News

Cable car bedroom at 9,000ft

January 29, 2015

At 9,000ft, the cable car bedroom unveiled this week by airbnb is the world's only bed and breakfast that stands to qualify you for the mile-high club. The world’s tallest hotel is the 1,165ft-tall Marriot Marquis in Dubai, but even its penthouse suite is dwarfed by the cable car bedroom, which, at almost two miles above sea level, offers...

General News

Mogo: A caravan to haul bicycles

January 29, 2015

The Mogo is an ultra-light caravan that sleeps two and yet is small enough to squeeze into a single garage. Its really clever trick, however, is the way it doubles up as a cargo trailer for bikes, surfboards or kayaks. Aimed at 'active glamping', the tiny caravan promises a good night's sleep after a day of sporting activities using your...

Breakdown

LEAFXPRO: A bicycle rain hood for the school commute

January 28, 2015

LEAFXPRO is a bicycle rain hood designed to get the kids to school by bike when the heavens open. Frustrated at how often bad weather meant they left their bikes at home in favour of polluting transport, the Leafxpro’s development team drew inspiration from nature to create a leaf-like protective film. The aerodynamic performance of the...

Cycling

Cycling suffrage in 2015

January 28, 2015

City cycling can be a challenge at the best of times, but women cyclists in Cairo today fear sexual harassment more than road danger. The fact that the sight of a woman on a bike is considered by many in Egypt to be socially unacceptable, is not stopping cycling advocates Go Bike from promtoing bicycles to both sexes. Go Bike founder...

Cycling

Laser-etched bicycle frames repel water and mud

January 27, 2015

Scientists have laser etched metal surfaces to make them entirely water repellent. The same technique applied to a bicycle frame and components would dramatically reduce the need for cleaning. Laser-etched bicycle frames promise to be forever clean Bikes with frames and componentrs laser etched in this way would be 'superhydrophobic', which...

Cycling

Ridersmate: SOS GPS beacon for cycling

January 26, 2015

Taking a mountain bike to a truly remote area and cycling in solitude is a fantastic experience that should be on every rider's bucket list, but for those worried by the prospect of crashing and being unable to phone for help comes the Ridersmate - an autonomous SOS GPS beacon. The Ridersmate attaches to your bike and a detachable jack plug...

Breakdown

World’s most dangerous sport: Skiing behind a Porsche

January 23, 2015

Being towed on skis behind a sports car or motorcycle at speeds of up to 100mph was considered in 1955 to be the world's most dangerous sport. Watch the film footage from Pathe to see why. The ‘sport’ took place in Bavaria, Germany and saw fearless winter sports fanatics skiing behind a Porsche and Triumph motorcycles equipped with ice...

General News

Wearable bike tools from Leatherman

January 23, 2015

New wearable bike tools from Leatherman unveiled this week promise to be the must-have accessory for tech-loving cyclists. [quote type="cycle_insurance"] The Leatherman Tread is worn on the wrist and is crafted from stainless steel links that include two to three functional tools each. The 25 features sockets, Allen keys, screwdrivers and a...

Cycling

The Zeppelin trike: Who needs a car?

January 22, 2015

With petrol prices edging towards £1 per litre, it's easy to forget that our appetite for fossil fuels is unsustainable. But what if fuel became unaffordable for most? What if we valued clean air, safe streets, health and vitality above effortless personal mobility? The roads would remain, of course, but instead of cars, most of us would...

General News

No caravan of love for Ray Mears

January 22, 2015

Bushcraft expert Ray Mears has lost a lucrative public speaking engagement at a major camping show after he branded caravans “mobile bread bins”. Appearing on the BBC’s Room 101 show, Mears complained:"Swathes of our coastline are just covered in these things. I wouldn't mind so much if they could be painted green, but they have to be...

Driving