News

A Smart electric bicycle

April 30, 2013

Given that its price, range and usability makes an electric bicycle the most practical option for those wanting the benefits of a battery-powered vehicle today, it’s perhaps surprising that only 25,000 were sold here last year – less than one per cent of all bikes sold in Britain. However, these relatively modest sales could be a thing of...

Cycling

Bicycle road rage attack exposes double standards

April 26, 2013

Figures released this week suggest Britain is an increasingly peaceful society, but assault by a complete stranger is still occurs with alarming regularity, especially on the road. Friction between cyclists and motorists has occurred since cars first took to the roads and now a growing number attach cameras to their bikes and helmets to...

Cycling

Ultimate urban bicycle: 15ft tall and ready to roll

April 26, 2013

Roads have a social hierarchy of their own; generally speaking, the bigger the vehicle the more superior the attitude of the driver, but if you want to be as lofty as possible, ride a bicycle. A 15-ft tall bicycle. Richie Trimball created STOOPIDTALL for the CicLAvia event earlier this year in Los Angeles and as a dry run for an attempt on...

Cycling

Poster showing pair of eyes slashes bike thefts by over half

April 26, 2013

Bicycle theft can be significantly reduced by placing large photos of staring eyes above bike racks, research by Newcastle University has found. The two-year experiment, which was conducted on campus grounds, resulted in a reduction in theft of 62%. And there was also a noticeable difference in places without the signs, where bike theft...

General News

Air-filled bicycle seats

April 25, 2013

Clever innovation or just hot air? A new design of pneumatic bicycle seat aims to solve the problem of numbness and discomfort once and for all. A lot of rubbish is talked about bicycle seats and it’s usually because someone is trying to pedal a revolutionary new design. Although there’s much to be said for choosing a design that suits your...

Cycling

Cars get 10-speed gearboxes

April 19, 2013

It doesn't seem that long ago that 6-speed gearboxes were considered the latest thing, but car giants Ford and GM are to collaborate on the development of 10-speed automatic gearboxes for their cars, SUVs and lorries. The new transmissions are intended to improve vehicle performance and increase fuel economy. The joint venture allows both...

Driving

Loopwheel: folding bicycles can go full-suspension

April 19, 2013

An engineer from Nottingham has spent the last four years reinventing the wheel. The 20” Loopwheel developed by Sam Pierce transform folders into full-suspension bikes. Suspension for folding bikes Most folding bikes do not have suspension because conventional suspension forks add weight and bulk to the bicycle - particularly...

Cycling

The car that does over 4,000 mpg

April 19, 2013

A petrol-powered car that can cover over 4,300 miles on a single gallon of petrol has been built by Canadian students. The Alerion Supermileage team from Laval University in Quebec were taking part in the Shell Eco-marathon – an annual event that challenges students from around the world to design, build and test hyper-efficient vehicles....

General News

Cars get built-in vacuum cleaners

April 16, 2013

The modern day car has become so homogeneous in terms of appearance and efficiency that they say it’s the small details that sell one model over another; iPod compatibility, coloured mood lighting, additional cup holders and now the in-car vacuum cleaner. The Honda Odyssey Touring Elite MPV will from next year be equipped with its own...

Breakdown

British motorists now pay £1,000 per second in fuel duty

April 11, 2013

Road clock counter reveals the astonishing amount of resources consumed, and pollution created, as a direct result of the way we travel each day. Car breakdown provider, ETA, looked at the driving habits of 800,000 motorists over a three month period and used that information to provide a fascinating insight into how much money we motorists...

Breakdown