‘Hands On’ Articles
Written by Louis Ramirez on 06 February 2012
The Jabra Sport is the first Bluetooth headset to unshackle runners from the constraints of their wired headphones. But can Jabra – a company who’s known for making Bluetooth headsets for the home and office – make a smooth transition into the sports world? In a word; yes. The Jabra Sport is comfortable, reliable, and as rugged as any other pair of sports headphones we’ve seen. It’s not perfect, but it’s a solid first attempt at a wireless headset for runners.
The $99 headphones are light and sit comfortably over the top of each ear. The buds themselves rest by your ear canal opening (not inside it), meaning they don’t provide any noise isolation. As a runner, that’s a good thing, since you should always be aware of your surroundings when running outdoors. But for use at the gym, that means you’ll have to crank the volume up high to cancel out any noise from the treadmill or your fellow gym goers. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bluetooth, Bluetooth Headset, earbuds, Headphone, Jabra, Jabra Sport, Jabra Sport Bluetooth Headset, Running, water resistant earbuds, Wireless
Posted in Gadget, Hands On, Mobile Phone, Outdoors, Personal Electronics, Running | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 22 December 2011
A few weeks ago we wrote about the release of a series of training DVDs by Three Legs Cycling (3LC) based on the Isle of Man and the home of Mark Cavendish. 3LC currently has five, one hour long training sessions that are designed specifically for cyclists and take a little bit different approach than other training DVDs. 3LC’s approach is to focus on cadence and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) instead of the watts or heart rate. Being primarily a mountain bike rider and occasional racer who prefers long distance races like the Leadville Trail 100, my best performances on dirt seem to happen when riding at a higher cadence – these DVDs seemed perfect for my winter training needs.
3LC sent three DVDs our way, ‘Road Race’, ‘Sprinting’ and ‘Climbing’. Each of these 50 to 60-minute sessions are designed loosely to simulate the power exertion that can occur while performing each of these activities on a bike. ‘Road Race’ was first picked to review since it featured a little climbing and sprinting that might occur during a race; and in all honesty, starting with ‘Sprinting’ featuring Mark Cavendish wasn’t the physical abuse that I was looking to begin with. The riders in the video are all using turbo or rear wheel trainers. In theory any bicycle trainer is fine to use with this series as long as you can adjust the resistance to a point that you can maintain a cadence of 80 RPMs and lift it to 130+RPMs during various times in the session. Since the mid-1990s, I have been using Kreitler Dyno-Myte rollers (below) and recently added a weighted flywheel to simulate road resistance. This would be the trainer used for our evaluation. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3LC, DVD training, Kennaugh, Mark Cavendish, Peter, Road Race, Rob Holden, Three Leg Cycling
Posted in Cycling, General, Hands On | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 02 November 2011
Click image for a closer view
Since the early 1990s, I have been an avid user of the Oakley Mumbo and M-frames with the Sweep lenses for all forms of cycling. They have protected my eyes from tree branches, sun, snow, mud, rocks, flying insects and anything else thrown my way. I never ride without them. They fit my head well and provide excellent coverage keeping the wind out of my eyes during fast descents. I have tried many other types of glasses and yet I keep grabbing my M-frames every time I ride… until now.
At Interbike this year, there were numerous eyewear companies and a number showing off photochromic lenses. Photochromic lenses darken when exposed to ultraviolet rays (UV) and fade back to lighter tint in low light areas or indoors. Shortly after the show, I received a pair of the Bollé Tempest glasses with their version of a photochromic lens, the Modulator, to try myself.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bollé, Bollé Tempest, Cycling, Interbike, Modulator, photchomic, Running, Tempest
Posted in Apparel, Cycling, Exercise, Hands On, Hiking, Interbike, Outdoors, Running | No Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 02 November 2011
It’s after breakfast. I just opened a pack of gummy candies and ate five. Would you believe it if I told you I just had my daily recommendation for vitamins and minerals? It’s not what I had for breakfast. The gummy candies are SmartyPants Gummy Vitamins for Grownups.
SmartyPants is known for the gummy vitamins they make for kids. Now they’re available in grownup portions. The multivitamin includes Omega 3 and Vitamin D. Among the other vitamins are 100 percent daily-recommended values for vitamin C, vitamin D (150 percent), vitamin E, folic acid, vitamin B-12 (1667 percent), and iodine. Clocking in under 100 percent are daily sources of vitamin A, thiamin and zinc. The supplements also include Omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, though these are not rated for daily consumption despite studies that show their benefits. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Gummy Multivitamins, multivitamins, Omega-3, SmartyPants, sugar, supplements, vitamins
Posted in diet, Hands On, nutrition | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 01 November 2011
(Click image for a closer view)
Are you looking for a unique holiday gift for the pet lover in your life? The Boulder, Colorado based company, Product Architects, Inc., may have the purrfect idea for you! Product Architects is the maker behind the Polar Bottle insulated water bottle and they have recently announced a new promotion. Through their website, customers can upload and order a Polar Bottle customized with a photo of their pet.
Product Architects is offering this promotion from November 1 through December 22, 2011, with the idea of providing consumers with a unique holiday gift option. For those who choose to order a customized Polar Bottle with a photo of their pet, not only will you be buying a well made insulated water bottle, but you will be supporting a good cause. Product Architects will be donating $5 from the sale of each bottle to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV). Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Humane Society of Boulder Valley, pet photo, Polar Bottle
Posted in Cycling, Exercise, General, Hands On, Hiking, Low Tech, Made in America, Made in the USA, Outdoors, Triathlon | No Comments »
Written by Mike Prendergast on 19 October 2011
Showers Pass Elite Pro Cycling Jacket Review
Elite Pro Jacket
The weather in Colorado can be unpredictable. Sunshine, hail, high winds, and snow can all happen within a few hours even on a summer day. With this kind of variability you learn to carry a jacket at all times while on the bike.
The Elite Pro jacket is made with a three layer proprietary fabric and is highly waterproof. The wind-blocking is exceptional. Beyond the basics, the jacket is loaded with features designed specifically for cycling. The Elite Pro is light, form fitting and doesn’t flap in the wind. At the waist, it is short in front and ultra-long in the back. This feels a bit awkward when you try on the jacket, but once on the bike, it is spot on. The sleeves have the same style. They feel freakishly long when standing and perfect when on the bike. I’ve learned to cinch the wrist up when off the bike, positioning the sleeves at the wrist to keep them from falling over my hands.
The jacket has tremendous ventilation. There are two core zipper vents that replace armpit zippers on previous models.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bicycle, bike, Elite Pro, Jacket, Review, Showers Pass, waterproof, windproof
Posted in Apparel, Cycling, General, Hands On | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 11 October 2011
Sean Fekete running with the Speed Chute inflated (mid-sprint)
Whether you are jumping out of an airplane or drag racing, a chute is designed to slow you down; but in the case of the Speed Chute, it is designed to actually make you go faster. The Speed Chute, from MuscleDriver USA, is a chute that attaches to your waist and is to be used while running sprints. The concept behind the Speed Chute is that you are building strength through resistance – wind as opposed to weight resistance. Strap the waist band on, face the wind and sprint. It is a pretty simple concept, so we had to give it a try.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: MuscleDriver USA, Running, Speed Chute, sprints
Posted in Equipment, Exercise, Hands On, Home Fitness, Running, Triathlon | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 06 October 2011
German engineering. For most people, those two words conjure an image of precision and utmost craftsmanship especially in the automotive world. The Germans are known for their attention to detail and quality products, but at a price. This tradition is carried on by A-GE hydraulic shifting system manufactured by ACROS of Germany.
With so much focus on the new electric shifting options from Shimano which are being adapted to mountain bikes, it is easy to overlook this hydraulic option which has actually been available since 2006. We had a chance to take a Storck carbon fiber bike equipped with the AG-E system out on the trails of Bootleg Canyon at the Interbike Outdoor Demo this year.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: ACROS AG-E, Cycling, Hydraulic shifting, Storck
Posted in Cycling, Gadget, Hands On, Interbike | No Comments »
Written by Les Shu on 06 October 2011
Everyone knows that the key to good health is to stay hydrated—they don’t call it the “source of life” for nothing. Recommendations vary, but you should drink at least 16 ounces of water an hour or two before an activity, and then drink more afterward. (Water is the best source for hydration. Experts will recommend a sports drink to replenish sodium and potassium after an intense workout, but that’s a story for another day. We are talking strictly water here.)
Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re lucky enough to have water accessible at all times; if you want a drink, you can pour yourself a glass from the kitchen faucet. People who dislike the taste of tap water will hit bottled waters. More than $100 billion U.S. dollars is spent on bottled water worldwide and people consume around 50 billion bottles a year in the U.S. alone, but bottled water is environmentally unfriendly and a big expense to produce and consume. Despite having some of the cleanest tap water in the world here in the U.S., people still hit the bottle.
An alternative is to implement some sort of filtration system at home, either a water pitcher with filtration or a unit that can be attached to a faucet. They utilize filter cartridges that must be replaced every few months, and they aren’t inexpensive (think of it like razors or inkjet printer cartridges). (There are also even pricier units built into your sink or water cooler-style units). But compared to bottled water these systems are convenient, easily accessible and much more affordable. The folks at PUR recently sent us their One-Click Faucet Mount Water Filtration System to try out. PUR states that the One-Click filters out 99 percent of lead, trace pharmaceuticals, and microbial cysts, as well as reduces taste and odor of chlorine and other contaminants. Here’s our 3-month experience with it. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: One-Click, One-Click Faucet Mount Water Filtration System, Pur, water
Posted in Food, General, Hands On | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 06 October 2011
The leaves are changing colors and the days are becoming shorter; this means that winter is not too far behind and neither is the prospect of snow. For some cyclists this means hanging up the bikes for the winter and doing the grind at the gym. For those who want to brave the elements, there is another option – the Surly Moonlander.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Big Fat Larry, Interbike, Moonlander, Mukluk, Outdoor Demo, Pugsley, snow bike, Surly
Posted in Cycling, Exercise, Hands On, Interbike, Snow Sports | 1 Comment »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 21 September 2011
With so many manufacturers offering 29er hardtail mountain bikes, it can be difficult to pick one that is right for you. Just as demo days that many companies host around the country for the public, the Interbike OutDoor Demo, that occurs each year before the Interbike tradeshow, allows individuals involved in the bike industry to test the newest and latest rides on the market. Not all manufactures are present, but most of the major players are there alongside the little guys offering a fleet of bikes to ride on the trails of Bootleg Canyon outside of Boulder City, Nevada. Having had a chance to test numerous bikes, 29er hardtails were this writer’s choice to put trough the loops of loose, dry and rocky trails of Bootleg Canyon. Before you lay down your hard earned cash on a hardtail 29er, give any of these bikes a spin. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 29er, aluminum, BB30, BMC, carbon fiber, Cohutta, Cycling, Felt, Interbike, Litespeed, mountain bikes, Nine Series, Outdoor Demo, Team Elite 29 XO, titanium
Posted in Cycling, Equipment, Hands On, Interbike | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 16 September 2011
- Brian O’Connor is in the zone with Litespeed’s new 29er
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, but is it actually work or play when you get to check out the latest upcoming bicycles? From the smile on Brian’s face above, it certainly seems like work he really enjoys. Check out some more of the sights from this week’s Outdoor Demo Days at Interbike 2011: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Cycling, Giant, Interbike, Litespeed, Outdoor Demo Day, Trek
Posted in Cycling, Equipment, Hands On, Interbike, Outdoors | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 08 September 2011
A little over a month ago, a new bike was being assembled to join the fleet in my garage. The initial impressions of the new 2011 Moots Mooto X YBB 29er were detailed in “Mooto X YBB: Building a ‘Dream’ Bike First Impressions” and in that post it was mentioned that a 29er fork was ordered, but it had not arrived. The Fox F29 fork arrived the same day that the post went live so the build could really begin in earnest.
The parts selected for this build included a mix of Sram XO, Chris King, Fox, Stan’s and Race Face. The intention was to move most of the parts over from my older 26-inch wheeled Moots YBB, but the eight weeks required by Moots to build the frame gave enough time to gather all new parts except for the Ibis Ancotech titanium handlebar and Hope titanium skewer. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 29er, Chris King, Cycling, Leadville Trail 100, Mooto X YBB, Moots, mountain bike, Stan's Crest, Tam Bikes, titanium
Posted in Cycling, Hands On | 9 Comments »
