Would you skip going to the gym if you knew you’d have to pay a penalty? In the past gym goers might get a discount from their health plan when they go to the gym regularly. However the motivation to work out may be that much stronger if you pay for the days you don’t show up.
It almost seems fitting that DailyBurn would introduce an iPhone app called “Push-Up War” this month. The late Jack LaLanne still holds the world’s record for doing 1,000 push-ups in just 23 minutes – and now this app, which integrates with Facebook and Apple’s GameCenter, allows users the ability to see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
The app takes advantage of an iPhone’s camera to easily record a video of a user’s push-up session, and this can be uploaded online, where users can earn new “ranks” as they continue entering more pushups. To ensure that there is no cheating – something we know Jack would never do – a video recording of every push-ups entry is required.
The Push-Up Wars app is available for download from the Apple App Store for just $0.99, and we’re hearing word that an Android version in the works. So get ready to push it real good, because this time it means war.
This week Nokero International Ltd., maker of the world’s only solar light bulb, announced an interesting partnership with Olympian and X Games Ski Cross defending gold medalist Chris Del Bosco to provide light for those in Kenya. This is part of a new program called Ski 4 Light, which will be launched at the ESPN Winter X Games 15 in Aspen, Colorado.
Del Bosco will be wearing a Nokero-enhanced helmet outfitted with an LCD display and solar panel when he competes Friday, January 28 and Sunday, January 30. The skier is doing this to bring attention to the 1.6 billion people who live daily without electricity across the globe and often burn kerosene for light. Del Bosco, a Colorado native, is looking to use his talents and exposure in the sports world to spread the word and help bring light to those who need it most.
“I believe in setting goals and going after them,” said Del Bosco. “My goal is to help raise $20,000 in donations, translating into 1,000 Nokero bulbs for the people of Kenya.”
The Nokero bulb is already being used in over 70 countries that have limited, intermittent or no electricity such as Haiti, Pakistan, Nicaragua, Ghana and Chile. The Ski 4 Light project’s aim is to directly help the people in Kenya, who live with no electricity and use dangerous fuel-based lanterns. With each $20 donation, a Nokero solar light bulb will be delivered to Kenyan.
Del Bosco and Nokero have further pledged to give 1,000 bulbs to impoverished people in Kenya if he can win the Winter X Games 15 Skier X competition.
The new base layer top from Craft uses moving wing technology in panels across the back and cuffs. Craft uses its COOL Superlight outer fabric for its moving wing panels, which are places across the back and cuffs. This is a moisture management and temperature regulation measure. The COOL outer fabric allows air to circulate around your body and promote moisture expulsion while the ZERO fabric stays in contact with your body pulling excess moisture from your skin and keeping you warm. The base layer is suitable for winter and spring activities. That is those spring days where you still feel the bite of winter.
Continue reading Craft’s Zero Extreme Concept Base Layer Gives You Wings
We received a press release this week for the National Bike Summit 2011, and our first thought was, “wow, look at all the corporate and group logos.” There were quite a few and this included League of American Bicyclists, Bikes Belong Coalition, Planet Bike, National Bicycle Dealers Association, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Safe Routes: National Center for Safe Routes to School, Alliance for Biking & Walking, Saris Cycling Group, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Interbike, AAA, My Bike Law, Cycling Mobility, FTA, Bicycle Times, Toue de Cure, Dero Bike Racks, CycleSafe Secure Bicycle Parking, Adventure Cycling, Toole Design Group, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, Rails to Trails Conservancy, QBP, Cat Eye, RBA, The National Center for Bicycling and Walking, Alta Planning & Design and Polar.
What does this really mean? To us, it actually means that the future should be looking very good for those who like to ride bikes. There is always power in numbers, and the coming together of so many cycling groups, companies that make cycling products and even a few groups like AAA in the mix that the power for pedaling should be in full gear.
We’ll be sure to report on the latest news from the National Bike Summit when it takes place in March.
There has been a growing movement to encourage drivers to share the road, and now Kia is spreading the word via a new ad. Kudos to a carmaker for getting on board and sending the message that bikes deserve some space too.
This shirt is strong enough for soldiers on the front line, so while it is a bit pricier than other base layers, you know it is going to stand up to some true extremes. Massif has been producing the US Army issue Army Combat Shirt, and now the company has introduced the commercial Universal Combat Shirt, which is based on the ACS.
The UCS is designed for wear under armor – should you require armor that is – and it even provides flame protection, making this ideal for search and rescue teams, and others that might find themselves in such hazardous conditions. It features FR stretch fabrics that are still lightweight, breathable and even highly wicking to keep the sweat off you.
So what is the big difference between this and the ACS? For one the new shirts are available in a wider range of colors, including tan, OD and MultiCam – sorry, it is still military styled so you’re going to get those military colors. But it still features the low-profile shoulder pockets to provide easy access to gear, with durable mesh pocket bags to increase ventilation and flat seams that won’t chafe under armor or other layers.
As any good adventurer knows, it is good to have a sidekick for your journey. Likewise, a wingman comes in handy for so much more than just cruising the bars. A sidekick and a wingman should be reliable through thick and thin, and now you can actually buy one of each – of the multi-tool variety that is.
At last week’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Leatherman introduced the Sidekick and Wingman – two new tools that feature contemporary design for the first-time multi-tool buyers. Both tools will be made from 420 stainless steel and feature Leatherman’s popular outside-accessibility-to-tools design, including a saw, knife, scissors, screwdriver, pliers, bottle/can opener, serrated knife and much more.
While meant for the price-conscience buyer – the Sidekick will retail for $29.99 and the Wingman at $39.99 – when they arrive in September of this year, as with other Leatherman products these products still feature the company’s industry-leading, no-hassle, 25 year warranty. Move over Swiss Army Knife, we’d rather have the American-made Sidekick or Wingman with us on our next journey.
It’s hard to let go of that loved cycling jersey, or the shorts with the perfect padding. If you recycle the garments, they really are going to a better place … back on the trails. Women’s mountain biking label Loeka Clothing just started a clothing recycling program that gives incentive to those who turn in their gear for recycling.
Loeka started manufacturing women’s mountain biking apparel in 2005; just enough time that the clothes might be showing just a little wear, or you might want to switch it up for a new design. Fill out a form on Loeka’s website and either mail in your gear or take it to a participating retailer. Retailers currently include Ruckus Skis, Boards and Bikes in Prince George BC; Ski Dazzle at Silverstar Resort; Mt Washington Alpine Resort, Mt Washington BC; Pedal Chic Greenville, South Carolina; and Iride Vermont, Stowe, Vermont.
Continue reading Loeka Women’s Cycling Clothier Starts Recycling Program
We’re sad to report that fitness guru Jack LaLanne died Sunday afternoon at his home in Morro Bay, California. He was reported to be 96 years old.
We’d like to believe he lived to the ripe old age because of the decades he spent talking about the healthful benefits of exercise and fitness. LaLanne opened his first health spa in California in 1936, long before any fitness craze hit America. LaLanne was also one of the innovators of fitness technology, as he invented the first leg-extension machine.
Our condolences go out to his family and friends. The fitness world has lost a true icon.
Last year we saw a few goofy ideas like the treadmill desk, which is something we praised but in all truthfulness knew was a crazy idea. But yet, every time we hit the gym somewhere we see people checking e-mail, looking at apps or even trying to surf the Web on their mobile smartphones.
So with that in mind, we love the idea of the newly announced ProForm TrailRunner 4.0 treadmill, which features a 10-inch touch screen monitor with Web browser powered by Android. This allows users to put in the distance while still watching news, sports highlights or accessing social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Users can further check and send e-mail while treading the time away. Continue reading Browse While Getting Your Workout
There are headphones you can use while riding the slopes, and there are even snowboarding helmets with built in speakers. But how about taking a snowboard and combining it with a 1980’s era boombox? That’s what the gang from Every Third Thursday did. Introducing the Boombox from Signal Snowboard:
While most of the electronics are much smaller than those from the 1980s, the result is a board that can be still be ridden. Now that’s a new way to bring music to your ride.
The Original SWAT Footwear Company has now introduced a line of boots where users can choose from a number of boot model options, upload images, and even enter team names or badge numbers should it be required. Users can decide if they want a plain toe, or go with the Tec Tuff Toe option, which provides protection from abrasions and is also resistant to oil, petroleum and salt staining. It is further fire retardant and resists cold cracking. There is even an option for a composite safety toe inside the boot that can withstand 200 Joules Impact Test Standards, yet is made of non-metal material so it is anti-magnetic and non-sparking – plus metal-detector friendly.
In addition, users can choose insulation type, opting for the 400 gram of Thinsulate insulation, which is ideal for high activity levels in cold weather, and even decided if the boots need to be waterproof or offer puncture protection. All this can be determined directly from the website and each team member – should there be a team involved – can get a boot just for them!