Category: Equipment

Ain’t Got That Swing – Gold Flex Golf Swing Training Aids Can Help

With respect to Ella Fitzgerald, “It just don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that swing.” But she was probably talking about music and we’re thinking about golf. If you “ain’t” got that swing, then maybe give the Gold Flex Gold Swing Training Aids a go.

These are strength and tempo training devices that are designed to improve your swing while providing a core muscle workout. It also provides a great low-impact stretch to help get you warmed up. It further encourages users to make a flatter swing plane. It sounds to us like this could mean quite a thing and make sure you got that swing!

Golf Flex Gold Swing Training Aids at SKLZ
[Via BeSportier: Gold Flex Golf Swing Training Aids Provide Workout And Training]

What a Bike – the Wattbike

While summer is here and that means hitting the long and (hopefully) winding roads, the weather isn’t always so forgiving. When it comes time to head in doors there will be the Wattbike Trainer and Pro Bikes, the world’s first affordable indoor bikes that accurately measure a rider’s power.

Watt computers allow athletes to instantly see how much power (Watts) they are producing versus waiting on their heart rate to reach a certain point. Signed off by the English Institute of Sport as being accurate, it is the first indoor bike that has ever been endorsed by British Cycling and is widely used by UK and European elite athletes, sports bodies and professional sports teams as their preferred high performance cycle training device.

The founders of Wattbike first approached British Cycling in 2000 with the idea to create an indoor bike which accurately measures a range of high-performance parameters, and six years later the governing body was satisfied that the Wattbike met their criteria.As a result, today Wattbike remains the first and only indoor cycle trainer to be endorsed by British Cycling. Continue reading What a Bike – the Wattbike

Kinetic Shift at the Gran Fondo Los Angeles

This past weekend, Kinetic Shift went to the first Gran Fondo Los Angeles, which started off in Beverly Hills and headed through Santa Monica and over to the massive climbs of Topanga Canyon Road. The event was sponsored by Colnago, which was one of the innovators of carbon fiber technology. The company has worked with Ferrari since the 1980s to produce new materials.

Above is the bike that belongs to Alessandro Colnago, grandson of company founder Ernesto Colnago. This reporter had an opportunity to ride that bike on the 72 mile ride… note my “second water bottle” of choice!

Get Up and GoTality

Performance Designed Products (PDP) has made it easier to get up and go, and to turn your iPod or iPhone into a fitness monitoring device. The GoTality is a cardio fitness kit that is compatible for all models of the iPhone as well as iPhone, and the complete package, which is available now for $59.99, includes a clip-on heart rate monitor and reflective exercise armband that keeps the device snug while you’re off on the go.

The GoTality app essentially works with an ear clip that can track the distance a user runs or steps taken, while also tracking biometric data including heart rate, basal metabolic rate and even Body Mass Index (BMI). Of course what’s a heart rate monitor that can’t keep track of calories burned? This one will do that can even calculate fitness zone and help users determine the ideal work out levels.

Users can set fitness goals, and exercise programs that are tailored to specific needs, and with an iPhone there is even GPS provided to complement the built-in pedometer so you can see where you went and track your progress on a map. Did we say it is time to get GoTality?

GoTality Official Website

Eye SPY Performance Glasses

A spy probably should keep a low profile and not draw attention, but frankly SPY Optic didn’t get the message exactly, and instead went and released new glasses that will be sure to get you noticed.

This is part of the SPY Y Performance series, of highly-stylized technical eyewear, which has arrived with two models, the Quanta and the Alpha. Both feature the SPY-patented anti-fogging Scoop venting system; virtually unbreakable Grilamid frames; impact-resistant, optically-correct and distortion-free ARC (Accurate Radius Curve) lenses; glare-reducing Premium Trident polarized infusion in select models; bounce-back glare-diffusing lens coating; anti-scratch and hydrophobic and oleophobic technology; environmentally reactive Hytrel rubber nose pads and temple tips; and UVA, UVB and UVC protective treatments.

“SPY’s connection to technical eyewear goes all the way back to the beginning of the company, when we invented our anti-fogging technology, so the whole ‘Performance” thing is an evolution of our heritage as much as it is about design or innovation,” says Jeremy McGrath, seven-time AMA Supercross Champion, SPY founder and rider. “We started out as California racers who did other sports, and that vibe is still what SPY is about today. If I don’t have to wear goggles, whether it’s mountain-biking or hitting golf balls or whatever, I’m wearing these glasses.”

Both models are available now and are sure to let you see well and look good.

SPY Optic Official Website

Made in America: CO2 Inflators by Genuine Innovations

The sun is starting to set and the weather is turning cold and damp, but you are still miles away from home on your bike. All you can think of is a hot shower and a nice dinner. Then you notice something does not feel right – the rear end of your bike feels bouncy and is drifting all over the place… damn, you have a flat. The last thing you want to be doing is changing a flat in the dark, but all you have is a spare tube and a bike pump… only 200 pumps until your tire is inflated!

For over 20 years, Genuine Innovations has been coming to the rescue of cyclists. Based in Tucson, AZ, Genuine Innovations has been producing inflators the use small cartridges of compressed carbon dioxide (CO2) to quickly inflate bicycle tubes and tires to get cyclists back on their way quickly. How quickly you might ask? Once the new tube is in the tire, all that is required is the CO2 cartridge to be loaded into the inflator and then the inflator attached to the valve on the tube. In about two seconds your tire will be ready to ride. Continue reading Made in America: CO2 Inflators by Genuine Innovations

Shimano’s Di2 Trickles Down to Ultegra

Shimano announced that the Dura Ace electronic shifting, Di2 (Digital Integrated Intelligence), that has been used by professional riders for the past four years will be available this fall in their Ultegra line of components. Ultegra components are just one level lower than the Dura Ace level and is much more affordable for the avid cyclist and weekend racer.

The advantages of Di2 (Digital Integrated Intelligence) are clear for everybody who has tested it: changing gears becomes easier, effortless and faster by simply touching the shift buttons. Control at the top of your fingers. Additional benefits include an automatic trimming front derailleur, unmatched precision plus super easy installation and adjustment. Continue reading Shimano’s Di2 Trickles Down to Ultegra

Islabikes Clothing Now in Kid’s Sizes

Bikes come in children’s sizes, so why not bike attire? Now Islabikes, the maker of bikes for children ages two and up, have introduced a line of children cycling attire reports our friends at BikeRadar.com. The line, which is currently available in the U.K., includes short-sleeved jerseys (£24.99), a winter jacket (£59.99), bib shorts (£26.99), thermal bib tights (£39.99), and leg (£19.99) and arm warmers (16.99).

Least a parent worry that their young rider will outgrow the clothing too quickly, it is noted that the clothing is designed with room for growth, while still including features and functionality that you’d see in adult cycling kits. These include breathable fabrics, reflective details and of course child-friendly zippers.

Company founder Isla Rowntree, a former British national cyclo-cross champion, said that the company introduced the children’s attire after getting many requests from their customers. It seemed the kids had the bikes and wanted to dress the part too.

[Via BikeRadar.com: Islabikes release children’s clothing range]
Islabikes Official Website

Avoid Bang-ups with the HeadsUp System

You are driving home after a long road trip and all that is on your mind is a plate of food and a hot shower. As you turn down your street and push the button for your garage door opener, you zip into the garage just like you would any day after work…but this time you hear a crunch and have that horrible, sinking feeling in your stomach. Your $3000 bike now looks like a metal pretzel and you could literally cry.

Roof racks on cars is such a convenient way to transport your bike, but sometimes really bad and costly accidents occur that could easily be avoided through the use of a small reminder to ‘stop’ before entering your garage. A new wireless visual and audio system is shipping in July to help you avoid this type of situation. The HeadsUp System, founded by two cyclists in Colorado, is designed as a complete solution to avoid the dreaded ‘crunch’. Continue reading Avoid Bang-ups with the HeadsUp System

Slide Into More Control with Slidepad

Sometimes there are products out there that seem so simple that it is hard to believe that it took this long to see them offered on the market. The new braking system from Slidepad Technologies, located in Palo Alto, CA, is one of those products.

The Slidepad is a braking system that controls both the front and rear brakes on a bicycle through the use of one brake lever. The rider of a bike that has the Slidepad system installed simply pulls one brake lever which applies braking pressure to the rear wheel. As the pads make contact with the rear wheel, the Slidepad (which looks like an over sized brake pad) ‘slides’ forward pulling a cable that is connected to the front brakes. This in turn applies enough braking pressure to the front wheel to slow the rider, but not too much to cause them to flip over the handlebars. Continue reading Slide Into More Control with Slidepad

Wiley X Yaks About the Zak

Black glasses just look cool, especially when they have that covert ops style. The company says these are not about looking or cool or making a statement – yet they do – but this is made for those who get in, get the job done and get out. In other words the type of wearers who let their actions speak for them in just about everything they do.

And it is an interesting name for a stylish, yet protective pair of eyewear and it is now part of the Wiley X Black Ops Collection. Introducing the Zak, the new eyewear inspired by the shadowy world of covert operators and designed to meet the demands of elite military personnel, law enforcement or just serious shooters or anyone who wants to look totally badass. Continue reading Wiley X Yaks About the Zak

OtterBox To Show It Is a Tough Mudder

The Tough Mudder is considered one of the most intense events out there. It was designed by the British Special Forces and features rugged terrain, steep inclines, water hazard, military-style obstacle challenge and enough mud for a thousand pies, plus a mud bath for a full platoon of soldiers.

In other words it lives up to its name as a down and dirty and just plain “tough mudder” of an event. It is designed to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), and even includes participation from actual wounded warriors. They prove they’re tough enough for it… which makes us wonder, what about our phones and computers?

As high-tech people we mountain bike, run and trek around the globe with our gear, and have learned the right case can make all the difference. OtterBox, makers of rugged smartphone and tablet protection, are going to the mud and will be at this weekend’s Tough Mudder! We’ll be curious what they think!

OtterBox Gets Down and Dirty
Tough Mudder Official Website

Polar Brings Out WearLink+ Bluetooth

This week Polar USA announced the release of the new WearLink+ transmitter with Bluetooth, which seems to be the hot new thing in heart rate monitors this week. And the Polar version will work with Anrdoid and Symbian smartphones, allowing users to have the ability to use their handset to track their heart rate and fitness progress.

The Polar WearLink+ will work with mobile training applications including RunKeeper, Sports Tracker and Endomond, and get precise data while working out. After each training session, users can share workout data and examine their heart rate and training intensity in greater detail through the web services of their application provider.

Continue reading Polar Brings Out WearLink+ Bluetooth