If you have a stand up paddleboard and would prefer to do some sitting you are in luck. The Oar Board allows for quick conversion of a board into a single scull rowing boat. The Whitehall Rowing & Sail company of Victoria, BC have launched an Indiegogo project. It can be attached to a paddleboard in just five minutes and the polymer and marine-grade powder-coated aluminum should be ready for the water. Video after the jump
Author: KineticShift
A Star is Born
Starlight Appeal has introduced a new line of cycling clothing designed for adventure racing. The custom clothes maker’s Starlight Adventure Line is available for custom orders but will also be offered as part of its retail line. These are designed to meet the needs of adventure racers and have no rear pockets – making it easier to wear a hydration pack or backpack, while the jerseys will feature a small gel pocket on the side panels to provide easy access.
The lineup is made of lightweight SPF 50 Coolmax with Lycra mesh side panels and full hidden zippers, and these feature relaxed sleeve openings. The jerseys are also available in a summer-weight long -sleeved version. The shorts are available in cycling and tri versions and have flat pockets on the side panels to store gels or a compass, and these feature a laser cut silicon-infused Lycra power band for extra comfort. The Adventure Line has no order minimums, and current production time is six weeks.
InventHelp To Help Design Skateboard
It isn’t reinventing the wheel, but Davici’s Hillboard is reportedly working to develop a device to capture the thrill and excitement of skateboarding and snowboarding. We’re not sure what this simulation might be, but the original design was submitted to the Atlanta office of InventHelp.
“I invented this idea because I love board sports, and I am fascinated by the hover board from the movie Back to the Future II,” said the unnamed inventor. “I thought it would be awesome to design a board that works similarly to that.”
We’ll be looking forward to what this device could actually be!
InventHelp Official Website
[Press Release: InventHelp Client Develops Redesigned Skateboard (ALL-308)]
Fog Free
With the continued Arctic blast – aka the “Polar Vortex” – that doesn’t seem to want to leave it can be cold out there. A scarf over the face can help keep the chill at bay, but if you’re wearing goggles you might find yourself in a fog. The new North45 scarf – produced up north in Canada where they know a thing or two about the cold – is made of Merino wool.
Its two piece design along one part to wrap around the chin, protecting the neck and lower face, while the second half wraps the nose and this allows for hot air to be exhaled so the scarf won’t get wet and it won’t fog the goggles either.
Elite Guard
There are a lot of simple mudguards on the market that can quickly attach/detach from a bike, but the Musguard is a true elite. Developed via a Kickstarter project the Musguard is truly minimalistic – and it can be rolled up when not needed and coiled on the top tube, but when the street is wet it can be attached to the seatube and protect your back from the spray. Video after the jump
Zippo Lighter
There never can be too much light around the camp site, and while an old Zippo can start a fire the Zippo Outdoors LED Rugged Lantern can bring a whole lot of illumination where it is needed. It features a metal support cage and rubberized corners, which help cushion it from everyday use. This lantern can even survive drops up to five feet, plus it is water-resistant — and will float if knocked into the drink.
It offers three brightness settings as well as a flashing SOS feature for use in emergencies, and it runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery – with runtime as long as 40 hours on low.
Shirt to a T
Sure you can hop on the bike with any old T-shirt, but the Kitsbow Ride Tee is one that is meant for a ride. It is made from New Zealand Merino wool, and each shirt has embroidered nylon shoulder panels for added abrasion wear resistance along with a stitched chest past pocket. It is available in three colors including Olive, Gray Heather, and Charcoal Heather.
Sizes range from XS to XL so it should also fit to a T.
More Than Just Walking and Talking
The concept of Walkie Talkies is so old school, and the new Motorola Talkabout MU350R two-way radios blend powerful wireless communications with practical emergency preparedness features and robust weather-proof housing. These can be paired with a Bluetooth headset, which allows for easy outdoor hands free communication, with the option to monitor radio channels and built-in push-to-talk (PTT) functionality.
The MU350R features Talkabout Clear, which enhances sound quality for clearer transmissions at a higher volume by reducing distortion with a Class D amplifier.
Argonaut Gets Best in Show
The Argonauts sought the Golden Fleece, but Argonaut Bicycles received a different treasure of sorts – it was named Best in Show at the recent 10th edition of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show.
The 2014 NAHBS Award winners are:
- Best City or Utility Bike: Cykel Mageren
- Best Road Bike: Kent Eriksen Cycles
- Best Mountain Bike: Breadwinner Cycles
- Best Cyclocross Bike: Retrotec & Inglis Cycles
- Best Track Bike: Six-Eleven Bicycle Co.
- Best Tandem Bike: Co-Motion Cycles
- Best Fillet Frame: Ellis Cycles
- Best Tig Frame: Kent Eriksen Cycles
- Best Layup: Argonaut Cycles
- Best Finish: Independent Fabrication
- Best Theme: SyCip Bicycles
- Best New Builder: Harvey Cycles
- President’s Choice: Peacock Groove
- People’s Choice: Six-Eleven Bicycle Co.
- Best in Show: Argonaut Cycles
Next year’s NAHBS will be held in Louisville, Kentucky.
Custom Fit
There are plenty of products for gearing your gear on a bike, but recently Tom Puzak, contributing editor at GearJunkie, noted that he went with tailor-made gear instead. The concept of “tailor-made” is that it is truly customized for your exact needs. In this case he called upon the talents of Kedan Griffin, also known as the Bike Bag Dude, who makes custom bags to fit specific bikes. Griffin uses old school tailoring techniques in his studio in Mount Hutton, Australia, and while not cheap these reportedly fit like a glove.
Bike Bag Dude Official Website
[Via GearJunkie: Tailor-Made Packs Fit Exact Dimensions Of Your Bike Frame]
City Rock
We typically think of suspension forks for bicycles as being something intended for off-road riding. However, this winter has left many urban roads in conditions that are worse than some mountain bike trails and fortunately RockShox has just the thing.
The company’s new Paragon fork is intended for urban and trekking cyclists. The 700c fork is designed to take the edge off vibrations from the road and trail. It features a lightweight tunable Solo Air spring paired with an in-ride adjustable lockout, with a PopLoc remote option. The fork legs feature fender mounts and are available in rim brake and disc brake options Without a fender, the Paragon provides room for tires up to 45c in width.
Since city riders might want to see where they are going the Paragon also comes with an integrated wiring management system for dynamo hub-powered lighting; while a headlight can be secured to an integrated mount on the fork brace.
Shoot the Can
Shooting cans is a good way to hone your marksmanship, but most communities today probably don’t even like the idea of shooting BBs let along actual guns at targets in the backyard. However, LaserLyte has created a laser training system and now offers a set of Laser Plinking Cans.
When hit with a laser from one of the company’s training tools the cans react and jump just as if it were hit by a projectile. Continue reading Shoot the Can
Nuun Energy
There is always something new in the way of sports nutrition products, but Nuun and Company have a new energy product – Nuun Energy, an effervescent tablet that contains zero added sugars and is under 12 calories. These tablets are meant to balance hydration and sustain energy with a blend of B vitamins, 40 mg caffeine, and the same Optimal Electrolyte Blend as Nuun’s Active Hydration tablets.
Nuun Energy is launching with three flavors: Wild Berry, Lemon Lime and Cherry Limeade.