Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Cranking out New Technology, Dr Martin Becker!


Special thanks goes to Gizmag for discovering this juicy piece of technology. Dr Martin Becker of the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE, has developed a chip that uses sensors and actuators to help racing cyclists optimize their performance. There are many different devices out on the market that will measure cadence, speed and power but this one seems to have a different angle. Most of us know that if you want to be on the top of your game you need to be computer monitoring your activity, to see where you are falling short. "Ambient Intelligence will make it possible to constantly monitor and enhance the performance of individual riders and whole teams," says Becker of the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE in Kaiserslautern. "Each bicycle is fitted with equipment that constantly registers the forces acting on the pedals. Further significant factors are the riderĂ‚’s pulse andpeddlingg frequency, the speed and the gradient. All these readings are collected in a processor on the bicycle and radioed to a central processing unit where they are analyzed. The computer delivers individual training recommendations to each rider: He can view them on a display mounted on the handlebars or listen to them over headphones. To enable the cyclists to retrieve information on demand while riding, the Hungarian research team is developing an adaptive component that recognizes voice commands even when they sound distorted due to physical exertion."
Check it out! Smart technology for racing cyclists

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

BodyWall Stretching Human Performance


Now wild as this may be, there might be some validate in the BodyWall. Seems as though this was used by the Auckland Warriors and team NZ at the America's Cup, not bad since they won the cup. Chris Toal the inventor of the BodyWall became frustrated at treating quite large numbers of injuries that were easily avoided by releasing tension within soft tissues. Research told him clients would only use it if the solution was easy to use fast and effective. It works with gloves, shoes and a mat that hangs on the wall. The surface (might be velcro) can hold ones body weight, from there you can stretch, hold moves even come up with ideas without having the impact of the ground or messing up. It is an interesting concept.
Check it out! BodyWall

Friday, September 22, 2006

Bern Helmets one for all sports


You have to love this and wonder why the big guys never came up with it. A helmet that is for all sports and all season. Bern Helmets have removable goggle clips, ipod integration, heat release, interchangeable liners for BMX, skate, snowboard, Mt. Bikes, etc.. They even have accessories for to help keep your head warm. They seem to have hit it big with the news that Andy MacDonald signed with them. I am really interested and would sell or through out my old helmets to have just one.
Check it out! Bern Helmets

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Profile Design Tri-Stryke Ti Saddle


Well Profile Design has redeemed themselves with the Tri-Stryke saddle, I have been using the saddle that came with my Cannondale and I was happy with it until I started really putting in the miles. The Tri-Stryke has relieved the pressure and there is no looking back. It has a padded nose where most triathletes spend most their time, transition rack friendly, Cut-away with vents for comfort and a price point that can't be beat, MSRP - $74.99.
Check it out! Profile Design

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Polar and the Treo 650, Great Together


VidaOne is some cool technology, they allow you to take the data from several Polar devices and transfer it to the Treo 650 or PocketPC seamlessly. At first they allow you to have 10 trial transfers then you have to pay a small fee, I understand that Polar sends software with their watches but the ease of use and set up compared to doing it on your PC is night and day (Polar should take notice).

Keep in mind I don't have to have the USB IR interface (the white wand), now I know that Polar has come out with a new device that works a little better but I have not had the chance to review it just yet. Straight and simple watch+Treo 650=data. NICE.
Also no more MAC vrs. PC problem.

Requirements:
MySportTraining Polar for Palm OS
MySportTraining for Palm OS 3.2.5 or newer

One of the following Polar heart rate monitors (all other Polar models, including the S810 and 820i models, are not supported):
S610
S610i
S625X
S710
S720i
S725
S725X
One of the following Palm OS handheld models. Models that are not listed may very well work; if you've successfully tested on a device not listed below, we would be grateful if you could let us know. Thank you!
Handspring Visor Pro
Kyocera 7135
Palm Vx
Palm m505 (with S710 only)
PalmOne LifeDrive
Palm T|X
Palm Z22
Palm Zire 31, 72
Sony CLIE TJ-25
Sony CLIE TJ-37
Sony CLIE TH-55
Sony CLIE UX-50
Treo 650
Tungsten C
Tungsten E2
Tungsten T3
Tungsten T5:

Check it out!
VidaOne

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Kestrel 4100 Pocket Air Flow Tracker


If you are a complete gadget nut and need to have a device that does almost anything that you ask of it then the Kestrel wind/weather instrument is for you. Now I have been on the water my whole life and I have used many different devices to get the same read out's but I can tell you none fit in the palm of your hand. Sailing in the J24 class for the past 15 years this little device is going to come in handy, adding weight to a J24 can be hazardous to your health if you have a crazy skipper.

Let me give you a quick summary of what this puppy can do:
• Air flow in cfm, L/s, m³/s, m³/m, m³/h
• Air Velocity in ft/m, mph, m/s, km/h, kts, Beaufort
• Temperature in °F or °C
• Humidity in %
• Additional measurements of dewpoint, wind chill and heat stress index
• Data Logger (automatic and manual)
• Minimum, Maximum and Average values
• Multi-Function 3-line display
• Impeller can be replaced without tools
• Humidity sensor can be recalibrated in the field with our Relative Humidity Calibration Kit.
• Graphical Display for logged values
• Upload to a computer (with optional interface)
• Backlight for low light conditions
• Includes neck and wrist lanyards, protective pouch and 2 AAA batteries

What else can you say, oh yea it fits in the palm of you hand and weighs 3.6 oz..
Check it out! kestrel Wind Wind and Weather Instrument

Monday, August 14, 2006

Polar Speed Sensor Kit 2000


EASY, SIMPLE and works right away, one setting on the watch (Polar S625X Running Computer) and you are off. I installed this the other day and I am extremely happy. I am really only concerned with speed and time and HR and this is great. It came with 2 different spoke attachments, which was great since I have aero spokes and the handle bar mount I have installed right onto my stem. The hardest part was unpacking that crazy "new" packaging, once through that 15 minutes later and I was off and riding.
Check it out! Polar Speed Sensor Kit 2000

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Sportsuit Sensor+ for Nike/iPod


I wrote about this a couple weeks back, I thought that Nike and Apple had missed the boat not allowing millions of other runners the chance to use this kit. Well Marware has come out with a case that attaches under the shoelaces and fastening it with a strong velcro closure. Not only can you now use the iPod kit on any shoe but you can protect the Sensor from the elements.
Check it out! Sportsuit

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Profile Design Aerodrink Water Bottle


With all the technology improvements that have been made with about almost everything, I wonder how Profile Design missed the mark with the Aerodrink water bottle. Now when I first bought this water bottle I thought, hey this seem like a great idea open top and a yellow splash guard poly web plug to keep the liquid in. On my very first ride it came out over a bump, after I picked it up I thought that there must be something that I have done wrong, shame on me. Well after reading the instruction again and again, I came to the conclusion that I must have missed placed it in the bottle. Well second time out, bump, out it pops, so I pick it up and now just stuff it fully in and for the rest of the ride it worked great. Along comes the New York Triathlon and off I go up the Henry Hudson Highway, and proceed south on the Mosholu, when all I see all over the road are little yellow splash guard poly web plug, I laughed and laughed the guy next to me thought I must be nuts. My point is with all the testing that companies do before releasing products you would think, hey this might be a problem. Profile Design really missed the mark on this one, what a shame.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

IDEA Bronze Award Goggles for the Masses


Goggles for the general public, they are comfortable, adjustable for various faces/heads, the strap widens towards the back for stability and a big clip to adjust with wet fingers. There are numbers on the notches so you can remember the place you adjusted them till the last time and they have rounded the lens for an increased field of vision.
Check them out! X-Base Tribord

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Martin Keen is back: Miön Footwear


I noticed these shoes won an award from IDEA/Business Week, "The Best Product Design of 2006", then I noticed the name Martin Keen. Can this be the same person of the famous sandals company Keen Footwear, yes it is! He sold out a couple years ago and has been sailing ever since. Instead of starting another company he teamed with Timberland Co., which allows them to get into the water sports division. They have a hit, these shoes are every bit of what his original shoe was even better The Miön.
"It demands equipment; not fashion. It demands product that works. So with this new brand, I wanted to take advantage of some technology that has been used in other aspects of footwear, which is injection molded EVA. So I took that material and then incorporated a patented lacing system that I developed that produces a number of parts in the product and actually transfers a lot of the structure to this lacing system. The lacing system is actually a climbing-grade chord that travels all around the shoe several times and even around the back. So the lacing becomes a structural part of the product. One synch and the entire product closes around your foot. The primary target (for the product) was amphibious athletes, or people who like to experience their adventure around water. "
Check them out! Miön

Monday, July 10, 2006

Rent a Wetsuit: USAT Approved


This is a great service, since the New York City Triathlon is coming up this weekend (July 16th) and the water temp is still 58-63 degees I was thinking about getting a full suit. This service allows you to rent an Xterra Wetsuit for roughly $30 dollars and be able to put that towards the purchase of the suit. You can order within the week of the event. All wetsuits will be mailed and the cost of the postage will be added to the rental cost. Postage is $6. Please try not to wait until the last minute to request a wetsuit! I don't mind mailing the wetsuits out early so you can have time to try it out in open water prior to your event.
Check it out! Wetsuit Rental

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Swim with Confidence and safety: SenTAG


If you have kids and you are afraid of them drowning or falling in, do you fear the water because you are not a strong swimmer then this is for you. Public pools are starting to use this device to keep track of the large amounts of people that go during the weekends. SenTAG has developed a practical and innovative bather protection system. The wrist unit monitors the '‘status' of the individual analyzingng their relative motion and depth the alarm goes off if the unit determines the swimmer is outside the set limits.
Great saftey device, should win a ton of awards. Check it out! SenTAG

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

adidas: +F50 Xite


Well adidas has done it again this time with Soccer. Always changing the way that we look at things, from the TANGO to the new F50 Xite built with triangular panels of varying sizes for an optimal round and smooth surface. What does this mean, well the way that it travels through the air, look for a more exiting FIFA World Cup. Goalies are going to be going nuts. Look at the header that the Czech Republics scored on the US, it goes right through his hands. They predicted that with less air restriction the ball would move faster and be unpredictable. Got to love it! adidas

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Nike Plus+

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Nike is hot on the heals of adidas-polar with incorporating a heartrate monitor and its shoes. Nike has defiantly take it a step further with incorporating one of the best selling and used devices of our time, Apple's iPod and installing it in their shoes, being able to pick song based on your running efforts at the particular time. Gives you feedback realtime, pace and how far you have scheduled to go, then sync to the Nike Plus website to see your runs graphed.
Here's how it works:
A. Grab an iPod nano, a pair of Nike+ shoes, and the Nike+iPod Sport Kit.
B. Your shoes talk. Your iPod nano listens. Track your run in real time.
C. Connect your iPod nano, then connect with the world on nikeplus.com.
To work the device you:
Step 1.
Place the sensor in your left Nike+ shoe, in the built-in pocket beneath the insole. You can leave the sensor in your shoe even when you'’re not working out.
Step 2.
Attach the receiver to your iPod nano. The receiver fits snugly into the Dock connector, located on the bottom of your iPod nano next to the headphone jack.
Step 3.
Hit the ground running with workout-based voice feedback, Nike Sport Music content, and an iPod nano that stays in tune with every step.

The only problem that I have is that I use Mizuno and since they are not produced to the masses, technology like this might take some time. I would like to see some sort of association that regulates this so that all people that are interested can buy the technology and install it in whatever they are wearing. Right now I am very happy that Nike and Apple are working together and I can't wait to buy the shoes and reciever so that I can really give an accurate review of the technolgy, pre order at Nike and the whole setup if you own a NANO is roughly $130.00, stay tuned. Nike Plus+