Portland Goes Green at the Gym

As we’ve noted previously, there is some irony in the way people use gyms. In many parts of the country people sit in traffic in their cars to drive to a gym to work out. And then at the gyms, these places aren’t exactly the greenest operated businesses. There are the treadmills, the music system, the air-conditioning and of course those walls of TVs. The irony is that people are burning a lot of calories, but we’ve already seen some gyms work up ways to recapture some of that effort and put it back into power.

We heard about Portland’s Green Microgym, which has the equipment capture and send some of the energy back into the electrical grid. Because the equipment needs power to operate, as well as those TVs, the lights and air conditioning it is currently impossible or any gym to actually generate more power than it needs to run, but some equipment could do more than it’s part.

According to reports some of the equipment can actually generate more power than it draws, notably a spin bike during an intensive class. This is of course because most spin bikes need practically no electricity, other than possible a speedometer or cycle computer. Thus with every pedal stroke the riders produce energy. Pedal power can make gyms greener.

[Via Voice of America: Exercisers Burn Energy While Creating it]

The Green Microgym

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

Hands On: Epic Comp 29

Recently I mentioned the demo day and test bike programs that bicycle retailers and manufacturers have in place so that the consumer can really test drive a bike before purchasing. With bikes costing several thousand dollars, it only made sense that the customer would really want to make sure that their new bike investment was the right one. Out of all of the mountain bikes that I have, only one is full suspension and it only has a little over one inch of rear travel. Since my days of racing for Pro-Flex in the late 1990s, I have been turned off of full suspension bikes. Realizing that there have been many advancements in bike technology and now that I am a little old (translated…more body pains), I think it might be time to add a full suspension bike to my fleet. Continue reading Hands On: Epic Comp 29

Adidas ClimaCool Ride, Light on Your Feet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vACznSF9Nq8&feature=player_embedded

The shoe of 2011 is lightweight. You’ll see entries from several manufacturers. Adidas brought out its ClimaCool Ride, an 8.9 ounce running shoe. While the loss of a few ounces is something to talk about, the all-around, 360 degree venting is another star feature of the shoe. Continue reading Adidas ClimaCool Ride, Light on Your Feet

Endless Winter Coming To End, Time for Endless Ice

This winter will end; at least we think it will. Spring actually sprung last week at least officially, and much of the country should see warmer weather this week. Thats good news, unless you happen to play hockey. While there are always indoor rinks and arenas, there is another option, namely Endless Ice.

This company has many products to keep players on the ice year round, including advanced training systems and even home based models. This also a real bonus for teams such as the El Paso Rhinos, who used the system to train for the Western State Hockey League Championship series, where the weather isn’t always agreeable for hockey – and rarely outdoors. The system works much like a treadmill, but with a synthetic surface that replaces traditional ice. In addition to just skating in place, a computer analyzes the player’s form and technique and provides feedback to help optimize performance on real ice.

Endless Ice is currently used throughout the United States, in the Czech Republic and Germany, and even throughout Canada, where winter is even more endless than in parts of America. But the technology is there so players can get in the skate training even if they can’t hit the ice.

Endless Ice 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

Electric Sleds in Clean Snowmobile Challenge

One word does not come to mind when we think of snowmobiles, and that is “clean.” We think of these as loud machines that spew fumes and basically disturb the peace. Of course, this is coming from someone who thinks November to March is a good time of year to enjoy the great indoors.

But the idea of a Clean Snowmobile Challenge is intriguing, more so because we’ve heard that this is the 12th annual event! Electric cars are having a hard time catching on, but it seems that electric snowmobiles are just improving with each year.

According to reports the SEA Clean Snowmobile Challenge is an annual event to push entrants to develop eco-friendly transportation for the real world, including those that have a lot of snow. Competing teams, which are made up of college students, must design a touring snowmobile for groomed-trail riding. More importantly these must be cost-effective, and comfortable to ride, while also improving on emissions and noise. There are categories for low emissions – which obviously do use traditional fuels – as well as zero-emissions, where the devices are judged on how far they can travel and how much of a load they can carry.

Given that winters maybe getting longer, these teams are probably on to something.

[Via Gizmag: Electric sleds compete in the 12th annual Clean Snowmobile Challenge]

Bolt it Down

So you finally have purchased that new piece of sporting equipment that will not fit in your car when you want to take it out to the slopes or trail head with your friends. You will either need to mount it on the outside of your vehicle utilizing a rack or tow it behind on a trailer, but as you know someone always needs to make a pit stop along the way. Of course you are worried about the security of your new toys so someone gets left on ‘guard duty’ while the rest of the group takes a break, but this is no fun when it is a post activity function like food and drinks. If you are lucky enough to park in front of a window at your pit stop, you can then keep an eye on your car. Sometimes luck does not always work in your favor, so what do you do?

Most roof racks offer some sort of locking mechanism, but as most of you know these can easily be overcome with basic hand tools. So a second way to deter those who might seize upon a crime of opportunity is to use a cable lock and weave it through your equipment. Now you have to remember to bring a third key  with you – one for your car, one for the rack locks and now one for the cable lock. Well Strattec, a leader in OEM and aftermarket automotive locks, has you covered with their new line of BOLT Locks. Continue reading Bolt it Down

Fitness Journal: Test It Before You Ride Part II

You wouldn’t buy a car without taking it out for a test drive, but surprisingly this is exactly how many people buy bikes. This isn’t surprising for lower-end bikes, but then the numbers are well north of $1,000 this is just crazy. Why wouldn’t you test a bike first?

Some of the major bike retailers even maintain a small fleet of ‘Test Bikes’ for their customers to sign out for the day to ride on the local trails. There is usually a fee that you will have to pay to take the bike out, but most shops will allow you to apply that fee towards the purchase of a new bike. Just a few weeks ago, I was able to sign out two different full suspension Specialized 29ers from a local dealer, Tam Bikes in Mill Valley, California, to take up on some trails that I am very familiar with and have ridden often. After a few hours on each of the full suspension bikes, my mind was swayed by being able to ride a test bike on trails that I have ridden often instead of just around the parking lot. Continue reading Fitness Journal: Test It Before You Ride Part II

Transforming Bicycle – Bike to Cart

One problem with biking to the grocery store is that you have to lock up the bike. The other problem is that most bikes aren’t really designed to carry a lot of goods, and unless you’re just getting a bag of chips (not exactly health food for riders), you might have a hard time transporting your purchases home.

The Ville Urban Folding Bicycle, which won a Bronze Prize at last year’s IDEA Design Awards might just be the solution. It is a folding bike that essentially transforms into cart to help you do your shopping, and then with a quick change you can be ready to ride home with a bike that includes baskets for your goods. And unlike those actual Transformers from movies and cartoons, this one actually seems practical!

[Via Yanko Design: How To Fold A Bike Into A Cart]

Gunshot Detectors Tell Where Shots Are Coming From

The Army recently announced that they will be shipping 13,000 Individual Gunshot Detectors (IGD) to Afghanistan specifically to be used by the dismounted Soldiers. These devices, manufactured by QinetiQ North America, consist of four sensors and a small screen that will pickup and identify the direction of incoming gunfire. The small sensor is about the size of a deck of playing cards and can detect the supersonic sound waves generated by the enemy shot and instantaneously alert the Soldier of the direction and distance of the enemy fire.

Stationary and vehicle mounted systems have been in use for years, but this is the first time that a system weighing less than two pounds is being widely distributed to the Troops. The Army plans to distribute 1,500 more IGD per month for the next twelve months.

The Army plans to integrate the individual IGD devices into the larger Land Warrior and Nett Warrior systems essentually networking in the entire battle group. Not only will one Soldier know where the enemy fire cam from, but others will also know at the same time.

Though this is not a sports or fitness related product and can not be purchased by the general public, Kinetic Shift feels that anything that can save the life of a Soldier is worth mentioning!

U.S. Army Official Website: “Army deploying ‘Individual Gunshot Detector’”

Fitness Journal: Test It Before You Ride It: Part I

Are you considering buying a new mountain bike that might even cost more than your car? If so, you might want to crank on the pedals before you put down the plastic.

When I bought my first mountain bike 20 years ago, it was common practice for the local shop to let you take the bike around the parking lot for a ‘test ride’. This was back when there were U-brakes; thumb shifters; no suspension; and a mid end bikes were $500 and high end bikes were seldom over $2000. You got the feel for the bike and if the frame fit you, but it was not a real good indication as to how it would handle on the trails.

With the ever increasing amount of technology being put into bikes today, it is not uncommon for a decent bike to be in the range of $1500 to almost $10,000 – more than some new cars! With front suspension, rear suspension, 29er wheels, disc brakes, 2×10 gearing, etc. the parking lot test course just does not cut it anymore. If you have only ridden 26-inch wheels on all of your mountain bikes, how do you know that you will like the feel of a 29er? This in fact happened to me a few years ago. I test rode a Cannondale 1FG 29er from a bike shop in Fairfax, California and absolutely hated how it handled in the parking lot. I own a 26-inch wheeled 1FG , but the 29er felt slow and seemed to corner like a school bus – I vowed to never own a 29er bike. Continue reading Fitness Journal: Test It Before You Ride It: Part I

Kinetic(Mis)Shift: Part Workout Machine, Part Lounge Chair

Spring is almost here and that means time to take in the fresh air, and sit back and read a book on a nice day. But if you feel guilty for doing so there is always the Ab Lounge, part lounge chair and part workout machine.

Now, those things don’t exactly sound like the go together, and that’s probably because they don’t. At nearly $80 this is a lounge chair that is expensive and looks totally uncomfortable. As a workout device it seems to be far from sturdy, and offers routines that don’t seem practical.

Our advice, get in a run, go for a bike ride and then afterward settle into a real lounge chair instead.

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