Category: Outdoors

Seal of Approve To Puncture Resistant Tubes

Nothing can ruin a nice ride in the woods like a puncture. If you’re like too many riders that could mean having to walk back to the car, or worse home as you probably didn’t bring a spare. But Michelin’s new Protek Max inner tubes could actually change this, offering a tube that promises to be more resistant to punctures and could hold air pressure if punctured!

The Protek Max features a “bumpy” service that creates a compressive force in the tube wall, and thus doesn’t want to stretch when there is a puncture. Instead with a small puncture there is compression, and thus the tube will retain its tire pressure and not lose air – at least not so quickly.

The Protek tubes will be available in 700×35-47c and 26×1.4-2.125-inch sizes, and will retail for $8.99. Both Presta and Scharder will be available – but sorry, for now it will be those who venture off road who will get the puncture-free treatment. Hopefully we’ll see a road version down the road.

Michelin Bicycle USA Protek Max Official Website

[Via BikeRadar.com: Michelin’s new Wild Race’R tire and Protek Max inner tube]

Cool It Down in Hotter Weather

As warmer temperatures replace cooler ones, you have different reasons to cover up. In between seasons like spring and fall call for transitional layers. Arm warmers and leg warmers are good options since you can peel off the layers when you warm up.

In the summer heat, there’s no option to add or remove layers to beat the heat. That is unless you pull on one of Craft Apparel’s Body Control Coolers. While they have other garments, the arm coolers and leg coolers are a good choice. The Body Control Coolers feature a compression fit, super-cooling fabrics, silver ion technology and sun protection. Continue reading Cool It Down in Hotter Weather

Women’s Ski Jumping Approved for 2014 Sochi Olympic Games

It’s hard to believe there’s been no women’s ski jump in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) just approved the sport for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. The approval follows the two-time recommendation by the International Ski Federation. Before the 2014 Winter Olympics, three World Championships will have taken place. Continue reading Women’s Ski Jumping Approved for 2014 Sochi Olympic Games

Orange is an Apple to Our Eye

While Americans may know British autos such as Mini Cooper (now owned by Germany’s BMW), Land Rover and Rolls Royce, most probably don’t know Orange Bikes. Over the years I’ve spent enough time in the UK to know and appreciate the company’s dedication to unique hand built bicycles.

Orange has not made much – if any – impact in the United States and that’s a shame. So it is unlikely that any Yanks will be among those riding the (very) limited edition Five Pro Blackout. With only 25 reportedly being made, the Blackout is a true black beauty that might just seem mythical – even in the UK, most riders will probably never see on. The bike will come outfitted with Hope Tech X2 components, with an option to upgrade to Hope Tech M4 SE. Neither option will come cheap, and the bike will reportedly retail for around $4900.

But more importantly, will the bike make its appearance on this side of the Pond? Only if someone here is very lucky.

[Via Bike Rumor: ORANGE BIKES (VERY) LIMITED EDITION FIVE PRO BLACKOUT]

Orange Mountain Bikes Official Website

Pedal Power Gets Boost From Powerpedals

Going out for a spin can mean a good workout, but if you’re spinning to work sometimes you can use a little help with the pedal power. To that end Powerpedals is on the way. Enter the Tonaro electric bicycles, which feature a revolutionary central drive technology that makes electric cycling more efficient and gives riders more freedom when shifting and when choosing how to ride.

“Every so often a radical new design comes along and changes everything. So it is with Tonaro’s patented central drive technology and electric bicycles,” said Philip Hughes of Powerpedals. “The entire drive system is housed within the pedal cranking system and the bracket mount motor enables the bikes gears to be used with the motor. This allows you to down shift for hills and to shift up to higher gears as you gain speed.” Continue reading Pedal Power Gets Boost From Powerpedals

Hoops You Don’t Jump (or Cycle) Through

Normally we think of “hoops” as something you jump through, but usually not in a circus kind of good way, but rather as a tedious task. However the UK-based designed firm Cyclehoop is actually looking to utilize hoops in a non-tedious way. The award-winning designers and architects specialize in producing innovative indoor and outdoor cycle parking solutions, and they’ve developed a new way to transform existing street and sign posts into bike parking. The Cyclehoop can even be used with existing parking meters, essentially making the posts able to do double duty.

What is great about this is that many sign posts, and especially those parking meter posts aren’t really ideal for chaining a bike. The former lacks coating to protect against scratches to the bike, while the latter isn’t ideal as many bikes with chains could be forced over the top of the meter. The Cyclehoop further allows riders to know that the posts are for legitimate bike use. It is a simple way for buildings and cities to work together to quickly provide an alternative to bike racks. In the end it is one less hoop to jump through.

Cyclehoop Official Website

Interbike 2011: Key Brands Returning

As we head into spring that means we’re at about the “half way” point to another Interbike, the the cycling industry’s annual flagship trade event. This year the show hits its 30 year mark, and is quickly selling out as exhibitors large and small lock up their space for the September 14-16 show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.

“Interbike 2011 is already shaping up to be one of our biggest shows ever,” said Show Director Andy Tompkins. “The mix of established brands that exhibit every year and companies new to the cycling industry or just new to the show provide retailers with the opportunity to see the latest offerings from every corner of the cycling world, something that can only happen at an event as broad based and well-attended as Interbike.” Continue reading Interbike 2011: Key Brands Returning

Catch It For the Month of June

As baseball season opens, Rawlings Sporting Goods Company announced this week a new initiative to get kids out from in front of the TV. Time to put the joysticks down and pick up a ball, as Rawlings announced the creation of “National Play Catch with Your Kids Month,” a new platform to promote kids’ physical activity during the summer months. This effort is further designed to encourage families to come closer together through the game of playing catch.

“As the exclusive supplier of baseballs to Major League Baseball and the glove of choice for more pros than any other brand, Rawlings has truly owned this activity that evokes childhood memories for both fathers and sons, and has for years,” said Kurt Hunzeker, senior director of brand marketing for Rawlings. “Our mission is to enable participation in the game, even in its simplest form of playing catch, but the bigger goal is to provide a new avenue to promote daily physical activity.”

The month-long celebration will begin this June with Rawlings pitching in. This includes a national cause marketing effort, with the announcement last month of its Rawlings Replay gently-used equipment trade-in program, and its continued activation efforts within communities across the U.S.

National Play Catch with Your Kids Month

Catch Some Air or a Wave

We’ve heard of surfing, where you basically ride on the water; we’ve heard of windsurfing, where you ride on the water propelled by the wind; and we know about para sailing and para gliding, where you ride over the waves propelled by wind. So it was just a matter of time until someone came up with kite surfing.

This is part para sailing and part surfing. It is now an adventure sport that is being encountered in off the Venezuelan coast, but it probably won’t be long before it catches the trade winds and makes its way through the Caribbean.  It also seems to be gaining popularity in Australia and New Zealand.

This sport is a hybrid of surfing and kite flying, and uses both the waves and the wind to propel the rider. The surfer uses a standard board, reportedly with or without footholds or straps, and apparently hangs on to a kite. So you hang ten while hanging on.

[Via Mid Day: Have kite, will surf]

The Great Skate Day

The first day of summer, also the longest day of the year is now also going to be the day for the 9th Annual Go Skateboarding Day. June 21, 2011 will bring together the skateboarding community and let them get out en masse for a day dedicated solely to skateboarding.

Go Skateboarding Day, presented by The International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC), works to honor and unite participants in the spirit of skateboarding and since its 2003 inception, has prompted cities to build skate parks, promoted local skate shops and raised money for local charities.

“Go Skateboarding Day is a great day for everyone to rid all obligations and go skate, “said IASC Chairman of the Board, Don Brown.! This June 21 will be another great day full of smiles, fun and lots of rolling as millions of skaters around the world unite and charge their local terrain.”

Go Skateboarding Day started out as a small group of colleagues skating to the Huntington Beach Pier and has grown into a worldwide event with millions of participants.  Last year, millions of skateboarders participated globally in more than 500 events held worldwide. If you are possessed to skate, than June 21 is the day for you!

The International Association of Skateboard Companies Official Website

Go Skateboarding Day

Artificial Clouds to Beat the Heat

While no one wants it to rain on game day, too much sun can be a real pain – and actually a health hazard for those in the stands. There are indoor stadiums of course, but that’s not the same. And even retractable roofs don’t always shield everyone away from the glare of the sun’s rays.

This is no doubt a concern for the 2022 World Cup games that will be played in Qatar, where extreme summer heat is something that can’t be easily beat(en). The solution, according to The Daily Mail is a cloud. We’ve heard of the digital cloud – as in online hosting of digital data – but this is actually an artificial cloud. And least you fear that this is some of gaseous creation, it is actually lightweight carbon structures carrying a giant envelope of material containing helium gas. In other words, large balloon like objects. So maybe a retractable roof would be the better idea?

However, because of the region has so much sun, organizers are looking to power the artificial clouds via solar power, as well as the air conditioning in the stadium. Hopefully as this will let spectators beat the heat.

[Via The Daily Mail: Pie in the sky! Qatar invents artificial clouds to beat the heat at 2022 World Cup]

Nike Gets Into the Groove With New Drivers

Nike Golf has announced the upcoming availability of its Nike VR Pro wedge, the lasted innovation to its VR Pro line. The VR Pro wedges are developed out of a precise forging process resulting in a wedge that offers accurate shot-shaping performance.

The maker is also putting a good face forward, as the VR Pro wedge promises to be the most exact wedge face Nike has ever created. Each wedge face features more grooves, resulting in cleaner, more consistent ball flight and spin while still conforming to the new USGA and R&A rules. The promise of more grooves closer together and deeper on the clubface is more control and consistency in all conditions off of the clubface.

To get the “facelift” done, Nike’s team uses a precision laser crosshatch pattern that is applied to the land area between the grooves. This pattern adds three times the surface texture versus conventionally finished faces, creating more spin in all conditions. In addition the wedge gets precision-forging, a technique that eliminates most hand work and ensures consistency and maximum performance throughout the set. As a result each iron face is milled to a perfectly flat surface, and is then carefully die-stamped, pressing grooves to exact specifications for extremely low variance and shot-making consistency.

With this new face forward Nike Golf will be truly in the groove April 1 when the wedge is available in satin chrome or brushed oxide RAW (MSRP: $149.99).

Nike Golf Official Website

Hiplok Not Just for Hipsters

Anyone who has spent any time in a large city has probably seen riders “wearing” their bicycle chain and lock. This “fashion statement” was popularized by bike messengers since the early 1980s. Unlike most U-locks or other cable locks that can be defeated with relative ease, a sturdy lock and tough chain are actually serious deterrents.

Now with more urban commuters, it is no surprise that some companies have taken the simple concept and turned it into true fashion statement. This includes Hiplok, which does sound like something hipsters would either embrace or shun for the name alone. Continue reading Hiplok Not Just for Hipsters