It’s been a while since we reported on the most compelling bike and helmet-related stories from around the web, but today we’re back to quench your thirst for velo news with another installment of our Week In Review series.

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.

Bicycle fashion. These two words evoke images of bright spandex, stiff-soled shoes with pedal clips, Livestrong bracelets, and of course helmets. It is important to note, however, that bicycle fashion has evolved over time and by activity. The outfits we wear today differ greatly from those of 100 years ago. Similarly, differences in geographic region greatly affect the fashion and styles of bicycle riders. No matter what your style, it’s always in vogue to wear a helmet whenever and wherever you’re riding. Bell makes the safest, and in our opinion, most fashionable bike helmets in the world. Here are some fast facts on bicycle fashion from around the world:

1) In Copenhagen 37% of the population ride their bikes every day. Bicycle riding is an inherent feature of Danish culture and reportedly 1.1 MILLION km are bicycled in Copenhagen EVERY DAY! CopenHagenCycleChic.com details the best of Danish bicycle street style. Personalizing your bicycle is all the rage with bouquets of flowers, painted frames, interesting bells and horns, decorated skirt and chain guards and much more. We recommend checking out their multi-part Cycle Chic Guide including #2 Buying Cycling Clothes and #3 Cycling in Skirts and Dresses.  Follow them on twitter: @_Cycle_Chic.  (Wikipedia.com/Copenhagen)

2) Riding a bicycle to work in a suit and tie is the norm for the people of Shanghai, as China is the nation with the largest fleet of bicycles in the world. (ImperialTours.net)

3) In New York City, “beautiful bicycle girls” are good and plenty, according to The New York Observer. Fashion designers, models, graphic designers, and high-profile celebrities like Naomi Watts, Julia Roberts, Gisele Bundchen, and Chloë Sevigny have all “championed the green life in this most public and only incidentally calorie-burning way.” (Observer.com)

Bicycle Helmet slip-on cover. (Photo courtesy RidingPretty.com)

4) In the San Francisco bay area bicycle fashion is also alive and well. Check out Riding Pretty – Cycle Chic California for some great photos of bicycle fashion from the Golden State. Another popular Bay Area fashion blogger is Velo Vogue. It’s “where the bike lane meets the runway” as photoblogger Lilia takes photos of stylish cyclists she sees in San Francisco. For women looking to spice up the look of their helmet, Riding Pretty features helmet slip-on covers, offering a stylish look on top of safety.

5) We think it’s safe to say that women are to thank for the bicycle fashion revolution. In 1878, the first bicycles were manufactured in America. Very quickly, women began to experiment with riding the new personal vehicles. And just as quickly, “fashion and medical experts found that bicycle riding was a bad idea for women.” The voluminous, ankle-covering skirts that were fashionable at that time made it not very safe for women to ride bicycles. Women would not stand by and let so-called “experts” push the myth that “it was not healthy for delicate, fragile womankind to trust herself to a mechanical device.” And so came a bicycle and fashion revolution. By the 1890’s bicycles became a way of life for all Americans, and women wore so-called “bicycle costumes” which allowed them to basically buckle the skirts around their legs while riding! It was a small step for womankind, but an important one to the extension of basic freedoms and women’s suffrage. (About.com)

What kind of bicycle fashion do you find most appealing? Is there something that you wear to set yourself apart from the rest of the cycling crowd? Have you seen a cyclist that caught your eye, positively or negatively? Let us know by leaving a comment here or on twitter @BellTrueFit.

We at Bell Sports hold bicycling – and safety – dear to our hearts. We publish these Fast Facts Friday (#FFF) blog posts with the hope of providing you with insightful information, and inspiring you to get out and ride. We also intend to provide you with factual information that encourages you to always wear a helmet when cycling. So, in the spirit of #FFF, today’s installment features some obscure bicycling and helmet facts meant to educate, inspire, and maybe even answer that nagging question that has piqued your curiosity time and again.

1) Despite the requirement for adults to use hand signals when riding in traffic, The American Academy of Pediatrics says Children shouldn’t use hand signals, because signaling may cause them to lose control of their bikes. (AAP.org)

2) Ever wonder why male cyclists shave their legs? Well, according to eHow.com it is it has nothing to do with aerodynamics, and more to do with road rash, massage, hygiene, vanity and tradition. Hairless legs are easier to clean, and it’s less painful to tear bandages off of smooth skin than hairy skin. Plus leg hair gets messy when slathered in massage oils, and it is easier for masseuses to work on bald legs. (eHow.com)

3) In China, bicycles outnumber cars 250 to 1, and in Tokyo, Japan a bicycle is faster than a car for most trips of less than 50 minutes. (Strange-Facts.info)

4) Bell Helmets feature EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam liners. The purpose of the liner is to help prevent or reduce brain injury by absorbing the energy of an impact through its own compression or destruction. (BellSports.com)

5) And our Fast Fact“ee” of honor: At 25 years old Georgia native Fred A. Birchmore circled the globe by bicycle. The entire trip, through Europe, Asia, and the United States, covered forty thousand miles. Over the course of his tour, taken in 1935, he pedaled about 25,000 miles and wore out seven sets of tires. The rest was traveled by boat. And, Fred just celebrated his 98^th birthday this week! Happy belated birthday, Fred! (NationalGeographic.com)

What inspires you? Let us know what type of information gets you out on the road or on the trail spinning those wheels!

In the United States, Veteran’s Day takes place on November 11 every year and serves as a federal holiday in remembrance and observance of our troops. Well, in honor of the all the brave US soldiers who have served, fought and dedicated themselves to defending our freedom, we would like to dedicate today’s post to saying “Thank You” to our men and women in the armed forces.

Seeing as we’re in the helmet manufacturing business, we thought – what would be a more fitting way to show our gratitude than to highlight the military by providing some insight and historical context about the military helmet?

1) In 1981, Bell Sports introduced products for anti-ballistic military and law enforcement use. (Bell Sports)

2) The development and expanded use of steel helmets “saved the French” in WWI as it enabled them to disregard German artillery fire. (NYTimes.com)

3) During World War II, the United States designed and standardized the M-1 helmet, which became the symbol of the American soldier and was used afterward in the Korean and Vietnam wars. (ehow.com)

4) Thanks to generous donations, Operation Helmet has sent 46,009 protective helmet-pad upgrade kits to U.S. soldiers in the field. (Operation-Helmet.org)

5) In April 2009 Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Harvey received a Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge after being shot in the helmet and continuing to return fire during an enemy attack in Najaf, Iraq on Feb. 10. Harvey’s life was saved by his Advanced Combat Helmet. (Army.mil)

Thanks again to all the veterans out there for your service, and let’s not forget about the role helmets have had in the safety and protection of those who risk their lives for our freedom.

Last week we showed you just how much the U.S. is a bike-loving country, so this week we thought we’d show some love to our neighbors across the sea…thank you @BBC for this wonderful history lesson on bicycles!

1. In 1839 a Scot called Kirkpatrick Macmillan made a machine for a rider which had wheels rimmed with iron. Instead of pedals it used cranks – but it was not a success. (UK Bicycle Facts)

2. The first National Bike Week was organized in 1923 by the Cyclists’ Touring Club. (UK Bicycle Facts)

3. Bell Sports has bicycle helmet distributors all over the world, including Madison in the UK. (Bell Sports)

4. In 1870, James Starley, who became known as the father of the bicycle industry, developed the famous Penny-Farthing in England. It was named after the largest and the smallest copper coins in the currency at that time. In the 1870s a party of enthusiasts are said to have ridden Penny-Farthings from Lands End to John O’Groats (690 miles) in 15 days. (UK Bicycle Facts)

5. The basic design of the bicycle has remained fairly similar since the 1890s, although obviously many refinements have been made over the last 100 years. (UK Bicycle Facts)

Traveled across seas lately and spotted a Bell Sports helmet? Let us know where you saw the snazzy gear! Or perhaps you’re on vacation now? Be sure to keep your eye out for the Bell and tell us all about it, below!

We’ve revealed that the first bike was made out of wood, which may have surprised some of you, but did you realize just how old and how much history bicycles and helmets actually have? Probably not. That’s why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to do the digging so that you can just sit back and soak up the knowledge.

1. Helmets for riot police often have flip-down clear visors and thick padding to protect the back of the neck. (Wikipedia)

2. Since inventing the first modern bicycle helmet in 1975 (and motorcycle and racing helmets prior to that), Bell’s presence in the bicycle world has expanded to also include self-sealing tubes and tires, gel-infused seats and seat pads, tire pumps, locks, light systems, child carriers, mirrors, car racks, bags, speedometers, water bottles, hydration packs and a variety of licensed products. (Bell Sports)

3. In 1870 the first all metal machine appeared. This machine was the first one to be called a bicycle or “two wheel”. (Pedaling History Bicycle Museum)

4. Although they were only widely used for 15 years in the late 1800s, high-wheel bicycles have become a tangible piece of Americana. (Bicycling Through The Past)

5. On July 4, 1976, Wheelmen from the United States and abroad converged on Independence Hall at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan to ride to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Covering some 700 miles in 12 days and crossing the Allegheny Mountains, Wheelmen rode antique bicycles commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the High Wheel bicycle and the 200th Anniversary of America. (The Wheelmen)

Remember, we’re always looking for additional bicycle facts and are thirsty to learn more. Help us out and point to a few new ones and we’ll make sure you get due credit!