Lock maestros Kryptonite were showing several new products at iceBike, perhaps the most innovative of which isn’t a lock at all. The Bicycle ID kit consists of tags that you fit to your bike, then register online on the Bike Revolution database anyone can register their bike for free but the scheme really comes in to its own when you put the tags on your bike; the idea is to deter theft and, should your bike ever get half-inched, help recover it afterwards.
Okay, this is how it works. You buy a Bicycle ID Kit for £9.99. Then you put the Pulse ID tags that are included on your bike. After three days, the bond is really strong. A baddie can chip away at the Pulse ID tag, but it won’t peel off. You can position one tag prominently to deter theft, the other in a less conspicuous spot so that any tea-leaf is less likely to remove it.
Once you have your kit, you register yourself as the owner online at bikerevolution.org, linking the Pulse ID tags and, therefore, the bike back to you. Anyone can download a free app for their smartphone that allows them to use the phone as a scanner for the tags, so if your bike gets stolen, the police, a bike shop, or anyone else can scan it and let you know where your bike is via Facebook or Twitter. If they don’t have the scanning technology, they just tap the number in online and find you that way. Clever!
On the lock front, Kryptonite have just launched a new size lock, the Evolution Mini-7, with a 4ft flex cable.
Evolution locks are a tried and tested U-lock design with a 13mm hardened steel shackle with a reinforced cuff over the crossbar and cylinder. The Mini-7 is, predictably enough, 7in (18cm) long. The cable is braided steel that you can loop through your wheels or other components and fasten back to the lock. It’s available now; to you, 45 quid.
Finally, if having a bike frame and lock that don’t match offends your eye, or you just fancy a funky-looking lock, you can now get yourself a Colour Skin for your Kryptonite Mini U-lock. You peel the old coating off the shackle and crossbar, soak the Colour Skin in hot water, and sling it on. It takes 10mins, apparently. That’s what they told us.
You can choose from light blue, pink, purple, red or white, £9.99 a throw. Go to www.madison.co.uk.
And what about those walking and cycling over the Lower Lea Crossing? Looking at this image, they now have to cross six (6) carriageways before...
As are Scarab.
I've been riding for about 18 months on Tubolito and RideNow TPU tubes. The Tubolitos seem more sturdy but I've had one 'visititation' for each...
All thieves should be battered.
It sounds a bit silly - feeding into a national stereotype of "expensively over-complicated". OTOH if they had the bureaucratic infra to police...
Nearly - they certainly aren't in favour of "killer drivers" - but drivers who accidentally, innocently kill people while driving deserve our...
This seems like a return to the old two-in-a-bar rule where you could have a duo without a music licence, which would be welcomed by some licensees...
My Quoc Escape and Galibier jacket both made the list!. Perhaps I have great taste.
Or go into his Swiss uncle's business
Damn this labour government, they're going to tax VAT now, we should have listened to Rishi!