Made in America: KettlePizza Kits

Memorial Day is just around the corner, which for most, signals the arrival of summer. For those of you who do not like to cook outside throughout the winter months, it is time to dust off those grills and get them fired up. It is so easy to throw a pack of hotdogs or burgers on the grill, but a quick read of the wrapper might make you rethink your meal of choice. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good burger and dog, just not for every cookout.

There are plenty of healthy grilling choices when you want to get outside to enjoy the weather and family while cooking. Chicken, skewers, veggies, and lean steak just to name a few; but have you ever thought of grilling a pizza? Here is a fairly new product that takes your existing Weber kettle grill and turns it quickly into a pizza oven!

The KettlePizza is the brainchild of inventor Al Contarino, who in 2010, teamed up with George Peters to bring Al’s design to market – all from Al‘s barn. In 2011, after receiving a great response for their product, the two had to move KettlePizza into a manufacturing and distribution center in Groveland, Massachusetts. That’s right, just like the Weber kettle grill that it is designed to work with, the KettlePizza is made in America! Continue reading Made in America: KettlePizza Kits

Bike Park of Dreams Goes With Flow(Form)

If you build it they will come. This isn’t just about fictional ballparks in the movies, but playgrounds, skate parks and bike trails. And leading the way is Alpine Bike Parks, which now has announced a new way to go with the flow.

The FlowForm features are specially engineered playground structures that will allow bike parks to create even more professional designs that are popular with riders. These can be designed to accommodate a new facility or added into an existing trail system to either enhance the flow or even provide durability that might not exist in nature. Continue reading Bike Park of Dreams Goes With Flow(Form)

Leather Saddle Offers Retro Appeal

With a look out of last century – and we mean way before 1999 – the World Traveller B17 from Brooks isn’t designed to be the fastest, lightest or sleekest. This leather saddle is however meant for the globe trekker, as it builds into the WCR Grand Tour, the competitive bike race that started in February with riders vying to circumnavigate the world.

The new bike saddle features a 1920’s style image – but with the year 2012 still part of the motif. It is made of durable leather, chromed-cooper steel rails and frame, along with cooper rivets. It should be ready for a tour of the world, or just treks around town.

Brooks B17 Select World Traveller 2012 Saddle

SPORTIQUE Promotes a Different Kind of Fitness Relief

After a long ride the right active body and skin care products can be welcome relief, but this week SPORTIQUE – the maker of skin care products – announced that it is celebrating its seventh year of success with another kind of relief. The company is kicking off a fund-raising effort to benefit World Bicycle Relief.

From May 1 to July 30 purchasers of SPORTIQUE Century Riding & Chamois cream or SPORTIQUE Warming Up Massage Oil will receive a 25 percent discount off the retail price, while every dollar from the sales of those two products be donated to World Bicycle Relief.

World Bicycle Relief Official Website
SPORTIQUE Official Website

Sleeper Hoodie

A hoodie can be an ideal garment when traveling as it can be big, bulky and soft – things that can be so welcoming in the unfriendly skies these days. But a hoodie alone can’t do it all – or can it?

Burton takes the Sleeper Hoodie to the next level too with an inflatable pillow in the hood area, integrated eye mask and even ear plugs.

There is even an audio pocket with headphone port so wearers can tune out with some of their tunes. Other features include a passport pocket and integrated toothbrush to help the wearer stay organized and neat.

It is made of a mix of cotton, polyester and soft-hand fleece to ensure it is warm yet offers just enough ventilation for long trips and those awful redeye flights. So if First Class isn’t an option, making the Sleeper Hoodie part of the wardrobe seems like a no brainer.

Burton Sleeper Hoodie

Stand Up Paddle Board

It is that time of year when the new water sport crafts are taking to the water, and a new trend seems to be stand up paddle boards. This includes the new Flow 106X SUP line from Pelican, which offers anti-slip, padded deck pad for secure footing, bottom grooves for solid tracking, four carrying handles for when it isn’t in the water, and even elastic bungree cords to allow storage “on deck.”

This craft obviously is designed for flatwater, light surf and slow moving rivers. We wouldn’t advise taking it on serious white water, but the the Flow can go with the flow and be used as a sit-on-top kayak as well – with optional conversation kit.

Pelican Sports Official Website

Scrunchable Water Bottle

Back in March we profiled the Vapur Wear water bottle, a soft-bodied vessel for beverages, and now we have heard about the Bübi Bottle, which also offers a simple solution to bringing a water bottle along for a walk or hike and not knowing what to do with it when it is empty.

This reusable bottle is “scrunchable” and is made of high-grade, BPA-free silicone, so it can be used with cold and hot drinks alike. It holds 22 ounces and is dishwasher safe so you can be sure to keep it clean too! Video after the jump

Weekend Reading List (5.12.12): Olympic Debacle, Wind Tunneling, New Bar Sport

Eye of the Beholder

The construction of a new park at the site of the 2012 London Olympics is well underway but will not fully open to the public until at least one and a half years after this summer’s games are complete.

On Friday, officials declared the completion of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s centerpiece, the Orbit — a 377-foot tower of twisted steel that gives visitors stunning panoramic views of the city. But the structure — which somewhat resembles the Eiffel Tower — is already receiving criticism from the host nation. Olympics organizers previously faced backlash over the cyclops mascots for the 2012 games, ticket policies and the bright, flashy logo.

From The Washington Post: London 2012 Olympics: Orbit tower complete and already drawing criticism Continue reading Weekend Reading List (5.12.12): Olympic Debacle, Wind Tunneling, New Bar Sport

CTIA 2012: That ThingSling You Do

Who hasn’t tried to go running with a mobile phone and wished they hadn’t? A mobile phone or portable music player can be a handful, and everyone has experienced that moment where the handful results in a dropped gizmo. John Murphy had a idea that he turned into the Thing Sling, a simple and low tech solution to ensuring that the device in the hand would stay in the hand. Continue reading CTIA 2012: That ThingSling You Do

Fast Track Cycling Breaks Ground on Cleveland Velodrome

Fast Track Cycling might just live up to its name, as it hopes to have its new Velodrome track, which is being built by Michigan based V-Worldwide, finished for the grand opening on June 16, 2012. Ground breaking began late last month.

Fast Track announced plans in January 2010 to build a velodrome track at the site of the former St. Michael’s Hospital in Broadway Slavic Village. Fast Track Cycling recently signed a ground lease agreement with the City of Cleveland for the 8.4 acre site for $1 per year.

Press release and video after the jump

Shower Power

After a day hiking in the wilds a warm shower can be so welcome, but if you’re camping the best option might be a jump in the lake. There are systems that use propane and an electric pump, but those are only ideal for car camping – and aren’t the sort of thing to camp in the wilds with.

However, another option is the Helio Pressure Shower from Nemo Equipment, which takes the basic gravity shower up a notch. It uses the Nemoid Foot Pump to provide an even-pressured stream of water – ideal for getting clean but still small and easy enough to take on a trek in the woods. It offers 11 liter capacity, where the water can be heated by the sun, and provides around five to seven minutes of shower time or even dish washing. But after a long day we think a shower in the woods would be seven minutes in heaven.

Helio Pressure Shower Official Website

Traditional Axe Coming to America

The axe is a tool that has stood the test of time, and while there are more modern versions today, outdoor and bushcraft enthusiasts, know a quality “old school” axe just gets the job done. Sport Hansa is now offering authentic, handmade Swedish axes from Wetterlings that are perfect for hikers, campers and anyone looking to use a quality tool made the old fashioned way.

Since 1880 the company has produced a unique brand of quality axes, making it the oldest axe forger in Sweden. Today, Wetterlings produces an array of bushcraft, forest, and splitting axes made of Swedish carbon alloy steel heads and American hickory handles. Not only does Wetterlings have a strong commitment to quality, but they also have demonstrated a commitment to the environment, and since 2012 the company’s factory has been completely energy self sufficient through the use of environmentally friendly waterpower. Continue reading Traditional Axe Coming to America