Author: Peter Suciu

Tri-Shoes Show Spirit

K-Swiss K-Ona S Shows Your National Pride

For specialized competition there are specialized shoes, and K-Swiss has a line of running shoes meant for race day for your next triathlon. Check out the K-Ona S line. These ultra-light shoes are just 9oz, and feature a durable Aosta II rubber outsole, and anatomically correct flex-grooves, along with the Superoam technology, Si-18 crash pad and k-EVA midsole. This will help you do the miles as you hit the pavement, as a TPU midfoot shank lets you go the distance.

The mesh/synthetic shoes further feature the K-Swiss Flow Cool System for moisture management, so you’re feet will stay dry on the long road to the finish. And you’ll not only feel good but looking good too, as this line offers multiple national flag inspired design. While there are options for Germany, Japan, Brazil and Australia, we’re especially taken with the American flag design!

K-Swiss: K-Ona S 

 

TYR These Goggles on for Size

Seeing isn’t merely believing, seeing is what allows you go from competitor to winner – at least when it comes to swimming.

Tyr Sports Next Pro Nano
Tyr Sports Next Pro Nano

And whether you’re hitting the pool, or getting wet and wild in a triathlon, the TYR Sports Nest Pro Nano will let you see clearly.

These performance goggles are inspired by the unique bird nest architectural design of Beijing’s main stadium that was used in the 2008 Olympics, and this nest design provides intertwined support to give a more open field of vision. That can be good in a pool or in open water. The Nano also features a nice and compact frame, along with smaller gaskets so it is ideal for smaller faces and children. And at $24 these goggles are affordable enough as well, allowing you to see your way to victory.

Cast a Giant Shadow in Your Next Triathlon

Spring means that triathlon season is just around the corner, and if you’re looking to shave a few seconds on your time the Trinity Advanced SL from Giant could actually make a colossal difference. Trinity Advanced SLOf course this bike doesn’t come cheap, and dare we say that the starting price of $5,100 is large and with the addition of Shimano’s Electronic Shifting Di2 could go to a titanic $12,000.

The new shifters are just part of the cutting edge technology that makes the Trinity Advanced SL the triathlon bike of choice for serious competitors. While this system won’t actually do the shifting automatically, the electronic controls are extremely precise, which can make a huge difference when you’re racing against the clock. In fact, considering the sleek profile, and comfortable ride this bike has to offer you might not want to dismount and do the running part of that triathlon!

The Giant Trinity Advanced SL

Cage Fitness Next Big Thing

Time to take down the stripper pole – if you actually jumped on that strange bandwagon – because the fad is over. The next big thing in faddy fitness could be “Cage Fitness,” as in the type of training down for Mixed Martial Arts. And even if you’re not about to climb into the ring and/or cage to pummel your opponent, this type of workout probably has more benefits than the pole dancing craze that swept the nation.

For one thing, would you rather be toned and fit like an “ultimate fighter” or able to swing on a pole? But in all seriousness the Cage Fitness workout, such as the one being endorsed and tested by nine-time welterweight champion Matt Hughes, replicates the actual routines that the MMA competitors regularly go through. This includes a full body, muscle toning and cardio workout, and according to those promoting this workout, can be done in about 30 minutes.

While we’ve heard that hype before, this one does work endurance, strength, power and core, and is done through five rounds that are broken into warm-up, upper body, lower body, combo round and core/cool down. The catch is that you can’t really do this at home, so look for Cage Fitness facilities to pop up, and for MMA classes to be taught at the gym soon.

But if you want to give it a test on your own, Men’s Fitness offers a routine that you can test out.

New Bluetooth Spec Announced

While Wi-Fi and WiMAX get all the big hype, there is another popular wireless protocol that is still going strong. That of course is Bluetooth, the PLAN (or personal local area network) protocol. And now the technology is getting a Dick Tracy worthy makeover ala watches. These have been around for a while, but soon could be replacing other wireless technologies for broadcasting short distances.

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has announced that the forthcoming Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0 will feature powerful low energy mode that could have new applications for health, sports and fitness as well as for security and home entertainment. This could mean that Bluetooth technology could be used for heart rate monitors, cycle computers, running computers and other devices that currently work on RF protocols. The benefit of Bluetooth is that it could send the information up to 200 feet, rather than just a few dozen inches. It could also work to transfer information from a monitor to a computer after a workout.

It could also be more reliable than RF, and for anyone that’s tried to get a heart rate monitor or cycle computer to sync right without interference knows how that can help make a work out all the more enjoyable.

Wii Fit for A Lawsuit

While we have long felt that video games really can’t be a substitute for “real” fitness, we do agree that the Wii Fit isn’t a bad place to start. Note the key word is “start.” And it seems that the fitness game is now the center of some interesting lawsuits. IA Labs of Potomac, Maryland is suing Nintendo over the Wii-Fit, claiming it has been “irreparably harmed” by Nintendo’s infringement of IA patents.

 Harmed? Note that the company isn’t saying it got fat from a game masked as a fitness tool, but then we suppose it is claiming that it didn’t get fat in the wallet either. Even more curious is the fact that IA claims it actually had talks with Nintendo about licensing the technology to the Japanese console maker. Now the company is “fit” to be tied.

Via IGN

Aluminum vs. Wood: Are Non-Wood Bats Too Dangerous?

Do aluminum bats give an unfair advantage, and more importantly are these bats potentially dangerous?

If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball you know that “crack” sound all too well. It is the sound of the bat making contact with the ball. But it is a sound that is often lacking in high school baseball, where aluminum and other metal – as well as other space age materials – are also allowed. Some are claiming that these lighter bats mean that there is an increase in the exit speed that could be considered dangerous. In fact, in recent years there have been incidents of injuries of players.

As a result the National Federation of State High School Associations has adopted new guidelines that will come into affect in 2012 on the performance of non-wooden bats. While still not allowed in the majors, aluminum bats were introduced in 1971 as a cheap alternative to wood – although the earliest metal bat was patented in 1924. The majors have never allowed anything but wooden bats, citing competitive and safety reasons, but since the 1970s aluminum bats have been popular with little league and amateur baseball, including at the high school and college level.

The irony is that while aluminum was often a cheaper alternative to a quality wooden bat, advances including titanium bats, lightest grade but still strong aluminum Louisville Sluggers and even double walled bats, and finally composite bats have given players the edge – but at a cost. Today a good wooden bat might cost $50 to $70, while the most advanced bats can cost $400 or more! The argument for aluminum is that it is nearly impossible to break and thus worth the extra money; that and the fact that it can give a performance edge.

Of course safety is what matters most. An advantage in performance not only endangers the other players, but it can spoil the nature of the game.

While Working, Let Your Legs do the Walking

Remember those 1970s commercials for the Yellow Pages that said, “let your fingers do the walking?” Well, not it is years later and American waistlines have increased while finger strength has likely increased not from walking in phone book, but from typing, dialing and texting. What if you could walk instead all day? There actually is a way to let your legs do the walking as well – with a treadmill desk! This concept, which actually isn’t new, is a desktop built around a treadmill. So instead of sitting at a desk all day, you can instead spend the day walking.

The pace needs to be lower, since you can’t actually run for hours – nor can you exactly run and type. But at a steady pace of a mile or two an hour, you can actually talk on the phone, do some typing and best of all still tone up and possibly lose some weight. Of course, you might lose weight as you’ll have to skip lunch for a month to pay for the desk. But there are some options to build you own desk. Just make sure that it is sized appropriately.

We think this is an interesting concept, although it could be difficult to convince some employers let you bring in a treadmill. And obviously this is something that is better suited for those with a house office rather than a cubicle dweller. And if you can’t get on the treadmill during the office hours, might we recommend going for a walk at lunch, or consider walking around the office if possible during a morning conference call?

Built and Design Your Own Treadmill Desk

Fix Gear Bikes Suddenly Uncool? Blame WalMart!

Fix gear bikes are over! It is official – mass retailer WalMart is carrying “fixies” now, so you know that must mean they’re uncool. At least that’s what a lot of bloggers and various hipster types have to say. Here is a sampling of what has been said online:

Blogtown.com:
“Cry your eyes out, fixsters. Fixed gears have gone worse than mainstream. They’ve gone to WalMart. Tipster Amanda G. sent along a Treehugger article about the recent arrival of fixies on WalMart shelves.”

From Gawker.com:
“First Urban Outfitters started peddling them. Now Hipster of the Decade blog Hipster Runoff notices that Walmart is selling fixed gear bicycles. It’s official: The number one cause of fauxhemian crashes on Bedford Avenue is no longer cool.”

OK, so maybe those posts are as sarcastic about this being “over” as we’re taking it. But the truth is that this is actually good news, and we’ll shout it from the rooftops; it is COOL that WalMart is selling the 700C Men’s Mongoose Cachet “Fixed-Speed” Bike. We’re not sure what they mean by “Fixed-Speed,” but at $149, we’re not complaining either.

And for the record, once Specialized and other large bicycle manufacturers got in on the single speed and fixed gear market many said it was over. But this just shows that the market is expanding. And that should be viewed as a good thing. If the hipsters don’t like it, who cares. But WalMart also sells HDTVs and video games, and no one ever said those were uncool.

The Devil is in the Details From Handsome Bicycles

If you’ve never had love at first sight when looking at a bike, check out the Devil from Handsome Bicycles. The best part is that this isn’t just another major bike maker’s attempt to make a unique styled bike for the masses. Of course, the details are actually in the Devil with this sweet looking ride, which thanks to a 73-degree head and seat angle also offers a nice ride as well.

For 2010 the Devil line now includes a new “martini olive” color. And like a well-made martini (stirred not shaken), this one promises to be smooth and steady from beginning to end. It has a longish top tube combined with a medium-low 70mm bottom bracket drop, and a fork that is a neutral 45mm trail measurement. It is a fully customizable frame that can be built up as a city commuter, touring, single speed or just regular knock around bike for those who know that two wheels is a great way to get around. It offers traditional, forward-facing rear dropouts that will allow for derailleurs, internal-geared hubs or even single-speed transmission, so in a word this bike is truly “customizable.”

Additionally, the frameset is also sold naked, but with 2010 decal sheets included, so whether you like your bikes to have a minimalist look or want to trick it out you’ll get to start with a blank slate that will ensure no two are exactly the same.

The Handsome Devil should easily live up to its name, and it is currently available in 52-, 55- and 58-cm sizes (measured from center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seattube).

Handsome Devil Bicycles Product Page

Minneapolis Rides to Top Spot in Bicycling Magazine Ranking

Minneapolis, Minnesota is the best place in the country to bike, at least according to the annual top 50 bike-friendly cities in America, as chosen by Bicycling magazine. This year’s list pays homage to cities that have shown solid innovation in making cycling better, and also looks at how local government support riding.

Interestingly, this list must be taken fairly seriously, as Miami has become one of the five up-and-comer cities, now ranking 44th on the best cities list; quite an improvement from 2008 when the city was on the “Worst Cities for Cycling” list! Miami now has added bike lanes, sharrows and trails in the works, but the city recently hired a bike-ped coordinator to make it even friendlier. As for Minneapolis, it was chosen as best for its thriving bike community, and the fact that it has 120 miles of on- and off-street bicycle facilities, plus indoor bike parking for commuters.

Here is a look at the Top Five Best Cities:

  1. Minneapolis, Minnesota
  2. Portland, Oregon
  3. Boulder, Colorado
  4. Seattle, Washington
  5. Eugene, Oregon

The Top Five “Rising Stars” as cities that are improving:

  • New York City
  • Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Long Beach, California
  • Cleveland, Ohio
  • Miami, Florida

And of course for everything good, there has to be the worst places to cycle. These cities include:

  • Birmingham, Alabama
  • Jacksonville, Florida
  • Memphis, Tennessee

For the entire list, as well as top foreign cities, go to: http://www.bicycling.com/topbikefriendlycities/

Tired Old Tires Turned in Bike Stands

If you have a high-end bike, then you probably have that sense of dread when having to use the typical a bike rack. There is the worry of scratching the frame’s paint or decal, and the fact that the wheel-in-first racks are designed for bikes from decades ago. Even the general “metal” loops are poorly designed to allow for adequate positioning, as there just isn’t enough space to lean the bike.

A Wellington, New Zealand firm may have the answer, and it is one that solves another problem in the process. Duncan Forbes and Matt Hammond of Bikerakk have created a cycle stand that has a solid steel core frame but has a softer outer layer made of recycled car tires. And to encourage businesses to adopt these stands, the rack is in the shape of a bicycle, allowing the rear wheel to be a glass disc that can light up at night for advertising and signage.

So far the Bikerakk is only available in central Wellington, but the company hopes to eventually get the stands throughout the island nation. Maybe it will catch on, as it is a great use of recycled tires and provides a bit of padding. Plus it could be just the thing to remind people that two wheels make a good way to get around.

No Flying Scotsman Tricks for the Track

Track bike racing could turn into an off-the-shelf sport soon, as the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced plans to force teams to use equipment that is commercially available. UCI chief Pat McQuaid noted that Britain, Germany and Australia – three track bike powerhouses – have been warned this past weekend that the use of illegal technological advances will not be tolerated, and that he had concerns about the way some teams continued to flout rules while using expensive equipment that is (in his words) “not commercially available.”

This is reminiscent of when Graeme Obree – a.k.a. “The Flying Scotsman – built a homemade bike and broke the one hour distance record on the track. In Obree’s case the bike wasn’t so high-tech as it was just ingenious, utilizing parts of a washing machine for the bottom bracket, but the fallout was a crackdown on equipment that wasn’t standard. McQuaid has not defined what is actually meant by “freely available” nor “reasonable price” when discussing the new rules, so there will no doubt be questions raised.

But as some teams were riding on bicycle prototypes that cost between 50,000 and 100,000 Euros each, we have to agree that while technology should help athletes, the playing field needs to be level. In this case, even if the track the competition takes place on is banked!