Sent to you by Andy via Google Reader:
Earlier this week, we reported on the theft of We Robinson's black Santa Cruz Tallboy. Unfortunately, we have to report another theft this time from City of Austin Bicycle Program staffer Nadia Barrera.
I got my bicycle stolen some time between 10:30 PM last [Monday] nightand 8:30 AM this morning. It has a black GT mountain bike frame and hybrid tires, a green/blue sticker with white letters that say, "MAKE BIKE NOT CAR."
It has upright, moustache handlebars with black grips that have white stars. It has a black milk crate bungee corded to the back.
Please keep your eyes out for it and watch out for your own stuff. TIS THE SEASON FOR THEIVERY!!!
That's a real bummer, and please let Nadia know if you think you've seen this bike. ATXBS is reporting some other bikes recently being stolen so it might not be a bad idea to revisit our primer on securing your bike or some of the other less conventional methods of theft deterrents.
The Copenhagen Wheel. Image courtesy of the SENSEable City Lab
Seeing as we can not go a day this week without mentioned Copenhagen in some way, MIT introduced a new product yesterday that could make this whole bike theft thing moot: The Copenhagen Wheel. This standard wheel with a electric assist hub can be installed on virtually any conventional bike and captures energy from pedaling and braking. When you need that extra energy to get up to speed or up hills, you can engage the motor as an assist. The Copenhagen Wheel also interacts with your smart phone recording distances and routes so you can keep track of workouts or share rides with friends.
These are all cool features. My favorite part of the Copenhagen Wheel though is that if the bike is stolen, you can send a message to it, and it will engaged at the highest resistance in the hub and text you with its location. Pretty slick!
No word yet on when or if this will become a consumer product.
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