Author: Peter Suciu

No Such Thing as Bad PR(Bar)

There is an old saying that there is no such thing as “bad PR,” so we’re curious about the new PR Bars, which have nothing actually do with the other kind of PR. These are actually Personal Record bars, which use something called Fast Burn Nutrition I echnology. This reportedly can keep insulin levels steady so that the body will use fat stores as an energy source. In other words, you shouldn’t get that sudden burst of energy followed by the accompanying crash that often occurs when eating other energy bars during a workout.

The PR Bars sound good too – good PR maybe – as they offer 15 grams of protein and yet only 200 calories. According to the company these can control hunger for three to six hours, and actually these come in tasty sounding flavors such as Double Chocolate. That’s enough to make you want to work out longer, just so you can indulge with one of these bars.

PR Bar Official Website

Bicycle Briefcase

There have been a lot of folding bicycles, including several that are small enough to fit in a suitcase, so when we heard that there was a briefcase bicycle we quite expectedly got a little excited. But in fact the bike doesn’t fold up to a size small enough to actually fit inside a briefcase, and instead the carbon fiber bike comes with a carbon fiber briefcase that helps maintain the rigidness of the frame while riding. The bike was designed by Marcos Madia, a finalist in the Seoul Cycle Design competition.

It is an interesting concept, and it is just in the concept stage at this point. The biggest downsides we see to the bike is that it is still likely to be too big to bring into most offices (those building managers have something against bicycles), and the briefcase is too small to transport much. Likewise, there is the fact that this could be a tricky bike to lock up too – and it has “steal me” practically written on the side, even if it isn’t quite stable enough to ride without the briefcase. Now if only there was a way to get a folding bike that could actually fit inside a briefcase. George Jetson had his aircar that folded up, so a bike should be a no brainer.

Radar for the Golf Course

We’ve previously heard about a radar system that could find lost golf balls – but alas that product isn’t currently being sold. So instead we did some digging, and we realized that even better than finding a lost golf ball was not losing it in the first place. And that also involves using a bit of radar. It seems this technology will help you improve your game. TrackMan is a radar unit that can measure both club delivery and the full trajectory of any golf shot, up to 400-yards. That could mean no more lost balls.

It can be used to track date on club speed, attack angle, club path, vertical and horizontal swing plane, spin loft, ball speed, and even flight time – plus a whole lot more. No calibration is needed and the TrackMan Pro can be used with a computer via a USB 2.0 port, and provide a printable report of your efforts. An indoor version can help you train in the offseason as well. Either way, with TrackMan’s unique proprietary radar tracking system and software for your computer you can get the same type of analysis that is often used by the PGA, the R&A and USGA. Of course you’ll still have to work at it to make better swings, but here is where technology can show you what you are doing wrong, and how you can improve.

And some people think golf is just about hitting a ball into a hole on nicely manicured lawns.

TrackMan Official Website

Marine Corp Marathon Gets App Coverage

Whether you’re running in a marathon this year or just watching from the sidelines, there will be an app for that! The New York City Marathon on November 7 will feature support for an iPhone app for the first time this year, and it will include news alerts as well as live video of the professional race, but for a different way to “phone in the race” there will be the RaceMate app for the upcoming Marine Corp Marathon.

The race, which is set to take place on October 31, will be the first to provide GPS coverage with real-time connection between runners and followers. RaceMate is an app for the iPhone and Android smartphones as well as the Apple iPad, which can allow a follower to track the route and location of a runner in the race. Continue reading Marine Corp Marathon Gets App Coverage

Gates Takes CenterTrack

We’ve heard about the Gates Carbon Drive Systems and their new centralist position. And no, we’re not talking politics but something far more important, namely bicycle technology. This is specifically the CenterTrack System, which was invented by cycling innovator Wayne Lumpkin.

The new drive train technology has the promise of being the lightest, strongest and cleanest – not to mention best performing belt-drive system – yet created for a bicycle. So what does this mean? For one the CenterTrack should offer up 20 percent greater tensile strength while still offering a slimmer profile. The whole belt-drive thing is pretty innovative and CenterTrack could be a major leap forward, offering a clean, quite ride and now with a greater level of performance. The CenterTrack utilized front and rear pulleys that feature a narrow track that runs around the center of their circumference, rather than the raised flange that we traditionally see with belt-drive bikes. Continue reading Gates Takes CenterTrack

Glow You On Your Way

As any cyclist knows you can’t count on the guy in the car to see you. While reflectors and even blinky lights can help provide some illumination, it isn’t always enough, especially for those who commute. As the sun begins to set earlier, and dusk comes by rush hour, getting a little more light can help make the ride home all the safer. Bike Glow Safety Lights are a new way to light up the way, whether it is low light or even complete darkness. The waterproof, battery operated light system can be completely wrapped around the frame of a bike, and unlike pedal reflections or blinky lights, the Glow lights can be seen from multiple directions and angles and at much greater distances.

“Cyclists have been in need of a product that makes them visible from the side for years,” said Bike Glow CEO Chris Cobb. “Our Bike Glow safety light provides riders with a lightweight and inexpensive solution. Cyclists who use Bike Glow can ride without fearing they will be struck by a vehicle on early morning or late evening rides.”

The Bike Glow Safety Light system utilizes a ten-foot flexible light tube. The system’s electroluminescent technology provides bright colors for increased visibility from all angles, while the flexible tube can be used in any weather condition. It is powered by just 2 AA batteries, with up to 120 hours in flashing mode or 50 hours in constant illumination. And if you ride in a pack you can guide the way and be a point of light for others on their night ride home.

Bike Glow Safety Light

People Choice Tries on GPS Smart Shoe

While there are many tracking programs out there for children and even teens, GTX Corp introduced an innovative product aimed at adults suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Many sufferers are actually in good physical condition and thus aren’t confined to a room or even a house. To keep track of loved ones, the company came up with a novel idea – namely putting a tracking device in the footwear.

Now the GPS Smart Shoe has won the 2010 People’s Choice Award for Most Innovative Connected Location Device at the 4th Annual Locations & Beyond Summit this past week. Continue reading People Choice Tries on GPS Smart Shoe

Samsung: To Russia With Love With Fitness MP3 Player

In the 1982 film Firefox (which had nothing to do with the Internet browser) Clint Eastwood played a top-notch pilot who took part in a secret mission to steal a Soviet prototype jet fighter. We wonder if such an exploit might be needed today to bring the YP-U6 from Russia? While not a state-of-the-art combat aircraft that can be controlled by a neuralink, the Samsung portable music player is almost worthy of a spy capper.

Much like the newly announced Philips device this one has a special fitness program, which can calculate the calories spent while the listener was using the device for various activities. It is also equipped with a built-in full-size USB connector, making it easy to transfer music to the device, as it as a built-in voice recorder, to transfer those recordings to a PC. The YP-U6 also features a four-line color CSTN display, and is equipped with SoundAlive technology to simulate a 5.1-channel format. It supports MP3, WMA, OGG and FLAC, and even has a built-in FM tuner. Two versions will be available when the YP-U6 arrives in stores in Russia later this month including 2GB and 4GB models.

Alas, no death ray, spy camera or other SMERSH type goodies included.

[Via IT Chuiko: Samsung offers a player with a fitness trainer]

Biggest Loser Inspired Clothing Now Available

You need to look good to feel good while working out. That’s the motivation of the new BL Body athletic line of fitness attire, which was inspired by the high NBC series The Biggest Loser. This line of clothing uses a special shaping technology to give anyone who wears it a bit of extra support to feel good, and thus look good.

Fashion designer Bruno Schiavi created the clothing, with the idea of providing empowerment to help people change their lives in a very positive manner. The garments feature longer cuts, hidden pockets and thumb holes, as well as including features such as iPod holders for wearer’s. Likewise, Schiavi introduced the line with bright and vibrant colors to encourage the wear to remain motivated in their attempts at healthier living.

The BL Body athletic collection is available from HSN.com

Koko FitClub Goes to Silicon Valley

The company that revolutionized the 30 minute in-gym workout is heading to Silicon Valley, and we’ll be curious if this results in any revolutionary technological innovation from the world of fitness. Koko FitClub will be opening a new club in February 2011 in Silicon Valley. Owners Jeff and Elaine Mossner have a belief that traditional gyms don’t actually work for 84 percent of the population, so it will be interesting to see if their club will take off with the potentially unique clientele offered from the high-tech world.

As we previously reported, the Koko Smartraining System guides users through a very personalized yet high-effective workout on the club’s proprietary strength and cardio equipment. “With Koko, we aren’t going to be selling people more stuff they don’t need,” says Elaine Mossner. “An invitation to join Koko is an invitation to make your life better. I can’t wait to meet people and tell them, we have a fitness solution for you!”

Koko FitClub

Row, Row Indo-Row

Rowing machines have long been praised for providing an ideal workout. While many devices at gyms have come and gone, the rowing machine has long remained a staple. Rowing actually provides a really decent workout, and when done right uses 60 percent legs, 20 percent arms and 20 percent core muscles. Thus rowing can provide a really good workout.

The problem with many machines is that they don’t quite capture the same type of physical activity as actual rowing on water. Worse still the best rowing machines do the job, but then take up so much room that even health clubs are reluctant to utilize them. Some boats seem only slightly bigger. Continue reading Row, Row Indo-Row

GPS Transcends to Snow Goggles

If The Terminator ever got on a snowboard he’d likely have useful information, such as speed and temperature, right in the front of his eyes – or visual optical system or whatever it was supposed to be. The rest of us have traditionally had to look down at a device to get all that data. When roaring down a mountain looking down isn’t a good idea, so you either have to stop what you’re doing or hope for the best. But Zeal Optics will change everything beginning this Sunday, October 10, with the release of the world’s first GPS enable goggle, the Transcend GPS – which could truly transcend the way you track your activity. Continue reading GPS Transcends to Snow Goggles

Almost Like Running in Space

In space no one can hear you scream. That’s an old science fiction line of course, but it has truth to it because sound doesn’t travel in a vacuum. What can travel in a vacuum is you, as in you can still run in a vacuum. The question of course is why would you want to do so?

Well, the answer is that running results in pounding on the joints, and this repetitive pounding on knees, hips and ankles isn’t good. The irony is that running is great for the heart. So how do you keep the running and reduce the pounding? A trip to the International Space Station would work, but that would be pricey. The alternative is an anti-gravity treadmill.

That might sound like something out of Star Trek but the technology is around today. The Alter G Anti-Gravity Treadmill allows runners to essentially climb into a shoe shaped enclosure, which utilizes pressure regulation that can reduce body weight from 0 percent to 80 percent. Users still have to suit up with a special pair of shorts, and while not as cumbersome as a full space suit, these aren’t exactly your normal running attire either. Continue reading Almost Like Running in Space