KineticShift | Evolving Consumer

Strider Sizes Up

Strider is of course the balance bikes for the younger riders, but the company has expanded its line of 12-inch wheel balance bikes for those from 18 months to 5-years of age.

“The Strider 12 Classic model is a return to our roots … a super simple design featuring the core elements that make Strider the number one balance bike brand in the world, yet less expensive without some of our options of custom grips and saddles offered on our other models,” said Ryan McFarland, CEO of Strider Sports International. “The 12 Sport model offers every feature a child (or parent) could want with custom grips, padded saddle, handlebar pad, and quick release clamps (no-tool adjustment). It is the perfect balance of performance, options, and value. More than eight years of design evolution and manufacturing improvements all packaged into one model.

“The 12 Pro utilizes all the features of the Sport model, but in an all -aluminum design, making it the lightest Strider in the world,” McFarland added. “Fully featured and ultra light weight make this the top performing balance bike for the little superstar riders and racers.”

Strider Official Website

To Serve and PROTKT

Wahoo Fitness knows that many people might not be comfortable taking their expensive iPhone on a bike ride. Since an iOS app is a crucial part of the business strategy for Wahoo Fitness, the company has introduced the PROTKT iPhone 5 Bike Mount and Case, which provides weatherproof and shockproof protection.

It also offers secure and quick mounting to a handlebar, while providing full phone functionality. It can be paired with Wahoo’s Blue HR and Blue SC for real-time heart rate, speed and cadence data.

Wahoo Fitness Official Website

GI Go

When we think of a “G.I. Bike” we think of something American soldiers used in World War II, but the Gi Bike is something different. It is a full-sized, folding, electric bike designed for travel around town.

It folds up or down in just three seconds, and can run 40 miles on battery. It even offers smartphone integration with apps and maps, and designed to handle the mean streets with side lights that help riders be seen, while an anti-theft safety lock ensures the bike is there where you left it. This is Gi is ready to roll. Video after the jump

Broken Board to Bottle Opener

What do you do with a broken skateboard? A bonfire might be one option, but Virginia skate shop Scene 3 is taking old skateboard decks and transforming these into colorful bottle openers. The broken boards are cut, glued and pressed so it is more than just a trashed piece of wood – and it allows that favorite deck to live on, and even open the bottle to toast its demise.

[Via HiConsumption: Recycled Skateboard Bottle Openers by Scene3]

Tee Time

Anytime is Tee Time with Kitsbow’s new Ride Tees, where are performance T-shirts made of blends of New Zealand Merino wool, polyester and spandex. Designed to be more causal and less fitted than cycling jerseys there are meant for the casual summer rides, and are available in five sizes and three colors, with varying material blends depending on the color. They include Kitsbow’s signature embroidered nylon shoulder panels for added abrasion and wear resistance and a stitched chest patch pocket.

Kitsbow Official Website

TAO-tally New Look

TAO Wellness has updated the design for its TAO WellShell, the portable, interactive and motivating exercise tool that turns exercise time into game time. The unit is set to be delivered to backers of the Tao-Wellness Kickstarter campaign this fall, and the new version of the WellShell will feature a smooth black top surface with a silver base that makes it easier for the user to exert uniform pressure from a variety of positions.

TAO Wellness Official Website

Galaxy Armor

There are plenty of cases on the market for the iPhone, but Urban Armor Gear have introduced a new phone case for the Samsung Galaxy S5, which combines style, functionality and protection – and still made it easy to use the handset while its armor is up.

This distinctive one-piece design features a hard armor shell that guards against sharp objects, while a soft rubber core and bumpers resists impact from drops and abuse. It even utilizes a high definition adhesive screen protector to protect against scratches. Each product is independently tested to meet military standards for drop and shock (MIL-STD 810G), and it offers UAG’s feather-lite construction, which results in a patented form fitting design that adds minimal size and weight to the Galaxy S5.

Under Armor Gear Official Website

Quick Fire

Making fire was a defining moment in the history of man – but in today’s high tech world most of us don’t know how to make a fire without a lighter or matches. Sure we can do the Tom Hanks thing like when he was on that island, but the SOLKOA Fastfire Fire Starting Kit can be a lot easier.

The Fastfire material when contacted by a flame or just sparks creates a sustained 1,300 degree flame in seconds. The Fastfire solid cube produces a wind resistant flame that will ignite even when floating on water. The Fastfire solid is a high-energy tinder that resembles a piece of plastic foam, which is hermetically and individually sealed in heavy-duty Mylar wrap for long term storage.

Fastfire blocks can even be easily cut into smaller pieces as needed for extended survival or general use, and the full block will burn for 10-12 minutes. If cut into 8-pieces for extended use, each piece will produce a flame for 2-3 minutes; more than enough to ignite most kindling.

This could end the “quest for fire” – and if you saw that movie you’d know why this is such a good thing.

SOLKOA Survival Systems Official Website

Smart Thinking

Researchers at the University of Oxford found that the human brain can notice symbols faster than it notices generic lights, and with this in mind a group from the school developed Brainy Bike Lights, which feature an LED “cyclists” symbol instead of just a row of bulbs.

In tests the team found that people were able to quickly identify that it was a bicycle and more importantly reacted more quickly to it. Those in the study reacted about 100 milliseconds faster, which for a car traveling at 30 mph could mean the distance of 1.34 meters. That could make a difference for those on the bike!

The lights are reportedly visible from a distance of 20 meters and provide a field of view of almost 180 degrees. The headlight version can run for about 50 hours while flashing, and the tail light can run for 200 hours. That should be plenty of time to get noticed.

Brainy Bike Lights Official Website

Cabela’s Packs It In With New XPG Line

Outdoor retailer Cabela’s new XPG line features a collection that includes backpacking tents, shells, active apparel, running shows and even packs to pack it all in. The line is the eXtreme Performance Gear, and is aimed to help the company branch out beyond hunters and fisherman – and includes hikers, backpackers, peak-baggers and trail runners.

The new XPG line is launching this spring.

Cabela’s XPG Official Website
[Via GearJunkie: Outdoors Retail Behemoth Cabela’s Goes ‘Fast & Light’ With New Product Line]

Garmin Back on the Edge

Garmin has remained on the cutting edge again. This month it unveiled its Garmin Edge 1000, which will carry over many of the training features from its Edge 819 but also add the navigation features of the Edge Touring. This new cycling computer features a 3-inch touchscreen display with full-color 240×400 resolution.

The new cycling computer will come loaded with maps and points of interest including parks and trails, and can provide riders with turn-by-turn directions. It can synced with ANT+ products including heart rate monitors, power meters and speed/cadence sensors. The Edge 1000 is even compatible with Shimano’s Di2 with D-Fly system to display the current gear on the screen. This unit can also be paired with a smartphone so riders can view incoming calls and even text messages.

Once again Garmin could very well give riders an edge in more ways than one!

Video after the jump

Adjustable Moxie

Moxie Cycling shows that it can adjust with its new Adjustable Cycle Skirt, which adjusts between 7 and 14 inches in length, features a hidden waistband pocket for carrying essentials, and — with its liner-free design — pairs with the rider’s favorite bike shorts.

Moxie Cycling Official Website

Shocking News

RockShox, the company that practically defines the mountain bike suspension fork, is turning things upside down. The company’s new RS-1 model features inverted legs and a full carbon chassis.

It is designed specifically for 29ers and features a totally integrated front end system that has been dubbed “Predictive Steering” as it combines the fork and wheel into one. By inverting the fork the damper legs can be more consistently bathed in oil, which means better lubrication and better small bump sensitivity along with more speed. About the only thing not to love about this concept is its high price! Continue reading Shocking News