Come for the trade show, stay for the Gran Fondo – and do some good in the process. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) announced that this Saturday’s RTC 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo Pinarello Presented by Vector Media will welcome more than 560 cyclists from more than 30 states as part of its efforts to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The cyclists, who prepared for the race through the organization’s Team In Training program, will join more than 1,000 other cyclists registered to participate in the event. Continue reading 2012 Viva Bike Vegas to Support Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training
Category: Outdoors
KineticShift Goes to Interbike 2012
To say that this week is “bike week” is surely an understatement. Today kicks off the Outdoor Demo Days in Boulder City where dozens of bicycle companies offer a chance for attendees to test the latest bikes and gear, while Wednesday is the kick off of Interbike, followed by the 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Grand Fondo on Saturdya.
Check back all week as we’ll be reporting from Las Vegas. Let the good times roll!
Fieldline Looks to Make Your Day(Pack)
This spring we took a look at Fieldline’s Alpha Ops Internal Frame Pack, and now the company is adding to its A-Team with its Alpha Ops Daypack. Designed to carry two liters of liquid in a hydration reservoir, while also offers an extra-large main compartment with zippered mesh pockets, secondary compartment with built-in gear organizer and even a fleece-lined sunglass pouch.
The pack is also designed for comfort so you can wear it for the long haul; thanks to a yoked shoulder-strap system and adjustable sternum slider while side compression straps that allow you to balance the load as necessary. It is available now in Black or Coyote and ready to go wherever you need to deploy.
Interbike 2012: Polaris to Debut Bike with EVantage
At next week’s bike show it might be time that the electric motors get running. Electric bikes certainly play a larger than usual role at the show, and Polaris Industries has announced that it has a partnership with EVantage to introduce a new line. This is reportedly a big move in major e-bikes more mainstream.
“The Polaris name has always been synonymous with superior design and quality, and these electric bicycles are no exception,” says EVantage President Brandon Kaplan. “Each and every detail was crafted with the consumer in mind, which stays true to Polaris’ inherent need to provide usable and applicable products to their customers. These electric bikes are an expansion of this brand, with its great history, while also paving a way toward new trends in transportation.” Key features after the jump
Interbike: Cardo Systems BK-1 Demos in the Desert
We first heard about Cardo Systems and their BK-1 helmet-mounted communications and entertainment system for cyclists back in March. The system lets cyclists – or anyone – communicate via Bluetooth for up to a 1,600 foot range. That means those conversations on the road can happen even when cyclists are single-file, or not one right behind the other. Continue reading Interbike: Cardo Systems BK-1 Demos in the Desert
Wipe for Charity
Having some hand wipes on a bike ride are a good idea, especially if you need to change a tire, do a little repair or just need to clean some sweat from your arms and face.
This week we heard about the Globalbike wipes from Athletix Products that are part of the Globalbike charity. Basically the company offers the wipes for sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to organizations in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa to provide bikes to people who will use them for transportation. The wipes are reportedly available in three versions, including a hand & tool version that is rougher on one side to help get the grease off the tools and body. The wipes will be available directly from Athletix Products this fall.
Athletix Products Official Website
Globalbike Official Website
[Via BikeRumor: Globalbike Charity Wipes by Athletix Products]
National Bike Challenge Answered
The League of American Bicyclists, Endomondo and Bikes Belong announced this week that more than 30,000 Americans took part in the 2012 National Bike Challenge, with a collective journey of more than 12 million miles that spanned all 40 states.
The initiative encouraged new cyclists to start riding, challenged current bicyclists to ride more and showcased the tremendous health and financial benefits of bicycling.
“The Challenge has given us just a tiny glimpse of the remarkable potential of bicycling to address major social and environmental issues — in a fun and engaging way,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “Every one of the 30,000 participants deserves recognition for the miles they contributed to the impressive grand total — and we look forward to seeing everyone in the saddle for next year’s challenge!”
In addition to encouraging individual riders, more than 9,000 workplaces participated in the Challenge, using the initiative as a free, fun wellness tool for employees. The winners in the workplace categories (based on number of employees) included IBM, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Trek Bicycle Corp, Shimano, Toole Design Group, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin and BikeArlington.
Congrats to all those that took part, and congrats to the League of American Bicyclists, Endomondo and Bikes Belong for offering this challenge! List of winners after the jump
Mountainsmith Pack Worthy of a Mountain Man
If Jeremiah Johnson were around today and opted to go into the woods to become a hermit he’d probably opt for something like the just announced Mountainsmith Haze pack to carry his gear. Empty this pack weights just 1.9 pounds, but it can carry 50 liters of gear in its open main body, while the outer mesh pockets provide places for all the things a modern mountain man might need.
There are pole carriers, ice axe loops and plenty of places to tuck a mobile phone, GPS device or other gizmos. Let’s face it, just because someone opts to be a hermit doesn’t mean they want to be completely out of touch! The Haze will be available next year for those looking to get off the grid, even if it just for a week or so.
Made in America: Mission Ready Field Pack
New for this fall is the R2 Arkiv Field Pack from Mission Workshop, which features the “Arkiv Modular System” that offers easy, on-the-fly customization of compartments. It features two Arkiv rails that allow for a multitude of carry options.
Backed by a lifetime warranty this bag is waterproof and is made in the USA. It features a minimalist design but can hold everything you might need on a globe trekking journey or just in a daily commute. Life often needs to be compartmentalized and now your bag can be too.
Timbuk2 Goes Full-Cycle
We’ve seen a number of innovative bags from Timbuk2 this season, but this month the company has gone Full-Cycle, with its new brand of recycled/upcycled bags. These feature fabrics and webbing that come from recycled plastic bottles, while the straps and buckles are made from post-industrial and post-consumer materials.
The Full-Cycle collection features a messenger bag, backpack, tote bag and iPad/Kindle Fire Sleeve. So no matter what you bringing the Full-Cycle should have you covered with an upcycled bag.
Jacket in a Bag
The name Mac in a Sac – technically Mac in a Sac 2 Packaway Jacket – still has a better name than jacket in a bag, but either way you get the picture. This simple concept, which is exactly what it sounds like a basic polyester shell that can block wind and water, fits in a small bag, a.k.a. the “sac.” The 100 percent waterproof yet breathable fabric makes it ideal for having some protection from the elements.
Weekend Reading List (9.8.2012): Repay Day, Google Maps It, Reasons to Run, Scotsman to Fly AGAIN!
Should Lance Face “Repay” Day?
From Fortune: Sports stars should be subject to clawbacks
Much has been made of Lance Armstrong’s loss of future earnings. But his past earnings should be at stake too. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (9.8.2012): Repay Day, Google Maps It, Reasons to Run, Scotsman to Fly AGAIN!
Stealth Bomber Takes Flight
Stealth technology isn’t just science fiction anymore, and British electric bike maker takes the concept to the dirt trails with its new Stealth Bomber, which utilizes a 4.5kW electric motor to help users get through any terrain. While we know part of the reason for riding a mountain bike is to get in a good workout, we have to admit that sometimes what goes down can’t always so easily get back up.
This is where the power assist comes in handy. The bike is capable of hitting speeds up to 50 MPH, needs only a two hour recharge and offers zero emission. It is durable enough for the trails, which means it can readily handle the condition of the roads in most of our urban jungles as well. Plus it has a look Batman might love, just in case you ditch the suit and tie and decide to be a crime fighting vigilante instead.