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New York, 11:36 AM
Fri Dec 18
70 posts in the last 24 hours

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of IN THE FACE! IN THE FACE!
    12/15/09

    In reply to M.I.T. Ushers in Biking 2.0 With Copenhagen Wheel
    I thought that sounded familiar...

    [jalopnik.com]
     Reply
    IN THE FACE! was starred IN THE FACE! was unstarred
    Image of ShantiTrophonius ShantiTrophonius
    12/15/09

    In reply to M.I.T. Ushers in Biking 2.0 With Copenhagen Wheel
    Given that the most effective braking on a bike is done by the front wheel (hence it is much more heavily used than the rear), I suspect this setup would be more effective on the front wheel rather than the rear.
     Reply
    The5thElephant promoted this comment ShantiTrophonius was starred ShantiTrophonius was unstarred
    Image of The5thElephant The5thElephant
    12/15/09

    @ShantiTrophonius: The majority of people I know primarily use their back brakes, not sure what you are talking about. Only time I use front brake as often as back is when I'm mountain biking.
     Reply
    The5thElephant was starred The5thElephant was unstarred
    Image of Squirrel-tail Squirrel-tail
    12/16/09

    @The5thElephant: the majority of people don't know how to properly stop then.

    Front brake has exponentially greater braking power.

    [sheldonbrown.com]
     Reply
    Jacubious promoted this comment Squirrel-tail was starred Squirrel-tail was unstarred
    Image of nutbastard nutbastard
    12/15/09

    In reply to M.I.T. Ushers in Biking 2.0 With Copenhagen Wheel
    i almost wonder if regenerative braking might be done better on a bicycle with a purely mechanical, er, mechanism. even if it could only hold a 3 or 4 second burst, it would be cool.
     Reply
    nutbastard was starred nutbastard was unstarred
    Image of Wibble Wibble
    12/15/09

    In reply to M.I.T. Ushers in Biking 2.0 With Copenhagen Wheel
    They just called it KERS to make it sound like had something to do with F1.

    All very nice, but how much does said wheel weigh?
     Reply
    Wibble was starred Wibble was unstarred
    Image of yogibimbi yogibimbi
    12/15/09

    @Wibble: Actually, it doesn't only sound like F1, it is exactly the same principle as in F1. The abbreviation is just a description of the technology, not a copyright of F1.
     Reply
    yogibimbi was starred yogibimbi was unstarred
    Image of Wibble Wibble
    12/15/09

    @yogibimbi: OK, then why didn't they call it "the same boring regenerative braking crap that's in a Prius"?

    After all, it does the same thing, too, but doesn't use the KERS four-letter acronym that was popularised by F1.
     Reply
    The5thElephant promoted this comment Wibble was starred Wibble was unstarred
    Image of The5thElephant The5thElephant
    12/15/09

    @Wibble: Because it's not the same boring regenerative braking crap that's in a Prius.

    With KERS you put out all the stored energy in one powerful go. The more energy you stored, the more powerful the GO (to a limit).
     Reply
    The5thElephant was starred The5thElephant was unstarred
    Image of Mr.V. Mr.V.
    12/15/09

    In reply to M.I.T. Ushers in Biking 2.0 With Copenhagen Wheel
    Why the fuck does anyone want their bike to have Bluetooth? Seriously. What would you possibly do with that?
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment Mr.V. was starred Mr.V. was unstarred
    Image of TheSonOfKrypton TheSonOfKrypton
    12/15/09

    @Mr.V.: Didn't read the second sentence of the second paragraph, now did you? Ya.......that'll get ya homie.
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton was starred TheSonOfKrypton was unstarred
    Image of aokiqiao aokiqiao
    12/15/09

    @TheSonOfKrypton: I dont think he read ANY of it. XD
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment aokiqiao was starred aokiqiao was unstarred
    Image of Mr.V. Mr.V.
    12/15/09

    @TheSonOfKrypton: Aye, sorry then. But still, all of that seems really trivial. None of it would be all too useful.
     Reply
    Mr.V. was starred Mr.V. was unstarred
    Image of TheSonOfKrypton TheSonOfKrypton
    12/15/09

    @Mr.V.: Do you have an iPhone (or any SMART smartphone - so by that I mean "or Android phone")? Have you ever used the iPhone app RunKeeper? No? Hold on, lemme get something.
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton was starred TheSonOfKrypton was unstarred
    Image of TheSonOfKrypton TheSonOfKrypton
    12/15/09

    @Mr.V.:
    Ok....back. Glance at attached image please. Done? Good. Keep in mind that the Google Maps window was zoomed in to the route that I ran: from my house all the way around my neighborhood (I zoomed out for privacy reasons of course). Now look at all the data above said map. All the data below said map. I'd imagine you don't care about your fitness much since you don't understand how "it would be all too useful" so I implore you to imagine for a second that you gave a fuck about your physical fitness and had a particular penchant for riding your bike. Now do you see how a bike having Bluetooth and the ability to transmit all the information mentioned in the article can be EXTREMELY useful? Awesome. That's my good deed for the day.
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton was starred TheSonOfKrypton was unstarred
    Image of notlikeacat notlikeacat
    12/15/09

    @Mr.V.: I read the second sent.. I read the whole thing and I agree with your original question. The kinetics seem to me to be the practical use. It almost seems as if that was secondary in MIT's approach. I wonder if Apple has any money invested in this.
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment notlikeacat was starred notlikeacat was unstarred
    Image of Vicarious-Chair Vicarious-Chair
    12/15/09

    @TheSonOfKrypton: Nope, and nope. Wireless plans for smart phones are a joke. The bluetooth would be neat for my iPod touch, though. Maybe an iPod/iPhone mount that charges using the energy generated from using the disc brake?
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment Vicarious-Chair was starred Vicarious-Chair was unstarred
    Image of AmbroseP AmbroseP
    12/15/09

    @TheSonOfKrypton: Don't lie. You zoomed out because you didn't want someone finding you and running you down with their mountain bike for being a snide hipster.
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment AmbroseP was starred AmbroseP was unstarred
    Image of TheSonOfKrypton TheSonOfKrypton
    12/15/09

    @AmbroseP: Hahahah. To run down the last Kryptonian in existence with primitive human machinery......Yea....Good luck with that.
     Reply
    Edited by TheSonOfKrypton at 12/15/09 7:28 PM TheSonOfKrypton was starred TheSonOfKrypton was unstarred
    Image of TheSonOfKrypton TheSonOfKrypton
    12/15/09

    @Vicarious-Chair: Yup. Good point. The iPod Touch is basically an iPhone anyway...
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton was starred TheSonOfKrypton was unstarred
    Image of yogibimbi yogibimbi
    12/15/09

    @TheSonOfKrypton: eeehm, I am completely on your side for the fitness part. However, concerning the bluetooth part you are missing the point a bit, instead chiding our hapless couch potato. Runkeeper does not require bluetooth, as a quick perusal of its webpage has informed me, just basic GPS. Which is great. Actually exactly what I have been looking for and would have purchased long ago if it were available for my Centro.

    However, on a bike there are some parameters that GPS does not track, like frequency and torque. That is what BT would come in pretty handy for, sending the parameters from sensors to a processing unit. Runningwise, a Nike+ can do pretty much the same trick for step frequency and -length, albeit with a somewhat reduced accuracy due to physiological variability.

    What actually has me wondering is, what took people so long to connect the dots with this technology. Even the Palm III could already be used as a bike computer, and bluetooth is by no means a recent development. I searched for similar technology on the net years ago. Maybe should have developed it? Nah, I think I am not single-minded enough.
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment yogibimbi was starred yogibimbi was unstarred
    Image of TheSonOfKrypton TheSonOfKrypton
    12/15/09

    @yogibimbi: Yes. You're right dude. Forgive me. Somethings I just don't think I have to spell out, ya know? I was hoping the very thing you articulate would be one of those things. But yes. What this Copenhagen wheel can do is pick up the data that cannot be derived simply from an iPhone app using the iPhone's GPS chip and sends it to said iPhone letting you log it. If I'm just running, then yes, something like this is stupid since Runkeeper can easily figure out all this data. But on a bike, it can't so that's why I think this Copenhagen wheel is good shit.
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton was starred TheSonOfKrypton was unstarred
    Image of yogibimbi yogibimbi
    12/15/09

    @TheSonOfKrypton: blessings to you, my brother. Together we improve the karma of the world.

    The hub looks somewhat shitty though, and the spokes look like one jump down the stairs might do them in completely, but, as you say, it's good shit. I still prefer my Shimano hub-dynamo (why don't they offer those things for the rear hub as well?) as a powersource, but this wouldn't give me all the radiation-happy thingamajigs. However, torque and frequency cannot be measured at the rear hub anyway, so the guys from the MIT still have to put their thinking hats on once more...
     Reply
    yogibimbi was starred yogibimbi was unstarred
    Image of Roobs Roobs
    12/16/09

    @Mr.V.: Before we know it, beds, toilets and even the bushes out front will be fitted with Bluetooth, giving us readings of things we really don't want to know about...
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment Roobs was starred Roobs was unstarred
    Image of sarge5 sarge5
    12/16/09

    @TheSonOfKrypton: Or Symbian.
    ATM has way more apps than Android. And most importantly, it has Quake 3.
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton approved this comment sarge5 was starred sarge5 was unstarred
    Image of Mr.V. Mr.V.
    12/16/09

    @TheSonOfKrypton: Actually, I'm in decent shape and quite enjoy riding my bike. But do I need a phone to tell me how fast I am going? I don't need a miles per hour readout to judge my speed in relation to other entities on the road, nor do I need it to tell me which direction I'm traveling in. Both of those could be achieved with what we like to call, "depth perception." You want to know how far you're going to ride? Check google maps before you leave.

    And no, being a jobless fifteen year old, I cannot say I have owned a smartphone. This is kind of irrelevant though- my not owning a smartphone somehow makes me an uneducated philistine, it seems? Bit of an odd judgment.
     Reply
    Edited by Mr.V. at 12/16/09 4:02 PM Mr.V. was starred Mr.V. was unstarred
    Image of Mr.V. Mr.V.
    12/16/09

    @yogibimbi: So not having a smartphone, and not needing one to ride my bike makes me a "hapless couch potato"?
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment Mr.V. was starred Mr.V. was unstarred
    Image of TheSonOfKrypton TheSonOfKrypton
    12/16/09

    @Mr.V.: Ha...Nice. You're a smart 15 year old. I can tell. But listen Mr. V. Some people enjoy having this kind of data. I don't know if you saw all the data in my screenshot before it exceeded image shack's alloted views, but for anyone who tracks their fitness on a site like say dailyburn.com, that data is CRUCIAL. Knowing how long I biked, how many calories I burned, my total distance of ascent, my average speed.....all of this is welcome information for people like me. I dunno if you've hit your "I'm gonna be as fit as I can possibly be" phase yet, but when you do, you'll appreciate the things your smartphone and/or its connected equipment can divulge to you.
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton was starred TheSonOfKrypton was unstarred
    Image of Mr.V. Mr.V.
    12/16/09

    @TheSonOfKrypton:
    hah, thanks. And true, that. My metabolism takes care of all the weight stuff, when I exercise it's really just for the hell of it. If I had to lose weight, I might consider that kind of thing.

    And another thing about bikes like this, while not being a major issue to other people: I kind of think this sort of unnecessary thing will start to ruin the simple form of the bike. One of the best things about bikes, to me, is that they're so goddamned simple. It's just you, a sleek metal frame, and some moving parts. I dunno. Not a legitimate beef to have with the MIT bike, just sayin'.
     Reply
    Mr.V. was starred Mr.V. was unstarred
    Image of RicketyCricket RicketyCricket
    12/15/09

    In reply to M.I.T. Ushers in Biking 2.0 With Copenhagen Wheel
    This guy's gonna be pissed.
     Reply
    Deckard promoted this comment RicketyCricket was starred RicketyCricket was unstarred
    Image of Deckard Deckard
    12/15/09

    @RicketyCricket: He already looks pissed.
     Reply
    Deckard was starred Deckard was unstarred
    Image of RicketyCricket RicketyCricket
    12/15/09

    @Deckard: Yeah but he could get Chuck Norris to avenge him. Then we're all in trouble.

    /Hey, if Mike Huckabee did it, how friggin' hard can it be?
     Reply
    RicketyCricket was starred RicketyCricket was unstarred
    Image of PurpleMonkeyDishwasher: PurpleMonkeyDishwasher:
    12/15/09

    In reply to M.I.T. Ushers in Biking 2.0 With Copenhagen Wheel
    Too bad bikes don't emit carbon in the first place.
     Reply
    PurpleMonkeyDishwasher: was starred PurpleMonkeyDishwasher: was unstarred
    Image of OMG! weatherman OMG! weatherman
    12/15/09

    @PurpleMonkeyDishwasher:: making biking easier and more convenient might get some people to give up other modes of transport. That said, I don't think this is going to do it - storing a portion of the kinetic energy for a brief surge is not going to alleviate the major issues with biking, which are that using any exertion at all usually means wearing different clothes and changing (if not showering) at work. Powered vehicles, like electric scooters, are much more convenient. Now if this thing held a charge that went like 10-20 miles, that might make it really handy.
     Reply
    PurpleMonkeyDishwasher: promoted this comment OMG! weatherman was starred OMG! weatherman was unstarred
    Image of Caeruleas Caeruleas
    12/15/09

    @PurpleMonkeyDishwasher:: But if they can make power-assisted bicycles lighter and more affordable, they might be able to convince more people to ride bikes instead.

    Seems like this system has less of a carbon footprint in its life cycle as, compared to similar power assist systems, it uses less materials and labor to produce, and uses only the mechanical energy of the rider.
     Reply
    PurpleMonkeyDishwasher: promoted this comment Caeruleas was starred Caeruleas was unstarred
    Image of PurpleMonkeyDishwasher: PurpleMonkeyDishwasher:
    12/15/09

    @weatherman: Good point, didn't look at it that way. On that note, I do know the electric bikes are gaining popularity in Europe and China.
     Reply
    Edited by PurpleMonkeyDishwasher: at 12/15/09 10:04 PM PurpleMonkeyDishwasher: was starred PurpleMonkeyDishwasher: was unstarred
    Image of bleek bleek
    12/15/09

    In reply to M.I.T. Ushers in Biking 2.0 With Copenhagen Wheel
    Hang on guys, I'm kickin this bike into nitro.
     Reply
    TheSonOfKrypton promoted this comment bleek was starred bleek was unstarred
    Image of Jesper Weltz Jesper Weltz
    12/01/09

    In reply to This City's Christmas Tree Lights Will Go Off Unless 15 People Ride Bikes
    I am from Denmark and the essay answer is that Denmark is different, yes the lights go out when no one bikes, but we love bikes so its no problem getting 15 to keep them on.
    its also placed in the middel of the biggest shopping stread so there is lots of people.

    but the real different is better describet by Youtube

    [www.youtube.com]

    [www.youtube.com]
     Reply
    Jesper Weltz was starred Jesper Weltz was unstarred
    Image of Úlfur Kristjánsson Úlfur Kristjánsson
    12/01/09

    @Jesper Weltz: I absolutely love Denmark and Copenhagen.

    However, what the video forgets to mention is that aside from the the Netherlands (another country with a rich bicycle culture) Denmark is probably the flattest country in the world, hence the easy bicycle commute.

    Don't get me wrong though, I absolutely think more inner city people anywhere should ride bikes instead of driving, just saying it might be slightly easier in Copenhagen than a lot of other places :P
     Reply
    Scotland promoted this comment Úlfur Kristjánsson was starred Úlfur Kristjánsson was unstarred
    Image of Jesper Weltz Jesper Weltz
    12/01/09

    @Úlfur Kristjánsson: Heh. That is tru Copenhagen is very flat :) Budt not all of Denmark is as flat as CPH, i am from Aarhus (the second largest city in Denmark) and trust me we got hills .

    Picture of the outskirts of Aarhus:
    [upload.wikimedia.org]
     Reply
    Scotland promoted this comment Edited by Jesper Weltz at 12/01/09 5:28 AM Jesper Weltz was starred Jesper Weltz was unstarred
    Image of ReynaldoRiv ReynaldoRiv
    12/01/09

    In reply to This City's Christmas Tree Lights Will Go Off Unless 15 People Ride Bikes
    That building in the background SO looks like city hall in Philadelphia PA
     Reply
    Lizard_King promoted this comment ReynaldoRiv was starred ReynaldoRiv was unstarred
    Image of Lizard_King Lizard_King
    12/01/09

    @ReynaldoRiv: Yeah, but Philadelphia is too busy trying to eliminate bicycles from their roads to do this.
     Reply
    Lizard_King was starred Lizard_King was unstarred
    Image of disco_francisco disco_francisco
    12/01/09

    @Lizard_King: Actually the city is busy trying to make bikers, you know, adhere to the rules of the road. If I roll through a red light at a major intersection in my car it is a huge offense...if I do it on my bike then it's cool, man.
     Reply
    Lizard_King approved this comment disco_francisco was starred disco_francisco was unstarred
    Image of Lizard_King Lizard_King
    12/01/09

    @disco_francisco: Yeah. $20 Registration and License fees, $1000 fine for brakeless bikes, madatory lights, etc.

    Some of these are not about safety, it's about revenue. What about vistors to the city cycling through? What about people with multiple bikes? Some rules being made are just ridiculous, talk has been made about cyclists and motorcyclists having to put a foot down to define a stop (I'll put a foot down when drivers have to open a door and put a foot down). Howabout they open up the fucking bridges so I can get to NJ at night without a train? If they want to force us into the mold of cars, we get the benefits too.
     Reply
    Lizard_King was starred Lizard_King was unstarred
    Image of disco_francisco disco_francisco
    12/01/09

    @Lizard_King: I've seen plenty of people riding their bike across the Ben Franklin on that jogging/bike path.

    I agree with you that some of those proposed regulations are outrageous, especially the $300 for having earphones in or whatever. All I'm saying is that I get tired when Johnny Hipster (not implying that you are in anyway a hipster, just generalizing here) complains about not being respected on the road as they weave in and out of traffic/cut off SEPTA buses/speed down crowded sidewalks/etc.

    There is no perfect system, I really just want to see the BASIC rules of the road being observed by bikers.

    Anyway, back on topic...that tree sure is purty!
     Reply
    disco_francisco was starred disco_francisco was unstarred
    Image of Lizard_King Lizard_King
    12/01/09

    @disco_francisco: No riding over the Ben Franklin at night (after 7pm or 8PM I believe). Yeah, way off topic - just jealous that people can't organize something like that here.
     Reply
    Lizard_King was starred Lizard_King was unstarred
    Image of disco_francisco disco_francisco
    12/01/09

    @Lizard_King: Our city probably wouldn't be able to afford it. If they could, there would probably be some sort of silly tax involved.
     Reply
    disco_francisco was starred disco_francisco was unstarred
    Image of Gary_7vn Gary_7vn
    12/01/09

    In reply to This City's Christmas Tree Lights Will Go Off Unless 15 People Ride Bikes
    A pro biker can put out .5 hp for several hours. I find it hard to believe it takes 15 people to light up some LEDS.

    Their rig must be deficient. Fail Copenhagians. Fail!
     Reply
    Gary_7vn was starred Gary_7vn was unstarred
    Image of phunnyballs phunnyballs
    12/01/09

    In reply to This City's Christmas Tree Lights Will Go Off Unless 15 People Ride Bikes
    I can see the point of 3-5 people, because if you want to go see the lights, get a group of friends together or go w/ your family

    but 15 is just too much. you have to actually organize for the lights to happen.
     Reply
    phunnyballs was starred phunnyballs was unstarred
    Image of Caeruleas Caeruleas
    12/01/09

    In reply to This City's Christmas Tree Lights Will Go Off Unless 15 People Ride Bikes
    Shouldn't that be "will go off"?
     Reply
    Rosa Golijan promoted this comment Caeruleas was starred Caeruleas was unstarred
    Image of Rosa Golijan Rosa Golijan
    12/01/09

    @Caeruleas: Good point. Fixed. Thanks.
     Reply
    Rosa Golijan was starred Rosa Golijan was unstarred
    Image of modernape modernape
    10/25/09

    In reply to When Cyclists Are Forced to Fly, There's This Bicycle Luggage
    er, how exactly would a 'cyclist of your caliber' ride to europe??? #cycling
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead promoted this comment modernape was starred modernape was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    10/25/09

    @modernape: See here: [gizmodo.com] #cycling
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of blash blash
    10/25/09

    In reply to When Cyclists Are Forced to Fly, There's This Bicycle Luggage
    It's awesome until you consider:

    a) How many bicycle thefts there are
    b) The ridiculous risk of packing valuables in your luggage
    c) How obvious that this is a bike to a baggage handler

    Because I seriously doubt this fits in an overhead bin. #cycling
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead promoted this comment blash was starred blash was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    10/25/09

    @blash: It may be possible for an entire bike to be stolen, but unless you fly The Airline Bubba Done Built Airways, it's likely you'll not have much to worry about. I have a feeling a baggage handler would not be as eager to snatch something that big, unless you're flying out of the Disputed Zone. #cycling
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
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