USA Triathlon

For those who have not joined or looked at the new USA Triathlon website should spend some time looking around. It has membership info, events, age groupers, coaching area, news, ranking, clubs, rules and merchandise. The membership is cheap, Gold is $200, Silver $100 and bronze $30, log onto the site to see all the differences to each group. I do the Silver and find that it works the best for my schedule. The calendar function shows you all the races that are USAT certified. Search by location, event or date. So if you have not had the opportunity to visit please show your support for one of the fastest growing sports and Check it out! USA Triathlon

CamelBak: The Better Bottle

Now I have a couple Sigg bottles and I love them. Strong, original and well built but I have to give CamelBak credit for this little bottle. Spill proof , 9 colors, a little place to clip to your sack, dishwasher safe and a flip up bit valve just like little kids have today all for the perfect price of $12.00.
Check it out! CamelBak

Mizuno Wave Creation 7: Best Shoe EVER

I am now on my third Wave Creations and I don't think that I will buy another running shoe as long as they keep making the Wave Creation. Mizuno has really stepped up their place in the runners circle. The New Jersey Marathon and Half Marathon held in Long Branch NJ this past weekend was put on by Mizuno and they did a great job, quick dry shirts and hat, but back to the shoe. It is for a neutral foot-types, light and durable. I have used them in the winter, summer and under wet conditions and they hold up. The sole on my second pair delaminated, it was after I had put in well over 500 miles on them so to me it was ok. I have used them for every triathlon I have done, the only thing that I have changes out was the laces with Lock Laces. Lock Laces make it very easy to slipped them on and off for the quick transition from bike to run.
Check the out!Mizuno Wave Creation

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