With a carrying capacity of 300 pounds, the ($2,600) could theoretically replace a second family vehicle and be used for听grocery trips, kid drop-offs, Home Depot runs, and everything in between.

The听bike comes bare bones,听but Yuba offers lots of bolt-on听accessories, including a baby seat and gear-hauling wooden tub. Just the frame听weighs听58 pounds, but thanks to cable-actuated steering and nimble 20-inch wheels, it handles reasonably well.听A double-wide kickstand keeps it steady for loading and unloading.

All that said, if you plan on consistently carrying听100 pounds or more, we'd suggest adding a mid-drive electric motor.

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Last November, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) from cars. The five finalists, which should be announced later this spring, with a $225,000 pot.

While CDOT鈥檚 judges deliberate, we went ahead and asked 11 of the brightest minds in the bike industry what they would do to make U.S. cities better, safer, and smarter for the two-wheeled crowd. Here鈥檚 what they had to say.

1. Become an Advocate鈥擜nd Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Leah Flickinger, editor of Bicycling magazine

Bicycling on the fraught relationship between cyclists and drivers. As part of that story, we asked readers to take a survey on riding habits, road safety, and driver behaviors. The results were bleak: Three-quarters of respondents know at least one cyclist who鈥檚 been hit; 22 percent know a cyclist who was killed. One-third have been hit themselves, and 66 percent say they see distracted drivers on most or every ride.

The takeaway wasn鈥檛 all grim. Almost everyone told us they鈥檙e still getting out there. And the sheer number of responses鈥�5,325 people in just a few days, thousands of whom shared personal stories鈥攊s encouraging. Cyclists are fired up and have a lot to say.

But checking off boxes in a survey isn鈥檛 enough. Every one of us needs to start making noise. For starters, you should contact your elected officials. At a time when the government is cutting funding to vital services, we need to rally harder than ever around legislation designed to protect cyclists and improve infrastructure. The two biggest national bike advocacy groups are the and , and both websites have easy-to-use tools for understanding bike legislation and contacting local officials.

It鈥檚 also important to report incidents, even if no one is harmed. In some states, reports go into a database that law enforcement can use to establish patterns of behavior. In Colorado, for example, if the same plate number shows up three times, the driver gets a warning. And in some places, even harassment by a driver is a felony, and reporting incidents may affect local policy.

Finally, open your wallet and donate money to support bike advocacy. If the 5,325 people who responded to our survey donated $25 each, it would be enough to fund roughly 100 community grants that support safe streets for cycling.

2. Take Baby Steps

, three-time Olympic time trial gold medalist

I personally believe that every city should have , just like they do in Holland. But I am a realist, and this is just not reality here in the United States. Some cities are just more committed to bike safety and further along in the urban progression than others.

In my mind, the best path forward is progressively moving from stage to stage and taking incremental steps to make the roads safer for everyone. Once bike safety advocates make it to one stage鈥攍ike colored bike lanes鈥攜ou can start to consider the next one.

3. Build Smart Bike Lanes with Empathy

Jillian Harris, senior transportation planner for the City of San Antonio

From an engineering and transportation-planning perspective, new designs that support the notion of separated bike facilities can make cycling in urban areas much safer. However, this option is only as effective as the designs, and people must use them as intended. Several factors go into installing protected bike lanes and how they fit into the overall transportation network, and the reality is that nothing happens in a vacuum. Anything you do for cyclists should be integrated into the big picture.

There鈥檚 a lot to be said for empathy, too. Most bicyclists also drive cars, but the same can鈥檛 be said the other way around. The notion of walking (or riding) a mile in someone else鈥檚 shoes could go a long way in generating respect for other people on the road. Policymakers should ride bikes around their districts to understand what their constituents experience and what could be done to make bike networks better for everyone.

4. Lobby More Effectively

Jonathan Maus, editor and publisher of

The United States has fallen way behind in cycling and traffic safety because we don鈥檛 do enough to curtail and regulate automobile use. The auto lobby is kicking our butts, and too many of us don鈥檛 seem to mind. Far too often, we settle for incremental progress鈥攁 new bike lane here, a new bike law there鈥攚hen what鈥檚 needed are big, bold changes in both culture and infrastructure.

Socially, we need to start calling out dangerous driving and our addiction to cars for what it is: deviant and extreme behavior. Driving drunk, driving over the speed limit, hit-and-run, distracted driving鈥�. The results are streets where people drive amok, and everyone not inside a motor vehicle pays the price.

To make urban cycling great again, we need to address the enemy head-on. Car abuse and overuse must be stopped. We need stronger car control laws. We need elected officials who aren鈥檛 afraid to reallocate road space to more efficient, healthy, and safe uses like cycling, mass transit, and walking.

5. Turn Wasteland into Bike Lanes

, professional road and cyclocross racer

Many urban areas have a wealth of underutilized rail, utility, and drainage easements that could be developed into safe and efficient cycling infrastructure. Examples can be found along train tracks (), pipelines and power lines (), river greenbelts (Santa Rosa, California; Tulsa, Oklahoma), and even adjacent to highways (Reno, Nevada). Existing easements help remove cars from the equation while keeping cyclists moving in an efficient linear direction.

Why is it important to take advantage of existing easements? Simple: Cars and bikes do not mix, so the more separation you can create between the two, the safer everyone will be. Painted-on bicycle lane designations may provide theoretical separation, but they are still vulnerable to distracted and inept drivers.

6. Solicit Public Input

Brian Wiedenmeier, executive director of the

Pilot projects can help us learn about how treatments are applied, and we should solicit feedback from people walking, driving, and biking in and around new infrastructure. This spirit informed the design and construction of . Popular in Europe鈥檚 most bike-friendly cities and increasingly seen in progressive U.S. cities, protected intersections take the chaos out of crossing the street. With physical barriers and wider turns for drivers, these protected intersections reduce speeds, calm traffic, and offer bicyclists and pedestrians a clear, protected route through the intersection.

7. Adjust Traffic Signals

Rachel Bronson, bicycle planner for Denver County

Denver Public Works Transportation and Mobility is keeping people moving on city streets by adjusting traffic signal times at several intersections and installing special equipment to accommodate people on bikes and people in cars separately. At certain intersections, we have that light up at a different time than for cars.

About two years ago, we also installed bike detection, so people on bikes can trigger green lights at several intersections around town. And last year, we synchronized the traffic signals along the most popular stretch for bikes in Denver so they can catch the 鈥済reen wave鈥� and make fewer stops during morning rush hour. These treatments are smaller in cost and less visible to the casual observer, but they have a big impact to bicycle mobility and safety on our streets.

8. Make Ice-Cream Runs Mandatory鈥�

Ryan Schutz, executive director of

Here鈥檚 my unconventional idea: I think we can make biking on city streets safer by requiring everyone to ride bikes to the ice cream shop at least once a week during the summer. I鈥檓 serious. Everyone would get access to a bike, whether they have one or not, through .

This weekly ride would help people understand just how easy it is to hop on a bike and ride somewhere familiar. Everyone would become more confident with each ride, encouraging further exploration of biking in the city. As a bonus, everyone would be learning what it feels like to ride a bicycle through the city, and a greater sense of empathy would be created between drivers and people on bikes.

9. 鈥nd Bike Education, Too

Tim Blumenthal, president of

The United States should adapt the time-tested 鈥攐nce in elementary school (basic bike handling and safety instruction) and once in middle school (focused on navigating in traffic that includes cars, trucks, bikes, and people on foot). The result: better drivers and better bike riders and a safer road environment.

It will also help for bicycles and bike riders to become increasingly visible through the use of lighting systems improvements, frame paint, bike-integrated turn signals, wheel illumination, clothing, and solar-powered, road-embedded lights and lane lighting. These improvements will further reduce (but not eliminate) crashes.

Naturally, we should continue to build seamless bike networks that are completely separate from motor vehicle traffic. These networks are essential to get children, new riders of all ages, families, and older people on bikes鈥攑articularly as the overall population continues to grow and places become more crowded.

10. Ban the Big Rigs

, bike messenger, courier-style racer, Red Bull athlete

Until we have a world of self-driving cars, I feel that reckless drivers are an unfortunate reality of the road.

In the meantime, we should do everything we can to get big rigs away from urban areas. Aggressive driving aside, it鈥檚 beyond nerve-wracking to put your faith in a semi with an open chassis and huge wheels that could easily suck you under and crush you. In the future, I think we will see pedestrian-friendly, lightweight, highly mobile cargo delivery services provided by e-trikes and existing cargo bikes. But until then, we need laws to make these rolling tanks unwelcome in places with high concentrations of cyclists.

11. Harness Our Technology

Eben Weiss, editor of , author, cycling culture critic

We already know that better infrastructure鈥攍ike protected bike lanes鈥攎akes the roads safer for everybody. That鈥檚 why any self-respecting, forward-thinking American city is upgrading its streets to accommodate cyclists. At this point, we鈥檙e merely playing catch-up to places like Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

It seems like every time I want to stream Game of Thrones on HBO GO, I鈥檓 asked to enter an activation code to prove I鈥檓 a subscriber. It鈥檚 like I鈥檓 launching a nuclear missile. Yet if I want to fire up my car鈥攏ot quite a nuke but certainly a deadly weapon鈥擨 don鈥檛 have to prove a thing. My license could be expired or suspended or revoked or simply nonexistent. Same with my insurance policy. Why shouldn鈥檛 I have to prove my 鈥渁ccount鈥� as a driver is in good standing before I operate a motor vehicle on public roads? We need to start placing as much value on human lives as we do on George R.R. Martin鈥檚 intellectual property.

Then there鈥檚 my phone. When I hop in the car, it guesses where I鈥檓 going and pings me with directions, ETA, and even traffic-avoidance advice. Yet it鈥檚 more than happy to play dumb and let me call, text, or FaceTime even if I鈥檓 doing 90 miles per hour on the interstate. Phones should disable these features when drivers are operating their cars鈥攐r at the very least remind them to slow down when they鈥檙e breaking the law.

Municipalities need to be incentivized to implement street safety improvements. The . This could be an incentive for the city to act more decisively when it comes to upgrading the streets and to stop yielding to nimbys who prioritize street parking over public safety.

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These days, the perfect piece of gear is rarely more than a few clicks away. Of course, that wasn鈥檛 always the case. For thousands of years, even the most basic gear and apparel was painstakingly handmade, meticulously maintained, and passed down from generation to generation.

But that doesn鈥檛 mean our ancestors were any less gear-obsessed than we are today. In fact, because it was so consequential and difficult to come by, ancient gear must have been just as exhilarating to use as modern pow boards and mountain bikes, right? Here, we鈥檝e compiled some of oldest pieces of stoke-worthy gear ever unearthed.

Ax (46,000 B.C.)

Primitive stone tools go back millions of years, but who wants to hit something with a boring old stone? It wasn鈥檛 until somebody thought to sharpen the thing and attach a handle that swinging stones became fun鈥攁nd exponentially more effective. As it turns out, that somebody may have been an aborigine in Western Australia. This 48,000-year-old ax was crafted from fine-grained basalt, but the sculptor used softer rocks to hone the edge. Cultures all over the world used similar axes, but this one predates the next-closest find by almost 40,000 years.

Fishing Rig (40,000 B.C.)

Recovered from a cave off the coast of East Timor, these . They may help explain how early mariners subsisted while traveling long distances by boat鈥攖here were only a handful of terrestrial species in the area to hunt. A cache of tuna bones was also discovered at the site, so the hooks appear to have proven effective.

Fire Kit (6,000 B.C.)

Originally dismissed as a collection of phallic pegs, these are now believed to be a primitive set of matches. The conical tips appear to have been spun into fireboards to produce friction and heat. To turn the pegs fast enough, the user probably would have needed a bow, a theory supported by the tiny scratches on the pegs鈥� sides.

Snowshoe (3800 B.C.)

Stone Age Italians in the Alps were masters of their wintry domain, and this . It was created by bending birch into an oval shape and interlacing the frame with twine. Indeed, the only thing more remarkable than the item itself is the fact that it sat on a military cartographer鈥檚 desk for more than a decade before finding its way to Italian authorities. The guy figured it was maybe 100 years old.

Wooden Ski (3200 B.C.)

In 1924, Swedish construction workers discovered two wooden boards and a shovel-like pole while digging a ditch . These decaying planks, each about 204 centimeters long, turned out to be the oldest skis ever recovered. Originally estimated to be 4,000 years old, newer dating techniques pushed that figure back to 5,200 years鈥攐lder than the pyramids of Egypt. Made from pine, the skis had upturned tips and four small holes near the center that were presumably intended to hold some kind of string binding.

Messenger Bag (2200 B.C.)

Sure, archeologists have labeled it a purse, but this Stone Age satchel from Germany has messenger bag written all over it. For one, it鈥檚 decorated with 100 dog teeth鈥攈ow punk is that? (Early people in this region kept dogs as livestock and relied on them for food.) Meanwhile, though the fabric has long since deteriorated, the large front flap appears to be an early attempt at weatherproofing. It鈥檚 the prehistoric definition of form meets function.

Technical Outerwear (1000 B.C.)

Discovered in the Yanghai Tombs, an ancient Chinese cemetery, these weathered trousers are some of the oldest-known garments designed for a specific outdoor activity. Horseback riding had recently been introduced to the region, and local herders needed something to protect their legs since traditional robes weren鈥檛 cutting it. The design was simple: one fabric loop for each leg and another loop for the crotch. In the same cache of artifacts, archeologists also discovered a whip, a wooden horse bit, a bow, and a battle ax.

GPS Device (205 B.C.)

While it couldn鈥檛 pinpoint your precise physical whereabouts, this ancient analog computer, known as the Antikythera mechanism, could reveal a lot about your place in the universe, including the position of the sun and the moon, upcoming eclipses, and possibly the location of planets. The user turned a tiny crank on the front face, setting into motion more than 30 bronze gears of varying sizes.

Multitool (300 A.D.)

Made of silver with an iron blade, this included a knife, fork, toothpick, spike, spatula, and spoon. The spike may have been used to extract snail meat, a favorite delicacy of the day, and the spatula indicates that the tool was indeed intended for eating. In a pinch, the tool could also be used as a weapon. Historians think it belonged to a wealthy traveler, but judging by the pristine condition, we say it probably belonged to the Roman version of your buddy who always has to have the latest and greatest.

Sunglasses (1200 A.D.)

The whole point of sunglasses is to shield your eyes from the elements, and 鈥攎ade from walrus ivory and dating back to 1200 A.D.鈥攚ere probably more effective than many of today鈥檚 versions. By narrowing the field of vision along two small slits, they drastically reduced the amount of snow and sun exposure. Discovered on Baffin Island in northern Canada, these glasses were worn by a pre-Inuit culture known as the Thule. Worth noting: they look decidedly chill.

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The waterproof/breathable Hi-Viz Torch jacket听($325) comes with four, 10-lumen LEDs that attach to听each cuff and each side of the back, ensuring听motorists see you in traffic.

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Most fanny packs aren't cool, but this one is an exception.听Handmade in Portland, the听water-resistant ($60)听is perfect for carrying a phone and other small essentials. A听$10 conversion kit听turns it into a handlebar bag for your bike. 听

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A waterproof-breathable听membrane inside the听听($140) keeps your dogs dry, while a premium leather and听suede outer make these nice enough to wear to work.

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National parks are having a fanboy moment. It's the听100th anniversary of the National Park Service, after all,听and just about everyone wants a piece of the commemorative action. The list includes President Obama, who last week christened a new national monument in Maine (and will have visited ), as well as tons of gear companies whose existence depends on America鈥檚 enduring passion for the outdoors.

While some of the commemorative NPS products seem misguided (think听), Yakima straight crushed it with its Centennial Showcase 15. This limited-edition cargo box features a slick wraparound graphic from Oregon-based illustrator Adam Haynes听depicting prominent parks in vivid detail鈥攑laces like Yellowstone, Redwoods, Mt. Rainier, Yosemite, Crater Lake, Glacier,听Joshua Tree, Aches, and the Great Smokies. Why spackle your cargo box with stickers when you can have Yakima do it for you, and make it look way cooler?

This rooftop mural also happens to be a top-notch road-trip companion. It has 15 cubic feet of cargo space, a dual opening (so you can access gear from the driver or passenger sides), an easy push-button latch (with SKS locks) and a tampered tail that won鈥檛 butt up against your tailgate.听

Fittingly, you鈥檒l have to spend some time in a national park to score one. The contest is simple: snap an inspiring photo from inside your favorite park (or use a photo from a previous adventure), then post it to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #YakimaNPContest. Enter between now and Thursday听for a chance to win.

Since Yakima made just 10 of these (and only three are part of the giveaway), the competition will be fierce. However, you can also win an original print from Adam Haynes听or, if Yakima feels bad enough for you, an NPS sticker pack. The stickers should immediately be applied to your current cargo box to make it feel less insecure when compared to the Centennial Showcase 15.

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Sponsors use the Olympics听to showcase their newest, flashiest gear. Recall Speedo鈥檚 seal-like LZR Racer swimsuits in 2008, , or sprinter Michael Johnson鈥檚 in 1996.

For Rio, the Portland-based shoe maker听pulled out all the stops,听with a line of ultralight, ultra-expensive听sunglasses. The most flamboyant model by far is the , a $1,200 marvel of pure optical opulence and tech.听Thanks to a durable no-slip strap, these limited-edition shades wrap completely around your head,听so you鈥檒l never have to worry about slippage. No wonder the Wing was the weapon of choice for .

The secure fit is only part of the tech equation. Nike's听Speed Tint UV听protection听was designed specifically to mitigate the harsh glare of a track.听And since the fancy optics听and nylon frame were designed with the help of 3-D prototyping to fit together as one seamless piece, there鈥檚 nothing on these aero frames听to snag even a breath of wind.

The end result? The most minimal, form fitting, high-performance running sunglasses on the planet. Strap these babies on for a jog and you鈥檒l instantly forget you鈥檙e even wearing shades,听until your bank statement reminds you.听

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Gear is the ultimate enabler,听in a good way. It helps us pursue our passions听and we readily trust it with our lives. Think avalanche airbags and satellite tracking beacons. Then there鈥檚 the less consequential (but no less awesome) gear that improves our lives in tiny but meaningful ways. You know, like artisanal travel flasks.

And then there鈥檚 weird gear鈥攖he stuff you can鈥檛 quite figure out. Sometimes it鈥檚 an established brand going out on a limb with an outlandish item. Other times it鈥檚 a random dude on Kickstarter trying to corner a bizarre new听niche. We combed through the vast annals of weird gear to find the most noteworthy (and cringe-worthy) items of all time. Here they are in all their weird glory.

Rideable Luggage

鈥� is the world鈥檚 first motorized, smart and connected carry-on that gets savvy travelers, tech enthusiasts and urban day-trippers to their destination up to three times faster than walking.鈥�

Fruit-Themed Tent

鈥淭his mouthwatering is a refreshing new take on camping. Unfortunately, sleeping under a giant watermelon doesn't count towards one of your 5-a-day! Not just a pretty face, this four-season tent is 100% waterproof and has been made to withstand the most extreme weather conditions ensuring you stay dry in a storm and snug in a gale.鈥�

Hoodie That Gives You A Rubdown

鈥淚ntroducing the world鈥檚 first . It has six inflatable pillows, pressure point relaxers and body compression modules to eliminate stress and analyze posture. Alerts instill good posture and healthy habits.鈥�

Trail Hitch Toilet

鈥淭丑别 original ! No assembly required! 500-pound capacity, soft padded cover, easy installation and removal, fits under most car/truck seats. An outdoorsman must!鈥�

Literal Banana Hammock听

鈥淭his is a made of genuine leather. It is designed to allow riders to safely carry and easily access a banana. You can hang the banana holder on a bike frame as well as your waist belt.鈥�

Pants That Warn You When Your Fly Is Down

鈥渋s an extension of something called 鈥榠nvisible UI,鈥� an extension of our devices. The technology is very simple: The button acts as an on-off switch, and buttoning is an indication that your pants are on. After that, if the zipper is down, you鈥檒l get a notification.鈥�

Tailpipe Grill

鈥淭丑别 is a critical concept and helps you prove how much concerned you are about the environment, using the energy which was supposed to be wasted. You need no extra fuel and no bulky cooking accessory to overload the car in traveling.鈥�

Glorified Tinfoil Hat

鈥淪ome might say that it`s a specially designed hat for bouncing electromagnetic waves and radiation. ? Yes, it reflects signals from cell phones, WIFI routers, microwaves and it generally blocks waves transmitted from electric devices. It`s not blocking for 100% percent, but better than nothing. Moreover, it looks really cool! It is one of the most comfortable and functional headwear you have ever worn.鈥�

Robot Running Shoes

鈥� is a new type of running shoe, based on a unique and revolutionary technology. It is a new racing experience that gives you more power and operating comfort. This revolutionary shoe is to keep all the energy in your approach, while bringing you forward. When the foot hits the ground, with a classic shoe, the energy is dispersed and completely lost. Enko Running shoes that returns energy with every stride.鈥�

Handheld Blender For Camping

鈥淏lend up tasty margaritas, healthy smoothies, protein shakes, sauces, pancake batter and more without the need for an outlet. This compact nesting goes anywhere.鈥�

Umbrella For Your Bike

This company went out of business. That鈥檚 probably a good thing, because it鈥檚 ridiculously dangerous to .

Swiss Army Knife On Steroids

鈥淯ltimate Swiss Army knife with packed into one tool including digital clock, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, fish scaler, magnifying glass, ballpoint pen and LED light.鈥�

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Kurt Spitzner has driving in his veins, and those veins are filled with ice. As ops manager and 13-year veteran听of听the in Steamboat, Colorado, Spitzner makes his living teaching people how to drive with control and confidence. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about managing mass through space,鈥� he says,听鈥渁nd that mass responds differently when it鈥檚 cold.鈥� Here鈥檚 how to manage the mass of your family-packed SUV.

Tires Are Everything听

I can鈥檛 overstate the importance of having appropriate tires. If you can鈥檛 properly connect to the road, it doesn鈥檛 matter how advanced your traction control system is. The rubber compounds in summer tires and many all-season tires can start to lose their flexibility when the temperature drops below 45. A good rule of thumb: if you can see your breath, you should be running winter tires. Period.

Use Your Ears

When the road is wet, you鈥檒l hear what we call the 鈥渟izzle,鈥澨齱hich is the sound of water from your tires splashing up against the underside of the car. As the听road starts to freeze up, the sizzling sound will get softer and eventually stop,听but the road could still look like just a wet road.

Smooth Is Bad

Particularly on a familiar road, you may notice that the pavement suddenly feels smoother than normal. This could mean the water between all the tiny imperfections is starting to freeze up and expand to fill the gaps, making it smooth听and slick.听

Traction Control听

If you have an advanced AWD system, there鈥檚 no reason you shouldn鈥檛 use it whenever the temperature drops below 45. The fuel mileage penalty is almost nothing, and it will improve performance even on nonsnowy roads. If you have an older SUV with a 4WD system that shifts into place, wait until the roads have some lubricant (at least a half-inch of snow)听before engaging.

Watch Your Lights听

More new cars have LED headlights and taillights. They鈥檙e听great for visibility听but don鈥檛 put off heat like conventional lights, which means they can quickly become covered with snow and ice. Always carry rags in your car in case you need to clear off the lights.

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