Category: Low Tech

Trips For Kids Founder Honored With Community Leadership Award

Last week the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN) announced that has chosen Marilyn Price to receive a 2010 PCFSN Community Leadership Award. This award is given annually to individuals who improve the lives of individuals within their community by providing or enhancing opportunities to engage in sports, physical activities, fitness or nutrition-related programs. Marilyn Price, a longtime bicycle enthusiast founded Trips for Kids (TFK) in 1986, to help at-risk youth through mountain bike rides and Earn-a-Bike programs.

“It is our pleasure to present this award to Marilyn Price,” says Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. “Physical activity and good nutrition are important components of living a healthy lifestyle, and we are pleased to recognize individuals like Marilyn Price who are committed to making a difference and positively influencing the health of their communities.”

This year, the President’s Council presented the Community Leadership Award to 28 individuals across the country for making sports, physical activity, fitness, and nutrition-related programs available in their communities.

President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Official Website

Trips for Kids Official Website

NFL Stars to Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with Wounded Warriors

There is an old question, why climb a mountain? The answer has typically been, “because it is there.” But for the Wounded Warriors Project climbing a mountain will mean so much more. Having served in uniform for our country, it is our military veterans that our warriors, our heroes.

And to show their appreciation for what the soldiers have done, former NFL players Ken Huff and Joe Demielleure will join several wounded warriors and head to Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro as part of a 10-day expedition called the Boots and Cleats on the Summit Experience. From New York City to Tanzania, Africa, the group will take part in a seven-day climb of Africa’s highest peak. This professionally-guided trek approaches Kilimanjaro from the south along the Machame Route, through dense tropical rainforest all the way up to the mighty snow-capped summit at 19,341ft for simply breathtaking views from the roof of Africa. Continue reading NFL Stars to Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with Wounded Warriors

Fitness Journal: Is Cycling a Pain in Your Rear?

Are you an avid cyclist or just starting to ride your bike for fun and exercise? Is your rear end sore when you are finished and keeping you from riding your bike more often? You do not have to take this pain sitting down. After you have adjusted your seat, changed your seat to one that is more comfortable and even upgraded to a good pair of padded cycling shorts, your soreness may still exist especially on longer rides. A product that you may want to try is chamois cream.

Chamois cream was originally used to soften up  and preserve the leather chamois pad used in cycling shorts, but with the advent of synthetic materials, this cream is now used to battle a sore rear end. Now there are many different choices on the market, but they all  offer the same claims…skin lubricant and anti-friction. Some other claims may include anti-fungal, anti-bacteria, chamois conditioning, anti-saddle sore and more. Unfortunately, there is no clear choice to recommend as each offers a different batch of ingredients and will react differently with each user. Continue reading Fitness Journal: Is Cycling a Pain in Your Rear?

Clever Socks From SmartWool

Winter means extra thick socks. These help keep the toes warm, but the right socks can also ensure that they stay dry and in place through athletic activity as well. SmartWool has new pairs of socks for the upcoming ski and winter sport season that are downright clever.

The SmartWool PhD Ski and Snowboard collection offers high performance socks (yes, there is such a thing these ays), which are keep feet warm, protected and dry throughout a day on the slopes. A mesh ventilation zone further helps the feet breathe to reduce sweaty feet – which in turn can mean cold feet as activity slows down. These feature a unique 4 Degree Fit System that ensures that socks stay in place and won’t bunch up or worse slip down. This not only makes for more comfortable socks, but also helps prevent friction and potential blisters.

The SmartWool PhD socks are made from high grade Merion wool, which is a natural insulator and can help regulate temperature to keep feet warm when it’s downright cold outside. Wool in itself is an antimicrobial that can further prevent odor causing bacteria from building up.

Additionally, the socks are nothing short of genius too, and can do much more than just piling on a second pair. These will actually provide cushion thanks to SmartWool’s WoW technology that includes high density impact zones with custom-fit feeling. There is even extra cushioning provided around the shin, heel and instep. This won’t exactly put springs in your step, but will help you feel like you’re walking on fluffy snow even if it is hardpacked.

SmartWool Official Website

Trips for Kids to Take Part in North American Bike Tour

Tour d’Afrique has been known for making some epic rides, with tours in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. Next year will see a coast to coast ride from Pacific to Atlantic, making it the longest North American tour currently available and the only one that will journey through the United States and Canada. It will also be doing a whole lot of good along the way.

This week the Tour d’Afrique Foundation announced that it is planning its first ever North American bike tour, and that it has partnered with the national bike charity Trips For Kids to raise money and awareness about these efforts. Trips for Kids is a nonprofit organization with 69 chapters operating in the United States, Canada and Israel, with a goal of bringing the world of cycling to at-risk youth through mountain bike rides and Earn-a-Bike programs. In 2011 the Tour d’Afrique Foundation will take part in the North American Epic Bike Tour help the group with visits numerous chapters including TFK Yarmount, Nova Scotia; TKF Chicago Voyaters; TFK Pontiac, Michigan; TFK Marin, San Francisco; and TFK Tallahassee, Florida.

The tour will visit each chapter along the 8,000 km (4,971 mile) route from San Francisco to St. John’s in Newfoundland. Along the way the group will make donations and help raise awareness about the work being done by Trips for Kids. Continue reading Trips for Kids to Take Part in North American Bike Tour

Project RideRED Campaign Starts

This week pro cycling photographer and AIDS Awareness advocate Brian Hodes of VeloImages kicked off “Project RideRED.” This is a national campaign to raise awareness of and funds for a cure for AIDS/HIV. The event is timed to coincide with World AIDS Day, and the year-long Project RideRED campaign will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first AIDS diagnois.

“More than a million people in the United States currently live with HIV, with more than 50,000 new infections occurring each year,” said Hodes. “The last thirty years of AIDS has brought heartache and suffering to too many families ­­­­- now is the time for us to stand together. I invite members of the cycling community everywhere to throw on a red jersey or red product and RideRED.”

The campaign will be with a series of organized and individual tribute rides on November 28, 2010 and people from all over the world have committed to the event, where they will sport red clothing, accessories, components and/or bikes when the ride. Riders have further committed to taking part in 30 mile rides (one mile for each year of known AIDS infection).

Project RideRED partners include Primal Wear, HUDZ, Rolf Prime, FLUID, Earth, Wind and Rider, SIDI America and Walz Caps. All proceeds from the sale of limited edition items will benefit Until There’s a Cure.

Project RideRED

Thanksgiving is Not Just for Feasting with the Family

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, followed by the holiday season and finishing off with New Year’s and the proverbial resolution to shed the pounds that you might have put on during the past few months or years. Why not start the season off right and begin Thanksgiving Day with more than just the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and finishing in a ‘turkey coma’? You might be surprised by the number of activities that occur on the Thanksgiving morning. Here is a list of some activities around the country:

28th Fifth Third Turkey Trot (Detroit, MI): This foot race has an event for most fitness levels – 1 mile run, 5K run, 10K run and 5K walk. What makes this Detroit event fun for the entire family is the costume contest with prizes for Best Centipede, Best Running Floats, Best Dogs and more! This event starts at 7am and ends with the Thanksgiving Day parade. Continue reading Thanksgiving is Not Just for Feasting with the Family

You Call That a Knife, Yes That is a Knife

The Swiss Army Knife manufacturer, Wenger, is producing a knife with so many functions that is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. This knife has a staggering 141 functions utilizing 87 implements including a bicycle chain tool, adjustable pliers, screwdrivers, compass and of course, a knife. This knife is amply named ‘Giant Knife’. The Giant Knife is 8.75″ long and weighs over two pounds – that weight is the equivalent of carrying a quart of water in our pocket! Not only will you need a deep pocket to carry this knife, you will need a deep pocket to afford this knife. The Giant Knife, item number 16999, retails for $1400 and is available in only the trademark Swiss Army Knife color – red. Continue reading You Call That a Knife, Yes That is a Knife

Clean Bottle Goes Global

 

Dave Mayer was in France last summer for the Tour, but he wasn’t seeing the sights and probably not a lot of the riding. Instead was there promoting his new water bottle, which he did by having someone wear a giant suit that looked like his revolutionary sports bottle. Now he’s looking to clean up in the world wide market with the Clean Bottle, which is unique in that it unscrews at both ends. The bottle is currently available through KHS, Hawley, Paceline, J&B and Peregrine Outfitters in the United States and he’s looking to take the bottle around the world.

“During the first year of our business, I had to be a little conservative with my distribution partners due to supply and demand issues,” states Mayer. “But due to spectacular results from our Tour de France coverage on Versus and our other marketing efforts, we’re now ready to go big time.”

As Mayer begins his world wide journey he’ll be taking the “Bottle Boy” with him to major cycling events. But more importantly he’s got distribution agreements for the UK, Canada, Japan and Singapore in place. Does the Bottle Boy have a passport we need to ask?

Clean Bottle Official Website

 

Video of the Bottle Boy in Action

SRAM Joins With the Advocacy Advance Partnership

This week bicycle component Sram announced its continued support for the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking & Walking. This is part of a new, three-year campaign to double federal funding for bicycling and walking by 2013. SRAM is backing this Advocacy Advance initiative by awarding up to $1.2 million to the League and Alliance over the next three years to unite active transportation advocates across the nation, and to give them tools and resources to secure even greater increased funding from existing federal transportation programs for crucial bike and pedestrian projects. Continue reading SRAM Joins With the Advocacy Advance Partnership

Losing Weight with Optical Illusion Dinnerware

As you know, there are various methods of weight loss, including exercising, diets, pills, and hypnosis. Now you can add optical illusion to the mix, with a product called Slimware. Slimware are plates with unique designs that help you maintain portion control with food placement. See those flowers on the plate? In addition to adding aesthetics to your dinnerware, the size of the floral pattern is the size of the amount of a particular food you should have on the plate (the larger flower should contain more vegetables, while smaller flowers contain proteins and carbs). According to Slimware, “We are psychologically and culturally programmed to ‘stay in the lines,’ whether on the highway or at the post office. Slimware applies that mental predisposition to help you become portion conscious.”

Of course, the theory goes that if you eat less, you gain less. But you still have to be concerned with what types of foods you are putting on the plate. It also doesn’t stop you from building mounds of food on the plate as long as you stay within those lines. So, we’re not sure if we buy into the idea, but Slimware does point out the important fact that portion control plays a huge role in weight control.

Slimware lists celebrities like Elisabeth Röhm, Tori Spelling, Judith Light, Kendra Wilkinson, Emily Procter, Kathy Griffin, Rene Russo, Ashlee Simpson, Jennie Garth, Faith Hill, and Kristin Chenoweth as fans. If a celebrity uses it, then it must be good! Right?

The product is available in various designs, all for $36.50 for four plates.

Slimware

High Tech Glove That Makes Sense to Us

Golf isn’t exactly the most high-tech of sports. While there is much innovation in training, and of course in the development of the gear, some of the accessory products are essentially very low-tech. Shoes, attire and other apparel breath better, are made of our better materials and fabrics, but how do you innovate gloves?

Try adding a LED digital monitor. That’s the concept behind the Sensosulutions digital glove for golf. The SensoGlove is the world’s first golf glove with a built-in digital sensor that continuously reads a user’s grip pressure. This ensures a consistently accurate, smooth and powerful golf swing. The SensoGlove made of basic cabretta leather but goes high-tech as it is equipped with highly responsive sensors and it features a small, sweat-proof 1.2-inch LED monitor that analyzes the pressure of the swing. Continue reading High Tech Glove That Makes Sense to Us

Interbike 2010: Motorex Goes Green With Bike Lubes and Cleaners

The words “green” and “largest crude oil refinery” aren’t usually things you’d think would be one in the same, but for Switzerland-based Motorex this is very much the case. The company has been in business for more than 90 years and has made efforts to develop and produced produces that minimize the impact on both man and the environment, and creates as little waste as possible.

It’s line of lubes and cleaning products are popular with many racing teams, including Team Trek World Racing, Team GT World Racing and Team BMC among others.

The current products include both a Dry Lube for dry/dusty conditions, which utilizes a unique wax/oil formula to penetrate into the pins and plates, is also compatibles with the Easy Clean Degreaser, allowing riders to lube up the chain right after degreasing. For wetter and muddier conditions, the Motorex Wet Lube features a synthetic formula that is waterproof, and provides a guard for the chain in those sticky conditions. The Easy Clean Chain/Parts Degreaser promises to live to its name, it is aggressive on grease and dirt yet safe on components and finishes. Continue reading Interbike 2010: Motorex Goes Green With Bike Lubes and Cleaners