Slack Randoms: AirTag Bells, Canyon Partners with F1's Valtteri Bottas, Jet Engine Blowouts & More

Oct 14, 2022 at 8:57
by Ed Spratt  
We use Slack as our workplace communication tool at Pinkbike and we have a #randoms channel which we use to share an assortment of videos and stories from all corners of the cycling world and beyond... We thought a couple of the moments from the past week were too good not to share with a wider audience, so here are some of the highlights.



The Airbell Discreetly Hides an Apple Airtag

photo

Since Apple launched the AirTag, we have seen no shortage of mounting solutions for bikes, but the Airbell offers a novel attempt to store the tracker.

Looking just like any cheap plastic bell, the Airbell doesn't make it obvious that it is hiding an AirTag inside. That should mean if your bike is stolen, it won't be removed before you can track it. The Airbell doesn't come with a huge price tag, costing $18.99 / €24.99. Although you will need to buy an AirTag separately for $29. It is definitely easier to fit to your bike than MucOff's solution of mounting an AirTag inside your tire.


Canyon partners with Valtteri Bottas

photo

It's normally technology that we see being transferred over from F1 to cycling, but this week Canyon has announced that Valtteri Bottas is now officially part of the Canyon family. It sounds like Valtteri will be mainly working with Canyon to increase interest in gravel and road riding, but he may do a bit of mountain biking in the future.

bigquotesI have ridden Canyon bikes for several years already, becoming increasingly impressed at their commitment to innovation and performance. Having had the chance to meet some of the people behind the brand recently, it’s only fuelled my passion. Now I’m looking forward to telling my cycling journey as an official Canyon ambassador, showcasing what I love about riding on two wheels.— Valtteri Bottas


Brendan Fairclough and Kilian Bron Follow Cam in Whistler


bigquotesJump on board with Brendan Fairclough and Kilian Bron as they follow each other down an epic trail in Whistler, BC.— GoPro


Jack Moir's Trophy of Nations Race Clips


bigquotesRaw clips from Enduro World Series Trophy of Nations in Finale Ligure.— Jack Moir


An XC World Cup Rider Podium at the Gravel World Championships


The first-ever UCI Gravel World Champs saw a podium dominated by XC World Cup riders in the Elite Women's race.


Huge Moto Freeride Sends at Red Bull Imagination


bigquotesWitness the sessions that went down in preparation of Red Bull Imagination 3:0. If these are the practice sessions, imagine the competition sessions! In the past three years, the growth of Imagination has been nothing less than unimaginable (no pun intended). From the course to the rider roster, Red Bull freerider Tyler Bereman has pushed Imagination into a constant state of evolution since its inception in 2020. Bereman is back in 2022 and set to impress with this year’s group of freeriders as they embark on the course of a lifetime.— Red Bull Motorsports


Tony Hawk’s First Kickflip After a Big Injury



Jet Engine Blowout


bigquotesDriving my 250-pound thrust Pulsejet engine powered desert Rat altered dragster with an engine blowout at the end.— Robert Maddox


How Do Laser Beams Engrave Things?


bigquotesA fiber laser can carve super intricate designs into any metal in just 10 seconds. The laser is getting so hot the metal is vaporizing away, yet it does nothing to our skin. As we play the video back and watch these lasers in slow motion, Alexander Sellite of "Laser Everything" breaks down everything we need to know about fiber lasers and how they function.— WIRED



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64 Comments
  • 207 2
 I avoid needing a tracker in my bike by having one that is 5 years old. Every thief knows its basically unridable with those geometry numbers.
  • 25 0
 I figure they're just going to fall over sideways if they try and ride it down the street.
  • 16 0
 Same goes for my old 27.5er. Unrideable!
  • 8 0
 Given mine is ten years old and the tyres are flat... I...hang on...that reflects badly on me doesn't it?
  • 4 4
 Sorry chap,accidently down voted you Frown
  • 10 0
 @scoot34: it's alright... I just down voted you on purpose in retaliation! It's on!
  • 2 1
 Noone will steal your joke for similar reasons.
  • 2 1
 is this some poor peasant joke that me changing bike every season for a new one just won't understand?
  • 109 1
 ‘Valtteri it’s James, Canyon want you to remove all of the vowels from your name…’
  • 47 0
 Vlttr Btts s nw prt f th Cnyn Clltv nd fmly
  • 19 0
 Almost there already, Bottas is helping bring a gravel race to Finland called FNLD GRVL www.fnldgrvl.com
  • 13 0
 Valterri, we also would you like to sit on a bike with your former team's color scheme. That shouldn't bring back any memories, right?
  • 3 1
 10/10 comment
  • 1 0
 vaeri bo'as if you know you know
  • 72 5
 Slap some removable Fezzari stickers on your frame. Bike theft problem solved.
  • 18 1
 Ha! Such a shame. I came close to buying one of their bikes but I couldn’t do it because of the name. They honestly make incredible bikes but I can’t get over how silly the name is.
  • 10 0
 @Parkershark: the badly chosen name impacts the resale value too, unfortunately.
  • 26 2
 @Parkershark: For the value, my fez coulda been named 'the big shitter' and I still woulda bought it. Love this thing. Come to think of it, I probably would be more likely to buy a bike if it had "THE BIG SHITTER" in big text on the downtube
  • 9 1
 Oh, down voted by Fezzari owners.
  • 17 1
 @MOBrules: Yes, all two of them.
  • 5 0
 Utah residents aren’t gonna like this
  • 2 0
 @MOBrules: Don't have to own one to know it's a stupid way to make a purchase decision.
  • 40 0
 The company owner, Endo, will be very dissapointed with these comments.
  • 6 0
 @h82crash: underrated comment
  • 1 0
 @SeanDRC: underated? it has the most props after OP.
  • 2 0
 @Narro2: it wasn't even close to these upvotes when i made the comment haha
  • 48 0
 "it won't be removed before you can track it"

You sure? No self-respecting bike thief wants to be seen pedalling around with a bell like that
  • 5 0
 Don't use air trackers, so maybe I'm missing something, but is there a reason not to just use some black duct tape to attach under the saddle? Seems hidden, protected, accessible, etc.
  • 4 0
 @sspiff: or maybe start making saddle with a little slot so it can go under the foam?
  • 40 2
 And just like that, the secret hiding place of the trackable airtag was no longer that much of a secret.
  • 7 3
 that is exactly what i thought - almost dumb.
  • 8 0
 I'm sure lots of bike theifs spend time on pinkbike
  • 5 2
 Something tells me that if bike thieves are on here, the number is insignificant and even fewer are over here reading all the articles.
  • 3 0
 honestly, i've never been able to keep bells on my bike. after 1 crash they either don't work or don't exist on the handle bars.
  • 43 0
 @kroozctrl: least you will be able to find where the bell fell off
  • 1 0
 @spicysparkes: LOL came here to say that... every bell I ever put on my bars, ultimately was lost somewhere - or destroyed. I guess though, this one is meant for citibikes and the likes.. not that stuff we rip through the forests..
  • 1 0
 Air tags are useless unless you crack them open and disable the speaker (for the anti-stalking.tracking alert every crook will get from their own air tag app and yes they all have them for this reason) Plenty of yt vids about it.
  • 1 0
 @suspended-flesh: criminals are pretty dumb. Depending how good you hide it and how soon you realize it's gone you might get lucky. I have mine jammed up up my headtube. That alone mutes the noise pretty good with the fork cork plugging the bottom.
  • 10 2
 The trackers can produce a solid signal from sockeye salmon. So some sockeye with an air tag in a saddle bag would likely work well.
  • 23 0
 WE GOT WEIGHTS IN FISH
  • 8 0
 I thought Tony Hawk's video was great! Fighting back after a massive injury in your 50s is rough.
  • 8 0
 That fmx video is rad…. Gawd those guys go big!
  • 1 0
 Yeahhh.. meanwhile i am working up to 4 bike lengths jumps
  • 1 1
 Sure, but they groomed the course. Bring back real freeride! Wink
Just kidding, I'm sick of seeing people bashing Rampage as a slopestyle course.
It is a little easier to go big on a moto than mtb, but I'm in awe of these guys ability to hit a huge lip at 50+ mph and fly that far.
  • 4 1
 Has anyone made a holder for an air tag... that actually sits in the valuable part of the bike I'd want to get back... like maybe the frame? I suppose stuffing some foam into the top tube (or anywhere that there isn't some daft cable routing) might work but then you can't charge any money for it
  • 5 0
 My understanding is that these tags don't work so great when placed inside a metal object, due to the physics of radio wave propagation. Maybe we can do carbon fiber frames though?
  • 5 0
 I always imagined one day to get Tony Hawk's skateboarding skills. Now Tony Hawk got mine.
  • 3 0
 He's still got me beat...
  • 2 0
 That Air Bell is probably the best one yet. No one notices those cheap bells and every other ‘hidden’ mount is really obvious.

Also in the UK pretty much every bike sold comes with one of those things.
  • 1 0
 Airbell isn't daft if like me you keep a cheapo bell on your bikes - really helps relations with walkers on shared paths. at least in UK. I've put an airtag inside my carbon frame but signal obviously poor as I keep getting messages I've left the bike behind, as I ride along on it.
  • 5 1
 Anybody want to share the trail so I can add it to next summers itinerary?
  • 1 0
 If you just watch every YouTube video of every Whistler trail you'll figure it out eventually. That's what I'm doing!
  • 3 0
 Santa is finally modernizing his delivery vehicle.
  • 3 1
 Airtag bell, whats the first thing you remove of a bike aside from the wheel reflectors
and plastic spoke protector ?
  • 2 0
 Ah, Valtteri Bottas...the Finnish Reubens Barrichello.
  • 2 0
 The rocket man has not exploded!
  • 3 1
 canyon do everything good except bikes.
  • 1 0
 Air tags fit in a stem pretty easy. Just saying. Little sponge or foam keeps it from rattling
  • 1 0
 Dont know the actual science behind it, but I read somewhere that the range is significantly reduced due to it being inside a metal tube.
  • 1 0
 Now make one for the Smart Tag please.
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