Kryptonite In Another Top 10

Excuse us while we do a little crowing! Just in time for summer travel season (yes, there's still time despite the fact that Back To School ads have already begun to air) the Kryptonite R4 retractable cable lock received a great plug in a New York Times Frugal Traveler blog. Check it out http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/top-10-travel-gadgets-under-50/

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!

Freight Trains of the Atlantic

by Roby Holland (aka the Old Man in the Sea)

For those of you who don't know I have an obsession for fishing. In the last couple of years I have honed my skills targeting Stripers and Bluefish in and around Duxbury MA. This year a friend and I decided to make a go at some Bluefin Tuna on Stellwagon Bank which is about 17 nm from Duxbury Bay.

We headed out at 5:30am towards the grounds with some iffy weather. The total trip took us 35 mins and the seas were between 2 to 3 ft. Once at the location we hooked up the bait and let them swim. It was only about 5 minutes till the first fish took the bait. It was a very large and strong Bluefish, that once brought boat side, broke thru the 80lbs floro leader and took off. Next two fish were Stripers and were both between 25 and 30lbs respectively. We hung around for a while longer with some hits but not the type of hits we were looking for, so we moved into deeper water.

Once we made it to deeper water our luck changed. The bird activity picked up to a frantic pace and the water began to come alive. Baits in the water, it was time to wait for a hook up and we did not have to wait long. My friend's bait disappeared in a wash of white foam and his line began to peel off his reel faster than anything I had ever witnessed before. We had hooked a Tuna!!! I put the boat in gear and began to chase down the fish, with my buddy reeling as fast as he could, but it wasn't long before we realized that this was a large Tuna. Once we were on the Tuna my friend began to try to muscle it in with no luck. The fish pinned him to the rail of the boat and only let him stand up to get some line when it wanted him to. After about 20 minutes of fighting, the rod was passed over to me. It wasn't until I had full control or thought I had full control of the rod that I realized how powerful these fish are. I consider myself to be in fairly good shape and this fish would not let me gain any ground on him at the beginning of the battle. I would try to stand and lean into the rod to get some line only to be pulled back down to the rail with authority. It was thrilling to say the least, until our luck began to change. I noticed that the reel began to move to the side of the rod as I reeled and I tried to tighten up the seat with no luck. The fish had started to break the rod and so the fight became more difficult. We began to gain some ground on the fish and knew we were getting close to getting this fish boat side, or so we thought. The fish began to give me a tour of my boat (literally) pinned to the rail he it went starboard aft, I went starboard aft and then back up to the bow of the boat. It made a quick dart around the bow as I lifted the rod, the line caught on the bow eye and SNAPPED!!!!! That's it….. as fast as it started it was gone. The ride back was a nasty painful hour and half ride into 4ft+ swells. It gave us plenty of time to understand what had just happen. We had hooked on to the freight train of the Atlantic.

Here are three pic from my adventure. First one is where I think I have the upper hand, second is where I know I don't and third is where I'm wondering if it was a wise choice to go after a fish that potentially weighs 1/3 of my boats capacity! Good times had by all…even the tuna.

P.S. Bluefin are a highly fished species. Please do your part to only harvest fish you need and return the rest for another day.
Cheers Roby

See New York City For Free!

Sound too good to be true? Yeah, I thought so, as well, until finding something very cool on the Wend Magzine blog about a FREE bike rental program being offered by the Downtown Alliance in an effort to get more people on the city streets out of cars and onto bikes. Check out the full article here. http://www.wendmag.com/blog/2009/05/19/new-york-city-offers-free-bike-rentals/

Happy Tax Day!

Oh boy, its been way too long since last post...but appropriate that I break the fast with a comment on civil disobedience. Will be interesting to see how the Teabag demonstrations planned for today will be covered by the media. Sitting in Boston, home of the original Teabag demonstration, this issue is especially poignant. Wonder how things would have turned out if the original civil disobedients had ridden bikes away from the scene of the action? Happy Tax Day, All!

Run Naked

by Roby Holland, National Sales Manager, Commercial

Last night I got home from work and took off for a run. There was just enough daylight to get in my loop that brings me down to a lake where I usually find some people fishing or hanging out with their dogs. This run was different, there was an unusual flow to it and as I continued along the way digesting and dissecting the day's work, it hit me. I was running naked! Not literally, but in my rush to get out the door I did not have my heart monitor or my I-pod with me. This run was different, my breathing was more consistent and my pace more even and I was able to hear my body again. I know that sounds quirky but before there were I-pods, heart rate monitors and GPS devices we ran naked in a sense. I think most of these devices serve a good purpose, but GPS? I'll save that for a later post. The reason I think the run went so smoothly is because I was unplugged and I was running to my own internal beat and not the Black Eye Peas or Red Hot Chili Peppers. I forgot what that felt like and at the end of the run I turned in my best time for this short loop. Too deep a thought to go any further with this at this time of the morning. Well enjoy whatever you are doing and once every so often try it naked.

Spring Is Here!

Despite what that furry little Punx, Phil may have wanted us to believe, we've turned the corner to Spring! How do I know? A good friend of Kryptonite, saw his shadow, while taking a ride this weekend. Rejoice! We made in through another winter!!!

(photo courtesy of Neil McDaid)

Gentlemen Start Your...Pedal Stroke??

Was just reading about how Roller Racing is gaining momentum (no pun intended)! For those of us in chilly, clammy climates, more bike shops and riding clubs..and bars looking to sell more beers...are hosting regular roller racing events for good causes (Kryptonite's been there) or good laughs watching some poor individual turn purple going nowhere fast. There are a bunch of software options to give racers choices of ride experiences. So, who needs CO, AZ, CA scenery to enjoy riding?

High Rollin' Weekend

For all you scooter owners/lovers in the vicinity of Las Vegas on weekend of March 19th, join the fun of the 10th Anniversary High Rollers Weekend bash! This promises to be a wild weekend with a scooter build-off and plenty of other ways to show off or get into a little innocent trouble. You might even be one of the lucky folks to go home with a shiny new Kryptonite lock for your scooter, being raffled to support the event.

For more information about

the event check out http://www.highrollersweekend.com/2009/info/index.html

Newbie on the Slope

Another first for our mild-mannered design engineer from a much hotter climate, JJ....last night he braved almost zero degree weather to learn how to snowboard! Why then, we can't really say, other than the fact that Rob, our crazy Engineering Director convinced him it would be a great idea! So, off they went to the Blue Hills Ski Area by the office and JJ subjected himself to the torture of sliding, falling, sliding, falling, falling, sliding. All for Rob's enjoyment, I'm sure.

JJ, we're proud of your fearlessness. Just be careful not to agree when Rob suggests you try sledding next..because he ain't talkin' down the hill on an innertube!

Trash to Treasure!

Crash, boom, trashed wheel, bent rim, ouch...here's how to look at that crumpled metal mess and see it repurposed as a thing of beauty! Check out http://www.bikefurniture.com/

Hi-Def BMX?

Great news ! The American Bicycle Association and NBC inked a four-year deal to cover BMX racing events on NBC's Universal Sports, beginning this year. The popularity and success of inclusion of BMX in the 2008 Olympics must have convinced the broadcast execs there is indeed a viewing audience for cycling events beyond the annual obvious one. More Lance, more BMX, its a great time for those of us who like to watch as much as ride.

Brand New Day

Driving to work this morning and listening to all the celebratory hoopla, I was reminded that each day can be a brand new start for me, if I think of it in those terms. This is an exciting day!

As Kenneth Cole just said a short time ago in pre-Inauguration news commentary, "you can change your outfit...you can outfit change..." ?!?!

eine kleine cycle-roman

Shame on us (me)...been quiet for too long. Caught up in the flurry of work activity that always seems to occur right after the holidays. But, couldn't let another day go by without sharing a great story about a lock that just wasn't going to let go! Forgive me while I get totally predictable and trite and say "now that's an unbreakable bond!" From our friend, JMW in London, England...

What music would we use to accompany display of this little story!?

Elsewhere, ghastly wars, flung in everyone's conscience; other ghastly wars kept away from our guilt glands; all around us, a collapsing economy - and we choose to spend 15 minutes on THIS?

A cycle has been obstructing our pavement - it has been there for about a fortnight like this - single pedestrians can readily step round it but those wheeling a pram might find it more awkward; this is the second cycle in recent months, fixed to this post - the previous bike disappeared leaving a massive locked chain at the foot of the post; the present one is in a rigid position.

A jack for lifting cars has been inserted into the D-Lock and expanded, intending to force the D-Lock apart; indeed, it has bent - but the car-jack is now rigid and so is the position of the whole assembly. This is why the bike can not be moved, as things are ...

It does not take too much of an effort - with a wrench - to force the car-jack to fold back, and so to remove it and allow the bike to be set straight.

We have now set the bike straight. It has suffered one cut brake-cable, and scratches to the frame. We do not have time to knock on local doors to find the owner - who might be far away, and this bike itself stolen . At any rate, it is now less obstructive to users of the pavement.

The battered, bent but undaunted (kryptonite) D-lock continues in place to do its job.

Winter Adventure

by R-

Plenty of snow around here; we got almost 2 feet from 2 storms in 2 days. If you can’t have an outdoor adventure, have an indoor one. My great adventure of choice is reading...the best way to exercise the gray matter! I can go back in time or to other worlds. I can walk with famous people of the past, or visit someone’s idea of the future. If the story is scary enough I can get my heart rate up as successfully as any other aerobic workout. Rain, snow, sleet and wind can not keep me from my unbreakable bond with reading.

So, if you can’t get outside for your adventure; pull up a chair, add marshmallows to the hot chocolate and grab a good book.

Wishing all bloggers and readers of the blog a safe, healthy and Happy Holiday Season!

Kids Don't Try This At Home

Those of you who know Rob Z., our Director of Engineering, know that he's a guy who is quite comfortable in the woods, spending his free time expending a lot of energy in very cold temperatures. One of his latest projects is no exception. Rob, and a few other hearty souls, agreed to help a good friend raise a barn on his NH property. This is no prefab wonder - it is the real deal post and beam...complete with pegs the size of a large man's thumbs and constructed from tools you won't find at the local orange or blue big box hardware store. Here are a few shots of the work in progress...it is going to be a thing of beauty when all done. If you wondered where Rob got the strength to maul products the way he does when he's doing destruction testing, this should give you a clue...

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/

Bike2Work

Three cheers for the latest UK/US collaboration! Two cycling mavens written about before in our blog, Carlton Reid and Tim Grahl, have completed their book, Bike to Work, and to borrow their words, it is a page-flippin' beauty! To download a free 50 page sampler , go to http://tinyurl.com/Bike2Work. Once you do, I bet you won't be able to wait for the full 250 page version due out at the end of December.

Happy Days Ahead!

I've got the best 'unbreakable bond' story. After many many years of dating my honeybunny, we finally got married on 9/21. Now to choose this perfect special day I did a lot of research. Wanting an outdoor beach ceremony late in the year in New England I knew I had a challenge ahead of me. However it paid off and that weekend was 70 degrees, sunny and not too windy out. The day was perfect and everything went as planned. This is a bond that will last for many more years to come…..

Signed, Mrs. Bashful, Customer Service