KineticShift | Evolving Consumer

Double O Light

The Double O isn’t exactly something we’d expect 007 or any other British super spy to use, but these are being developed in the U.K. by Paul Coksedge Studios through a Kickstarter campaign. The Double Os put out 80 lumens up front and 45 lumens in the rear. The designers suggest that this round style uses less bright LEDs but more and that results in a more visible light – without being blinding or otherwise distractive to drivers and other cyclists.

These charge up in 90 minutes via USB and have three modes – steady, which can run for about 2.1 hours; flashing at 4.2 hours and Eco at about 10 hours. Video after the jump

New Balance Runs Back to Boston

New Balance is once again offering a special running shoe to commemorate the Boston Marathon. This year the Limited Edition Boston 890v4 (M890BOS4) is ready to hit the streets of Bean Town, and is a tribute to the supports and competitors of the historic race.

It features a custom color along with the image of Massachusetts ghosted on the side. This shoe uses no-sew construction to keep the wearer’s foot secure at any speed, while responsive REVlite midsole and ABZORB crash pad will ensure runners can go the distance.

New Balance Limited Edition Boston Marathon Running Shoe Official Website

The Two Rs – Riding and Reading

USA BMX knows that there are two fundamental “Rs” – and has launched the “Read to Ride” initiative for young schoolchildren. It is aimed at helping kids make up for learning loss they experience when out of school. This program is currently in a soft-launch and will roll out nationwide in May.

“With the success of our existing after-school STEM Program (science, technology, engineering and math), we felt it was important to continue our commitment to education and a lifelong love of learning. Through the BMX industry partnerships we have built over the years, we have significant interest for support of this new program,” said USA BMX chief executive officer B.A. Anderson.

Students in kindergarten through the sixth grade can read or be read to, choosing any publication or format they like, and log each hour of reading activity through an online tracking system. Each student receives a certificate of participation and a one-day membership to USA BMX. Students who rank in the top tier of their class in hours read earn additional prizes such as water bottles, shirts, hats and synch sacks. The student who logs the most minutes per school wins a BMX bike and helmet and recognition at a school assembly as the top reader.

USA BMX Official Website

Weekend Reading List (04.12.2014): Sport Studies, Name Game, Weight Loss

Sport Studies

From Sport Techie: #SportsInSTEM Series: Applying Sports to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Issues
In recent years, the United States has fallen behind other nations with educating students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Only 16 percent of U.S. high school students are proficient in math and actively pursuing STEM careers. In a world run by technology, where the majority of jobs in the near future will require advanced education in technical fields, these trends are troubling and must be reversed. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (04.12.2014): Sport Studies, Name Game, Weight Loss

Sleeping Pad

If you’re planning to go camping this spring you could still find the ground a bit cold and damp, but the Klymit Insulated Static V camping pad will keep you high and dry and have you almost feeling like you’re back home in your bed. It uses body mapping technology to provide all season warmth and comfort, while the v-chamber design limits air movement and heat loss.

It also inflates in just 10-15 breaths so you don’t get out of breath getting ready for bed.

Klymit Insulated Static V Camping Pad Official Website

Nike Golf Goes for Three

Last month saw the end of winter and while it is still cool and damp out there, Nike knows golfers are ready to hit the green. As such Nike Golf introduced three limited edition footwear styles that include hhe new Nike TW’ 14, Nike Lunar Control and Nike Lunar Clayton. These three designs blend Nike’s innovative performance technology with pops of iconic color throughout all three styles.

Nike Golf noted that each model features premium white uppers and a range of colorful design details, from the outsole to the lace eyelets to the Swoosh. Continue reading Nike Golf Goes for Three

Gerber’s New Edge

We’ve seen – and will continue – to see plenty of utility knives for the trail and campsite. There are knives that could survive the end of the world and be ready for more. Knives that can cut tree limbs, ropes and tin cans; but would you want those to slice or dice the food you’re going to eat?

The Freescape Camp Kitchen Knife from Gerber is a rugged outdoor knife that is meant for cooking. Its razor sharp blade can mimic a chef’s knife and it can handle most food prep, but it features a rugged design that can handle the campsite. Back home it is even dishwasher safe – which is something most of those survival style knives likely are not!

Gerber Freescape Camp Kitchen Knife Official Website

Airbus Ready to Roll

Charge Bikes is charging ahead with a new brand dubbed Fabric. This includes a new collaboration with aerospace giant Airbus to produce bike saddles with 3D-printed titanium rails and carbon shells. The seats look to be aerodynamic, sleek and lightweight. They almost look like these could take flight right off the bike.

Charge Bikes Official Website
[Via BikeRadar: Fabric saddles – sonic bonds and hyper pins]

Back to Boston

You can’t keep Boston down, and even after last year’s tragic and cowardly attack on the Boston Marathon – this year the race will go on. Competitor Group Inc. shows its support with its “Boston Strong” hubt, which includes videos, articles on the course, a spotlight on key Boston players, and facts on the growth of the Boston marathon including breakdown of the runners and number of finishers over the past few decades.

The 118th Boston Marathon will take place on April 21, 2014. Continue reading Back to Boston

Trail Recorders

Trail Cameras has introduced two new outdoor rugged cameras, the Browning Strike Force and Dark Ops Trail cameras and both are small enough to be virtually undetectable by animal or human eyes.

Each of these outdoor cameras is powered by six AA batteries, while offering easy set up. These feature time, date, temperature, moon phase, and camera ID on the data strip of every image, along with trigger speeds of .67 second, recovery times of 2.1 seconds, and increased power efficiency allow the cameras to capture more than 10,000 images on a single battery charge. These provide infrared images with an auto-adjusting illumination feature that prevents overexposed images in nighttime photos and videos; while the extended illumination feature brightens the field of view and eliminates dark edges.

Trail Cameras Official Website

Red Dot on the Forefront

Smith Opitcs’ had received the prestigious Red Dot Award in the Outdoor/Leisure/Sports/Fun category for its new mountain bike helmet, the Forefront. Germany’s Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen last month said the helmet, “set itself apart from all comparable projects thanks to excellent design.”

The Forefront also won the 2014 iF Design Award for innovative design; the GOLD Award in the category of Design & Innovation 2014 by Enduro Mountainbike Magazine; and the Best of Interbike Show Awards last year from Outside magazine and Gear Junkie.

This helmet is designed to provide all-mountain protection with road-race weigh. Instead of EPS, it features an Aerocore liner that provides better ventilation and impact properties and lower weight.

Smith Optics Forefront Official Website

UCI Looking at Google Glass

This week VeloNews reported that a technical commission from the world’s cycling governing body, the UCI, has taken a “look” at Google Glass.

“The equipment commission will address concerns over the outdated method of data and video capture in the biggest races,” one source told VeloNews, on condition of anonymity due to a forthcoming official announcement from Google. “Google Glass technology will take the sport to the head of technological development in major professional sports. The possibilities for entertainment, sport science, and, yes, safety, are nearly limitless.”

Google Glass incorporates a small, Internet-enabled computer in a pair of lightweight eyeglasses and provides wearers with the ability to capture and share photographs and video hands free, and even complete a number of other commands.

This move into cycling marks Google’s first major sports sponsorship as part of its Glass launch. It could mean that Google Glass could soon join such technology as race radios in future events like the Tour de France.

[Via VeloNews: UCI commission to recommend Google Glass use on WorldTour]

Chill Out?

After this long harsh winter the last thing most people are likely to want to do is “chill out,” but soon the temperatures will rise and the Adidas Climachill technology will keep athletes from getting overheated. And it does so by putting metal into the clothing, but this is no suit of armor.

The line incorporates innovative fabric woven with titanium and industry-first 3D aluminium cooling spheres that provide an instant chilling sensation. The high tech fabric is designed to transfer heat away from the body to help the athletes’ performance in warm conditions – lowering their body temperature so they can train harder, run longer, retain focus and compete at the highest level.

The micro fiber fabric allows the apparel to provide the cooling properties of mesh, and in doing so can move excess moisture away from the skin. It utilizes evaporation and conduction methods together for the first time, the ground-breaking SubZero flat yarn contains titanium and is woven throughout the inside of each article of clothing. Flat yarn has more surface area than traditional yarns, which enables it to transfer heat away from your body.

Adidas Climachill Official Website