While running might be the most basic workout there is; after all you don’t actually “need” anything. You just look at a spot and run to it. But over the years technology has changed the way we run, with everything from the shoes to the clothing and now with the apps. Yes, there is an app for running. So while the app runs on your phone, it can help you better pound the pavement over the long miles.
Over the past six months we’ve looked a few running apps, but our colleagues at The Detroit Free Press, which is the sponsor of the Detroit Marathon (Oct. 17), offered an excellent round-up of the best running apps and websites. Thanks to Free Press Web Editor Mark W. Smith for compiling the list. We’ll look for you on the road in October Mark!
Serious cyclists often talk about how rigid their bike frame is, and often times a bike that is too “flexy” is considered a bad thing. Likewise, the serious cyclist also knows that the best lock is not leaving he bike locked up. So it is interesting to consider a new design from Kevin Scott, 21, a De Montfort University graduate who has created a very revolutionary folding bicycle.
Scott’s design means a bike that is both rigid whilst riding, but can actually be folding to wrap around lampposts when you need to run into a shop or otherwise stop. Obviously this bike isn’t meant for racing, or probably even serious training, but as a commuter ride it’s a great Scott of an idea. The bike utilizes a ratchet system built into the frame, which allows it to wrap around a pole, something that can come in handy in cities that lack adequate bike racks. A locking mechanism is built into the frame as well, which means one less thing to carry.
The bendable bike is currently on display at the New Designers Show at the Business Design Centre in Islington in North London, where Scott hopes to attract investors. Given that more than 52 bikes are stolen daily in London, we hope Scott’s invention gets a backer.
You won’t have to wait long to go controller-less with the Xbox 360. Today Microsoft announced that the Kinect game console add-on will be released in North America on November 4, and will cost $149.99. We were hoping that Microsoft would include a fitness game, but instead it looks like the motion and voice control system will be released with the game “Kinect Adventures.”
This game will be also be part of new Xbox 360 bundle, which will include the soon to be released matte black version of the console that now offers a 4GB hard drive. The quasi-fitness game “Kinect Sports” will also be available at launch on November 4, and we’ll expect many third party titles will also arrive in time for the holidays.
The Aurumania Gold Bike will set you back a mere $25,000. We hope that includes grip tape and pedals!
With the Tour de France is full gear there has been no shortage of expensive bikes on TV and in the news. Think those pricey? Actually, those cycles are small change, at least compared to some of the truly expensive rides that can be hand. Forbes magazine offered a peak at some of “The World’s Most Expensive Bicycles,” complete with a slide-show.
Now in fairness, most of these bikes aren’t the type you’re likely to find at your local bike shop – and although some of the bikes are based on off-the-shelf frames, the bikes included are one-of-a-kind pieces of works, decked out in jewels and featuring exclusive paint jobs. Interestingly, many of these bikes are now in private collections, such as a Trek Madone 7-Diamond, which was decorated with 100 white diamonds in honor of Lance Armstrong’s record-breaking seventh Tour de France victory in 2005. That bike was auctioned for charity and sold for $75,000.
Other bikes included in the slide show feature gold leaf and special finishes. When you consider that most serious riders get pretty upset when they scratch the paint or nick a decal, imagine even thinking about risking these bikes on a road ride!
Have only 30 minutes to work out? Most people would say that probably isn’t enough time, even if there are countless gimmicks, informericals and fly-by-night products that say otherwise. So can you actually get a real workout in just a half an hour? That is actually the concept behind Koko FitClub, LLC, a technology company that is reinventing the fitness franchise business. The company is also set to open its latest store in Cape Cod, with several more to open soon across the country.
Says president and co-found Mary Obana about KokoFitClub: “Traditional gyms don’t work for the vast majority of the population. They don’t have the time, and they don’t know what to do.” Sound familiar? Well, the concept with this gym is that it offers what the company calls the Koko Smartraining System technology, which analyzes each member’s unique fitness level, and then designs a customized training plan base don individual goals and ability. The system provides users with a guide to take part in high-effective workouts based on proprietary strength and cardio equipment. The idea is that users only do what they need to, and thus work out more efficiently.
Of course the key is still actually getting to the gym and working out, but those who hate the time that is spent at the gym this one might be worth going Koko over.
Stylized workout clothes are the product of a partnership between Reebok and Armani.
Sometimes going to the gym is more about fashion than fitness. This is seen with partnerships with athletic gear companies and fashion designers like the one between Adidas and Stella McCartney. And now Emporio Armani and Reebok are ready to introduce the line from their joint partnership announced in January, Reebok x Emporio Armani. To be sold in Emporio Armani stores and on Reebok.com, a line of workout clothes and footwear will be available in August.
Track pants and hoodies are the mainstay of the line with stylized looks such as pants bunched at the bottom like a genie. Hoodies include a double-breasted structural piece, and a drapey zip-up out of performance fabrics.
Shoes mix black leather with the bubble cushioning seen in Reebok’s line.
Almost everyone at one time or another says, “if only this thing could talk, imagine the tales it would tell.” Well, imagine if one of those tales was about how it stopped a potential theft. That’s the idea behind designer Steve Hunt’s Halo Bike Lock. This flexible ring, which looks a bit like the angelic halo is heaven-sent for an entirely different reason.
An angelic way to deter theives
The Halo is actually constructed in such a way as to make breaking or otherwise removing it from a bike a bit more difficult than just cutting a simple pad lock, thus slowing down a possible theft. The cable connector of the Halo is actually housed inside the lock’s frame, but the real reason to buy the lock is the warning an owner will get. The Halo Bike Lock will send a text message, via an integrated wireless transmitter, should someone try to tamper or cut the lock.
All that sounds great right? Well, there is a problem. Steve Hunt hasn’t actually produced the Halo yet, and thus the idea is still very much in the clouds. Dare we say that Steve needs an angle investor to get the Halo off the ground?
Breahtable mesh make up the new Nike Hyperfuse basketball shoe.
In the world of athletic footwear, shoes are typically sport-specific. Running shoes are constructed for propelling the wearer forward. Basketball shoes are designed to handle lateral, side-to-side jumping. That calls for different support systems. But that doesn’t mean one can’t learn from the other. Nike basketball did just that and used elements from running shoes and then pushed design a little further to create the Nike Hyperfuse basketball shoe.
Nike took inspiration from watching basketball being played in China, where many players opt to wear running shoes for their comfort and breathability. The result is a mesh upper with no seams. The construction of the shoe consists of layers of fabric, mesh, and an internal skeleton structure fused together with heat, then shaped to cover the foot. Benefits of a seamless construction include more precise and speedy construction, no stitching and seams to cause discomfort, hotspots and ultimately failure to stay together due to stitches coming undone. Nike says stitching and “blowouts” are the most common reason for returns.
Now that Nike has released the Hyperfuse for basketball, it will be interesting to see what other sports get this hyperfusing treatment. My guess is that running shoes will be next on the production line, but plenty of other sports can benefit from the design.
The Magellan eXplorist handheld GPS will lead you to any trail and keep you on course.
While you can take your GPS suited for the car on the trail, there are a few distinguishing features of the Magellan eXplorist Outdoor Handheld range. The eXplorist 510, 610 and 710 are made to get in the dirt or even a little bit of surf. The smaller screen, a 3-inch color touch screen, and form factor is about the size of a cell phone. Compared to the size generally used in cars with a larger screen, the palm-size is much more suited for outdoor activity. Each unit has a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus. You’ll probably still want to bring a camera with higher megapixel capability, but the eXplorist series works well to geotag and post photos so you can show off the view of the summit you climbed or the white water you traversed. The three models range from $349 to $549 and include a 30 day free premium membership to geocaching.com.
Imagine being able to do the running and cycling parts of a triathlon at the same time? That’s sort of what the ElliptiGo can do. This outdoor elliptical bicycle essentially combines running with cycling, for what the manufacturer dubs a low-impact yet high-output cross-training form of exercise. The bike lacks any seat, but does utilize typical hand brake levers.
Developed by Bryan Plate, a former cyclist and Ironman competitor who suffered from hip and knee injuries, the ElliptiGo is a 18.1kg eight-speed trainer that is geared towards runners who want to avoid the impact of road work, but still want to remain “out of the saddle.” While the ElliptiGo is probably best for fairly flat terrain – and does require a reasonably smooth surface – the bike can reach some decent speeds, around 24 km/h, although the company maintains that strong riders/runners could reach up to 40 km/h.
The ElitptiGo retails for $2,200 and is available in blue, black and for the environmentally friendly, green.
Wouldn’t it be grand if you could just click to get on a diet and lose weight? You could click on an app, and see the pounds just fall off. Well, there is NOT an app for that, but there is a new app that will let you keep track of what you’re eating and your workouts. The FitClick Diet and Workout Tracker is the first to offer a full suite of diet and workout features. The app, which is available for the iPhone, works as a calorie counter and food journal, while it can provide customizable diet plans plus workout routines – so you can burn to earn. The tracker portion can calculate calories burned from more than 800 exercise demo videos. Users aren’t tied to one set routine either, and can instead create their own diet plans and workout routines, or if you’re looking to get straight to it, you can use one of the thousands of member-created programs that are already available.
The app further contains a database of 118,000 foods along with 12,000 recipes. Additionally, the FitClick iPhone App can work as a full-service companion to the FitClick website, providing real-time access to diet, fitness and weight loss programs. Users aren’t tied to one set routine either, and can instead create their own diet plans and workout routines, or if you’re looking to get straight to it, you can use one of the thousands of member-created programs that are already available.
Before the World Cup the LA Galaxy tested the space age uniforms
Introduced last March for the 2010 Major League Soccer season, the Adidas TECHFIT uniforms have been seen in the FIFA World Cup. The question going around the Web is whether the results were more psychological than physical? The other technology advance seen in the uniforms for the World Cup is in how the technology has made the leap from typical under garments to be the material in the actual uniforms. This is notable with the FORMOTION uniforms, which is an alternative, which also offers moisture-wicking fabrics and mesh construction to help provide ventilation and keep the athletes cool.
So is this a lot of hype? There is no doubt that clothing not only makes the man, or makes the woman, but as we’ve seen improvements in garments can help reduce drag, keep an athlete cooler and improve performance. The question now is did the TECHFIT and FORMOTION uniforms do as much physically as it did mentally?
The TECHFIT uniforms consisted of compression fabrics and strategically placed TPU (Thermoplastic Urethane) bands that were located in key areas. This was cited as being able to enhance muscle power, and according to news reports TECHFIT was “proven” to increase a player’s power by 5.3 percent, vertical leap by 4 percent and sprint speed by 1.1 percent, as well as to enhance endurance by 0.8 percent. This sounds like the suit from Greatest American Hero to us! But at $150 a pop it is probably almost as expensive.
What was also worth noting is that several teams including South Africa, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Spain, Germany and France have worn both TECHFIT and FORMOTION uniforms, while other nations such as Greece, Denmark, Slovakia, Paraguay and Nigeria were outfitted with FORMOTION uniforms and a TECHFIT base layer. Sounds good right? Well, consider this… the team from the Netherlands was reported fitted with Nike made uniforms!
So we’re not one to question the psychological effects either. If you look good and feel good by looking good, you’ll probably play better too.
At first glance the GSG-5 is a terrifying little number, it looks like a serious machine pistol. In fact, the design is a near perfect clone of the famous H&K MP-5 submachine gun, a favored choice of small arms for anti-terrorist and Special Forces units around the world. The H&K MP-5 is regularly seen in the hands of police department SWAT teams, so does this mean the gun is available to consumers complete with silencer?
Actually, no it isn’t. But the GSG-5 isn’t a submachine gun. It is actually just designed to look like the H&K MP-5, and instead of serious 9mm, this one is the target friendly .22 caliber. The gun of course doesn’t include a silencer either – the faux suppressor at the front is just a nifty extension of the barrel. Basically this .22 has the look of an assault weapon without the power of said firearm – sort of proving that looks and laws can be deceiving. Continue reading Hands On: Sport Shooting With a Sleek Looking .22
While running might be the most basic workout there is; after all you don’t actually “need” anything. You just look at a spot and run to it. But over the years technology has changed the way we run, with everything from the shoes to the clothing and now with the apps. Yes, there is an app for running. So while the app runs on your phone, it can help you better pound the pavement over the long miles.
