Play Time

There have been a lot of efforts to make a game out of working out. The problem is that unless the game is engaging most people will still focus on the work part of working out, but Goji Play looks to change this and it claims it can make 30 minutes of working out feel like five minutes.

It utilizes a special controller, an iPad app and wireless sensors that can help truly make a workout seem a whole lot more fun. The system, which is portable enough to bring to the gym, includes a diverse and growing library of games as well. While working out may still require some dedication and even determination, Goji Play could help make it a little more fun.

Goji Play Official Website

Roll Like the Danish

E-bikes are often good in concept but sometimes provide assistance when you don’t need it. The other problem is that e-bikes cost a lot, and weigh a lot. Designers at MIT might have a better solution. They’ve created the Copenhagen Wheel, which gives a power assist based on the effort. This in turn allows riders to go faster and further.

The wheel can monitor effort, so when a rider struggles or pushes harder the wheel in turn provides more power. Users can also adjust the level of assistance via a mobile smartphone app. The Copenhagen Wheel even utilizes regenerative braking to get juiced up as well.

The best part however is that no special bike is needed and the Copenhagen Wheel can be used with most bikes. Video after the jump

CES Preview: The Echo Gets Awarded Again

The Magellan Echo made its debut this year at the Outdoor Retailer 2013 show and received two Best-in-Shows wards. Now it has been named a 2014 CES Innovations Award Honoree. This is the first smartwatch dedicated to running by connecting smartphone fitness apps to the wrist.

It utilizes Bluetooth Smart to wirelessly connect with a handset and provides control of apps, with support from Strava, MapMyFitness, iSmoothRun and Wahoo Fitness. The rugged watch is water-resistant and can go the distance. We look forward to taking a closer look at the Echo at next month’s 2014 International CES. Video after the jump

Blast in the New Year

Rudy Project has released the Airblast, the first sunglasses aimed at precision sports. These performance sunglasses incorporate a number of new and classic technologies from the Italian crafters of high-quality eyewear. These advances allow the Airblast to provide the upmost in ergonomics, protection and high-definition optics.

The Airblast offers fully adjustable temple tips, which ensure a custom, precise fit for any face and won’t budge during recoil. The newly designed ErgoVI nosepiece further eliminates visual interference by maintaining a low profile and optimal position, while the Vented Brow Bar helps avoid heat buildup and fogging. The rimless mask design also allows the optics to provide for total peripheral vision and a completely unobstructed view of any target.

Most importantly these feature ImpactX technology, which is essential for sporting sports. These technology is used in Apache helicopter windshields and is guaranteed unbreakable for life.

Ruby Project Airblast Official Website

Power it Up

New Trent has introduced its PowerPak Ultra, which allows users to keep their USB-based devices juiced up even in the most extreme environments. It features a rugged exterior, and has an IP-67 rating, which means it can survive most drops and can even be temporarily submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. It packs 14,000 mAh of power or enough to store 700 percent of the average smartphone’s battery. With two USB ports it can simultaneously juice up almost any combination of smartphones, tablets and other USB-based devices.

New Trent PowerPak Ultra Official Website

XS Marks the Spot on the Trail

The new XS Trail RS helmet is now ready to hit the trail in America. This helmet, which was three years in development from freeride pioneer Richie Schley, is aimed at endure, trail and cross country (XC) riders. It features full inmold coverage, 22 vents plus internal air channels, a ratchet safety closure, crash-release visor and Y-clip adjustable strap system, and is offered in black, gray, blue or green in sizes S/M and M/L.

North American distribution is being handled by Gravity Cartel, and we expect to see this helmet on trails in the New Year.

Gravity Cartel Official Website

CES Preview: Striker Strikes Again

Whether lightning strikes twice in the same spot is still open to debate, but Striker will strike again at next month’s CES in Las Vegas. The company looks to introduce for 2014 the Capsule Task Light, a four-in-one light that can work as a headlamp, flashlight and more. It promises to offer all illumination you could use while out on the go! We’ll be sure to check out all of Striker’s offerings at CES.

Striker Official Website

Fast Lane Indeed

Mark Cavendish is fast. Known as the world’s fastest sprinter he’s penned his second book, At Speed: My Life in the Fast Lane, which chronicles his days as a “fat” kid to his winningest Tour de France sprinter. It also offers up a personal look that at his screaming fights with teammates, his rancorous contract negotiations, crushing disappointments and his often testy relationship with the media. But it also shows that for Cavendish… winning is always the cure.

Velo Press: At Speed – My Life in the Fast Lane

Merry Christmas and Merry Fitness!

Merry Christmas from Kinetic Shift!

Center Stage

Stages Cycling is powering up again, with an update to its mobile app and firmware on its crankarm-based power meter. This will add new features including a high-speed data analysis tool that could be useful for BMX racers and track sprinters who want to look at a very small sample of pedal stroke data. The meter, located on the left crank arm, records force and torque data 64 times per second. The data is sent via Bluetooth to the iOS app, which can then email the data in a .csv file.

The company further added pedal smoothness and torque efficiency data gathering, which can be used with Garmin’s 510 and 810 cycling computer models.

There is also new battery level features to its iOS mobile app, which when the app is connected via the Bluetooth LE wireless system will show the power meter’s battery level; when connected via the ANT+ wireless system. The app will further present a low battery warning when there is about 10 hours of battery life remaining.

The app includes a Fahrenheit/Celsius toggle to use during device calibration and a “Tools Page” that shows the meter’s calibration data and other settings.

Stages Cycling Official Website

Louis Garneau’s Holiday Gift: A $100,000 Christmas present for the Little Brothers- Friends of the Eldery

Press Release: Louis Garneau and Pierre Dion presented a cheque for $101,223 to the Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly organization. Thanks to the record participation of the public to the Granfondo Garneau-Cascades presented by Quebecor, the amount raised represents $40,000 more than last year!

For Pascal Fournier, Director of the Little Brothers- Friends of the Eldery organization in Québec, this amount will greatly improve the help for the elderly: “The money raised will go towards the maintenance of the vacation home at St-Joseph Lake and to the development of the Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly in the greater Quebec region. This will allow us to welcome more lonely elderly from Quebec City and surrounding area who will never again be alone.”

For Louis Garneau, organizer of the event, the funds collected are synonymous with both victory and promise kept: “Last year, I promised that we would surpass ourselves and reach greater objectives, and that’s exactly what we did! It was possible thanks to the 3,000 participants of the Granfondo and the help of our valued sponsors. I would like to express a very particular thank you to Pierre Dion, Honorary President of the 2013 edition, for his generosity and indispensable help in making this event a success. I am proud that together, we contributed to improving the life of the elderly suffering from loneliness, while practicing a sport we love.”

2014 Granfondo Garneau-Quebecor

Louis Garneau Sports and Quebecor are proud to sponsor the sixth edition of the Granfondo Garneau-Quebecor presented by Cascades, which will take place on August 10, 2014. In addition to the cycling portion, a 10 km foot race is added to the event, making even more people move.

Granfondo Garneau-Quebecor

Kinetic Gets Training Partner for Winter THAW

This month Kinetic announced that it has teamed up with training experts at Carmichael Training Systems (CTS), and this will provide cyclists who use the innovative Kinetic by Kurt trainers access to indoor training advice and coaching that can help them go the distance this winter.

The new partnership, which runs through all of next year, kicks off with a special Winter T.H.A.W. (Train Hard And Win), which includes a new Kinetic Road Machine Trainer, three months of CTS full-service coaching and a Train Right Climbing series DVD set. This also includes a 100 percent personalized training schedule, power file analysis and schedule adjustments.

Winter T.H.A.W. Official Website

Change of Color

The military has long looked to develop superior camouflage, but typically the only method of changing the color was to have it be two sided – thus summer green on one side with the browns and oranges on the other. This year Cabela’s worked to develop ColorPhase, which the company noted is the world’s first camouflage clothing to be printed with rapid-change, temperature-activated dye.

What this means is that when it is warm outside the fabric remains mostly green, but as the temperature drops below about 65ºF (18ºC) it starts to change to brown. ColorPhase isn’t limited to just the jacket and also includes caps, gloves, pants and shirts. Continue reading Change of Color