Outdoors | Evolving Consumer

Friendly States – For Cyclists

The League of American Bicyclists released its 2013 ranking of Bicycle Friendly States last week to coincide with the kickoff of National Bike Month.

Washington continues to lead the list as the No. 1 state, but Illinois and Arizona made it into the top 10 in 2013, and Delaware moved from the tenth spot to the fifth spot. Colorado moved from fourth to second on the list; Oregon moved from fifth to third.

“We are encouraged to see significant progress in top states like Washington, Delaware, Colorado and Oregon,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “But as the scores clearly highlight, there’s much work to be done in critical areas like infrastructure and planning in every state.”

The top 10 bike friendly states are, in order from first to tenth: Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Minnesota, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Illinois and Arizona.

Bicycle Friendly State 2013 State Rankings Official Website

Vapor Wear

Nike is paying homage to its 1998 Nike Mercurial soccer shoe, which was designed way back when for soccer legend Ronaldo. The new Nike Mercurial Vapor IX SE features the latest tech from today in the classic shoe. However, only 1,998 pairs are being made – so catch one if you can.

Nike Mercurial Vapor IX SE Official Website

Made in Americal: Sack Out

Los Angeles-base Ignoble doesn’t do large runs on its products. What it does is deliver quality in small rungs, and this includes the Cora Classic rucksack. This model features a tough nylon construction and offers plenty of space for camping, hiking, trekking or just bugging out.

There are padded shoulder straps along with a padded airmesh back panel, while the Cora offers a large main compartment with internal hanging pocket plus laptop sleeve. There are additional storage with a zippered front stash pocket, hood stash pocket and even dual side utility pockets .The 400D nylon construction with YKK branded zipper closures will keep your worldly possessions safe and secure.

Ignoble Bags Cora Classic Rucksack Official Website

Hands On: Eton FRX3

As super storm Sandy and other natural disasters have shown us, you never know when the power might go out. To that end it is good to have a flashlight, at least three days of food and water, but a radio or other communication device is a good idea too.

We’d recommend taking it a step further with something like Eton’s FRX3 – a multi-powered, multi-functon smartphone-charging, weather alert radio that can help light the way. We didn’t get to test the FRX3 in an actual emergency – for which we can be grateful – but we found that it does power up quickly by cranking the hand turbine for just about a minute. That is just enough to get a good 15 or so minutes of news, weather and even music – because in a disaster nothing beats some music. As a radio the unit provides a way to hear AM/FM and even NOAA weather band digital radio.

If that was all the Eton FRX3 did we’d still appreciate having it for those times when can’t simply turn on the TV or radio. But this unit, which can also be powered by the sun via a solar panel, can be used as an LED flashlight or beacon, and most importantly can charge a mobile phone.

There are certain devices you shouldn’t head out without, but this is one device that should be in the home as well as the campsite.

Eton FRX3 Official Website

Fire Point

There is a legend that during the Second Punic War a large Roman fleet under the command of Claudius Marcellus was burned by Archimedes using nothing more than mirrors to reflect the rays of the sun. Whether this is true or not has been left open to debate.

Not Point Source Power has introduced the VOTO, a low-cost biomass-fueled cellphone charger and LED light. This won’t start a fire exactly, but it will use the heat from a cooking stove at a camp site to charge the battery and in turn juice up the phone. We think Archimedes would approve! Video after the jump

Rising Suunto

Smartwatch maker Suunto has introduced its new Ambt2 GPS watches. The Ambit2 S is designed for fitness buffs and offers functionality for cycling, running, swimming and training. The Ambit2 S can track pace, route navigation and track heart rate. The Ambit 2 is for those who take to wilds and it features fiberglass-reinforced case and offers info on altitude, vertical speed, barometric pressure and temperature – plus all the functions of the 2S.

Suunto Ambit GPS Watches Official Website

Screwy Idea

The electric bike trend continues, and electric assisted bikes are being touted as a way to help make climbs easier for those on two wheels. Now a similar electrical concept is catching on for snowboards.

This is where the Propul~surf comes in. It basically takes the Archimedes design of a screw to create forward momentum. This concept was used for centuries to raise water and apparently it could help snowboarders get up a hill as well. We of course though that was what the ski lift was for! Video after the jump

Weekend Reading List (05.04.2013): Counterfeit Gear, Mulholland Falls, Back Pack Ban, Going Green

Counterfeit Gear

From BikeRadar: Fake bike kit costing industry millions a year
Ten websites selling fake cycling kit such as counterfeit frames and jerseys have been shut down by US authorities – but one specialist has warned that the issue of fake goods is growing and costing the industry millions in lost revenue. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (05.04.2013): Counterfeit Gear, Mulholland Falls, Back Pack Ban, Going Green

Roll Together

httpv://youtu.be/P0Ev2MWRUT4

People for Bikes and Volkswagen of America have unveiled a new campaign on Wednesday called “Roll Together,” which asks cyclists and drivers to be aware of each other throughout May, which is National Bike Month, and beyond.

“No one is perfect. We’re all human, and we all make mistakes out on the road,” said Bruno Maier, vice president of People for Bikes. “This campaign is about acknowledging the fact that we can all do better, whether we are bicyclists, drivers, or both. Let’s treat each other like we all know each other.”

Bikes for People Official Website

Handy Indeed

Sony is on a roll. Last week the company introduced a new digital binocular that can record still and video – so yeah it sounded a lot like a stereoscopic camera. But the company also unveiled the new sport-ready Handycam HDR-GW66VE.

It is waterproof to 10 meters, plus resists dust, dirt, is freezeproof and shockproof. It can record full HD video in high-quality AVCHD format, as well as web-friendly MP4. It can also shoot 20megapixel stills. For those who hear adventure calling this is one handy camera to have.

Sony Press Release: Ready for that holiday of a lifetime: the waterproof new Handycam HDR-GW66VE

Shapers of Things to Surf

This Friday Starbucks Doubleshot will host a media event to present a mini documentary series on surfboard shapers Josh Oldenburg and Martijn Stiphout. The compelling 3-part surfboard artisan mini documentary series tells an inspiring story about the dedication, influence, and creativity that lies within the art of crafting custom surfboards, documenting the entire process as each craftsman goes from concept to finished product.

This will follow a week long pop-up gallery the works of the shapers. The mini documentary, The Art of the Craft, series will live on the Starbucks YouTube channel—the first chapter will be released on 5/3, the second on 5/10, and the third on 5/17.

[Via Transworld Business: Starbucks Debuts Mini Documentary Series On Surfboard Shapers Josh Oldenburg & Martijn Stiphout]

Range Viewer

Bushnell makes range finders for a variety of outdoor activities and the Bushnell Tour V3 Rangerfinder is just for golf. It features a one-hand-friendly design with 5x magnification, and it utilizes the company’s Pin Seeker and Jolt technologies so it be used for those up close shots and down the green. It is rainproof and offers an ergonomic design to provide a stable grip.

Bushnell Golf Tour V3 Rangerfinder Official Website

Classical Boating

Classic Accessories makes many interesting products, including inflatable pontoon boats. We’ve seen various efforts to fold up a boat, but the Colorado Boat blows the competition out of the water, as it folds and deflates for easy storage and transport and can be quickly inflated for the next great water adventure.

Classic Accessories Official Website