[PR]上記の広告は3ヶ月以上新規記事投稿のないブログに表示されています。新しい記事を書く事で広告が消えます。
If we intend to get serious about reducing air pollution, global warming, our trade deficit, and dependence upon foreign energy sources as well as improving the quality of life in our cities, then we have to get serious about encouraging the use of alternative transportation. The electric bicycle, clean, quiet, no fumes and small footprint could be a genuine player in this arena but in this country, it is going to require some assistance from the powers that be. Actively encouraging the use of the electric bicycle isn't very sexy and doesn't have the cachet of heavy rail and trolley service. It also doesn't require anywhere near either the investment and lead time in order to be accomplished. For a very small investment of the already allocated "stimulus" funds, bike lanes can be demarcated, racks put up, and incentives put in place to encourage this low impact form of transportation and it can be done in a matter of months not decades.
For every electric bike being used on the streets, one car is not. Ten or twelve bikes can be parked in the space used by one automobile. Less traffic means fewer road repairs and funds that can then be allocated to other priorities. Less air pollution means less respiratory illness which means lower medical costs and lost productivity. Less gasoline purchased means less money being funneled to dictators and terrorists who want to kill us which increases our security costs. Less petroleum burned means less carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. Fewer cars being used results in fewer accidents which reduces the cost of insurance. And all of this helps encourage the type of future development in our cities and towns that allows them to become more hospitable, friendly and healthy places to in which to live.
Bottom Line. Learn more about the best folding bicycle designs, equipment options, leading commuter bike models, and accessories that will enhance your fold up bike while commuting, on travel vacation, or taking a spin through nearby parks and streets.
A lot has been appearing in the blogosphere and traditional news media about electric bicycles. Long a transportation staple in China, India and the Far East, they have recently been gaining traction in the US market. Most of the articles written about this ultimate green vehicle have been slanted as something "new", "odd", or "trendy". This is unfortunate because it indicates that the product has not come anywhere close to being accepted as a genuine transportation alternative and given the honest assessment it deserves.
Until this product is seen as a genuine alternative to the automobile or noisy polluting gas scooter for short range transportation, it will never be given the serious political consideration it deserves. While bicycles, electric or otherwise require little in the way of infrastructure to be used successfully, they do require some assistance from the political establishment to encourage their use. Such encouragements are bike lanes, public bike racks, the ability to take bikes on public transportation and special bicycle right of way laws. Usually the argument against these encouragements go something like; "people don't really ride bicycles to work around here". This is not the chicken and egg situation that at first glance it appears to be. Ask the riders and they will usually respond that they would like to ride to work but a given city is not "friendly" to bicycle riders.
* Folding Bike Case. Folding bike accessories that give you the bottom line solution begin with the folding bike bag or the hard shell complement, the folding bike case. Typically 30 seconds or less is all you'll need to open frame hinges, adjust seat post and handlebars, clip together components before speedily inserting your fold bike into its case. Total weight? Generally under 27 lbs.
* Folding Bike Basket And Luggage Holder. Simple clip-on attachments to your commuter bike mean that you can easily "commute" with spare gear, your lunch, your briefcase and laptop and more.
* Safety Lights And Water Bottle. There's nothing wrong with being "highly visible" to nearby commuter cars. Solution? Besides wearing some brightly colored jacket, or placing reflector Velcro strips around your ankles, think about installing a light weight safety flashing light on your foldable bicycle.
While durability is a great practical reason to ride a steel bike, the thing that draws many people is the ride quality. There is a reason that springs are made from steel. It has a natural elasticity that translates into a smooth but lively ride. While geometry plays a role as well in how a bike handles, a nice steel bike hugs the road or trail through corners. Over a long ride, you don't get beaten up quite as much. Steel is best suited for rigid or front suspension bikes but is overly heavy when built into a full suspension bike.
Aluminum
This is currently the most common material used for bikes. You can get an aluminum framed bike starting under $300 and going up to many thousands. Just as with steel there are different qualities of tubing. Aluminum is inexpensive for the weight. This attracts a lot of people who want a light bike. The downside to aluminum is that it has a limited fatigue life and has a harsher ride than the other materials. Over time aluminum will fatigue and developer stress cracks. For most people they don't keep a bike long enough or ride hard enough to exceed the fatigue life of an aluminum frame, but I have had a case where I personally went through three aluminum frames in three seasons. Aluminum is a soft metal so the tubes need to be oversized for strength which tends to lead to a harsher ride than steel or carbon fiber. Over a long ride this can lead to discomfort and more fatigue in your body. Because it is wieldable and machinable, aluminum well for light weight hard tails, road bikes and full suspension bikes.
We are in an interesting time as far as bicycles are concerned as you have rise in popularity of the newest technologies and retro, no frills machines. While we all would like to have a garage full of bikes for every type of riding this isn't practical for most people. When you are looking for a new bike, the frame material is one of the most important decisions you have to make. This will dictate the weight, durability, ride quality and price range.
While there are some exotic materials that are in limited use, I'll limit this to the most common you will see on both mainstream and custom bikes.
Steel
Steel is a material that you see in really cheap bikes or mid to high end ones, depending on the quality of the tubing used. For the sake of this article I'm going to focus on the better quality cromoly steel you will get on a bike from a bike shop. A steel frame is the heaviest of the material options but still light enough to build up light bike. A steel frame will be about a 1/2 lb heavier than a comparable aluminum frame so the overall weight penalty isn't too high. What makes steel attractive is it's durability and ride quality. A well made steel frame has an infinite fatigue life which is why you see 30 year old bikes still kicking around in good shape. It also takes the dings and is harder to dent than aluminum. This durability makes for a good option for commuting, touring and bikes for jumping. Steel can rust if left untreated but will minimal up keep it is easy to keep the tubes from rusting. Touch up any scratches in the paint and periodically spray the inside of the frame with a oil or wax spray.