The roads of London can be dangerous for cycling, but the designers have Foster + Partners have a solution: ride in the sky! Instead of building new roads for cars, the firm along with Space Syntax has looked to develop the SkyCycle, which could follow existing suburban railway corridors and provide bicycle only roads to ride throughout London. By following the rail network this could provide more than 220 kilometers of car-free cycle route, which could be accessed via more than 200 entrance points. Each route could accommodate 12,000 cyclists per hour and improve journey times by as much as 29 minutes.
Author: KineticShift
CES: 360 Degree View
Last year the GEONAUTE 360 action camera made its debut at CES, and it was the first to provide a 360 degree view of the action. Since that time we didn’t hear much about it, but it has gone from proof of concept to actual product.
It features three wide-angle lenses that are each equipped with an 8megapixel sensor and together can capture a unique 360 degree spherical image. This can create 2K videos or even 4K photos, and truly immerse the viewer into the action.
CES: Magellan Gets Colorful
At this week’s CES Magellan will show its true colors and then some. It will introduce its sporting applications to its current Echo smartwatch and is looking to add golf, skiing, hiking and other outdoor activities to its capabilities, as well as adding Dark Blue and Gray to complete the line-up of 5 colors.
“After Echo initially launched, we quickly saw its potential for sports beyond running,” commented Clark Weber, senior director of fitness and wearable products at Magellan. “As an open platform, Echo is designed to work with any app that can leverage a ruggedized, sporty smartwatch. We are proud to announce that leading apps such as Golf Pad, FreeCaddie and AllTrails will be supporting Echo in the near future. Retailers, also, have recognized the advantages of a product focused on sport, rather than general-use smart watches, that don’t meet the needs of athletes.”
The Echo is compatible with iPhone 4S, 5, 5C and 5S, while Android support is coming soon.
Weekend Reading List (01.04.2014): Trek Makes the Cross, Runner Resolutions, 2014 Apps
Trek Makes the Cross
From Bicycle Retailer: Trek unveils IsoSpeed ‘cross bike
Trek unveiled a new line of cyclocross bikes that feature the company’s IsoSpeed decoupler, previously used on its Domane endurance road bikes. The decoupler isolates the seattube from the toptube to increase comfort. The unveiling was done with Trek-sponsored athletes including Katie Compton, and world champion Sven Nys in Baal, Belgium. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (01.04.2014): Trek Makes the Cross, Runner Resolutions, 2014 Apps
January: The Month of Trade Shows
The holidays are over and it is time to get back to work! Whether you like it or not now ‘tis the season of trade shows and for KineticShift that means CES, SHOT Show, North American International Auto Show and SIA Snow Show, where we’ll be seeing all the products that will help you keep those resolutions this year.
Check back all month for our reports from these shows!
CES Official Website
NSSF SHOT Show Official Website
North American International Auto Show Official Website
SIA Snow Show Official Website
Million Dollar… Baby!
What does a million dollars get you at The House of Solid Gold? Try on the 24K Gold Extreme Mountain Bike, which has nearly every plated in gold – right down to the brake rotors. We’re not sure how durable this bike is, but we wouldn’t want to ride it far. You don’t just get gold either, as the THSG head badge on the bike is made from 600 Black Diamonds and 500 golden sapphires! For the record The House of Solid Gold offers plenty of expensive (dare we say useless) products, like a $375 gold-plated soccer ball.
Don’t plan on putting this one on your credit card – as only Cashier’s Check, Money Order or Bank Wire Transfer are viable payments! What no Bitcoin!
2014 Archery Trade Association Tradeshow Preview: Prois Hunting & Field Apparel for Women
January is truly a month of trade shows, which begins week with CES and continues next week with the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and SHOT Show in Las Vegas. While SHOT Show is where we expect to see the latest and greatest in hunting and shooting sport equipment, the 2014 Archery Trade Association Tradeshow will take place later next week in Nashville.
We’re not up for yet another show (and will be heading to Vegas), but have been hearing news of what attendees will likely see. This includes new products from Prois Hunting and Field Apparel for Women, including the new 2014 Women’s Artemis Competitive Archery Shooting Shirt from Prois (above left), and the new Archtach Down Jacket by Prois Hunting. So whether it is competition archery at the range or a day in the woods it sounds like Prois will have women archers covered this year.
2014 Archery Trade Association Tradeshow
Prois Hunting Official Website
No Menace to This Phantom
There are plenty of methods for putting lights on bikes to help younger riders be seen at night, but instead of trying to add lights to the frame, the designers of Phantom Frames are looking to light up the bike. The concept, which is being developed via a Kickstarter project that ends today, looks to have a frame that is normal looking during the day – but at night it can’t be missed.
The concept came to light when Ken Spaulding in Santa Ana, California needed to replace his son’s rear bike light. When his son suggested why couldn’t the whole bike light up instead Ken decided to build one. The result was a series of designs including a polycarbonate frame filled with LEDs that resulted in the first prototype. Now Ken and his boy Jack are looking to bring their bright idea to the masses. Video after the jump
The Right Fit
The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS announced that it is developing a wearable sports monitoring system. The FitnessSHIRT contains new technology that pairs it with a pedelec bike powertrain and smartphone app that can seamlessly manage motor output based on the user’s physiological data.
What this means is that as the rider tires the motor can kick in and give a boost of power. The FitnessSHIRT utilizes conductive textile electrodes as well as an elastic band that is worn around the upper body, and together these can track metrics including pulse, breathing and even changes in heart rate.
Researchers from IIS recently demonstrated how the FitnessSHIRT will work in conjunction with the MENTORbike, a new type of training device considering of a pedelec, smartphone and an online user service site, live at the Medica 2013 Trade Fair in Düsseldorf last November.
Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS Official Website
Urge Not Overkill
In the 1990s the alterna-pop band Urge Overkill had their 15 minutes of fame, but the Urge Supacross helmet could prove to be more than overkill in a very good way. It is designed for cross country mountain bike riding, and is lightweight and offers plenty of vents – as well as internal channeling – to help keep the wearer’s head cool.
The new helmet will be ready to hit the trails later this year. Video after the jump
Crash Time
A crash on a bicycle is not something to take lightly, and the cycling charity the CTC has launched an iPhone app that most cyclists will hope they never, ever have to use. This app is for those who had a crash record vital details of the incident, which could be important if this involves a court case.
The CTC Crash Kit app allows victims to record time of the incident, weather conditions, and even witness contact details as well as weather conditions, photos of the scene and equipment damage, plus early injury details. Once the incident is recorded it can be sent to CTC’s lawyers, who can review the case.
This is of course for U.K. residents at present, but does make for an interesting app to watch. It is available now for iOS while an Android version will come out later this year.
SHOT Show Preview: Intelligent Shooting
Inteliscope can help anyone become a better shot and at the SHOT Show the company will announce the launch of its latest products that extend its line of weapon-mounted digital multi-tool adapters and smartphone sighting apps.
With a smartphone mounted to a firearm, designer Jason Giddings will live video stream from the weapon point of view to a large screen TV to demonstrate the digital multi-tool capability the following new Inteliscope products including the InteliscopePRO – Universal mounting system of durable metal construction, overlaid in rubberized coating to mount smartphones and protective cases; the new Android version Inteliscope Multi-Function App; a new video record function and Reticle Packs.
This will be one we won’t want to miss, and don’t expect Giddings to miss the mark either!
WHEN: January 14, 2014, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: SHOT Show 2014 Press Conference Room (Venetian Room Murano 3201).
CES Preview: The Clear View
There are plenty of cases that protect the device from a drop or a spill, but NueVue will introduce its line of smartphone and tablet cases that could protect you from what is on the devices. We’re not talking about computer viruses but the germs and microbes that can live on the surface of these devices. NueVue cases feature antimicrobial protection will last the life of the product, and actively reduce the levels of nasty stuff on the surface. This BioCote is designed not to wear off or wash away.