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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.108

Electric bicycles are all the rage these days. Plenty of fully articulated models are on the market, as are kits that allow you to transform your trusty steed into an effortless speed demon. The GeoOrbital Wheel has gone through six iterations thus far, and the newest model is their best yet. It doesn't get any easier than this.

GEOORBITAL WHEEL (video)

Books owe a lot to trees, especially being made from them, but it's the trees in books that caught our attention. Here are seven contenders for the best tree in literature. Have one of your own? Nominate it in the comments!

FAVORITE TREES IN LITERATURE (photo essay)

Rumor has it that The Chapel Oak is as old as France itself. It has witnessed some amazing moments in history and has been visited by the likes of Charlemagne and William the Conqueror. This incredible tree is home to two chapels and is whimsical in appearance. Read more about this incredible specimen at the link below.

THE CHAPEL OAK (photo essay)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.107

It's well known that counting the rings of a tree reveals its age. Each ring represents a year, a 12-month growth cycle starting with a boom in the spring and ending in winter dormancy. Hidden within the rings is every iteration of the tree, including the original sapling. Italian artist Guiseppe Penone carves out the young tree from its final form. This is something amazing to see!

CARVING OUT SAPLINGS (photo essay)

Why cut down a tree to build a home when you can build a tubular glass structure encapsulating it? If and when this idea becomes a reality, sign RETREET up for a tour. Perhaps our future HQ?

BUILDING AROUND A TREE (photo album)

Taking the previous concept to the next level is this vertical eco-village. A design that creates more energy than it consumes and is entirely sustainable, this concept is an engineering marvel. Watch a short video and be dazzled. Hopefully, this will be a major element of cities to come.

INCREDIBLE VERTICAL ECO-VILLAGE (video)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.87

Big news out of Oslo, Norway. The city recently announced that it will ban all cars from the center of town, a move that affects some 350,000 or so vehicle owners. The plan also calls for the addition of some 35 miles of bike lanes and heavy investment in public transport. It is the first major city in the world to make such a bold move. Read more about it at the link below.

OSLO BANS CARS (article)

Europeans have been building wildlife bridges across major highways for many years, and, in more good news, some US cities are taking the initiative to do the same. Following the lead of Washington state, California now plans to construct the largest such crossing in America in an effort to aid wildlife species suffering from habitat loss due to urban sprawl. 

LOS ANGELES WILDLIFE BRIDGE (video)

Need some inspiration? Check out Inspired to Ride, the new film from director Mike Dion. 45 cyclists gear up to race across America, an epic journey that crosses 10 states and 4,300 miles. The fastest time? Just under 18 days. This amazing film is definitely a joy to watch. Check out the trailer below!

INSPIRED TO RIDE (preview)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.86

Over the years, numerous studies have shown that a walk through the woods, or "forest bath" as Japanese doctors describe it, is a great way to reduce stress and fatigue. However, a new study out of Australia takes that notion one step further. Believe it or not, even gazing for a moment at something green outside of your office window will calm you down and help you focus. Give it a try tomorrow at work!

GREEN BREAKS FOR YOUR BRAIN (article)

What's the difference between fall in North America and fall in Europe? One word: RED. Finnish and Israeli scientists followed a trail of research that led them back in time 35 million years in order to answer what brought about this striking difference in foliage.

DIFFERENCES IN FALL FOLIAGE (video)

One man, obsessed with the history of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, decided the only way he could fully understand the story was to retrace John Wilkes Booth's 12-day run from the authorities after having shot the President at Ford's Theater. Lacking a horse, he realized the best way to do it was by bike. Follow his fascinating journey of discovery.

BIKING AFTER BOOTH (article)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.84

Over the course of this year, every second grader in the D.C. public school system will be taught the ABCs of riding a bicycle. This innovative program makes use of 1,000 new bikes, purchased by the District Department of transportation with the help of private donors, that will rotate from one school to the next. An important part of a robust education.

D.C. KIDS LEARN TO RIDE BICYCLES IN SCHOOL (article)

After becoming an authority on living a nomadic lifestyle by traveling the world and living out of vans, photographer Foster Huntington created one amazing treehouse. His new home, Cinder Cone Treehouse, which he built in Skamania, WA, has its own skatepark. Not too shabby!

TREEHOUSE WITH SKATEPARK (photos)

Have you ever wanted to just get on your bike and go someplace far away? These lifehacks will help you along the way. A must-read list for any two-wheeled adventurer.

BIKEPACKING LIFEHACKS (list)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.83

This week, we bring you a rather international smattering of fascinating projects. First up, South Korean artist Young Deok-Seo spends months welding and forming discarded bicycle chains into striking sculptures of the human form. Truly, this is powerful repurposing.

BIKE CHAIN SCULPTURES (photos)

Second, Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia designed three 22-story buildings in Ho Chi Minh City that each have a giant roof garden. The roofs are all connected by suspension bridges, making the completed structure a giant linear garden in the sky. Now that's what we call green architecture!

DEVELOPMENT WITH CONNECTED ROOF GARDEN (photos)

Finally, Donhou Bicycles, a London-based company, set off to construct a bicycle with a chain ring big enough to achieve pedaling speed of 80mph. Theirs is a great story of determination and innovation.

THE 80MPH BICYCLE (video)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.81

An artist in South Korea has mastered his ability to transform discarded pieces of wood, mostly tree trunks, into magnificent and functional sculptures. This gallery of photos is one of the most beautiful we have ever seen. If only we could partner with Jae-Hyo Lee in some of the areas in which we work!

JAE-HYO LEE TREE FURNITURE (photos)

Believe it or not, the image below is of a compact bicycle that, when dissembled, can fit into a large suitcase. The ECO 07 is also a remarkably attractive ride: an urban bicycle that is designed to save space and turn heads.

COMPACT URBAN BICYCLE (photos)

About 1,500 years ago, the Roman Empire completed their campaign to wipeout the Judean date palm tree, formerly a staple crop of the Kingdom of Judea. Previously, the tree was so influential that King David named his daughter after it in the Old Testament. During excavations of Herod the Great's palace, scientists discovered a jar of seeds for extinct tree and several were planted in 2005. In 2011, one even produced its first flower. This ancient tree has been brought back to life and the seed from which it sprung is the oldest know to germinate. What an incredible story!

ANCIENT TREE LIVES ANEW (article)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.78

Have you ever wondered what keeps a bicycle upright, or how a riderless bike can travel a solid distance without falling? Some feel they understand the basic physics involved, but the true answers might surprise you. Take a minute to learn something new.

THE PHYSICS OF A BICYCLE (video)

Ten years ago, Rob McBride, an IT specialist from Shropshire, England, was saved by a newfound fascination with trees. Now, he returns the favor by participating in Ancient Tree Hunt, an effort to catalogue and preserve the oldest trees in the UK. Read his inspiring story below.

TREES SAVE A MAN, MAN SAVES THE TREES (photo essay)

The future has arrived! Imagine never again having a flat tire, or needing to change one. The Energy Return Wheel, an airless prototype, offers that possibility and so much more. Check it out!

ENERGY RETURN WHEEL (article)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.69

We all love bicycles, but the folks BBC Autos spent some time compiling a list of the 10 bicycles that most tickle their fancy. How do you feel about their particular selections? Any you would swap out?

10 MOST BEAUTIFUL BICYCLES (slideshow)

Do you love classic Disney films and trees? This video is for you. Walt Disney takes us into the studio to show us how four of his most famous artists illustrated his best-known films, then leads the whole group into a field where we see all of them paint the same tree in their signature styles. Love it. 

4 DISNEY ARTISTS PAINT 1 TREE (short film)

The Korean government has constructed a bike trail from Daejeon to Sejong, two cities about 2-3 hours south of the capital, Seoul. Not only is the trail shaded, it generates solar power!

KOREAN SOLAR BIKE TRAIL (drone footage)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.67

We rarely see cycling skills to match those of ACT 4, an all-female team from Slovakia. Give this short video from one of their competitions a watch and be amazed! It's hard to imagine doing most of these tricks on two wheels.

ACT 4 CYCLING TEAM FROM SLOVAKIA (video)

Sometimes, reverse psychology is the best way to get your point across. That's exactly the tactic TreePeople, a nonprofit in California, employed when making this film about saving concrete. It's sure to make you smile.

SAVE CONCRETE! (video)

The Loopwheel is an innovative concept that replaces spokes by integrating shock absorbers directly into its design. This sweet wheel makes for less bumpy and quieter rides.

LOOPWHEEL (article and video)