Bikes | Indoor Air Quality Lab

5 Ideas for Upcycled Bike Parts share

We love riding bikes around here, but as with anything that works hard, bike parts break and wear out. Rather than toss them in the trash, though, there are lots of fun ways that you can upcycle those old bike parts into something usable and new! Check out these ideas, and I'd love to hear about how you're reusing your bicycle parts, too!

5 Ideas for Upcycled Bike Parts

1. Bike Frame Shelving - Hit your local bike shop for old frame pieces that aren't usable anymore for biking and turn them into an awesome shelving solution!

2. Bike Chain Bracelet - Check out the video above for a tutorial to turn an old bike chain into a statement jewelry piece.

3. Hunting Trophies - How cool are these faux hunting trophies made from old bike seats and handles?

4. Bike Tire Headband - Turn an old bike tire into a cute hair accessory!

5. Coffee Sleeve - Got a busted tube? Turn it into a cozy to keep your coffee warm with less waste. These are also great on reusable ceramic mugs to add a little extra insulation.

Posted: | Categories: bike crafts, bike part crafts, Bikes, Craft Recycled, cycling, DIY, upcycled bike parts

Dec

Bike Sharing Programs Across Europe share

You know that we think Sharing is Good, so we were excited to run across this infographic with some great information on bike sharing in Europe.

In population-dense cities, riding a bike instead of driving a car makes a lot of sense. You get to skip the traffic jams and cruise in the bike lane. But owning a bike outright isn't for everyone. If you're a tourist visiting a city, someone who only rides bikes occasionally, or someone who just can't fork out a few hundreds of dollars, bike ownership might not make sense. That's where bike sharing comes in.

Bike sharing programs work by allowing you to borrow a bike - usually for a small fee - so that you can ride without having to own a bicycle. If you're new to a city or traveling there for the first time, sorting out how different bike sharing programs work can be a little bit tricky.

The infographic below from travel company Momondo is a handy primer on bike sharing programs in a few major European cities. This graphic represents a handful of cities, and there are cities across the globe that have bike sharing programs. Do you have any experience with bike sharing? How did it work? Let's talk about this aspect of the sharing economy more in the comments!

Posted: | Categories: bicycling, Bike sharing, Bikes, Living, sharing, sharing economy, Sharing is Good, Travel

Aug

Hi-Tech Helmet Keeps Urban Cyclists Safe share

Hövding is an industrial design master thesis turned fully-functional and recyclable, invisible bike helmet.

Urban biking is growing at a rapid pace and I tend to agree with the designers at Hövding that "cars are so yesterday, bikes are the future". To keep us safe, inspiring designers continue to develop seemingly simple solutions with hi-tech components. In 2005, industrial design students Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin began a project in response to a new law requiring all children up to age 15 to wear bicycle helmets. The new law instigated a debate around whether adults should also be required to wear helmets. Haupt and Alstin saw an opportunity to create a new helmet for adults that broke the mold, providing bikers with an option that is both comfortable and safe, but also fashionable.

Unlike conventional bike helmets, Hövding is a collar worn around the neck. An airbag embedded in the collar deploys on impact via specially designed sensors. Creating a hood-like shape around the biker's head, Hövding protects the rider only when an accident occurs. Hövding is fully certified within the European Union’s Personal Protective Equipment Directive. Once Hövding has been deployed it is no longer usable and should be replaced.

As part of their product service, Hövding requests that users send in their deployed helmets. Because Hövding uses electronic components and batteries, they want to ensure the device is properly recycled. Also, each unit contains a “black box” which records data from the accident. This data is collected and used for further product development work.

After seven years of in-depth user research, from surveying people on the streets to working with airbag experts, Hövding is currently on the market and available for purchase. Unfortunately for us bikers in the U.S., Hövding is currently only available in Europe. And although not quite in the affordable zone for the average biker, it's an inspiring concept for designers and cyclists alike.

Learn more about the technology behind Hövding and where to purchase at the Hövding website.

Image source: Hövding