With bike weddings, bike parades, hundreds of naked bicyclists, bike fashion shows, popular & interesting cargo bikes, and travelling bike pubs, Portland is #3 on this great bicycle city photo tours list.

Portland has great bicycle facilities (colored bike lanes, bike boxes at intersections, great bike signs, off-road bicycle paths, etc.), a large number of people using the bicycle for transportation, and a bike culture that brings the fun of bicycling to another level.

As a result of these factors and more, Portland was the first large city in the US to achieve the Platinum level Bike Friendly award from the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) — the Platinum level being the highest level possible (above Gold, Silver and Bronze). It is truly a world-class bicycle city now, and the amazing photos in this photo tour help to show that.

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Home of the upcoming climate change conference, Copenhagen is #4 in this great bicycle city photo tour series. With about 55% of trips being by bicycle, Copenhagen is an amazing place to visit or live if you like bicycling.

The photos to follow give you a taste of this great bicycle city. From dogs on bikes to bikes on bikes, from bikes in ice to bike counters, enjoy these great bicycle photos.

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From bicycle lovers to lovers on bikes, bike art to art on bikes, the largest bicycle sharing program in the world to some of the smallest bikers, enjoy this bicycle city photo tour of Paris, France!

Paris doesn’t have a long history as one of the best bicycle cities, but with the introduction of the largest bicycle sharing program in the world, bicycling in Paris has boomed and the city is becoming commonly associated with the bicycle now. Its whole culture is changing due to the bicycle’s increasing relevance in the city’s daily life.

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Naked bicyclists, folding bikes, balloon bikes, and more — enjoy this bicycle photo tour of Barcelona.

The third B in a row, Barcelona is next on this list of great bicycle cities (right ahead of Basel, Switzerland and Bogota, Columbia). As a dense city with a wonderful climate, Barcelona is naturally a wonderful place for bicyclists. However, a lot has been done to make it more so. The biggest carrot encouraging bicycling, by far, is Barcelona’s relatively new bike sharing program — Bicing. This is perhaps the best or second best bike sharing program in the world. It is one of a new generation of sophisticated, smart bike sharing programs. Read more about it on page 2.

Beyond Bicing, the city is also working on creating new bicycling routes and bike parking and it hosts fun Bike Week celebrations every year in May. Also, it has been creating better infrastructure for bicyclists due to so many more people bicycling within the past few years. It is transforming itself into a truly world-leading bicycle city.

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England is working to combine two of the world’s cleanest methods of transportation through a new initiative.

A handful of strongly funded programs are geared to get more people bicycling to and from rail stations in England.

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The Optibike OB1 electric bike gets an equivalent of 2,287 MPG.* Could bikes like these be the future of transportation?

Ever wonder what happens when you cross the finest mountain bike components money can buy, an 850w brushless DC motor and a 20ah lithium-ion battery with motocross styling and sensibilities? You get the Optibike OB1, an electric bike that can get up to 45 miles on a nine-cent charge, and what is arguably the finest electric bicycle in the world.

In fact, the Optibike OB1 even found a spot in the California Academy of Sciences museum, touted as “the future of transportation.” There are only 24 OB1’s made per year. When one of them is bought, the owner becomes part of an elite club of enthusiastic riders. And for four fun-filled days in August, I was lucky enough to be a member of that club — or at least able to pretend like I was after being provided one for a short term test drive.

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At 58 lbs., the OB1 isn’t light. To make up for the weight of the battery and motor, the OB1 is built on an aluminum monocoque frame and is fully loaded with ultralight carbon fiber handlebars, wheels and derailleur. The OB1 is about 20 lbs. lighter than comparable bikes

The custom monocoque frame houses all of the electronics including the battery away from the elements and protected from impact. The battery snugs into the frame in the area that would be the down tube in traditional tubular-style bikes. The low, vertical placement gives the bike a low center of gravity, increasing maneuverability.

From the Fox front and rear suspension, Chris King headset, kevlar-reinforced Schwalbe tires, SRAM drivetrain and Avid Code oversized Hydraulic Disk Brakes, components on the OB1 will be recognized by mountain bikers as the highest-quality on what is essentially a downhill mountain bike.

Other extras on the OB1 include GPS navigation, a fully integrated PDA that displays all of the performance details of the patented Motorized Bottom Bracket, ultrabright dual halogen lighting, the lithium-ion battery charger, toolkit, lock and tire pump.

The Review

The OB1 is a serious workhorse. Because it’s so heavy it can even be a little unwieldy for the unskilled user while walking the bike and maneuvering it around tight spaces. But let me tell you, once on the bike, it does not feel or ride like a 58-lb. bike. With its aluminum monocoque frame, cushy front and rear suspension and the low-center of gravity, this bike was stiff and responsive and an absolute joy to experience.

I found that the burly disk brakes performed beyond my expectations in wet and/or muddy conditions and didn’t fade when they got warm. That can be especially useful while regularly traveling at 35 miles per hour. The hydraulic disk brakes made slowing from 35 down to a dead stop a matter of a simple one or two-fingered operation.

The bike looks and rides like a mountain bike, that is, until you depress that little thumb-throttle. Whether feathering the throttle for an occasional boost or pinning it to maintain a high top-speed, the Motorized Bottom Bracket seemed to operate in tandem with normal bike operation. I found the Optibike’s 850w motor to be particularly helpful climbing some hills in my neighborhood that only the fittest of bikers can get up. In fact, this may be one of Optibikes strongest selling points. For commuters who would like to bike to work but have always been intimidated by long ride or a particularly daunting hill, the Optibike can get you where you need to go relatively quickly, and in some cases, faster.

The pricetag may be a steep, but when you consider that all Optibikes are custom-made in the USA — and that custom made full-suspension downhill mountain bikes with these kinds of components are expensive period — the price point of the OB1 becomes more understandable.

Imagine the money savings in gasoline if you were actually able to replace some or all of your automobile use with this thing. Bikes go places cars can’t. Bikes can go places scooters and motorcycles can’t.

The folks at Optibike expect the price of their bikes will likely come down somewhat as the company grows and scales up production. But these are not meant to be mass-produced bikes anyway.

The only downside of getting to ride the Optibike on trails and around town was that after the four days of riding it, I had to give it back.

*Whether calculating for a car, bike or there are (at least) two ways to calculate the MPG equivalent of an electric vehicle. The Energy Equivalent formula: 36.6 kwh/gallon of gas = 2287.5 (36.6/.72) x 45 = 2287.5

**The average American pays $0.119 per kWh of electricity (EIA July ‘09), meaning the 0.72 kWh needed to give the Optibike a full charge with a 45-mile range would cost roughly $0.09 (.119 x .72 = 0.086). If ≈ $0.09 can power the Optibike for 45 miles, then the $2.59 the average American pays for a gallon of gas (EIA Sept ‘09) could instead power the bike for 1355 miles ($2.59 ÷ $0.086 x 45 = 1,355)

***All images except one stock photo show bike w/out front and rear fenders, standard on all Optibikes.

Photos Timothy Hurst. Follow Tim on twitter.

This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.

At 58 lbs., the OB1 isn’t light. To make up for the weight of the battery and motor, the OB1 is built on an aluminum monocoque frame and is fully loaded with ultralight carbon fiber handlebars, wheels and derailleur. The OB1 is about 20 lbs. lighter than comparable bikes

The custom monocoque frame houses all of the electronics including the battery away from the elements and protected from impact. The battery snugs into the frame in the area that would be the down tube in traditional tubular-style bikes. The low, vertical placement gives the bike a low center of gravity, increasing maneuverability.

From the Fox front and rear suspension, Chris King headset, kevlar-reinforced Schwalbe tires, SRAM drivetrain and Avid Code oversized Hydraulic Disk Brakes, components on the OB1 will be recognized by mountain bikers as the highest-quality on what is essentially a downhill mountain bike.

Other extras on the OB1 include GPS navigation, a fully integrated PDA that displays all of the performance details of the patented Motorized Bottom Bracket, ultrabright dual halogen lighting, the lithium-ion battery charger, toolkit, lock and tire pump.

The Review

The OB1 is a serious workhorse. Because it’s so heavy it can even be a little unwieldy for the unskilled user while walking the bike and maneuvering it around tight spaces. But let me tell you, once on the bike, it does not feel or ride like a 58-lb. bike. With its aluminum monocoque frame, cushy front and rear suspension and the low-center of gravity, this bike was stiff and responsive and an absolute joy to experience.

I found that the burly disk brakes performed beyond my expectations in wet and/or muddy conditions and didn’t fade when they got warm. That can be especially useful while regularly traveling at 35 miles per hour. The hydraulic disk brakes made slowing from 35 down to a dead stop a matter of a simple one or two-fingered operation.

The bike looks and rides like a mountain bike, that is, until you depress that little thumb-throttle. Whether feathering the throttle for an occasional boost or pinning it to maintain a high top-speed, the Motorized Bottom Bracket seemed to operate in tandem with normal bike operation. I found the Optibike’s 850w motor to be particularly helpful climbing some hills in my neighborhood that only the fittest of bikers can get up. In fact, this may be one of Optibikes strongest selling points. For commuters who would like to bike to work but have always been intimidated by long ride or a particularly daunting hill, the Optibike can get you where you need to go relatively quickly, and in some cases, faster.

The pricetag may be a steep, but when you consider that all Optibikes are custom-made in the USA — and that custom made full-suspension downhill mountain bikes with these kinds of components are expensive period — the price point of the OB1 becomes more understandable.

Imagine the money savings in gasoline if you were actually able to replace some or all of your automobile use with this thing. Bikes go places cars can’t. Bikes can go places scooters and motorcycles can’t.

The folks at Optibike expect the price of their bikes will likely come down somewhat as the company grows and scales up production. But these are not meant to be mass-produced bikes anyway.

The only downside of getting to ride the Optibike on trails and around town was that after the four days of riding it, I had to give it back.

*Whether calculating for a car, bike or there are (at least) two ways to calculate the MPG equivalent of an electric vehicle. The Energy Equivalent formula: 36.6 kwh/gallon of gas = 2287.5 (36.6/.72) x 45 = 2287.5

**The average American pays $0.119 per kWh of electricity (EIA July ‘09), meaning the 0.72 kWh needed to give the Optibike a full charge with a 45-mile range would cost roughly $0.09 (.119 x .72 = 0.086). If ≈ $0.09 can power the Optibike for 45 miles, then the $2.59 the average American pays for a gallon of gas (EIA Sept ‘09) could instead power the bike for 1355 miles ($2.59 ÷ $0.086 x 45 = 1,355)

***All images except one stock photo show bike w/out front and rear fenders, standard on all Optibikes.

Photos Timothy Hurst. Follow Tim on twitter.

Playing cards had not yet entered my mind.

So imagine my amused surprise the other day when, while shopping for a new deck of quality cards for bridge (my husband had even requested a plastic set), I stumbled across Bicycle’s new (launched in 2008) line of Eco Edition Playing Cards.

While there is almost certainly a good level of bandwagon-jumping greenwashing going on here, there is still much good to say about these cards.  According to Bicycle:

Our playing cards are crafted from sustainable forest paper, starch-based laminating glue and vegetable-based printing inks.  This pack of cards is recyclable.

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I’m coming to the conclusion pretty fast that just about every hotel will eventually be walking the talk when it comes to going green – though some are walking slowly while others are galloping as if there isn’t a minute to waste. While ecotourism continues to grow internationally, more American companies are grasping that going green can save some green too, which is also a point I make in ECOpreneuring.

A recent trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin (to enter a few food items in our Wisconsin State Fair) found my family and I bedding down at the Hotel Metro, a boutique, high-rise luxury 63 room hotel that features numerous green aspects, from energy efficient lighting to a rooftop hot tub spa kept clean by using a salt-water system, rather than chlorine. Metro Hotel is the first Milwaukee hotel to be certified by Travel Green Wisconsin, racking up 67 points in total.

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A recent study concluded that it’s dangerous to text while driving.

What about texting while bicycling?

That’s also not advised, but a device from a company called PedalPower+ will charge your Blackberry while you ride. It also will charge your iPod.

The device, similar to the old school dynamo systems used to power headlamps via the back wheel of a bike, also stores generated power in a battery and will charge with solar panels even when you’re not riding, according to a report from the Austrailian Broadcasting Corp.

Gizmag, a technology blog, explains that developers spent three years working on PedalPower+, to work out the kinks of safely regulating current to electronic devices via a spinning bike tire.

As a result, the patented technology will charge a mobile phone from flat to finished in about two hours, the company says.

How much? Right now, the devices are only available Down Under. But the company says it’s setting up distributors in the United States and Europe.

(Image Credit: PedalPower+. Caption: Bottle dynamo installed on the back wheel of a bicycle.)

At 58 lbs., the OB1 isn’t light. To make up for the weight of the battery and motor, the OB1 is built on an aluminum monocoque frame and is fully loaded with ultralight carbon fiber handlebars, wheels and derailleur. The OB1 is about 20 lbs. lighter than comparable bikes

The custom monocoque frame houses all of the electronics including the battery away from the elements and protected from impact. The battery snugs into the frame in the area that would be the down tube in traditional tubular-style bikes. The low, vertical placement gives the bike a low center of gravity, increasing maneuverability.

From the Fox front and rear suspension, Chris King headset, kevlar-reinforced Schwalbe tires, SRAM drivetrain and Avid Code oversized Hydraulic Disk Brakes, components on the OB1 will be recognized by mountain bikers as the highest-quality on what is essentially a downhill mountain bike.

Other extras on the OB1 include GPS navigation, a fully integrated PDA that displays all of the performance details of the patented Motorized Bottom Bracket, ultrabright dual halogen lighting, the lithium-ion battery charger, toolkit, lock and tire pump.

The Review

The OB1 is a serious workhorse. Because it’s so heavy it can even be a little unwieldy for the unskilled user while walking the bike and maneuvering it around tight spaces. But let me tell you, once on the bike, it does not feel or ride like a 58-lb. bike. With its aluminum monocoque frame, cushy front and rear suspension and the low-center of gravity, this bike was stiff and responsive and an absolute joy to experience.

I found that the burly disk brakes performed beyond my expectations in wet and/or muddy conditions and didn’t fade when they got warm. That can be especially useful while regularly traveling at 35 miles per hour. The hydraulic disk brakes made slowing from 35 down to a dead stop a matter of a simple one or two-fingered operation.

The bike looks and rides like a mountain bike, that is, until you depress that little thumb-throttle. Whether feathering the throttle for an occasional boost or pinning it to maintain a high top-speed, the Motorized Bottom Bracket seemed to operate in tandem with normal bike operation. I found the Optibike’s 850w motor to be particularly helpful climbing some hills in my neighborhood that only the fittest of bikers can get up. In fact, this may be one of Optibikes strongest selling points. For commuters who would like to bike to work but have always been intimidated by long ride or a particularly daunting hill, the Optibike can get you where you need to go relatively quickly, and in some cases, faster.

The pricetag may be a steep, but when you consider that all Optibikes are custom-made in the USA — and that custom made full-suspension downhill mountain bikes with these kinds of components are expensive period — the price point of the OB1 becomes more understandable.

Imagine the money savings in gasoline if you were actually able to replace some or all of your automobile use with this thing. Bikes go places cars can’t. Bikes can go places scooters and motorcycles can’t.

The folks at Optibike expect the price of their bikes will likely come down somewhat as the company grows and scales up production. But these are not meant to be mass-produced bikes anyway.

The only downside of getting to ride the Optibike on trails and around town was that after the four days of riding it, I had to give it back.

*Whether calculating for a car, bike or there are (at least) two ways to calculate the MPG equivalent of an electric vehicle. The Energy Equivalent formula: 36.6 kwh/gallon of gas = 2287.5 (36.6/.72) x 45 = 2287.5

**The average American pays $0.119 per kWh of electricity (EIA July ‘09), meaning the 0.72 kWh needed to give the Optibike a full charge with a 45-mile range would cost roughly $0.09 (.119 x .72 = 0.086). If ≈ $0.09 can power the Optibike for 45 miles, then the $2.59 the average American pays for a gallon of gas (EIA Sept ‘09) could instead power the bike for 1355 miles ($2.59 ÷ $0.086 x 45 = 1,355)

***All images except one stock photo show bike w/out front and rear fenders, standard on all Optibikes.

Photos Timothy Hurst. Follow Tim on twitter.

Throughout this summer the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is hosting a series of free bike-related movie screenings downtown at 7th and Mission Streets, right across from the Good Hotel. Once a month the hotel’s barren parking lot is transformed into a festive and inviting public space, where hundreds of people gather for free entertainment, socializing, and to eat tasty locally made snacks.

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A glorious car-free Market Street in June of 2008 after the queer pride parade.

I could not agree more, and am eagerly anticipating the upcoming changes; they can’t come quickly enough. Cars make us fat. The more we can increase walking, biking and mass transit use, the healthier our citizens will be, and the more livable and sustainable both our city and world will become.

At 58 lbs., the OB1 isn’t light. To make up for the weight of the battery and motor, the OB1 is built on an aluminum monocoque frame and is fully loaded with ultralight carbon fiber handlebars, wheels and derailleur. The OB1 is about 20 lbs. lighter than comparable bikes

The custom monocoque frame houses all of the electronics including the battery away from the elements and protected from impact. The battery snugs into the frame in the area that would be the down tube in traditional tubular-style bikes. The low, vertical placement gives the bike a low center of gravity, increasing maneuverability.

From the Fox front and rear suspension, Chris King headset, kevlar-reinforced Schwalbe tires, SRAM drivetrain and Avid Code oversized Hydraulic Disk Brakes, components on the OB1 will be recognized by mountain bikers as the highest-quality on what is essentially a downhill mountain bike.

Other extras on the OB1 include GPS navigation, a fully integrated PDA that displays all of the performance details of the patented Motorized Bottom Bracket, ultrabright dual halogen lighting, the lithium-ion battery charger, toolkit, lock and tire pump.

The Review

The OB1 is a serious workhorse. Because it’s so heavy it can even be a little unwieldy for the unskilled user while walking the bike and maneuvering it around tight spaces. But let me tell you, once on the bike, it does not feel or ride like a 58-lb. bike. With its aluminum monocoque frame, cushy front and rear suspension and the low-center of gravity, this bike was stiff and responsive and an absolute joy to experience.

I found that the burly disk brakes performed beyond my expectations in wet and/or muddy conditions and didn’t fade when they got warm. That can be especially useful while regularly traveling at 35 miles per hour. The hydraulic disk brakes made slowing from 35 down to a dead stop a matter of a simple one or two-fingered operation.

The bike looks and rides like a mountain bike, that is, until you depress that little thumb-throttle. Whether feathering the throttle for an occasional boost or pinning it to maintain a high top-speed, the Motorized Bottom Bracket seemed to operate in tandem with normal bike operation. I found the Optibike’s 850w motor to be particularly helpful climbing some hills in my neighborhood that only the fittest of bikers can get up. In fact, this may be one of Optibikes strongest selling points. For commuters who would like to bike to work but have always been intimidated by long ride or a particularly daunting hill, the Optibike can get you where you need to go relatively quickly, and in some cases, faster.

The pricetag may be a steep, but when you consider that all Optibikes are custom-made in the USA — and that custom made full-suspension downhill mountain bikes with these kinds of components are expensive period — the price point of the OB1 becomes more understandable.

Imagine the money savings in gasoline if you were actually able to replace some or all of your automobile use with this thing. Bikes go places cars can’t. Bikes can go places scooters and motorcycles can’t.

The folks at Optibike expect the price of their bikes will likely come down somewhat as the company grows and scales up production. But these are not meant to be mass-produced bikes anyway.

The only downside of getting to ride the Optibike on trails and around town was that after the four days of riding it, I had to give it back.

*Whether calculating for a car, bike or there are (at least) two ways to calculate the MPG equivalent of an electric vehicle. The Energy Equivalent formula: 36.6 kwh/gallon of gas = 2287.5 (36.6/.72) x 45 = 2287.5

**The average American pays $0.119 per kWh of electricity (EIA July ‘09), meaning the 0.72 kWh needed to give the Optibike a full charge with a 45-mile range would cost roughly $0.09 (.119 x .72 = 0.086). If ≈ $0.09 can power the Optibike for 45 miles, then the $2.59 the average American pays for a gallon of gas (EIA Sept ‘09) could instead power the bike for 1355 miles ($2.59 ÷ $0.086 x 45 = 1,355)

***All images except one stock photo show bike w/out front and rear fenders, standard on all Optibikes.

Photos Timothy Hurst. Follow Tim on twitter.

That was one of the many probing questions that the visionary former mayor of Bogotá Colombia, Enrique Peñalosa, asked a packed auditorium in San Francisco last night. How do we define what makes a good city, what is our criteria? What makes an urban environment desirable and livable, and how do we judge the quality of life? What is socially and environmentally sustainable?

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At 58 lbs., the OB1 isn’t light. To make up for the weight of the battery and motor, the OB1 is built on an aluminum monocoque frame and is fully loaded with ultralight carbon fiber handlebars, wheels and derailleur. The OB1 is about 20 lbs. lighter than comparable bikes

The custom monocoque frame houses all of the electronics including the battery away from the elements and protected from impact. The battery snugs into the frame in the area that would be the down tube in traditional tubular-style bikes. The low, vertical placement gives the bike a low center of gravity, increasing maneuverability.

From the Fox front and rear suspension, Chris King headset, kevlar-reinforced Schwalbe tires, SRAM drivetrain and Avid Code oversized Hydraulic Disk Brakes, components on the OB1 will be recognized by mountain bikers as the highest-quality on what is essentially a downhill mountain bike.

Other extras on the OB1 include GPS navigation, a fully integrated PDA that displays all of the performance details of the patented Motorized Bottom Bracket, ultrabright dual halogen lighting, the lithium-ion battery charger, toolkit, lock and tire pump.

The Review

The OB1 is a serious workhorse. Because it’s so heavy it can even be a little unwieldy for the unskilled user while walking the bike and maneuvering it around tight spaces. But let me tell you, once on the bike, it does not feel or ride like a 58-lb. bike. With its aluminum monocoque frame, cushy front and rear suspension and the low-center of gravity, this bike was stiff and responsive and an absolute joy to experience.

I found that the burly disk brakes performed beyond my expectations in wet and/or muddy conditions and didn’t fade when they got warm. That can be especially useful while regularly traveling at 35 miles per hour. The hydraulic disk brakes made slowing from 35 down to a dead stop a matter of a simple one or two-fingered operation.

The bike looks and rides like a mountain bike, that is, until you depress that little thumb-throttle. Whether feathering the throttle for an occasional boost or pinning it to maintain a high top-speed, the Motorized Bottom Bracket seemed to operate in tandem with normal bike operation. I found the Optibike’s 850w motor to be particularly helpful climbing some hills in my neighborhood that only the fittest of bikers can get up. In fact, this may be one of Optibikes strongest selling points. For commuters who would like to bike to work but have always been intimidated by long ride or a particularly daunting hill, the Optibike can get you where you need to go relatively quickly, and in some cases, faster.

The pricetag may be a steep, but when you consider that all Optibikes are custom-made in the USA — and that custom made full-suspension downhill mountain bikes with these kinds of components are expensive period — the price point of the OB1 becomes more understandable.

Imagine the money savings in gasoline if you were actually able to replace some or all of your automobile use with this thing. Bikes go places cars can’t. Bikes can go places scooters and motorcycles can’t.

The folks at Optibike expect the price of their bikes will likely come down somewhat as the company grows and scales up production. But these are not meant to be mass-produced bikes anyway.

The only downside of getting to ride the Optibike on trails and around town was that after the four days of riding it, I had to give it back.

*Whether calculating for a car, bike or there are (at least) two ways to calculate the MPG equivalent of an electric vehicle. The Energy Equivalent formula: 36.6 kwh/gallon of gas = 2287.5 (36.6/.72) x 45 = 2287.5

**The average American pays $0.119 per kWh of electricity (EIA July ‘09), meaning the 0.72 kWh needed to give the Optibike a full charge with a 45-mile range would cost roughly $0.09 (.119 x .72 = 0.086). If ≈ $0.09 can power the Optibike for 45 miles, then the $2.59 the average American pays for a gallon of gas (EIA Sept ‘09) could instead power the bike for 1355 miles ($2.59 ÷ $0.086 x 45 = 1,355)

***All images except one stock photo show bike w/out front and rear fenders, standard on all Optibikes.

Photos Timothy Hurst. Follow Tim on twitter.

The Board heard hours of impassioned public comment in support of implementing the city’s desperately needed Bike Network; they voted unanimously this afternoon to approve the Bike Plan EIR and finally adopt the complete Bike Plan.

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Thousands of my fellow San Franciscans poured into the beautiful car-free space of the Mission District yesterday for Sunday Streets. The warm sunny day inspired scores of families, bicyclists, dogs, pedestrians, dancers, roller-bladers and skaters to come together and frolic in our city’s public streets.

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Cyclecide will be displaying their brilliant bicycle monstrosities in San Francisco this Saturday, June 6th, during the Bayview Artfest. This free event is taking place on Third Street and Fairfax (one block from Evans) from 11am to 5pm.

At 58 lbs., the OB1 isn’t light. To make up for the weight of the battery and motor, the OB1 is built on an aluminum monocoque frame and is fully loaded with ultralight carbon fiber handlebars, wheels and derailleur. The OB1 is about 20 lbs. lighter than comparable bikes

The custom monocoque frame houses all of the electronics including the battery away from the elements and protected from impact. The battery snugs into the frame in the area that would be the down tube in traditional tubular-style bikes. The low, vertical placement gives the bike a low center of gravity, increasing maneuverability.

From the Fox front and rear suspension, Chris King headset, kevlar-reinforced Schwalbe tires, SRAM drivetrain and Avid Code oversized Hydraulic Disk Brakes, components on the OB1 will be recognized by mountain bikers as the highest-quality on what is essentially a downhill mountain bike.

Other extras on the OB1 include GPS navigation, a fully integrated PDA that displays all of the performance details of the patented Motorized Bottom Bracket, ultrabright dual halogen lighting, the lithium-ion battery charger, toolkit, lock and tire pump.

The Review

The OB1 is a serious workhorse. Because it’s so heavy it can even be a little unwieldy for the unskilled user while walking the bike and maneuvering it around tight spaces. But let me tell you, once on the bike, it does not feel or ride like a 58-lb. bike. With its aluminum monocoque frame, cushy front and rear suspension and the low-center of gravity, this bike was stiff and responsive and an absolute joy to experience.

I found that the burly disk brakes performed beyond my expectations in wet and/or muddy conditions and didn’t fade when they got warm. That can be especially useful while regularly traveling at 35 miles per hour. The hydraulic disk brakes made slowing from 35 down to a dead stop a matter of a simple one or two-fingered operation.

The bike looks and rides like a mountain bike, that is, until you depress that little thumb-throttle. Whether feathering the throttle for an occasional boost or pinning it to maintain a high top-speed, the Motorized Bottom Bracket seemed to operate in tandem with normal bike operation. I found the Optibike’s 850w motor to be particularly helpful climbing some hills in my neighborhood that only the fittest of bikers can get up. In fact, this may be one of Optibikes strongest selling points. For commuters who would like to bike to work but have always been intimidated by long ride or a particularly daunting hill, the Optibike can get you where you need to go relatively quickly, and in some cases, faster.

The pricetag may be a steep, but when you consider that all Optibikes are custom-made in the USA — and that custom made full-suspension downhill mountain bikes with these kinds of components are expensive period — the price point of the OB1 becomes more understandable.

Imagine the money savings in gasoline if you were actually able to replace some or all of your automobile use with this thing. Bikes go places cars can’t. Bikes can go places scooters and motorcycles can’t.

The folks at Optibike expect the price of their bikes will likely come down somewhat as the company grows and scales up production. But these are not meant to be mass-produced bikes anyway.

The only downside of getting to ride the Optibike on trails and around town was that after the four days of riding it, I had to give it back.

*Whether calculating for a car, bike or there are (at least) two ways to calculate the MPG equivalent of an electric vehicle. The Energy Equivalent formula: 36.6 kwh/gallon of gas = 2287.5 (36.6/.72) x 45 = 2287.5

**The average American pays $0.119 per kWh of electricity (EIA July ‘09), meaning the 0.72 kWh needed to give the Optibike a full charge with a 45-mile range would cost roughly $0.09 (.119 x .72 = 0.086). If ≈ $0.09 can power the Optibike for 45 miles, then the $2.59 the average American pays for a gallon of gas (EIA Sept ‘09) could instead power the bike for 1355 miles ($2.59 ÷ $0.086 x 45 = 1,355)

***All images except one stock photo show bike w/out front and rear fenders, standard on all Optibikes.

Photos Timothy Hurst. Follow Tim on twitter.

Actor and activist Matthew Modine recently posted a very inspiring essay celebrating his love for the bicycle on the Huffington Post website. He explains that:

Just as tobacco has killed millions with different forms of cancer, the automobile industry and the pollution that has spewed from exhaust pipes ever since Henry Ford’s Model ‘A’ rolled off the assembly line, must be looked upon as a carton of cigarettes and a cancer to civilization. The automobile industry should not be bailed out so it can continue to manufacture the same product. The automobile industry should be transformed into an industry that builds non-combustion engines. They should be given contracts to build new light rail trains that can carry passengers comfortably and safely. And the light rail cars should have bike racks so passengers can get home from commutes too long to be made by bicycle. Imagine how many jobs could be created if the US supported light and heavy rail systems. The car is a mode of transportation that cannot propel itself or our country into the future. The burning of fossil fuels and the internal combustion engine is dead. Raise your glass to self-propulsion! Long live the bicycle.

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/27/long-live-the-bicycle/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/11/golden-wheels-honor-sunday-streets/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/11/golden-wheels-honor-sunday-streets/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 19:21:08 +0000 Rhonda Winter http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/11/golden-wheels-honor-sunday-streets/ The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition just held its 17th annual Golden Wheel Awards and fundraiser in the swanky Green Room in the War Memorial Building in downtown San Francisco. The SFBC honored Sunday Streets for their ongoing work to make our public streets more accessible to fun and healthy activity for everyone.

SFBC Executive Director Leah Shahum inspires scores of bike activists and supporters.

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