KineticShift | Evolving Consumer

Ballista Ready to Launch

A ballista was a medieval weapon that fired massive arrows and now the FBM Bike Co.’s new Ballista is ready to hit like a massive bolt! It is actually designed specifically for hardcourt bike polo players.

This tig-welded chromoly frame is based on the original FBM Sword frame geometry, but features modifications based on input from Evan George and Koyo Maeda of Seattle’s The Assassins bike polo team. The Ballista features a frame that has a taller headtube for a more upright riding position, a lower seattube for more standover clearance and a bulged seattube for more strength at the top tube/seatstay junction. The frame has optional front and rear canti mount brakes and optional front disc brake mounts.

FBM Bike Company Official Website

XBand on the Run

Tracking runners once just required a stopwatch, but today coaches have more options and now the XBand Speed Pro offers coaches as way to track speed and agility metrics through a new wearable device. A wearable body module is paired with a finish line module and smartphone adapter and can be used to interpret data and display the results in the accompanying app. It utilizes a microwave sensor, accelerometer and RF modules to precisely measures and transmits key performance data to a smartphone app as runner’s train, and with this information runners can improve their speed and performance.

The XBand Speed Pro is being developed via a Kickstarter campaign, and the designers hope to have it off and running later this year. Video after the jump

Ride Where the Pros Were

While the Tour de France is notable that most of it takes place in France, there have been several stages across the English Channel in the U.K. Now Ordance Survey has has produced an app to enable cyclists to ride every single meter of road that the Tour de France has covered since it first visited the U.K. in 1974.

This iOS app details the historic U.K. Tour stages from 1974, 1994 and 2007 as well as the routes for the three stages to take place in Yorkshire and South East England this July.

OS Ride Ordnance Survey Limited at the Apple App Store
[Via BikeRadar: Ordnance Survey launch free Tour de France app]

Weekend Reading List (04.19.2014): Lance Shows He Can Change (a Tire), Another Brick In the Wall, Going Primitive

Lance Shows He Can Change (a Tire)

httpv://youtu.be/HIm_9Ts7RFk

Via YouTube: How To Fix A Mountain Bike Puncture (With Lance Armstrong) Continue reading Weekend Reading List (04.19.2014): Lance Shows He Can Change (a Tire), Another Brick In the Wall, Going Primitive

Boston Strong With Adidas

Next Monday TODAY’s Natalie Morales will take part in the Boston Marathon while wearing a custom Adidas Energy Boost 2 thanks to a generous donation from adidas Running to One Fund Boston. Natalie will be one of several wearing these limited edition shoes on race day, which represent supporters from around the world as a part of Adidas’ #weallrunboston campaign. Thanks to the passion and support of thousands, Adidas raised and donated more than $1.3 million for One Fund Boston in 2013. This year, to help Natalie’s fundraising efforts benefiting One Fund Boston and Challenged Athlete’s Foundation.

“I’m running in honor of the victims of last year’s attacks and hope to raise money for Boston’s One Fund,” said Natalie Morales, TODAY co-host. “Their resilience and ‘Boston Strong’ attitude have been a huge inspiration to me and to so many of you across the country.”

Today: Natalie Morales Official Website

Romer3 If You Want To

Rome wasn’t build in a day, but the Romer 3 eyeglasses from Wiley X didn’t take long to join the popular Series of performance protective eyewear. This new style is aimed at hunters, shooting sports enthusiasts and others who require state-of-the-art eye protection, clear vision and the ability to select from a range of lens options to best suit environmental conditions.

These feature a full-frame, wraparound-style sunglass with Wiley X’s innovative Slot technology that allows for easy lens removal and replacement while ensuring the highest level of structural integrity and vision protection. The new Romer 3 meets stringent ANSI Z87.1 High Velocity and High Mass Impact Safety standards, providing occupational grade protection for all wearers and a wide range of activities; as well as the updated MIL-PRF-32432 (GL) MCEP Standard for ballistic eye protection. It also meets the EN-166F high velocity impact standards.

The Romer 3 features a lightweight, ergonomic frame for all day comfort, while the non-slip nose bridge keeps the Romer 3 secure on the wearer’s face, even during strenuous activities at work or in the field. The glasses also offer Foil Anti-Fog lens coating to ensure clear, distraction free vision in challenging conditions and a special T-Shell™ lens coating to resist scratching.

The Romer 3 is offered in two lens package options – one includes a Matte Black frame paired with Smoke Grey and Clear lenses; the other matches a Matte Black frame with Smoke Grey, Clear and Light Rust lenses. All of these lenses provide 100 percent UVA/UVB protection and distortion-free vision.

These are much more than just eyeglasses these are true stylish eye protection as well.

Wiley X Official Website

CamelBak Pitches It

CamelBak has entered the filtered-water pitcher market with the CamelBak Relay, which featured a Double Filter Technology system that filters water twice – once as the pitcher is filled and again as water is poured. CamelBak says that this means the pitcher filters water 10 times faster than the leading competitor.

The filter lasts four months with regular usage and removes 97 percent of chlorine, taste and odor. The pitcher holds 10 cups of water and fits in most refrigerator doors, while a pair of side-locking latches keeps the lid in place and ensures spill-proof pouring.

CamelBak Official Website

Cast Off

Fishing is generally easy to pick up, but fly fishing can take some work to master. Patagonia looks to make it a little more accessible with its Patagonia Simple Fly Fishing Kit, which includes tenkara rod, the book “Simple Fly Fishing: Techniques for Tenkara and Rod & Reel,” which offers basic fly fishing techniques, a line, leader, and a box of one-dozen already-tied flies. About the only thing missing is land with a river that runs through it.

Patagonia Simple Fly Fishing Kit

Taking a Dive

Victorinox, the makers of the Swiss Army Knives, has long made watches and this spring the company launched a limited titanium edition of its Dive Master 500, which is limited to just 500 pieces. It features a 43mm case in Grade II titanium and is water resistant to up to 500 meters. It also features protected screw down crown and push buttons.

Victorinox Official Website

Cannondale Looks to go OverMountain Again

You can’t ride through the mountain – unless there is a tunnel – so most of the time that means going over it. The Cannondale Trigger and Jekyll “OverMountain” trail/endro bike is ready for the ride. It features 27.5 inch wheels, superMax Lefty forks and a new Fox Dyad rear shock.

The Trigger (above) is this year’s new trail/all-mount ride, which features 140/85 millimeters of adjustable travel and comes in five models — three of which are equipped with a 140-millimeter SuperMax Lefty. The Trigger will also be available in a 29-inch version. Continue reading Cannondale Looks to go OverMountain Again

Bicycle and Walking Commuting on the Rise

More people are walking or bicycling to get to work, and this is in turn making people safer. These are two of the conclusions presented in the 2014 Benchmarking Report published by the Alliance for Biking & Walking. The report, published every two years since 2003, is one of the Alliance’s key initiatives.

The report is compiled from data from all 50 states, the 52 largest cities and, for the first time in this report, 17 midsize cities. It looks at the rate of walking and biking, accident and injury rates, the level of spending on biking and walking projects and issues, and the level of advocacy support in various regions and communities.

A key figure is the percentage of commuters who bike or walk to work, and although the number is still tiny, the report shows a steady increase: In the 2005-2006 report, the Alliance showed that nationally 0.4 percent of the population biked to work. In the latest report, the number is 0.6 percent. In large cities, the percentage biking to work has grown from 0.7 percent to 1 percent over the same period.

Alliance for Biking & Walking 2014 Alliance Benchmarking Report Official Website

Deluxe Storage

If you’re heading out on the bike there is always more stuff you need and less room to bring it. The Bike Cube Deluxe from Mountainsmith will let you carry the goods in style. It features a roll-up tool organizer, padded changing mat, a padded eye-wear pocket, specific spots for helmet, shoes and more. This ensures that you don’t leave that important “something” behind. It works as a standalone piece or in conjunction with our Modular Hauler Systems, so you can arrive at the next event in style.

Mountainsmith Bike Cube Deluxe Official Website

Biodegrading in Memphis

While you can be walking in Memphis, you can know that the new Zeal Optics’ Memphis sunglasses won’t last forever. These are part of the company’s Crafted series of biodegradable sunglasses, and are made of acetate based on Italian-grown cotton.

“Taking its hints from the retro classics, Memphis stands as a piece that transitions from suit and tie to an afternoon on the boat and is wearable by all,” said Zeal director of marketing Joe Prebich. “Subtle eye shape with a flat bridge on the brow of the glass allows for a closer, more comfortable fit. Lightweight sculpted temples help to increase comfort as well, for a long-term wearable sunglass.”

The Crafted Collection includes the Memphis, Ace, Fleetwood and Dakota models, and all are biodegradable, designed in Colorado and made in Italy.

Zeal Optics Official Website