.bikeleague.org/news/090508bfs.php to find out.

¡LOS MARCOS MADNESS!

HI KRIPTONITE! THIS IS EL MARCO BUENO FROM WORLDS GREATAST POLO TEAM LOS MARCOS POLOS. ¡VIVA LOS MARCOS! SO HEY, THANKS YOU FOR SPONSOR OUR TORNAMENT WE HAVE IN NEW YORK CITY. IS SECOND YEAR NOW FOR TOURNAMENT AND WE MAKE IT TWICE AS BIG. MORE PRIZE! MORE MADNESS! MORE CHANCE FOR YOU FOR BRIBE US WITH WHAT LOS MARCOS LIKE BEST: BOOZE, WOMEN, AND FOUL PLAY. TWO DAY ONLY! OKTOBARE THREE AND 4. THEN GO HOEM AND CRY BECAUSE LOS MARCOS TOOK ALL PRIZE. YOU TRY BETTER NEXT TIME! HAHAHAHAH! HAHA IS JUST KIDDING. LOS MARCOS NO NEED MORE THINGS. WE HAS AVARYTHING WE WANT IN LOS MARCOSTAN. BUT MAYBE WE TAKE YOU WOMEN BACK AYNWAY. YOU NO SHOULD MISS LOS MARCOS MADNESS BECAUSE YOU REGREAT IT. BIKE POLO IT IS TRADITIONING SPORT OF LOS MARCOSTAN BECAUSE IT WAS INFENTED THERE, JUST LIKE OL KERNEL MARCOS INVANT BIKE FROM HALUSSINOGENIC FLAMSE OF MOUNT MARCOSTAN. NOW IT SO POPULAR EVRYWARE IT GO IN NEW YROK TIME ONCE AN WALL ST JERNEL WE THINK. IT SPORT OF FUTURE, JUST LIKE KICKPOXING. ¡VIVA!

And, now for a translation from our friend Ken Stanek, who has been a close observer of the Los Marcos Madness phenomena.... First of all, there's Bike Polo. If you've never heard of it, it's probably exactly what you think it is. It's got roots in the back lots of Seattle courier companies and 19th century Irish fields.

Then there's Los Marcos Polos. There's no rational explanation for them. They claim to have dominated the sport for somewhere between two years and two centuries. They appear infrequently, and sometimes only in rare footage captured by unknowing, camera weilding tourists. The only thing anyone knows for certain is that they throw the most ridiculous "tournament" anyone could imagine each October in New York City. Catch them and teams from as far away as Chicago, Ottawa, Richmond, East Vancouver, and Seattle this coming weekend at
Los Marcos Madness. For more information, visit http://www.losmarcospolos.com/

Nice Melon!

Imagine getting an email with that in the subject line...your mind can go in different directions, right?? Well, that is how our dear friend, CF, sales sheppard for Earth, Wind and Rider (terrific cycling clothes - check 'em out!) chose to get my attention so I'd read his message about a Kryptonite lock siting in Budapest. Yes....that is a real melon on the rear rack....

Well, here's where he found the picture...really cool cycling blog...bookmark it if you haven't done so already....http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/

Cyclin' For Life

12th Annual Cycle for Life to benefit the Tufts Medical Center Floating Children's Cancer Center

by Rob Zuraski, Director of Engineering and NPD

Woke up at 4am Sat. morning to heavy downpours on the South Shore of Boston , along with news on the web site that the 50 mile ride was cancelled and everyone would do the 25 mile for safety reasons. I was drenched to the bone just loading up the bike and getting in my truck. Luckily by the time I was driving through Boston to the North Shore where the ride was scheduled, the rain let up and held off for the whole event. It was great to see past Kryptonite crew members and all the other riders and volunteers inspired to raise funds for this event. Thanks also to all the volunteers and police that helped man the route and the donors that supported us.

The ride started out at Devereaux Beach in Marblehead and wound up a beautiful coastal route to Singing Beach and back. Even more inspiring than the scenic route were the people I met along the way...
One woman I met had a daughter who lost her battle with cancer several years ago. This woman was back riding to support the hospital. Another guy I met passing each other a few times along the way told me at the end of the ride that he was a cancer survivor and had a huge section removed from his abdomen. Can't forget to mention he was riding a mountain bike and I was on my road bike! Even had a couple of kids along the way collecting for another cause in front of a store cheering me on and informed me that I was in 10th place (even thought it wasn't really a race!)...

Most of the riders and volunteers that I met seemed to be directly affected by the work done by the Floating hospital (hospital workers, cancer survivors, friends and families of children touched by the wonderful program) and have inspired me to make this an annual event..
Our team: Fast Foodies raised $7,911. So far, the web site says $127,579 total was raised for the event, but they mentioned $150k tally at the end of the event - its still not to late to donate!
www.cycleforlife.com
www.floatinghospital.org
http://www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/

Special thanks to Peter and Ellen Zane, founding family members of Kryptonite who helped organize our team and the event.

Our Fast Foodies team consisted of previous/existing Kryptonite crew:
Peter Zane
Roby Holland
Rob Zuraski
Neil McDaid
Rosalie Garver
Eric Lightbody
Nadine Fallon
and a few other friends Peter recruited...

Get Out and Ride!

by Roby Holland, National Sales Manager

I just came back from a very relaxing local vacation. I was supposed to have my brother visiting and the plans for his visit were golf, fishing then repeat. Unfortunately he was unable to make it so I changed my plans to spend my days with my family, which is more appealing. When you live in an area that has so much to offer it is hard to decide what to do.

I had been pushing my wife to get a bike all summer and she has been reluctant to do so because she was unsure she would like it. Unexpectedly, she asked if I would be interested in going down to Brewster, MA and rent a couple of bikes, to ride the bike trail. I was in! This was a great opportunity to spend sometime with the family and do something that I really enjoy. In the morning we headed to Cape Cod Rail Trail Bike and Kayak on our adventure. It was a great morning to do this, like a perfect early fall morning. We got our bikes, a trailer for Owen, my son,(attached to dad's bike ). I did a quick review with my wife of the bike components and how to use them. I tried to keep it as simple as I could so she would get the maximum enjoyment out of the ride.

Before we took off I grabbed a lunch from The Brewster Lunch Box then we headed off along the trail. I was apprehensive that my wife was going to have a difficult time adjusting to the new technology on these bikes. The last time she was on a bike was over ten years ago, in Ireland, and the bikes were equipped with 3-speed Strurmy Archer shifters and old school breaking. For about the first half mile I was tense and constantly asking how things were going. I even asked Owen to ask Mommy how thing were going. As only Owen could say it "Mamma how doin?" Mamma how doin?". To my surprise and relief she was enjoying it! Now, I could relax and enjoy the ride.

We rode for a while, passing lakes and cranberry bogs along the way. The bike path was in great shape, smooth and wide. There were plenty of people using the trail, bikers, runners, and in-line skaters. There was a ton of families like us. Owen was a little too quite while he was sitting in the trailer and now I had a new concern, my son's enjoyment. I had to investigate whether or not he was having a good time and the best way to do this with my son was to say "Peanut, Peanut butter ". If he was in a good mood I would hear him respond "JELLY" . So I got his attention and said "Peanut, Peanut butter" with no responses. Oh no, this is going to be a short ride. I tried it again a little louder this time "PEANUT, PEANUT BUTTER" and waited. A few seconds later he popped out "JELLY" and then " jazz hands". He was having a great time! He only says "jazz hands" when he is shaking his hands, which is an indication that he is really having a good time. I know I was having a great time and now the circle was complete.

We rode for several miles and then decided it was time to turn around. We wanted to have lunch at one of the lakes that we had passed on our way. Once we arrived at our destination we broke out the lunch and sat down to eat, but that was only for a brief second or two. The next thing I heard out of my son's mouth was "DUCKY, DUCKY" and "Owen down please, Owen down please" He wanted to go play in the water with the ducks. How could I say "NO", he was having fun and so was I. So we played in the water and fed the ducks and just relaxed. We took a few photos to remember the day and headed back to the bike shop. By the way awesome sandwich from The Lunch Box!!!!! Once we got the bikes back, and our helmets and stuff in the car we headed home. As I watched my son drift off to sleep on the ride back I thought about how awesome that day was and how much fun I had with my family. I would recommend to anyone in the area, take the family to ride the trail and stop by Cape Cod Rail Trail Bike and Kayak, as well as The Lunch Box while you're at it!

More Kudos to Kona

I just read the news in BikeBiz.com that this month Kona Bicycles will be donating another 100 Africabikes to the WWF's (World Wildlife Fund) water projects in Tanzania, Africa. Since 2005 Kona has been giving away thousands of bikes to African healthcare workers and others involved in humanitarian projects such as these water projects.

For more information about their program, check out http://www.konabiketown.com/.

Go Redline's Olympic "Great Eight"

Kryptonite wishes our Redline friends the best as they watch to see how their "Great Eight" BMXers do tonight. Don't forget to watch BMX history in the making tonight...around 8ish pm for everyone watching from the states.

Real Cycling Prowess!

by Eric Anastasia, Eastern Regional Manager

I'm sure like many of you, I have been watching as much of the Olympics as possible and I've become curious about what the bikes outside of the Olympic venues looked like. As I was poking around the internet (probably while gymnastics where on) I came across some interesting photos of the bikes that inhabit the Beijing area. Have a look.

How Not To Get Hit By Cars!

I thought that title would get your attention....so you're thinking about dusting off the bike and using it to help stem the $4.50+/gallon bleeding?? Well its probably time for a refresher course in bike safety....no, not one of those cheesy movies or videos you saw in health class in school....here's a great guide (from which I shamelessly took the title of today's post) for you to bookmark, read and pay attention to! http://bicyclesafe.com/

Thank you, Michael Bluejay.

This you gotta see!

Just discovered a GREAT advert for Kryptonite from the UK....check out "Kryptonite Clown" on YouTube...its a a hoot. Thanks, Tom Sillars!

I just don't get it???

by Roby Holland, National Sales Manager


I was in a large sporting goods store last night to look for some lacrosse sticks for my son and I to play with. I had some time and wondered over to the bike section to check out what was going on and gather some intel.

While I was doing this, I overheard a sales person pitching a customer on a kids' bike. Well, it really wasn't a pitch, it was more like a verbal warning not to buy that bike - at least to me it was.

The customer was asking a few good questions about shifting and breaking to get an understanding of how it works. The salesman began to demonstrate how these components work and as he tried to do this they did not work in the same manner in which he was explaining it. Then sales person proceeded to explain to the customer that the bike was improperly put together and proceeded to give him a crash course on how to fix it.

As I looked over at the customer, he began to get this glazed look as he tried to keep pace with the sales person's instructions and then he broke. In a short verbal burst he asked the sales person if he could do it. The sale person's response was "I'm pretty sure I can, we have a shop in the back".

I thought to myself , why would you allow or even want a person who said "I'm pretty sure I can" to work on your son's or daughter's new bike? Why would you want to buy a bike that is improperly assembled? This blew me away and it is not the first time I have heard similar sales pitches in big stores like these.

I guess now that I have a child, I look at it differently. Would you buy a car if the sales person told you it was assembled wrong? I don't know about you, but my kid wouldn't even get to smell the inside; I'd be out of there so fast.

If you take away something from this rant I would ask that it be this. If the sales person tells you how to fix the new bike that you are about to buy, walk away, or run away and find a real bike shop. They are all over the place and they will be able to give you the right advice and get you, your kid, your family or your friend on the right bike, safely!

Did you catch that last word.....SAFELY!!!!! I have nothing against these stores except they don't do a good job to make biking a safe and enjoyable sport for the masses that they serve.

Cheers
Roby