iPhone as a compass

So with everyone trying to build the next best GPS, one device is still better than two. From watches to phones. If what they are saying is true and who knows, the iPhone is one of the most mocked up device, meaning anyone with photoshop can make it look to be true. If they are putting a compass in the next iPhone this could open up a ton of possibilities. One can only hope and wait till June.

Golden GT Bike, a great concept

Every sport should steal this concept, have a totally tricked out bike and the person who wins the race gets to use it at the next event, professionally set up and components replace. This would be great for the sport of Triathlons, since the bikes get quite expensive. Here is GT Bikes idea in a nut shell.

"Meet the GT Golden Bike. It’s light. It’s fast. It’s got the best frame and components anywhere. Oh, and did we mention it’s completely gold? Starting on April 19th, the Golden Bike will be up for grabs at races around the country. Win the race, win the bike. It’s that easy. But there’s a catch. Winning the Golden Bike means you have to defend it at the next Golden race. Don't worry, we'll cover your race fee, put you up in a hotel and fly you and a friend there. We'll also give you a GT Golden Race jersey and a $250 Sugoi gift certificate. But you’d better win or you’ll surrender the Golden Bike and all its glory to whoever does. With all that said, good luck winning the Golden Bike. You’ll need it."

So imagine a triathlon series like this, first you get a wetsuit or speed suit (golden of course) then a tricked out tri bike followed up with a sweet pair of running shoes and some price money of course. What a following you could get.

Just a thought way to go GT.

Bark Paddleboards, great core workout!

Nothing beats changing things up during the season like a paddleboard. Challenging, a great core workout and getting in touch with surroundings. Some things that are missed when triathletes look out into the water before a start is what is happening, tied, wind direction, swells. Getting out on a board and feeling the ocean will hep you in the swim.

Bark paddleboards are simply the fastest things in the water—more races have been won on Bark paddle craft than any other brand. The reason is simple: no surf/paddleboard designer has logged more time on the water than Joe Bark. Joe’s complete range of boards— from his world famous unlimited-class and stock paddleboards, to his innovative stand-up paddleboards (featuring Bark’s exclusive tiller system) coastal touring boards, guns and longboards—are all tested, refined, hand-shaped and finished right here in Southern California. Contact Joe today and have him make one for you. joe@barkocean.com or by phone (310) 375-8135

CERA in the Olympic Games

New drugs, records broken and athletes still getting caught. Something has to be done and at this rate the only option is legal or non legal. Check this out from Sports Scientists
Six Olympic athletes, including 1500m gold medalist Rashid Ramzi, have tested positive for CERA, the latest generation EPO hormone, which was made famous by Tour de France cyclists (Ricardo Ricco primary among them) last year.

When Ricco was caught, we did a post explaining CERA, and speculating that maybe some Olympic athletes would be jumping for cover now that a test had been developed through collaboration between anti-doping agencies and the pharmaceutical company that produced the drug for medical use.

The Mini and Airstream, Travel to Tri's in Style

Always trying to book the next hotel/motel room, the W to expensive, well why not travel in style, get good gas milage and your own bed. Well it seems as though MINI and Airstream have teamed up for the ultimate in travel Clubman joins Airstream.
"Together with Danish furniture designer, Republic of Fritz Hansen, the companies have created a concept Mini Cooper S Clubman coupled to a matching 22-foot Airstream trailer with a "down-by-the beach" feel. There's a gallery and press release (after the jump) to explain the theme in detail, but basically the Clubman features neoprene seat covers, a surfboard on the roof and some scuba gear in the boot, while the trailer is a drop side Airstream with funky modern furniture by Fritz. It's a cool bit of kit that we'd be happy to take on a trip down the coast." from Autoblog

Chain Grease, Chain Condom

We have all been there, loading your bike into the car and no matter how hard you tried grease get's on something. Well not any more, traveling to a race, vacation, friends, whatever, Chain Condom protects your goodies.
Chain CondomTM is a simple-to-use cover that goes on your bike in less than a minute. It keeps the grease and grime from your bike chain and derailleurs away from stuff you want to keep clean, like your car interior. Its unique, patent-pending design means it's simple to use and stays put.
Well you have to love the simplicity of it, again why did this take so long to create!

New Bike Racks, Make you think twice.

There are a lot of car bike rack companies, Thule, Rocky Mounts, Yakima, all work very well and have been in business a long time. Then one emerges as a little different and take what is good about those racks and rethinks it, Kuat Innovations has done that, making light (11 pounds), sturdy, quick, easy to fold up, and has functions built in (bike lock, hitch lock) that other don't. One of the best features is the ability to adjust based on the frame size and to clamp against the frame allowing a more sturdy carrying position.
hey bikes get updated yearly, maybe its time for your rack to get the same treatment.

TAD GEAR COMBAT SWIMMERS DIVE STRAP

Does your rubber strap on your watch not fit, wrist to small, whatever the case TAD Gear has the solution, they are "The Elite Class in Adventure Gear".
When only the BEST will do, TAD GEAR, Inc. is your outfitter for the Elevated Standard in Professional Grade Adventure Gear. Specializing in Apparel, Field Gear & Edged Tools, we offer only what we feel is the finest selection of equipment in each category. You will find the highest grade of equipment on this website for your next adventure, field project, mission, endeavor, or simply day tripping.
TAD Gear is proud to introduce our new heavy duty, maritime Combat Swimmers Dive Strap. The finest strap of its type in the world. Ideal for any dive and sports watch, this strap will hold up to years of use under or above water. Available in 3 of the most common watch lugs sizes, our Combat Swimmers Dive Strap will fit the most popular dive watches.

Using the proven 5 ring, "NATO" buckle tang style of construction, these straps are secure, rugged, hold up to abuse, highly adjustable to fit over a wetsuit or on the wrist. We offer 4 great colors to accent your AO and your favorite time pieces. Compare our straps to those already out there; we feature the highest caliber of materials, construction and a terrific price point. Quality, value, and performance.

Step-Down Tempo Workout

Runners world has great articles and for the triathlete that is logging some tough long miles we sometimes forget to do fast, tempo runs. This workout will get you there and beyond.

Start this 10-mile run at 1:20 per mile slower than your usual five-mile tempo pace. Every two miles drop the pace by 20 seconds per mile (your progression would look something like this: 8:05-8:05-7:45-7:45-7:25-7:25-7:05-7:05-6:45-6:45). While only the last two miles are at your normal tempo pace, the fact that you ran eight descending miles beforehand will make the pace feel more challenging. Replace your usual tempo run with this step-down approach about every third threshold workout.

Great Abs, Better Running

Training Peaks one of the leaders in providing great workouts and advice for the multisport athlete, has a great blog entry for getting great abs. Yes part is genetics but really it is working hard and eating right. A benefit to having great abs is fewer injuries and better running performance.

How do you get great abs? Running is a good start, because it burns fat. But running alone won’t do the job. You also have to eliminate those extra calories from your diet that are turned into belly fat. Even if you run 50 miles a week, your paunch won’t vanish if you continue to eat donuts and french fries all day long. Finally, you need to condition your abdominal muscles with core strength exercises, because even with a very small amount of belly fat your core muscles won’t show through if they are poorly conditioned. More.. Training Peaks

Bike racks for motorcycles, Johnny Racks!

Getting closer to the green movement is always nice, driving a Land Rover is nice but wouldn't you rather be ridding a BMW F 650GS much cooler way to show up at an event. The ride home could be tough but hey you can't win them all.
Road or Mountain, the Johnny Rack will carry most bicycles (tandems not included of course). The Johnny Rack requires special Motorcycle Adapters to fit the rack to the large number of different motorcycle models. The Adapters are designed to either mount to existing mounting points on the frame or mount directly to the frame of the motorcycle using what we call Frame Grabbers. NO drilling is required for the mounting. For ease of taking the rack on and off rack the Frame Grabbers can be left in place even when the rack is not installed.

The Motorcycle Adapters are attached to the Main Arm or Bicycle attachment portion of the Johnny Rack. The Main Arm holds the bicycle mount (Yakima BOA). The Johnny Rack secures the bicycle by the front fork and the down tube and special down tube pads protect the bicycle's paint and derailleur cables from damage.

Close Call's a video for all to see!

All have had close calls but Cyclist Jeff Frings of Milwaukee brings it all together and does something about it. The best thing that should come of this is (a) get a video camera for proof (b) be prepared to have a close call.

Camelbak, Racebak Hydration Jersey

Been waiting a while for this to come out, wondering why someone has not done this before, like the iPod and the iPhone took Apple some time to make it great. Well here comes Camelbak making hydration cooler. Wearable hydration, designed for the endurance athlete, tight fitting, chafe-free seams and stitching, air mesh insulated back panel keeps your back cool and insulated tube cover. What is not to love.

Activity Trailer, DOOIT

Now the green movement can start for Mini owners, Activity Trailer allows you to haul all your outdoor gear with safety and style and still economize on fuel. With the addition of the new folding tent and swing up riser bar options the Dooit is even more versatile, allowing comfortable off the ground camping on a 2.5 inch foam mattress AND the ability to haul bikes, kayaks and other gear.

Size:
The DOOIT™ is scaled to be safely towed by compact and subcompact cars and other smaller vehicles. The typical car in this class has a width of 66” – 67”, and the 55” overall width of the trailer and its load are well within the wind envelope of the vehicle. Trailers built for the standard automobile have widths that extend beyond the sides of this class of vehicle creating a safety issue. The maximum GVW of 500 pounds (trailer and load) is well within the design limits of a vehicle’s axles and its braking systems, yet still allows carrying a significant amount of equipment.

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Campaign for Bike Lockers

So as the weather warms and all are getting out more the big thing that is missing and keeping most of us from using our "high" end bikes more is safety. More places need bike lockers.

How many would pay a dollar to make sure their bike is really protected? Many.

Train station, parking garages, corporations, bus stations all need to be doing more to change the way we think. Make it a no-brainer to have to bike to work, the train, or store. Even being able to bring your bike on the train during peak hours needs to be considered.

So get on with it, demand your work install better bike lockers, write congress and have all train station install more lockers. get moving the warm weather is right around the corner.