Porsche Lends its Design to Bikes

You may not be able to pack it in your Porsche to drive to a ride, but you can look stylish on a Porsche bike. The performance auto maker just announced two bikes, the Porsche RS and S, which will be released in the fall in sizes S, M and L.

Both the RS and S bikes are 29ers, a trend in mountain bikes that uses wheel sizes similar to that on road and cyclocross bikes. The Porsche Bike S is constructed with a belt drive, which minimizes maintenance with a rubber belt in place of a chain. Continue reading Porsche Lends its Design to Bikes

Trek Suspension Calculator for Trek 2011 and 2012 Mountain Bikes

Setting up the suspension on a mountain bike can be a little confusing. How much air pressure is required? How many turns are needed for compression and/or rebound knobs? What springs are used? Does a shock from Rock Shox require a different setup configuration than one from Fox? Where are the instruction manuals?!?! If you are the owner of a 2011 or 2012 full suspension Trek mountain bike, Trek has made this job a little easier for you.

Trek has recently created a calculator to assist these owners in setting up their bikes. Simply navigate over to the site, select your bike and enter your weight. The calculator returns all of the settings that you will need to adjust your shocks. Once you have your settings, you will need your shock pump, sag meter and preferably a friend to help make these adjustments. The sag meter is usually a simple plastic clip attached to the upper leg of a suspension fork to measure the distance the fork sinks when the rider sits on the bike. The friend helps in the process since, it’s sometimes difficult to visually see how much the bike sags under the weight of the rider, if you’re the rider.

The Trek suspension calculator provides the rider a good starting point for adjusting their shocks – certainly not the final settings. Usually the hardest part of adjusting all of the variables on a full suspension bike is knowing where to start. Once this starting point is determined, minor adjustments can then be made with regards to air pressure, compression and rebound to achieve a truly ‘custom’ ride. This calculator is an excellent tool to help Trek owners setup up there bikes to achieve its full potential.

Trek Suspension Calculator


Hands On: Ryn X-Run Shoes

When MBT shoes first came out I looked into them. I ultimately decided not to get a pair. Since then I’ve remained one part curious and one part skeptical. I’ve watched all the brands come out, at every price, and I’ve watched more and more people wearing them.

One of the newer brands to reach the U.S. market is Ryn: Walking Science. Ryn is a Korean company that produces shoes that are said to tone your leg muscles as you walk. We covered Ryn earlier this spring when they were introduced to the U.S. market. We were able to get a pair for review, and here are the impressions we got. Continue reading Hands On: Ryn X-Run Shoes

Simulated Wood Grain For Your Bike

Back in the early 1990s there was the now largely forgotten Los Angeles one-hit wonder alternative band School of Fish, which in its one-hit “Three Strange Days” offered the lyric: “And Johnny Clueless was there, With his simulated wood grain.”

Well, Rob Pollock of New Zealand is no Johnny Clueless, and he probably never heard of the song nor the band. But he’s spent his life painting faux wood finishes on various things, a process he calls “woodgraining,” which is now taking to bike frames after customizing his son’s bike. Those looking for a wood-esque bike can send their frames to Rob’s Woodgrain Bike Frames, where Pollock paints them individually over seven to 10 days.

The process, which can run about $1500 US, involves stripping the old paint, where he sprays a light colored base, and then uses a multi-step process to hand brush the actual one-of-a-kind woodgrain pattern in darker colors. Clear coat is added, along with a protective epoxy coating. The result is a bike that looks like wood.

(Video of the woodgraining process after the jump)

Continue reading Simulated Wood Grain For Your Bike

BackTrack Your Workouts to Review Miles

When you get home from a workout, do you want to review every step you took? The BackTrack D-Tour from Bushnell is a GPS device with just such a function. Clip this on your body and it tracks your movement, speed and other variables that you can upload to your computer and review all your stats and check out your distance on Google Maps. You can also share your workout results on various social networks.

The ruggedized device is weather resistant and can stand up to inclement weather including rain. It has a self-calibrating digital compass, time, temperature and altimeter. Even if you venture into territory where cell phones won’t get a signal, the BackTrack D-Tour won’t miss a step.

The D-Tour runs on Windows (XP SP1 or later) and MAC (10.49 or later) and takes three AAA batteries. It measures distances in yards/miles or meters/kilometers depending on your desired settings. It’s available for abou$120.

BackTrack D-Tour web page.

 

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Jerseys Being Auctioned for Charity

This coming August, sandwiched between two of the three Grand Tours, is the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is expected to be the largest spectator event in Colorado history and may possibly be one of the largest sporting events to ever take place in the United States. For seven consecutive days, 128 of the world’s top athletes will race across 518 miles through the majestic Rockies, reaching higher altitudes than they’ve ever had to endure, more than two miles in elevation. The inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge will take place August 22-28, 2011, starting in Colorado Springs and traveling to Salida, Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte, Gunnison, Aspen, Vail, Avon, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge and Golden, ending in Denver for the finish.

Just about every cycling stage race has custom jerseys created to designate the ‘race leader’ from day to day – the USA Pro Challenge is no different. USA Pro Challenge will award jerseys daily to top athletes in various standings including the leader, sprinter and climber. In addition, the best young rider as well as the rider who tackles the course with the most tenacity and aggression will wear jerseys commemorating their accomplishments. Continue reading USA Pro Cycling Challenge Jerseys Being Auctioned for Charity

Kinetic(Mis)Shift: hipDisk – So Not Hip

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Htsy_ldbOag

It has been called “possibly the most undignified musical instrument ever,” and we are inclined to agree. It is the hipDisk, which was designed to by Danielle Wilde of the ANAT Emerging Technology Lab workshop, as a wearable hula hoop type musical device. It is designed to be used as a 12 notes chromatic scale where shaking the hips essentially creates the music.

The concept is that it is both mentally and physically demanding, especially to play actual tunes and songs. But we can’t help thinking that it is undignified, and there are so many better ways to move to the beat.

[Via Gizmag: HipDisk – bending over backwards for music]

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

Mooto X YBB: Building a ‘Dream’ Bike First Impressions

Maybe I have an addiction, but so what. My addiction isn’t the bottle or pills – it is a bit larger and may cost as much as a substance addiction, but it is much more beneficial to my health. I have once again fallen victim to my addiction…I am putting together a new bike.

When I build bikes, I usually know if it is going to be one that I keep for a few years or in excess of a decade. The last ‘dream’ bike that I built was back in 1998 and it also started as a titanium frame – that Merlin XLM is still hanging in garage. My Merlin XLM has taken me through thousands of miles of trails from sea level to over 12,000’. It has been with me during 24 hour races and numerous Leadville Trail 100 races. I still love to take that bike out and rip through tight, smooth singletrack, but that ‘dream’ bike is soon to have a new friend. Continue reading Mooto X YBB: Building a ‘Dream’ Bike First Impressions

Dare to wear (Cold)Black in the Sun

A shirt using coldblack made by Flying Cross

You may wear black clothes daily, but when you go to work out or spend time in the sun, you probably look for lighter colored clothing. Dark fabrics, especially black fabrics, absorb the heat from the sun and transfer that heat right to your skin. It doesn’t help your workout at all.

A new finish on fabric called coldblack made by textile company Schoeller Technologies makes for a new class of functional clothing. With coldblack, darker colors can be worn in the sun without worries of providing extra heat. The heat bounces off the textile rather than shooting straight through.

An additional advantage to coldblack is protection from UV rays. The fabric provides a minimum Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 30 when applied to any textile. This protects against UV-A rays and UV-B rays. Continue reading Dare to wear (Cold)Black in the Sun

Made in America: FITS Socks Co.

Last week was the Snowsports Industries America (SIA) Show in New York featuring a number of different manufacturers from all around the winter sports industry. With so many companies to choose from, it might seem odd that we picked a sock company to feature. There are quite a few sock companies that still produce their items in the U.S.A., but most usually on feature three sizes – FITS Socks manufactures five different sizes ranging from 3-½ to 15-½ for men and 5 to 17 for women.

Knitting socks in Niota, TN since 1902, Crescent Sock Co. endured the ups and downs that shaped the character of America’s people and her textiles industry. Today the company produces socks under its own FITS name in the oldest operating hosiery mill in the U.S. – leveraging technical expertise and long-held knowledge of fit and comfort. The family-owned company remains committed to its vision, its people, and to keeping jobs in the Tennessee Valley. Crescent manufactured socks for more than 30 other brands before deciding to market its own high-quality product. Responding to an industry-wide epidemic of ill-fitting socks, FITS leveraged over a century of experience to develop the world’s best-fitting sock using materials, processes, and quality controls that far exceed industry standards. The result: a product line that embodies the crucial connection between fit and performance.

FITS Sock has a different approach to sock ‘fitting‘. Instead of looking at the length of the foot, they base their sizing on total volume of the foot creating a precise sock-fit. FITS socks are constructed from two-ply, compact-spun, ultra-fine Merino Wool, providing the ultimate blend of softness and durability. Their F3 Technology™ delivers a unique form FIT thanks to a deep heel pocket, specialized toe seam, and contoured leg – which keep FITS socks firmly in place. This means no more bunching, hot spots, or friction, regardless of the task at hand – if you experience any of these issues, you will appreciate how important a good pair of fitting socks can make your sporting experience much more enjoyable.

At SIA FITS was featuring their winter sports sock – FITS SKI. The heart of the FITS SKI line is the FITS Ultra Light SKI, a minimalist’s SKI sock. Developed to be the thinnest high-performance Merino Wool ski sock, it features ultra-light construction with absolutely no cushioning; a vented instep for breathability and reduced material; and FITS’ signature SculptureKnit leg that conforms to your foot and leg and stays up all day.

Along with winter sports, FITS also produces socks for hikers, runners, hunters and even business or casual use. Ranging from $15.99 to $19.99, FITS Socks are available directly from their website or you can search their store locator page to find a retailer near you. If you order directly from FITS, rest assured that the socks will fit you properly. If you are not satisfied with your socks, simply contact FITS Sock Co. within 30 days and they will replace your pair with the correct size or refund your money.

FITS Sock Official Website

Fitness Journal: Transform a Belly of Flab With a Bag of Sand

There was a workout routine we had been hearing about, and had mixed opinion about. It was called the “sandbag training,” which essentially is a sort of weight lifting routine but instead of lifting metal or other solid weights, it involved using a bag of sand.

As with any weight lifting regime, it is important to do things correctly or you could cause serious injury. Additionally, it seems that not sand is created equal. And there are other factors to consider including the fineness of the sand and the types of bags that will be used. Essentially sandbag training is about bags of sands within bags, making for a flexible but still consistent weight.

(Video after the jump) Continue reading Fitness Journal: Transform a Belly of Flab With a Bag of Sand

New Spin on Bamboo Bicycle

We’ve seen many bicycles designs that incorporate sustainable materials, including bamboo. But most are built around traditional frame designs. Now Alexander Vittouris, a master’s student at Monash University in Australia had devised a three-wheeled vehicle made of the quick growing grass.

He is in the running for the Australian Design Award for his concept bicycle. Rather than take the time to harvest, weave and compress the bamboo, which has traditionally been needed to make the grass conform to traditional bicycle frame design, Vittouris instead made his vehicle conform to the shape of the bamboo – creating a skeleton frame from the long strands.

In other words, his Ajiro bicycle was essentially grown in the backyard of his Malvern East home. After taking shape, traditional bike parts were incorporated, so the result is a front-pedal design that resembles a recumbent bicycle.

And while Vittouris admits the first concept didn’t come cheap, he does envision a future of mass-grown vehicles, planted in fields.

[Via WAtoday.com.au: Bamboozled? Give it a grow]

Skateboarding is in the House

There was that old Brady Bunch episode where Bobby kept uttering the immortal line, “Mom said not to play ball in the house,” and some silly scenario ensued. Well Carol Brady probably wouldn’t have approved of the PAS House, a full-scale, 753.5-square foot prototype house being designed in Malibu,CA by Francois Perrin of LA-based Air Architecture.

Come to think of it Mike Brady was an architect, but yet he never came up with something as revolutionary as this design for former pro skateboarder and Etnies footwear founder Pierre-André Senizergues. The house, which will feature a sofa, bed and furniture from the Skate Study House collection is actually designed to be skateboard friendly. The concept was part of a the recent Public Domaine/Skateboard Culture at the new La Gaite Lyrique museum in Paris, but the completed residence will measure 2,200 square-feet and will be designed to overlook the Pacific in Malibu. Continue reading Skateboarding is in the House