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Host Cities Announced for 2014 USA Pro Challenge

The Colorado-based USA Pro Challenge remains one of the most prestigious races in the professional cycling season, which is impressive given that it only launched three years ago. This week the organizers announced that there will be several new additions including the first-ever mountaintop finish.

What else marks the race for 2014 is that the organizers are asking fans to vote on the final stage!

After overwhelming support in 2013, the race is heading back to Aspen for the overall start of the 2014 edition, where elite professional cyclists from around the world will be put to the ultimate test in America’s most difficult cycling race. The host cities and stages of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge include:
• Stage 1: Monday, Aug. 18 – Aspen Circuit Race
• Stage 2: Tuesday, Aug. 19 – Aspen to Mt. Crested Butte
• Stage 3: Wednesday, Aug. 20 – Gunnison to Monarch Mountain (mountaintop finish)
• Stage 4: Thursday, Aug. 21 – Colorado Springs Circuit Race
• Stage 5: Friday, Aug. 22 – Woodland Park to Breckenridge
• Stage 6: Saturday, Aug. 23 – Vail Individual Time Trial
• Stage 7: Sunday, Aug. 24 – ???

Fans will be able to help shape the race by logging on to www.prochallenge.com/PickStage7 and giving their opinion on four options for Stage 7, including:
1. Denver Circuit Race similar to the final stage of the 2013 race
2. Start in Golden (2012 Stage 6 start city) and finish in Denver
3. Start in Boulder (2012 Stage 6 finish city) and finish in Denver
4. Start in Boulder and end in Golden

What’s Your Vote For Stage 7 Official Website
Press Release: Host Cities Announced for 2014 USA Pro Challenge

Air(o) on the Wrist

Airo Health has released its AIRO, a next-generation health-monitoring device that can be worn as a sleek wristband to automatically monitor nutrition, stress, exercise and sleep. It can also analyze caloric consumption, stress patterns, daily exertion and sleep quality to help wearers obtain better overall health.

It can monitor nutrition by looking at different wavelengths of light to look into the blood stream and detect metabolites as they are released while and after a user eats; while it also measure calorie intake and determines the quality of meals consumed. From here it can provide recommendations on how to improve one’s diet.

On the stress end AIRO utilizes heart rate variability (HRV) to monitor micro-fluctuations in stress throughout the day, and can notifies users when their stress level is on the rise. It can work like other sleep monitors as well, as it looks at the autonomic nervous system to notice distinct sleep cycles; and from here can recognize when the body is in deep sleep, light sleep or REM sleep and can calculate how much of a user’s night was restorative.

As an exercise tracker the AIRO monitors daily exertion through heart rate and caloric burn, and from here it uses these metrics to detect how intense the activity has been, and even checks to see how the body has recovered from activity over the course of the following days. Video after the jump

There is an App For That – But Beware

The Canadian Avalanche Centre has warned backcountry users not to rely on smartphone apps. These, were are marketed as “transceivers” can give users a “false sense of protection” warned the agency.

The CAC found a number of issues with the technology, including compatibility and frequency range. According to the CAC all avalanche transceivers should conform to the international standard of 457 kHz, so that regardless of brand these can be used to search and find one another.

“Not only are these new apps incapable of connecting with other avalanche transceivers, they are also incompatible between themselves, so one type of app can’t find another,” explained CAC Executive Director Gilles Valade.

The 457 kHz standard was chosen because it transmits very well through dense snow, is not deflected by objects such as trees and rocks, and is accurate. However, according to the CAC the apps don’t come close to this standard, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both significantly weakened when trying to pass through snow.

“We are warning all backcountry users to not use any of these apps in place of an avalanche transceiver,” added Valade.

Canadian Avalanche Centre Official Website

Nintendo Gives Wii Fit U to You

Owners of the Nintendo Wii U who own a Wii Balance Board accessory and have access to a broadband connection can now download a trail version of Wii Fit U from the Nintendo eShop. This promotion will run from now until the end of January, and will work for 31 days from when it is first played. That should be enough for users to decide if the Wii Fit U is right for you.

Wii Fit U Official Website

Weekend Reading List (11.02.2013): Bike Sales Up, Urban Rolls Outdoors, Aim High, Food to Run

Bike Sales Up

From BikeRadar: Bikes outsold cars in UK and Europe in 2012…
New figures suggest bikes are selling faster than cars across most of Europe, despite another set of data saying bikes sales are declining as well. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (11.02.2013): Bike Sales Up, Urban Rolls Outdoors, Aim High, Food to Run

Fast on the Trail

When you’re on the hiking trail sometimes a sure foot is better than being quick, but the Adidas Outdoor Terrex Fast R GTX is for those who don’t think a hike should be a stroll in the park. This lightweight, athletic-inspired hiker is designed for the fast-paced trekker.

It features a breathable mesh upper with supportive synthetic overlays, speed lacing that allows for quick-and-easy adjustments and a molded tongue for added comfort. The FORMOTION midsole provides motion control and downhill comfort, while the Continental rubber TRAXION outsole will provide reliable grip on the trial regardless of the terrain.

Adidas Outdoor Terrex Fast R GTX Official Website

GoBe Brings the Light

The GoBe light from Light & Motion could be the “go to” light for all your outdoor needs. This factory sealed rechargeable flashlight can be used up to 120 meters underwater, but will also shine the way on the hiking or biking trail.

It features interchangeable light heads that allow users to choose the best light for their activity, whether it’s white, red, blue, flood or spot. The GoBe also combines the design features of Light & Motion’s popular Sola scuba dive lights with the size and convenience of the company’s commuter bike lights.

There are six activity-specific base models, with the GoBe featuring a 500-lumen Spot Beam, a 500-lumen Search Beam, a 500-lumen NightSea Beam or in a special Pink Body with 500-lumen Spot Beam light-head edition. The GoBe+ also offers a 700-lumen Wide Beam or Spot Beam light head.

The light weighs just 160 grams and comes with underwater photography mounts as well as a versatile handlebar mount. It also includes a battery life indicator, and it can be charged with USB cable. The GoBe offers three power levels, SOS mode, and can run up to 24 hours on a single charge.

Users can customize the light according to their use with interchangeable light heads, sold separately. The GoBe will begin shipping this month.

Light & Motion GoBe Official Website

Cultural Blade

Knife maker Spyderco has developed its Ethnic Series to pay homage to the distinctive knives associated with cultures from around the world. The Hungarian Folder is just one such example, and it was created with design insight from Hungarian architect Szakonyi Gábor.

The result captures the graceful lines of the traditional “fejesgörbe” (“header curved”) folding knife from Central Europe. Szakonyi drafted the original design for the Hungarian on paper before having it translated into steel by a custom knifemaker. The heart of this Hungarian Folder is the premium CTS XHP blade, which features a long, straight spine that tapers gently to meet the sweeping, curved cutting edge, while the trademark Spyderco Round Hole provides swift, positive one-handed opening with either hand.

Spyderco Hungarian Folder Official Website

New Balance Runs the NYC Marathon

This Sunday will see the annual running of the ING New York City Marathon and New Balance is putting its best foot forward so to speak with special NYC-themed version of the 890v4 and 990v3. If you can’t make it to the Big Apple to get a pair you can try to dash online. But act quick, these are likely to sell out. Video after the jump

California Biking

It is sometimes said as goes California so goes the country.For cycling advocacy this could mean women leading the way to change, as next week the California Bicycle Coalitions California by Bike Summit will be held in Oakland to highlight the important role of women in mainstreaming the bike, not only in California but across the nation. This includes the creation of the Women on Bikes California initiative. Women key to the nation’s and California’s growth in bike friendliness will participate in the summit including:

Carolyn Szczepanski, Director of Communications and founder of Women Bike program at the League of American Bicyclists

Alexis Lantz, Chair of the Board of the California Bicycle Coalition

Renee Rivera, Executive Director of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition

Leah Shahum, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

California By Bike Summit Official Website

Happy Halloween – Enjoy the Treats But Don’t Over Do It

Happy Halloween from KineticShift.com. Some tips from around the web to help you survive the holiday:

From Men’s Fitness: Exercise Equivalents of Halloween Candy
Do you know how much gym time you’ll need to burn off your favorite Halloween treats?

From Men’s Fitness: Best and Worst Halloween Candy
Treat your sweet tooth without wrecking your diet

From Fitness: Fitness-Inspired Halloween Costumes

From Shape: Halloween Costumes Inspired by Fitness Icons

Halloween Recap: Zombie Apocalypse

In honor of Halloween, today we look back on some of the various “Zombie” survival tools that we’ve seen in the past year! Of course zombies are real, but that doesn’t mean you won’t want to be prepared.

Axe to Grind: Gerber Bear Gryllis Survival Hatchet
Cartoony Zombie Apocalypse Comes to the Range: Champion Targets has introduced its new VisiColor Cartoon Zombie Targets
Ace of Spades: Crovel Tactical Shovel
Shelter for the Zombie Apocalypse: Zombie Apocalypse Backpack/TentPak from High Peak USA

Boots and Stuff

While the barefoot experience has been a hit with runners, the Lems Mens Boulder Boots are there to offer the barefoot experience on the hiking trail. These lightweight boots feature water-resistant nylon uppers, and full-grain leather to help keep way moisture and protect the feet while feeling food at the same time. And at the end of the hike these boots practically roll up for easy storage.

Lems Mens Boulder Boot Official Website