The New Nike Club

Earlier this week we noted that some golf clubs have been banned for their laser grooves, and while still for sale might not be the best investment in the long run. However, Nike Golf has introduced a new set of irons to the VR line that will be totally legal and could just help your game. The new VR Pro Combo irons are a premium Tour-level iron set that offer higher trajectory on long shots. These use a new linear Center of Gravity (CG) Mapping that makes the clubs ideal for optimal launch and consistent distance control.

The irons are precision forged out of 1025 Forged Carbon Steel , and each face is milled to a perfectly flat surface and then die-stamped, pressing grooves to exact specifications, which conform to new USGA and R&A rules. These new X3X high-frequency grooves provide extremely low variance for shot-making consistency, along with better performance and distance control.

[Via Sandbox8.com: Nike Golf Introduces VR Pro Combo Irons]

Nike Golf Official Website

Organic Medicine Now on the iPhone

‘Tis the season of holiday gatherings, gift baskets, rich foods and spirits that aren’t always of the holiday variety. It can result in many a New Year’s resolution to indulge less so as to lose some of the end of the year bulge.

How about heading off the bad habits by boning up on some healthy tips? That’s where the 42 Healthy Solutions iPhone app can come in. It was devised by Dr. Craig Koniver, MD, a graduate of Brown University and Jefferson Medical College, who opened the Primary Plus Organic Medicine, LLC in Charleston, SC in 2006 to focus on his expertise in natural medicine. By combining his background in modern, conventional medicine with his unique expertise in organic, natural medicine to treat thousands of patients each year, he created the 42 Healthy Solutions iPhone App. Continue reading Organic Medicine Now on the iPhone

Park Your Bike up a Pole

It’s often difficult to find a bike rack. And when you do, your bike still takes up valuable space on the sidewalk. A German hobby supply company has the answer for you. A stand that raises the bicycle up a lamp post or other pole. So far, this is strictly a DIY project, but this company, Conrad, has the supplies and instructions for you to make your own. Check out how the mechanism works, and how it’s put together (in German).

[via Cyclelicious]

Banned on the Course: What’s the Deal With Grooved Clubs?

Would you think about buying a banned item to improve your game? That’s been a question raging all year over certain golf clubs. It didn’t attract as much mainstream media attention when it came up last winter, but there was the little scandal involving a certain high profile golfer.

But the USGA last year banned certain clubs that got their groove on, or rather had too much of a groove. The issue is more complex because certain clubs such as the Cleveland CG14 Wedge was banned, while initially the CG15 Wedges were in the clear. To the untrained eye both wedges have the same laser-milled groves.

In its holiday gift guide round-up Wired magazine noted that the CG15s won’t be sold after this year – so get them while you can, or not. The clubs are, according to the outlet, verboten for amateurs after 2024. So if you plan to keep the same clubs for the next dozen years you might want to reconsider. But in the meantime check the USGA Equipment Overview site to see if your clubs conform to the “rule of golf.”

Of course it is possible the ruling will be overturned too. By 2025 the USGA might be banning anti-gravity balls.

Cleveland CG15 Wedges Official Website

Sleeptracking the Night Away

Ever have those times where you know you need to get up around a certain time, and sometimes you drift out of a deep sleep, wake up and avoid that sudden jarring of the alarm clock from a total dead sleep? According to some sleep experts, that is actually the best way to wake up and feel actually refreshed. The problem however is that your body actually isn’t the most reliable alarm clock, and for that reason you typically need an alarm to wake you. The next problem is that if the alarm sounds when you’re in a deep state of sleep it can be completely jarring, causing you to feel anything but refreshed.

Instead of using a traditional alarm clock, you could use the SLEEPTRACKER Elite (MSRP: $179, Sleeptracker.com), which is a watch that works much like a monitoring device. But instead of monitoring your calorie burn and activity, it – as the name suggests – monitors your sleep. You don’t set an exact time to wake up, but rather a range. The SLEEPTRACKER then detects the movements associated with light sleep stage and wakes up at this time.

The wearable device can even connect to a PC via USB each morning so you can further track your activities, allowing you to see what might have had a negative effect on your sleep cycles, whether it was a late night, too much alcohol or just a bad bed. With this helping you get a good night’s sleep you can wake up refreshed, hit the gym and not feel worn down by the afternoon.

Sleeptracker Official Website

The Physiology of the Endurance Run

A new study looks at the effects of endurance running on the body. A report presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) that shows what fat and muscle tissues are used during running. Research  was conducted during the TransEurope-FootRace 2009, that took place from April 19 to June 21 last year and covered 4,488 kilometers traveling from the southern tip of Italy to the North Cape of Norway. Continue reading The Physiology of the Endurance Run

Get Arm(band)ed to Monitor Your Calorie Intake

There is an old saying about wearing your heart on your sleeve, which is to say to openly show your emotions. Today people can wear many things, and while it won’t display emotion, it can help users monitor their fitness levels.

This is exactly the concept behind the BodyMedia FIT Armband BW from BodyMedia, which is avialble through the company’s website as well as Amazon.com. It allows users to monitor calorie intake and output in real-time. The BodyMedia FIT Armband BW transmits information to a smartphone via Bluetooth, where users can track caloric burn data and physical activity levels.

“The BodyMedia FIT Armband BW is a great example of how consumers can monitor and track their fitness levels with the help of Bluetooth wireless technology – and once you start to track your health, you have the power to change your health,” said Michael Foley, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). “By allowing near real-time monitoring on a mobile phone via Bluetooth technology, the BodyMedia FIT Armband BW lets users take the wheel on the road to a more active lifestyle. This innovative device brings to life what we have been projecting for Bluetooth wireless technology in the health and fitness market.”

The BodyMedia FIT Armband BW is designed to integrate body monitoring data with smartphones including the Apple iPhone and Android mobile devices.

BodyMedia FIT Official Website

SAUR-SOJASUN Team to Use ROTOR Components

The Continental SAUR SOJASUN Team will be riding with ROTOR Bike Components for 2011 it has been announced. These include the company’s unique and innovative components including the Q-Ring oval chainrings, 3D+ cranks and BB30 bottom brackets, as well as chain-catchers and race-plate holders.

The revolutionary shaped Q-Rings have the promise of increasing power by maximizing the use of efficient zones of the pedaling stroke and reducing the intensity of the “dead spot” zones, while helping reduce joint and tendon loadings. The 3D+ cranks are 100 percent compatible with any BB30 or Class BAS threaded frame on the market.

ROTOR will be sharing the sponsorship with French bike manufacturer TIME. “France is one of our leading markets, in which we have quite a number of fans and high customer fidelity, so we want to thank them for this support by sponsoring one of the country’s leading teams,” said  Ignacio Estellés, ROTOR CEO, during the contract signature in Rennes. “A strong professional team, well placed in the 2010 UCI rankings – above some ProTour teams – is a new proving ground for our technologies, increasing the brand´s fame and customer’s confidence in our products.”

ROTOR Official Website

Be Seen on the Road with Traffic Master

The fast-approaching winter means two things: longer hours of darkness and colder temperatures. The Traffic Master jersey from ElevenGear addresses both. Bright and warm, this jersey will serve you well through the winter months.

This long sleeve jersey is made from a material that’s lightly textured exterior is paired with a fleecy interior to keep you warm as the temperatures approach freezing. The two layers work to transfer moisture away from your skin, which keeps dry warmth next to your skin. A full zipper gives you options, including adding the jersey as an outer layer or jacket. Continue reading Be Seen on the Road with Traffic Master

Playworld Systems Offers High ENERGI

We hope all our readers had a good holiday weekend, but we assume everyone likely indulged a bit too much. This isn’t a new trend in America, but it is something that needs to be addressed, especially as childhood obesity is becoming an issue.

We were pleased to hear that Playworld Systems, a manufacturer of imaginative playground equipment, unveiled ENERGI Total Body Fitness System with Microsoft Tag technology at NMSA2010 in Baltimore earlier this month. The ENERGI uses just one moving part, but yet delivers a guided, fat-burning workout with 120 progressively challenging exercises that use body weight resistance to target nearly all 600 of the body’s muscles. The system, which is designed for ages 13 and up, is further supported with a complete curriculum and easy-to-follow lesson plans to help teachers integrate ENGERI into the school day.

“One of the consequences of obesity is that for the first time in U.S. history, the lifespan of children in elementary school today is expected to be shorter than that of their parents,” said Ian Proud, research manager of Playworld Systems. “Sedentary lifestyles contribute to obesity, and the problem has grown to epidemic proportions among the nation’s children. Having ENERGI installed on school grounds gives teachers a strong ally in their quest to make a real difference in students’ fitness levels.”

ENERGI was designed in accordance with the FITT principle — frequency, intensity, time and type — which is endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise.

Playworld Systems Official Website

aG Control Comes to aboutGolf

Indoor golf centers can take better control of their aboutGolf Simulators. And not just control, but aG Control, a multiple simulator management tool that is designed to help business owners remotely manage users and rounds on the simulators, as well as monitor rounds while they’re in progress. This provides active simulator screens, where users can send messages to the simulators, retrieve information, analyze usage and even remotely access the simulators and view and print scorecards.

“We are in the people business. We’ve got to know each one of our customers as they arrive,” says Steve Graves, owner of Play-A-Round Golf near Philadelphia and early adopter of aG Control beta. “With aG Control we can better identify and manage each customer and enhance their golf experience.”

This control should no doubt help indoor golf centers and in turn help players have been control on the course.

aboutGolf

Game Time, Party Time

If you’ve done too much eating this week and can’t get to the gym, you could still burn some of the calories while gaming with the family. So instead of just sitting on the couch watching football and parades give Game Party: In Motion for the Xbox 360 Kinect  a go around.

The game includes 16 classic and new favorite activities including darts, table hockey, root beer tapper and basketball shooting.

Game Party: In Motion

Holiday Shopping Season Begins With Primal

The holiday shopping season is here, and for many parts of the country that also means winter is around the corner. The primal instinct might be to stay close to a warm fire, not head out on a long ride. But fortunately Primal Wear has you covered, or rather has a jacket that keeps you covered and warm. And it would make a great holiday gift for that cyclist in your life.

This is the Team Eleven Paradigm Thermal Jacket (MSRP: $199.95), which features HXT-Hexathermal fabric, extended tail, rear zip pocket and luminite reflective piping. It features the Primal T3D cut that ensures the sleeves and tail of the jacket won’t creep up which riding. The HXT-Hexathermal fabric is further embedded with a special filament membrane that allows airflow out and prevents moisture or cold air from coming in. For those long winter rides that means you can stay warm even if the weather outside is frightful.

Primal Wear