Helmet cams
In recent years the helmet camera has become ubiquitous in extreme sports. From skydives to ski jumps, these hardy little cameras have brought us first-person footage from all areas of the bravery-stupidity spectrum. While a cycle commute wouldn’t usually fit the criteria for extreme sports, we’d be wrong to assert that it’s a pursuit completely free from peril. Cyclists, as possibly the least visible and certainly the most squishable road users, are increasingly choosing to record their journeys by bike, in case something should happen to them that they need evidence of.
This is a worrying trend, driven by the same worries that sell so many dashboard cameras in Russia—that the only way to ensure that justice is done in case of an incident is to provide the authorities with incontrovertible proof. Of course, if a meteorite lands in Rialto, we’ll have a load of footage of it to rival the Chelyabinsk one.
June saw Dublin Bus start an investigation into an incident where a bus veered into a cycle lane and nearly hit a cyclist. It’s hard to know if the cyclist’s complaint would have gone anywhere had he not had footage of the near accident and the driver’s threat to run him over when he remonstrated with him afterwards. City cycling is, for the most part, a fairly safe way of getting about, but cyclists can often feel short of recourse for the times that things do go wrong. Does every cyclist need to film every kilometre? Or would the threat of a few helmet cams on the roads put manners on more reckless drivers?
Bridgestreet bags
Carrying stuff on your bike can be awkward. A heavy rack or overly-specialised bags can make a backpack (sweaty back and all) seem like a better option. Bridgestreet’s expandable saddle bag is lightweight and simple, and only as bulky as what you’re carrying.
Saddle up at bridgestreet.cc
Ironman Dublin
Dublin will host its first Ironman triathlon in August of next year. With a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile cycle and a 13.1-mile run, it’s technically a half triathlon, presumably for less ferrous men. The summer of 2016 will see Dublin’s first full Ironman Triathlon.
Iron info at ironman.com
Goldie looking chain
Those paragons of poor taste, The House of Solid Gold, have produced an electroplated monstrosity of a mountain bike. Coated in 24-carat gold, this bike will set you back a cool $1million dollars, American. Conspicuous consumption doesn’t come more cyclable.
Yuck at thehouseofsolidgold.com
