Knog, the Australian-based bicycle product company, sent me over some of their new bike lights to test out -- and they did not disappoint! Since it's (already) that time of year when the sun starts setting before I leave the office, I've been able to use them this entire month...
The Knog Boomer Rechargeable comes as both a front white light and a rear red light - and doesn't require a single battery, hence the name 'Rechargeable'. I just plugged it directly into a USB port -- more on that below. The lighting quality is superbly bright and was particularly impressed with the front light which reflected every street sign half way down the block on my commute home through Brooklyn ('up to 55 Lumens' as noted on their website). They also have 4 modes of lighting from HYPER blinking to solid. Although twice the price of their popular Frog Stobes you get more then twice the power ♥ hence more visibility ♥ and don't have to buy another bike light battery.
ready for my commute home
The Boomer comes in a silicone body which fits varying handle bars/seat tubes sizes and doesn't require permanent hardware -- once locked up I could easily grab them off my bike in seconds. The front light easily attached but I was a bit apprehensive with the way the rear light has a smaller fastener you have to make sure slides in - yet it never slipped off or loosened.
rear light recharging / lite up green when finished
So, more about the recharging process... these lights are smart little things. They have a built in warning system to let you when you are soon in need of a recharge and the USB plug is built into the light itself so you just have to slip off the silicon casing and plug it in vertically (I used my MAC desktop). I did notice that once plugged in, I had to push it side to side to make sure it maintained contact and make sure it was recharging. The rear light was easy to remove from the casing which peeled out like a banana while the front light took a little work to remove -- the best way was to push on the bottom to slide it up.
It just so happens that last year I bought another brand's rechargeable light but ended up pretty unhappy for two reasons: 1) in order to recharge it you needed to use a separate USB plug attachment that came with it but was so tiny I misplaced it for weeks; and 2) the bike attachment's Velcro strap, which I thought was nice and minimal, broke in half. I mention this since Knog's design doesn't have either of these issues. For weeks they've been reliable and easy to use + come in six colours so you can accessorize - and who doesn't like to have that option?! Silicone is a sticky material though I had no problem cleaning off grease (along with remnants from the bottom of my bag) by wiping them off with soap and water - after all, they're waterproof!
Also tested out their Boomer Wearable with an integrated clip ALONG with a removable magnetic plate which attaches to your clothing/bag (similar to my Flower Power reflectors) -- pretty freakin awesome! The magnetic strength was strong I was able to wear it on my canvas bag and would work great on a jacket. I actually ended up using the clip on my belt (mostly out of habit) but still found it to be one versatile light.
Yesterdays Jumble proved to be fun as always! DARGELOS was there with a nice new bright orange version of their belt/pouch (which I missed out on photographing). Some snap shots from the day...
found it hard to pass on this vintage saddlebag
Taliah Lempert's beautiful silkscreen (love that pattern with bike) / collection for Fishs Eddy / and a selection of her limited edition Japanese textiles
Cleverhood the new Rhode Island-based outerwear brand was on hand with a waterproof cape prototype - including nice reflective detailing on a woven version above
An overview of this weekend's jam packed bicycle-centric agenda... yikes, rain is in the forecast -- do hope the weather holds out!
Brooklyn Bike Jumble Saturday, Sept. 24th / 10am - 4pm 3rd-4th Street at 5th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn / Old Stone House at Washington/JJ Byrne Park
New York's only bi-annual cycling flea market with lots of bicycles, accessories and rare parts Photos from the Fall 2010 and Spring 2010 Jumbles...
NYCC's 17th Annual Escape New York Saturday, Sept. 24th / day-of-registration opens 7am
An organized ride - straight out of Manhattan and into the beautiful West Hudson Highlands with 50, 65 or 100 miles routes, all beginning and ending at Sakura Park in Manhattan
DARGELOS @ DEKALB Market Sunday, Sept. 25th / 11am - 7pm (but also open 7 days a week!) Downtown Brooklyn / intersection of Flatbush Avenue Extension and Willoughby in Brooklyn -- here's a map
The new open air DEKALB Market is full of shipping containers-turned food vendors and shops... visit the Pratt Pop-Up! currently featuring cycling accessories by DARGELOS alongside designs by Alder & Shannon South More about the DEKALB Market to come...
Sporting Life(through November 5th) on the ground floor gallery, has over 100 garments on display demonstrating how "clothing for sporting activities has often influenced fashion -- and vice versa" from the Museum's permanent collection.Bicycling as a category is show along side sailing, swimming, golfing, skating, motoring, and hunting. It's always so cool when you come across designs from a century ago and they can look so contemporary!
from my sketch book (photo taking is not allowed)... Bicycling Boots, 1898, USA -- with straps that buckled to prevent laces getting caught in the chain/gears and protect stocking from dirt while adding an element of modesty; and Man's Cycling Shirt: red wool and Rhovyl 1971-72, France -- check out that collar(!), button details and front pocket
Secondly, though not bicycle/sport related, is the jaw dropping couture collection ofDaphne Guinnesson view through January 7th, 2012 on the lower level. The exhibition opened during NY Fashion Week and if your a fan of Alexander McQueen, Gareth Pugh, and daring fashion in general this is a MAJOR must see -- AND unlike the recent MET show, you won't have to wait in an insanely long line to get in to see McQueen masterpieces in person!
As always, the galleries at the Museum at FIT are free of charge to the public!
This past weekend a spur of the moment visit to DUMBO proved to be VERY eventful with tasty treats at The Brooklyn Local, the opening of Jane's Carousel AND.... a demo of the newly announced NYC Bike Share system launching in Summer 2012!!!
Portland, Oregon-based Alta Bicycle Share, who will be operating the NYC Bike Share, was at the Manhattan Bridge Archway in DUMBO last Saturday with a sampling of their other successful city bike share bicycles from DC, Boston, Minneapolis, Toronto, Montreal, Melbourne, and London. The NYC DOT has not released the official look (colour/graphics) of the NYC bicycle as of yet, but the overall design/style/components will resemble other Alta models. These bikes are really sturdy machines with lots of great components built-in (and theft proof) and was totally excited to see for myself how the Toronto Bixi could handle DUMBO's cobble stone streets...
For starters, what to do with my purse? Easy! The bikes have these front racks with a built-in bungee cord which you can adjust using those little nubs. It was a perfect fit for my purse -- but not set up to bring home a load of groceries. Nor is there a rear rack - well at least currently!
While details have not been finalized, the NYC Bike Share (like other Alta city bike share systems) will just require a credit card which you can pay-as-you-go (for something like $6 a day) OR get an annual membership (for approx. $100) which would give you a key/card - that red thing above - and allow you to access any bike for 30-45 minutes easy-peasy. You'd just have to insert your key and the docking station releases the bike which you slide out and ride off -- and be just be charged for additional time.
Oh, and note those little red hexagons icons with a wrench... upon swiping your key and realizing you got a bike in need of a maintenance check of any kind you simply press the button on the docking station and it lets the system operators know it can be fixed -- it also keeps the bike locked into the docking station/rack so that someone else won't come along and get the pleasure of borrowing a problematic bike! In general, I was told at the demo that all the bikes get a maintenance about check every 5 weeks.
The moment I hopped onto the bike I totally felt like I was on a motorcycle - more then a bicycle! The handle bars had a lot to do with that -- they are wide and really easy to handle. It is also designed in such a way that it feels like you have a dashboard in front of you with a bell (!) on the left side and 3-gear (internal hub) shifters on the right side. The brakes could have been a little more responsive, but they did a fine job.
The bikes are fully loaded with features that make cycling in the city easy rain or shine... fenders, chain guard, grippy pedals for all types of shoes, skirt guard, and really wide knobby tires that could handle our cities largest pot holes with lovely reflective sidewalls! I've also heard that they'll have integrated front and rear lights - serious essentials.
I have to say, it was a smooth ride. Next time I'd like to have more time and test ride the bike over the Manhattan Bridge - but the three gears seem to give you a good range even if most of the city is flat as a pancake. If you missed last Saturday's DUMBO demo, there are many more demonstrations, open houses and workshops scheduled to take place this fall so you can test them out yourself!
NYC Bike Share will consist of 600 stations, 10,000 bikes in Manhattan and Brooklyn, potentially stretching to Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. It will be privately sponsored, privately launched and privately operated, with no public funding.
It’s more than just a different way to get to work. 54% of all trips New Yorkers make are less than two miles. Bike sharing is a great mobility choice for short trips that are too far to walk, but too short for a cab or subway ride.
The idea is really to help you out from point A to B. The bikes do not come with a lock which means you'd have to find a docking station to both pick up and drop off the bike -- hence the idea that there will be 600 stations in the city and the DOT is taking your suggestion for station locations. While there will be no doubt some growing pains associated with such a large scale addition to the city streets -- I CAN NOT WAIT for more NYers to open their eyes to the world on two wheels...
And check out this ARTCRANK video -- about their awesome mission of throwing poster parties to raise funds for an organization that uses bicycles to make a difference in communities, help people live better lives, or just make the world a better place...
So you've got until this Thursday, Sept. 15th (yeah, that's five more days, including today) to...
1) pick up a Tour de Fashion bicycle from one of two locations (just look for the bright yellow tents) -- you just show a drivers license and credit card but its free of charge at either locations (weekends 11am-6pm, weekdays 10am-6pm):
> Fashion District Station @ 40th + Broadway
> Meatpacking District Station @ W14th St. + 9th Avenue
3) return the bike - after an hour of enjoyment and attention getting - to either the Fashion District or Meatpacking District Station!
This is such a fantastic project - at the very least stop by and check them out. I was in the garment district yesterday (sadly, having missed Betsy Johnson's roses-galore-bike, along with some others being borrowed) but got to take these snap shots... (Oh, and if you re-publish, please let me know!)
Gretchen Jones' wood veneer lovers dream - crafted by Ben Wilkinson-Raemer - accessorized with an incredible arrow basket and pedals to accommodate your stilettos...
George (owner of Hudson Urban Bicycle shop + manager of the Tour de Fashion bike share operations) with Lela Rose's friendship bracelet-esque embellished frame (can't help but imagine it in reflective rope!)....
