Debates over natural versus artificial turf continue. Where artificial wins, actually, is when it comes to being green. The Synthetic Turf Council announced that as of this year the estimated total amount of synthetic turf installed in North America conserves more than three billion gallons of water, significantly reduces smog emissions, eliminates close to a billion pounds of harmful fertilizers and pesticides, and recycles more than 105 million used tires.
Bike shorts are a very sensitive issue. They need to conform to the body and allow for a wide range of flexibility. They also need ample yet not bulky padding in the saddle area. For its Elite Bib Short, Craft used 3D construction and compression fabrics to make an even better short.
Compression fabrics apply pressure to muscles to keep them from fatiguing as you hammer your ride. 3D construction means the fabric panels designed specifically for the forward-leaning position on the bike. Yes, you can still stand up straight comfortably, but the shorts are somewhat molded to their purpose of time on the saddle.
The iBike Dash CC (Cycling Computer) is a case and app combo that turns your iPhone or iPod Touch into a cycling computer. The iBike is a top-loading case that fully encloses your iPhone and mounts it to your handlebars. The phone then displays a number of readings such as maps, speed, heart rate and other data.
Five colored heart rate zones tell you how hard you’re pushing it. You can use the meter to tell you when you’re at 50 percent to 100 percent of your max and when you’re in a fat-burning zone if that’s your goal.
Continue reading Case Turns iPhone Into iBike Cycling Computer
Spinning is great exercise, especially in the off-season. Yet it’s still a stationary bike. RealRyder International ABF8 stationary bike threatens to break the monotony of spinning. RealRyder tilts so you can steer some mock turns. It’s articulating frame allows you to steer and lean.
If you pack protein before a workout, then you know you want the nutrients to be usable right then, not in half an hour, not later that day. Provide Gold just released its One-Shot Protein drink, a one-ounce shot of hydrolyzed collagen protein that gets absorbed into the body almost immediately.
The collagen protein drink is pre-digested with fruit enzymes so your body can absorb it that much faster. It can be consumed before, during, and after workouts to increase endurance and aid recovery. The drink is engineered to preserve fluid and pH balance. Provide Gold also claims the shot is able to transport oxygen, vitamins and minerals to target cells throughout the body. It almost sounds too good to be true. Continue reading Pack Your Protein in One Shot
There’s been a lot of attention given to head injuries on the football field and the development of better helmets that can prevent concussions and other injuries. But that’s on a field with other players, coaches, spectators and plenty of people who can dial 911. What happens if you’re biking alone and crash?
In the case of cyclist Leigh Fazzina, she posted messages to Twitter to get help after not getting a signal for voice. That’s just not always possible with a head injury. That’s why we’re looking forward to the release of SenseTech, a helmet-mounted sensor that connects to your phone via Bluetooth and contacts emergency services in the case of impact. “Ours is a device which would help the athlete and his (or her) family to be better informed on the level of impact they are taking, and which oens are of concern,” said Biju Thomas, designer of the SenseTech.
Still under development, the sensor’s designer is Biju Thomas, a team cook who has served meals to Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, among other pro cyclists.
The SenseTech is “a system of sensors embedded in the fused fabric (pad inserts), and a tiny sensor Bluetooth Relay, which transmits activity to a cell phone, which most every rider has in his pocket,” said Thomas.
SenseTech is currently in testing and will likely be released in the fall for use on the field and hopefully on the trail soon after that.
via [Medill Reports Chicago]
Fitness and weight loss app Cardio Trainer just added Withings as a partner. Users can now step on the scale and send their weight wirelessly to the Cardio Trainer profile. The Wi-Fi scale adds weight management to a number of other activities including GPS tracking, pedometer, autopause to observe the pause at stoplights or other brief interruptions to a workout, voice notifications, music integration, World High Scores and other actions.
Continue reading Mobile World Congress: Cardio Trainer Adds to its Bag of Tricks
This week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Adidas is showing its miCoach on a new platform, Android. The introduction is in conjunction with Google, also in residence at the international mobile conference.
Adidas has six sports-specific conditioning and training programs such as basketball, football, running, soccer and tennis, as well as an additional program for staying fit. The app uses GPS for active real-time pace-based coaching and location tracking.
Continue reading Mobile World Congress: Adidas miCoach Becomes Available on Android
The Nalini Summer Collection of cycling apparel features Nalini Compression, which will promote increased blood flow and physical performance. The line includes bibshorts and jerseys. The line has additional attributes including reversible and convertible jackets and jerseys and apparel crafted from recycled plastic fabrics.
Nalini cycling gear is often seen in the team kits of professional riders. All garments are made in Italy from the fabric to each stitch of the seams.
The compression line includes Lambro Bibshort ($155) and Drava Bibnickers ($165) as a tight-fitting pant with a silicon gripper at the leg hem, reflective tape and a Nalini ECP Print pad. A contrasting 4-needle stitching on the seams add strength to the garments. The Full Season Man line includes a collection of convertible and reversible apparel able to be worn all four seasons. The Sorbo Jacket ((355) is a stretchable, reversible design that provides warmth and is windproof. The Vormano Jersey ($250) uses the brand’s Quick-Burst sleeve removal system so it can be converted from a long-sleeve to a short sleeve jersey on the ride. Think of the jersey as having built-in arm warmers so you don’t get that gap where the sleeve meets the arm warmer where wind finds its way to chill your arms.
For the Nalini recycling line, the company has the Insonzo Jersey ($120) and Fortore Bibshort ($100). The line is made from an eco-friendly Re-Pet fabric made from the recycling of Pet plastic bottles. The Pet yarns have the same characteristics as polyester yarns.
The Insonzo Jersey features a cycling fit, mesh insert, silicon bottom gripper and cam-block full-length zipper. The Fortore Bibshort provides a cycling fit, mesh insert, reflecting logos and silicon leg grippers.
Nalini’s summer line is expected in stores later this month. Nalini is imported and distributed by Albabici in the U.S.
Cycling in the rain is never fun. The puddles that linger after a big storm can be less fun when they overtake a stretch of bike path. A possible solution to the problem is porous paving. It addresses not only the problem of puddles on the path, but adding trails to parks and greenspace can often prevent rainwater from naturally soaking through the soil on ground surrounding the bike path.
Spinning has remained popular for several years. It’s one pitfall is that workouts tend to focus on the lower body. Krank, not to be confused with the drug nicknamed crank, is gaining in popularity. Kranking is akin to a spin cycle, but using your arms to turn the wheel. Similar machines are often used in physical therapy offices and it’s a good upper body workout.
The adjustability on some krank models are much easier than spin bikes. Apply pressure to a lever to make the parts move rather than loosening a pin and sliding. The machine also has various ways to turn a rotation. In addition to resistance you can krank one arm at a time, both arms together, or both arms in alternating pattern similar to pedaling a bike. You can also krank from a seated or standing position to vary the exercise and work muscles just a little bit differently.
There really are few aerobic workouts designed to target the upper body. Kranking is one that does just that. It’s a great workout to alternate with spinning or running to change up what muscle groups you’re exercising each day.
Find information at KrankCycle.
After waiting so long to get an iPhone, Verizon subscribers want to protect their new phone like it’s precious cargo. That doesn’t mean they’ll leave it at home when they go on adventures such as rock climbing, biking or running. I just means they need a really rugged, protective case.
Ballistic, the designers of rugged cases for mobile phones and other accessory cases to “survive life,” just released its case for the iPhone 4 for Verzon and boasts it’s the most rugged protective case currently available for the iPhone 4.
Continue reading Ballistic Brings iPhone4’s Most Rugged Case Yet to Verizon
It’s essential to have a tail light on your bike. Even when weight is a concern, it’s necessary to light your bike to protect your butt at sundown. Planet Bike has a new Superflash Stealth. It’s got a 1 watt Blaze LED light plus two eXtreme LEDs for visibility up to a mile.
You generally expect to have a red light, but this clear light flashes red and is visible even in daylight. Cars are getting tricked out with white or clear tail lights, why not bikes? The housing is weatherproof, lightweight and durable. Two AAA batteries provide up to 100 hours of run time. That means forever for casual riders who may turn it on when caught coming back from their rides at sundown or in inclement weather.