SweatVac performance Race Hat

WOW this thing really work I finally got my USA Triathlon SweatVac Performance Race Hat - in black and I am extremely satisfied. I read about it in the last issue of USA Triathlon so I thought I would give it a try. It has performed better than expected. Light, certified 40+ UPF sun protection, reflective technology, 100% machine washable and less than 2 oz.. "SweatVac products are engineered and designed using a unique blend of the finest technical fabrics. The SweatVac System is a multi-layer system which places Transpor fabric against your skin and wicking layers on the outside. Simply put, SweatVac is the finest athletic perspiration management system available. The SweatVac System allows your body's temperature regulating system to work efficiently, so you can perform at your peak, whatever the weather, humidity or activity level."
Check it out! SweatVac

Waterproof Headphones

The swimming part of training for triathlons can get very boring and after 6000 yard can drive you nuts. I use my iPod Shuffle for running and biking. I have looked and searched for headphone that could take the punishment of hours in the water. These are great, I need to wear a cap but I can hear the music. It is not crystal clear but something is better than nothing. "Quality Headphones designed to be 100% waterproof with or without the ear bud covers. The headphones are completely submergible and in the water the ear bud covers keep the water out of your ears and hold earphones in. On dry land, remove the covers and use them as standard headphones - they are completely weather proof and even sweatproof - so nothing's going to hold you back from your workout or playtime."
Check em out! The Waves Waterproof Headphones

Hans Rey Indoor Park

Being a mountain biker at heart and a Triathlete for the extra added challenge when I came across this site I was extremely excited. Hans Ray former trials riding world champion, a showman, a stuntman and an adventure mountain biker. He has traveled the world extensively; riding his GT mountain bikes, over and through areas previously considered unrideable. All the while, capturing the cultural, scenic, and spiritual aspects of these exotic locations; and always in search of something mystical or historical. Hans has now opened a indoor mountain bike park that is incredible. It is in Cleveland OH the season runs from October 18th through April 16th, what a way to spend the winter months in Cleveland. I contacted Hans about franchising and unfortunately he was unavailable to offer franchising at this time. He would however come out and help set one up for a fee I am sure,but I really wanted to have his name on the side of the building to help attract young riders.
Check it out! Rays Mountain Bike Indoor Park

Endurance system - Training Peaks

Training Peak is on too something, take all the data sources from the major heart rate watch manufactures have them be able to be uploaded into your Endurance Training System and you captue the market. Training Peaks accepts Garmin, Polar, Timex Bodylink, CycleOps PowerTap and several others. The products offered are Athlete Edition, Training Plans, Messenger, Coach Edition and Desktop Companion. The most popular is the Athlete Edition -- Track your training and your nutrition with fun, simple and powerful online tools. Our online subscription includes a powerful training log, nutrition tracker, detailed reporting, Joe Friel's VirtualCoach, over 475 custom designed workouts and so much more. Try it now, free for 7-days and get your training on track!
Check it out! Training Peak

DARTFISH: Capture, Visual Feedback and analyze your performance

If you watched the Olympics then you saw this technology, DARTFISH- The home of sports video training. If you have a PC, video camera, and the Dartfish software anyone can improve the way they swim, bike, golf, swing, run, basically any form of sport that you which to excel at! The software lets you create a library of your actions, then at any point you can compare the two and see where your swing changed, your stroke or running stride. In the winter Olympics this year NBC used it on the downhill and compared the runs from one skier to the next and you could see the different lines, tucks and skiers position. For the weekend warrior looking to improve their performance this can be a simple solution. Personally I think that all gyms should carry this feature, it could be a hug increase in members paying extra to see how they are really doing against others or themselves.
Check it out! DARTFISH

Simon Says, Climb - Digiwall

This is amazing a climbing wall that you can program routes into, I can see many different applications for this, speed climbing, tracking your routes, games (Simon says) or a variety of exercises. Here is how it works every climbing-hold is equipped with a sensor that registers your hands and feet. You can also program them to light up showing you a route. It is also instrumental, where behind the wall there is a large hi-fi system. The holds can also light up as you grab them showing others the route that just accomplished.
Check it out! Digiwall

Swim correctly: Speedo Hydralign Goggles

Just ordered these goggles, Speedo has some pretty cool stuff but my other goggles just were not cutting it. I have used competition goggles before but thought that I would try something different, I was disappointed. The Speedo Hydralign Goggles from what I have read will help put the body in the correct alignment by manipulating your field of vision. The bottom half of the goggles frosted, the upper clear forcing your head to look straight. At $15.00 it is a bargain, and should be great for New York City Triathlon July 16. I'll let you know how they work!
SPEEDO

17" Laptop Backpack

Most of these post have to do with how we can use technology to improve training, triathlon, marathon, Mt. Bike race or doing the Tour De France. This post is how we can transport the technolgy to those places. I have a 17' laptop and finding a bag that can carry it is/was limited to one, Timbuk2. Now I love this bag and I use the Cell Phone Holder also, made for bike messengers this bag holds a tune and is tough. Timbuk2 now makes 2 the Outtawhack and Commute XL but they now have competition (if you could say that) Velocity PRO SPYDER Laptop BackPack, featuring a thick rubber exoskeleton with rainproof PRO Grade Scuba-prene to provide a case that is lightweight, water resistant, never loses it's shape and provides excellent protection for your laptop or electronic gear. To me it seems a little bulky and the look of well lets say something out of the Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Check it out! Velocity

1 bottle + 3 Modes = Gel-Bot

I find the Gel-Bot an interesting device, you can have your gel, water or both mixed. For training purposes this is great, but for racing I usually through my bottle once finished, as most triathletesdo and at $15.95 this is a bit steep to dispose of each race. Here is what Gel-Bot has to say, "GEL-BOT is the first water bottle available that has an integrated gel delivery system. Load up the patented ENERGY-CORE with your gel of choice pre-activity and head out. When you are hungry you can eat the gel by just squeezing the bottle or sucking on the valve. When you want water, just pull the valve out and it functions like a regular water bottle." Check it out! Gel-Bot

Polar Fleece Buzz

From the research that I have done fleece starting to make its debut in the early 80's in campgrounds, El Cap and ski country. Since then fleece has gone mainstream, Old Navy has racks of it from socks to hoodies. Polartec has really pushed the limits with technology and fabric, put them together and some of the major brands start to bang out lightweight, comfortable, wool like fabric.
"At Polartec®, we do it by cramming a lot of big-brained engineers into a lab, then letting them push the limits of fabric technology. And they never stop innovating. Some call it obsessive. We call it Forward Fabric™".
North Face, ARC'TERYX and my favorite Mountain Hardwear seem to have been working overtime to make great shells and fleece products that give a wool like appearance but haveGore-Tex, Polartec and a bunch of other fabrics woven in that trap the heat and wick the moisture from your body. Check 'em all out, you won't be disappointed.

I am a little torn, SIGGthese bottles are one of the best kept secrets and now after reading a article in the New York Times they might become a little more mainstream. SIGG of Switzerland makes these aluminum bottles that are great. Having relatives in Switzerland gave me a 12 year head start, now it seems as though the secret is out. While the SIGG bottle may look much like any other, it in fact packs a lot of high-tech. SIGG bottles are extrusion-pressed from a one-piece aluminum blank, which results in uniform, seamless walls. Get one thing straight: the SIGG bottle is no ordinary drinking bottle. In existence for nearly a century, it has grown into a true design classic.
Check it out! SIGG Switzerland

Rollerblade Speedometer

Well Hammacher Schlemmer means many different things to different people, most would agree however that they do have cool stuff. This latest one is for Rolllerblades, now you could get a Garmin GPS and that would accomplish the same thing but would be a bigger device. The skate speedometer use wireless transmission between the wheel and a wristwatch-type receiver to accurately register and display your speed and distance as you exercise or cross-train. The Speedometer wheel replaces one of you regular wheels and starts to send data to the watch. A universal adapter kit is included to ensure proper fit on any skate.
Check it out! Inline Skate Speedometer

Road ID

Road ID haas come along way and helped hundreds if not thousands of people. What I like that in a time where electronics dominate wearing this around your wrist, ankle or shoe is a sure way to be identified if something where to happen, like getting hit by a car. "In the event of an accident, if you can't speak for yourself, your Road ID will. " The concept is simple just like a dog collar, you print you contact info on a tag that is mounted to a wrist strap the you can velcro to your wrist. Road ID has Firefly, running at night? Cycling in the wee hours of the morning? If so, make sure you can be seen by motorists - it could save your life. Make sure you can be seen - take Firefly with you - whenever you go out in the dark.
Check it out! Road ID

iPod used to ID Hit-and-Run Victim: Use I.C.E

I.C.E. -----In Case of Emergency--- This acronym should be used as one of your contacts in your iPod, phone or any portable device that can except contacts. Now this next story I can't tell you if she had it stored this way or not, last Thursday March 2nd Ashlyn Dyer was jogging in San Francisco the Presidio when she was an apparent victim of a hit-and-run. A park official found her, they took her iPod to the nearest Apple store which turned it over to the company's headquarters, who helped identify Ashlyn Dyer. I feel that more and more people are biking, jogging or just getting on with their life hooked up and out of touch with their surroundings, please if you are going to be plugged in add I.C.E. to your contacts.
"It's time for a public service announcement, if you are into sports and extreme sports you should know this little tidbit that is circulating around the web, the idea is that you store the word "ICE" in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency".
In an emergency situation, ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them."

Waterproof Bluetooth headset

Found this on Gizmag a waterproof Bluetooth headset. I know that most of you are thinking why would your headset get wet, well if you are training for that up coming Ironman going that extra mile is certainly going to help. I can see if you have Cingular rollover minutes and you have been storing them up all winter, talking to someone while you are biking can be a bonus. Well this headset is by Bluetrek, now I looked on their site and I could not find it anywhere so Gizmag is the only one with this blog breaking technology report, so go check it out!
The World'’s First Water-Resistant Bluetooth Headset (with 3 weeks standby time)