This Friday we have a very special Made in America. KineticShift would like to say congratulations to our bicycle editor Brian O’Connor – and normal writer of Made in America – as he and his wife welcomed Reilly O’Connor into the world. Brian has reported on many special products that are Made in America but we’re sure that this is going to be his favorite of all.
Congratulations Brian and Nicole from the KineticShift staff!
What does a “victorious crowned bee” have to do with yoga? Not much until taking a look at the line of yoga apparel from Bijubee. Based in South El Monte, California, Bijubee offers the active woman a very extensive line of yoga and exercise apparel, plus every piece is designed and manufactured “with love” in America. Video after the jump
Starbucks, Peet’s, The Brewing Market, or any number of mom and pop coffee shops around America, on any given weekend morning this is the select meeting spot for friends and family to start their day. Whether the activities involve a hike, skiing, a bike ride, or just relaxing, that shop not only acts as the meeting point, but also supplies a caffeinated beverage to kickstart the day. While waiting for that little pick-me-up to be prepared by the barista, have you ever browsed the mugs and other coffee related items sold by those shops? Flip any of those mugs or cups over and read the bottom – “Made in China” will probably be printed there. The argument could be made that it really doesn’t matter, but to a handful of people in East Liverpool, Ohio, it does. Continue reading Made in America: American Mug & Stein Mugs at Starbucks
Do you own an iPad, iPod, or any other brand of smart phone or tablet? Have you tried to buy a mount for your device? Stroll into any Apple Store or Best Buy and prepare to be inundated with an overwhelming number of choices offering countless features to best hold your tablet or phone.
What you may also notice when reading the packages, often printed at the very bottom of the package on the back, is where the item is made. “Designed in the USA, Made in China” is a common phrase used by companies, possibly mimicking Apple’s labeling on most of their products. If you read the packaging on enough of these types of products, you might think that there is no alternatives to these types of items being produced overseas, but there are a few aftermarket accessory choices that are actually designed in America AND made in America. One such company is Thought Out of Shelton, Connecticut, which has been producing America made, innovative products since being founded in 2004. Video after the jump
Summer is the time of year to get outside to enjoy time with family and friends. The days are long and the nights are warm, plus there are hardly any new shows on the tube to veg-out in front of in the evenings. Backyard entertaining often involves some good games along with the grill and drinks, and quick trip to your local sporting goods will reveal many different gaming options for both small and large spaces. From tetherball to volleyball, there are plenty of choices to keep your guests on their feet, active, and entertained. As a bonus, many of these options can also be enjoyed by both young and old guests at the same time.
Unfortunately, a quick read of the labels will show that most of these games are made in China (yes, I checked just this past weekend while picking up some games for a BBQ). But this is not the case with everyone of them on the market, and there are a handful of games that are still made in America, including horseshoes and Whiffleball to name two. Another option that is nearly 25 years old, and one which you may not be familiar with is a game that is loosely based on marbles and Bocce. Murbles, short for Murray’s marbles, is the brainchild of Murray Kramer who created the game back in 1979 after he was unsuccessful at defeating his neighbor in horseshoes during his college years in Michigan. Continue reading Made in America: Murbles Outdoor Sports Game
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
The modern ball cap can trace its ties to baseball all the way back to 1860 when the Brooklyn Excelsiors wore a similar design to keep the sun out of their faces during game play. The ball cap has evolved throughout the years and is worn not only by baseball players, but almost every athlete wears one before, during, or after game play. Even our military wears them while on duty as part of the uniform (at least the Navy). Nearly everyone owns at least one ball cap, but do you know how many are made in the U.S.A.?
A look in my closet revealed this…
Even though its design was made popular by an American sport, of the 28 hats and visors in my closet, China topped the list with 21; followed by the Philippines with 2; and then Taiwan, Macau, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and U.S.A. each with 1. Even the NRA cap with an American flag stitched on the side was made in China. It is really difficult to walk into a store and find a cap that isn’t made overseas, but all hope is not lost. Competition Headwear, of Denver, Colorado, is one company that has bucked the trend of sending production overseas and only manufactures caps that are 100-percent made in America. Continue reading Made in America: Competition Headwear
“Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China”. If you are reading this post on an iPhone or iPad, that is what is printed on the back. The Kindle Fire is not any better with the line “Assembled in China”. Long ago we lost a majority of electronics manufacturing to Asia along with many other goods, but lately if you look at a tag for cycling gear, production for that type of product is also migrating out of the U.S. This is not the case with every company that designs and sells cycling apparel. One company that we have mentioned a few times, Elevengear Cycling Lifestyle, still believes in the concept of designing AND manufacturing their apparel in the same country, not out sourcing to the cheapest sweatshop. Continue reading Made in America: Elevengear Cycling Lifestyle Apparel
Why would anyone want to ride a single-speed? I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that question in the nearly 15 years that a single-speed mountain bike has been hanging in my stable of bikes. Having been a longtime believer in the KISS design principle, the single-speed beautifully embodies that idea. Wanna go for a ride? Hop on it and go with no worries of shifting issues. Oh no, a hill! Pedal harder or pop-up off of the saddle for a little more power. With little noise and such simplicity, the single-speed is one of my favorite bikes to grab when going for a ride.
After building my first 29er last year, I caught a bad case of the 29er bug. The larger wheels of a 29er—a mountain bike using 29-inch wheels—just handle the rocky trails along the Front Range of Colorado so much better that the 26-inch (26er). The 26er single-speed mountain bike that was hanging in my garage was an older Seven Verve from the mid-1990s. Don’t get me wrong, it was (and still is) a great bike, but the horizontal dropouts along with the 26-inch sized wheels sitting next to my new Moots Mooto X YBB had me longing for something new.
So the search began. Continue reading Review: 2012 Lynskey Ridgeline-29 SL, 29er Titanium Frame
Having a tire go flat on a bike is not a pleasant experience. The resulting situation can range from a minor inconvenience to a major catastrophe. A majority of the time it is just an annoyance that interrupts the momentum of a good ride or a possible chance of placing well in a race, but this problem can be virtually eliminated for less than $70.
As most avid cyclists know, the chance of getting a flat can been greatly reduced through the use of a tubeless tire system. Doing the conversion can involve the purchase of new rims, tires, tape, valves, and sealant. All of these components easily costing a few hundred dollars even before the labor cost is factored in for those who are not a home mechanic. When compared to the overall value of a bike, these new rims and tires might not be worth the investment. An option that some people might overlook is where the modern tubeless revolution started – the Stan’s NoTubes Tubeless System conversion kit. Continue reading Made in America: Stan’s NoTubes Tubeless System Conversion Kit
Just over six months has past since writing a post regarding my 2011 Mooto X YBB bike build that ran last summer. That 2011 Moots should have been a keeper and still hanging in my garage, but shortly after the post went live, the 2012 model was announced. Year after year there really hasn’t been any major changes in Mooto X YBB model that would justify the replacement of a frame with less than 1,000 miles of riding. Unfortunately for me (or maybe fortunately for all dirt heads), the 2012 model is a bit different when compared to most other years. There are the obvious changes with the curved down tube and top tube on the 18 and 19-inch models, but it is the other changes that are not as obvious which makes the 2012 model the basis of a much different bike. There were fairly significant changes including the geometry that really made me wish that I had stalled my purchase. Then a chance arose to build a 2012 model and that opportunity was seized upon! Continue reading Review: 2012 Moots Mooto X YBB 29er Titanium Frame
Electronic shifting. Carbon fiber. Strava. None of these will help you perform better if you bonk during a ride or run – you might as well be wearing a boat anchor around your neck. Fueling your body during an extended period of exertion is more important than whatever new whiz-bang gadget you just purchased. Just like gasoline and coolant to an automobile, if your body runs out of fuel or water, you are done.
GU Energy Labs of Berkeley, California knows sports nutrition all to well and has been involved in the industry since 1991. Their first product was a single serving gel that was fairly revolutionary at the time. While racing for mountain bike team in western Pennsylvania around that time, I remember receiving packets of GU gel to use since they were a team sponsor. The other choices at the time were chalky tasting energy bars and Fig Newtons. The GU gels were a welcome addition to the nutrition arsenal. These single-serving packets traveled well in a cycling jersey, even during events in the pouring rain. When needed, they were easy to open, consume and digest. They quickly provided the necessary fuel needed to be competitive, and as a bonus they actually tasted good. Continue reading Made in America: GU Energy Gel
Being the president of the United States comes with the good and bad (although it seems like more bad than good, these days) but put this in the former. President Barack Obama received a pair of custom-made gray New Balance 990 running shoes, embroidered with “President” on the left shoe and “Obama” on the right. The president received the size 12D shoes at a campaign fundraiser at the Portland Museum of Art in Portland, Maine.
But the shoes came with a catch, of sorts. They were presented to him by Maine Representative Mike Michaud of the Second Congressional District, who is urging the president to require the Department of Defense to give service members shoes produced in the U.S. Boston-based New Balance makes shoes in three factories in Michaud’s home state, however the law does not require the DOD to buy footwear that are domestically made.
Obama’s new kicks were handmade in New Balance’s Norridgewock factory in Maine by 32 craftsmen. The 990 is the company’s longest-produced running shoe made in the U.S. They also say “Handmade in the United States.” No word, yet, if the president has been seen sporting his new runners.
Kennebec Journal: New Balance Team Crafts Presidential Running Shoes
