KineticShift | Evolving Consumer

POC Goes to the Road

Last year POC made a big impact with its revolutionary award-winning ski and snowboard helmets and more recently with its mountain bike helmets. This year the company is looking to get on the road with new cycling helmets, apparel and eyewear lines. While snow sports sales now account for 80 percent of POC’s business the company is looking to divide its business between cycling and snow sports – likely to be more of a year round business.

POC will debut its new product lines at this year’s Eurobike and Interbike trade shows.

POC Official Website

Made in America: Ticket to Transfer

Carrying gear to a race can be tricky. It is bad enough to forget something on a training ride, but forgetting anything on race day is a disaster. The Inside Line Equipment Transfer bag, which can hold 21 liters of gear, will ensure that racers don’t have to sweat the small details because everything you might need fits in this one bag.

The bag is made in the USA of XPAC sailcloth and has seven storage compartments, with entry through the sides or the top. There is even an elastic exterior pocket for a helmet and a drawstring sleeve inside for dirty laundry and shoes while side pockets provide a place just for water bottles. This bag also offers ergonomic shoulder straps with a sternum strap.

Inside Line Equipment Transfer Bag Official Website

Made in America: Perfect Balance

Running shoe maker New Balance likes to keep things fresh by taking a step backwards. This is certainly the case with the New Balance 1300, a retro-looking running shoe that features premium leather, a mesh upper and a molded midsole. The company now employs more than 1,300 U.S. workers – and hence proudly proclaims that this line of “blast from the past” style running shoes is “Made in the USA.”

New Balance 1300 Official Website

Sock It To You

If your socks say something about your character you are in luck as the SockGuy is taking some of its best-selling sock designs and marketing them in six-packs. These will represent what is hot and what’s in stock – and more importantly ready to ship. With Lucky Black, Chains and Bevy among others you know your feet will be more than covered.

SockGuy Official Website

Marin County Looks to Help Women Cyclists

While some mass retailers still sell “girl’s bikes,” women cyclists often have to do with a male-dominated cycling world. To this end the Marin County Bicycle Coalition this year looked to ensure that women aren’t left by the side of the road. This year it introduced a “Women on Wheels” series, with classes aimed at helping female riders increase their confidence and develop skills to enhance their enjoyment of cycling.

The program is wrapping up this weekend, but hopefully the club will roll it out again in 2014.

Marin County Bicycle Coalition Women on Wheels Official Website

Public Pump

Bike Fixtation was launched as a way to provide public works stands and vending machines to aid riders who might not be able to find a shop. Now the company is introducing durable and theft-proof pumps that will allow riders to get some air when it is most needed.

Bike Fixtation Official Website

Total Bliss

Camping doesn’t mean having to sleep on the cold, hard ground, and while hammocks get you off the ground these typically don’t allow for the sleeper to lay entirely flat.

The Hammock Bliss Sky Bed is the best of both worlds, as it hangs like a traditional two-point Hammock, but it utilizes an asymmetric design that provides a comfortable, relaxation space that is the next best thing to a bed in the trees. It utilizes ripstop nylon that is reinforced at the seams with webbing, providing extra stability and durability whether napping in the backyard or sleeping in the woods.

Hammock Bliss Sky Bed Official Website

Can’t be Defied

Living up to a name like “The Ultimate Gym Bag” might not be easy, but this bag from Defy features 500 Denier ballistic strength Cordura fabric, 1.9 ounce coated ripstop Nylon fabric and offers a 2-inch flat nylon webbing handle. It doesn’t come with lots of pockets but the camo material says it is read for adventure. This bag might be overkill for a trip to the gym but it is probably the last bag you’ll never need for sweaty socks and dirty underwear.

Defy Ultimate Gym Bag Official Website

Foldable Brain Bucket

We’ve seen a few concepts in foldable bike helmets, but the CLOSCA, which is now wrapping up a Kickstarter project, offers a little style along with functionality. While it likely won’t provide the same level of protection as a typical road or mountain bike helmet, for commuters who might otherwise not don a helmet this could go a long way at helping ensure that the rider’s head is indeed covered! Video after the jump

Snack to Recovery

After being on the long road you don’t need a “road to recovery” but possibly a Recovery Crisps. The makers of Sports Beans have introduced a line of Recovery Crisps, which combine two different protein sources including those of why and pea. While this might not sound particularly appealing after hours on the bike these are offered as an easy to digest snack that comes in chocolate, vanilla and berry smoothie versions. Each package offers 10g of protein and is gluten free, peanut free and even OUD Kosher.

Sport Beans Official Website

Made To Wear

Many wetsuits are in essence “ready to wear,” but the Swami Made-to-Measure Wetsuit will provide that perfect fit. This means better waterproofing, increased weather and most importantly better range of motion in the waves. The Swami suits are made of ultraspan stretch neoprene, and feature smoothskin on the arms, chest, back and neck.

The single lined “smoothie” neoprene on the arms and chest promises to be durable while also helping to repel wind and water. It might be a “wetsuit” but this one will help keep you warm and dry.

Swami Official Website

Pad Bag

At first glance the Father Nature Outdoor Sleeping Bag looks a little like something we saw in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It does have that “Mummy’s Curse” thing going on. But instead of a curse the FNO Sleeping Bag, which offers a sleeping pad that is sold with the bag, will provide you with a good night’s sleep in the wilds.

So if you’re heading out on an expedition to find a mummy’s tomb or just doing the camp out thing this bag, which is designed for adults up to 6’2” tall, is packed together with the padding to ensure that you’ll get that decent sleep. Continue reading Pad Bag

Boa Bites Into Triathlon Market

Boa Technologies has helped cyclists have a snug fit with shoes that is just right. This wire-based system works in place of laces, Velcro strips or ratchet closures. Companies such as Zoots and Speicalized have expanded into the market for triathlons as well.

For 2013 Boa will sponsor nine events including the Boulder, Colorado’s Ironman 70.3 in August and the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in October. In addition to these two Ironman events, Boa is sponsoring seven other Colorado triathlons.

At these various events, racers and competitors will have an opportunity to stop by Boa’s booth to trade their shoes for a new pair of Boa-powered footwear at pro deal prices. Used shoes will be donated to One World Running and Mountain2Mountain, two Colorado-based nonprofits.

Boa Technologies
[Via Bicycle Retailer: Boa enters tri market with shoes, race sponsorships]