Backcountry.com: The Goat � Blog Archive � Minneapolis Named Most-Fit City in the U.S., and Oklahoma City Least-Fit

From The Goat
A study conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine has named Minneapolis the most fit city in America, with D.C., Portland, San Francisco, and Denver rounding out the top five. The most unfit place to live in America is Oklahoma City. The study measures things like how many people walk or bike to work, as well as the prevalence of things like obesity and diabetes. In Oklahoma City only about 2.6% of people bike to work, while in Minneapolis about 7.6% of residents bike or walk.  Gear Junkie asks if this makes Oklahoma City the new “Fat City USA”? I say, “Yes, you’re off the hook Milwaukee!”
via Gear Junkie

Best Triathlon Bikes - Gear Patrol

Wow this years bikes are amazing and the price is even better. Now if you are going the true distance or even half you should invest in a true tri bike and these are some of the best. Now the one missing, most likely price, the Cannondale Slice, PURE SPEED.
Full Listing --- Gear Patrol

Best For any Budget Road Bikes! Gear Patrol

From Gear Patrol

You have to start somewhere so why not the Cannondale SuperSix EVO Black Inc. roughly $14,000.

The SuperSix EVO is the ultimate road racing machine. Designed to be the perfect blend of all the key factors of performance - weight, stiffness, strength, compliance, handling and aerodynamics - the EVO is so good that Tour magazine in Germany named it the "Best Bike in the World" (Mar 2012)
The rest fall into line

Raleigh Militis 3 $6,500
Pinarello ROKH $4,100
Trek Domane 4.5 $2,700
Scott Speedster S30 $1,090

Full description...

Top 5 Triathlon Swimming Problems And What You Can Do About It

Let’s face it....an open water triathlon swim can be a bit uncomfortable. Whether it’s the large crowds of people pushing or elbowing on the beach or in the water for precious space, the physical adrenaline rush of the race start, or simply the fact that swimming is potentially the most “dangerous” part of a triathlon, swimming problems are something every triathlete has to deal with. Heck, I’ve personally been racing triathlons for nearly ten years, and I still get nervous before mass triathlon swim starts - not to mention a little apprehensive about what type of open water conditions I might experience. I’ve spoken with many experienced professional triathletes who still have occasional “panic attacks” during the swim, in which they simply need to stop swimming for a little while, tread water, and catch their breath and their nerves. There are 5 primary problems that tend to be issues during the triathlon swim. So here they are, along with what you can do about each one. TOP 5 from EverymanTri

Got you covered.Ass Savers

Ass Saving Techniques from Ass Savers on Vimeo.

We are five designers based out of Gothenburg, arguably the wettest city in all of Sweden. We also have unimaginably tiny satellite offices in Amsterdam (seriously tiny) and San Francisco (moderately tiny).

Sadly or gladly, none of us has matured past the point of twelve year old boys when we saw the world brought to life as we frenetically propelled ourselves as fast as we could down the streets. It’s out of these memories of this pedal-powered love that we create products to celebrate and encourage the joy of biking.

It is also our belief that we have an obligation to design responsibly to protect the environment as much as we can. You won’t find nasty materials or unnecessary packaging on any Ass Savers product, just read our view on the environment to see how serious we are about saving your ass and the earth’s at the same time.

Swami's Made To Order Wetsuit!

Swami's made-to-measure wetsuits

Introducing our 3/2 full suit available for ladies and gentlemen

£295 *intro price for summer 2013

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Why opt for a tailor made wetsuit?

We've worked closely with Snugg Wetsuits to develop a range of unique suits and to offer a made-to-measure service. Snugg have made premium quality wetsuits in England since 1982.

Fit

Off-the-peg vs. a crafted tailor made suit

Sounds obvious but increased warmth and performance is in large part down to a simple matter of a better fit.

Helping keep excess water from entering the suit and pooling against the body's vital organs as well as avoiding the extra weight of a water logged suit.

With a made-to-measure suit the fit will keep you warmer so you're not expelling precious additional energy. This decreases body fatigue and ultimately improves your surfing performance.

Materials

1. Ultraspan stretch neoprene (the most flexible material on the market) offers improved heat retention and gives a better wearing experience. Ultraspan provides enhanced comfort and reduces water resistance allowing for an unprecedented range of movement.

2. The "smoothskin" we use on our 3/2 suits across the upper arms, chest, back and neck is generally used for triathletes to give maximum flexibility and a low coefficient drag - it basically makes you more aerodynamic! It's made by Yamamoto and milled from limestone rather than petroleum which better for the environment.

3. Single lined "smoothie" neoprene on the arms and chest is durable and excellent at repelling wind & water.

Design

Our look and style is very paired down so as not to distract from the materials and construction. Branding is kept to a stealth minimum. It is essentially a classic style cut using contemporary materials and technologies.

How to order

Our 3/2 model is our first release for the summer. If you're interested in a suit please drop us a line and we'll email you our tailor's guide as well as giving you more information on the service.

Features: • Made in England. • Combining 3mm in the torso area and 2mm neoprene on the arms and lower legs • Double glued, blindstitched and heat-sealed taped seams, super soft knit lining • Anti-rash "smoothskin" neck roll • Heavy duty YKK waterproof zip • 3/2 wetsuits are Ideal for water temperatures in the low to mid-60s

Switch Aero System!

Quick-Release Aerobars + Dual-Position Seatpost: Switch back and forth on-the-fly between a road position and an aero position.

"...here is a cool new solution that will help you achieve new milestones in the sport without spending a bunch of money." - TriJuice

"Upstart company Redshift Sports promises to add that same capability to nearly any road bike with its new Switch Aero system, while making the conversion much easier, too." -BikeRadar

Get the Most Out of Your Road Bike

The Switch Aero System lets you get the most out of your road bike. The system’s Quick-Release Aerobars and Dual-Position Seatpost allow you to transition on-the-fly between your normal road position and a true aero position, without even slowing down. The system is perfect for cyclists, triathletes, or anyone looking for a comfortable and aerodynamic alternate riding position.

How to run like an Olympian!

ZOOT! BOA Encloser System

ZOOT Race
We all buy Lock Laces or a version of these great laces, but have to credit ZOOT for stepping it up and incorporating a cool laces system into their shoes. The best part about Lock Laces is that they work, slip on and run, I set and forget. The Boa system seems to work the same way, only time will tell. I would love to test these shoes.

Lighter, faster, cooler; the Ultra Race 4.0 racing flat was designed for the triathlete looking for a lightweight shoe with a custom fit. Zoot partnered with well-known fit supplier, BOA, to prefect a closure system that creates a 360-degree fit and is fast in T2. This unique fit combined with a TekSheen upper creates the most dynamic fit in the world of running.

• Fabric:
  • BOA closure system to get you out of T2 faster while locking your foot in place
  • Men's Running shoe with Z-Bound midsole for the ultimate ride
  • Ultra Fit upper provides unmatched comfort
  • Weight: 8.4oz/238g
  • Midsole Heights: 19mm/11mm

https://baggu.com/shop/wetsuitbag/black

This is great, not only for your wetsuit but for anything wet. Foul Weather Gear, Wetsuits, a day at the beach.

WETSUIT BAG

The ultimate all-weather gear bag, originally designed for surfers, with our neighbors Pilgrim Surf and Supply.
Stand inside bag and remove your wetsuit, then zip up for the trip home. Welded seams and a water resistant zipper keep water contained. Carry in hand or over shoulder.

18 oz. Vinyl. 14" shoulder strap drop. 6" hand strap drop. 30" wide, 13" deep, 16" tall. Exterior pocket. Hose down and hang dry. Made in the USA.

$120.00

Cannondale unveil radical redesign of Synapse ‘comfort’ bike

Cannondale have unveiled a radical redesign of the Synapse ‘comfort’ bike, which the US firm claim is “lighter, stiffer, stronger and smoother” than its predecessor.

The Synapse Hi-Mod is the latest addition to a fast-moving sector of ‘comfort’ or ‘endurance’ bikes, following in the footsteps of, among others, the Trek Domane in 2012and, earlier this year, the launch of the Bianchi Infinito CV ahead of Paris-Roubaix.

It was at Paris-Roubaix that we first spotted the Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod. The cobbled climbs and pavé sectors of the Classics are a natural testing ground and Cannondale Pro Cycling’s Slovak Sensation, Peter Sagan, rode the Synapse Hi-Mod to victory at Ghent-Wevelgem, before finishing second behind Fabian Cancellara at the Tour of Flanders (although the 23-year-old didn’t ride Paris-Roubaix). More.. 

Cannondale unveil radical redesign of Synapse ‘comfort’ bike

How to Prevent Running Blisters

How to Prevent Running Blisters
Form Gizmodo!

Tricks of the Trade

Form and footwear are the two most important factors, but why not bolster those with some technology? If you have a specific spot that's particularly prone to blistering there are a lot ways to help protect it. The simplest solution is to apply a lubricant that won't rub off. BodyGlide goes on nice and light, but it's very resilient and generally won't come off with water alone. For longer runs you might want to go with something thicker like Aquaphor, which will stand up a little better to salt water.

If you think moisture is playing a big role in your blistering, you can try adding talcum or Gold Bond powder to your socks, which may help sop up the moisture. Or, you can try spraying your feet with an anti-perspirant to cut down the sweat.

Some advocate adding a layer of armor. If you try to protect the area with a padded, adhesive strip like moleskin, make sure you cut the piece to fit the blister area perfectly. Other people suggest putting duct tape on the affected area. You have to be careful with either of those methods, though, because if an edge starts to peel and the armor bunches up, you'll be a whole lot worse off. For this reason, some people recommend products such as liquid bandages instead. For all of these, make sure what you're putting on is smooth and thin, otherwise you may make things worse.

read full article...

Samantha McGlone Officially Retires From Triathlon

The former 70.3 world champion is now a first-year medical student at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Canada’s Samantha McGlone experienced success across the three major distances in triathlon: she represented Canada in the 2004 Athens Olympics, she won the 2006 70.3 World Championship and then finished second to a then-unknown Chrissie Wellington at the 2007 Ironman World Championship. Two years later she nabbed her first Ironman title at Ironman Arizona.

Since that victory in Tempe, McGlone has struggled with injuries, overtraining syndrome and chronic fatigue. After a couple of attempts to return to the top of the sport, including hiring coach Matt Dixon at the end of 2010, McGlone has decided that she is done competing as a professional triathlete.

“I’m officially retired as of the end of last year,” McGlone told us.

More..

Skip the Backpack With This Toasty Gear-Toting Vest

Useful, I could see using Scottevest to get very close to BC Vest. 

Who needs a backpack? The gear-toting BC Vest from Dakine can be stocked with a shovel, radio, hydration, ski skins, and other necessary equipment for backcountry skiing adventures. It weighs less than 2 pounds and fits close for tree skiing and fast descents.

Great Running Workouts to a PR!

http://www.rundreamachieve.com/runningworkouts/
My favorite is:

60-minute fartlek run

My favorite running workout involving fartleks is a 60-minute run involving running 1 minute at hard effort followed with 1 minute of easy running.

This is a very demanding anaerobic workout but have found to be one of the best workouts you can add into your training routine that will pay you back ten fold come race day.

Come on Nate, I am a 5K runner. How is a 60-minute fartlek workout going to help me?

One, it is going to dramatically increase your lactate tolerance and you will be running over double the distance you will be racing at.