Lifestyle

In an era where society is more aligned with the "having mode" than ever before, the essence of living has been overshadowed by the relentless pursuit of material possessions and social validation. This cultural shift has given rise to what is termed as the "merchant character," a persona deeply ingrained in the practice of selling oneself for the highest bid, whether in careers, relationships, friendships, or even hobbies. The mantra of modern existence has become about performance and approval, a dangerous trajectory that has significantly contributed to a spectrum of psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, and even schizophrenia.The "having mode," as pervasive as it is in our daily lives, focuses on acquisition and possession. It's a mode where value is attached to what we own or achieve, rather than who we are. This societal orientation not only fuels a cycle of constant comparison and competition but also distances us from the essence of true fulfillment and happiness. The implications of living in such a mode are profound, affecting our mental health and well-being in ways that are both subtle and significant.Contrastingly, the "being mode" offers a refreshing antidote to the frenetic pace of modern life. It's an approach that emphasizes living in the moment, cherishing experiences over possessions, and valuing personal growth and genuine connections over superficial achievements. In the "being mode," the focus shifts from having to being, from accumulating to experiencing. It's about finding joy in the simple pleasures of life, fostering relationships that nourish the soul, and engaging in activities that make us feel truly alive.Enter the Linky Electric Skateboard: a symbol of the "being mode" in action.Unlike traditional modes of fast commuting that prioritize efficiency over enjoyment, the Linky Electric Skateboard invites users to slow down and savor the journey. It's not just a means of transportation; it's an invitation to have fun, to smile, to enjoy the wind in your hair, and to connect with the world around you in vibrant, full colors. The Linky Electric Skateboard represents a departure from the relentless rush of daily life, offering a pathway to rediscover the joys of being truly present in the moment.Adopting the "being mode" doesn't mean rejecting ambition or the desire for personal and professional growth. Rather, it's about finding a balance where achievements are not the sole measure of worth. It's about creating a life where the pressure to constantly sell oneself is replaced with the freedom to be oneself. The Linky Electric Skateboard, in this context, is more than just a gadget; it's a metaphor for a lifestyle choice that prioritizes being over having, experience over acquisition, and genuine joy over fleeting validation.In conclusion, as society continues to gravitate towards the "having mode," it's imperative to consciously choose the "being mode" as a counterbalance. The Linky Electric Skateboard serves as a reminder that in the race to acquire and achieve, we must not lose sight of what truly makes life worth living. By embracing the "being mode," we open ourselves to a world of possibilities where happiness is derived not from what we have, but from who we are and the quality of our experiences. Let's choose to live a life in full colors, where every moment is an opportunity to be, to connect, and to truly live.

To address climate change, many of us need to reduce our "carbon footprint." But what are truly low-carbon lifestyles, and can they really be achieved through personal choices alone?Surveys show that many people want to participate in climate action, but putting low-carbon living into practice can be complicated- it can mean changing different aspects of daily life, particularly for the wealthier parts of society.In some high-emitting countries, even this may be difficult: in the United States, Canada, and Australia, for example, per capita emissions stand at 16-17 tons of CO2e per year.An Oxfam report in 2021 found that by 2030 the global average of emissions will need to stand at only 2.3 tons of CO2 per year to keep global warming below 1.5°C (the report did not cover other greenhouse gases), compared to the current average of 4.6 tons.It is very difficult to live with low carbon emissions if the products, society, and infrastructure around us are all high emitters. In fact, few would argue that people should achieve these levels by individual action alone: much of the products, infrastructure, systems, and policy decisions that influence our lives must also change to reduce emissions.However, a false dichotomy can be created in discussions of individual versus system behavior change.We need both individual and system changes: government policies, societal preferences, and consumer behavior can influence each other.Change our LifestylesAccording to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), with the right policies, infrastructure, and technologies to change our lifestyles and behaviors, we can substantially reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The IPCC also states that the world must achieve net zero emissions with limited overshoot by 2050 to keep global warming below 1.5 C.In wealthier countries, this means moving to a low-carbon lifestyle for most people. But the changes to get there are not necessarily painful or even negative. For example, research has shown that good public services enable greater well-being for less energy consumption.One important change would be to change the way we get aroundA combination of public transportation and micro-mobility systems (such as electric skateboards) make it efficient and effective for people to move around. Private cars, with their huge emissions and often empty seats, would largely be a thing of the past, and parking lots would be converted into green public spaces where people go to play, relax, or exercise.The public transportation of the future will be eventually electrified and powered by renewable sources. It would be complemented by bicycling and walking and other forms of mobility that make people active, benefiting well-being and health.Food and thingsA major 2019 report on "Diet for the Health of the Planet" aimed to define the optimal diet to balance the health of people and the planet. The report recommends that meals consist of about half a plate of fruits and vegetables and plenty of legumes and nuts. Vegan and vegetarian diets can help meet these requirements, but meat and dairy products can still be incorporated. Visualizza questo post su Instagram Un post condiviso da Context News (@contextnewsroom) The Problem with StuffWe might consume more cultural experiences (think festivals, trips to the theater, or dance classes), but in terms of stuff, anything that has weight, anything that is produced with matter and energy, we should consume less of it.This is not a plan to get rid of all our electronics and clothing, but a world in which their production is based on renewable electricity and not fossil fuels, in which better quality and longer-lasting products take center stage, and in which we simply buy less of them. This also means a greater focus on repairability and recycling, rather than buying a new phone every year or so.Sandra Goldmark, director of Campus Sustainability and Climate Action at Barnard College and theater professor recommends looking for good materials design, and repairability. In her new book, Fixation, Goldmark, wrote, “Good stuff is well designed for a long life cycle, made of the right materials, has parts that are easily available and replaceable, and was produced in a socially and environmentally ethical process.”The European Union has already adopted a "right to repair" for consumer products that aims to ensure that more products are repaired within the legal warranty and to provide citizens with better options for repairing products that are technically repairable, even if they are outside the warranty. Measures like this can help begin to build a "repair economy" by requiring companies to make their products repairable and to make manuals and parts available at an affordable price.Linky Innovation supports the circular economy and it is at the heart of our business model. Linky, the foldable electric skateboard, has been designed following the Design for Disassembly (DfD) approach, a process by which the design is implemented so as to allow for easy and economically sustainable disassembly of the product at the end of its life, and the reuse and/or recycling of its most valuable components.Once the customer is finished with Linky, they can send it back to us and we can remove the damaged parts without having to throw away the entire product. This will be a game changer for reconditioning and giving the product a new life.What are the carbon-free activities you could do?You can meditate, be in nature, just stop doing things and absorb the world, smell flowers, go foraging, art, walking, cycling, gardening, or go for a skateboard ride. Listening or playing music, singing, dancing, all the things we did as kids: these are things that we had a great love of.What are your favorite carbon-free activities?Drop your comments below! we'd love to hear your opinions :-)

What if we could wave a magic wand and remove all plastics from our lives? It would be an ideal situation if we consider the current condition of mother earth. But if we start thinking about it, we can soon realize how much plastic there is in our lives. Is life as we know it even possible without plastic?When Was Plastic Invented?Humans have been using plastic-like materials, such as shellac – made from a resin secreted by lac insects – for thousands of years. But plastics, as we know them today, are a 20th Century invention: Bakelite, the first plastic made from fossil fuels, was invented in 1907. It wasn't until after World War Two that the production of synthetic plastics for use outside the military really took off. Since then, plastic production has increased almost every year, from two million tonnes in 1950 to 380 million tonnes in 2015. If it continues at this rate, plastic could account for 20% of oil production by 2050.Why is plastic use so widespread?Plastic is such a common material because it is exceedingly versatile, more than any other material. It can be used for literally anything since its colors, strength, weight, and durability can be modified. Plastic is the most used material in packaging for several reasons: Versatility: Plastic can be molded into various shapes and sizes, making it a versatile material for packaging. It can be made into bottles, containers, bags, and other packaging products. Durability: Plastic is a durable material that can withstand a wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions. This makes it suitable for packaging products that need to be protected from moisture, air, and other external factors. Lightweight: Plastic is a lightweight material, which makes it a cost-effective choice for packaging products that need to be transported over long distances. It also reduces the amount of packaging waste generated during transportation. Low Cost: Plastic is a relatively low-cost material, which makes it an affordable option for manufacturers and consumers. It is less expensive than many other packaging materials, such as glass, metal, and paper. Customization: Plastic can be easily customized to suit the needs of different products and brands. It can be colored, printed, and embossed to create unique packaging designs that stand out on store shelves. What about the social benefits?Plastics contribute to the health and safety of consumers in food and water packaging applications. Water has become a critical focus in urban areas, and plastics provide the mechanism for the supply and storage of clean drinking water.  Plastic food packaging allows safe, time-dependent storage of fresh produce and other food, using temperature and atmosphere control inside the package. In addition, the quality of packaged foods can be monitored with low-cost indicator labels built into the packaging.Why does plastic pollution contribute to climate change?Open burning of plastic waste is also a major cause of toxic emissions. Open burning is common in many parts of the world where there is a lack of established waste collection and sorting services and is a major source of air pollution.The world is a long way from where it needs to be. 15% of plastics are collected for recycling globally, with only 9% actually being recycled. Meanwhile, emissions of plastic waste into aquatic ecosystems are projected to nearly triple by 2040 without meaningful action. Parts of the recycling industry, meanwhile, are associated with serious malpractice around labor abuse, child labor, and corruption.The chemistry around plastics has also grown more and more advanced, with thousands of plastic types emerging. These types create incredible complexity and have far outpaced governments’ attempts to develop effective recycling schemes.  Why is it important to reduce plastic waste?Plastic waste is very harmful to human health and wildlife. There are over 700 species threatened directly by plastic pollution through ingestion. Seabirds, for example, consume plastic waste, which fills up their stomachs, makes them unable to feed, and causes them to starve to death.Plastics break down into microplastics, which become magnets for contaminants in the oceans, creating a concentration of toxins. A few ways to reduce your plastic use 1. Avoid the worst common plastics: Identify the type of plastic of a product by looking at the recycling symbol molded on the item. The three following plastics are very common, and are significantly harmful to living beings and the environment:- Polyvinyl Chloride: An extremely toxic plastic often containing multiple unsafe additives, including lead and phthalates. Still used for some toys, clear food and non-food packaging (e.g., cling wrap), some squeeze bottles, cooking oil, and peanut butter jars.- Polystyrene: Contains styrene, which is toxic to the brain, nervous system, and various organs. Used in Styrofoam containers, egg cartons, disposable cups and bowls, take-out food containers, and plastic cutlery.- Polycarbonate: Contains bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to numerous health problems. Used in some baby bottles (though increasingly banned in baby bottles by countries around the world), clear plastic “sippy” cups, sports water bottles, juice, and ketchup containers, and in three and five-gallon large water storage containers, and most metal food can liners.2. Refuse plastic bags and bring your own reusable bags wherever you goPlastic bags are often used for minutes only before being discarded. And most plastic bags are not recycled, thus ending up in landfills – where they take hundreds of years to break down – or in the environment as toxic pollution.There are now all kinds of reusable bags out there. Choose what works for you, and carry it with you in your pocket, coat, purse or car.3. Avoid bottled water The realities of bottled water are: it is less regulated than tap water; usually, it is simply filtered tap water; it is very expensive; it requires enormous resources to collect, bottle, and ship it And, of course, it generally comes in a plastic bottle – usually polyethylene terephthalate – which contains the toxic metal antimony.So, please, just buy your own reusable water bottle, it’s so easy.4. Keep Plastic in use for longer Going plastic-free has its positives and negatives. Plastic weighs less than glass so can reduce transport emissions, but glass is more widely recycled and contains a higher portion of recycled content which can reduce its impact on resource consumption globally. If removing plastic from your life completely is unfeasible, make your plastic containers go further. For example, when a plastic bottle finishes, try your local refill shop and fill those containers with new products including wet and dry goods. We can also reuse containers like old butter and ice cream tubs as sandwich boxes, useful tubs for screws or nails, or planters for seedlings.5. Give Up Gum In England, around 87% of streets are stained with gum (Keep Britain Tidy) so always make sure you dispose of chewing gum in an appropriate bin, never on the floor. Did you know conventional chewing gum is made from plastic? This makes it take longer to decompose and it will break down into microplastics. Several plastic-free alternatives are now on the shelves, so look for brands that detail the ingredients of their gum and are committed to ending plastic pollution. Can we ban plastics?A future entirely without plastic is neither realistic nor desirable. We must be realistic in terms of interventions and understand that we cannot simply recycle our way out of this crisis. We must take a step back from focusing so closely on plastics' end-of-life stage and look at the bigger picture, and that is - the entire plastics value chain, particularly, re-engineering our production and consumption process to reduce its use. The least plastics used; the less plastic waste is generated.Efforts should be concentrated on global agreements to reduce the flow and variety of plastics and use disposable items of all kinds.It is an enormously challenging task, but legislation to prohibit plastic use can be effective. In 2022 France introduced a law banning plastic packaging for large numbers of fruits and vegetables, ending the overwrapping of carrots, apples, and bananas, and pledging to gradually phase out all single-use plastics by 2040.Generally, efforts should be concentrated on global agreements to reduce the flow and variety of plastics and use disposable items of all kinds. Individual nations must also invest in local recycling operations. That would include industrial recycling plants in developed nations or informal litter pickers in developing nations who earn a living recovering recyclable plastics from landfill.Circular Economy’s Role in a plastic-free futureThe need to deal with plastic pollution is a key part of the argument for transitioning to a circular economy.The circular economy means moving away from the world’s current economic model of ‘take, make, throw away’.It means redesigning products to be more durable, reusable, repairable, and recyclable and therefore kept in circulation for as long as possible. And it means changing the way we consume goods and services and rethinking consumerism as a society.A circular economy approach to plastics would see the world move away from single-use items towards reuse alternatives such as reusable coffee cup schemes or refill aisles in supermarkets.It would also see plastic products redesigned with recycling in mind using individual polymer plastics and designing out toxic chemicals. The European Union (EU) is leading the way currently, setting an ambitious target to make all plastic packaging fully recyclable by 2030.Final ThoughtsWe will not create a world without plastics because it is such a good material. But we can aim for a future without plastic waste and pollution. A globally coordinated approach is vital to this effort.It is crucial that the production of new plastics is reduced and refined. The types of plastics currently being produced are incredibly complex, and often not used in an easily recyclable form.Let’s do our best to avoid single-use plastic. Creating circular and sustainable alternatives. Managing plastic waste more efficiently. Together, let’s create systems to better reuse, reduce and recycle. Let’s push for an ambitious global agreement to end plastic pollution. Let’s demand that governments and business act, commit, and set new standards.Use your voice, and your choice, to beat plastic pollution. Let’s do better.

The modern age brings comfort to our lives that our predecessors weren’t lucky enough to enjoy. We’re cushioned from the myriad of tragedies that happen daily in certain parts of the world and shielded from the pain, sorrow, and misery that afflicts them. Yet, instead of counting our blessings and being grateful for our circumstances, we tend to take that for granted. Not only that, we want more. More security, material possessions, money, status, and desires.In today’s article, we want to suggest you a few tips that could help you see your tendencies and to find new prospects.1. The More We Search for Security, the More Insecure We AreAccording to the philosopher Alan Watts, the more we search for comfort and security, the more we remind ourselves that we lack them. The more we seek certainty, the more we feel uncertain. The more we want to shield ourselves from insecurity, the more we feel insecure. The more we desire money and status, the more we feel like we’re poor and on the lower rung of society.It’s not an issue that we want those things. The problem is that we feel anxious in the process of chasing them. We tense up and enter a fight-or-flight state in which we tell ourselves that we must get those things no matter what.Throughout our lives, we’re constantly trying to find ways to shed our insecurities. For some people, that’s a necessity. But for many others, it’s a goose chase. You see, the more you try to escape insecurity, the more you invite it into your fold. When you isolate yourself from others for fear that relationships can negatively affect you, you’re depleting yourself of the opportunity to grow, hear other people’s ideas and opinions, and even question your outlook on life and how you live it.Or, when you’re slaving away at the desk 60+ hours a week, with the excuse that you’re earning more money, achieving a higher status, or working for that coveted promotion.But you’re doing that at the expense of your energy and time that you could spend pursuing hobbies, personal interests, or spending time with family and friends. Activities that provide you with life energy instead of depleting it.We’re never guaranteed security. Today is all we have, so why go through life without enjoying it to the fullest?2. Define your core values and idealsDo you know the difference between values and ideals? Values already define you. Ideals are what you strive for and wish to be.Values are more internal, personal measures. Ideals tend to be external values you envision for society.So many of us struggle to find our meaning, purpose, and anchor in life. The solution? Uncovering the three to five core values and ideals that make you tick. This might seem easier said than done, but it could be tricky.Try to ask yourself these questions: What would you take a stand for? What makes you mad and why is that? What are the peak moments of your life until today? What are the common threads between these moments or experiences? In a general sense, we can identify some personal values that people consider most important in their lives. For example love, justice, family, fairness, honesty, transparency, competence, enthusiasm, humor, and respect. These are, of course, just a few examples; each of us may have more specific ones as well, and they may be different depending on our private or work, or professional life sphere.An ideal acts both as an introjection of a model, which becomes part of personal identity, and as an imitation of it, to which to conform one's conduct. For example, I would like to live in a world where there is no war, which is an ideal that so far is only possible in the mind of the individual.Once you define your values, you can look at your behavior and notice your value is in alignment with your behavior. If there's a disconnect, you now have a starting point of where to remedy as opposed to feeling lost and stuck.When you bring your values and goals into alignment you feel a wonderful sense of calmness, confidence, and personal power.Take some time to be clear about your values and ideals. Make sure that everything you do in your outer world is in harmony with what you believe to be right and good in your inner world.3. Let beliefs lead to passionsOnce you’ve defined your core principles, you can follow that path to finding things you’re passionate about—in turn, filling your days with what you enjoy. When we do the things we're passionate about, we can wake up looking forward to the day.4. We are constantly looking for the future happinessAmbitions and aspirations… seem to never materialize, don’t they? The perfect partner, the million-dollar idea, the promotion that could arrive any day: they’re all ideas that we keep in our mind to prevent us from feeling the pain we’ll feel if those moments don’t arrive. Clinging to future expectations and desires only prevents us from enjoying our life.Instead of thinking about what good (or bad) things await us in the future, it’s infinitely better to focus on what good things we have at the moment. You can be grateful for your family and your loving and supporting friends, or your health is in check, and you can provide for yourself.There are countless moments around you that you can appreciate, small or big.  A fuller life doesn’t necessarily mean being happy all the time—rather, it’s about being in touch with your inner self and deciding what you need at that moment.5. Strengthen your inner circleAdding more fulfillment to your life might also mean seeking out connections with those around you. Finding your people, the ones who cheer you on and lift you up on a soul level is life's work. Your community is going to be one of the biggest factors to propel you and your dreams forward—or hold you back. Surround yourself with the people and energies that bring you growth, safety, pure joy, and peace.ConclusionsIt always starts with awareness. Simply being aware of the feelings and thoughts that arise when you yearn for security is the first step toward escaping its clutches. Then, you can let go and let life unfold before you. You’ll find that insecurity won’t destroy you. It liberates you.Stop overthinking everything and take each day as it comes.Give your best every day to be present with yourself and others.You may sometimes falter but keeping this in mind is essential.Perfection is the enemy of progress.

Many millions of people around the world participated on the 22nd of April Earth Day in support of environmental protection. Uppermost in the minds of many is climate change – and the need to rapidly cut global greenhouse gas emissions.The theme of Earth Day 2023 has not changed and revives the concept expressed last year: investing in our planet. Given the great success of last year's edition, in fact, the organization has decided to replicate it. "In 2023 we must come together again in a partnership for the planet. Businesses, governments, and civil society have the same responsibility to act against the climate crisis and ignite the spark to accelerate change toward a green, prosperous and equitable future. We must unite in our fight for the green revolution and the health of future generations. Now is the time to invest in our planet," explains Earthday.org President Kathleen Rogers. This Earth Day, we want to examine some of the most impactful, immediate changes you can make today to help lower your emissions.1. Fewer flightsAviation contributes to about 2% of overall global emissions and this figure is increasing more than any other form of transport. Flying is also highly unequal: in the UK, 70% of all flights are taken by just 15% of the population.While emissions from aviation overall are relatively small, each flight emits a lot of greenhouse gases. A return flight from London to New York, for example, emits almost a tonne of CO2, and the climate impact is even larger due to other non-CO2 emissions from aircraft.Changing the way some aircraft are powered could also soon be within reach. Smaller planes could soon fly on electric engines. But making air travel more sustainable is not simple. Aircraft are some of the most complex vehicles out there, but the biggest problem for electrifying them is the battery weight.If you tried to fully electrify a 737 with today’s batteries, you would have to take out all the passengers and cargo and fill that space with batteries just to fly for under an hour.Jet fuel can hold about 50 times more energy compared to batteries per unit mass. So, you can have 1 pound of jet fuel or 50 pounds of batteries. To close that gap, we need to either make lithium-ion batteries lighter or develop new batteries that hold more energy. New batteries are being developed, but they aren’t yet ready for aircraft. Larger planes could switch to alternative fuels such as biofuels, synthetic fuels made from renewable energy, or, in the very long term, hydrogen.We can still see the world taking fewer planes: flying abroad 15 to 20 times over a lifetime or traveling more slowly overland to different places. But we need to get realistic about the impact of weekend city breaks abroad. Why not visit all the incredible places we have closer to home?2. FoodChanging our behaviors around food is the most impactful of all the shifts. And it’s not just about climate change; if you look at biodiversity loss, land use change, fertilizers in the ocean creating dead zones, and the massive extinction and loss of insects due to pesticides, these problems are all driven by food.The study, published in online journal Nature Food, identified that up to 61 percent of greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by wealthy nations turning to plant-based diets. If everyone in the world shifted to a plant-based diet, it would free up 75% of the world's agricultural land for other uses.  Findings, published in the journal Science, were expanded to reveal that without dietary change, global warming will be unstoppable. Sustainable food production systems will help, but widespread adoption of meat consumption reduction is key. Did you know the contribution of food wastage emissions to global warming is almost equivalent to global road transport emissions? See below how reducing your food waste will positively impact the environment. #Recycle #ClimateActionNow #FoodWaste #FAO #FridaysForFuture pic.twitter.com/6liy4jjUcz — #CleanOurStreets | SMI (@SafishaMtaa) February 5, 2022 Another way to make big emissions savings is to avoid food waste, which amounts to 900 million tonnes a year (or 23 million large truckloads a year). Over 30% of food is lost or wasted each year. This number is even more striking, given the large number of hungry people in the world. Wasted food is not only inefficient, it’s a social justice issue.   Visualizza questo post su Instagram  Un post condiviso da Climifi (@climifi) 3. TransportMany people have become accustomed to owning a car and for some, their vehicle is essential either for work or because they are disabled or live in a remote area.But car ownership is driving huge emissions, the research shows. Globally, transport is responsible for about a quarter of overall greenhouse gas emissions, and more than two-thirds of this comes from the engines of road vehicles.If you have a car, simply cutting down on how much you use it can be a great first step to reducing your emissions. In many places, the majority of car journeys are only for relatively short distances, and walking or biking (read also this article about multimodal mobility) are great alternatives that can also help keep you healthy.An awesome idea is to get an electric skateboard to live the city with much more ease without harming the planet ?   Visualizza questo post su Instagram  Un post condiviso da LINKY (@linkyinnovation) 4. HousingHeating homes is one of the main sources of emissions, especially in countries where the predominant source of heating is burning fossil fuels. In the EU, heating accounts for 63% of household energy consumption.  In the US around half of homes are heated using gas. That needs to change drastically if we are to limit global warming.Is your housing affecting the environment? This is a question every citizen should ask of their situation in the midst of joint crises.Fortunately, the potential to innovate green homesteads is increasing all the time. With the integration of smart technology in cities, material and construction innovations, and the declining cost of renewable energies, the means to improve housing sustainability are rapidly expanding.Of course, it is great to always turn off appliances, and be mindful about how we consume energy in our homes. The greenest (and cheapest) kWh is the one we don’t spend! But to make the most impact possible, focus should be on the changes that make a big difference, not on a lot of small actions that have low impact. It is better to hang dry your clothes than using the tumble dryer, but if you leave your phone charger plugged in it really won’t make a big difference.To-do’s: Switch to green electricity If possible, electrify your heating or check what other renewable energy sources are available where you live (geothermal energy?) Electrify your water boiler! Wild cards: Consider putting solar cells on your roof Insulate the house Get an air-pump (reduces energy consumption) Housing is one of the biggest draws on resources and energy, especially within the US. Mitigating the effects of housing on the environment in these circumstances requires smart and ethical housing decisions. Start by assessing the carbon footprint of your home, then take these considerations into account when looking for a new place to live. We can get to a more sustainable world, but we will need to start one house at a time.5. FinanceDespite more attention to the rapidly changing climate, many people still don’t think about how their financial decisions directly impact climate change. And why would you? It’s hard enough to earn money and determine how, when, and where to spend or invest it. Adding another variable into the mix can complicate that and make those decisions even more difficult. Nevertheless, it’s essential to understand how your financial decisions can affect climate change.Many banks are well-documented financiers of the climate crisis, providing trillions of dollars to fossil fuel extraction. There are a rising number of alternative banks marketing themselves as ethical and funders of solutions, while alternatives to banks, such as credit unions or building societies, are also often less likely to be funding fossil fuels due to the way they invest.6. FashionThe clothing and textiles industry accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions than international aviation and shipping combined and the rise of fast, disposable fashion is accelerating that trend.Each year more than 100 billion items of clothing are produced globally, with 65% of these ending up in landfill within 12 months.How can we make our wardrobe more sustainable? You could start by buying your clothes second-hand, in thrift shops, or restricting purchases to three items a year – ideally, ones that are durable and will last. These clothes might be more expensive, but it is worth considering the cost per wear. If it will last three times as long but is only double the price, that’s a financial saving over the lifetime of the item and better for the environment too. If you’ve made it this far, you’re likely to be serious about reducing your carbon footprint and making a positive change for the future of our planet. Climate change is an issue that requires urgent action and systemic changes to the way that society currently functions.It is everyone’s responsibility, including individuals and the private sector, to make the world a cleaner and more environmentally sustainable place.Do you have any sustainable tips you want to share? leave a comment below ?How do you do your bit?   Visualizza questo post su Instagram  Un post condiviso da Sustainable Waste Company | Matter (@matter_waste)

Just a few days after COP27 concluded with the urgent appeal for immediate climate action, many companies have now committed to net zero pledges to decarbonize their businesses. Yet participation in a day that is all about promoting impulse purchases, thereby increasing overconsumption, stands in stark contrast to our climate reality. The necessary shift towards a sustainable future requires a rethinking of our consumerist lifestyle, moving our focus from acquiring unlimited amounts of low-quality products, toward mindful consumption of high-quality, fair, and environmentally friendly produced products – in short, the polar opposite of what Black Friday stands for.How did Black Friday start?Black Friday historically is the name of the Friday after Thanksgiving to describe the crowds and traffic congestion accompanying the start of America’s Christmas shopping season. It has been around for decades and grew into a worldwide madness. Sale prices have never been so low as on Black Friday. Of which you can question; how fair are these prices? Can it actually be produced for the prices it is sold? How many extra carbon dioxide emissions are generated due to the travel miles to deliver the crazy amount of packages? And so on… In our eyes, Black Friday is a black day in consumer society.Don’t get us wrong, we support the Christmas thought of giving to show gratitude, love, and peace. However, the commercial thought and the urge to buy cheap stuff we don’t need goes way beyond our comprehension. If you think about it, isn’t it insane?At Linky Innovation this is a very good reason to not participate in the madness of Black Friday (and other commercial days).Why is Black Friday bad for the environment?Similar to fast fashion, Black Friday promotes mass consumerism and encourages people to buy products purely because they’re on sale with little regard for how often they will be used.Most products will be used a handful of times and then discarded – with the majority ending up in a landfill.Whatsmore, millions of tonnes of resources required to manufacture and ship these products are used up during the black Friday sales.And with return shipping for products no longer wanted, even more emissions from transporting these goods occur.Logistics company Optoro found that returning items bought during the sales used over 1.2 billion gallons of diesel and emits 12 million metric tonnes of CO2. That was just in the US alone. Black Friday waste facts and statistics 80% of products bought at Black Friday end up in landfill, are incinerated or are recycled poorly – source Only 29% of electronic waste caused by Black Friday is recycled This year’s (2022) Black Friday is expected to produce 429,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from product deliveries alone – that’s the same as 435 return flights from London to New York! 1.4 million tonnes of e-waste is sent to landfills every year UK shoppers spent £4.8 billion in last year’s Black Friday but this is expected to drop by 18% in 2022 due to the cost of living crisis This is our Earth, and we encourage customers to shop consciously with brands that offer products and garments that will not only last but have been made ethically and sustainably. As a consumer, you choose who you support when you hand your money over to businesses… just be sure it’s the right business you choose to support.You hold the power as a consumer in the growth of companies. The more sales they generate, the larger they grow but do they do the right thing as they grow? Do workers suffer as they grow? Do they produce excess products that pollute the planet as they grow?https://twitter.com/Fash_Rev/status/1458812323955675142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1458812323955675142%7Ctwgr%5Ea6c8deafa421c8e50ddf46a86c8755f639dc24bc%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgoodonyou.eco%2Fissues-with-black-friday%2FCheck out a few examples of 5 Brands, like Patagonia and REI, that rejected the usual tactics of Black Friday - they represent a great source of inspiration for us.https://youtu.be/UAZ8Ts9CC6IWHY WE DON'T DO BLACK FRIDAYWe fully support offering small discounts at this time of year for consumers who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford our product. We know this as a fact, as we have a small base of customers that tell us they love our products but can only afford to buy them when we offer discounts. This is totally understandable and we fully support customers that need our products but don’t necessarily have the budget. We’re grateful for their support and custom.Linky may be priced higher than other companies because our workers are paid a good wage and we design our skateboards in-house. For an electric skateboard, we are priced extremely fairly, because we want our customers to have sustainable, quality products at fair prices. Our designs are our own and are not mass-produced.Linky is designed to last.Time, love, research, and care go into our product. We only ever produce our skateboards in quantities we know will sell. There is never any waste or excess and it's something we're proud of as a company. We offer our customers quality and a skateboard that we know will last them for years to come and our prices reflect this. We got you.As a business, we appreciate holiday shopping, but we feel the excess around Black Friday has shifted the focus from quality to quantity - and that's simply not what we're about.That's why we're not offering Black Friday sales.It doesn't reflect who we are as a brand and diminishes the effort each person places into handcrafting every single item. By offering crazy discounts for sales, we would be devaluing the effort our team put in daily.Our goal is - and always will be - to offer people a sustainable means of transportation, helping the reduction of CO2 emissions.So as ever, if you share our sentiments, your support is forever appreciated and our product will be available on our online store.But we won't pressure you into making a decision - today, Friday, or ever. 

Sometimes it feels like there is a primal instinct that is satisfied from cycling. Or maybe it's just a connection to that instinct. It's the challenge, the exertion, the risk, pushing oneself out of the comfort zone in a physical way. Stirring and satisfying one's sense of adventure at the same time.Taking a trip to the grocery requires riding among the 5000 lb poison spewing beasts. I must rely on my skill, conditioning, and adaptability to survive. When I return home with the groceries my body has a memory of physical exertion, as if I had been on the hunt. This feels good. It is a feeling from the body that things are as they should be.There is also the efficiency of the bicycle that appears to humans. If humans come up with a good thing, they try to make it better. When the safety bicycle (chain drive and pneumatic tires) appeared over one hundred years it was and remains the most efficient machine of personal transportation for humans in their entire history. It is so efficient that once the bicycle is purchased, it can be operated and maintained year after year for pennies. Over a long period of time that can add up to a significant savings of money. This would be a good enough reason in itself for some to like cycling so much.Here at Linky Innovation, we put everything we have into making the highest quality bike products on the market so that you can get maximum enjoyment out of this wonderful activity. Here’s a list of 5 reasons why we love cycling so much.It's a meditation.You can go, focus on a rhythm, clear your mind, and let your thoughts wander. Overcome challenges along the way, get up that hill, and make it another 10km. You can find new places, see and appreciate things you wouldn't normally. It's also good exercise, gets me some fresh air and sunlight. It's so many things.  Freedom.I get an awesome sense of freedom when I’m flying down hills or pushing myself and my bike up the next one. I like going fast on the descent (plenty of those here in Marche). Being a competitive person, I like beating my past self and looking at all the data on Strava in the process. It's good exercise too (lost around 13 lbs since I started just over a year ago). There's a good mix of short (get up this hill), medium (go for a long ride), and long-term (train for an organized ride) goals involved. And it's great to clear your mind. Also, it destroys my anxiety. If I get anxious, I just hop on my bike and ride until I’m exhausted. By the time I get home, my anxiety is gone.It’s Great Exercise.Cycling is amazing for those looking for a form of cardio or aerobic exercise other than running. You will burn plenty of calories just riding a few miles to the supermarket. You’ll burn many more if you get out on some trails. It’s also much easier on your joints than running.It’s good for the environment.Cycling is amazing not just for ourselves, but it benefits our environment as well. When you opt for your bike over your car, you are keeping harmful pollution and gas-related emissions out of the environment.Gives new perspectives.Because of my passion for photography, I used to hike outdoors to find the right scene and angles. I was used to this way of exploring by myself slowly, but after I started cycling, I loved this new way of exploring the world. I can enjoy the rush of cycling and see the beauty of the vast landscape at the same time, rather than just the details.Cycling is the closest thing you can get to flying without leaving the ground. As a matter of fact, the mechanics of actual flying/piloting an airplane isn't even nearly as fun as cycling a nice bike.I'll end with this quote from John Forester: People like to travel: that is why the grass is greener over thefence. We are walkers --- our natural means of travel is to put one foot infront of the other. The bicycle seduces our basic nature by making walkingexciting. It lets us take 10-foot strides at 160 paces a minute. That's 20 miles an hour, instead of 4 or 5... It is not only how fast you go --- cars arefaster and jet planes faster still. But jet-plane travel is frustrating boredom--- at least the car gives the pictorial illusion of travel. Cycling does it all:  you have the complete satisfaction of arriving because your mind has chosen the path and steered you over it; your eyes have seen it; your muscles have felt it; your breathing, circulatory and digestive systems have all done theirnatural functions better than ever, and every part of your being knows you havetraveled and arrived. What about you? Why do you ride? We'd love to hear your opinion about it :) Let us know in the comment section below!  

I benefici della bicicletta sono troppo numerosi per essere elencati, ma probabilmente ci sono alcuni aspetti a cui non avete mai pensato prima. Sappiamo tutti che andare in bicicletta fa bene alla salute fisica, ma che dire della salute mentale?Come hanno rivelato gli studi condotti nel corso degli anni, è sempre esistito un legame tra l'esercizio fisico e il miglioramento dell'umore, ma questo va oltre il semplice sentirci di buon umore. Sempre più ricerche dimostrano che esiste un chiaro legame tra l'esercizio fisico (in particolare quello all'aria aperta) e la lotta contro la depressione, l'ansia e lo stress.Anche se all'inizio molte persone saltano su una bicicletta per perdere peso o per abbracciare uno stile di vita attivo e più green, un effetto collaterale molto prezioso è una vita più felice e stabile.Sono stati tempi duri per gran parte del mondo negli ultimi 18 mesi. Le statistiche governative hanno dimostrato che il numero di adulti di età superiore ai 18 anni che soffrono di disagio psicologico è aumentato di quasi un terzo dopo la prima serrata nazionale del marzo 2020. L'NHS raccomanda almeno due ore di esercizio fisico alla settimana per combattere lo stress.Secondo il Dipartimento dei Trasporti, il numero di persone che vanno in bicicletta è aumentato del 19% nel 2020. Sempre più persone hanno deciso di salire in sella piuttosto che usare i mezzi pubblici per mantenersi attive, ma quanto può effettivamente fare la bicicletta per la nostra salute mentale? 1. Andare in bici aumenta la memoria e la capacità di ragionamento Tutti gli esercizi aerobici possono essere utili per il cervello, in quanto contribuiscono a mantenere l'afflusso di sangue all'organo, fornendogli un apporto di sostanze nutritive e ossigeno. Le persone che fanno esercizio fisico regolarmente spesso scoprono che la loro capacità di giudizio, di apprendimento e di pensiero rimane acuta anche con l'avanzare dell'età. Ma non sono solo gli anziani a beneficiare di questo legame tra esercizio fisico e funzioni cerebrali: anche i giovani sostengono che una corsa in bicicletta può aiutare i loro processi mentali. Il ciclismo e l'attività fisica aumentano immediatamente i livelli cerebrali di dopamina, noradrenalina e serotonina, tutti elementi che influenzano la concentrazione e l'attenzione. 2. Ci fa stare bene Un'attività fisica regolare aiuta a combattere lo stress, la depressione e l'ansia. Andare al lavoro in bicicletta, però, è uno dei modi migliori per migliorare il proprio benessere quotidiano. Secondo uno studio condotto in diverse città europee, l'uso della bicicletta per spostarsi può aiutare a ridurre lo stress percepito e a combattere la sensazione di solitudine. La ricerca, condotta da ISGlobal, ha messo a confronto diversi modi di spostarsi, come camminare, prendere l'auto o i mezzi pubblici, e ha dimostrato che la bicicletta è il mezzo di trasporto numero uno per migliorare il proprio benessere.La ricerca è supportata da un precedente studio sui pendolari condotto dall'Università dell'East Anglia nel 2014. Il rapporto concludeva che coloro che si recano al lavoro in bicicletta o a piedi erano meno stressati e riuscivano a concentrarsi meglio rispetto a coloro che si spostavano in auto. Lo stesso studio ha anche rilevato che i pendolari che sono passati dalle quattro alle due ruote hanno dichiarato di sentirsi più felici - e chi non vuole rallegrare la propria giornata? 3. Più Energia Può sembrare non aver senso, ma l'esercizio fisico è uno dei modi migliori per ottenere più energia. Certo, durante la corsa si consuma energia fisica, ma il tempo trascorso con la frequenza cardiaca elevata vi darà una carica di energia. 4. Aumenta l’Autostima Non c'è sensazione migliore che affrontare una salita difficile e sapere che è solo la propria forza fisica e mentale a portarci in cima. Vi sentirete forti e potenti e questo comincerà a farsi strada anche negli altri aspetti della vostra vita. Vi sentirete meglio con il vostro aspetto e avrete un senso di realizzazione quando raggiungerete e supererete gli obiettivi che vi siete prefissati. 5. Migliora la qualità del sonno È dimostrato che l'esercizio fisico aiuta a regolare il sonno. Uno dei motivi potrebbe essere l'effetto di riscaldamento corporeo dell'esercizio fisico e del ciclismo in particolare. L'aumento della temperatura, seguito dal calo post-corsa, favorisce il prendere sonno diminuendo l'eccitazione, l'ansia e lo stress. 6. Rende più creativi Molti creativi come scrittori, musicisti e artisti usano l'esercizio fisico come mezzo per superare i blocchi mentali. So che alcune delle mie idee migliori mi sono venute mentre ero in bicicletta! Il movimento uniforme della bicicletta ha un effetto rilassante sul cervello, stabilizzando le funzioni fisiche e mentali. Uno studio recente ha dimostrato che dopo soli 30 minuti di bicicletta, i partecipanti hanno ottenuto punteggi più alti nei test di memoria, ragionamento e pianificazione. Quindi, invece di sbattere la testa sulla scrivania o scorrere Facebook, provate a fare una pedalata.A differenza del trascinarsi in palestra, l'uso della bicicletta può essere inserito nella routine quotidiana senza stravolgerla. Coloro che sostituiscono i loro noiosi spostamenti in bicicletta per andare e tornare dal lavoro hanno un rischio molto più basso di sentirsi stressati, e alcune ricerche suggeriscono che rendere l'esercizio fisico regolare parte del proprio stile di vita - come integrarlo in un hobby o in una routine quotidiana - può migliorare l'umore e il benessere generale.Perché non salire sulla bicicletta oggi e vedere se aiuta il vostro umore?E, se siete in sella, assicuratevi di inviarci una foto per raccontarci la vostra esperienza.

Gli skateboard elettrici sono già molto divertenti da guidare. Niente è più divertente del carving su una strada vuota.Ma coloro che stanno solo usando le loro tavole senza alcun tipo di componenti aggiuntivi, devono ancora sbloccare il loro pieno potenziale.Investire in alcuni accessori per lo skateboard elettrico potrebbe migliorare drasticamente la tua esperienza di guida, o renderla ancora più piacevole.Non stiamo parlando solo della solita attrezzatura, ad esempio un casco, pads, zaino, ecc. Ci sono alcuni gadget seriamente cool là fuori per skateboard elettrici che è necessario provare.Questo articolo è una mostra di alcuni dei migliori accessori per skateboard elettrici. Alcune delle scelte sono un po' sciocche e solo divertenti da usare; la maggior parte sono oggetti essenziali che ogni rider dovrebbe avere.Vediamo quali sono. Risposte Veloci Ecco una breve lista dei migliori e più utili accessori per lo skateboard elettrico che troverete in questo articolo: Il tuo zaino da skateboard elettrico - GoRide Commuter Le migliori ruote All-Terrain - Atom All-Terrain Skateboard Wheels Una solida macchina fotografica d'azione - GoPro HERO9 Giacca imbottita - Lazy Rolling Armored Jacket Giacca da pioggia leggera - Linky Rain Shell Un casco robusto - MONATA Skateboard Helmet Ginocchiere e gomitiere - K2 Performance Pad Set Detergente per nastro adesivo - Black Diamond Grip Tape Cleaner Un paio di occhiali da sole fighi - Hawkers Nota che tutto quanto sopra funzionerà con quasi tutte le tavole che potresti avere. Cose come batterie di ricambio, ganci per il ponte, sostituzioni di cinture e caricatori veloci dovranno essere ricercati prima dell'acquisto per assicurarsi che siano compatibili con la tua tavola.Continuate a leggere per altri accessori per skateboard elettrici e altri dettagli. I migliori accessori per skateboard elettrici Zaino Probabilmente l'accessorio più importante che ogni rider di skateboard elettrico può avere: lo zaino.Ogni rider dovrebbe avere un buon zaino. Non serve solo per trasportare tutti gli altri potenziali accessori di questa lista, ma anche altri oggetti come libri, computer portatili, cartelle, chiavi, qualsiasi cosa.I pendolari su longboard e gli studenti universitari, in particolare, hanno bisogno di avere un buon zaino.Il perfetto zaino da longboard elettrico avrà quanto segue: Abbastanza spazio per contenere ciò che porti, ma non troppo grande da essere ingombrante. Buona resistenza agli elementi. La capacità di ospitare il tuo longboard, sia all'interno che all'esterno tramite cinghie. Se hai già un Linky, ti consigliamo di prendere lo zaino Linky Daily Traveler, che è specificamente progettato per contenere il longboard elettrico pieghevole.Altrimenti, qualsiasi zaino da GoRide, Slick Revolution, o AlterBags andranno bene. Action Camera L'articolo #2 che ogni proprietario di skateboard elettrico dovrebbe avere è una buona action camera. Queste sono ottime quando si vuole registrare qualche discesa epica o semplicemente si vuole conservare un giro memorabile.Fondamentalmente, le action camera sono importanti perché sono pensate per essere a mani libere. La maggior parte del tempo, dovrai avere le mani libere per bilanciare e girare sulla tavola. A volte, potresti cavartela con una videocamera su un bastone da selfie, ma solo se stai navigando su un terreno facile.L'opzione migliore è mettere la videocamera d'azione sul tuo casco. La maggior parte delle marche rispettabili di videocamere include una sorta di supporto che puoi attaccare a qualsiasi modello; assicurati solo che l'adesivo sia abbastanza appiccicoso.GoPro è il principale produttore di videocamere d'azione, ma ci sono molte altre opzioni. Garmin è un'opzione leggermente più robusta, mentre Akaso è leggermente più economica. Ruote All-Terrain Se vuoi trasformare il tuo skateboard o longboard elettrico in una bestia off-road, avrai assolutamente bisogno di nuove ruote. Questo perché le ruote che la maggior parte delle tavole ha in dotazione sono troppo dure o piccole - sono pensate più per le strade e il cemento.Le ruote All-Terrain sono costruite per affrontare terreni difficili. Sono più grandi, hanno più presa e sono di solito fatte di gomma. Questi tipi di ruote offrono più stabilità e flessibilità quando si tratta di affrontare ostacoli come sporcizia, rocce, radici e altri oggetti in natura.Mentre le ruote all-terrain sono pensate per l'uso fuori strada, possono comunque essere usate in città. Molti che fanno i pendolari al lavoro con un longboard amano la stabilità extra che le ruote più grandi forniscono. Se le loro ruote sono del tipo pneumatico, però, devono essere consapevoli che possono essere forate. Batteria di scorta Le batterie si scaricano sempre quando si è in viaggio. Nonostante il fatto che uno skateboard elettrico diventa comodamente uno skateboard normale quando la batteria è finita, è comunque un po' fastidioso.La batteria media di uno skateboard elettrico dura circa 30 km. Sono circa 2 ore di guida. Questo è abbastanza per alcuni, ma altri potrebbero aver bisogno di più.Quelli che guidano spesso la loro tavola durante il giorno dovrebbero metterne in valigia una di scorta, non si sa mai. Assicurati di comprare una batteria compatibile con la tua tavola. Molto probabilmente sarà della stessa marca.Compra una batteria di ricambio per la tua tavola Linky qui. Caricatore rapido Se sei in difficoltà o semplicemente usi molto il tuo skateboard elettrico, essere in grado di caricare rapidamente le batterie è enorme.Siamo anche onesti: la maggior parte dei caricatori standard che vengono forniti con la tavola non sono così veloci come potrebbero essere.Molte marche di longboard elettrici offrono speciali caricatori veloci a chi ne ha bisogno. Questi sono nettamente migliori nella ricarica. Per esempio, il caricatore veloce di Linky alimenterà la batteria all'85% in soli 30 minuti!È possibile acquistare un caricatore veloce di terze parti. Se lo fai, però, assicurati che la tensione e le specifiche della batteria e del caricatore siano corrette. Usa il caricabatterie sbagliato e potresti compromettere la batteria stessa. Impermeabile Leggero Non si sa mai quando si tratta del tempo. Un momento, potresti essere in giro a cavallo, con il sole e le armi spente; il momento dopo, il cielo si apre e ti piove addosso.È sempre bene mettere in valigia una giacca nel caso in cui inizi a piovere mentre sei in sella. Non dev'essere niente di sofisticato. Infatti, probabilmente è meglio qualcosa di super semplice che si impacchetti il più facilmente possibile.Linky vende una giacca antipioggia molto semplice che può essere compressa in un sacchetto. Con un peso di soli 60 grammi, difficilmente ti accorgerai che è nella tua borsa. Giacca Più Pesante I riders più regolari e/o audaci vorranno qualcosa di un po' più resistente di una sottile giacca da pioggia. Questo è soprattutto per la protezione in caso di caduta.Questo vale soprattutto per riders esperti di downhill che spesso corrono a velocità molto elevate e hanno una maggiore possibilità di incidenti e lesioni gravi.Una giacca di pelle è una scelta classica in quanto fornisce una tonnellata di protezione. Dopo tutto, queste sono state il go-to dei motociclisti praticamente da sempre.Ci sono opzioni più leggere, più economiche e più contemporanee disponibili però. Lazyrolling fa una giacca corazzata che viene pre-equipaggiata con protezioni per spalle, gomiti e schiena. Non si direbbe nemmeno a guardarne uno. Protettore della spina dorsale Se stai percorrendo velocità serie in discesa e sei veramente a rischio di lesioni gravi, probabilmente dovresti investire in una protezione totale.Le protezioni per la spina dorsale, che sono comunemente usate dai piloti di BMX, dagli sciatori e dai ciclisti di montagna, forniscono una protezione extra cruciale a un'area seriamente sensibile. L'imbottitura extra e il supporto possono fare la differenza in caso di un terribile incidente. Casco Parlando di sicurezza, questo è l'accessorio di sicurezza numero 1 per TUTTI gli skateboarder elettrici. Seriamente, non uscire di casa senza.Ci sono molti tipi diversi di caschi da skateboard disponibili in questi giorni. Ognuno è più o meno rivolto a un diverso tipo di rider.I caschi a semiguscio sono quelli che di solito si vedono indossare dagli skater elettrici e dai longboarder. Coprono la fronte e si estendono indietro fino a poco sopra la parte occipitale dove la testa incontra il collo. Questi offrono un buon equilibrio tra protezione e comfort.Quelli che vanno a correre in velocità più elevate e in discesa dovrebbero invece usare un casco integrale. Coprendo tutta la testa dal collo in su, questi caschi proteggeranno il tuo viso in caso di una brutta caduta. Gomitiere e Ginocchiere Tutti noi ricordiamo di essere cresciuti e di averli usati quando abbiamo imparato ad andare in bicicletta o sulla tavola. Ma anche noi adulti a volte potremmo usare delle imbottiture extra.Le ginocchiere e le gomitiere proteggono soprattutto dal raschiamento dopo una caduta. Nel caso di una caduta grave, possono anche prevenire brutte rotture ossee.Quelli che stanno imparando a cavalcare la loro tavola elettrica dovrebbero considerare l'uso di qualche imbottitura all'inizio. Forse vi sentite un po' in imbarazzo per questo? Basta indossare una felpa sopra le imbottiture :)Ci sono altri tipi di imbottiture disponibili che sarebbero utili per le persone che cadono frequentemente dalle loro tavole. Sono disponibili per l'acquisto anche cuscinetti per il sedere, per i polsi e per le cosce. Cinghie Extra Questi non sono tanto un "accessorio da skateboard elettrico" in sé, ma, a prescindere, sono comunque utili da avere.In breve, la cinghia va dal motore alle ruote*. Quando il motore gira, fa girare la cinghia che poi fa girare le ruote. Questo è un sistema di trasmissione elettrica in poche parole.Le cinghie si degradano nel tempo e con l'uso. Alla fine, si romperanno e, a quel punto, la tua tavola non sarà più in grado di funzionare correttamente.L'installazione di una nuova cinghia può essere fatta da soli e non è necessario un aiuto professionale. Guarda il nostro video qui sotto per imparare come cambiare la cinghia su un Linky:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJVsxlBw4Nc*Non tutti gli skateboard elettrici usano una trasmissione a cinghia - alcuni usano una trasmissione a mozzo. Nel caso di questi ultimi, non dovrai preoccuparti di sostituire le cinghie, dato che i mozzi non le usano. Cuscinetti extra Come le cinghie, avere un set extra di cuscinetti sarebbe utile.Con il tempo, i cuscinetti raccolgono ruggine e sporcizia. Così facendo, diventano meno lisci e iniziano a incepparsi, rendendo la tua esperienza di guida molto più sconnessa.Trovare la coppia GIUSTA per il tuo skateboard elettrico significa che funzionerà il più velocemente e agevolmente possibile. Ci sono davvero tonnellate di cuscinetti diversi là fuori - i riders tendono a trovare una marca che gli piace e si attengono ad essa.Fate qualche ricerca, provate diversi cuscinetti e scegliete un produttore che vi piace. Pulitore Grip Tape Un facile accessorio per lo skateboard elettrico che potrebbe sembrare superfluo all'inizio, ma è, in realtà, del tutto inscindibile una volta che lo usi davvero.Essenzialmente non più che un cubo di gomma ruvida, i pulitori di nastro adesivo, noti anche come cubi gommosi, possono seriamente rimuovere quasi tutto ciò che è grintoso dalla tua tavola. Sporcizia, gesso, fango, nessun problema.Si potrebbe usare un asciugamano o una spazzola per pulire la propria tavola, ma questi non sono l'ideale - il nastro è troppo ruvido per ottenere una buona presa.Il pulitore Grip tape è davvero il modo migliore per mantenere la tua tavola come nuova. E fidati di noi: abbiamo visto alcune tavole Linky ben usate che potrebbero DAVVERO usare un po' di questo. Kit di strumenti La maggior parte dei moderni skateboard elettrici sono dotati di una sorta di strumento per regolare la tavola. A volte, gli strumenti sono solo una semplice chiave a L o una brugola.Se hai bisogno di sostituire il tuo, uno strumento a T è una buona scommessa. Sono leggeri, economici e fanno il loro lavoro. Zaino Da Viaggio A volte, hai bisogno di qualcosa di più di uno zaino. Questo è particolarmente vero se hai intenzione di viaggiare con un longboard elettrico o uno skateboard.Una buona alternativa allo zaino sarebbe una sorta di borsone. Avrai un po' più di spazio per trasportare tutti i tuoi accessori e la tua tavola sarà più protetta perché è riposta all'interno della borsa.Personalmente, quando viaggio, di solito ho una sorta di zaino di medie dimensioni da 40L e un borsone più grande. Rende l'esperienza complessiva più facile secondo me.Quando si sceglie una buona borsa, si desidera qualcosa con uno scomparto dedicato per la tavola. Questo assicurerà che rimanga fissata e ridurrà le possibilità che si danneggi durante il viaggio. Alcune borse sono dotate di cinghie interne e spazi extra per un casco. Occhiali da sole Non puoi uscire di casa con il tuo paio preferito, vero?Personalmente, siamo grandi fan di qualsiasi cosa di Hawkers. Sono convenienti e sembrano dannatamente buoni.Inoltre, se non li hai già scoperti, gli occhiali da sole polarizzati sono un cambio di gioco. I cieli sono più blu, gli edifici di vetro non sono così accecanti e il riverbero è praticamente inesistente. Sono fantastici quando si guida o si fa qualcosa di attivo, davvero. Cuffie Bluetooth  Resta a mani libere e investi in un buon paio di cuffie senza fili.Gli auricolari normali funzionano, ma considera qualcosa di più sicuro come un auricolare. Non vuoi che vengano scosse da un urto e che cadano.Scegli sempre una marca di nome. Bose e Sony sono ottimi auricolari per iniziare. Luci  Ti piace guidare il tuo skateboard elettrico di notte? Vuoi ravvivare un po' le cose?Prova alcune luci underglow di Board Blazers! Sono a LED, ricaricabili, sono disponibili in otto colori diversi e sono facili da installare. Monta questi ragazzacci e sembrerai come uscito da Fast and the Furious (o da una discoteca mobile).Attenzione: queste luci sono accese e spente tramite un movimento rotatorio, di cui molti utenti si lamentano. La colla che viene fornita con le luci non è semplicemente abbastanza forte e le luci tendono a cadere. Quindi si potrebbe prendere in considerazione l'utilizzo di un adesivo diverso. Gancio a muro, cremagliera o supporto Non hai voglia di inciampare nella tua tavola? Hai bisogno di qualcosa su cui appenderla quando non viene utilizzata? Ci sono un paio di modi diversi per conservarla: Gancio a muro - Un gancio che si monta al muro e appende la tua tavola in verticale. Può ospitare solo una tavola alla volta. Comprane diversi per mostrare la tua collezione. Scaffale a muro - Di solito ha diversi strati che possono ospitare più tavole. Le tavole sono disposte orizzontalmente in modo che le decalcomanie non siano visibili. Richiede più spazio sul muro per essere montato. Supporto da terra - Non richiede alcun tipo di montaggio o foratura. Basta appoggiare la tua tavola su di esso quando hai finito. Assicurarsi che qualsiasi stand si ottiene è valutato per gestire le dimensioni e il peso del vostro skate. Nota: Linky è progettato per essere riposto piegato. Quando è aperto, si accende automaticamente, scaricando così la batteria. I supporti, le rastrelliere e gli appendiabiti non sono necessari. Gancio da ponte Hai già un buon zaino che vuoi convertire in uno zaino da skateboard elettrico, facilmente?Nessun problema. I ganci Deck sono qui per aiutarti.Questo ingegnoso accessorio per lo skateboard elettrico è semplice: è un gancio di metallo con un paio di cinghie che puoi montare su quasi tutti gli zaini. Quando sei pronto a partire, tutto quello che devi fare è appuntare il longboard sul gancio, e voilà! Come per magia, il longboard è ora appeso al tuo zaino.Certo, un gancio per la tavola non è un vero e proprio sostituto di un buon zaino da skateboard. Ma se sei già impegnato in un'altra borsa e hai bisogno di una soluzione rapida, un gancio per il ponte è una soluzione semplice che fa un buon lavoro.NOTA: Le tavole Linky sono pensate per essere trasportate ripiegate. Non sono progettate per essere trasportate con un gancio. Paracolpi Le protezioni per il bash sono belle da avere se sei generalmente duro con la tua tavola e vuoi mantenerla nelle migliori condizioni possibili. Non sono un accessorio vitale per lo skateboard elettrico, ma quasi tutti i rider possono beneficiarne.Le protezioni Bash si adattano alla parte anteriore e/o posteriore della tavola e la proteggono dai colpi inaspettati. Per esempio, forse hai colpito un pendio un po' troppo ripido o sei uscito da un marciapiede un po' troppo alto. Invece di sbattere il bordo della tavola a terra - e potenzialmente danneggiarla seriamente - il bash guard assorbe il colpo.Chiedi al produttore della tua tavola se fanno un bash guard specifico per la tua tavola. In caso contrario, potresti essere in grado di trovare qualcosa sullo scaffale. Kit di primo soccorso Chiedete a qualsiasi pattinatore serio: gli infortuni sono inevitabili. Graffi, distorsioni, lividi e ossa rotte sono tutti eventi comuni. E anche se non possiamo dirvi ESATTAMENTE cosa bisogna fare nel caso in cui questi infortuni accadano, avrete sicuramente bisogno di qualcosa per rattopparli tutti.È molto facile comprare un kit di primo soccorso preconfezionato. La maggior parte non sono nemmeno così grandi. Di solito sono dotati di bende standard, impacchi, disinfettanti, ecc. A meno che non vi fratturiate seriamente o vi sloghiate qualcosa, questo dovrebbe essere sufficiente, sia per portarvi a casa che all'ospedale.E chi può dire che sarete VOI a farvi male. Un tuo amico potrebbe uscire male e avere bisogno di aiuto in seguito. È qui che entri in gioco tu e il kit di primo soccorso, leggenda. Guanti Oltre a fornire un po' di protezione in più nel caso in cui si venga sballottati dalla tavola, i guanti possono essere usati anche quando si fa carving o si scivola.Il carving, di cui abbiamo parlato molto brevemente nel nostro articolo sulla scelta del longboard giusto, è quando si gira bruscamente per aumentare la velocità. Alcuni rider finiscono per toccare il terreno con le mani se il carving è abbastanza serio.Lo sliding è un po' più intenso e richiede sicuramente di mettere le mani a terra.A meno che tu non abbia intenzione di perdere la pelle mentre fai un grande carve o slide, vorrai un paio di guanti per mantenere le mani intatte.Se hai intenzione di usare i guanti per il carving o lo slide, avrai bisogno di guanti da slide in particolare. Altrimenti, un paio normale dovrebbe mantenere le tue mani protette in caso di caduta. Concludendo Eccoli: i 23 migliori accessori da comprare per il tuo skateboard elettrico! Compra questi e avrai tutto ciò di cui potresti aver bisogno.Abbiamo dimenticato un elemento cruciale? Lascia un commento qui sotto e facci sapere qual è!

In questo articolo, voglio dirvi di più sull'importanza della passione nella nostra azienda.Il nostro background tecnico è nella meccanica automobilistica e nei sistemi di trasmissione. Questo ci ha aiutato a realizzare cinque generazioni consecutive di prototipi funzionali utilizzando materiali di alta qualità e batterie agli ioni di litio. Questo approccio guidato dalla filosofia del miglioramento continuo è qualcosa che permea la nostra azienda in ogni processo e reparto.La passione è uno stato d'animo.Come ha detto Steve Jobs, "L'unico modo per fare un grande lavoro è amare ciò che si fa".Spesso ci sentiamo dire che dobbiamo mettere passione in tutto ciò che facciamo. Passione è una di quelle parole che le persone usano spesso senza capire veramente il significato originale della parola. Per definizione, la passione può essere descritta come "una forte simpatia, desiderio o devozione verso un'attività, un oggetto o un concetto".Le passioni ci danno uno scopo, ma più di questo, ci fanno sentire che abbiamo uno scopo nella nostra vita.Questo è ciò che rende la passione così importante; ci fanno sentire che siamo sulla strada giusta nella vita e ci danno la speranza di un futuro felice ed emozionante.Essere appassionati di qualcosa significa resistere alla tempesta, non importa quanto sia dura.Le persone appassionate sono quasi sempre ambiziose. Vogliono avere voce in capitolo nel campo che amano. Leggono su l'argomento, lo studiano, lo abbracciano e non lo abbandonano mai veramente. È un dono e una maledizione.Negli affari, la passione può guidarti come nessun'altra cosa."La passione è uno di quei fattori intangibili che guidano un imprenditore, lo aiutano a superare i momenti belli e quelli brutti, e alla fine dettano il successo di qualsiasi startup. Se non sei appassionato di quello che stai costruendo, potresti anche fare le valigie subito, perché la tua startup non funzionerà mai". George Deeb (Leggi il resto di questo interessante articolo qui).Nel mondo degli affari, ci sono alti e bassi. Ci sono momenti in cui vi chiederete perché state prendendo questa strada e se diventerà mai quello che volete. È qui che entra in gioco la passione.Il successo non è uno sprint, ma una maratona. E per questo motivo, devi imparare come costruire una motivazione sostenibile per sostenere la tua azione.Ecco alcuni esempi di imprenditori di grande ispirazione che possono farvi capire l'importanza della Passione: Bill Gates, giusto, ha creato Microsoft. Molto prima, però, era un programmatore dilettante che era abbastanza appassionato di computer che in terza media è riuscito a farsi esonerare dalla lezione di matematica per progettare cose come i primi videogiochi. Steve Jobs è un altro esempio perfetto. Per il fondatore della Apple, la semplice frase - "le persone con passione possono cambiare il mondo" - contiene il segreto del successo imprenditoriale. Nel 2015 nel suo famoso discorso alla Stanford University ha detto: "Devi trovare ciò che ami", disse Jobs. "L'unico modo per fare un grande lavoro è amare quello che fai. Se non l'hai ancora trovato, continua a cercare. Non accontentarti. Come in tutte le questioni di cuore, lo saprai quando lo troverai". Yvon Chouinard. Appassionato scalatore, Chouinard comprò una fucina di seconda mano e iniziò a fabbricare la propria attrezzatura. Alla fine ha fondato Patagonia, un produttore di abbigliamento outdoor di fascia alta che ha fatto 600 milioni di dollari di vendite nel 2013. Colonnello Sanders. È l'inventore della ricetta segreta del pollo fritto e il fondatore del Kentucky Fried Chicken, la catena di fast-food KFC. Il colonnello Sanders nel 1952, all'età di 62 anni, dopo essere andato in bancarotta, decise di viaggiare per tutti gli Stati Uniti per vendere la sua ricetta di pollo fritto ai proprietari di ristoranti. Prima di ottenere il suo primo affare, il colonnello Sanders ricevette 1.000 porte in faccia. MILLE! L'importanza della passione per noi.Quando Paolo, Fabio, Giovanni e Cristiano si sono riuniti per fondare Linky Innovation, erano un gruppo di amici sui 30 anni, con la voglia di fare qualcosa a cui tenevano molto.Si divertivano a passare del tempo insieme per realizzare i loro sogni, insieme.Erano spinti dalla loro passione per la tecnologia, le auto elettriche, la sostenibilità, il design e la meccanica.L'idea di creare qualcosa di high-tech, unico al mondo, utile e meticolosamente curato in ogni dettaglio ha dato loro una forza motrice, il carburante per superare tutte le difficoltà e le sfide.Curiosità: Nella nostra regione in Italia, le Marche, abbiamo una parola speciale per descrivere le persone fortemente motivate. La parola che usiamo è "Tignosu", che letteralmente significa essere: testardo, caparbio, dannatamente determinato. In breve, significa porsi un obiettivo e perseguirlo con una tale forza di volontà che niente e nessuno può distoglierti dal tuo obiettivo.Conclusioni: Abbiate il coraggio di seguire la vostra Passione.Lottare per la propria passione significa essere diversi dagli altri.Non tutti hanno il coraggio o l'opportunità di abbracciare la propria passione. Per sopravvivere, la maggior parte di noi preferisce essere pratici piuttosto che appassionati.La passione è tutto. Seguire la tua passione è il segreto per superare le battute d'arresto che tutti gli imprenditori affrontano e costruisce la resistenza contro gli inevitabili oppositori che metteranno in discussione la tua visione.Ti ricordi del colonnello Sanders? Beh, senza dubbio non era uno a cui mancava la "tigna".Ma immagina se si fosse arreso alla 999esima porta chiusa.Beh, se non stai raggiungendo i tuoi obiettivi, molto probabilmente è perché continui ad arrenderti troppo presto.Se non sei tu il primo a credere alle tue idee, nessun altro lo sarà.

The year 2021 has been an unpredictable ride through the pandemic and many more difficulties but also full of happy moments and exciting new collaborations.So now, as we embrace the upcoming year, 2022, let us all be positive and cheery with shining spirits and aspirations for the future.Years come and go but our Linky family grows stronger.Click here to watch the video!

Anyone who has ever lived or spent a long time in the city knows that it can sometimes be a pain to be there. High prices, controlled chaos, constant congestion, high crime. Quite often, these are the issues that actually drive people away - they would rather live in the peaceful suburbs or countryside with their Rav 4s and Nissan Altimas.But the city doesn't have to be so tough guys. Not if you have an electric bike to use (shameless plug)!Having an electric bike in the city means you don't have to worry so much about the heavy stuff e.g. car payments, fuel, or, the absolute worst, parking. Rather, all you need is a power outlet, a little storage, and a healthy dose of enthusiasm.There are of course some caveats to riding around the city with an ebike. As you ride more and faster, safety does become a concern, and bike theft is still a serious issue.This guide is meant to alleviate any fears of riding in the city. Think of it as a mini "Ebike urban lifestyle" guide, complete with tips and tricks to being the best urban cyclist possible.Electric bikes were made for the city.So it's about time we made the cities better for electric bikers.Benefits of urban bikingWe’ve gone over and over the benefits of owning an electric bike in this blog, it seems like a hundred times (read our article on why commuting with an ebike is amazing) but it needs to be repeated…Riding an electric bike can change your life for the better in so many ways.In particular, those living or spending a lot of time in the city stand to gain the most from owning an electric bike.For one thing, electric bikes make getting around the city a helluva lot easier. They’re portable, maneuverable, agile, and a lot less expensive to own than some of the alternatives.One could rely solely upon public transport - e.g. the bus, tram, subway, etc - but then you’ll be a slave to the timetables and routes. A lot of cities these days charge an arm and a leg for monthly public transport passes as well.The other option is owning a car, but in the city, cars often become more inconvenient than useful. Aside from the usual expenses, such as insurance, car owners need to worry about traffic, damages, and, most frustratingly, PARKING. Not every residence in the city offers its own parking and trying to find a spot after work in the center can be maddening, to say the least. Monthly parking passes at special, shared lots can also cost a ridiculous amount.Bike owners don’t have to worry about these sorts of issues though. Parking a bike is so much easier than parking a car and you don’t have to worry so much about bus or metro schedules. With the help of a motor as well, ebike owners can travel long distances in the city without even breaking a sweat.It should go without saying as well that riding an electric bike is much better for the environment as well!Choosing the best electric bike for the cityChoosing which electric bike to ride in the city shouldn’t be an arduous decision - most if not all ebikes will make your life easier there.Certain ebikes will be better for urban cyclists though and certain aspects will be more useful.For example, having a comfortable electric bike, one that is sized correctly for your body type, will definitely pay off as you’re most likely going to be riding a lot. Having a properly-sized seat or comfy saddle cover would also be a plus.Among the different kinds of electric bikes to choose from, many would work very well in the city. Electric road bikes, hybrids, cargo bikes, and foldable electric bikes are all great choices. One could even ride an eMTB (electric mountain bike) around town if they had no other choice.It all comes down to convenience as convenience is the thing you need the most when living in the city. Do you use the subway a lot and plan on taking your bike onboard? Having something portable and easy to carry, like a foldable bike, would be the best choice.Are you a diehard urban cyclist who likes to be in the thick of traffic and ride as fast as possible? In that case, you should buy an electric road bike.Perhaps you actually use your bike for work rather than just getting to work, say as a delivery person? Then you would definitely need a cargo bike and a top-of-the-line one at that.These are all potential things to consider when buying an electric bike for the city.But let’s dive a bit deeper now and look more closely and what makes a good urban ebike.PortabilityIt might depend on which city you’re living in but this might be the biggest thing to consider when buying an ebike.Depending on the size of your flat and how busy local pubic transport usually is (if you use it), you’ll want an appropriately sized bike.If you’re living in a spacious apartment with room to spare and tend not to carry your bike onto the bus or into crowded areas, then you can probably get away with a large fixed-frame bike. Conversely, if you live in a New York-style shoebox and are regularly taking your ebike in out of other closed spaces, a lighter, less cumbersome one might be more appropriate.For the urban cyclist, foldable bikes really are amazing. They can fit them into a host of different spaces, from the trunk of an Uber to underneath a bus seat to a closet in the office, and are just easy to pack around. They aren’t the most maneuverable ebike and can feel weird to ride at first due to their smalls wheels, but for the casual bike rider in the city, they’re a great option.Speed, range, and powerWhen it comes to riding an electric bike in the city, speed may not be the thing to focus on. For one thing, the speed limit for most cities is around 20-25 mph or 32-40 km per hour; most urban ebike riders are going to hit that pretty quick. For another, speed can actually be quite dangerous - ebike riders have an increased chance of serious injury partly due to riding faster.When choosing an electric bike for the city, you need a bike that is just fast enough, rather than as fast as possible. Most ebikes offer enough power to do just that - they’ll get you across town and up most hills without faltering.If on the other hand you live in a very hilly city or need to bike long distances, you might actually need an ebike with a more powerful motor and a larger battery.What you should be paying attention to instead of speed is range. Running out of battery power when out and about, whilst not the end of the world, is very inconvenient. You never know either when the next charge will be (always do so at the office).Prioritize battery capacity and range over speed. Understand how your ebike works so you can get the most out of the battery and plan your route if a charging station is needed. Try to buy an ebike that offers a range of at least 50 miles of range and has perhaps a removable battery as well. Having the latter will make charging your ebike much easier.FeaturesWith so much going on, city life can be demanding. It’s no wonder then that most innovation comes from it - people are always looking for new ways to make their lives easier.Ebikes are no exception to this rule as each year new features are being developed to help urban cyclists. And not just improvements on preexisting parts, like bigger batteries and more powerful motors, but completely new ideas.Most ebikes incorporate by now incorporate some kind of computer, which is used to collect riding data and regulate the bike itself. Some have more powerful computers than others.Some ebikes have increased security measures in the form of an internal GPS or locking system. Both are great for those living in rough areas.Others are even pushing the idea of foldable to the next level with new, futuristic designs (see BMW’s here).But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. (The future and self-driving ebikes are still a ways away.)When looking for a good urban ebike, stop to think about these additional features. Being able to sync your bike to an app or track it using GPS may not necessarily be crucial, but depending on what your own needs are, they can still be useful.Getting started - things to remember when riding in the cityOnce you start to really embrace the ebike life and incorporate it into your everyday life, things start to change (for the better). Parking is less of a hassle, bills start disappearing, and traffic becomes observed rather than suffered through.But it’s not such an easy transition that you can just start using an electric bike and everything falls into place. (If that were the case, there would certainly more owners out there!) There are some things that you should be conscious of and actively work on, the most important being… Don’t solely rely on your electric bike - use a combination of it and public transport. Take the latter when it’s more convenient (usually for long distances) and then the former in between stops. This is the best and sometimes fastest way to get around. Keep the level of pedal-assist in mind. It’s easy to keep the bike in high-assistance mode, but using the motorless will allow you to get a good workout on your ebike more often. Study your routes - either for commuting or regular errands - beforehand. Knowing where you’re going will reduce stress and sometimes be safer. Find the charging stations beforehand. The battery is your bike’s Achilles heel. Make sure you know when and where to charge it. Consider carrying a second replacement battery with you just in case. Try to find parking on ground-level and somewhere indoors. Electric bikes are heavy - don’t underestimate how exhausting and demoralizing it can be to carry them up and down the stairs. You don’t need spandex but there are a few mandatory clothing items. Have a packable rain jacket stashed away just in case the weather turns. Avoid billowing garments or accessories. Pant wearers should also remember to roll up the pant leg on the chain side. Carrying stuff - backpacks are your best friendsUnlike car owners, bikers do not have a lot of options when it comes to carrying things. They are, after all, working with a finite amount of space. Unless you have a mega cargo bike or a large rack(s) strapped to the back of the bike, you’re going to need a nice, spacious backpack to survive in the city.A good bike backpack is not necessarily spacious either (try riding with a 65-liter backpack on your back and keep stable). Rather, the best backpacks for urban biking are sleek, ergonomic, and rugged: sleek to increase aerodynamics, ergonomic so you can pack more, and rugged to handle the elements.Most of the major outdoor backpack brands make good bicycle bags, such as Osprey, REI, and Patagonia. Thule is also a well-regarded brand that specializes in bags for cyclists.If you need a serious amount of space beyond what a backpack provides, consider investing in a mountable basket, some panniers, or even a trailer. Having these should be enough to handle larger missions like grocery shopping. People who frequently porter things, such as deliverymen, should consider investing in a specialized cargo bike instead, which generally offers the most packing space possible.Safety - city biking rulesThe key to using your electric bike in the city and not ending up roadkill is awareness: awareness of the road, the rules, and, most crucially, other drivers. As mentioned before, speed often kills. And it’s not necessarily that the biker is going fast and they lose control; rather the motorists aren’t expecting them to be traveling at such high speeds. They then misjudge a turn, an intersection, etc, and accidents occur.To avoid becoming a fatality, you must be aware at all times and do your best to make others aware of your presence. Use hand signs, look at the drivers, communicate as best you can. Doing so will make you much less likely to get in a crash.Consider the following: Know the class of your bike. Class 1 and 2 bikes can remain in dedicated bike lanes. Class 3 bikes need to stay on the road because they travel at higher speeds. Classes are irrelevant in Europe - all ebike motors are limited to 25 kms an hour. Riding on sidewalks is usually frowned upon if not illegal. Make sure the lights and reflectors on your bike are working. Maximize visibility while riding. When riding your electric bike in traffic, stay in the slow lane and respect the rules of the road. Act as you would while driving: don’t weave between traffic, don’t run red lights, and don’t forget to indicate. Respect the other motorists. Riding is cool but no one likes an arrogant bike owner. Don’t be distracted by your phone or the ebike screen. There’s enough going on around as it is. And finally, ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET. Make sure you’re locking your bike up!Every urbanite has a story or knows someone with one...One day they leave their bike outside unlocked. Perhaps they’re feeling a bit more comfortable than usual, perhaps locking it just slipped their mind. Completely unaware and in a state of complete bliss they walk away only to return the next day to great horror. Their bike is gone without a trace.As we’re all aware by now, cities are not always the safest places to be. Most crime, including bicycle theft, happens in denser urban areas. Each year, over 2 million bikes are stolen in the US and 4 million in Europe, which is a staggering amount! As ebikes become more and more popular, thieves are targeting them more and more, drawn by those expensive electronics and motors.Ebike owners need to be extra cautious when living and getting around the city. That means investing in a good bike lock and knowing where to lock your bike up.Always remember the following: Stick to u-locks. Though bulky, these are among the strongest kinds available and are relatively light. Always lock your bike to a solid object and not something that can be broken or cut. Lock your bike up at the frame, never the wheel. A thief can detach the two and then carry the bike away. Remove your ebike battery and screen before walking away. Try and lock the bike up somewhere inside and secure, away from sight. For more tips, read our post about protecting your bike from thieves here.Biking around the city with your familyFor those living in the city with the full package (kids, a partner, perhaps a housepet) riding in the city can be a unique challenge. You not only need to keep yourself safe but an eye on everyone else.Until the kids are ready to ride a bike themselves, you’ll need to mount a child seat on your bike, use a special trailer, or invest in a cargo ebike. A lot of urban bikers prefer trailers because they’re easier to maneuver with, especially with an ebike motor helping out, and offer a bit more protection for the child.Small dogs and pets can also ride around in a trailer if you want to bring them along. Not much else is cuter than seeing a puppy in the backseat either :)Once your kids get a little older, they’ll obviously start to ride bikes on their own. Not every child can or ought to start riding an ebike immediately though. Consider buying a regular bike rather than an ebike for young children and let them learn how to ride first that way. Since you, the adult, will be the only one with a motor, you can also ride quickly should they get out of hand.When the child is ready and able to ride an electric bike*, then look into buying one for them. Buy something lighter, less powerful, and cheaper first so they can get a handle. Upgrade when you feel they are ready.Once your biker crew is together, all that’s left is to have fun! Plan your family bike ride ahead of time (very important), stick to the bike lanes, and ride as a group. Try positioning yourselves so the children are in the middle and the parents are on the outside. That way, the kids will be less exposed and less likely to wander away.* Some countries, such as the UK, actually require children to be a minimum age to ride electric bikes (14 years). In the USA, the rules vary by state (for example the minimum age is 16). Study the local laws first before buying an electric bike for children. Maintaining your ebikeWhen it comes to maintenance, ebikes, and regular bikes are not so different. Sure, there’s a few extra bells and whistles that you’ll probably need a specialist to look at but most of the time you’ll just need to worry about the usual stuff: Keeping your bike tires filled with air. Making sure the chain is properly lubed and oiled up. Checking the brakes to make sure they work. Beyond these, the only other parts you need to worry about are the bike battery and motor. Luckily, neither of these suffer from serious breakage very often. If and when they do fail, it’s best to take your ride to a repair shop that specializes in electric bikes.It should be said that an ebike battery needs to be treated like any other modern battery, that is in a way that makes it last as long as possible. Charge your battery when you can but, for god’s sake, DON’T leave it charging forever (this essentially cripples the battery and limits the amount it can hold long-term). Limit how much you use the pedal-assist and ride using eco mode when possible. Finding the right pedal cadence too will actually charge the battery while you’re riding it.Conclusion - have any city electric biking tips of your own?Are you an urban electric bike owner as well? Do you have any tips on surviving and riding in the city? Let us know in the comment section!Hope you guys have enjoyed this article and are ready to hit the streets! Seriously, once you’ve nailed the lifestyle, having an electric bike in the city is an amazing experience. Riding around, you just feel more in harmony with the urban landscape and more integrated into the fabric of the city.The ebike life isn’t a bad one everyone - join it now!

We've already covered in-depth why you ought to own an electric bike.In this blog post, we're going to focus on one particular benefit of ebiking that is really hard to ignore: health and fitness. It is a well-known fact that riding a bike is good exercise and that it can lead to a myriad of health benefits, such as improved cardiovascular fitness and a lowered chance of premature death to due ailments.But what about ebikes? Can you get fit on an electric bike as well even though they have a motor to help you out?The good news is that yes, riding an electric bike is still good exercise despite the fact that they are assisting you.To get the most out of your ebike though and get the best workout possible, you will need to ride a certain way and adopt a certain lifestyle. It's nothing radical but with a few changes of habit, you can get fit with an electric bike and start to lose weight.Let's dive into the health benefits of electric bike riding and how best to exercise with them right now.Getting fit riding an electric bikeThere are a TON of proven health benefits associated with regular bike riding. We’re going to focus on the biggest one right now: heart health.Cardiovascular health improves greatly with regular bike use. In one study, participants demonstrated increased respiratory function and efficiency after only four weeks of consistent riding. This test was conducted using ebikes as well and not just regular ones.In the long term, regular riding and increased cardio result in a generally improved quality of life as well. People who ride regularly live longer, are less susceptible to diseases - such as cancer - and have an overall lower mortality rate.Because electric bicycles are heavier than regular bikes, they also require a bit of core strength to ride. Riding an electric bike properly requires more stability than usual (otherwise the sensors get confused), and keeping these things steady can be a bit of an ab workout!Biking 30-45 minutes per day seems to be the sweet spot and the amount that allows people to reap the most health benefits. Whether or not these minutes are clocked on the way to work, the grocery store, or during a workout sesh doesn’t really matter. Most health professionals recommend just getting out there and being more active overall. Overly sedentary lifestyles are the real killers in this modern world.Does riding an electric bike help you lose weight?That’s the big question for most people interested in buying an electric bike. Some are in it for the sake of convenience but a huge number of people just want to look better in their birthday suits.So how much weight can you actually lose by riding an electric bike?Well, it depends really on how much you ride, how intensely, and for how long in a single session. Some people estimate that one can burn off around 400-500 calories during a one-hour ride on an electric bike, and, at the moment, that seems to be the rule of thumb.How much weight loss does that 400-500 burn convert to? Well, if you believe in the 3500-calorie standard, riding your ebike an hour each day, 7 days per week, then you stand to lose almost a pound each week, maybe even more if these experts are to be believed.A pound per week can be life-changing! 100 days of riding could result in 100 pounds lost. For a lot of people with unhealthy lifestyles, this could mean the difference between a long, healthy life and a premature death.Those interested in losing weight with an electric bike, will of course need to apply themselves: change their habits, eat well, apply a routine, and stick to a plan. Like any other exercise routine, this may seem daunting, but with the proper mindset, losing weight is absolutely possible, and electric bikes make things so much easier.Electric bike exercise - more convenient, less intenseHere’s the real motivating factor when it comes to using an electric bike for exercising: they’re so damn convenient.Riding an electric bike isn’t the same as riding a regular bike. Thanks to the pedal-assist, ebikes have an easier time handling steep terrain, enable riders to travel longer distances, and accelerate with less effort.Individuals who normally lead a sedentary lifestyle, in particular, stand the most to gain from this extra push.Getting into serious bike riding can be intimidating for some people. It’s not like jumping into a car or a motorbike; you need to be active to ride a bike and willing to put work in. Hills especially can be really demoralizing and I know several people who quit biking just because they didn’t want to deal with them.We have to consider those with injuries and bodily ailments as well. Not everyone can physically ride a bike full tilt, especially the elderly whose deteriorating bones and joints make riding a bike more difficult.But electric biking lowers these hurdles a bit and makes biking riding as a whole more accessible. Those who are concerned that they may not be fit or capable enough to even start now have help. All they need to do is start at a higher pedal-assist mode and then work their way down. In no time, they’ll be riding with little if any assistance from the ebike motor.Except maybe on hills - no one, not even the serious bikers, ever like doing hills.But wait, isn’t riding an electric bike cheating?After reading the above, you might be thinking that, because of the additional assistance, ebikes are not as good as regular bikes when it comes to fitness, that they might be “cheating” in some way.This is not the case: riding an electric bike is NOT cheating, in any way.First, let’s be fair: riding a regular bike will result in more calories burned than an ebike over the same distance. Riding the former will result in about 20-25% more calories burned the latter. This is for obvious reasons: without the pedal-assist, regular riders will have to exert more effort overall than ebike riders, especially on challenging terrain.But that doesn’t mean you can’t ride an electric bike and get fit. Quite the opposite, in fact.A study performed in Europe shows that those who regularly ride ebikes are actually healthier than those who ride regular bikes. This comes down to one big reason: ebikers ride more than regular bikers.Why might someone ride an electric bike more than a regular bike? Because it’s a more reasonable form of transportation. When people are able and willing to ride their ebikes more, they make up for the disparity in caloric burn and end up riding longer.It should also be mentioned that there’s nothing stopping someone from limiting the pedal-assist and only using it sparingly. It doesn’t mean they can’t push themself either - ebike riders can still get their heart rate up and a good workout in. With the extra assistance, it just means that, by the end, they will have done more and gone further.Ebikes are such a convenient form of getting around that they start to become more than just about fitness. They become a means of getting around town, running errands, and commuting to and from work. This last bit, in our and many other experts’ opinions, is crucial when it comes to changing one’s life and really reaping the benefits of ebikes.Get started - exercise with your electric bike while going to workListen, in order to get the most out of your electric bike and to get healthy using it, you need to start using it more. There are SO many ways that you can incorporate bike riding into your everyday life, but the best by far is commuting to work.Commuting to work with an electric bike is a game-changer. Besides being better for the environment and your bank account it is an ENORMOUS opportunity to get some extra exercise.For starters, the average daily commute for bikers is conveniently around 45 minutes in total. Tack on an extra 15 minutes and you’re already on track to losing a pound or more a week (at the outset).Next, consider the amount of time you’re saving. By riding your bike to work, you are essentially doing two things at once: commuting and exercising. By combining the two, you have one less thing to worry about in your daily schedule, which we all know is getting tighter each day.Finally, ebike riders have a lot of control over how much of a workout they actually want to get in. Got a big meeting at the office and don’t want to arrive at work drenched in sweat? Use the pedal-assist to its maximum and cruise in! Feel like your fitness needs improving? Hit a couple of extra hills on the way to work and try climbing them without your trusty motor this time.More and more people are opting to take their ebike to work rather than a car. The number of ebike users is predicted to rise from 200 million to 300 million, according to this report, and we aren’t surprised. Once you start exercising with an electric bike, the ride to work seems a lot less irritating. In fact, you might actually find that you’ll enjoy it more.Not convinced? Read 18 more reasons why biking to work is incredible!The best electric bikes for exerciseThere are a ton of different kinds of ebikes available and, to be frank, it doesn’t really matter which you buy. Most will all offer similar features, at least when it comes to fitness.When buying an electric bike to exercise with, just make sure to consider the following: What kind of riding will you be doing? Depending on what kind of rider you are, you will need a specific kind of ebike. Long-distance riders will want to invest in an electric road or hybrid bike. Commuters can use the same bike but might find their high prices a little too much. A standard city bike or even a foldable bike should be reliable enough for both commuting and exercise. Where will you mostly be riding? People who like to ride on the trails and even those who are particularly hard on their ebike while exercising should get an eMTB (electric mountain bike). Those who intend on traveling with their ebike should invest in a hybrid. Those who stick to the roads and don’t plan on traveling vast distances will have the most options when it comes to choosing a bike. How often will you be riding? This is a big factor when it comes to the costs of an ebike. Cheaper models will be worn down and break much quicker. If you’re exercising with an ebike every day, then expect more wear and tear. Spend at $1500 on a good bike, take good care of it, and it will last for years. Be sure to check out the selection at the official Linky store! All of our bikes are perfectly capable of being used for common fitness routines and feature enough riding modes for all levels of riders.Tips for getting more out of your electric bike workoutReady to take your electric bike fitness routine to the next level? Here are some ways you can more out of your bike and really start to burn those calories.#1 Find the right riding modeUsually, ebikes have a separate set of gears and riding modes that need to be set in conjunction.The gears, like regular bikes, determine the resistance and the rate at which the bike wheel turns. Riding modes dictate how much the motor is going to help you in applying force to the gears (pedaling).Finding the right balance between gears and riding modes is crucial, not just for exercising with an electric bike but also for casual riding. Riding in a gear that is too low on level terrain will result in one just spinning the pedals and going nowhere fast. On the other hand, using a high gear on an incline will require a lot of effort, especially if your riding mode is set to low-assistance or off.Get to know your electric bicycle. Learn about its gears and riding modes and know when to use them. If you’re seriously into fitness you may not use the pedal assistance at all, outside of some difficult terrain.#2 Only use pedal assist on hillsAs just previously stated, many people may not use the motor on an ebike at all. This means you will be using more human power and battery power, resulting in more effort and calories burned.That being said, no one is going to judge you for enlisting a little help on those steep hills. Even the most experienced riders let out a little sigh when they a big incline coming up ahead.Save your strength - use the pedal assist on hills. Not gassing yourself on them means that you’ll have more energy for the rest of the ride. You can burn just as many calories on flat ground.#3 Incorporate riding into your daily routineWe’ve already covered in detail why commuting is one of the best ways to use an ebike in your everyday life, but that’s not the only option. There are dozens of opportunities to ride one in the course of a day - each one is a chance to burn a few extra caloriesHere are some ideas on to use your electric bike more often: Go grocery shopping or run errands - make sure you have a bike basket installed. Pick up the kids from school - you can find many child carriers on Amazon. Go shopping - bike riders actually contribute significantly to local economies because they are less rushed than motorists and tend to browse more. Visit friends and family - this is a good chance to show off your shiny new ebike. You might even get the whole family to ride with you. The more you use your ebike, the healthier you will become. Stay active every chance you get and your quality of life will improve dramatically.#4 Have a regimentLet’s be honest with ourselves for a moment: losing weight isn’t always easy. Gurus and diet pill salesmen promise that you can do so just by taking this one simple supplement or doing this one simple activity.Being fit requires planning and willpower. You need to find a routine that works best for you and then stick to it. It’s not the case that you can just ride your bike every once in a while and then expect to be in peak shape. You need to be consistent; you need to have a regiment.Having a regiment means riding your bike a certain amount each day and each week. Try 30 minutes every, then work your way up to an hour. Eventually, you’ll be riding for hours at a time.Altering your diet is also a proven way to lose weight and improve overall health. Cut out the red meat and have a more vegetable-based diet - you’ll also be doing the environment a favor as well.#5 Consider traveling with your ebike or going on a cycle tourIt happens all the time: we find a routine back home, stick to it, and the moment we go on vacation, it all goes out the window. We gorge ourselves, drink too much, and all those hard-fought pounds are piled back on.Why not keep the routine going by taking a more active holiday?Bike tours are a great way to stay in shape whilst experiencing new and epic locations. They range in intensity and style from relaxed itineraries in enchanting European cities to full-blown expeditions in remote lands. Africa and Central Asia are particularly exciting places that are growing in popularity at the moment.Bike tours are often all-inclusive and cover most of the usual vacation expenses, such as lodging, food, and transport. If you wanted to cut costs, it is possible to self-organize a trip as well. Check out our guide on bike touring for more information.Reward your health: keep fit by riding an ebikeThe health benefits of bike riding are proven and numerous. Cardiovascular health improves with as little as 30 minutes of riding each day. Bump those numbers up to an hour and the pounds will start to melt off.If there’s one thing that I want readers to take away from this article though, it’s that ebikes AREN’T cheating - you can still exercise with an electric bike. Yes, riding a regular bike is still - mile-for-mile - a better workout but not by much. In order to get the same workout, you just need to ride a bit more.Riding an electric bike is so much more convenient than a regular one though. Long distances and hills are much less intimidating with a motor helping out and with these out of the people are able to enjoy their rides more. In fact, electric bike riders are generally healthier than regular bike riders because they’re riding so much more.So make a change in your life: start using your electric bike for exercising and watch your quality of life exponentially improve. Find reasons to ride your ebike more and ride hard. Those pounds and illnesses don’t stand a chance.Do you have a particular electric bike workout or habit that you find particularly effective? Leave a comment below and let us know what it is!