What’s up bike people, I had a great ride home tonight from my friend Leila’s house. I had three tubes of Hot Pants Pink Down Low Glow on my Xtracycle and it was really laying down a beautiful cloud of light on the wet streets. The rain had just started when I turned on the lights. They turned on fast, and stayed superbright till I turned onto York St. a mile later.

That’s when I looked down and saw that the front tube in my dual-tube system was noticeably dimmer than the rear tube, and the single tube system I use on the rear of my xtracycle was about half-bright also. It wasn’t the first time I’d noticed the way rain affects the DLG, but it was the most precise I’ve been able to measure it, and I’m not the only one who’s noticed either.

Eugen from Denmark writes:

“Hej! My name is Eugen and I bought the down low glow a few mounths ago and I have a question. At the beginning both tubes worked fine but now the tube which is placed on the back of the bike doesn´t glow as strong as the big tube. I was wonderring that maybe it had something to do with the temperature or the humidity because the wether in Denmark is rainy. I took the lights off and now both tubes work fine but I was wondering if this problem appears again what I should do??”

So there you have it. I hate to disappoint the hardcore commuters out there, but facts are facts. Your Down Low Glow may not stay superbright after miles and miles of riding on a rainy night. In fact, it will probably fade to about half it’s regular brightness.”

Now that we’re aware of the problem, we’re working on finding a solution. I’ll keep you posted. If you’ve figured out tricks for using the DLG through sustained rain, let me know. Fortunately, the seals on the tubes are doing pretty well these days. We’re having far fewer returns due to condensation than last year, and our sales are higher. So the good news is that your DLG are less likely than ever before to have any lasting damage from the rain. But that doesn’t solve the problem of them not shining as brightly when wet.

One immediate tip I’d recommend to DLG owners is to keep your bike in a dry place whenever possible when you’re not on it. (Or bring the DLG inside with you if you know your bike will get rained on.)

ike Cobb came up with a trailer-based mobile welding setup that allows him to bike anywhere in the Portland area, and repair anything from a bicycle frame to, well, a broken spatula.

The setup includes a thick wool sweater, welding hood,  lightweight inverter-based welder, angle grinder, and various other tools. Alas it requires plugging into AC current, but at least it doesn’t require 220-volt current.

He’s learned to weld without a workbench, which requires modifying his technique to use his right elbow to work the amperage contol pedal. He also rolls with a padded cordura nylon ground mat and kneepads.

The welder is protected against rain by a stretch rain cover that hugs the rails of the Blue Sky Cycle Cart. The folding Bike Friday can be packed into the trailer, and hoisted onto an AMTRAK train without a surcharge.

Check out the full web album or contact Mike through Rock the Bike.

I was entertained at the Revolution Cafe in San Francisco at Bike Culture night by Mafi and Fossil Fool while visiting the bay area for the holidays. The place was jumpin’ with Mafi playin’ the Quatro(spelled right?)and then when Fossil Fool took the Choprical Fish outside to the sidewalk where spontaneous dancing erupted, as well as some mixed drinks from the Bike Blender.

Thanks Fossil!Pics and videos to be posted soon.

Many people use bike trailers to bring the beat at large group rides like Critical Mass. Trailers make it easy to get started, since you can use a simple box rather than having to engineer a cabinet that surrounds your rear wheel.

But trailer-based systems put the beat much further from your ears, meaning that you have to turn up the volume much louder to feel like you are ‘in the music’. This means you’ll end up using much more powerful amps and speakers, and larger, heavier batteries. All this means that you are much less likely to use a trailer-based party bike for impromptu cruises (with 5-10 friends) and more likely to save it for larger, planned rides.

I love the bike culture touches this fabricator put on his system – the bike wheel and sprockets used as speaker grills. But there’s no escaping the fact that this system, and all trailer systems, look like a bike towing a box.

In my opinion an integrated long-wheelbase party bike, a Soul Cycle, is a much much easier way to create a cosmic ‘craft’.

This was the sound system at the mc3 performance ride

I recorded “I am a Fossil Fool” again last night. Only Rock the Bike members can download it — look for the “attachments” link below after you register or log in. My throat was pretty scratchy from the flu, so I’ll have to redo the vocals again soon . But I wanted to get something out on Rock the Bike so you all can play it at your New Year’s Eve rides and parties. I’ll be performing this one live tomorrow at Bike Culture Night. Hope you can make it if you’re local.

I spent most of the winter break learning Ableton Live and making music in the attic studio. With the flu and the weather recently, I didn’t mind sitting at home with my reference manual on my lap, clicking the mouse a few thousand times while I finally wrapped my head around this amazing software.

Adam, Joey, and Karl are the hosts of the Rochester Cruiser Ride. If they’re this passionate in the snow, you can bet they’be putting together some great rides in ’08

In Choad Warrior, post-apocalyptic leather clad warriors ride bicycles and fight for their precious fuel, beer.

I was an extra in the movie, and the main character even uses the microphone of the Choprical Fish in one scene. Here are some of the better shots from the day I participated.

Fresh off the heels of his fabulous Dragon Bike, Jay turns his talents to the screen. If you’re in the Bay Area, Jay’s hosting a James Brown themed Christmas Eve event at the Uptown.

Also check out “Art Bikes are Meant to Be Ridden.”

Check out “Let’s Ride Our Bikes” on Feel It Robot’s MySpace page. The electo punk quintet from Bangor, Maine sent us the track earlier this week. I’d post an MP3, but I think it benefits bands to send traffic directly to their MySpace pages.

Someday soon it’ll be up on Rock the Bike Radio, for sure. Stay tuned for that in ’08.

Been pushing really hard lately at the workshop and left tonight after 10. I’m entertaining tomorrow at Specialized’s holiday party. We’ll be doing a cruiser ride with employees and apparently lots of cool kids. I wanted to finish up as many Down Low Glow shipments as I could tonight so I don’t have it hanging over me this weekend.

Anyway I was heading home the usual way towards West Oakland when I saw a nice white blinky in the distance coming towards me. I thought “this must be a self-respecting biker. I wonder if I know them.” Then the bike turned right at an intersection a few hundred yards away. Oh well, guess I won’t get to find out, I thought.

Then I saw the bright blinky again, only a few feet away from me.

“Paul?”
“Robert!”
“I thought I saw the pink glow off in the distance.”
“Cool, it works!”

I met Robert when he was working at Pedal Express, which used to be headquartered right next to Rock The Bike. I hadn’t seen him much since he started Law School last year and we caught up for a couple minutes before saying goodnight.

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Civic Center BART. Two teenagers point to my bike when I get off the train. I stop, pretending I don’t notice, and switch on my Hot Pants Pink Down Low Glow (Dual Tube system for maximum street glow.) “Cool, it’s got ground effects too!” Then peeking back from the escalator, I see them ducking down to see me. and the pink glinting off the stainless steel.

Then I realize my ticket doesn’t have enough money so I add 50 cents at the ADD FARE machine. The machine spits back my ticket and a dollar in change!

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Text from Mafi: “I just saw you passing by the Elbo Room with the pink glow. Good night Bambino.”

Warning: Lots of swearing. And very funny! Thanks to DJ Bento for the tip.

Here is the link:

Edited video from the Dec 1st, 2007 Southbay Cruiser ‘Pleasant Revolution’ Ride.

HI

I am on The Pleasant Revolution Tour. I designed and built 4 bike generators for an expedition tour though Mexico. I am currently working on these prototypes on this tour. I would like to keep you all informed of my progress.

Each bike has a generator that can be engaged on the fly, or set up on a center stand, to generate power while moving or stationary. There is a 12-volt 6amp Lith. Phos. battery that can be charged with a solar panel (BRUNON foldable 12v 26w panel), or with the Generator. Any 12v device can run off the 12v Batt., solar panel, or the generator.

dante