SKS Sub 40 and Puro pumps
By brian | September 30, 2007 - 9:32 pm - Posted in Interbike 2007, The skinny

One of the people I had a chance to visit with was Willo Blome, Managing Director of SKS Germany.

As someone who has commuted in the rain, I have more than a passing appreciation for one of their best known products - mudguards. But meeting Willo offered an opportunity to learn a bit more about some of their other products, such as the Sub 40 and Puro pumps. I’m sure I was the about the 1,000th person that he spoke with at Interbike, yet he had more energy and enthusiasm than you could ever imagine. As he demonstrated the features of the pumps, it became quite apparent that their decision to design and build their pumps in Germany is not only a matter of pride, but a matter of passion.

The Sub 40 weighs 39 grams, hence the name. It has a presta head and promises to deliver just over 140psi. Given their obsession with quality, I don’t doubt that it will deliver the goods.

The Puro, with its carbon fiber tube, it quite pleasing to the eye. It sports a built in presta head, and an innovative gauge that reads up to its 144psi max. The gauge itself is actually built into the internal rod that the piston is connected to. Not only does this make for a very clean design, but it keeps all the moving parts protected from dirt.

Check their website for more information on the rest of their pumps, as well as mudguards and award-winning tools. Hopefully, you’ll see a couple of product reviews here in the future.

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Where to start?
By brian | September 29, 2007 - 12:07 pm - Posted in Random acts of typing
My brain is about to explode from everything I saw at Interbike. I’m not even sure where to start. But since my stats indicate that I have the least amount of views over the weekend, I’ll spend today and tomorrow writing, and start publishing Monday morning. That gives me a bit of time to organize all my thoughts a bit better, and catch up on sleep as well.
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Interbike 2007
By brian | September 27, 2007 - 3:15 pm - Posted in Random acts of typing

Well, we made it. Too bad my laptop didn’t. Four hundred miles strapped to the back of a motorcycle, and it appears to be toast. So I’ve managed to check my mail from the media center, but all my reporting will have to be done from the comfort of my home computer.

Go check cyclelicio.us, as Fritz is sitting next to me with his working laptop. He’s not even smug about it.

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I don’t get it - UK officers banned from riding bikes on patrol
By brian | September 24, 2007 - 8:51 pm - Posted in Random acts of typing

I’m referring to this article.

A 21 year-old officer was struck by a truck, and killed, so they are banning other officers from riding bikes as part of their patrol. If they have less than a year’s experience on a bike, they cannot currently ride them. Those officers with more than a year’s experience can continue to ride, but will be given “extra safety advice”.

I’m not trying to make light of the situation, but I want more details. If the officer’s inexperience or actions somehow contributed to his demise, then I agree that more training is in order. But without knowing what happened, the article leaves me with too many unanswered questions.

Having officers patrol by bicycle works on so many levels, it’s a shame to see them being taken off the road. Not only can they get through traffic quicker, but they are more accessible to the public when on a bike, and also help to project a positive image of both the police and cycling.

Will the lorry (truck) drivers be taken off the road until they have more experience driving around cyclists?

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BikeForums.net offers manufacturers and retailers access to member’s opinions
By brian | September 22, 2007 - 6:06 pm - Posted in Press releases

BikeForums.net, the most active cycling-related forum on the internet, recently added a new forum, titled Manufacturer, Retailer, and Consumer Feedback.

The purpose of the new forum is twofold:

First, it will allow anyone in the industry, from manufacturers and retailers to builders and inventors, the opportunity to post on the forums and gain valuable feedback from a large and varied cross-section of cyclists. I’m not aware of any other site that gives the industry direct access to that many potential consumers, and without any strings attached.

Second, it gives the members the opportunity to voice their opinions, concerns, and needs with regards to new or existing products. If manufacturers and retailers are really interested in what customers think, they’ll read and take note, and hopefully respond.

Of course, this will only work if both sides participate. The good news is that if they do, everyone benefits. I hope to see members and the industry both take advantage of this excellent opportunity.

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