what is the best way of carrying bicycle locks? ?

tlp743

i travel to school by bike. sometimes my bag is really heavy with books etc. i keep my lock (U lock) in my bag because there is no room in my frame (for water bottle). so i need a good quality lock for security and that is easy to transport.
any suggestions???

Answer
Yeah, get the kind of lock they use in Europe and Asia. It bolts onto your seat stays, has a key, and immobilizes your rear wheel when locked. If you need additional security a simple vinyl-coated wire rope with loops at both ends can be used to secure front wheel, helmet, saddle and other parts and loop through a rack or whatever. These locks are super convenient. Here's a good German one: http://tinyurl.com/framelock . They're not so easy to find in the U.S., but you can get them from North Road http://www.northroadbicycle.com/
Heres what it looks like mounted: http://stonehead.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/trike04.jpg

Does anyone know is a bike helmet could save a child's life if that child was hit by a car?

The Jolly

I know that bike helmets are essential and absolutely prevent head injuries when a child falls off a bike (assuming it fits properly and buckled, etc.)

But would a kid stand a chance if hit by a car and wearing a helmet?

In case your're wondering this question was prompted by an 8 year old being killed on his bike yesterday. He was riding with his father but he had no helmet on when a van struck him. :'(
Really? A helmet only protects the head? Well who whuda thunk it?

For chrissake, I know that. He died of a head injury. I'm asking if helmets are designed to protect in a big impact like that.

It's only dubious to a moron. I have my own child and these issues are important to me.

Answer
Sorry to hear of the accident, that's sad. I'm not good at delivering bad news, so please bear with me on this

Whilst it's tempting to say that "a helmet would have saved his life", it's not always the case. Bike helmets are made of polystyrene foam which is supposed to absorb some of the impact - essentially flattening the roundness of the head to make a bigger contact point at the point of impact, thus reducing the forces on that part of the head. As bicycling is an aerobic exercise (as opposed to motorcycling, which involves you sitting on the motorbike and not much else, at least activities-wise), a bicycle helmet needs to be ventilated or we'd overheat and pass out.

A bike helmet is supposed to be able to reduce injuries to a person falling off their bike from a height of <4 feet at a speed of <12mph. This essentially means a kid falling off his/her bike without any additional forces being exerted, as you've mentioned.

In the case of a van hitting the kid, this immediately takes the helmet out of its certification zone. This hurts to say this, but it's unlikely that the helmet would have made much difference given how they're designed to operate. One other thing to be aware of is that many helmet-certification tests allow the helmet to be taped to the test rig as well as strapped how it should be worn. This is clearly not something we'd do, and nor are we supposed to do it. When independently tested by a UK consumer magazine, many helmets failed to meet the standard (in this case EN1078, for Europe) they were supposedly certified to.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

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Is it safe to use a military helmet as a bicycle helmet?

bicycle helmets europe image

Robert J

Answer
Yes, it's safe.

In Europe, it's normal to see army troops using bicycles for tactical movements: http://www.combatreform2.com/swissLBIb.jpg

That photo shows the Swiss Army soldiers in field maneuvers using bicycles, and they are wearing standard-issue PASGT helmets.

The standard-issue ACH/MICH helmet currently in use by the U.S. Army also satisfies CPSC requirements for use on either motorcycles or bicycles.

Personally I think a kevlar helmet is overkill for bicycle use. Just use a Pro-Tec multisport half-cut helmet if you like that military look (since Navy SEALs and Delta Force use them to fast-rope out of Blackhawk helicopters). :-D

Do I need a driving licence to drive an electricity bike in UK?

relry_r125

Answer
This is a bit complicated! The Department for Transport have produced a factsheet to help, but this is the basic situation:

Road Legality: The law relating to this dates back to 1983, and covers what you can legally use on public roads in the UK.
The limits are: 200W continuous power (250W for tricycles and tandems), 15mph maximum assisted speed, maximum weight 40kgs (60kgs for tricycles and tandems).
As long as your cycle is within these limits, and you are over 14, you can ride your bike legally on UK roads with no restrictions. This law is laid down in the Road Traffic Act, and the police have the power to enforce it.

Type Certification & Construction Regulations: This covers what manufacturers like us build and sell - in that respect, itâs similar to the old Kitemark or CE mark. This law has recently been revised and standardised across Europe, and is a matter for Trading Standards.
Basically, all road vehicles are supposed to be Type Certified - this is a series of standards and tests the vehicle has to pass, like an MOT, but the manufacturer can get one certificate to cover all the bikes of one model they make.
Because this process is very expensive, there is an exclusion for some electric bikes, which do not need Type Approval. To avoid it, the cycle must be under 250W continuous power, 25km/h maximum assisted speed, and must have a pedal sensor which cuts the motor when the rider stops pedalling.
In addition, the UK also has regulations about the construction of electric bikes which are used on UK roads - basically, they have to be constructed to the same standards as non-electric cycles, to comply with BS6102 part 1.

So what is the situation for various bikes? Some examples:

200W, 15mph, with pedal sensor: Completely legal to use on UK roads (and European, for that matter). Legal for the manufacturer to supply without a type approval certificate.
200W, 15mph, without pedal sensor: Completely legal to use on UK roads (but not European). The manufacturer should supply a type approval certificate.
250W, 15mph, with pedal sensor: Only legal on tricycles and tandems in the UK, NOT bicycles - a bicycle can only be used on the road with a license plate, tax, insurance, moped helmet and moped license for the rider. The manufacturer does not need to supply a type approval certificate.
250W, 15mph, no pedal sensor: As above, but the manufacturer should supply a type approval certificate.
Above these limits: As above.
What about kits? The UKâs road-legality legislation still applies - so you can have 200W continuous power (250W for tricycles and tandems), 15mph maximum assisted speed, maximum weight 40kgs (60kgs for tricycles and tandems).
The whole Type Certification quagmire doesnât apply, however - the powers that be have decided that kits are outside their remit.

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What is a good project topic?

bicycle helmets europe image

heybabe

in geography i have to do this project called "the geography of..." and you basically pick any item and find out where it originated and where it diffused to over time. i don't know what to choose! any suggestions will be appreciated!

Answer
The Geography of...

-The Carousel:
A carousel, or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders. The "seats" are traditionally in the form of rows of wooden horses or other animals mounted on posts, many of which are moved up and down via gearwork to simulate galloping, to the accompaniment of looped circus music. Modern carousels in America are generally populated with horses. Carousels in Europe, and in America from earlier periods, frequently include diverse varieties of mounts, like pigs, zebras, mythological creatures (such as dragons, sea monsters or unicorns), and deer, to name a few.

Origin of The Carousel:
The earliest known depiction of a carousel is in a Byzantine bas-relief dating to around 500 A.D., which depicts riders in baskets suspended from a central pole. The word carousel originates from the Italian garosello and Spanish carosella ("little war"), used by crusaders to describe a combat preparation exercise and game played by Turkish and Arabian horsemen in the 1100s. In a sense this early device could be considered a cavalry training mechanism; it prepared and strengthened the riders for actual combat as they wielded their swords at the mock enemies. European Crusaders discovered this device and brought the idea back to their own lands. A carousel was also a training device for the ring-tilt, consisting of wooden horses suspended from arms branching from a center pole. Riders aimed to spear rings situated around the circumference as the carousel was moved by a man, horse, or mule. Carousel was also the term for large "horse ballet" or Musical Ride spectacles mounted as part of the court festivities for special occasions such as royal weddings or state visits from the mid-16th century onwards, which gradually replaced serious jousting, although non-combat competitrions such as the ring-tilt lasted until the 18th century. They were developed in Italy, especially by the Medici Grand-Dukes in Florence, and the first French example was in Paris in 1605. These usually took place in squares or large courtyards, and consisted of elaborately costumed riders and horses (usually from the cavalry) performing choreographed routines such as forming shapes together, riding in lines criss-cross against each other. They often took place at night, with riders carrying torches, and were accompanied by music. From the 17th century large decorated floats with allegorical figures were often included. The Place du Carrousel in Paris was so named from 1662, when it was used for such a display by Louis XIV.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel


-The Flashlight:
A flashlight (called a torch outside North America) is a portable electric spotlight that emits light from a small incandescent lightbulb or from one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Typical flashlight designs usually consist of the light source located in a housing containing a parabolic reflector or specially shaped lens to shape the flashlight beam, a transparent window to protect the light source from damage and debris, a power source (typically electric batteries), and an electric power switch. While most flashlights are intended to be hand-held, there are also helmet-mounted flashlights designed for miners and campers and battery-powered lights for bicycles. Some flashlights are powered by hand-cranked dynamos or electromagnetic induction or are recharged by solar power. The name flashlight is used mainly in the United States and Canada. In other English-speaking countries, the more common term is torch or electric torch.

Origin of The Flashlight:
On 10 January 1899, American Electrical Novelty and Manufacturing Company obtained U.S. Patent No. 617,592 (filed 12 March 1898) from David Misell, an inventor. This "electric device" designed by Misell was powered by "D" batteries laid front to back in a paper tube with the light bulb and a rough brass reflector at the end. The company donated some of these devices to the New York City police, who responded favorably to them. These early flashlights ran on zincâcarbon batteries which were incapable of providing a steady source of electric current and needed to be 'rested' periodically to continue functioning. Because these early flashlights also used energy-inefficient carbon-filament bulbs, this occurred at short intervals. Consequently, they could be used only in brief flashes, hence the popular name flashlight.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashlight

-The Necktie:
The necktie (or tie) is a long piece of cloth worn around the neck or shoulders, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat. Variants include the bow tie, ascot tie, bolo tie, and the clip-on tie. The modern necktie, ascot, and bow tie are descended from the cravat.

Origin of The Necktie:
The necktie traces back to the time of Thirty Years' War (1618â1648) when Croatian mercenaries from the Military Frontier in French service, wearing their traditional small, knotted neckerchiefs, aroused the interest of the Parisians. Due to the slight difference between the Croatian word for Croats, Hrvati, and the French word, Croates, the garment gained the name "Cravat". The new article of clothing started a fashion craze in Europe where both men and women wore pieces of fabric around their necks. In the late seventeenth century, the men wore lace cravats that took a large amount of time and effort to arrange. These cravats were often tied in place by cravat strings, arranged neatly and tied in a bow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necktie

At what age (if any) is it legal for a person in Canada, Ontario to ride a bicycle without a helmet?

John

Answer
Why would anyone want to ride a bicycle without a helmet?

Look, I travelled 10,000 miles in Europe without a helmet during the 1980s when no one wore helmets. In the 1990s my wife persuaded me to wear one and I grudgingly agreed to do so. Now I don't go out on my bike without my helmet. It takes a second to put it on and it potentially saves my life if I'm ever in an accident. In the '80s I was stupid. Now I know better. Wear a helmet - it can save your life.

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Do I need a driving licence to drive an electricity bike in UK?

bicycle helmets europe image

relry_r125

Answer
This is a bit complicated! The Department for Transport have produced a factsheet to help, but this is the basic situation:

Road Legality: The law relating to this dates back to 1983, and covers what you can legally use on public roads in the UK.
The limits are: 200W continuous power (250W for tricycles and tandems), 15mph maximum assisted speed, maximum weight 40kgs (60kgs for tricycles and tandems).
As long as your cycle is within these limits, and you are over 14, you can ride your bike legally on UK roads with no restrictions. This law is laid down in the Road Traffic Act, and the police have the power to enforce it.

Type Certification & Construction Regulations: This covers what manufacturers like us build and sell - in that respect, itâs similar to the old Kitemark or CE mark. This law has recently been revised and standardised across Europe, and is a matter for Trading Standards.
Basically, all road vehicles are supposed to be Type Certified - this is a series of standards and tests the vehicle has to pass, like an MOT, but the manufacturer can get one certificate to cover all the bikes of one model they make.
Because this process is very expensive, there is an exclusion for some electric bikes, which do not need Type Approval. To avoid it, the cycle must be under 250W continuous power, 25km/h maximum assisted speed, and must have a pedal sensor which cuts the motor when the rider stops pedalling.
In addition, the UK also has regulations about the construction of electric bikes which are used on UK roads - basically, they have to be constructed to the same standards as non-electric cycles, to comply with BS6102 part 1.

So what is the situation for various bikes? Some examples:

200W, 15mph, with pedal sensor: Completely legal to use on UK roads (and European, for that matter). Legal for the manufacturer to supply without a type approval certificate.
200W, 15mph, without pedal sensor: Completely legal to use on UK roads (but not European). The manufacturer should supply a type approval certificate.
250W, 15mph, with pedal sensor: Only legal on tricycles and tandems in the UK, NOT bicycles - a bicycle can only be used on the road with a license plate, tax, insurance, moped helmet and moped license for the rider. The manufacturer does not need to supply a type approval certificate.
250W, 15mph, no pedal sensor: As above, but the manufacturer should supply a type approval certificate.
Above these limits: As above.
What about kits? The UKâs road-legality legislation still applies - so you can have 200W continuous power (250W for tricycles and tandems), 15mph maximum assisted speed, maximum weight 40kgs (60kgs for tricycles and tandems).
The whole Type Certification quagmire doesnât apply, however - the powers that be have decided that kits are outside their remit.

What is a good project topic?

heybabe

in geography i have to do this project called "the geography of..." and you basically pick any item and find out where it originated and where it diffused to over time. i don't know what to choose! any suggestions will be appreciated!

Answer
The Geography of...

-The Carousel:
A carousel, or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders. The "seats" are traditionally in the form of rows of wooden horses or other animals mounted on posts, many of which are moved up and down via gearwork to simulate galloping, to the accompaniment of looped circus music. Modern carousels in America are generally populated with horses. Carousels in Europe, and in America from earlier periods, frequently include diverse varieties of mounts, like pigs, zebras, mythological creatures (such as dragons, sea monsters or unicorns), and deer, to name a few.

Origin of The Carousel:
The earliest known depiction of a carousel is in a Byzantine bas-relief dating to around 500 A.D., which depicts riders in baskets suspended from a central pole. The word carousel originates from the Italian garosello and Spanish carosella ("little war"), used by crusaders to describe a combat preparation exercise and game played by Turkish and Arabian horsemen in the 1100s. In a sense this early device could be considered a cavalry training mechanism; it prepared and strengthened the riders for actual combat as they wielded their swords at the mock enemies. European Crusaders discovered this device and brought the idea back to their own lands. A carousel was also a training device for the ring-tilt, consisting of wooden horses suspended from arms branching from a center pole. Riders aimed to spear rings situated around the circumference as the carousel was moved by a man, horse, or mule. Carousel was also the term for large "horse ballet" or Musical Ride spectacles mounted as part of the court festivities for special occasions such as royal weddings or state visits from the mid-16th century onwards, which gradually replaced serious jousting, although non-combat competitrions such as the ring-tilt lasted until the 18th century. They were developed in Italy, especially by the Medici Grand-Dukes in Florence, and the first French example was in Paris in 1605. These usually took place in squares or large courtyards, and consisted of elaborately costumed riders and horses (usually from the cavalry) performing choreographed routines such as forming shapes together, riding in lines criss-cross against each other. They often took place at night, with riders carrying torches, and were accompanied by music. From the 17th century large decorated floats with allegorical figures were often included. The Place du Carrousel in Paris was so named from 1662, when it was used for such a display by Louis XIV.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel


-The Flashlight:
A flashlight (called a torch outside North America) is a portable electric spotlight that emits light from a small incandescent lightbulb or from one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Typical flashlight designs usually consist of the light source located in a housing containing a parabolic reflector or specially shaped lens to shape the flashlight beam, a transparent window to protect the light source from damage and debris, a power source (typically electric batteries), and an electric power switch. While most flashlights are intended to be hand-held, there are also helmet-mounted flashlights designed for miners and campers and battery-powered lights for bicycles. Some flashlights are powered by hand-cranked dynamos or electromagnetic induction or are recharged by solar power. The name flashlight is used mainly in the United States and Canada. In other English-speaking countries, the more common term is torch or electric torch.

Origin of The Flashlight:
On 10 January 1899, American Electrical Novelty and Manufacturing Company obtained U.S. Patent No. 617,592 (filed 12 March 1898) from David Misell, an inventor. This "electric device" designed by Misell was powered by "D" batteries laid front to back in a paper tube with the light bulb and a rough brass reflector at the end. The company donated some of these devices to the New York City police, who responded favorably to them. These early flashlights ran on zincâcarbon batteries which were incapable of providing a steady source of electric current and needed to be 'rested' periodically to continue functioning. Because these early flashlights also used energy-inefficient carbon-filament bulbs, this occurred at short intervals. Consequently, they could be used only in brief flashes, hence the popular name flashlight.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashlight

-The Necktie:
The necktie (or tie) is a long piece of cloth worn around the neck or shoulders, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat. Variants include the bow tie, ascot tie, bolo tie, and the clip-on tie. The modern necktie, ascot, and bow tie are descended from the cravat.

Origin of The Necktie:
The necktie traces back to the time of Thirty Years' War (1618â1648) when Croatian mercenaries from the Military Frontier in French service, wearing their traditional small, knotted neckerchiefs, aroused the interest of the Parisians. Due to the slight difference between the Croatian word for Croats, Hrvati, and the French word, Croates, the garment gained the name "Cravat". The new article of clothing started a fashion craze in Europe where both men and women wore pieces of fabric around their necks. In the late seventeenth century, the men wore lace cravats that took a large amount of time and effort to arrange. These cravats were often tied in place by cravat strings, arranged neatly and tied in a bow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necktie

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