Category: Low Tech

Improved Pilates Platform That You Can Stick With

While Pilates can be done at home, this is a case where more equipment is always a good thing. The problem with this however is that it can take up space very quickly. For urban dwellers, those with limited space or just anyone who doesn’t want a “gym” in their home, there are fortunately a few alternatives.

The latest is the Wrist Saver Block from Stick-e, a multipurpose foam block with handle that is designed to provide a safer, more stable and more comfortable workout. The light weight block with an internal handle optimizes wrist positioning during upper body weight bearing exercises, yoga poses and pushups. As a result, it provides better comfort and strength.

(Videos after the jump) Continue reading Improved Pilates Platform That You Can Stick With

Stick it to the Cold with Joshua Tree

As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, cyclists and runners who still want to get outside to ride or run are always looking for ways to keep warm. Shorts have given way to tights to keep the legs warm, but there might be a base layer that you are missing – embrocation. If you are not familiar with this product, embrocation is a cream that is rubbed onto skin, particularly the legs, before going outside for a sports activity. This cream has a warming sensation that promotes the blood circulation to the extremities, which in turn keeps you feeling warmer and helps stave off the mental toll on your workout due to the cold temperatures.

There are quite a few companies making embrocation, but they all come in a cream form that needs to be applied using your hands and fingers. This is not a big deal until you rub your eyes without washing your hands or having worn gloves, just like rubbing your eyes after cutting a hot pepper, they will burn.

The Joshua Tree Skin Care of Pinckney, Michigan has announced the release of a new line of embrocation in a stick form. Similar to a deodorant stick, this new line of organic embrocation should be easier and safer to apply. This new line of embrocation has three levels of ’heat’,  referring to how hot your skin will feel – similar to the feeling of being in the sun for an extended period of time.

Continue reading Stick it to the Cold with Joshua Tree

Blocking the Breeze While Riding

“There’s nothing cool about being cold.” I’m probably not alone in saying that I’m not the only one that couldn’t agree more with that tag line. As with many riders I like to get out throughout the winter, but no matter how much I bundle up, I often feel a chill in the fingers. This is because when your gloves become saturated with sweat or water, it can be very difficult to keep your hands warm. British-based BreezeBlockers has a novel solution for this all too common problem – block your hands from being in the wind.

The entire line of BreezeBlockers products are designed to keep your hands out of the wind while cycling, and use your natural body heat to create a warm air pocket inside the BreezeBlockers. Keeping this warm air pocket outside of the glove should reduce the amount of sweat that could potentially build up inside your gloves. Along with keeping the sweat from building within your gloves, they are also designed to keep water out. The BreezeBlockers are constructed of ABS or polypropylene plastic (depending on the model) which will help shield your hands from outside water from coming in contact with your gloves.

Video and the rest of the post here

Bottle Lock It

For many urban dwellers there is only one bike lock they trust, which is none, as in they never leave their bike and never lock it up. However, there are times when there is no choice and the bike has to be left unguarded. Few would dare leave a nice bike unlocked for even a few minutes, and in those occasions it means brining a lock and chain along for the ride. The problem is how to carry the lock and chain.

It is generally agreed that riders shouldn’t wear the chain as a sash or even as a belt. Messengers and commuters may do it, but this can be a problem should there be an accident as it can limit access, or even cause a rider to be pinned under a vehicle. On the flip side, many riders simple wouldn’t dream of putting a chain around the bike frame. In other words there has to be a better way, and thanks to the Küat Racks Bottle Lock there is one! Continue reading Bottle Lock It

Glamping Takes the Roughing It Out of Camping

There seems to be two kinds of people when the words “roughing it” come up. There are those who find everything great about the great outdoors, and there are those who consider anything but a suite in a boutique hotel to be downright Bohemian. And yet a growing industry is “eco-tourism,” where travelers want to experience the outdoors with all the hassles that come with it.

For those who like the idea of camping but don’t want to sleep on the ground in sleeping bags, and who prefer some level of comfort yet don’t want to check into a hotel, there is a middle ground. Welcome to the world of Glamping, which is basically “glamour” meets “camping.” This new trend makes use of eco-friendly domes that can be up to 24 feet in diameter, are fully wind and water resistant and feature a fan system that circulates the warm air at night so no one has to sleep on the cold ground. Continue reading Glamping Takes the Roughing It Out of Camping

GM Mis-Shifts With “Reality Sucks” Ad – Giant Bicycles Responds

We’ve been following the story of GM’s unfortunate ad campaign (above), which is aimed at college students. As the ad suggests bicycles, and biking to class (or apparently anywhere) is uncool – and students should instead put themselves in debt to buy a GM car. The Los Angeles Times reported that GM didn’t consider the ad to be “anti-bike,” and quoted Tom Henderson, a GM spokesman: “The content of the ad was developed with college students and was meant to be a bit cheeky and humorous and not meant to offend anybody.”

The ad caught the attention of numerous bike blogs, and GM has since apologized via Twitter. And that could have been the end of the story. Giant Bicycles offered its own take on the ad (image after the jump). Continue reading GM Mis-Shifts With “Reality Sucks” Ad – Giant Bicycles Responds

Wearable Sleeping Bag

With heating costs rising people who spend their cold evenings in front on the couch watching TV can curl up in such things as a “Snuggie,” “Snuggler, “Doojo” or “Toasty Wrap.” All the various names equate to the same thing, it is a sleeved blanket.

Maybe this was on Chilean graphic designer Rodrigo Alonso Schramm’s mind or possibly on his body when he came up with the idea of the Selk’Bag or Musuc’Bag, which is essentially a wearable sleeping bag. Whereas the “Snuggie” is basically a blanket with sleeves, the Selk’Bag – named after the nomadic Chilean Selk’nam people – is actually a sleeping bag with arms, legs and hood, as well as nylon soles with anti-slip pads. No doubt it makes answering nature’s call in the middle of the night a little easier too. With this Chilean-designed sleeping bag you’ll never have to be chilly again while camping.

There is even a kid’s model with front kangaroo pocket, a light weight version and one coming soon with detachable feet for those who want to wear boots, or possibly let their feet breathe. It is certainly an interesting concept, but we wonder – if you don’t have to get out of bed while camping how is this going to help. We almost expect to see people hiking in Selk’Bags in the future.

Selk’Bag Official Website
[Via Gizmag: Selk’Bag is a sleeping bag that you wear]

Lose Your Nuts

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Are you tired of having to grab a wrench each time you need to remove the wheels from your bike since it does not have quick release levers? Would you ride more often if only you could get your bike in the car to take to the park, but it is so inconvenient due to bolt-on wheels? Is your kid’s bike sitting in the garage with a flat tire due to you not being able to remove the wheel?

Coombs Cycling Technologies of Heber, Utah now offers a quick-release option for solid axle wheels: the Axle Release.

(More video after the jump)
Continue reading Lose Your Nuts

University of Virginia Adds Bike Fixit Station

In an effort to encourage travel by bicycle on campus, the University of Virginia has installed Dero Bike Fix-It stations, which are equipped with basic tools and a hand-pump. These tools, which include various wrenches and screwdrivers, are tethered to the Fix-It stations, ensuring that these will be there for when the next user needs them.

Andrew Greene, sustainability planner in the Office of the Architect at UVA, has said he hopes that students and faculty will have easy access to specialized tools and that this will increase use of bikes on the UVA campus. So far Stanford University and University of Utah have similar Fix-It Stations, while Fresno State also has experimented with its own Bike Repair Station. The concept of remote bike repair is also taking off, as we noted earlier this year with the Bike Fixtation in Minneapolis.

[Via PSFK: Bike Repair Station At University Encourages Students To Go Green]

Re-Cycling Your Old Bike Gear

Trips for Kids website www.tripsforkids.org (credit: Charles Simpson Photography)

Cleaning out the old bicycle parts bin always seems to start as a simple task, but can often turn into quite a dilemma. What should be kept or pitched? What has value, and what might be worth the hassle of selling on eBay or Craigslist? What has no real monetary value, but is still a functioning part that could have some use? Even for the latter, there may be an option other than the trash can for those parts and bikes that are still good, but not worth the hassle of selling. In a word: donation.

Continue reading Re-Cycling Your Old Bike Gear

Happy Trailers to You

While gasoline prices have stabilized in the last month as the peak summer travel is now past us, bicycle cargo trailers are still increasing as riders look to bring along more stuff with them. And while bicycle commuting has also reportedly fallen this year, there is no denying that bike cargo trailer use is increasing.

“In today’s economic climate, people have started to realize that it just makes economic sense to ride a bike when possible, instead of spending money on gas and car maintenance,” say the experts at Bicycletrailers.com. “People want to save money – while also doing something that is good for the environment.” Continue reading Happy Trailers to You

Interbike Partners With RTC For 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo

Don’t plan on flying home at the end of Interbike next year. For the 31st annual bicycle trade show you might want to stay the weekend and line up a bike to ride. Interbike’s organizers has announced that the trade show will partner next year with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) to bring more bicycle industry participation, in the form of sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, to the RTC 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo.

The 2012 edition of Interbike will be held September 17-21, and the RTC 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo will take place immediately following the show on Saturday, Sept. 22. Continue reading Interbike Partners With RTC For 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo

Made in America: Hard Core CrossCore Training

There is no denying that the men and women in the American military get regular workouts. Basic training and regular training makes them lean, mean fighting machines in their own right. But once they’re deployed what are they to do? The same question can be asked for those who travel a lot, or just don’t have the time to hit the gym.

This fitness product was specifically designed to deliver Rotational Bodyweight Training to our troops and keep them in combat ready condition no matter where they go. Weighing less than five pounds, the result is a versatile, total body, fitness tool. So whether you work out of an office or (as the video below shows) out of a tank, you can still get a hardcore workout for your core.

Continue reading Made in America: Hard Core CrossCore Training