This past week the weather in Boston took a winter turn and I had to dig around for some of my winter gear. I somewhat subscribe to an expression I heard from a native of Norway - "There is no such thing as bad weather, there is just bad clothing." As long as I have the right gear, I don't mind riding in cold weather. My toes and fingers definitely need protection in cold temps, but I have never had an issue with my face. When I have tried to wear face covers of some sort, I have found breathing... Continue reading

It’s pretty heartbreaking when you drop a bunch of money on a cool bicycle or motorbike, just to have it stolen days or weeks later. So, if you really want to protect your bike, it’s worth investing in the best bike lock you can afford. And honestly, given how much money it’s guarding, you might even consider buying an extra lock or two for added security. Of course, there are tons of really good locks to pick from, so I’ve done the heavy lifting and included a variety of different options, quite a few of which you can combine with... Continue reading

There are many certainties in life, and one is, if you want to get a raging debate started, post your opinion about whether helmet use increases or decreases the danger posed to cyclists. There are logical arguments on each side, and emotions generally run very high on the issue. This entry focuses on one thing that is not debatable - helmets can be disgusting. Although I do choose to wear a helmet each time I ride, I have not let a helmet touch my head in over 20 years. Think about it, would you wear the same piece of clothing... Continue reading

A truly awesome display of zip tie greatness. Continue reading

Reader Chris is embarking on a two year bike trip from Alaska to Argentina. Think on that for a moment . . . don't know about you, but I'm jealous. He sent along the following post and will likely contribute more during his journey. * * * * * * * * * * * One of the best parts about planning for a two year bike tour is revamping your gear. Tents, shoes, bags, electronics; you need it all. I have a reputation for envisioning a very specific piece of gear that I want and painstakingly scouring the bowels... Continue reading

When last I posted on the iGS60 computer I was given to review, I asked readers to guess where I ultimately chose to mount the computer. Likely the safest place to mount the computer is on the handlebar stem. However, I ultimately decided to go for the more risky extra space on the end of the PVC pipe I installed for my lights. Out on the end of the PVC makes the computer easier to see while riding as I do not need to shift my eyes as much as I would if it were mounted on my stem. It's... Continue reading

Theme music is back . . . crank it. The sighting that brought this song to mind . . . Forward and rear reflectors both on bar ends? I'm so confused . . . Continue reading

I passed this bike the other day and something seemed odd. I got closer and yes, this did seem odd at first. But my feeble brain then kicked into gear and I realized that this "floating" chainring was a brilliant form of chain tensioner. Simple, a bit elegant in my mind - and yet there is that feeling of unease at having something solely held in place by tension. Reader reaction welcome in comments. Continue reading

Reader Clyde contacted us and wrote about a 10 wheeled bike he had created . . . I built it for fun... I wanted to see if I could make all 10 wheels turn and function properly. More information on Clyde and some of his creations, including the interactive art piece found below, can be found at intuitiveiron.com. Continue reading

I was intrigued when I recently received an email with an interest in a cycle computer review. The computer in question is the iGS60, which the email proclaimed is . . . "similar to the Garmin Edge 520 but at about half the price." I was partially intrigued because this is my point of reference for a cycle computer - I think I got my Vetta C-15 in . . . perhaps 1997, and it's still going strong even though it has bounced off the pavement a good many times. I will admit, I have not even used it for... Continue reading

More images from a recent trip to NYC. This definitely took some thought, and I have my own ideas about the intended purpose. If it is what I think it is for, carrying a dog, I would be worried. There is an electrical cord that runs from the seat post to the front of the bike which may well be a leash. If it is for a dog, I hope the dog is very well behaved. Continue reading

I spotted this in NYC and the only practical thought that came to my mind was that maybe this would be a good hack for someone who wanted to ride in bare feet. Then the thought of walking around bare footed in NYC sent a chill down my spine. Thoughts from readers on this hack are welcome in comments. Continue reading

A motto of BikeHacks.com could well be, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." I certainly do not take credit for coming up with this light mounting hack on my own - But when I posted it, reader Craig sent along his own version, which definitely is high on the style factor. Craig wrote - I built this bike with a specialized rockhopper I picked up for $5 at a garage sale and mostly spare parts. Imitation is welcome on BikeHacks.com. If you are proud of something you have done, contact us for posting. Continue reading

Thank you to all of the readers who submitted Haiku for our Aster Backpack Giveaway Haiku Palooza. We had a lot of entries and as noted in the original post, I used random number selection to select the winner. We had 47 entries submitted, and as chance would have it, the random number generator landed on 47. The 47th Haiku was submitted by Don - The Aster will ship to Don and Don will put the backpack through its paces and post a review here on BikeHacks.com. Going into the contest I only had one winner in my mind, however... Continue reading

We often feature theme music to go with posts, today it's a movie line . . . On my commute this morning I encountered America's decaying infrastructure. I, as an American people, want this to stop right here and right now =) The story behind this is pretty simple, but for those not familiar with winter behavior in the Northeastern United States, let me enlighten thee. When it snows here, the Department of Transportation dumps salt all over everything. I'll go out a limb and say that I think it's likely that the impact this practice is likely to have... Continue reading

Mass customization is all the rage these days, and perhaps someone should start a business that will turn any object into a bottle opener. We have featured many a bike part repurposed into a bottle opener and when we recently posted Eric's rim bottle openers, reader Dan sent along the following hack - which he says he made close to 25 years ago. Dan can not only hack a bike part, he can tell a funny. If you have hacked a bike part into a bottle opener, or if this post inspires you to do so, let us know. *... Continue reading

We are happy to announce our first product giveaway/review of the year. Even better news, the review will be completed by a reader of the blog rather than by us. Occasionally companies will ask us to review a product and said product might not necessarily be a good match with our, well my, riding style. In this case, the makers of a new backpack want a review completed, but I do not ride with a backpack as I want to avoid SBS. However, for those who do ride with a backpack, the Aster claims to be the "World's safest cycling... Continue reading

Theme music makes a return for this post. We had our first major snow event of the season in Boston this past weekend, and I stumbled upon the poor bike pictured below. To set the tone, here is the chorus from Metallica's song, Trapped Under Ice. Pretty heartwarming stuff . . . crank it yo. Freezing Can't move at all Screaming Can't hear my call I am dying to live Cry out I'm trapped under ice The bike was hanging over the curb and an SUV was approaching and ready to park. Part of me wanted to see if the... Continue reading

On a recent errand I spotted something that I found perplexing. Does anyone know what this handlebar mount is for? Is this something sold, or something hacked? Please chime in with comments. If it helps, it is hollow . . . Continue reading

One thing that constantly frustrates me is not being able to find a tool I need. I live in cramped quarters (no garage and no work area) and don't really have a "good" place for organizing my tools. All my tools are either in my standard sized toolbox (read small), or in varied boxes that I try, mostly unsuccessfully, to keep organized in a way that will help me remember what tools are where. I am jealous of people like reader Ben, who does have space and sent us this great tutorial on how he organized his tools on the... Continue reading

I am fairly confident that one day, every item in the world will have been repurposed into a bottle opener. I ain't complainin', I'm just sayin'. It's great when you can take a product that has been broken and still find a use for it, and in this case, reader Eric took a bike rim he had taco'd and created bottle openers. Take it away Eric . . . I took a bent bicycle rim and cut it up into several pieces to make a bunch of bottle openers. I made a template out cardboard from a different bottle opener... Continue reading

How do you know when work has been keeping you busy? When you realize that you started a post in July when in the middle of a heat wave . . . and you are now getting around to posting it after riding to work in the snow =( It's been a while since I used theme music to set the mood for a post . . . and this music seemed appropriate for a couple of reasons, the first of which is that the music and movie are dated, and so is the content of this post. Crank it... Continue reading

Bike security is an important issue for me because I leave my bike in a public parking area every day and also lock my bike up when running errands around town. I have used varied locks and measures over the years, including - Pinhead products Cables Padlocks A heavy chain I have yet to encounter a stand alone locking product that makes me feel comfortable leaving my bike out for a long period of time. I guess the closest stand alone product in my view would be a U-lock that also comes with a cable. And I guess I should... Continue reading

The temperature has started to drop in Boston and you could say the change indicates that . . . winter is coming. It has not been what I would describe as frigid yet, however it is definitely jacket weather. It just so happens that the drop in the mercury coincided with a timely product review request. It is nice when a product is designed to meet multiple purposes, and the PROVIZ Reflect360 CRS Cycling Jacket is designed for both protection from the elements and safety. The following text is from the PROVIZ web site: Utilising millions of highly reflective tiny... Continue reading

Spotted in Lima, Peru. Continue reading