University of Virginia Adds Bike Fixit Station

In an effort to encourage travel by bicycle on campus, the University of Virginia has installed Dero Bike Fix-It stations, which are equipped with basic tools and a hand-pump. These tools, which include various wrenches and screwdrivers, are tethered to the Fix-It stations, ensuring that these will be there for when the next user needs them.

Andrew Greene, sustainability planner in the Office of the Architect at UVA, has said he hopes that students and faculty will have easy access to specialized tools and that this will increase use of bikes on the UVA campus. So far Stanford University and University of Utah have similar Fix-It Stations, while Fresno State also has experimented with its own Bike Repair Station. The concept of remote bike repair is also taking off, as we noted earlier this year with the Bike Fixtation in Minneapolis.

[Via PSFK: Bike Repair Station At University Encourages Students To Go Green]

Superline Drive to Hook the Big Fish

There are probably old time fishermen that will tell you that a long stick, a length of string and a bent pin are all you need to catch the big fish. For the rest of us technology has come a long ways, and Rapala proves that innovation has changed the odds to make sure the big one doesn’t get away.

First up, it all starts with the Sufix 832 Advanced Superline, the new go-to line for freshwater and saltwater anglers, as it offers strength and smoothness that can defy rocks, stumps, tress and thick weeds. Sufix 832 earned the sport fishing industry’s Best Line Award at the 2010 ICAST trade show, and won the Field & Stream Best of the Best Award in the Lure and Accessory category for 2011. Continue reading Superline Drive to Hook the Big Fish

Hands on: ACROS AG-E Hydraulic Shifting

German engineering. For most people, those two words conjure an image of precision and utmost craftsmanship especially in the automotive world. The Germans are known for their attention to detail and quality products, but at a price. This tradition is carried on by A-GE hydraulic shifting system manufactured by ACROS of Germany.

With so much focus on the new electric shifting options from Shimano which are being adapted to mountain bikes, it is easy to overlook this hydraulic option which has actually been available since 2006. We had a chance to take a Storck carbon fiber bike equipped with the AG-E system out on the trails of Bootleg Canyon at the Interbike Outdoor Demo this year.

Continue reading Hands on: ACROS AG-E Hydraulic Shifting

Hands On: PUR One-Click Faucet Mount Water Filtration System

Everyone knows that the key to good health is to stay hydrated—they don’t call it the “source of life” for nothing. Recommendations vary, but you should drink at least 16 ounces of water an hour or two before an activity, and then drink more afterward. (Water is the best source for hydration. Experts will recommend a sports drink to replenish sodium and potassium after an intense workout, but that’s a story for another day. We are talking strictly water here.)

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re lucky enough to have water accessible at all times; if you want a drink, you can pour yourself a glass from the kitchen faucet. People who dislike the taste of tap water will hit bottled waters. More than $100 billion U.S. dollars is spent on bottled water worldwide and people consume around 50 billion bottles a year in the U.S. alone, but bottled water is environmentally unfriendly and a big expense to produce and consume. Despite having some of the cleanest tap water in the world here in the U.S., people still hit the bottle.

An alternative is to implement some sort of filtration system at home, either a water pitcher with filtration or a unit that can be attached to a faucet. They utilize filter cartridges that must be replaced every few months, and they aren’t inexpensive (think of it like razors or inkjet printer cartridges). (There are also even pricier units built into your sink or water cooler-style units). But compared to bottled water these systems are convenient, easily accessible and much more affordable. The folks at PUR recently sent us their One-Click Faucet Mount Water Filtration System to try out. PUR states that the One-Click filters out 99 percent of lead, trace pharmaceuticals, and microbial cysts, as well as reduces taste and odor of chlorine and other contaminants. Here’s our 3-month experience with it. Continue reading Hands On: PUR One-Click Faucet Mount Water Filtration System

Hands On: Surly Moonlander

The leaves are changing colors and the days are becoming shorter; this means that winter is not too far behind and neither is the prospect of snow. For some cyclists this means hanging up the bikes for the winter and doing the grind at the gym. For those who want to brave the elements, there is another option – the Surly Moonlander.

Continue reading Hands On: Surly Moonlander

Kinetic(Mis)Shift: Free Flexor

httpv://youtu.be/H6uNTpYtacw

We’ve seen many devices that make us do a double take. Some convince us our first impressions were wrong, but then there is Free Flexor and we just can’t shake those first impressions. AS CBSNews reported this week several personal trainers questioned the device’s effectiveness. Actually we think it is effective, just not for fitness. It is very effective in making us laugh at the infomercial. This one could sit nicely on the shelf with the Shake Weight.

[Via CBSNews.com: New silly (and sexual) fitness device Free Flexor: Does it work?]

Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for their utter lack of fitness benefits

Re-Cycling Your Old Bike Gear

Trips for Kids website www.tripsforkids.org (credit: Charles Simpson Photography)

Cleaning out the old bicycle parts bin always seems to start as a simple task, but can often turn into quite a dilemma. What should be kept or pitched? What has value, and what might be worth the hassle of selling on eBay or Craigslist? What has no real monetary value, but is still a functioning part that could have some use? Even for the latter, there may be an option other than the trash can for those parts and bikes that are still good, but not worth the hassle of selling. In a word: donation.

Continue reading Re-Cycling Your Old Bike Gear

New Garmin Forerunner Goes for a Swim; Ready for Kona

Sports and GPS go hand-in-hand. That is unless you’re swimming or going off to remote areas where tracking often poses a challenge. Innovations in GPS technology now make it possible to track your workouts, and races, when swimming. Garmin is among the sport watch manufacturers to leverage this new technology.

The company’s new Forerunner 910XT is a multisport watch, an all-in-one GPS-enabled device that provides detailed swim metrics and tracks distance, speed/pace, elevation and heart rate for running and cycling. The 910XT has an on-board barometric altimeter for improved elevation data.

A smooth, low profile allows for athletes to slide tight-fitting wetsuits over the watch. This makes it possible for use with water sports. It also facilitates quick outfit changes necessary for triathletes competing in races where a wetsuit or other protective and warmth gear is necessary.

(Video after the jump)

Continue reading New Garmin Forerunner Goes for a Swim; Ready for Kona

Kodak Ready to Play With Waterproof Camcorder

While summer fun maybe behind us for this year, Kodak is still ready to play with a new camera line fit for the surf and sun. The Kodak Playful Waterproof Camera is the latest addition its pocket camcorder lineup. This waterproof, dustproof and shock-resistant camcorder can go deep, up to 10 feet (3 meters) under the water for up to two hours, and is IPX8 certified, meaning it can withstand being continuously submerged to at least one meter. It can record video in 720p (1280×720) resolution, and it features a special white balance mode to ensure proper colors when doing its underwater thing. On dry land it is IP6X dustproof compliant and can withstand a drop from up to five feet. Continue reading Kodak Ready to Play With Waterproof Camcorder

iPod Nano Get Fitness Facelift

While much of the news spreading across the blogosphere is about the newly announced iPhone 4S, there is much to buzz about with the iPod Nano, which gets a facelift of sorts with 16 new clock faces and more importantly to us, new fitness features. The iPod Nano will reportedly feature a more accurate pedometer that won’t require a dongle to connect to Nike+ hardware.

“Right out of the box, you can go on a walk or a run as well, without adding sensors or devices,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing.

There will also be watchband cases so these can be worn on the wrist. Otherwise the devices are essentially the same, with prices ranging from $129 for the 8GB version to $149 for the 16GB version.

Getting Fit a Little Bit at a Time

One obstacle that keeps many people from even trying to be more fit is that there is no real motivation. Many of us think we’re active, as we walk to the store or work, or are on our feet all day. By the end we’re ready to say, “mission accomplished, I’m tired so I must have been active.” The sad truth is that if we kept track of all that movement it would likely be less than expected.

This is where Fitbit comes in, as the wearable device can keep track – to paraphrase the song by The Police – “every step you take.” The new Fitbit Ultra is like a monitor, but not the type that actually sends that information to the real police, but instead lets you know how you’re doing and more importantly what you’ve done. Continue reading Getting Fit a Little Bit at a Time

FitPro Launches Natural, Powder-free Protein Shake

What you put into your body after a workout is just as important as the workout itself (especially if you’re trying to gain muscle). But not everyone has the time or patience to concoct their own protein shake after every workout. For on-the-go athletes, FitPro offers its new ready-to-drink real milk protein shake.

Available in Chocolate Milk Shake or Vanilla Milk Shake, the all-natural drink is made with real milk instead of powders and it’s the only ready-to-drink protein shake to carry the “Real Dairy” seal, providing all nine essential nutrients found in natural milk. It’s special packaging also gives it a 12-month shelf life with no refrigeration needed.

Nutrition-wise, the 14-oz. lactose- and gluten-free drink contains 250 calories, 32g of protein, 6g of fat, and 13g of carbs. (By comparison, CytoSport’s 11-oz. Muscle Milk Chocolate packs 230 calories, 22g of protein, 11g of fat, and 11g of carbs.)

FitPro Milk is currently launching in gyms, clubs, and retail channels across the country.

FitPro Official Website

Hands On: Flash Shopping Site The Clymb

While some of you don’t need an introduction to flash shopping sites, I think it’s required here. Over the past few years flash shopping sites have emerged to bring the “sample sale” experience to online shoppers. They generally focus on an area of luxury goods such as fashion, home goods and home décor. Shoppers generally have to subscribe to be granted entry to the site, and get email notifications listing the sales each day. These sales, like sample sales, are for a limited time of about two or three days, and the site might host three or 12 sales from different designers or manufacturers on any given day. Continue reading Hands On: Flash Shopping Site The Clymb