The dust on the trails has settled but we had a great time at Interbike 2012′s Outdoor Demo Days, where were were able to test ride several bikes. Here is a recap of what we hit on the trails.
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It’s easy to set up a cycle computer on your bike so you can determine how many miles you go each ride, and even to get a total for the bike. Running shoes, it’s not always so easy. Even worse, it’s difficul ...
Recorded at the SIA Snow Show 2013 in Denver KineticShift visits the Zeal Optics booth to get a look at their high tech goggle designs. Spokesperson Allie explains the features of the HD Camera and Z3 GPS Goggles.
Zeal Opt ...
As super storm Sandy and other natural disasters have shown us, you never know when the power might go out. To that end it is good to have a flashlight, at least three days of food and water, but a radio or other communicatio ...
Slider by IWEBIX
Written by KineticShift on 23 May 2013
We’ve been seeing a number of concepts that change the way those blinky lights for cyclists work. The latest twist comes from Velodroom, which offers a light that has no on/off switch but like the LucidBRAKE utilizes a built-in accelerometer to detect movement and braking. When slowing down the light offers a bright warning to those behind, just like a car’s brakelight.
This system also features a built-in light sensor that can adjust the brightness to the surroundings and can help save the battery. Video after the jump
Tags: bike light, brake light, Cycling, Velodroom
Posted in concept, Cycling, Equipment, Gadget | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 23 May 2013
A number of companies now produce fitness food for cyclists, but whether the stuff is actually good remains a question. For those who would rather cook their own cycle-friendly fare chef Biju Thomas and Dr. Allen Lim have released the cookbook Feed Zone Portables. This 288 page book offers 75 new recipes for portable food to take on the go.
The Feed Zone Cookbook Official Website
Tags: Allen Lim, Biju Thomas, Cycling, Feed Zone Cookbook, Feed Zone Portables, Food
Posted in Cycling, Food, nutrition | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 22 May 2013
A built-in bike light seems like a good idea, and while we seen systems that integrate the lights into the stem, the Helios Bars are more than just a built-in light. These do provide proximity lighting that allows the bike to automatically turn on or off when the rider is near, and provide turn singles to help drivers know what you’re about to do. But the Helios Bars also provide GPS tracking via SMS from anywhere in the United States, where users can receive coordinates of the bike via Google Maps.
These bars also offer a visual speedometer, and can provide turn-by-turn navigation when synced with a mobile phone via Bluetooth 4.0. There is even ambient lighting options to set the mood while riding. Video after the jump
Tags: bike light, Bluetooth 4.0, Cycling, GPS, handle bars, Helios Bars, KickStarter, SMS, turn signal
Posted in concept, Cycling, Gadget, GPS, Outdoors, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 22 May 2013
We recently came across two stories – both involving baseball gloves. Over in Boston 60-year old Robert Megerdichian – who spends his days converting blueprints to computer-aided designs for landlords and engineers – spends his nights and weekends repairing baseball gloves. He reportedly started when watching his adult son play baseball in a men’s league in Cambridge.
Megerdichian discovered that rather than repairing old gloves the players typically bought new ones, and he figured out how to breathe new life into the old gloves. He doesn’t actually sew but instead starts off with a good cleaning using Murphy Oil Soap, then replaces the laces and gives the glove a shoe polish treatment. The result is a glove that gets some added life.
Over in Hartford, Connecticut 62-year old David Katz doesn’t restore old gloves, he’s found success in breaking the gloves in. He’s been selling and breaking in gloves for the past 35 years. Exactly what is involved in breaking in a glove Katz won’t say, but it takes about a week.
Perhaps the two should talk about their love of the gloves!
[Via The Hartford Courant: Meriden Businessman Finds Success Breaking In Baseball Gloves]
[Via Boston Business Journal: CRE man’s hobby: He’ll restore your old baseball glove]
Tags: baseball, baseball glove, David Katz, Robert Megerdichian
Posted in Equipment, Low Tech | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 22 May 2013
Last year we heard about an inflatable bike helmet, and we’ve been following developments in inflatable avalanche airbag systems. French equipment maker UBAK has introduced the Mountain Airbag Harness, which is designed to protect against both burial and blunt trauma.
In times of an emergency on the slopes can inflate instantly, forming a protective warp around the neck and sides of the head and face, which is also covered with a mesh to prevent choking from snow, while creating a breathable air pocket. All this can make the difference between life and death.
UBAK Official Website
Tags: inflatable avalanche airbag, Mountain Airbag Harness, UABAK
Posted in Equipment, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 22 May 2013
If you’re riding with a light system that includes a battery power you could have an extra way to give your phone the juice it might need. This is the concept behind Sigma Sport’s IICON cable that allows users to power up their mobile phones, cameras and GPS units via the battery pack.
The IICON attaches to the IION/IION XL battery pack and a red LED indicator light shows that the device is being charged. The IICON is completely watertight for use even in damp conditions. Now this is still a robbing Peter to pay Paul type situation, especially if you need to ride home and actually need the light but sometimes being able to make that call can be a godsend!
Sigma Sports Official Website
Tags: battery pack, bike light, Cycling, IICON, Sigma Sports
Posted in Cycling, Gadget, Mobile Phone, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 22 May 2013
We all know the story of Paul Revere but what would the patriot have done if the British had the Waveskate? This is a hybrid surfboard/skateboard that works on both the waves and the pavement. Developed in San Diego – where there is the right weather for skating and surfing – the board can quickly transform from road ready deck to water worthy board.
Waveskate inventor and former pro skater Yancey Meyer is now taking his concept to Kickstarter to raise funding to make it a reality. Video after the jump
Tags: KickStarter, Skateboard, surfboard, Waveskate, Yancey Meyer
Posted in concept, Equipment, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 21 May 2013
Working up a sweat is one reason we work out an exercise but sweat in the eyes is never fun when on a long summer bike ride. This is where the SweatHawg comes in. It is a helmet liner that can be is made in Oregon of Hydo-phillic fabric from Germany and can reportedly absorb 10 times its weight in water, and which can be rung out if it gets too saturated.
SweatHawg Official Website
Tags: Cycling, helmet liner, Made in America, oregon, Sweathawg
Posted in Apparel, Cycling, Equipment, Made in America, Made in the USA | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 21 May 2013
Riding a bike can be a good way to get out and get some fresh air – unless of course the air outside isn’t all that fresh. In places like China the air can be quite bad. Mike Andrews of New Castle in the U.K. visited China and realized there was a solution – ride a bike with a large air filter that could help clean the air while riding. He is now developing an electrical generator that can suck in bad air and produces cleaner air.
The key word is cleaner as this can only do so much. But imagine if China could get more cyclists using pedal power to clean the air? It would almost make it breathable.
[Via SeaCoast Online: New spin for bicycle: filtering air pollution]
Tags: air filter, China, Cycling, Mike Andrews, pollution
Posted in concept, Cycling, Equipment | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 21 May 2013
Water doesn’t go so well with most mobile phones, but a lot of people use their handset to snap photos. If a day at the beach or pool is how to you plan this spend this summer than perhaps you should consider the Sony Xperia ZR “waterproof” mobile smartphone. This Android-powered device can snap photos and even Full HD videos underwater.
It features a 13megapixel camera along with a 4.6-inch HD Reality display. This is also a serious phone, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5 GHz process and runs on the 4G LTE networks. But for those who like to get wet this might be a smart phone indeed. Video after the jump
Tags: Android, Full HD Video, Qualcomm, smartphone, Snapdragon, Sony, waterproof, Xperia, ZR
Posted in Gadget, Mobile Phone, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 21 May 2013
Nike Golf has unveiled its new TW’14 line of shoes, which Nike Athlete Tiger Woods debuted the new Nike shoe in a dramatic fashion with his 78th PGA Tour career victory at The Players Championship. The new iconic shoe is also the first Nike Golf shoe to be made available on NIKEiD with previews beginning this week.
The new TW’14 continued the collaboration with Woods, further enhancing the fit, feel and function of the golf shoes. The natural motion engineered outsole of the shoe is designed to mimic and conform to the natural motion of the foot, while still providing the protection and traction of a lightweight performance shoe. The new TW’14 footwear stays true to Woods’ signature colors, White, Black and Red, and also adds a new colorway to the mix, Cool Grey with Vivid Blue and Venom Green accents.
Nike Golf Official Website
Tags: Footwear, golf, golf shoe, Nike, Nike Golf, Tiger Woods, TW'14
Posted in Equipment, Footwear, Golf | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 21 May 2013
We continue to follow the “upcycled” movement where old products are used in new ways, and this week we came across Rottua, which offers handmade sandals that feature repurposed bike tires and tubes along with other materials.
The sandals use tires for straps and the tube liner for the bit between the toes. The foot bed isn’t worn out either and features a high quality micro bier topsole with strap liner, as well foot-molding Eva midsole. Each sandal utilizes is made of about 20 percent upcycled materials, which include bike tires from Northern California.
Rottua Official Website
Tags: Footwear, Rottua, Sandals, upcycled
Posted in Cycling, Footwear | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 20 May 2013
Look’s popular Keo 2 Max pedals have typically been available in any color you could want – provided it was black or white white. But unlike Henry Ford the French company decided to really give the people want they want, and this includes the pedals in green, gray and red. So it might not be any color you could want but it still provides a bit of option beyond vanilla white.
Look Official Website
Tags: Cycling, gray, green, Keo 2 Max, LOOK, pedals, red
Posted in Cycling, Equipment | No Comments »
