Category: Cycling

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Cycling

Bike Poncho protects your ride when it’s wet outside

The Premise. Keeping your bike out of the rain prevents it from rusting and means it’s going to function at its best. This is important to not only students and those who ride their bike to work, but also to professional cyclists.

The Product. Bike Poncho provides an alternative to those who don’t have a garage or basement where they can store their bike. If you want to take your bike on the road and have it attached to the back of your vehicle, the bike cover will also work to protect your bike from road debris. The poncho is made of a material that is waterproof, UV and wind resistant, oil resistant, washable and aerodynamic. And when it’s not in use, it folds up neatly to a compact pouch that fits conveniently under your bike seat or can be stored in a book bag.

The Pitch. The video for the $35,000 campaign is into showing rather than telling. While you may not hear anything but upbeat music with an accentuated rhythm, it still effectively demonstrates how the bike cover slides over a bike and protects it from the elements so easily that a child can do it. This doesn’t appear to be a particularly difficult product to use, and so a great deal of explanation regarding how to use it isn’t really necessary.

The Perks. There are six tiers from which a backer may choose. For $250, a backer gets a Bike Poncho with an expected delivery of September 2014.

The Potential. While this may be a product in which students and those who cycle to work have an interest, it’s possible that professional cyclists may be the only niche who are willing to pay the amount that is being requested for the product. Especially since there are several types of bike covers out there for considerably less that do the same thing – even a two-toned one.

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Cycling

Verrado Electric Drift Trike brings grownups three-wheeled fun

Verrado Electric Drift TrikeEver heard of drift triking? This newer sport involves riding around on an adult-sized trike while coasting down hills. The Verrado Electric Drift Trike makes this sport possible on flat ground with added power. n adult incarnation of the classic Big Wheel toy, the trike comes equipped with a hub motor and battery pack for extra long life and speed. Verrado joins the Kickstarter market with the Horizon, another adult electric trike as well as the two stand-up trikes, the HalfBike and Me-Mover. One of these super-powered trikes goes for an early price of $1,400 with an estimated delivery date of June 2014. Verrado hopes to raise $20,000 in its 30-day Kickstarter campaign.

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Cycling

Injectalever keeps tubeless tires rolling

Injectalever photo-main[1]Not having to deal with a tube for your bike might be one of the best inventions since sliced bread. However, the process of repair leaves something to be desired. That’s where Injectalever can be inserted into the situation. This particularly convenient bike sealant lets you stop leaks without removing valve core or tire from rim because the specially designed syringe lets you inject the sealant right into the tire. For $25 a backer gets the sealant and an expected delivery of October 2014.

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Cycling

Singular Rooster: adopting the 29+ tire size one ride at a time

SingularRoosterSurly Bikes introduced the 29+ tire size to the world in 2012 and up until now were the only manufacturers of the light, fast, high-grip off-road bikes that used them. Now, Singular Cycles is announcing its own model, the Singular Rooster, designed from the start to handle these new versatile tires.  The video introduction is short and sweet and the campaign description will satisfy any cycling junkie’s appetite to learn more. Singular Rooster bicycles will be available in three different sizes, will ship in July, and with a very limited run for backers outside the European Union, they can be had for £450.

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Cycling Lighting

Double O bike lights help you cycle at night

Double O 1a260ce73b9c97ebaaaa539d2ccca2e5_large[1]For those who enjoy that midnight ride, Double O provides an easy way to see where you are going, and be seen. They attach to your bike with neodymium-grade magnets, and the rechargeable lights come in both white and red for front and back visibility. Multiple lower powered LEDs mean significantly reduced glare for oncoming cyclists and cars. Perhaps the most interesting feature is that you can actually lock them onto your bike to reduce the chance of theft. For £79, backers get the set with an expected delivery of September 2014. It is possible to get them separately for less.

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Cycling

Commuter Rack bike add-on lets your backpack ride sidesaddle

The Premise. Commuters who ride their bikes to work usually opt to wear backpacks, the perfect bag for laptops and files. Unfortunately, exercising and back-wear hardly mix, which can result in the embarrassment of back sweat soaking through one’s apparel.

The Product. The Commuter Rack is a bicycle accessory that allows riders to hang their backpacks from their bikes instead of wearing them. This metal fixture attaches to the front of a bike with one bolt. The backpack hangs from one side and the product’s low center makes up for funky weight distribution, resulting in a stable ride.

The Pitch. While the Commuter Rack video is straightforward to explain, the campaign video is over seven minutes long. It also appears as if there was an editing goof since the last two minutes are just a blank screen. The very, very slow-speaking narrator’s monotone voice is almost impossible to listen to and the dramatization of a sweaty executive arriving at work is bizarrely funny and gross at the same time. Commuter Rack hopes to make $60,000 in its 30-day run on Kickstarter.

The Perks. Backpacking backers who hope to use the Commuter Rack must shell out a whopping $500 for one of these bike accessories. At that price, you could buy your backpack its own bike. But wait, for only $75, backers can receive an *autographed* copy of the creator’s bike journal instead. What the Freight? Estimated delivery is set for July 2014.

The Potential. Bike accessories are all the rage nowadays. This product, however, probably won’t be. While the use of a rack specifically designed for a backpack — popular among cyclists — is certainly unique, most riders will probably either opt to just carry the bag on their backs as it’s intended or to stick it in a front or rear basket. After all, a vigorous ride is going to result in a fair amount of perspiration regardless of backpack placement. Bicycle enthusiasts who travel far with tons of cargo may be interested, but again the huge price tag is utterly ridiculous for all. Perhaps, at a tenth of the price, there’d be more of a market for the Commuter Rack.

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Apparel Cycling

KATCH toes the hemline for skirt-wearing cyclists

KATCHEver ride around on a bike in a cute skirt only to end up flashing the world when a gust of wind blows your honor away? Try KATCH, a magnet that keeps your skirt in place when on the go. The metal cuff can be worn as a bracelet or honor-preserver by weighing short skirts or dresses down so nothing is revealed. This clever product may be just the thing for pedal-pumping women unwilling to compromise style for functionality. KATCH comes in different styles and colors and one goes for only $10 with an estimated delivery date of May 2014. KATCH hopes to catch $5,000 from backers in their 30-day run on Kickstarter.

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Cycling

KoldRush douses cyclists so they keep a cool head

KoldRushCycling is a hot sport, made even more so by helmets. KoldRush is a cooling system that delivers water from a bottle directly to a cyclists head via their helmet at the touch of a button. It basically sweats more for you, so that you can ride to your heart’s content. Concerns that the extremely short-range rain could interfere with your vision are dismissed by noting a sweatband will keep the extra moisture form interfereing . This cool(ing) product goes for $200 with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. KoldRush is looking to raise $50,000 in a 45-day run on Kickstarter.

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Cycling

Lumen skips the add-ons, lights up the whole bike frame

lumenAs bike safety becomes more and more of a concern for car-haters, the market has become filled with safety lighting devices for riding at night like Revolights. Lumen puts a spin on safety lighting and offers a completely reflective bicycle that glows at night. This retro looking bike offers style, function and safety in one product. For a single-speed Lumen, backers must shell out $1,245 with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. These San Franciscan creators offer multi-speed bikes at higher reward tiers. Lumen hopes to raise $15,000 in its 30-day Kickstarter campaign.

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Cycling

The A.B. Pack wedges into shared city bike bag clamps

TheabPackThough Bike Share programs are fairly new in the U.S., they are growing quickly. Riding a bike when you have stuff to tote to work or school can be cumbersome. The A.B. Pack is a canvas sack that holds your stuff securely, minimizing potential damage especially if you’re scooting long with a ShareRoller. It also literally takes a load off of your back — just secure A.B. Pack in the bike basket. It’s not quite clear why this particular item is any better than other totes that fit in the basket. For $39, though,  backers can bag their own pack.