If anyone out there is like me, you're driving the chilluns around, heading to work, and focusing on the everyday life... Suddenly, "uh oh...what's that sound? Why's my car making that sound?"  You try to block it out by turning up the radio, but it's too late... panic has taken hold. You feel every weird shimmy the car makes and deep down, you start to think about the very limited car knowledge that you possess trying to figure out what the friggin problem is with this stupid car, how much it's going to be, and when was the last time you had it serviced (you're pretty sure it wasn't THAT long ago). Every single detail of your mutual love/hate relationship with your car stands out in stark contrast from the amazing day you had planned.



Luckily, I have found a solution that will ease all of your slowly growing stress ulcers... meet Drivebot. Drivebot is a dongle that connects to your OBD-II (On Board Diagnostic port) that monitors your cars health and alerts you on your smartphone via Bluetooth when there's a problem. Upon detection, it provides simple instructions of possible quick fixes. Plus, it monitors your driving behavior and how to save gas with driving suggestions on how to save. Who doesn't like that idea?! Oh! And before I forget, for those of you who go on business trips and/or have to log your every move with your vehicle, Drivebot can export the data and email it to you as a report. Knowing what's wrong in advance can give you that much needed leg up when you bring your car to that scheister mechanic (who you totally know is trying to take you for a ride), and can help in avoiding the possible douchebag all together. Yay to that! With the proper mental preparation and new knowledge that you now possess, all your bad little thoughts and worries can ease away.

I can't tell you how many times I have gotten through half the day on the go, only to look down and and gawk at the dreaded "less than 10% battery" signal. NNNOOOOOO!! All I was doing was texting, streaming music, scrolling through my instagram feed... OK... maybe a little Facetiming... but come on!  Only half the day!?! Aaaaand my charger is at home. Awesome.



Well, now I can sit back, breath and calm my mania because I have a saving grace sitting right on my wrist.



Having handy a cable that is portable, durable and comes in two pretty dern cute unisex designs, many colors, and is too convenient to pass up for both iPhone and Android. Peace of mind, thy name is "The Bracelet Charging Cable." Heck, you may even forget that it's a charger when wearing it. And yes, bracelets on guys can be sexy too (sometimes). So don't be shy... go ahead and check it out.

As you may have surmised, we have arrived at Part Three of our three part bike innovation series. Part One was focused on more of a futuristic approach to what bikes will eventually become and have the capability of becoming, while Part Two is more of an urban approach of what genius ideas can do to make your bike extra smart as well as theft proof. In Part Three, we will see some bike hacks to give you that new fangled feature or the "sexed up" look, without having to shell out for an all new ride.



Easily the coolest piece of kit I've seen, is the Helios Smart Handlebar. Coming in many styles, this handlebar comes with front and rear LEDs along with turn signals. Yes, I know, we've all seen indicator lighting blah, blah, blah... Yeah, you are way wrong! What sets the Helios apart, is the built in Bluetooth and GPS. Basic functionality lets you do the obvious stuff you would expect; tracking where you are, where you've been and how far in between. Get excited because here is where it gets good. Using the GPS and the rear facing LEDs, the Helios gives you real time telemetry. Set your destination in the app and follow the lights to get to where you need to go, while using the pulsing color feature (to indicate speed) at which you are traveling. Better yet, should the criminal element make off with your ride, the Helios can send you a text to your bike (SMS) when you want to retrieve location coordinates. You'll then receive a text back containing a Google Maps link to its current location. Shwing! For added flair, you can turn the lights on or off from your phone when you approach or when you walk away. Yay safety! $279 isnt the cheapest, but this is a serious product for serious riders.



Named for its T-shaped appearance. The Hammerhead is another navigation LED set up, but with more of a social angle. Much like the Helios, the Hammerhead uses LEDs to give it the turn-by-turn directions, but steps it up a bit to let you know when road hazards show up in the mix. As for the social angle, it syncs to the popular cycling app Strava, so you can send routes to friends, and of course, compete for bragging rights... you show off! For the price ($85), this is definitely a must have item, which you can preorder here.



As you no doubt remember, back in May, my good friend Damion Schweizer featured The Skylock...you did read it, right? For those of you who are new...or just slacking off... go here to read about it's app based key less entry and accelerator based notification system. So when some douchebag is fondling your goodies or when you've taken a spill, it gives you the option to call for help to friends, family or to the authorities. Way cool!


Now that the douchebags are no longer diddling your diddles and you know where you're going, what you need next is to keep those wheels spinning with the Patchnride. Small enough to fit in your pocket, this device can be used with any tube tire to permanently patch a hole. You don't even need to take the wheel off, although you will obviously need a pump to refill the air back in the tire. Head over here to check it out.


Of course with safety being of the utmost importance to every cyclist, you cant forget your helmet. The LifeBEAM Helmet will not only keep your brain in tip top shape, but it will track your heart rate, calories burned and distance traveled. Big bonus, no need to worry about any extra devices, straps or any unnecessary shenanigans. It can function in conjunction with almost all apps and devices. Head on over to LifeBEAM to check out this and their other products such as a hat and visor with the same capabilities as the helmet.

Now that I have thoroughly met all of your future bike tech needs, the test will be on Monday. So study up! Haha! I'm just joshing you. Questions, concerns or ideas are welcome in the comments section, and dont forget..."Like" early, "Like" often.

Welcome to Part Two of this bike series. As you've seen, Part One was geared towards a more futuristic machine that a bike is fully capable of becoming. Now in Part Two, I'm going to show you about two ingenious concepts that, with luck, will become standards in bike security.

Would you believe me if I told you that there are two ways that bikes cant be stolen? That's right! I bring you the Yerka Project and the Seatylock.

The Yerka Project is a one of a kind concept that was created from three Chilean childhood friends who are now engineering students who have no small amount of experience with having their bikes stolen. A play on the Nordic word for strength, the Yerka is based on the idea that there's less incentive to steal a bike when you have to destroy it in the process of getting to it.

What I like about the Yerka is that it gives you that urban, funky colored casual appeal that could almost resemble a traditional lightweight bike, but with a significant twist. You see, here, the bike frame itself is actually it's own lock. Coconuts, right?! How it works is once you pull up to a bike rack, street post or any stationary item, you pull out the seatpost, flip out the downtube, and create a lock with the frame itself. It creates a security feature that if anyone decides to hack open the lock, they are actually going to destroy the frame itself...and it also looks pretty rad around a tree.

The Yerka Project expects their first batch of bikes to be available within six to eight months. The guys are also planning to launch a Kickstarter campaign by December to raise funds for mass production.



Designing a perfect bike lock is a constant ongoing challenge that will forever be one upped by the thieving douchenozzles who want your bike. Most are pretty bulky, obnoxious and sometimes a pain to remember when you're running out in a rush. The Seatylock which is currently being funded on Kickstarter aims to keep your bike and all of it's bits and pieces from being stolen.

What's pretty creative about this design is that it looks like a normal bicycle saddle, but once unclipped turns into a three foot steel chain lock and takes only 30 seconds to secure your bike to any fixed object. An additional thumbs up goes to it's universal adaptor. In other words, no matter what bike you own, this bad boy will be there for you. It adjusts to any seating position that your little tush desires. It'll be available in a range of colors and designs for those of you who like to turn your ride into an expressive fashion statement.

I highly recommend checking out the Seatylock Kickstarter campaign with bids starting at $75. Once fully funded, it has been estimated to ship on out in March of 2015.

Keep a look out for Part Three in the bike series! If you can dig it, don't forget to hit the like button. 

Oh Seattle, how you've managed to design and build yet another great addition to the unique city. I bring you The Denny. Tah Dah!! With the freedom to commute, the simple transportation that Seattle provides, this is a cyclists dream. In the event that an occasional off routine ride may happen, you will be guided by the all inclusive safety, security, and convenience that this bike gives. Those are the concepts of what this bike was built on. Even those who are non-riders will definitely choose a The Denny as their mode of transportation.

Lets face is, today's urban commute makes us all question if we'll be ok to even cross the street. The fear of having to navigate, dodge, and seek safety can be an overload on anyone trying to get from point A to point B. Lighting is a huge factor for safety. Although strobing lights are rather useful, research has shown that it can make it difficult for motorists to judge speed and distance. With that being said, The Denny uses day light running lights, brake lights, and turn signals like every other vehicle on the road. The idea of having lights always running, makes The Denny easier for motorists to track. Remember, SAFETY FIRST!

Having a bike stolen really sucks and is just flat out rude. It's an ugly fact of city life that your security system just never feels secure enough. To combat the uneasiness in your gully works, The Denny comes equipped with an integrated U-lock handlebar security system. WHAAATTTT?! The handlebar can be fully removed to lock the bike frame securely onto other secure structures. The "quick stop" locking mechanism keeps your life moving when you stop for coffee while it keeps the creeps from ruining your week.

Convenience runs all through this thing. The automatic transmission and powered pedal assist will keep you going on Seattle's winding roads and varying terrain. It's auto adjusting lights will make sure you are never struggling to see the very avoidable pothole. Another convenient feature is the removable battery solution. Not having to lug my bike to a charging station is pretty awesome, especially if you're petite like myself. The storage platform gives you a place to secure your coffee, purse, bag of food, or whatever you fancy.

Overall, the look and feel is approachable, yet edgy. It gives you the WOW factor, but not the flashy obnoxious kind. It's simple and confident that the mixed Seattle lifestyle is known for. If you're interested, check out the video below! Lucky for you, it won in a contest! So, lets give a big thanks to Fuji Bikes who will be manufacturing it.

Don't forget to leave any comments and/or suggestions. And don't forget to hit the like button. Thanks!

Welcome ladies and gents! This is my first post and I couldn't be more excited about it. So, lets get started!

Being that this is my first post, why not do something that is not only cool, but something that all ladies will like. It’s functional, it’s super handy, and most ladies (or long haired gents) need it almost all the time. What is this that I speak of…? Yes, a multi-functional hair clip!

Not only is this hair clip a great accessory to get those obnoxious flyaways out of your face, and of course to help fix your awesome do, but also makes you feel like you’re the modern day MacGyver. So, if you’re a mom, a busy lady, a handy woman, just friggin awesome, or all of the above, then yeah, this will be it for you.

This innocuous hair clip is like a toolbox in your hair. It serves as a flat-head screwdriver (works well on glasses), a large and small screwdriver, has a 5/16 wrench for the occasional bolt, a serrated edge for hacking through rope or a nasty snarl (that you may or may not want to just rip out), a mini ruler, and a trolley coin (for supermarket trolleys or to cut an orange).

If interested, head on over to http://www.animicausa.com.

Again, thank you for welcoming me to The Collective Loop. I look forward to filling you in on some of the cool things I find and hopefully you enjoy them as much as I do. If any questions or ideas, feel free to let us know in the comments section. Oh! And don’t forget that like button!

Ladies and gentleman, let me introduce our new contributor on The Collective Loop, Natalie Hicks! Not only is she a good friend, but also another tech geek (got to love that!). She is also no stranger to TCL and has been a longtime supporter. So let's give her a lot of hello's and welcome's and internet winks. ;)

So welcome aboard Natalie and we look forward to finally getting a women's point of view on different topics on TCL. Look for her first post next week and don't forget to spread the word!

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