Author: KineticShift

Map to Center of Nutrition

The path to better nutrition is clear. This week MapMyFITNESS, the innovators of web and mobile health and fitness-related software applications, announced the launched its new Nutrition Center. This is a comprehensive resource aimed at helping MapMyFITNESS members get better educated about their food choices and more committed to their nutrition and weight loss goals.

The Nutrition Center features a personalized nutrition dashboard that provides members with a snapshot of their daily caloric budget, consumption and the amount of calories they’ve burned in their workouts, as well as daily water consumption calculator. The center further allows members to track what they eat in the way of meals and snacks to a food log for daily food intake tracking. The site provides searchable database of thousands of foods based on USDA data, and even a “My Favorites” component that gives members the ability to save frequently consumed foods for easy addition to their Food Logs.

“Our Nutrition Center is another innovative and powerful MapMyFITNESS tool aimed at helping our members live healthier and more active lives,” said Robin J. Thurston, chief executive officer of MapMyFITNESS. “Historically, we’ve provided users with the practical tools and content they needed to achieve better fitness; the Nutrition Center ups the ante and delivers a great complement to our existing web and mobile technologies as it provides members with the information and tools they need to make smarter food choices and eat healthier.”

Additionally, new functionality will be rolled out in the coming months to allow members to create new foods to be added to the Nutrition Center’s food database and the option to dial in a more personalized calorie budget. Since the release, MapMyFITNESS members have logged over 100,000 different foods in the Food Log; the entries logged to date suggest members already strive toward healthy eating habits as bananas and apples have been the most entered foods.

MapMyFitness Official Website

League of American Bicyclists Calls for Solutions During National Bike Summit

This week is the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Summit taking place March 8-10 in Washington, D.C. as an effort to help the advancement of bicycling in our nation’s transportation and health agenda.

“Summit attendees will be reminding their representatives about the direct value of enhancements, safe routes, recreational trails and other Federally-funded projects,” said League President Andy Clarke. “More than 700 cycling advocates, supporters and industry executives are coming to D.C. to emphasize the importance of bicycling to new and current members of Congress. Bicycling offers an excellent return on Federal investment, in terms of jobs, economic growth, and a healthier America.”

Among those speaking this week will be Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who has been instrumental in the Bike Summit’s 11 year history, as well as Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Robin Schepper, Executive Director of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

League of American Bicyclists Official Website

Wind Tunnel Testing Not Just Full of Hot Air

Wind tunnels have long been a key research tool used in aerodynamic research, and is a way to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.  Among the most common uses has been for airplanes, although the first wind tunnels actually date back to the 18th century – long before man believed it possible to achieve flight. But without a wind tunnel the Wright brothers probably couldn’t have developed their first aeroplane.

Today computer models have begun to replicate much of what a wind tunnel can do, but despite this fact wind tunnels remain relevant tools for testing. This is notable in the fitness world with bicycles. In fact, according to some developers wind tunnel testing is actually becoming more and more important. Canadian bicycle manufacturer Cervélo has released its latest findings from tunnel testing of its latest line of bikes.

The company reportedly has 14 years of wind tunnel experience, and called in JT Lyons of Slowtwitch.com to watch, document and input all of the testing procedures, which the company has since published online. According to these findings the Cervélo P4 is the fastest bike available – with or without its proprietary areo bottle. The study is interesting, and despite being somewhat detailed, certainly isn’t long winded in the least.

Slowtwich.com: P4 in the Tunnel

Urban Bikes Could See New Riders as Gas Prices Rise

2011 unfortunately looks like a replay of 2008 when gasoline prices hit an all time high in the United States. The cost to fill up the tank in the car resulted in many people looking to alternative options to get to work, to the store and just about everywhere else.

The bicycle manufacturers also listened and took note, and ironically are ready this time with a whole new segment of urban bicycles that are ready to get riders from point A to point B and just about anywhere else. Fortunately, too many cities are working to become more bicycle friendly. Continue reading Urban Bikes Could See New Riders as Gas Prices Rise

Bike Trailer for Urban Riders

Whether you’re a regular commuter or just need to use the bike to haul something every once in a while, there is the issue of how to do it. Whilst bike messengers have mastered the art of carrying large bulky items in a shoulder bag, the truth is that for most riders this is a recipe for disaster. A trip to the grocery store with bags slung over the handlebars can result in a trip to the emergency room or worse!

The best solution is a trailer. Our friends at BikeRadar.com have just written up a quick review of the Burley Travoy Urban Trailer System, which is the latest Travoy trailer system. It has a load capacity of 27.2kg (60 pounds), and is stable even when fully loaded, and well balanced off the bike.

The review does note that there isn’t a safety lease, which is a problem if it should become detached from the bike, and the hitch mounting only connects to the seatpost. These issues are minor for most riders, and we like the fact that it provides a good alternative to those who need more than a pocketful of items when they go for a ride.

[Via BikeRadar.com: Burley Travoy Urban Trailer System Review]

400-Mile Bicycle Tour Along Historic Erie Canal

While it might just seem like much today, the Erie Canal was a true innovation in the early 19th century. Without it the “west” might not have opened up as soon as it did, and New York City might not have developed in the major seaport that it did. First proposed in 1807, the Erie Canal was constructed from 1817 to 1825 and officially opened on October 26, 1825. It was the first transportation system between the eastern seaboard and the Great Lakes that didn’t require draft animals. It also cut transportation costs to the American interior by 95 percent.

Cyclists will have the opportunity to appreciate the wonder of the canal in the 13th annual Cross-State Bicycle Tour that runs from July 10-17. Cycling the Erie Canal is an eight-day, 400-mile recreational bicycle tour from Buffalo to Albany along the legendary Erie Canal. Last year’s Cycling the Erie Canal drew 550 riders from 35 states. Over one-third of the riders were from New York State. Continue reading 400-Mile Bicycle Tour Along Historic Erie Canal

Will State Law in New York Kill Cycling?

KineticShift's Enid Burns rides along the Hudson River

The Big Apple can be rotten to the core when it comes to cycling. While Central Park is a gem, and is one of the things this reporter misses from his time in New York City, little else can be said about biking there. The city had in recent years attempted to put the best wheel forward – but then last month City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Queens) suggested that all cyclists in NYC get license and register their bikes.

Now not to be outdone, State Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-Queens) had introduced legislation in the state assembly that would require every bicycle in the state to have a license plate reports Gothamist. A license plate! Yes, a license plate, which would no doubt look great on those $3000+ bikes regularly ridden in Central Park and across the George Washington Bridge. DenDekker has since backpedaled and withdrawn the bill, but could future bills be in the works?

This also begs the question what would it mean for those from New Jersey who ride into New York City, as well as anyone who brings their bikes to the Big Apple to ride.

While this is a dead issue now, let’s recap what DenDekker actually suggested, which included two bills. The first would have required “annual registration of personal bicycles and provides for a license plate fee of $25 for the first year and $5 for every year thereafter,” and to get the plate, riders would need to have their bikes inspected! By whom we don’t know of course. The second bill sounded just as Draconian. It would required every commercial cyclist in the state to carry identification and have insurance, with an initial fee of $50. Continue reading Will State Law in New York Kill Cycling?

PlayStation Move.Me to Benefit Research and Academic Communities

Anyone who thought that video games are just distractions from academic efforts might want to think again. This week at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco Sony Computer Entertainment America unveiled Move.Me, a software application that academics, researchers, students, and hobbyists can use to create new types of software applications using the PlayStation Move motion controller as an input device on their own PCs, all via the PlayStation3 system.

The Move.Me project has the potential to help medical researchers prototype, for example, rehabilitation applications for patients undergoing physical therapy. The Move.Me application could further help lead game design students to develop new creative concepts for gaming within the areas of 3D modeling, motion capture, and augmented reality. The application is compatible with any Windows or Linux-based PC; other devices, such as tablets and smartphones, can also receive PlayStation Move’s tracking data if they can connect to a PS3 system.

“PlayStation Move’s camera-plus-controller combination allows for the most precise and immersive gaming experiences,” said John McCutchan, senior engineer, SCEA Developer Support. “Now we’re formally taking that advanced technology, which was almost ten years in the making, and offering it to innovators outside of our traditional game development community so they can create their own applications to impact the world in exciting new ways.”

The Move.Me application will be available for download from PlayStation Network this spring.

Sony Computer Entertainment PlayStation Move Official Website

National Guard Teams Up with FLW Outdoors

The world’s largest tournament-fishing organization has teamed up with the nation’s most time-honored military branch. This week the National Guard extended its partnership with FLW Outdoors in a union to spread awareness of the national commitment of our serviceman and women to outdoor enthusiasts throughout the world. This project hopes to give back to the soldiers and veterans through an opportunity to engage in fishing events, and to encourage people to explore the opportunity of serving their country.

“We are both honored and proud to have the opportunity to continue our long-standing partnership with the National Guard,” said Trisha Blake, president of FLW Outdoors Marketing Division. “The impact they have had on the growth of our sport has been remarkable. What the National Guard men and women do each day to serve and protect our communities, country and the world is something we should all be thankful for. We look forward to further building upon our unique partnership as we continue to educate our constituents about the opportunities that serving in the National Guard present as well as honoring those that have served with our soldier appreciation tournaments.”

As part of this partnership the National Guard will continue to serve as the title sponsor of National Guard FLW College Fishing, solidifying its commitment to bringing high-end tournament fishing to campuses across the country. It will also be the title sponsor of the National Guard FLW Walleye Tour, the world’s premier walleye tournament circuit. The Guard will continue to sponsor The Bass Federation (TBF) Junior World Championship and the TBF National Championship while serving as the presenting sponsor for the Walmart FLW Tour events on Lake Chickamauga and the Potomac River during the 2011 season.

The National Guard will also be a vital component of the newly launched FLW Outdoors Wounded Heroes Fishing program. The program connects FLW Outdoors member volunteers with wounded veterans for a day of fishing. The program was launched earlier in 2011 and has seen incredible participation throughout the country.

FLW Official Site

FLW Outdoors Wounded Heroes Fishing Program

North American Handmade Bicycle Show 2011: Innovation on Two Wheels

This past weekend proved that it could be a very good year on two wheels, as the world’s largest show for handmade bicycles took place in Austin, Texas. The National American Handmade Bicycle Show 2011, which ran from Friday to Sunday, saw the event set a new exhibitor record.

“After all the hard work over the years it is rewarding to see the show continue to hit new highs,” said Don Walker, founder and director of the annual bicycle show.”And being a former resident of Texas, I am deeply pleased to bring the show back here, to the state where it began. Six years later, there is not a bicycle show on the planet that matches NAHBS for sheer quality, and precious few shows of any type present such a smooth interface between art and engineering. This is the largest presentation of the best in the custom bicycles industry anywhere, period. In the cycling world, it’s worldwide news. In Austin, we see great potential for this show to bring together the sporting, artistic, health, transport, and engineering communities.”

A total of 172 exhibitors from more than 20 states and four continents were reported to have signed up for a booth at the show, with international exhibitors coming from Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. These included the finest examples of manufacture, design and style in the world of handmade bicycles – and the show reported to attract more than 7,000 members of the public, as well as 100 journalists.

While mass market bicycles continue to dominant the industry, it is still refreshing that so much innovation is taking place in the world of handmade bicycles.

North American Handmade Bicycle Show Official Site

Under Armour For Those Soon to be Under Pressure

Hopefuls for the NFL will feel a lot of things, and will likely be under pressure – but to help them, they’ll soon be able to be Under Armour today, as the company announced this week that the E39 shirt, powered by Zephyr Technology, will be used in the NFL Scouting Combine.

“When we decided to create the E39 biometric compression shirt for some of the most talented athletes in the world to wear on one of the most important days of their lives,” says Kevin Haley, Senior Vice President, Innovation, Under Armour. “We were thrilled to partner with Zephyr because the technology has already been proven on the most demanding consumer of all — the U.S. Special Forces.”

Zephyr’s Physiological Status Monitor (PSM) technology is used by U.S. Special Forces, first responders, and consumers in the Connected Health arena to monitor vital sign information within the context of activity.  The NFL Scouting Combine promises to be the perfect environment for the Zephyr to prove it can make the grade for these athletes. With this “under wear” these athletes will be anything but under dogs in the coming scouting Combine.

Zephyr Technology Official Website

Kinetic(Mis)Shift: Galloping to Better Fitness?

Where exactly did the Japanese get the idea that riding a horse made for better fitness? Strangely that is the idea behind Osim iGallop. First, this is just yet another product that is so stupid that the makers think putting an “i” in front of a generic word will make for a potentially blockbuster product – apparently if it works for Apple, it will work for everyone else!

Unfortunately, we see nothing particularly fitness worthy with this product. And the video comes off as soft core porn. Finally, what is really interesting is that this product isn’t all that new. It has been around for a few years, and has inspired dozens of YouTube videos. So while we missed it previously, we still think it is so bad it earns a Mis(Shift) Shout Out!

Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for their utter lack of fitness benefits.

K-Swiss Introduces 2011 Running Shoes

Triathlon season, despite what the current weather situation, is just around the corner, and this month Trek and K-Swiss held a tam camp in Kona, Hawaii, where the latter introduced four new running shoes for 2011, as well as a new trail shoe that will hit it in 2012.

This is quite a step forward for K-Swiss, which just a few years ago was primarily a tennis brand. Now the times have changed and K-Swiss looks to be a major player in the running market – despite the fact that the company has been on somewhat shaky ground, recently noting that worldwide revenue for 2010 was down almost 10 percent.

But now the company looks to be putting its best foot, or rather shoe forward for 2011. Triathlete reported last week that K-Swiss rolled out the four new shoes, which include the Kwicky Blade-Light, a trainer/racing shoe built upon the Blade-Light sole; the K-Ruuz 1.5, ultra-light flat; the Blade-Light Run, which will be available in a safety-oriented neon reflective sole; and finally the Blade-Max Trail, which features  a sturdier version of the Blade-Light sole.

[Via Examiner: Atlana Shoe Market: new models from K-Swiss]

[Via Triathlete: K-Swiss Reveals 2011 Running Shoes At Trek/K-Swiss Triathlon Camp]

K-Swiss Official Website