padre confieso que he pecado....
ya lo sè !
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BICYCLES
Nikola pedals are designed to let you cycle like a skater
By Ben Coxworth September 23, 2014
A pair of Nikola pedals at Interbike 2014
When Nick Stevovich analyzed speed skaters and cyclists, he noticed that the two groups use different sets of muscles to propel themselves forward. It occurred to him that if cyclists could use both of those muscle groups, their pedaling power might increase. The result is the Nikola pedal, which slides out to the side in order to help bring that skating movement to cycling.
Each Nikola pedal platform is able to move laterally along its axle, by up to 25 mm. The idea is throughout each pedal stroke, this will allow the rider's leg to glide slightly to the side, naturally engaging those skating muscles. As with other clipless pedals, the rider's shoes remain securely joined to the pedals until disengaged.
Each Nikola pedal platform is able to move laterally along its axle, by up to 25 mm
Ohio-based Nikola Innovations has conducted Wingate anaerobic tests at the Human Performance Lab of Cleveland State University, in which the pedals reportedly produced a peak power improvement of 7 percent, and an energy efficiency increase of 2.1 percent.
Additionally, by letting the rider's hips and knees move more freely, the pedals are said to offer an ergonomic advantage over their conventional counterparts.
Stevovich plans to bring the pedals to market later this fall (Northern Hemisphere), and will offer them in two versions. A set of stainless steel Nikolas will sell for US$339, while a pair in titanium will go for $549.
You can see them in motion, in the video below.
Source: Nikola Innovation
http://www.nikolainnovation.com/
http://www.gizmag.com/nikola-speed-skating-pedals/33947/
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New lorry design could save cyclists' lives
By Dave LeClair September 23, 2014
The new Direct Vision truck cab is designed to reduce blind spots
A UK team at Loughborough University is proposing a new cab design for lorries that would offer drivers a better view of the road around them, thus potentially saving the lives of pedestrians and cyclists. According to the researchers, the redesign of the cab could offer a 50-percent increase in front and side field of view, compared to traditional cabs.
The increased visibility is accomplished thanks to an 80-cm (31.5-in) longer cab with a rounder nose, larger glazed areas, smaller dashboard, and a slightly lower seated position for the driver.
According to the researchers, the redesign of the cab could offer a 50-percent increase in...
These combined features should greatly reduce blind spots, which can be the cause of accidents. The Loughborough team cites a study which indicates that last year, nine of 14 cyclist fatalities in London involved HGVs (heavy goods vehicles). The study also indicates that 43 percent of cycling accidents in Belgium involve lorries.
The biggest issue with any fundamental design change like this is convincing companies to take on the large cost of upgrading their existing lorries to a new, safer designs. Trucks like this are not cheap, and if a company is operating an entire fleet, the cost would be difficult to absorb. Over time, as lorries need to be phased out due to age, they could be replaced with new models, but unless it's government-mandated, it would be hard to imagine most companies jumping to replace an entire fleet.
Still, it's an interesting change that could make the road a safer place, and that's definitely a good thing for everyone. For another take on a cyclist-safe lorry, check out the design put forward last year by the London Cycling Campaign. Additionally, UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's has recently started using trucks equipped with cyclist-spotting 360-degree video systems.
http://www.gizmag.com/london-lorry-cycle-safety-360-degree-cameras/33272/
Source: Loughborough University
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2014/september/166hgv.html
http://www.gizmag.com/cyclist-visibility-lorry-cab-design/33938/
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