Wheel Lock

SphkyeIf you ride your bike to work in the city and can’t bring it into a safe and secure place you need worry about the wheels, seat and other parts as much as you do about the whole bike. In other words locking the bike up, even with a secure lock, isn’t enough to ensure that the parts aren’t stripped off.

This is where Sphyke comes in. It offers a line of keyless combination locks for the wheels, seatpost, even steam cap and saddle. With this every part that can be easily stolen is quickly locked down, which can increase the chances of the bike being safe and ready for the ride home. It could give you extra piece of mind so you can get through the work day and you know… focus on work instead of running out to keep checking on the bike. Continue reading Wheel Lock

Mako or Breako at Bat

MakoEaston knows a thing or two about baseball bats, and it recently looks to make a bit of a change with the Mako, a bat that features Thermo Composite Technology (TCT). This reduces vibration in the handle while distributing power into the ball upon impact.

While not legal for use in Major League Baseball, or for that matter Minor League Baseball, it does sound like this bat could have you feeling you’re in the majors when you take a swing with thee Mako! Video after the jump

New Foam Hits the Waves

VarialIt is hard to think that there could be much be done to foam, but Varial Surf Technology introduced this month the new Varial Foam, which is made from an advanced aerospace formula and a new chemistry to surfboards all together. The foam is reported to be 25 percent lighter and 20 percent stronger as compared to a standard polyurethane blank with a stringer.

This means that it can eliminate the need for a stringer or any other strengtheners that current surfboards require, while the compressive strength of the foam makes the board highly responsive to riders by transferring energy directly through the core to the water’s surface.

Varial Surf Technology Official Website

Giro Hits the Road With New Fall Apparel

GiroFall is in the air and that means you’re likely going to need another layer or two if you’re planning on putting in any miles on the bike. Giro has expanded its range for those looking to stay on the bike and warm at the same time. This includes new seasonal updates with tops, bottoms and even accessories.

Giro’s Fall 2013 collection is designed for cool as well as wet conditions and includes new ¾ Bib Undershorts that will have the knees covered; a Neo Rain Jacket the promises to the be the “ONE” with its proprietary Stowback pocket system; and the Softsheel Jacket that is made for fall and even winter riding. Details after the jump

If the Weather is Frightful Let it Glow!

GlowSure we report on all the latest lights that are available to help cyclists see their way in the dark, but a team in the UK is working on a glow-in-the-dark recreational path surface that glows in the dark. The Starpath is designed to absorb and store energy from the sun’s UV rays during the day and releases these at night, which allows the particles in the path to glow.

The concept could eventually be used throughout the city of Cambridge as an alternative to streetlights on foot and bike paths. What a “bright” idea! Video after the jump

Garmin Gets Tactical

tactix

When we think of tactical gear we think of something the military might use, but Garmin’s tactical GPS navigator watch is a piece of tactical gear for the rest of us. The Tactix features high-sensitivity GPS positioning with automatic calibrating altimeter, barometer and 3-axis compass, as well as negative mode LCD display with green LED. It features TracBack reverse mapping that can help get you back to your starting point.

For those who need waypoints to find the way, this one allows up to 1,000 waypoints along to 10,000 track points to be stored. Forget bread crumbs, with this on your wrist you’ll never get lost again.

Garmin Tactix Official Website

It is EVENaBAG

EVENaBAGWhen on the go there is sometimes no place to sit, but the EVENaBAG solves that problem. It is a chair and a bag, and a whole lot more. Rocco Kruse and Adam Bauerband of Chicago recently launched a Kickstarter project to bring this part-bag/part chair to the masses.

For those who live life on the go, the EVENaBag might be just the thing to make travel a whole lot easier. Video after the jump

No Safer Helmet Says Report

Football-HelmetFootball season is in high gear. But there is some sobering news out that suggests that when it comes to younger players there is no such thing as a “safer” helmet. The American Academy of Pediatrics has noted the findings of a study last week that found there are about 40,000 sports-related concussions in high school football each year! This may occur from misdiagnosis in-game, but the study noted that that it is unlikely that the players’ equipment factored in. The study involved 1,332 football players at 36 high schools during the 2012 football season. What the study did find was that the more expensive helmets may not be offering enhanced protection.

In the abstract, “Association of Helmet Brand and Mouth Guard Type with Incidence of Sport Related Concussion in High School Football Players,” researchers tested various mouth guard brands, including custom-fit mouth guards, and new and older football helmets.

“Our preliminary findings suggest that neither any specific brand of football helmet nor custom mouth guards result in fewer concussions in kids who use them,” said lead co-investigator Margaret Alison Brooks, MD, MPH, FAAP. “Despite what manufacturers might claim, newer and more expensive equipment may not reduce concussion risk. So is it worth the significant extra cost to families and schools?”

[Press Release: Can the ‘right’ helmet prevent concussions?]

Like a Guardian Angel

AngelGuardian angels supposedly watch over us, but while these heaven sent angels might help guide the way they don’t actually monitor our fitness so much. That is where the open source sensor from Israel comes in. The Angel is designed to help monitor fitness and much more. It can track pulse, temperature, activity and even blood oxygen levels.

It can send this data to a smartphone or laptop and even fitness equipment. It features an open API so it can be a workout tracker, fertility calendar, sleep monitor and even a tele-nanny. This wearable fitness device could also be used as a golf trainer to monitor strokes while watching for irregular heart rate that could lead to a stroke!

The developers have already reached their Indiegogo funding goals and now look to deliver the Angel in April of next year. Video after the jump

To Infinity and Beyond – With a Bike Seat

Infinity-SeatWhen putting the long miles on a bike – whether on the road or off and whether going fast or slow – it can be a pain in the… well, you get the idea. The Infinity Seat, which was developed by Dr. Vincent Marcel of El Egundo, Calif. is reportedly the first bicycle saddle designed to minimize contact pressure and actually redistribute body weight for increased performance and comfort.

This seat weighs just 205 grams, and is thus lighter than most saddles on the market, while it also is designed to have no break-in period and should fit everyone.

We’ve seen many seats that look to provide more by going with less, and this certainly seems to be in line with Marcel’s thinking. He’s now taken his concept to Kickstarter where he hopes to get interest rolling.

Video after the jump

This Bag Might Blow You Away

ClaymoreClaymores are something you never ever want to encounter as these nasty bombs will ruin your day and a whole lot more. However, it could be a fitting name for the new line of bags developed by Combat Flip Flops, a company that was set up to support a growing Afghan-based economy.

While the company looked to manufacture in Afghanistan they had some difficulties with deliveries and have since set up shop in Issaquah, Washington where they produce military-inspired products. The Glaymore bag features a very military styled construction that includes MOLLE webbing and nylon ripstop materials. It was developed in a hostile LZ and thus will endure the daily commute.

Combat Flip Flops The Claymore

Microsoft Kinect Used to Help Visually Impaired Do Yoga

YogaWhat is the woman in the photo above doing wrong? To those of us that don’t do yoga it looks like a typical yoga pose, but this is actually the incorrect Warrior II pose. For those who are visually impaired it might be hard to follow to visual cues when doing yoga. Now researchers at the University of Washington have developed a program, dubbed the Eyes-Free Yoga, which utilizes the Microsoft Kinect software to track body movements and provide auditory cues in real time for six popular yoga poses.

“My hope for this technology is for people who are blind or low-vision to be able to try it out, and help give a basic understanding of yoga in a more comfortable setting,” said project lead Kyle Rector, a UW doctoral student in computer science and engineering. Continue reading Microsoft Kinect Used to Help Visually Impaired Do Yoga

Kul Rex and Roll Bag

NisnasNisnas Industries doesn’t make high tech bags for cyclists. They make stylish bags for those who might commute via a bicycle. This includes the new Kul Rex, Racing Stripe Edition bag, which looks quite chic yet speedy. This leather bag features a wood spin that makes it comfortable on the shoulder yet anything but awkward on the bike.

If the Kul Rex isn’t your thing you can hit the streets with the Kul Porter, a slimmed down bag that is ready when anything goes.

Nisnas Kul Bags Official Website