Global Ride wins with indoor training DVD set

Global Ride has scored a hit for all of us who train indoors on rainy days or in the winter, with its new DVD set for indoor training. Each video is about 50 minutes of warm-up, workout and cool-down, all taking place on various scenic roads throughout Hawaii. The international spin instructors(professional Australian, American and Italian coaches) also help set the pace, encouraging you to give your all but at the same time pacing your performance throughout the 50 minute session. Cool house and trance tracks energize you as you cycle, providing a beat to pedal to.
The screenshots above show the video, always from a cyclist's viewpoint, and moving along at the cyclist's pace. The camera speeds up, for instance, when the road is descending, so it gives a real impression that you are actually there! This DVD set is great for the winter too, as a bit of escape to tropical Hawaii. The next step is to automatically vary the cycle trainer's resistance from the DVD itself, as the virtual cyclist passes along the coastline of Hawaii.

Global Ride's website here.

London bike-sharing locations revealed

Londoners will enjoy access to about 6,000 bicycles across nine boroughs in a bicycle-sharing scheme similar to Vélib in Paris. Among the planned locations are Spitalfields Market, Edgware Road, Park Lane, Baker Street and Soho Square. The scheme should increase bicycle trips by 400 percent by 2025. Mayor Boris Johnson hopes the system will be operating by next May. He had this to say:

"I pledged to deliver a cycling revolution across the city, and there is now a growing excitement about our cycle hire scheme, which will give all Londoners the opportunity to hop on a bike and experience the joys of cycling. Much like hailing a cab, people will be able to pick up one of 6,000 bikes, and zip around town to their hearts' content - not only a quick, easy, and healthy option, but one that will also make London a more liveable city."

Car-free cycling in San Francisco

This Sunday, cyclists will be able to cycle car-free in the streets along the Embarcadero in San Francisco, allowing miles of streets dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians. What freedom, owning the streets and not having to worry about cars! There are activities for kids, especially those trying to kick training wheels and get up on two on their own. Many people are also taking the opportunity to see areas of the city that they rarely see.

Awesome Freestyling! Inspired Bicycles rider Danny MacAskill in April 2009

Check out the moves on Danny! I pronounce MacAskill MacA**kicking instead.

Ireland aiming to be most cyclist-friendly country by 2020

The National Cycle Policy Framework was launched yesterday with the goal of increasing the people who cycle to work every day fourfold from current numbers by 2020. Plans include retrofitting roads with cycling lanes, introducing traffic-calming measures and bike-friendly road designs. It also allows bikes to be carried on public transit and encompasses public sharing of bikes like the Parisian Vélib scheme.

Cross-Ontario cycling record attempt

Ross Rader is attempting to beat the cross-Ontario cycling time record of 35 hours and 43 minutes set in 1987. The route starts in Ottawa, and passes through Kingston, Toronto, Brantford and London on the way to conclude in Windsor after approximately 800 kilometers. All proceeds are going to the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation.

For more info visit Ross's website.

New Yorkers getting into Dutch bikes

With bike trips in New York up 35% between 2007 and 2008, New Yorkers are trying to reconcile biking with style. It seems the Dutch bike is popular, and can be ridden with a suit without fear of grease stains on pant legs. However, with the price of a dutch bike up to $US 2000, how can one ensure that it won't be stolen in a New York minute?

Check out the full article in the New York Times.