Bike Hugger
Mix Talk [Flickr]
Hugger Industries posted a photo:
Presenting "design the ordinary, like this fixie" at Mix 10 Event with Kevin Tamura.
Design the Ordinary, Like this Fixie
I presented Design the Ordinary, Like this Fixie with @ktamura @mixevent today.
A fixie is used as a prop in the talk because it represents a simple, ordinary bike that serves a specific function. Fixies were made from parts bin by cyclists and I asked what if websites were like that? What if we made them as simple as possible to just deliver content like a messenger with packages.
Specialized provided us Globe Rolls for the talk. I’m riding one of them around Vegas later today.
OEM seatpost: weight/cost at the entry level
The two most common questions from new road bike buyers is “what does it weigh?” and “how much does it cost?” And really, these two questions are inter-related, but the function isn’t linear. Moving upmarket from the entry-level to mid-level, bikes get a lot lighter, but weight reduction gets much more expensive after that.
Why?
Well, at the entry level, product managers are fighting to keep costs down to meet target retail price points, and that means that they have to compromise on weight. At the high-end, engineers run into the limits of materials and manufacturing to reduce weight, forcing the use of more costly alternatives.
Take for instance this alloy seatpost from a $1100 bike. It is a BRICK at 409gr. For a post more than 200gr lighter, it would be carbon fibre and cost at least $190 alone. But post 100gr lighter would have added $5-20 to the cost of the bike, which might be just enough to turn-off the price-conscience consumer, who only sees the bottom line.
From the Bike Shop: The Mystery Tool
I work in a shop that is more than a quarter century old, housed within a building that is more than a century old. The nooks and crannies are teeming with mice and forgotten things. I lost a Rock Shox SID fork for about 7 months, and my favourite crankpuller went MIA last year and has yet to be heard from again.
Then I found this tool: I have no idea what it is. Readers? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
(Oh, I just know I’m gonna get a lot of off-colour hypotheses.)
From the Bike Shop: Tips for Gluing Tubular Tires
Road racing season is almost here, and another round of gluing tubular race tires begins. Here are some of tips for making the operation less messy.
1) A truing stand allows you to layer glue on the rim easily. You can do it without one, but you’re making your life more difficult.
2) The fingertips from latex gloves. I can’t get a really good grip on a tubular with gloves on and often get the gloves pinched between the rim and tire. But I’ll cut the fingertips off and use them to apply the glue. You get good control, and the clean up is quick. I usually use a new fingertip for each glue layer as the tips get fouled with clumped glue.
3) Hand lotion. Since I don’t have good luck wrestling stubborn tubulars with latex gloves on, I apply a liberal amount of lotion on my hands, especially to the backs, before I go for it. Allow lotion to dry so that it won’t rub off on the work pieces. The lotion helps prevent the glue from sticking to the skin, easying with post-job handwashing. Actually, I usually wear gloves for the first half of mounting the tire, then I pull them off for the final bit. I depends on how many gloves I have and if they are snug enough.
Oldest and Tallest
Here we have the oldest bike on the Mobile Social and the tallest. Bikinis too.
Uploaded by kk+ | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.
Random Bike Pile
See this outside of bars all over Austin.
Uploaded by Hugger Industries | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.
Random Bike Pile [Flickr]
Hugger Industries posted a photo:
Talking with Doug Ulman today
I’m talking today with @livestrongCEO Doug Ulman @SXSW about Changing the World and Lives with Bikes:
This core conversation will talk about how cycling, the bike, and social media are changing the world and lives. You’ll learn about Livestrong’s community and Bike Hugger’s blog, events like the Mobile Social, and the millions who follow Lance Armstrong on Twitter. It’s a discussion of bike and pop culture and socializing the good with these Interweb tools.
A core conversation is just Doug and no audio/visuals discussing the topic with the audience. It’s at 11:00 AM in Room 7. We’re both looking forward to it and seeing you there.
Last night Doug and I met, over a few beers, at the Livestrong party
also met Chris Sacca who told me a very funny fat-boy rides bike story — fat boy being him.
We’ll post on that one soon.
Cyclefilms the Mobile Social SXSW 2010
By all accounts, this was our best Mobile Social so far and we’ve got more coming with dates being announced soon in Toronto and Portland. This year, Cyclefilm made this film for us
-->and wow, what fun. Social Cycling ATX led a well-organizied ride of 700 to 100 cyclists with a marching band sending them off. Google slingshotted shirts and joined our other partners in providing quality schwag, beer, and good times for the attendees at Mellow Johnnys.
We’ll have more wrapups, photos, and videos in the next few days. After the Bike Expo, I’m en route to Austin for a talk with @livestrongCEO Doug Ulman about Bikes and Changing the World.
Our partnersRiding with the Google Bike Map Makers
Rode over this morning from Fremont to the Bike Expo — whole time talking about mapping, directions, routes, and bike safety. On the left is Andy Schwerin. He coded the Rev 1 bike directions algorithm. To the right is Andrew Gove. He’s an engineer on the project.
Andy told me his original idea was to help cyclists get from point a to b. Much later, Google released Bike Maps.
Uploaded by Hugger Industries | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.
Dahon with Burley Travoy
An Urban Commuter Trailer that rethinks urban cargo. Or as we like to say it, “in your face cargonista!”
Uploaded by Hugger Industries | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.
Burley Travoy [Flickr]
Hugger Industries posted a photo:
An Urban Commuter Trailer that rethinks cargo. Or as we like to say it, "in your face cargonista!"
Thanks to the Mobile Social Attendees
I’m honestly too exhausted to write a big post (it was a long day). I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who came to our SXSW Mobile Social today. Here’s just a chunk of the people who showed up.
-->And here are some photos from my gallery, more coming from our other Huggers soon.
Bike Hugger Rockin the Seattle Bicycle Expo
Come hang with the Bike Hugger team this weekend at the great Seattle Bicycle Expo. We’re hosting the Bicycle Bloggers Lounge upstairs where we’ll be talking to fellow cyclists, hunting down the coolest exhibits & new bike tech, and reviewing all those experimental new energy bars/drinks (hey, somebody has to be the guinnea pig).
Track the excitement as we live blog here here at on the community board and be sure to follow us on twitter at @BikeHugger The hashtag for this weekend is #bikexpo
This year’s Expo is on the northern edge of the waterfront up in Magnolia:
Smith Cove Cruise Terminal 91 2001 W Garfield St Seattle, WA 98119
Door is cash only ($10 for one day,$12 for two days) The ATM is bound to have long lines so plan ahead. Saturday the Expo is open 9am-6pm, Sunday 10am-4pm.
See you there!
Mobile Social SXSW 2010 Tomorrow
The Mobile Social SXSW is tomorrow and of all the MoSos we do, this one is El Guapo, the Mucho Moso, where we do bike culture Texas style. The crew at Social Cycling ATX is leading the ride with ride guides. They’ll make sure you all get to Mellow Johnnys for the party and have a fun, safe time.
Quick access to the detailsScan this code for quick access to the MoSo details. You need a wristband or SXSW badge to get into the party. Get a wristband from one of us at the start of the ride.
The RouteThere are turnoff points for those that want to ride shorter. The route is 14 miles and it’s a relaxed, cruiser, fun ride, no-dropping-anyone pace. We stop at red lights and don’t block traffic.
Meet the Bike Map MakersGoogle is riding with us and at Mellow Johnnys to show you their Bike Maps. You’ll know who they are because they’re wearing these shirts.
Gowalla TripGowalla has a Mobile Social Trip. Complete it and win prizes
People Really WinGet your raffle ticket at Mellow Johnnys to win more prizes at the party and then enter the drawing for the afterglow prize.
PartyThere’s a Texas BBQ truck at Mellow Johnnys where you can buy lunch after the ride. The keg beer, gear, prizes, and all the awesome is brought to you by our partners
