Tag Archives: Bike Tech

by Lorenz M. Worden | July 12, 2016 · 8:02 pm

With a Name Like That, It Has To Do Everything

SERFAS ST-13i CO2 Inflator Tool

SERFAS ST 13i

Features (N=13):

8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.5 mm hex (check your bicycle and fixtures for sizing)
Phillips* screwdriver (roughly a #1 tip)
Flathead screwdriver (approx. 5/16”)
25 and 30 Torx (hexalobular internal**) (check your bicycle and fixtures for sizing)
Bottle opener
CO2 Presta Compatible Inflator (for the pump challenged who would rather pump more CO2 into the atmosphere, generously support their bicycle shop/Amazon, and add empty CO2 canisters to the dump.)
3.3 oz (94 gr)
Gender: Unisex (per vendor)
Cost: $27-$36 + S&H, Tax
Origin: Taiwan

SERFAS ST 13i

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* Invented by American Henry F. Phillips.

** Torx, developed in 1967 by Camcar Textron, is the trademark for a screw head with a 6-point star-shaped pattern. Popular generic name for the drive is “star,” as in “star screwdriver” or “star bits.” The official International Organization for Standardization (ISO) name is “10664,” “hexalobular internal.”

Ears Cold? Try These

Here’s a handy way to keep your ears warm(er) and to reduce annoying helmet-head wind noise – Adventure Cycling’s “Cat Ear” Ear Covers.

Cat Ears Ear Covers 11-14-14

These are simple “polar fleece” triangles with a strip of hook-and-loop on each side to secure the “ear” to your helmet straps. Although the photo borrowed from Adventure Cycling’s “Cycle Source on-line shop shows red, they come only in black.

Worth the $16.00 – part of which would seemingly go to Adventure Cycling’s programs.

Photos:

Model – Courtesy Adventure Cycling

Detail – With coins for reference

Whoops – No Adaptor!

Oh, oh – flat tire. No problem – you have a patch kit (or a spare tube). In a couple minutes, you’re all set. Whoops – no pump (or inflator). Not to worry, there was a gas station/Stewarts about a half mile back.

Yikes! Your tubes have Presta valve stems – and we all know that gasoline stations cater to Schrader valves!

Here’s a simple fix courtesy of alert cyclist Keith – simply “zip tie” a Schrader-Presta adaptor (about $1.00 at your local bicycle shop) to your multi tool or handlebars (see photos), and you can rest at ease as you amble back to that air.

But, wait a minute, how do I cut the “zip” tie . . . ?

Ci-fi Bike Speaker

Cy.Fi Wireless Sports Speaker

Something that I have been mulling over getting from about when my co-worker told me about it is this Ci-fi bike speaker. According to the NYTimes article,

“For the cyclist who has everything, here’s the CyFi, a compact, water-resistant, aerodynamically shaped speaker that fastens to handlebars (or backpack strap, or stroller). Your phone or music player, nestled in your pocket, transmits music to the speaker wirelessly as you ride along. The company argues that listening this way is safer than wearing earbuds.”

It would be nice to follow the law for once because anyone who has seen me riding around Albany has quoted me the law on wearing earbuds in both ears. Don’t! While this may be true I’d argue that listening to the Beatles with only the left speaker is like listening to Bach with only the brass section.

After I thought about it for a while two things struck me as off. The first is the price. I like this product and I wish that I could guarantee that I would never fall off my bike again. If, and hopefully not when, I do though and this thing breaks, I am out one-hundred dollars. I wonder if the warranty covers it? The second is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to cars. I hate it when cars blast there music for everyone to hear, and that is with four walls, most of the time, muffeling the sound. How much of a hypocrite would I be if I am riding my bike down the street blasting Highway to Hell jamming along with the solo? I think for the money this cost I would have to give it a test drive to see how it really preforms.

One thing I like about it is that it comes in two forms. One that plugs directly into the Apple port on iPhones, iPods, and other Apple products and another that connects over Bluetooth. This is good because I plant to chuck my iPhone next year if it makes it that long.