Tag: bat

Weekend Reading List (08.31.2013): Eurobike Gets Fat, Bats Evolve, Ethiopian Made

Eurobike Gets Fat

Fatties

From Bicycle Retailer: Fatties make their way to Germany
“I nearly didn’t bring this back,” said Ian Ganderton, as he dismounted Salsa’s new carbon fat bike, the Beargrease.
Ganderton, a distributor for QBP’s brands in Dubai, said he brought fat bikes in about a year ago and can’t keep enough of them in stock. “The [Surly] Moonlander has been a huge hit. Interest in [fat bikes] is just phenomenal. This past winter, they were big for us.” Continue reading Weekend Reading List (08.31.2013): Eurobike Gets Fat, Bats Evolve, Ethiopian Made

Big Costs for the Little League

What happened to the days when baseball was more than just being about the money? We aren’t talking about the billionaire owners or millionaire players – we’re talking about the cost of Little League, which today apparently costs big dollars.

The New York Times last week reported that the cost for parents is anything but little – and it gives new meaning to the concept of “pay to play.” So what are we talking? As noted by the Times: “If you have not outfitted a little slugger lately, prepare for sticker shock. The youth baseball circular for one major retailer advertises bats in the $219.99 to $249.99 range.” Add in the $129.99 glove, $39.99 batting helmet, $19.99 batting gloves and shoes for $51.99 and today’s kids might need to become free agents just to play at the sand lot! Continue reading Big Costs for the Little League

New Rules for Bats Take Effect

Baseball season is about to see opening day and this year the game, at least for youth players, will be a little different as runs for bats have chanted. The National Federation of State High School Associations has adopted a new standard for baseball bats.

This switch involves bats that are less springy and will have a smaller “sweet spot,” and is a result of bats changing from aluminum to metal. This is part of the Batter-Ball Coefficient of Restitution, with the idea to create balls that come off the bats more slowly to reduce the potential for injury. Continue reading New Rules for Bats Take Effect

Wood Makes a Return to Youth Baseball

We reported earlier this year that the NCCA had introduced new rules regarding what constitutes a “legal” bat, as some alloy metals were banned, because they gave an unfair advantage to players. But now Rhode Island has stepped up to the plate to ban all metal bats in its American Legion Baseball league for youth players.

This is just one of three states where the American Legion has reportedly mandated this switch from metal to wooden bats, citing safety as the main reason. While tradition has been cited, and thus the use of wooden bats is in line with those Major League Baseball, it has been argued that wood bats are in fact safer. Research has shown that balls tend to leave wooden bats less quickly, and this gives players on the field more time to react to line drives.

As we noted last year, the National Federation of State High School Associations adopted new guidelines that will come into effect in 2012 on the performance of non-wooden bats as well.

[Via Rockdale Citizen: Youth leagues mull different bat standards]

Zigtech Completely Cricket

When you mention Cricket to most Americans, we think of the noisy insect – the one that was friends with the wooden kid that came to life – or we think of the British game where everyone wears the white pants and sweaters. What could possibly be high-tech about that, right?

 Well, think again. Reebok has done many things for running, football and basketball, so why wouldn’t the company do something for the game of cricket. In fact, Reebok is actually one of the leading sportswear brands that, along with the International Cricket Council, has helped energize the game with some technical innovations for the team from India. This includes the futuristic Reebok ZigTech Bats, footwear and trainers. Just in time for the Cricket World Cup 2011 this year, Reebok has outfitted the Indian cricket team with “Zig-Sonic” equipped gear that helps reduce wear and tear in the leg muscles during training. Reebok’s ZigTech shoes have been called “engery drinks for your feet,” and now it seems like the drink is available in a curry flavor.  This same zig is being incorporated into the “on field” shoes, which have also been designed to meet the needs of the individual player’s patterns and foot movements. The game has clearly come a long way from simple white sweaters and wooden bats.