HB 2228 would make outlaws out of families like this
As some of you may know, Oregon State Representative Mitch Greenlick recently introduced an that:
Prohibits person from carrying child under six years of age on bicycle or in bicycle trailer. Punishes[sic] by maximum fine of $90. Emphasis Mine
While I can agree with the first portion of the bill that “[more] persons on the bicycle than the number for which it is designed or safely equipped” would deem a citation, the second addition regarding child carrying age is a bit extreme. Read the rest of this entry »
Owning an Xtracycle means more real estate for fun gadgets like air horns, electric motors and lights. One of our perennial favorites is Rock the Bike’s Down Low Glow. Their dual tube offering meshes perfectly with an Xtracycle’s long wheelbase, casting a fun glow that is guaranteed to excite passersby.
On my own Xtracycle, a Surly Big Dummy, I’ve rocked out a Down Low Glow for over a year and love it. But, it does have its drawbacks. I have to charge the battery after two-hours of use, the brightness dims after about 75 minutes of use and The lights last a useful four hours on a full charge, with the lights dimming around 3 hours*. The only downside? The transformer/battery/cables add visual clutter to my already over-cluttered rig, but I don’t lose sleep over it.
I wanted to see if another option existed for sweet ground effects that did away with the cluttered look, gave me longer battery life and still made me visible to others on the street. I figured an LED setup would be the way to go considering their low energy consumption and bright light output. A couple Google searches landed me on Bike Brightz. Their lights feature 6-LEDs, three functions (steady, slow blink, fast blink) and come in a variety of colors. Would this compare and offer a good replacement for my Down Low Glows? Well, I had to get some to test first!
Read the rest of this entry »
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