Friday News And Views

Some of the contents of the Astral O.N.S. seatpost.

 Survival Gear: Should You Consider It For Your Rides?

Recently I did a review on the Astral O.N.S. Seatpost for Riding Gravel. It is a seatpost that contains a survival kit inside the shaft of the component. I also spied a review for some mountain bike shoes that have a tracker beacon embedded into them which doesn't require power and can be detected by search and rescue teams. Apparently some helmets for MTB have the same beacon in them. 

This all has me pondering safety equipment and if I have been too cavalier about my ramblings on the gravel roads in a solo capacity. Of course, I should know better....

I mean, how many times have I seen 'near misses' in Trans Iowa's 14 year history? Plenty, and that link is but one example. Then there is my own experience with an emergency situation. Of course, I was with a group, and in the example of Trans Iowa, there were other riders about that could help, but I ride solo. A lot. What if...... Well, that happened once, and it was touch and go there for awhile.

I know that one has to weigh the chances for themselves when it comes to taking risks, but a little prevention and prudence might not hurt. So, I think the guts of that seatpost may find a home in my solo gravel kit from here on out. 

A scene from the IWAR course. (Image from the IWAR Instagram)

Deadly Tornado Affects The IWAR Gravel Family:

Over the weekend the wild weather we often endure here in the Mid-West included tornadic activity in the area of the Iowa Wind And Rock territory. One of the event race directors, Sarah Cooper, lives in the area. While her and her family are okay, seven people lost their lives in the EF4 tornado which struck that area of Iowa. 

I wanted to share a message seen on IWAR's Instagram on Monday here: 

"Many of you have reached out to us asking what you can do to help. The most direct way to help will be to come to Winterset in April, and spend your time and dollars at the many small businesses in town, no matter how you feel about your level of preparation. On the surface, it's "just a bike race", but the impact it has on the community, especially now, will be significant. If you are unable to make the trip, Sarah donates a large portion of her time as a case worker for the American Red Cross. A donation to the Iowa Chapter, in whatever amount you are comfortable with, will also benefit those affected."

 Link to the The Iowa Wind And Rock website:https://iowawindandrock.com/

Link to the Iowa Chapter of the Red Cross:  https://www.redcross.org/local/iowa.html

More lazer guided bicycles, not lazer guided missiles! (Image from Gizmodo)

Lazer Guided Bicycles:

A reader of this blog sent me a link earlier this week concerning a new application of technology for bicycle navigation using lazer lights projected to the street/road surface. 

The technology is called "LazerCube" and, according to the story produced by "Gizmodo" here, it is basically a projector which can do text, animations, or other images using a lazer light source. 

It isn't cheap. The least expensive version would cost $1000.00 a unit, so this probably won't be replacing your Garmin anytime soon. But could you imagine a gravel race that sent you directions via GPS that this device then could project right on to the road? 

I don't know how well it would work on gravel, but think of the possibilities! I'm not a fan, by the way, but you know that if you've hung out here long enough. I still scribble out my own cues on paper! So old! 

The 'Infinity' by Stephen Henrich. (Image courtesy of Sintratec)

Mad Mono-trac Machine:

Back when we had the Interbike trade show, in its heyday, there would be these outlandish ideas and silly contraptions being hawked along the edges of the show. Sometimes in Interbike's famous 'basement' at the Sands Convention Center, or sometimes in the outer halls, or even outside the venue. 

Now we have 'gone all digital' so that circus show of crazed ideas is no longer a thing to see. But every once in a while a tech company has an idea, (see above) or an individual from outside the bicycle world comes up with a design to 'improve' upon the classic bicycle. 

I came across the Infinity concept by a fellow named Stephen Henrich online this week and it immediately reminded me of those odd, interesting inventions you'd sometimes see at Interbike. While the site, "designboom' describes this as a "bicycle", it really is not. It is a concept. It is a mono-trac machine, much like a tank, or anything utilizing a continuous track for propulsion. The "beach-city cruiser' concept features a centralized crank which appears to use a chain to drive what looks to be an internal geared hub that in turn has a wheel that drives the continuous belt. The belt ends are suspended by dampers which hold apart two cantilevered sections on either end which have integrated 'clips' to keep the track on its axis and not derail. The track itself seems to be designed such that it also provides some structural support. 

I haven't figured out if you can steer the thing, or how that would work if you can. It's just an idea, at this point, and not a reality, after all. But despite that, it is pretty interesting to look at, that's for sure. It's a mad idea, and I have to wonder how this improves upon, (or even if it does at all) the average, ordinary bicycle, which- as it turns out- is not so average or ordinary as we might think.

  Well, that's a wrap for this week. (Bonus: If you are an early reader of this post, look for a model release from Salsa Cycles at 9:00am CST today. It couldn't be put into this "FN&V" due to the embargo. I'll have a report on it tomorrow.) Also- GOOD LUCK to those riding in the Mid-South event this weekend!