Enid Burns | Evolving Consumer

Carry a Reservoir on Your Back

Dehydration on the trail is not an option. One, maybe two bottles tucked into cages on your bike only supply so much fluid. A backpack hydration system such as the Osprey Packs Hydraulics line Raptor Series gives you 2- and 3-liters of H20. The Raptor Series is focused on mountain biking and trail running, giving you a few pockets to stash gear in a streamlined design. Osprey puts a great deal of design into its pack.

Start with the water reservoir. Three of the four Raptor styles come with 3-liter reservoirs; the streamlined Raptor 6 has a 2-liter capacity. The reservoir is built with a plate that aligns with the contours of your back so the water doesn’t barrel. You won’t feel the shape of water as it all buckles at the bottom of the tank while you ride. The framework of the straps are constructed by perforated molded foam to create a lightweight and flexible support. The same foam is ridge molded to create a ventilated back panel. Lightweight webbing adds reinforcement surrounds both the straps and back panel. The A LidLock helmet clip straps through the vent holes on your helmet — when you’re off the bike — so the two stay together and ready to pick up and go. The bite valve rotates to an open and closed (no leak) position, and has a magnet so the sip portion stays in a handy location on your sternum strap instead of flying around with every bump on the trail.

Features are too many to go into. Research, trials, and serious evaluation went into the development of the Raptor Series hydration packs. Every pocket, strap, and tab is built for a specific need while the unnecessary bits of a backpack were left out to keep the pack lightweight and streamlined for a more enjoyable ride.

Osprey Raptor Series ($79 to $119)

Got 10 Minutes? Power Up the Wii

Commitment to working out is time consuming in itself. Just suiting up can take 10 or more minutes. That’s where 10 Minute Solution, a workout game for the Wii, really shines. A pair of five-minute, routines lets you squeeze in cardio time, and even a little ab workout to boot. The Wii version takes the popular 10 Minute Solution DVDs with fitness personality Jessica Smith to an interactive level. The start menu lets you select activities such as cardio boxing, step routines, and mixed games to get you into condition. Each program lasts five minutes, and the benefit of the Wii over the DVD version is the routines are anything but. The instructor selects moves dynamically rather than a practiced routine so it doesn’t get old.

Step things up with the Wii Balance Board to get you more active. The peripheral is not required, but gives you a platform to step on. Without the board the 10 Minute Solution doesn’t score on certain woukouts, but you’re in it for the cardio benefits, not a bunch of numbers. The Wii version also contains an ab workout, which is video taken from the DVD series and is talked about as a bonus. 10 Minute Solution for Wii has enough activity to get you in shape. The 10-minute workouts let you squeeze time in around your busy schedule, or between your kid’s game of Mario. Available at the end of May for a budget price of $19.99, a special bundle with one-pound weighted gloves will be available only at Costco in June.

10 Minute Solution for Wii

Mouth Guards: Now With More Absorption Power

When you sign up for a contact sport such as football, boxing, ice hockey, and wrestling you know you need a mouth guard, but do you realize how important it is? Not just to protect your pearly whites. “Ninety percent of concussions resulting in unconsciousness are caused by impact to the lower jaw,” says Joe Manzo, president of Brain-Pad, a company that offers a new mouth guard with more absorption power.

Brain-Pad’s new piece, the 3XS professional model (available at Wal-Mart and other retailers for $34.95) uses a patented technology and dual-protection system that offers 40 percent more absorption power than comparable models. The 3XS is a dual arch, bi-molar mouth guard that stabilizes the jaw in a neutral position, creating a safety space at the base of the skull that reduces the risk of jaw impact concussions and TMJ injuries. Traditionally mouth guards just protected the upper or lower teeth, but not both. The 3XS also opens the airway in the throat 100 percent, which allows you to breathe better, which is crucial to any sport.

Brain-Pad

The Pocket Knife Redesigned

This is not your father’s Swiss Army Knife. The Switch is a customizable tool created by crowd source product design company Quirky. The Switch is the framework of a multi-blade pocket knife and 18 tools you can insert into the frame. The tool comes with three interior axles. The small blade holds two-to-six attachments; medium holds four-to-10; and the large axle holds seven-to-13 tools. You can configure those you need from the attachments including a standard knife, pliers, scissors, nail file, tweezers, thin flathead screwdriver, Phillips-head screwdriver, eyeglass Phillips-head screwdriver, eyeglass flathead screwdriver, wood saw, serrated blade, corkscrew, combination bottle opener and flathead screwdriver, combination can opener and wire stripper, pen, magnifying glass, LED flashlight, and 1GB USB memory stick. Phew, that’s a tool for MacGyver. Set up the Switch for IT duty, or take a few tools such as the knife, wood saw, serrated blade, LED flashlight and a few other tools for your outdoor activities like your next camping trip or Kayak excursion.

Building Women’s Rugby Teams

Women are flocking to join rugby teams now that it is an Olympic sport. The United States will play this August in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. A recent New York Times article talks about college and youth teams, and how women are migrating from sports such as basketball, volleyball, and softball to the contact sport of Rugby.

Coaches have to get their teams in competitive form to play in these competitions. One men’s team in the U.K., Mike Ford, uses his laptop to view video clips and select the highlights to go over with the team rather than have players sit through playback of full games or even full plays from numerous videos. This maximizes training time giving players a chance to see the moves that work, and the ones that don’t. It also gives them more time on the field to get into condition.

Space Age Water Ski

Every speedboat owner has a pair of water skis. When friends come to visit the speedboat tour of the lake includes a spin on the skis. But those who take their water skiing more seriously may want to look into Goode water skis made from aerospace carbon fiber composite. The skis are lighter at less than 3 lbs.

Goode’s 99 SL Wide-Ride offers a wide forebody design to give added support at the buoy. The skiis feature an asymmetric design to eliminate having an “off-side” turn. Pair this or any model with Goode’s PowerShell boots, which look more like snow ski boots than the standard rubber boot of water skis, and you’re on your way to competition. The PowerShell boots aren’t a safety binding, but they offer more ability to hold your foot stead on the skis while still providing control.

Goode water skis

On Your Bike

That’s the name of a bike store chain in the U.K. But now Cannondale has released OnBikemade using the case closed technology used in the ON Concept bike shown at Eurobike 2007. What’s ON? It uses the System Integrated Chain Case Technology where the chain case is a single sided, fully enclosed structural part of the frame. Benefits are many. Fewer moving parts means fewer parts to go wrong. The enclosed chain structure protects the parts that move from collecting dirt and grime, which can cause failure. Fewer parts and enclosed parts means fewer parts to steal if you lock your bike up on the street.

Cannondale OnBike Limited Edition

CannonDale OnBike

Cycle Computing Gets a New Design

In the bright sun, in a competitive road race, it can be difficult to read your cycle computer. And even harder to change the display. The Polar CS500 remedies that with a large diamond-shaped display and rocker switch operation. The computer mounts to any bike with a reinforced composite metal dual lock bike mount. In the mount the computer can be adjusted with the tap of your thumb with the two-way rocker switch. Toggle the display to track speed, distance, cadence, heart rate, calories burned, incline, altitude, ascent and descent and temperature. What the CS500 lacks is a GPS reading, which competitive cycle computers from Garmin and other manufacturers provide.

The CS500 is compatible with Polar’s W.I.N.D. technology, which eliminates the issue of data drop-outs or cross-talk between cycling computers and also includes 2.4 GHz transmission. The computer can be customized and used on up to three different bikes, and has a drink reminder that alerts you to hydrate on those long rides.

A bit pricey, the CS500 is for serious riders, mainly those who race. The base set includes the handlebar unit, WearLink W.I.N.D. fabric chest strap, CS speed sensor W.I.N.D., and Dual Lock Bike Mount for $319.95. The CS500 cadence set is $359.95, the Power Output Sensor W.I.N.D. is available as a separate accessory for $359.95, and DataLink, which connects wirelessly to your computer can be added on for $54.95.

Polar

A Tech, Scavenger 10k Coming to an Urban Area Near You

Blurring the lines between a running race, scavenger hunt and obstacle course, the Frawgstomp Metro Dash attempts to do it all with a fun run that’s 10k in distance with 10 physical obstacles and 10 clues to guide teams of two from point to point. Obstacles tire flips, box jump sets, speed sled runs, and acro-yoga challenges. Participants have up to five hours to complete the course, which is set by clues they’ll receive on their mobile phones. Running the course is encouraged by KineticShift, but participants can walk, run or take public transportation.

A series of Metro Dash races starts in Philadelphia on April 10 and includes a number of additional cities including Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Charlotte, Norfolk, Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston. Sign up for the race at Active.com.

Race sign-up

One for the Road

When I go for a bike ride, I typically take my driver’s license. When I run, I don’t often take as much. It’s not fun to think about the possibility of getting hurt, but if I do, an emergency crew won’t know who I am. That’s where Road ID comes in. It’s the basic information for quick reference. There are two wrist strap models, the Wrist ID Sport and Wrist ID Elite. The Sport ID allows seven lines of text, etched into a metal plate and threaded on a nylon wrist strap. This can include your name and address, emergency contact numbers, and other pertinent information. Wrist ID Elite has a rubberized band, but carries the same vitals.

Road ID Interactive is the next level up, and gives you two lines of text on the front of the plate, and a serial and PIN number on the back that can provide even more information. With an online profile, you can update your address, emergency contact numbers, insurance information, and other details in your Emergency Response Profile. The ERP can be accessed over the phone or online.

This is an effective way to provide information if you’re not able to do that yourself. Emergency crews are used to medical jewelry such as a bracelet or necklace that alerts of health issues. This is another identifier for you. It lightens your load so you don’t have to take a driver’s license or other ID when you go, or supplements that with information more useful in an emergency situation.

Intel Adds Intelligence to Employee Workouts

intel-unveils-high-tech-employee-fitness-center1 — Image from architecture3s via Core Performance

Some companies provide a gym for their employees. And then some companies add more incentive for their employees to use the facilities and actually see results. In a bold move, Intel outfitted its Chandler, Ariz. Campus with a high-tech fitness center. Machines include Intel-embedded technology-based and Internet connected machines through a partnership with a company called Core Performance. Why do these machines need Internet connectivity?

Each participating employee provided health records, nutrition habits, and other information to create customized workouts dictated by the machines. Intel is involved for obvious reasons: it has a stake in the equipment it’s using. But it also intends to improve the health and fitness of its employees and in turn reduce the company’s healthcare costs. It hopes other companies will deploy similar programs as well.

Sip on a Better Bottle from CamelBak

CamelBak-Better-Bottle — CamelBak Better Bottle

What do you get when you go for a bike ride with just any water bottle? Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phalates, a chemical that has been linked to obesity, neurological disorders, cancer, and a number of other health problems.

CamelBak makes BPA-free bottles from a material called Tritan, that doesn’t allow properties to leech in the water and compromise taste and health. KineticShift took a look at three of CamelBak’s bottles, two made from BPA-free materials, and one stainless steel. Here’s what we found.

Continue reading Sip on a Better Bottle from CamelBak

GPS Tracks Pace During Run, Not Turns

GarminForerunner110mw — Garmin Forefunner 110 tracks progress on your workouts so you can keep your eye on pace.

When your feet hit the road, you have different demands on GPS than in your car. You don’t need turn-by-turn directions, you need data. Speed. Distance. Devices for runners are sometimes bulky, sometimes difficult to use. Garmin is about to release its Forerunner 110. This GPS device is a watch, and just about the size of an average sport watch or heart rate monitor. It’s packed with featuers.

Forerunner 110 has GPS and a heart rate monitor. Once you set it at the beginning of a run it tracks where you go on your run and your heart rate. From this data it calculates your pace, distance run, calories burned, and stores the information until you upload it to your profile on Garmin Connect. You can track your training progress, look back on a whole season of running, or just see where you’ve been by keeping data on your profile. This is one addition to the standard heart rate monitor we like.

Garmin Web site

Garmin Forerunner 110
Garmin Connect