Holiday Greetings from Electra Bicycle Company.
Hands On: CamelBak Podium Bottles
KineticShift.com continues our hands on test of water bottles.
Time for another dash to the finish line, and this one might just be the water bottle to help you on the long ride to the podium and beyond. And we hear it’s good for the casual group ride too.
CamelBak Podium Description: Step up to the Podium. The New CamelBak Podium Bottle incorporates Jet Valve, a revolutionary self-sealing valve into a taste-free bottle with a high flow rate.
CamelBak is the official hydration sponsor of Team Garmin-Transitions, and proud to support the team’s 100% Clean initiative for untainted sports performance.
Bottle Sizes: 21oz and 24oz
Plastic: Polypropylene
Country of Manufacture: China
Retail Price: $8 (21oz) and $9 (24oz)
Snow Won’t Stop the Bond Bike
While mountain bikes can handle reasonable amounts the white stuff, usually deep snow means it is time to hit the rollers or exercise bike instead. Two wheels and thick packed snow just don’t mix. But the British Environmental Transport Association (ETA) might have an alternate solution with a special bike kit that utilizes a caterpillar track-driven snow bike.
BikeRadar.com reported that the bike, which was designed as a proof of concept device for the Cycle Show 2010 in London, actually found use following the recent snow fall in Britain last week. The concept converts any existing 26-inch mountain bike (hard tail or full suspension) into a snow bike by replacing the front wheel with a single ski and using a rubber track setup with the rear wheel. This solution allows the rider to retain the use of the gears and rear brake. Super villain and Bond girl not included.
[Via BikeRadar: Taking the ‘Bond bike’ for a spin in the snow]
Flippin’ With the NHL
There are many ways to show your team spirit. You can paint your face, dress up like the team’s mascot or you could really flip for your team. Cisco and the NHL have teamed up to offer team-designed Flip Video Cameras, which include 30 uniquely designed NFL versions. The line includes the Flip UltraHD, MinoHD and SlideHD.
“Hockey fans are in a class of their own when it comes to diehard loyalty,” said Dave McCarthy, NHL Vice President Integrated Marketing. “Owning a Flip video camera representing their favorite team is a great way for fans to show support and more importantly have fun sharing their passion with fellow hockey fans and friends around the world.”
The NHL Flip video cameras are a great holiday idea for that hockey fan, and what we like about these is that they also encourage users to get out and capture the moment whilst showing their team spirit.
Hands On: CamelBak Chill and Ice Insulated Bottles
KineticShift.com continues our hands on test of water bottles.
The company that invented the backpack with a water bladder built-in has some new offerings in the water bottle category too.
CamelBak Chill Description: The CamelBak Podium Chill Bottle is a soft, lightweight, easy-to-use insulated bottle. Keeps beverages cool for hours. Perfect for cyclists, runners, and other outdoor athletes. With great thermal performance and innovative features, the Podium Chill Bottle sets a new standard for insulated bottles.
CamelBak is the official hydration sponsor of Team Garmin-Transitions, and proud to support the team’s 100% Clean initiative for untainted sports performance.
CamelBak Ice Description: The ultimate insulated bike bottle, the CamelBak Podium Ice bottle keeps water cold four times longer, to maximize your performance and keep you focused on your ride.
Bottle Sizes: 21oz
Plastic: Polypropylene
Country of Manufacture: China
Retail Price: $12 (Chill) and $20 (Ice) Continue reading Hands On: CamelBak Chill and Ice Insulated Bottles
Clever Socks From SmartWool
Winter means extra thick socks. These help keep the toes warm, but the right socks can also ensure that they stay dry and in place through athletic activity as well. SmartWool has new pairs of socks for the upcoming ski and winter sport season that are downright clever.
The SmartWool PhD Ski and Snowboard collection offers high performance socks (yes, there is such a thing these ays), which are keep feet warm, protected and dry throughout a day on the slopes. A mesh ventilation zone further helps the feet breathe to reduce sweaty feet – which in turn can mean cold feet as activity slows down. These feature a unique 4 Degree Fit System that ensures that socks stay in place and won’t bunch up or worse slip down. This not only makes for more comfortable socks, but also helps prevent friction and potential blisters.
The SmartWool PhD socks are made from high grade Merion wool, which is a natural insulator and can help regulate temperature to keep feet warm when it’s downright cold outside. Wool in itself is an antimicrobial that can further prevent odor causing bacteria from building up.
Additionally, the socks are nothing short of genius too, and can do much more than just piling on a second pair. These will actually provide cushion thanks to SmartWool’s WoW technology that includes high density impact zones with custom-fit feeling. There is even extra cushioning provided around the shin, heel and instep. This won’t exactly put springs in your step, but will help you feel like you’re walking on fluffy snow even if it is hardpacked.
Your Shape Gets With Two New Programs
If you’re using the Xbox 360 to tone up with Your Shape Fitness Evolved you will now have a couple more options to keep you in the game and possibly get you in better shape. This week the makers of the exercise title have introduced two new workout programs for the Ubisoft published release.
These include the “Toned Body Program,” which is designed to help strengthen muscles and get a firmer body, as well as the “Cardio Boxing Platinum,” a new advanced level of the Cardio-Boxing class.
Both are available individually or in a bundled package for download from Xbox Live, and Ubisoft further noted that in the first half of the upcoming calendar year more than a dozen new add-on programs will be released for Your Shape Fitness Evolved.
- Toned Body Program is available for 320 MSFT points
- Cardio Boxing Platinum is available for 400 MSFT points
- The Bundled Pack: Toned Body Program and Cardio Boxing Platinum is available for 560 MSFT points
Let it Blow, Let it Blow, Let it Blow
If you have a long driveway or need to go anywhere the white stuff isn’t so much fun after a while. On the other hand if you’re running a ski resort or like to hit the slopes you probably wish for the snow to fall. The problem is that Mother Nature doesn’t always like to play along. The solution has long been to simply make snow, but unfortunately making snow takes a lot of energy and consumes a lot of power.
This year many resorts might just introduce a new “aireless” snowmaking system that allows more snow to make with far less energy. Roundtop Mountain Resort in central Pennsylvania recently added nine new Techno Alpin automated snowmaking towers to its snowmaking system, which is networked to a weather station so it can let it blow, let it blow, let it blow as soon as the air temperatures allow. The system further monitors the air’s temperature and humidity levels and can adjust accordingly to produce the absolute best snow possible. And there is that old saying about fooling mother nature – what about doing mother nature one better!
It is also worth noting that traditional systems use an “air/water” mix, but the fact that compressed air is expensive and comes out hot means lost energy. This new airless system basically cuts out the air – so you can there is no hot air with the Techno Alpin solution.
Hands On: Clean Bottle
KineticShift.com continues our hands on test of water bottles.
It is time to come clean about a sad fact about water bottles. Some bottles just never get clean when used with energy drinks, and even water can transform bottles into something that you’d never want to drink out of – but the Clean Bottle might just have the solution.
Clean Bottle Description: Flat tires. Getting dropped. Bad drivers. Stinky, moldy water bottles.
We can’t help you with the first three, but we can do something about the fourth.
Introducing Clean Bottle, with a patent-pending, leak-proof , screw-off bottom. Gone are the days of trying in vain to wash out that funk at the bottom of your bottles. With Clean Bottle, cleaning and drying are easy.
Clean Bottle is made with 100% non-toxic, BPA-free plastics, making it safe to use over and over. Clean bottle is also top-rack dishwasher safe, so you can run it in the dishwasher without fear of it breaking down.
Bottle Sizes: 22oz
Plastic: Polyethylene (body) and Polypropylene (caps)
Country of Manufacture: China
Retail Price: $9.95 (22oz) Continue reading Hands On: Clean Bottle
Run Into the Ground in a Good Way
Running shoes can go the distance but the truth is that most shoes are deemed “dead” before they’re exactly falling apart. This is because it is a good idea to replace shoes long before they reach that state. The problem is that the synthetic materials used to make many shoes can last a long time. Now that’s good when you’re using them, but bad once they’re past the “use by” date.
Currently, there aren’t exactly recycle bins for old running shoes. So instead when the shoes are done, they end up in landfills. The way many of these are built they could be dug by some future garbage-archeologist. One solution is from Brooks Sports with its $100 “Green Silence” shoes, which are designed to break down in a landfill. The process is still more of a distance race than a sprint, and takes 20 years, but that’s a far cry from the marathon pace of many traditional running shoes. Continue reading Run Into the Ground in a Good Way
Fitness to the Factor of Five With Video Games
This week best-selling author acclaimed celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak, renowned fitness and nutrition specialist, got in the game. He will work with Majesco Entertainment Company in a strategic partnership to develop and produce interactive electronic games based on his 5-Factor Fitness Program. The key to his program is fives, where users can see results in just five weeks through five-ingredient meals, five times a day combined with Harley’s fitness program of five-minute sets.
“Backed by degrees in both nutrition and fitness, Harley is the pre-eminent Hollywood trainer, responsible for some of the best celebrity bodies on stage and screen, including Katy Perry, Megan Fox, Lady Gaga and Rob Pattinson,” said Jesse Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Majesco Entertainment. “Harley’s appearances on Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray have helped drive the growth of his 5-Factor brand and convert millions to his distinctive nutrition and fitness program. His program is the type of holistic approach that translates perfectly into motion-based video games that let players take control of their own health in a fully interactive way.”
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Majesco to create a ground-breaking fitness game based on the same 5-Factor program I use to train all my clients,” said Pasternak. “I designed the program to get celebrities in top shape as quickly and efficiently as possible. This game will give everyone access to the simple yet effective training techniques I’ve used to achieve phenomenal results for some of the best bodies in Hollywood.”
Gamers can look to take it the fifth level in late 2011 with the official Harley Pasternak 5-Factor Fitness game.
Quiznos Pro Challenge Announces Five Top Pro Teams for 2011
And now there are five, as in the first five teams to sign on for the inaugural 2011 Quiznos Pro Challenge professional cycling race that will host as many as 128 professional cyclists from 15 teams.
Today race organizers officially announced the first five teams, which include Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) pro teams: Team RadioShack (USA), Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy), HTC-Highroad (USA), Slipstream Sports/Garmin-Cervelo (USA), and BMC Racing Team (USA).
Among the racers that are confirmed include seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, world champion Thor Hushovd and former world champion Cadel Evans; along with team directors Johan Bruyneel and Bob Stapleton.
“It’s exciting to see that the Quiznos Pro Challenge is already considered one of the most important races in the United States,” said Ellen Kramer, General Manager of the Quiznos Pro Challenge. “Our goal is to connect new audiences in America with the sport of professional cycling; having several of the premier international teams already signed up is a huge step in that direction.” Continue reading Quiznos Pro Challenge Announces Five Top Pro Teams for 2011
Hands On: Polar Insulated Bottle
KineticShift.com continues our hands on test of water bottles.
The Polar express is up and running. Polar Bottle returns with its latest insulated water bottle that is thinner, making it easier to squeeze, yet still keeps water comfortably chilled.
Polar Insulated Bottle Description: Polar Bottle is the original insulated plastic sport bottle. It keeps liquids colder longer than other water bottles. We innovated the industry back in 1994 by creating a bottle that would actually keep water cool during any outdoor activity. The bottle has evolved in the years since with brightly colored foil liners and patterns and an innovative removable valve system. Made in America, Polar Bottle is popular throughout the world.
Bottle Sizes: 20oz and 24oz
Plastic: Low Density Polyethylene
Country of Manufacture: USA
Retail Price: $10.99 (20oz) & $11.99 (24oz) Continue reading Hands On: Polar Insulated Bottle