With this new milestone, we’re also donating five brand new True Fit helmets to the folks at San Jose Bike Party, to help them continue building a strong bicycle community. Located in Bell Sports’ backyard, the group organizes themed, monthly rides through the city of San Jose, CA and this month The Orange Ride starts at 8pm on Friday, January 21, 2011. They’re encouraging participants to come to the party decked out in orange colors. Be sure to check out the San Jose Bike Party on facebook and twitter @SJBikeParty for more information.

Of course, we remain dedicated to our loyal and motivated customers, so we’re also giving away a True Fit helmet to one of our 900+ followers. OK, so the winner of the final, Round 3 is … drum roll please … Dina L (@DinaJ). Congratulations and thanks for following @BellTrueFit! Please pick a Bell True Fit size, and whether you’d like a boy’s/men’s or girl’s/women’s helmet (visit our Products page for helmet options), and then DM us your email on twitter so we can get your address to mail your free new helmet!

THANK YOU to everyone who re-tweeted and encouraged friends to follow in the first, second and third round. You all really are the engine that keeps us moving forward in making new connections in the cycling and helmet advocacy communities.

• A good place to start is with Bicycles for Humanity (B4H), the grassroots organization that empowers people to improve their quality of life through donated bicycles, who recently announced they shipped a total of 5,215 bikes (along with spare parts and tools) to impoverished African communities in 2010. Check out some of the other accomplishments B4H reported this year at PR.com.
• Along those same lines, an 8-year-old girl in Washington recently made a generous donation. Tori Wollard was one of two winners of the Washington Daily News’ Christmas coloring contest. Her prize: a brand new bike from Wal-Mart. The first thing Tori did when she got the bike: donated it to The Salvation Army so it could be given to a needy girl! When asked what motivated her to donate her prize, Tori said, “I thought maybe a little girl who’s probably the same age as me probably couldn’t afford one.” Now that’s the true Christmas spirit. Read the entire article Washington winner shares the spirit of Christmas (Mike Voss, Washington Daily News)
• There were  four particular bike and helmet related inventions that piqued our interest this year: the Bamboo bike, the Bendy Bike, the TuneBug Shake, and the innagural Bicycle City.
  • Bamboo bikes are manufactured by several companies across the county, but the folks at Bamboo Bike Studio offer something completely different. With firms in San Francisco and Brooklyn, they host weekend classes where people can build a bike made from bamboo themselves! Some say bamboo bikes actually have an advantage over metal-framed ones – they give a smoother ride, thanks to bamboo’s natural ability to absorb vibration (plus you’ll get points for going green). For more information read Bamboo Bicycles Grow in Popularity at Brooklyn Studio (Bradley Blackburn, ABC News)
  • Back in July a designer in Britain invented a revolutionary folding bicycle: The Bendy Bike. Using a ratchet system built into the frame of the bike to allow it to wrap around a pole, the lock can be wrapped through both wheels and the frame. Check out the pictures at DailyMail.co.uk
  • The TuneBug Shake is a portable speaker, with “SurfaceSound” technology. What is that, you ask? It uses a specially designed speaker that turns anything it lays on into a louder, larger-sounding speaker. Tunebug’s Shake is specifically designed to attach to a bike helmet, turning it into a booming speaker! Plus, this will save your ears later pains from those ear buds and relieve you for the dangers of listening to headphones while riding. Read Five fresh gadgets for the tech-minded for more info on the TuneBug Shake (Quibian Salazar-Moreno, Boulder Weekly.com)
  • Bicycle City, South Carolina: We covered this back in November, but wanted to provide an update: According to a report in Columbia’s weekly newspaper freetimes, on Dec. 11, 2010 Bicycle City (located in Lexington, SC) showcased its plans to the public with an all day event including biking, hiking, kayaking, live music, tree planting and organic gardening and much more. We’re happy to see that this is taking off, and we’re looking forward to watching this community develop in 2011.
• In St. Louis, MO the Federal Transit Administration recently said it would award $1 million to the Metro transit agency for bicycle pathway connections along the Mississippi River and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, or Gateway Arch. FTA awards $1M for Arch bike pathway (St. Louis Business Journal)
• The above example is just one of many, many similar stories from across the country where cities and municipalities made moves to expand the use of bicycles in their communities. Read our June 2010 blog post Bikes & Goverment for a look at some of the things that governments are doing to promote cycling.
• If your New Year’s resolution is to get in shape, consider starting 2011 with a bike ride. Spoke-N-Sport Bikes in Sioux Falls, SD is set to host their 24th New Year’s Day Bike Ride. New this year is an added indoor competition that is separate from the regular ride. Competitors will race each other on stationary trainers, and the winner goes home with one of the single speed bikes used for the race. Visit http://spoke-n-sport.com/ for more information.
• There are events like this taking place across the country, but if you can’t find something in your town, don’t let that discourage you. Go out and forge a new path for yourself! Take a new route that you haven’t gone on before. Or maybe add a few miles onto your traditional ride. Whatever you decide to do, be safe and don’t forget to wear your Bell helmet! Enjoy!
• For a look at some of the top cycling-related news out of Britain,  be sure to read the Environmental Transport Association’s Most popular cycling stories in 2010. The Guiness World Record-shattering eight-mile bicycle wheelie is pretty astounding, as is the idea of using the TamTam Flash GPS … expect to see that in 2011.

We hope you all had a great 2010 and have an even better 2011. Happy New Year!

Sports Basement offers Bell bike helmets at a discounted price. Always on sale, these discounted Bell mountain bike and road bike helmets are 30 to 60% off! Check out the selection at SportsBasement.com

Bell helmets (like the Adrenaline Black Carbon, pictured right) and other products are sold in most bike shops, sporting goods stores and mass retailers including Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, Sears and  Kmart.

Maybe a new helmet didn’t make the Christmas list this year? If that’s the case, Bell offers a number of other useful accessories for bicycle riders or skateboarders.

Got an uncomfortable bike seat? Consider replacing it with a Bell  GelTech Seat  (pictured left) or simply cover with a new, cushy seat pad.

Need a reliable way to inflate bike tires? Consider a sturdy Bell tire pump. Need to keep your bike safe and secure in public? Check out our assortment of locks.

Doing some night riding? Don’t forget a light! Bell offers some powerful light systems that will illuminate any path.

Maybe there are new parents in your family? Well, even the youngest tyke can enjoy a bike ride with our child carriers, including the Bell Cocoon Child Carrier Seat (pictured right). This ultra safe, secure and comfortable bike seat includes a high back, 5-point harness, high-visibility rear reflector, a molded spoke guard and much more.

Know someone who commutes on bike through high-traffic areas? Consider getting them a Bell bike mirror so they can be more aware of their surroundings.

Maybe one of your friends or family members is planning a road trips and wants to bring their bikes along? Consider a Bell car rack.

Need some stocking stuffers? A Bell Emergency Bike tool or Bell bike bag would work. And our durable water bottles and hydration packs would be just the right fit.

Of course we offer a wide variety of helmet options for the kids, in boys and girls styles. The Rex line comes equipped with our True Fit technology, ensuring the easiest fit ever. The girls will love the Rex Earth First helmet(pictured left) and the boys will  shine with the Blazing Star version (pictured below right).

If you’re not sure where to go in your area, call 1.800.456.BELL and a customer service representative will help you find a store near you or visit our Where to Buy page to find a list of locations where Bell products are sold.

We hope that these suggestions give you some ideas for those last minute gift purchases. We’d love to hear what Bell products you decide to give, or if you receive any as gifts this year. Let us know by leaving a comment below. And of course, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Bell Sports!

There is, however, a portion of our society that take on the elements head first. No, we’re not talking about skiers or snowboarders (although they too surely are cold-weather warriors) … We’re talking about bike riders!

Some of them commute to work carrying briefcases and laptop bags while braving the cold. Others take joy in competing in cycling events while battling the rain and snow.

While December 21, 2010 marks the official first day of winter, there has been some bone-chilling weather over the last few weeks. So, in an effort to help get prepared for winter bicycling outings, here are some basic tenants for cold-weather bike riding:

1) Always wear a helmet. While this really goes without saying, it is just so important each and every time you ride a bike. The winter months can, and will, provide additional hazards: wet, slippery roads, less hours of sunlight, and less room for bikes on the road (due to snow banks or puddles). These are just a few of the added cautions to be aware of when riding during the winter, and shouldn’t deter anyone from taking their two-wheels to the street. Rather, they should shine some light on the necessity of wearing a helmet during every season.

2) Dress in layers to stay warm and be prepared to get wet! As detailed in the sketch below, there are a few necessary clothing items: 1) a water/wind proof jacket, pants and gloves, 2) warm socks, 3) waterproof boots or cycling shoes with neoprene booties. Having some sort of ventilation in your water proof jacket is important so that your skin can breathe as you crank and work up a sweat. In the case that you end up soaked, it’s good to have a change of clothes folded away in your bike pannier.

3) Make sure you have the appropriate winter gear: 1) Wear a helmet cover. 2) Sunglasses or goggles are great to keep your eyes protected from the extreme cold and rain or snow. 3) Wear reflective tape on your jacket. While many bike riders do this already to be better seen at night, cold days mean fogging mirrors and frosty windows in cars. Visibility is generally lower during the winter, which means that some sort of reflective tape is necessary. 4) A bell and a light. These are two things that any bike commuter should already have. 5)  Front and rear fenders. The absence of these means the rider will get continuous spray of watery slush as they pedal along. And if you forgot your change of clothes, then you might end up walking into work or school with a brown stripe up your back.

4) Be aware of the conditions. Unlike summer when the roads are dry and the weather is sweet, winter means wet, potentially slippery roads. 1) Test how slippery the road is. Quickly accelerate your back wheel to see if it grips or slips. While going slowly, try applying your back brake fully. This way you will get a feel for how much traction there is. 2) Brake carefully, and plan for it to take longer to stop. Be prepared to put a foot down on the pavement if necessary to help stop. In snowy and wet conditions, pump the brakes frequently to keep rims clear.

5) Find out more about bike safety and best practices for riding during the winter at the official website for the city of Toronto: Toronto.ca/cycling; the ultimate source for winter cycling: AllWeatherSports.com/winter; a website for everyday bicyclists: BicyclingLife.com; a top blog and online publication for product reviews and news in the outdoors world GearJunkie.com; and a website celebrating Earth-friendly foods and community living DeliciousEarth.wordpress.com.

Be sure to share your winter bicycling tips in the comments section below.

Image courtesy of Toronto.ca/cycling

(Photo Courtesy of Columbia Missouri Cycling Cooperative)

Like just about every other holiday, Thanksgiving makes for a great excuse to go for a bike ride. While many people see Thanksgiving as a time to relax, eat turkey, and watch football, we in the cycling community see it as an opportunity to go out and spin!

If the weather in your area is cooperative this Thanksgiving, consider taking a pre or post-meal ride to get your juices flowing. The fall weather might make for a brisk ride, but it’s important to get at least 20 minutes of exercise every day! 

Not only does a Thanksgiving bike ride help you work off some of those calories from all that food, but it is also a great opportunity to really see some of the autumnal changes in the landscape.

Besides just rolling through the neighborhood or taking a ride to the local park, there are a number of fun and charitable cycling events on (and around) Thanksgiving across the country every year. Here are a few of the most interesting rides we’ve found for Thanksgiving 2010:

• Since 1999, New York City cyclists and bike messengers have raised food for the city’s homeless the week before Thanksgiving. Cranksgiving rides are designed to test your skills and speed navigating city traffic. They also test the sharpness of your wits as you navigate the aisles of grocery stores searching for specific food items. Once you’ve found them and made your way through the checkout lines and finished the ride, all of your food will be donated to a local homeless shelter. Cranksgiving is a charity ride, and anyone can participate. It’s been happening for over 10 years in New York City, and has spread to cities across the country. Visit Cranksgiving.org for a list of dates, locations and more information.
• The folks over at Trails.com came up with The 5 Best Thanksgiving Bike Rides including bike trails in New York, Texas and California. Palisades State Park offers great views of NYC, Bray’s Bayou takes riders through downtown Houston and into the countryside (plus, it’s usually warm!), and Big Sur (California) offers picturesque views of the ocean from the Pacific Coast Highway running from Carmel to Santa Barbara. Click the link to find out the other top rides.
• Cape May, New Jersey offers a number of dazzling sights and sounds. Jane Kelly of the Cape May Times lays out ten things she is thankful for on a Cape May Thanksgiving Bike Tour. Included in this list are breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, appreciation of open space, sunsets, and the harbor. Find out what else along Cape May makes this writer particularly thankful at A Cape May Thanksgiving Bike Tour (CapeMayTimes.com)
• On the 19^th, San Jose Bike Party is holding their November Ride, dubbed Hot August Lights from 8pm to 1am on the 20^th. They are encouraging participants to deck out their bikes with lights, and are holding a contest for the most “Lighted Up” bikes. Prizes include spoke lights from Monkey Electric, safety lights from Bike Glow, and much more. Visit SJBikeParty.org for more information.

Is there a particular Thanksgiving bike event in your city? Do you have a favorite autumn bike ride? Let us know in the comment section below!

Imagine a place with zero smog, no traffic, and where the idea of road rage is non-existent.

Cyclists Paradise? Welcome to Bicycle City, South Carolina. On the outskirts Columbia, South Carolina the countryside is about to be transformed into an eco-friendly, car-free community!

This is a project roughly 20 years in the making. Since the early 1990s models were built and drawings were created, but in 2006 the folks at Bicycle City received seed funding and in 2010 they selected Lexington County, SC as the location for the first Bicycle City.

Developers paid $1 million for a 160-acre tract and they have an option to purchase more than 600 surrounding acres for future phases.

A groundbreaking is set for Dec. 11, 2010 at the corner of Pine Plain and Dixon roads about 15 miles south of Columbia. Nestled on a wooded 160 acres next to a small lake, Bicycle City will offer homeowners miles of natural trails for walking and bike riding, kayaking, green space and green homes.

The first phase of the project will offer nine 1/5-acre home lots for $30,000 each. Buyers will get a $5,000 discount if they commit to biking or walking to work or to growing an organic garden on the lot. Homes, which must be certified by a green building program, are expected to cost between $100,000 and $200,000. There will also be a community center with rooms for rent (bed and breakfast style), an organic garden, a market, and bikes and kayaks for rent.

More than 1,000 people have submitted a form saying they are interested in living, working or visiting Bicycle City.

A bike ride to downtown Columbia takes about an hour, and if that’s too far for a daily commute, don’t fret, because homeowners will be able to park their cars in a designated area just outside the neighborhood.

While South Carolina does not currently have any laws requiring children to wear helmets while riding bicycles, we at Bell Sports hope that the developers of Bicycle City will promote bike safety and advocate helmet usage.

To find out more about Bicycle City including news, contact information and guidelines for reserving your place, visit BicycleCity.com.

(Sources of this article include BicycleCity.com, BikingBis.com, TheState.com, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

The Giants stand atop the baseball world, bringing the first MLB Championship to the city of San Francisco. They had their parade along Market Street yesterday, and thousands of fans from around the Bay Area flooded the streets with orange and black. What a season it was for these Giants: Two-time Cy Young Lincecum pitches masterfully, Buster Posey, “Lights Out” relief-pitcher Brian Wilson goes 6-0 in the postseason with a 0.00 ERA, Cody Ross’ and Juan Uribe come up big with key hits and home runs, and of course Edgar Renteria becomes the unexpected MVP with a game-winning home run in the final game.

It was truly a team effort for these underdog Giants, with contributions coming from the entire roster.

We wrote about the San Francisco Giants back in April in Fast Ball Friday: Win Giants Tix to Tonight’s Game, when we gave away two tickets to the Giants’ matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Today we congratulate the Giants for becoming the World Series Champions, and for bringing an MLB championship to San Francisco!

Did you know that Bell is the preeminent designer of branded sports helmets and accessories? If you play baseball or softball, then there’s no doubt that you’ve heard of Easton. Bell is part of the Easton-Bell Sports family which makes helmets for softball, football and hockey, and of course baseball. They also sponsor a handful of MLB players and numerous collegiate programs, but it doesn’t stop there. Easton Baseball is also the Official Team Equipment Supplier of Little League Baseball and Softball, Dixie Youth Baseball, Pony Baseball, and AABC.

• In Grand Haven, Michigan, “A $2,000 grant from the Neel Foundation is giving participants of the Love INC Tri-Cities Love Links Bicycle Ministry program a solid head on their shoulders.” What exactly are they doing to ensure a “solid head”? They’re using the money to purchase 300-400 Bell bicycle helmets! The way it works is that Love Links will be able to give away helmets when people come to the ministry for bicycles. Bikes are distributed to people twice a month — from May to the end of this month, so get on down there! The bicycles are given away based on a voucher system. Clients go to Love INC’s headquarters, 1106 Fulton Ave., to obtain a voucher. From there, they take the voucher to one of the many bike giveaway dates. “Not everyone takes (the helmets), but we encourage them to,” program coordinator Charmaine Velik said. Visit Love INC bicycle program gets dollars for helmets for more info. (Alex Doty, Grand Haven Tribune.com)
• The “Halloween Haunt” Grand Opening celebration of the Valley Health Center Milpitas, took place on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 143 N. Main St. in Milpitas. In a twist on the traditional Halloween fair, this healthy haunt event had free kids activities, free trick-or-treat, and free food, as well as free health and dental screenings for adults and kids, including vaccinations. Kids also learned about bike safety and got a free bike helmet by attending the bike safety seminar from 1:15 to 2 p.m. (thanks to the Santa Clara Family Health Plan). Read more:  COUNTY CURRENTS: Celebration of New Valley Health Center (Dave Cortese, MercuryNews.com)
• Recently, members of the St. Augustine Kiwanis Club in Florida, along with Crookshank K-Kids (their youth services group), sponsored a program on bike safety and gave each first grader at Crookshank Elementary a helmet. The club hopes that the helmets get the youngest students off to a safe and responsible start, developing healthy habits in terms of bike safety. “Keeping students safe while riding their bikes is an important priority for the St. Augustine Kiwanis Club.” Now that’s the spirit! Kiwanis Club distributes bike helmets at Crookshank, (The St. Augustine Record)
• Taking a cue from our Minneapolis Bike Cop friends Mark Klukow and Mike Kirchen, the Pratt Police Department (in West Virginia) is now passing out free bicycle helmets to local children. Pratt Police Chief Eric Eagle said the Greater Charleston Pilot Club and local McDonald’s restaurants are teaming up with the police department to provide helmets for town residents. He said the Pilot Club will provide the helmets, which the police department will distribute. Police will also distribute McDonald’s meal cards to children wearing bike helmets. Pratt police giving away children’s bike helmets (Staff, The Charleston Gazette)

We’re also conducting a bike-helmet giveaway right now too! It’s easy to enter for your chance to win a free Bell true Fit helmet: Simply follow us on twitter at @BellTrueFit and you’ll be automatically entered into our drawing for a free helmet once we reach 900 followers! Visit Bell True Fit Twitter Contest: Round 2 Complete, Round 3 Underway for more details

Free helmets, bicycle tours, bikes taking over the streets of Los Angeles, President Obama and The Bike Helmet Wars, and much more in this week’s installment of Week In Review: Bike News & Reviews from Around the World.

•  October 9: Critics of President Obama said he looked like a “dork” and an “unmanly wimp” after he was photographed wearing a helmet while cycling in Chicago in 2008 (pictured above) and Martha’s Vineyard just last month.  Well we say, “right on” Mr. President. By wearing a helmet, not only are you setting a great example for children and adults throughout the world, but you are also showing great judgment by protecting your head. Plus, we’re glad to see that you choose to wear a Bell Helmet! Read the full story at The Bike Helmet Wars (Virginia Postrel, The Wall Street Journal)
• October 10: The 2011 Amgen Tour of California is officially coming to Lake Tahoe. With ski resorts Northstar-at-Tahoe and Squaw Valley USA involved, riders will now take a ride around Lake Tahoe during the first stage, and will have to climb and descent Donner Pass, which reaches an elevation of 7,085 feet! Get the whole story at Major bicycle tour coming to Tahoe (Adam Jensen, The Record-Courier)
• October 11: Over the past eight years, Amscot Financial Partners has given away more than 30,000 free bike helmets to families living in Central Florida. The company is partnering with law enforcement agencies from 13 Florida counties to make sure that children get this vital protection. They will donate and distribute 7,200 free bike helmets on Oct. 23 in counties where Amscot does business. For more information on how to obtain helmets, contact Montrae Waiters, governmental affairs specialist for Amscot at (813) 637-6277. Check out the full announcement with events details and a list of locations at Amscot Financial Partners with Law Enforcement to Distribute 7,200 Bike Helmets in 13 Central Florida Counties. (PRNewswire.com)
• October 11: A 7 1/2 -mile stretch of road from East Hollywood through downtown Los Angeles and into Boyle Heights was over-run with an estimated 100,000 bicyclists, runners, walkers, skateboarders and roller-bladers for L.A.’s first CicLAvia.  This “open-street” day prohibited automobiles, and was intended to promote cycling and other forms of transportation. The concept of the ciclovia, which is Spanish for bicycle path is how organizers came up with the name CicLAvia. Organizers are in the early stages of planning four or five open-street days next year and one every month in 2012, with the ultimate goal to make CicLAvia a weekly event. For additional details visit An estimated 100,000 turn out for L.A.’s inaugural CicLAvia event (Joel Rubin, Los Angeles Times)
• In case you missed it: Tony Hawk’s Stand Up For Skateparks event in Beverly Hills takes place on October 17 … this Sunday! The Tony Hawk Foundation’s mission is to bring free, quality public skateparks to youth in low-income areas across the United States. This year as a co-sponsor of the event, Bell Sports is sending along trucker hats, stickers, helmets and pads to be given away to attendees. For more info on the event check out our last post Tony Hawk’s Stand Up For Skateparks Hits LA., Las Vegas

From a revolutionary chainless bicycle in Hungary to a couple who’s biking across the United States (and then through South America), biking is all over the news this week.

• Sept. 20, 2010: A Hungarian design team has unveiled a new chainless bike, powered by steel wires, that easily disassembles and can be organized for touring or racing. Dubbed the “Stringbike” – this game-changing technology uses two steel cables attached to pulleys, which move on swinging kidney-shaped discs as you pedal. Check out the video animation of how the bike works at Chainless Bicycle Uses Wire and Pulley System, Eliminating Grease and Increasing Cool Factor (Rebecca Boyle, PopSci.com)
• Sept. 23, 2010: Chico State and Luther College graduates fulfill their dreams of riding bikes across the country. Their ultimate objective is to bike the length of South America after traveling to the east coast. They plan to fly with their bikes to Ecuador and ride south. Find out more about their travels at Modern-day vagabonds bicycle across country (Dennis Nartker, Fort Wayne Daily News)
• Sept. 22, 2010: In an effort to promote walking and cycling in Los Angeles, a 7.5-mile stretch of city streets will be closed Oct. 10 to all motor vehicles. Starting at the nonprofit Bicycle Kitchen (706 Heliotrope Drive, just north of Melrose Avenue) the route meanders south and east through the Mid City area and ends at Hollenbeck Park. Streets will be closed to cars from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m Streets may close for bicycles (Rick Orlov, Contra Costa Times)

And, closer to home, in the Bay Area:

• Sept. 22, 2010: The league of American bicyclists issued awards to a handful of Bay Area cities for being the most bicycle friendly communities.   San Francisco, the Presidio, Palo Alto and Stanford University each were awarded gold. The top platinum award was given to Davis, California, as well as Boulder, Colorado and Portland, Oregon. Bay Area has top bicycle friendly communities (ABC 7 News)
• Sept. 23, 2010: Speaking of San Francisco, New Belgium’s Tour de Fat celebrates its fifth year in the city this fall. Events for this so-called “traveling, philanthropic cycling carnival” include a bike parade and a Car-for-Bike Trade Celebration. The events take place in Lindley Meadows in Golden Gate Park. Check out the Ten Commandments of the Tour de Fat and read Bike About Town (SFgate.com) for more information.