One foot in front of the other.
Jabra Sport Bluetooth Headphones
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Las Vegas, NV – January 9, 2012– Jabra, a world leader in creating hands-free communications solutions, announced today a partnership with five-time Ironman World Champion, Craig “Crowie” Alexander, the biggest name in the multi-sport competition world. Jabra has teamed up with the world champion triathlete for a two-year agreement to support and serve as spokesperson for the Company’s recently launched sports product line. Under the new partnership, Alexander will also serve as a consultant for future product development. Alexander will be on-hand at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with Jabra this week to discuss the new partnership and will be showcasing the new sports category in action at the Pepcom Digital Experience media event at the MGM Grand today, January 9th, from 7-11:00 PM PT.
“I am so happy to be teaming up with a company like Jabra that just gets it and creates awesome, durable products for athletes like myself,” says Alexander, reigning Ironman World Champion. “Between the countless hours of intense training getting ready for my next competition and the crazy travel schedule, Jabra’s products have really helped me stay connected with my friends and family and helped keep me motivated and entertained.”
Through the years, studies* have shown that training while simultaneously listening to music is highly motivating and can increase the degree of effort an individual puts forth. Although listening to music while exercising may not be a revolutionary concept, the Jabra sports category offers a unique set of products that combines durability with fantastic sound to ensure an easy and fun fitness session for athletes across varying levels.
Jabra’s sports category is led by the recently-launched Jabra SPORT, a tough wireless Bluetooth stereo headset that streams music and phone calls. The perfect device for delivering great music for training sessions, workouts, or any other recreation and outdoor activity, the Jabra SPORT features a category-first built-in FM radio, A2DP technology, and powerful bass to help energize workout performance. And with a wind-shielded microphone and US Military Standard Rain, Dust and Shock Resistant certification, exercisers don’t need to hold back during their workouts on account of their headphones. For exercisers who have become accustomed to working out with traditional corded headphones, the Jabra SPORT-Corded offers the same features as the Bluetooth version.
In addition to the new Jabra SPORT products, the Jabra portfolio includes the Jabra CLIPPER stereo headset which provides users with wireless stereo music and calls all with one cool little Bluetooth clip for simple wearing during workouts, and the Jabra ACTIVE which allows exercisers to listen to music and train hard without ever having to adjust their ear buds.
Whether running or biking, Alexander is a fierce competitor who faces varying degrees of athletic challenges that test his strength and stamina. Tough, strong and durable – like the Ironman – Jabra products are light, comfortable and have a secure fit to get you through any challenge, hassle-free. Crisp and clear sound will further ensure you stay focused and motivated until you cross the finish line.
The Jabra SPORT is currently available at Amazon.com, Sprint and T-Mobile. Other products included in Jabra’s sports category are all currently available at BuyJabra.com, Amazon.com and other leading retail outlets. For information on Jabra’s line of Bluetooth headsets and other hands-free devices, visit Jabra.com, like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Jabra.US or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jabra_us.
About Craig Alexander
Hot off his recent victory at the hardest one day endurance event in the world, the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Alexander has an impressive athletic resume that earns him consideration by many of being one of the greatest male triathletes of all time. Among his many accomplishments, he is the first triathlete to ever win the Ironman 70.3 and Ironman World Championship in the same year, and he is also the oldest male to ever win The Ironman Hawaii. Ironman legend and six-time World Champion Dave Scott proclaims him “the first true men’s champion the sport has seen in years.”
Research Study
British researchers asked survey participants to ride stationary bicycles while listening to music, when the music tempo was slowed, participants pedaling slowed as did their heart rate and distance pedaled. On the other hand, when the tempo increased ten percent, the participants covered more miles in the same period of time, their heart rates rose and they reported enjoying the same music 36 percent more. Researchers concluded that when listening to music, participants received a greater degree of effort and overall affect. Study conducted by the US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health, August 2010.
About Jabra
Jabra is the brand of GN Netcom, a subsidiary of GN Store Nord A/S (GN) – listed on NASDAQ OMX. Jabra employs approximately 850 people worldwide and in 2010 produced an annual revenue which amounted to DKK 1,973 million. Jabra is a world leader in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of a broad range of hands-free communications solutions. With a reputation for innovation, reliability, and ease of use that goes back more than two decades, Jabra’s consumer and business divisions produce corded and wireless headsets, plus mobile and in-office speakerphones that empower individuals and businesses through increased freedom of movement, comfort, and functionality.
For further information on the company, please visit www.jabra.com.
Picture Courtesy DC Rainmaker
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THIS GUY!
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As many of you know, this coming Friday (June 10) at 5 PM EST my marathon live show to raise money for Athletes for a Cure will start! I’ve worked with several brands to arrange for giveaways and raffle items for the show and without any further delay…here they are! (Rules and such to be posted tomorrow, June 7, so check back!)
SwimSpray – I’ll be giving away a boat load of this amazing new product! Invented by a swimmer who was tired of smelling like a pool, SwimSpray eliminates chlorine odor and irritation from hair and skin. Use with your own favorite shampoo, soap, or body wash. Simple. Effective. Natural.
Hydrapak Gelbot – The Gel-Bot delivers two performance essentials, fuel and hydration, in one easy to use sport bottle. This patent-pending design lets you fuel or hydrate with just one hand. Perfect for racing or total gel addicts. All the Gel-Bot components can be taken apart and easily cleaned.
SOLE Signature DK Response footbeds – The Sole Signature Series Dk Response is world-famous ultra runner Dean Karnazes’ signature edition footbed, with added features. Every SOLE Custom Footbed features their orthopedic base layer that molds to your unique foot without losing its supportive shape. SOLE Custom Footbeds are accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Sole donates a portioon of every sale to Karno Kids whose mission is to support, encourage, and motivate youth to get outside and become physically active, and to restore and preserve the environment.
Ryders Eyewear Seeker Sunglasses – All Essential styles within the Adrenaline collection feature Duraflex frames with low-profile, high-strength pinned hinges and polycarbonate lenses. These lenses are shatterproof, optically-correct, scratch-resistant and provide 100% UV protection. All styles have high-performance features such as anti-slip, hydrophilic nose pads and/or temple tips that get more tacky as you sweat so your eyewear always stays in place.
Road ID eCard – It’s a gift card for whatever Road Id strikes your fancy! Need I say more?
Kate’s Real Food Bars – (2, 6-packs!) Kate’s Bars are real food snack bars, hand made in the shadow of the Tetons. Kate’s Bars are created for people who live, play or just want to be outdoors. The flavors and textures of Kate’s Bars are designed to reflect the natural surroundings they were inspired by.
Brunton Restore power storage and solar panel – The most efficient, integrated compact power pack available. Internal battery keeps extra energy at hand, and twin solar panels keep the battery at peak capacity in less time. Ideal for charging personal devices like iPods® and smart phones. Advanced polycrystaline solar technology gathers maximum energy per inch for maximum efficiency. Power storage capacity: 2,200 mAh Output: mini-USB
Primus EtaSolo Stove – Compact, lightweight and low fuel consumption. Eta Solo is based on the award winning Eta technology of our Primus burner and heat exchanger. Its high efficiency rate assures fast boiling times and lower fuel consumption. The Eta Solo is stable in windy conditions, lightweight, and extremely compact. Quick and easy to set up thanks to its robust quick-click locking mechanism.
Polar RS300X – (Raffling off TWO of these!) A smart, intuitive training computer for runners and cross-training athletes, the Polar RS300X wrist heart rate monitor helps you to train at the right intensity with personal training zones. It’s compatible with Polar’s S1 foot pod and G1 GPS sensor (both separately available), enabling you to combine heart rate with speed and distance and truly make sense of your training.
Newton Running Shoes and Gear – We’ll be raffling off TWO gift packages from the one and only Newton Running(one for the ladies, one for the men)! This will include one pair of Newton Running shoes of your choice, a copy of Newton co-founder Danny Abshire’s book (Natural Running: The Simple Path to Stronger, Healthier Running) and some other schwag!
Lake Success, N.Y. (June 1, 2011) – Polar (www.polarusa.com), the leader in heart rate monitoring and fitness assessment technologies, today introduced the RCX5. Building on decades of experience, and a heritage of precision excellence in product design and functionality, the RCX5 combines Polar heart rate tracking accuracy with a slew of new features. Ideal for multisport endurance athletes, the RCX5 can accommodate the needs of today’s triathletes who want the best in training intelligence and tracking capabilities. It will be immediately available in “smart black” and will also be sold in “striking red” later this year.
New accessories for the RCX5 include the G5 GPS sensor – an incredibly lightweight and compact sensor which measures speed/pace and distance and provides an online map view of training – as well as the new WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter, which provides heart rate data even when underwater. Additionally, an enhanced s3+ stride sensor is compatible with the RCX5.
“Triathlons are one of the fastest-growing sport segments in the United States, and we understand better than anyone in the market that multisport athletes demand data, whether they are training for their first regional event or chasing a lifelong professional pursuit,” said Jeff Padovan, President, Polar USA. “The Polar brand has been an established name among elite athletes for more than 30 years, and we are proud of the loyalty and knowledge we’ve built within the ‘tri’ market specifically. The RCX5 is the realization of everything we’ve been hearing that ‘tri’ users require to get to that next level, packaged in a new, sleek design.”
Sport Profiles: Essential for multisport and triathletes, this feature enables users to quickly switch between sports during training. With just a few button presses, this feature quickly adjusts settings to the current sport. It automatically detects any sensors needed, so that no time or training data is lost between swims, rides or runs. Four sport profiles come pre-loaded into the RCX5, and more can be added based on the user’s preferences.
ZoneOptimizer: Knowing how hard to train can be a challenge and it depends on many factors, including physical and mental state, stress, sleep, and previous training. The brand new ZoneOptimizer feature eliminates guesswork by adjusting personal heart rate zones based on a user’s current physiological condition. It guides training at the right intensity, making every session more effective.
Race Pace: The perfect feature for regulating speed and race strategy, Race Pace allows users to
set a target time for a certain distance, and then displays the current pace/speed, as well as how far ahead or behind the user is from the target.
Training Load: This feature within polarpersonaltrainer.com displays a color-coded graph of a user’s cumulative training load, notifying a person when he or she has recovered enough for the next session, and accurately predicting training developments to prevent overtraining. This data also provides intelligence to modify training sessions as necessary.
polarpersonaltrainer.com: Several upgrades have been incorporated into the free online training journal to support the RCX5 users. Users can now create complete endurance training programs for running and cycling, including warm-up, work and cool-down sessions. The training programs can be easily synched to the RCX5 via the DataLink data transfer unit. After each session, it is easy to track progress online over time.
New RCX5 Compatible Accessories:
G5 GPS sensor: The extremely small G5 GPS sensor measures speed/pace and distance and allows users to see their route on the new map view at polarpersonaltrainer.com after a session. Incredibly light (34g) and worn with a soft, flexible armband, the G5 has an 18-hour battery life and can be recharged via micro USB.
s3+ stride sensor: The s3+ comes with a new, firm shoe attachment which guarantees more accurate speed/pace and distance measurement. This small and lightweight (23g) sensor is shock and water resistant, handling even the most demanding runs. By monitoring running cadence and average stride length, s3+ can help improve running technique. The RCX5 can also calculate your Running Index, which scores a run, based on speed and distance data from the GPS or stride sensor. While cycling, users can get speed, distance and cadence measured by adding Polar cycling sensors using W.I.N.D. technology.
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter: The RCX5 provides heart rate data even in water with a comfortable, fabric chest transmitter. It transfers data both in 5 kHz and 2.4 GHz.
Product Sets Available:
RCX5 Bike (MSRP $389.95):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
CS speed sensor W.I.N.D.
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Run (MSRP $419.95):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
s3+ stride sensor
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Multi (MSRP $469.95)
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
G5 GPS sensor
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Basic Set (MSRP $349.95) (Available July 2011):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
The RCX5 is also compatible with the existing G3 GPS sensor W.I.N.D. and the s3 stride sensor W.I.N.D. All sensors will be available for purchase as separate accessories.
Disposable timing chips are becoming more and more prevalent in races these days. They’re cheap and it doesn’t matter if you walk off with one. We’ve all seen people walking around with their disposable timing tags attached to their laces WELL after race day. So, how long is too long? How long does it take you to remove your timing tag?
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I wear Swedish goggles when I swim and I have been for the past twenty years (kind of partial to Malmsten). They’re light, cheap and have a great field of vision. Unfortunately they almost always come with a cheap, rubber strap that breaks after about 3 months of use. My solution? The Speedo Universal Oggle replacement strap.
The Oggle is a silicone tube strap that fits my particular brand of goggles perfectly. There is an adjustable spring barrel that makes adjusting them a very quick and easy process. Having taken a look around the interwebs I’ve seen several people saying that the tube shape of the strap doesn’t fit their particular goggle retention setup. To address this, Speedo also makes the Universal Oggle 2.0, but we have yet to try it out.
There’s really not much one can say for a goggle strap review except that it works. I have just managed to snap my first Oggle and that was at the end of 3+ years of faithful service. The silicone is soft enough to be easily worn, yet offers plenty of strength. I have since bought another and I’m looking forward to buying yet another in 3 or so years.
Click here to visit the Speedo website | Click here to buy on Amazon
New York Times recap of the 2011 Boston Marathon
Natural running form clinic and symposia
Natural running form clinic in Hampton, Virginia
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Come see me sing with Christopher McDougall and Co. at the Naked Tour!
I am now coaching! If you’re interested, email me at info@ironbrandon.com
Get up to THREE entries to win a Sony NWZ-W252 (pictured) by doing the following:
Entry one: Comment on Episode 140 of the IronBrandon Show [LINK]
Entry two: Have someone else leave a comment and refer your name (that way you BOTH get an entry!)
Entry three: Tweet the following: Listen to the IronBrandon Show 140 and be entered to win a Sony MP3 player! http://goo.gl/p9PCV #IB140
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So the wait is over! Here are some details on the new RCX5 training computer. This is a cutting-edge product ideal for endurance sports, with some exciting new features to coach you in planning, training and analyzing your performance in detail.
Some new features:
ZoneOptimizer: Knowing how hard to train can be a challenge as your condition changes every day depending on a number of factors, including your physical and mental state, stress, sleep, and previous training. The brand new ZoneOptimizer feature in the RCX5 takes out the guesswork by adjusting your personal heart rate zones for every training session based on your current physiological condition. It will guide you to train at the right intensity to get the training effect you want, making your every session more effective.
Sport Specific Training: The RCX5 gives you sport-specific training data based on your personal settings. So the display views, training zones and more can be customized based on your sport. When you are doing brick workouts or racing, you can switch these sport profiles within seconds. Button pressing should be the least of your worries during transition, so we designed the feature along with the wrist unit design/button location to make this as easy as possible.
Swimming & Indoor Workouts: The RCX5 comes with the new WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter, making it ideal for triathlon and off season training. The transmitter has a dual signal, so it will transmit, display and record heart rate in the water. Also, the WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter can be used to transmit heart rate to treadmills and other exercise equipment that is Polar ready.
New Sensors: New sensors will also be part of the RCX5 launch!
G5 GPS Sensor: The small G5 GPS sensor is rechargeable via mini USB. We will post a few pictures of this soon, but let us tell you, THIS THING IS SMALL.
s3+ stride sensor: The new s3+ comes with a new, firm shoe attachment which guarantees more accurate running pace and distance measurement.
And of course in the saddle you can get your speed, distance and cadence measured by adding compatible Polar W.I.N.D. cycling sensors.
With the sensor accessories, RCX5 keeps up with you in the water, on the saddle, during your run, and online.
There will also be big upgrades at polarpersonaltrainer.com to support multisport athletes in their training. Here are just a few:
The RCX5 will be available in two colors, the smart black and the striking red, and in four different product sets with different sensors. All black RCX5 sets will be available between May and July. The striking red color design will be available in all four set combinations in late September 2011. All sensors will be available for purchase as separate accessories.
How can you stay updated on RCX5 and other Polar news?
Stay tuned on Facebook
Sign up for the Polar Newsletter http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/newsletter
And if you are on Twitter – Follow Chris @ twitter.com/chrispolarusa where he’ll be posting snapshots, video and more of the RCX5 in action.
Leave a comment HERE to win a FREE bottle of Vidazorb!
If you’re in the Milwaukee/Madison/Chicago area come meet us for a run this Saturday, March 26 at 10 AM at:
Alterra Coffee
1701 N Lincoln Memorial Dr [Click the address for a map]
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414.223.4551
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Sally Meyerhoff killed in cycling accident
Black Diamond Sprinter headlamp
Kara Goucher declares, “I’m back”
2011 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon Women’s Odds
2011 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon Men’s Odds
2011 Boston Marathon adds a third wave to the start
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LEAVE A COMMENT HERE TO BE ENTERED TO WIN A FREE PAIR OF STUFFITTS!
Racers Against Childhood Cancer (RACC)
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Probably one of the biggest complaints of people doing long training swims is good, old-fashioned boredom. I’ve heard more people than I can count wishing for music of some sort, be it from underwater speakers or from some sort of personal player. Some devices out there are essentially waterproof cases for your existing device (Ipod, etc.) but many of use are a bit hesitant to put our expensive, digital companions into water, no matter how impregnable the case claims to be. Other, stand-alone devices are built exclusively to go in the water and use a semi traditional ear bud that is meant to keep water out of your ear. However, often these can lead to water that sneaks by being held in the ear.
The SwiMP3 from FINIS is a personal, water-proof MP3 player that has gone to the next level in with its method of sound delivery. The SwiMP3 uses bone conduction technology rather than more traditional headphones or earbuds. This particular model, the 1G, holds 1 GB of music which equates to about 15 hours (or about 250 songs) worth, so for most of us this will be more than enough. It is compatible with MP3 as well as WMA music files and has an easy drag-n-drop operation and can also be used with Itunes. The SwiMP3 is mounted to your goggle straps with hydrodynamic clips that keep the business end of the SwiMP3 resting firmly against your cheekbones.
I readily admit that I am one of those people who cannot wait to get a new toy out of the box and working. That said, my patience for complicated things is sometimes more short-lived than I’d like. The first thing I wanted to do with the SwiMP3 is get some music on it and see in action what I’d heard about for a while. In all honesty, I expected the music transferring procedure to be complex and annoying, boy was I wrong. Anyone can download and view the instructions [LINK], or you can just follow mine:
That’s it. Really. I was amazed. I digress.
There are no extra parts, except the USB plug cap to the SwiMP3, just the unit itself so there are no more wires to add to your ever growing collection of clutter
(or maybe that’s just me). The USB plug, which takes care of the charging and data transferring is part of the SwiMP3 itself and stays out of the way when in use.
Once I had music on the SwiMP3 and I got a good charge on it (charging happens via USB) I fired it up. Now, I was out of the water at the time, but again, I lack patience when it comes to new toys. With the unit in place and the “speakers” in the right place on my cheekbones I hit play. Right away I was kind of taken aback at the odd feeling that I wasn’t so much hearing the music with my ears as I was hearing it from some oddly and pleasantly ethereal place. The controls on the SwiMP3 are minimalist and consist of a total of four buttons, so operation was simple and straight forward.
My first swim with the SwiMP3 was interesting. In all my years as a swimmer and out of all the miles I’ve logged, none have been with music pumping in my ear, much less my bones. It was a very cool feeling though I do admit that I found myself being lulled into an almost trance like state. While this may be a welcome change for some it was a bit distracting when it came to counting laps and paying attention to sets. With that being said, if I was doing laps with no specific count in mind, this would be perfect, but I was swimming with specific sets and intervals.
Now for the sound quality. I expected to just get the idea of a song as opposed to being able to actually hear everything. I was pleasantly surprised when every word, and phrase and even spoken word on some podcasts that I uploaded were clear and present the whole time. The one exception was only on some particularly aggressive push-off’s that managed to push the “speaker” unit away from my head for a split second.
The SwiMP3 is easy to use, light weight and allows swimmers that have a generally hard time with the boredom of long distance training, going back and forth in a pool an easy and pleasantly audible companion. Should you need it FINIS has a ton of support and how-to’s on their website though the SwiMP3 is so easy to use, if you ever visit the support page I’d be surprised. If you’re in the market for a reliable, in the pool method of entertainment, this is the way to go.
Click here to visit the FINIS website | Click here to buy on Amazon
Leave a comment HERE to be entered to win a FREE bottle of Vidazorb!
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TriSports.com Phoenix Triathlon
Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island
Leave and episode HERE to win a FREE pair of Stuffitts!
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2011 International CES
LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) and TomTom (AEX: TOM2) have collaborated to create the Nike+ SportWatch GPS Powered by TomTom. The new running watch, unveiled today at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show, will provide athletes with the most dynamic and motivational running experience in the world thanks to its unique functionality, beautiful design, and direct connection to www.nikeplus.com, the world’s leading running community with almost 4 million members.
The Nike+ SportWatch GPS is designed for high performance with an extremely clear and readable user interface that delivers the information necessary to the user while in-run. It adds personalization and motivational features to the running experience, including audible sounds, challenges, run reminders and more.
“The Nike+ SportWatch GPS is a game-changing product that furthers our commitment to provide all athletes with unparalleled motivation and the tools to get better,” said Stefan Olander, VP of Nike Digital Sport.
The Nike+ SportWatch GPS is scheduled to be at retail stores and online in the U.S. and the U.K. beginning April 1. Broader distribution is scheduled for July 1. The Nike+ SportWatch GPS will be previewed for consumers at Nikerunning.com and TomTom.com beginning today.
“It is part of TomTom Consumer’s strategy to move into the fast-growing sports and fitness market. This true partnership with Nike combines the strengths of two leading companies to deliver a game-changing product for runners,” said Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director, TomTom Consumer. TomTom is the world’s leading provider of location and navigation solutions.
On-Watch Experience
The Nike+ SportWatch GPS is designed to be simple and intuitive with only three buttons and a Tap
Screen for navigation. During the run, the new Nike+ SportWatch GPS captures location information while showing runners their time, distance, pace, and calories burned on an easy-to-read screen featuring a customizable layout. Throughout the run, the GPS receiver works in tandem with the shoe-based Nike+ Sensor to deliver highly accurate pace and distance data.
On-watch features include:
* Tap Screen for setting laps and activating backlight
* Run History with data from past runs
* Personal Records including those imported from Nikeplus.com
* Quick Start with optional shoe-based Nike+ Sensor
* Heart Rate Monitor compatibility
Some of the unique motivating factors the Nike+ SportWatch GPS offer runners on-screen include:
* Recognition (or “Attaboys”) for personal records
* Run Reminders that appear after five days if a run has not been logged
* Post-run acknowledgement and encouragement
Post-Run Experience
The Nike+ SportWatch GPS plugs neatly into any USB port on a Mac or PC, then immediately launches the Nike+ Connect interface which automatically transfers information to www.nikeplus.com.
“With more than 150 million runs logged since its launch in 2006, Nikeplus.com captures the pulse of the running world everyday,” added Olander.
Nikeplus.com presents runners with the GPS mapping, total miles, pace and elevation data for their most recent run in a rich and engaging way that will be familiar to users of the popular Nike+ GPS iPhone application.
“Providing runners with accurate pace, distance and location information during and after their run gives them the information they need to better train and track their progress,” added Vigreux.
Data from each run is automatically applied to all current Nike+ Challenges, Nike+ Goals, and Nike+ Coach programs in which the runner is participating.
Additional Features at Nikeplus.com
Athletes who want to get the most out of their run and from the Nike+ SportWatch GPS will have access to a huge catalogue of run routes logged by Nike and published by other runners on streets and trails around the world.
Each run will be graphically mapped with the help of TomTom technology, and include route notes, elevation and length. Runners will also be able to find the perfect route by searching the catalogue by location, length, difficulty, and even landmarks.
Since the 2006 launch of Nike+ in partnership with Apple, a variety of Nike+ enabled devices have been introduced to help runners reach their full potential including the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit for iPod nano and iPod touch, the Nike+ SportBand, and the new Nike+ GPS App for use with the iPhone.
About Nike NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.
About TomTom N.V. TomTom N.V. (AEX: TOM2) is the world’s leading provider of location and navigation solutions. Headquartered in The Netherlands, it employs over 3,000 employees worldwide. Over 45 million people daily use its solutions, be it in the form of dedicated portable navigation devices (PNDs), in-dash car systems or tracking and tracing solutions for fleet management. In addition, hundreds of millions of people use TomTom’s digital maps on the internet or mobile phone.
Some good gear for cold weather running on the Today Show this morning. Take a look at what shows up at about the 2 minute mark!
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Hey there everyone! This week we have not one, but TWO giveaways.
First up is the monthly giveaway of Stuffitts! Stuffitts are a fantastic product that helps keep your shoes smelling fresh and seriously prolongs the life of your shoes.
The second of the two giveaways is a set of hobnails from La Sportiva. If you live in an area that get snow and ice and you want some extra traction, these easy to use spikes got into any pair of your shoes (not just running). They’re a $45 value and are well worth the cost but if you enter, you could get them for FREE!
The contest ends at 12 noon today (EST), so enter now!
How you can be an runner, cyclist, triathlete, hiker, kayaker, climber, hunter, (and on and on) and not have a Road ID is beyond me. Road ID is probably the single most affordable way to keep yourself safe while out and about.
Road ID was born in 1999 out the basement of Mike Wimmer by his son Edward Wimmer. For many of us, Road ID has become one of those things that goes on as regularly as our socks and their testimonials page is proof of the incredible difference that it can make.
Road ID’s come in six (6) different models and a variety of colors:
The model that I’m currently wearing is the Wrist ID Elite. The band is made from a rubberized material and sports a watch-style buckle. It is easily adjustable to any size wrist and even though it is at the top end of the Road ID price range it only comes in at a ridiculously low $29.99!
Also, for an additional $10 a year you can use Road ID’s interactive ID. This service allows you to go to an online page and enter an intensely detailed amount of information (Blood type, existing conditions, etc.) rather that just phone numbers and such. The information is available to paramedics and emergency personnel by calling a toll free number or visiting a secure website and presenting your serial number and pin which are hidden on the back of the ID.
On top of the great product that Road ID makes, their customer service is amazing. When I purchased my first Road ID, the Ankle ID, the stitching on the strap pulled out a bit within a month of having it. I emailed the Road ID customer support with my problem and the outcome left me speechless. Not even five minutes after sending them my email I got a UPS shipping notification in my inbox telling me that Road ID was sending me something. About two minute after that I got an email from Road ID telling me that they were sorry for the problem and that a new strap was on the way. INCREDIBLE!
There’s a very good reason that this is on our Gear of the Year list and I would not be surprised if it makes it on all of our “best of” lists. It is a cheap and easy thing that could save your life. If you don’t have one, go buy a Road ID now! If you have a loved one who doesn’t have one, it sure would look nice in their stocking!
When I first saw this video I knew exactly what was coming. This cool little toy whipped up by some guys at Dartmouth allows the athlete to wear their running shoes on the bike, thus making their transition times disappear. Now, I know that a LOT of you will see this and say, “I totally had this idea!” like I did. well, they had the idea and built the thing! Of course, it looks less than lightweight and leaves a lot of questions to stiffness and power transfer, but it’s still really cool! Beside, I’m sure it can easily be made of carbon fiber…for a price!
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Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp
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LeMond Fitness Revolution Trainer
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Honey Stinger Bar Review on Gearist
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For the past few months, I have had the opportunity to use the Suunto T6C Red Arrow. Along with the unit itself, the folks at Suunto were kind enough to let me try their “triathlon pack“, which includes:
Suunto Foot POD
Suunto Road Bike POD
Suunto Cadence POD
Suunto Memory Belt
Suunto Dual Comfort Belt (included with unit)
The first thing that I noticed about the T6C is it’s size. In the past, I’ve had a Garmin FR 305 as well as currently using a Garmin FR 405. The T6C is roughly the same size as the FR 405, but whereas the 405 feels to me like a computer in it’s rigidity, the T6C feels like a sports watch. The band is the same flexible yet durable rubber I’ve become used to on my Timex Ironman (which, as fate would have it, bailed out just before I got the T6C).
The face of the T6C is large enough to not have to (if you’re me) bring it within 2 inches of your fading eyesight. The display has three main lines or fields of display; top, middle and bottom. The middle display field is the primary and largest of the three. The top and bottom lines are significantly smaller, though still plenty visible. There are three buttons on the right side (lap, mode and light) and two on the left (start/stop and view back).
Unlike other units, the T6C’s battery is extremely easy to remove, not that I’ve had to remove it though since the battery has yet to die. It is very lightweight and equipped with ANT+ wireless technology. However, while it is capable of using ANT+ to sync to your computer, there is also an available USB method which, since I do not have their “Movestick“, is my preferred method of syncing. On a side note, I think Garmin really dropped the ball when they went to an ANT+ only sync. There have been several times with my FR 405 where I had trouble syncing with ANT+ and would have given anything for USB capability (see: Garmin FR 305).
I have used four heart rate belts in my time (did I just sound like an old man?) and this belt is by far the most comfortable. Traditionally, HR belts have a flexible plastic front and are about a foot wide until the attach to a soft, elastic strap. This belt is entirely soft and elastic with the exception of the plastic circle right at the front, which is hardly noticeable (note: Garmin has since come out with their own soft style HR belt).
In the past the only kind of foot pod-esque thing I’ve used is the Nike+ system. Since I stopped using that, I’ve used the GPS function on my Garmin FR 305 to tell me distance, pace and such. One of the issues I have with foot pods is calibration. First, I have a quick foot cadence that has the potential to throw things off a bit. Second, mine and everyone else’s foot cadence varies depending on the type of run and the length of a run (i.e. the more tired you get, your stride might become shorter or may stretch out).
The Suunto foot pod is very light and attaches fairly quickly. Calibration was and remains a slight issue, and at some point it actually seems to have gotten whacked out of calibration and had to be redone. The way I figure it, there is up to about a 1-2% margin of error over the course of a ten mile run.
The Suunto Road Bike Pod has probably the coolest method of attachment of any cycling speed I 
have seen. The front skewer IS the speed sensor! All you have to do is remove your own skewer, replace it with the Suunto Road Bike Pod skewer, attach the included magnet to your spoke in the proper place, enter your wheel size and go. That may seem like a few too many steps to be called “simple”, but it truly is and all totaled takes maybe five minutes at the most. Calibration is no issue and with the exception of having to replace the battery once, this has worked flawlessly (after pairing which I will address later).
Since first seeing this, I have discovered that Mavic has an almost identical product to this. If that works as well as this, I imagine it’s also a great idea.
The cadence pod is one of those things that, until you train a ton on the bike and realize that watching your speed is NOT the way to go, you may not see the value in. This cadence pod it meant to attach via zip-ties to the seat tube of your bike, just above the bottom bracket (how far above your BB is of course dependent upon the length of your crankset, mine is 175mm). The huge problem that I ran into is that my frame is “aero” and as a bladed seat tube. This presents two problems; first, the included zip-ties were barely long enough to fit around the right place on my frame. Second, since the back side of the seat tube of my bike is essentially cut to the exact size of my wheel, there is simply NO room, even for the thin zip-ties. After riding for only once, I discovered that dirt and such was building up between my tire and frame and the zip-ties were scraping my tire. Not good.
How did I get around this? Well, since I still had/have my Garmin bikepod (which incidentally contains both the speed and cadence sensor) attached to the non-drive side chainstay, that option was out. the only other option that I could see was to attach it to the underside of my drive side chainstay, essentially putting inside of the chain’s circuit. This worked out fine, though I’m certainly glad I never had my chain come off and either get tangled in the sensor or break the cadence pod itself.
The Memory Belt is probably one of the coolest toys in this bundle. The belt itself is similar to traditional HR belts with a flexible plastic front and elastic strap. What makes the memory belt so cool is that it’s a completely contained unit when it comes to recording data. In other words, let’s say you want to go for a ride or run without your T6C or other compatible unit, the Memory Belt itself will record all of your data for downloading later. According to the Suunto website, it can record for up to 24 hours without stopping. On top of that, the belt can give you real time feedback through the Suunto Monitor, part of the Suunto Training software.
This is my biggest issue with this product. Suunto’s Training Manager (and included Suunto Monitor) software is ONLY PC compatible and I am a Mac guy. According to Suunto’s forums they are “working on” a Mac version, but the software has not, from what I can tell, been updated since October of 2008. Of course, I did get the always present answer of , “you can run Parallels or
something”, when trying to find a solution. So, I did run it with Windows via VMware Fusion, but I felt that to be more trouble than it was worth.
The best solution that I have found and one that Suunto has worked hard on is Movescount.com. Movescount is a FREE web-based “sports community”, but the upload tool and available data from workouts is hugely substantial. While the data is not as entirely in depth as it is in the Training Manager software, it does go much farther than most people will need. Syncing with Movescount is both Mac and PC based and works easily via the Moveslink software.
Out of the box the T6C itself is pretty intuitive in it’s initial setup. I had mine setup with the time, date and personal information (age, height, weight, etc.) inside of ten minutes. The more info you give the T6C, the more useful info it can put out. As with any device like this, it pays to be honest in entering things like fitness level.
Then came the pairing. Pairing, for those of you who may not have ever had to do it is setting up one device to work in conjunction with another. In this case, I had to pair all the pods with my T6C (foot pod, cadence pod, etc.). Pairing all of these things was a seemingly impossible task. Not because of the number of devices, but because they would not pair! I probably spent two hours total getting things to connect to each other. Part of it was a bit of impatience, but part of it was the seemingly unnecessary methods (this pod must be upside down for pairing to occur (??)). All this said, since my initial pairing I have not had any pairing problems even when faced with having to change batteries.
Each of the pods delivered with flying colors in terms of ease of use. As I mentioned above, the foot pod left a bit to be desired in terms of accuracy, as most foot pods/pedometers do. So far as battery life goes, I have only had to change two batteries in the three months (give or take) that I’ve been using the Suunto system. The first was on the Road Bike Pod and the second was on the Memory Belt.
The Memory Belt is quite an amazing tool when it comes to “running naked”, which is to say, training without a constant eye on the clock. With that comes a bit of complexity that can be admittedly frustrating in the middle of a particularly long or difficult workout. The Memory Belt beeps. That is all fine and good as it different beeps denote different status updates. However, on more than one occasion I found myself having to remove the Memory Belt because it would not stop beeping at me. Additionally, different beep and flashing light combinations mean different things. For instance:
You can see where keeping all this straight in your head could be challenging. After a while of dealing with beeps on what seemed like every other workout, I reverted to using the sound-less Dual Comfort Belt and am much happier.
The T6C unit itself measures ascent and descent during training. However, there were several times that I noticed my T6C recording my total ascent in the 25,000 foot neighborhood. Granted, I was on a long ride, but the likelihood of me climbing 25,000 feet in one ride is fairly low. Another feature that I don’t quite get is the fact that whenever the clock is stopped and then restarted, a new lap is started as well. For instance, if I pause to take a sip of water and stop the clock and want to keep track of my true lap time I cannot because upon restarting, the lap timer starts anew. This becomes particularly annoying during swim workouts where I stop and start my timer several times during a workout. To be honest, this may be a feature that I can disable and just have not had the time to look into, so if I find that it is simply a setting, I will update this review.
The on-board memory of the T6C leaves something to be desired. I won’t venture a guess as to the exact amount of workout time and the number of workouts/events that the T6C can hold, but suffice it to say that it is not a lot. This is likely for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the T6C is a small device for its capabilities. Also is the weight, which comes in at a not-so-whopping 55 grams. As I mentioned earlier, I have taken to wearing my T6C as my every day watch and even though it has indeed been put through its significant paces, I have yet to change the battery.
This is by far the most significant obstacle to buying a T6C. The T6C unit itself currently retails for $282 on Amazon (Suunto T6C Personal Trainer Heart Rate Monitor
When I began using the T6C I freely admit that I had a slight learning curve coming from using the Garmin Forerunner series. However, along the way I have really come to enjoy my T6C. It is a solid, feature rich device that gives the wearer the flexibility of an every day watch that doesn’t have to be changed out for something else when workout times comes. There is also something to said for not having to worry before every other workout if you’ve remembered to charge the battery enough to make it for the entire time.
If you can get around the price point, the T6C is a great device that goes the extra mile in giving you real time feedback. I see this in my gadget arsenal for a long time to come.
Polar and LOOK, the inventor and leader in clipless pedals, have merged their expertise to introduce the first clipless pedal that measures power output and cadence. Kéo Power is a must-have novelty for the ambitious cyclists who want to reach their maximum potential.
Polar P5 power transmitters and Look Kéo Power pedals comprise together the first-ever power measurement system integrated in the pedals. Easy to attach to cranks and switch between the bikes, each pedal comes with eight embedded gauges for extreme precision in power measurement. The two power transmitters relay the data from the sensors directly to a compatible Polar cycling computer on the bike’s handlebars.
Kéo Power gives instant feedback by measuring accurate power output in watts from both the left and the right pedal separately. By revealing the cyclist’s left/right balance between the legs, the system helps perfect cycling technique. In addition, current and average cadence is essential for those willing to optimize their cycling economy.
The system is compatible with Polar CS600X and CS500 cycling computers and works with any crankset on the market. The CS500 displays power output and cadence, whereas the CS600X reveals the left/right balance and Cycling Efficiency Index as well. The Polar LOOK Kéo Power system will become available in spring 2011.
My Top Ten Tips for Beginner Cyclists
Baker’s Review of the Catlike Whisper Plus
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Sole Dual Layer Performance Socks
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Leave a comment on this post and win a pair of Stuffitts for free! (it takes 2 seconds!!)
Infinit Nutrition (Use code “ironbrandon” for FREE shipping!!)
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You may have heard on this week’s podcast that I am starting a new contest! Here’s the info:
Who: This contest is open to anyone and everyone in the U.S. and Canada (also APO)! Tell your friends!
What: Stuffitts! I have spoken about these simple yet awesome shoe savers in the past. Click here to read more about them. I cannot say enough how great they are!
When: Starting NOW! This is an ongoing contest that will be every month, or until every person on the planet has nice, fresh smelling shoes!
Why: Because Stuffitts are awesome! The folks at Stuffitts are being SUPER generous and I also want to give you guys something that I think is a great addition to any athletes arsenal!
How: On the last podcast episode post of each month (example: Episode 99 on June 28 HERE) entrants should leave a comment (however long you’d like). On the following week’s show (the first show of each month) I will draw, by random number generator, one winner! That’s it!
Good luck and spread the word with the links below!
Win a free entry to the Salinas Valley Half Marathon!
Stuffitts (Comment on this post and win a free pair!)
Know your body’s quick-cooling spots
IronBrandon’s Podcast: Episode 99 (player temporarily being stupid. Click here to play)
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The much anticipated (though not covered here) Timex Global Trainer GPS is now available for order, exclusively from REI. The people who brought us the Ironman watch have quite a bit of catching up to do in the GPS arena to make any headway in a market dominated by the likes of Garmin, Suunto and Polar.
For about the past six months or so, I have been using an aluminum water bottle from Klean Kanteen. I started using it because it holds more water than typical plastic bottle, thus fewer trips to the water cooler. It’s also much more sanitary than a plastic bottle (if you’re reusing it). Now for the best part; ounce for ounce, bottled water is more than DOUBLE the cost of gasoline! Lifehacker has a great write up on the cost savings of carrying a water bottle.
Since I began this site I have tried out quite a few products. These things range from a cold weather headband with headphones built in to tech clothing and everything in between. You’ve probably actually heard me on my show or in posts on the site mentioning these things and what I think of them. However, every now and then, something has a huge impact on me and then I feel it is incumbent upon me to let you know the circumstances of that impact and how greatly I was affected.
This past Sunday during the Ironman Mooseman 70.3 triathlon in New Hampshire, it rained. In
fact, it started raining just before the start of the race and did not stop until I was driving on my way home about 30 miles away from the race. With the skies falling out the way they were, there was no way to avoid being completely soaked through on every inch of your body (at least not without taking the time to put on rain gear). This meant that my feet, the things which would be receiving the most punishment throughout the event, would be completely soaked for about SIX AND A HALF HOURS (including warm-up swim and standing around after the race).
Now, excuse the details, my feet have come to be able to handle a lot of punishment, but almost all of that comes when they’re dry. Once I hit the bike in this race, I was worried about any callouses becoming soft and the skin on my feet breaking down, which would the destroy my ability to run. This, however, never happened.
In my cycling shoes, which are admittedly not the best you can buy, I have Sole Thin Sport Custom Footbeds. These are custom in that you put them in your oven for a couple of minutes and upon taking them out, place them in the shoes you are using them with. they then conform to YOUR foot. During my race, where any wiggle (by way of looseness or stretching from being wet) of my cycling shoes likely would have resulted in skin being worn off my foot and/or blisters, my feet remained cradled and right where they needed to be.
I don’t wear any footbeds, other than what is already in my shoes, when I run. However, I’ll have these footbed in my cycling shoes for a long time to come.
Not only have I tried and approved of the Sole Thin Sport Custom Footbeds, I heartily recommend them.
This Sunday, June 6, 2010, I will be racing in Ironman Mooseman 70.3 in New Hampshire. While I have done a full Ironman, this marks the first ever half-iron distance race that I will do. I had hoped to have a weeks worth of daily update videos, but with work, training and life getting in the way sometimes, you have to let it go. So, I’m writing this as a prelude to Sunday’s race. I’m sure I’ll have more to say as I get closer but, four days out, this is what I’m thinking:
Swim: For about the past three weeks, I’ve been having trouble with my neck. It began as a nagging thing on the right side near the rear, base of my skull. I made sure to not stress that part of my neck and then, as soon as it began to feel a bit better, I slept oddly and woke up with significant pain on the left side of my neck, this time radiating down into my trapezius. The real problem with both of these pains is that they have hampered my swimming. That being said (and without any amount of arrogance) what is slow for me, is really fast for most triathletes. That knowledge, however, does not assuage my personal expectations. Also, the water temperature for this weekend’s race is a whopping 69° Fahrenheit, but I’m thinking that may actually hold off some of the neck issues long enough to get it done.
T1: Believe it or not, I’m still undecided on what helmet to wear. The weather on Sunday is calling for 72° Fahrenheit and a chance of a shower. The heat, which would usually be the cause for concern in my helmet choice, isn’t a factor (I’ll explain in a second). It’s the fact that my neck could (it hasn’t in my training) begin to bother me, and if I’m wearing my aero helmet, it could actually impede my position. The helmets I have to choose from are:
Specialized Propero
or:
Giro Advantage 2
Bike: One thing I kind of regret is that I haven’t done much training with other people in a group setting. It isn’t so much that I don’t enjoy training alone, but I just have a hard time gauging my speed. I would go to my Garmin info, but since I have to deal with New York City traffic, this is often not a good measure. Rather, I must rely on my consistency. For instance, I know that my right quadriceps tend to flare a bit if I’m not careful. this is an easy fix, just one that I must keep in 
mind. As for nutrition, I have once again affixed my Speedfil to my bike and will fill it’s forty ounces with my personal formula from Infinit Nutrition which will be all may calories, electrolytes, etc. on the bike and on the run. I do have an additional bottle cage that will be for water which I will rotate out at aid stations. I’ll be running new Continental 4000s tires as well as racing for the first time on my Adamo Racing² from ISM. I need to remain in control of my ego and emotions and race my race on the bike, being sure to NOT get sucked into a drag race.
T2: Not much to say here except that I am going to pick up a new Fuel Belt H2O. Each 8 oz. bottle on my belt will be holding a concentrate of my Infinit blend, which accounts for one hour of activity. As on the bike, I will get my water from the aid stations.
Run: Over the past several months, since I began coaching with Jeff, my running has come 
light-years beyond where I thought it could. In my last long-ish brick workout, I came off of 1.5 hours on the bike and ran for an hour averaging 7:03 per mile on the run. I grant you, the bike on Sunday will be longer, as will the run, and I will NOT make any pace predictions. However, I really feel good about the run, which is something I never thought I’d say. I will be racing in my Newton Gravitas‘ which are the same shoes that got me through Ironman Wisconsin. Hopefully, they will get to run a lot more this time around.
So that’s it! I’m excited and quite antsy. I feel ready to go, and I can’t wait for race day to come!
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Infinit Nutrition (FREE SHIPPING WITH DISCOUNT CODE: IRONBRANDON)
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April 21, 2010 Cincinnati, Ohio/San Diego, California
INFINIT Nutrition and Speedfil Hydration System, two innovative and industry leading products have joined forces to enhance athletic performance with a simplified and creative solution for athlete nutrition and hydration.
INFINIT is customized nutrition.
Speedfil is aerodynamic hands free hydration.
The combination of the two creates a custom sports performance drink in an aerodynamic hydration system that allows athletes to dominate the competition.
“The ability to simplify and maximize performance is critical to triathlon racing. Using the Speedfil to deliver INFINIT’s customized nutrition to the athlete represents a critical performance breakthrough for the athlete”, says David Dietterle, co-founder of the Inviscid Design, Inc – creator of the Speedfil Hydration System.
“We are thrilled to offer a complete and efficient solution which has a monumental direct impact on training and racing performance”, says Jeff Smith co-founder Inviscid Design, Inc.
Michael Folan, creator of INFINIT Nutrition or Chief Powder Maker as he prefers to be called added, “It is a relationship that makes sense. INFINIT will give you all the calories and nutrition you need to go all day long and Speedfil gives you the best possible means to carry that nutrition. It is a natural partnership.”
For more, check out http://www.infinitnutrition.us/ and http://www.invisciddesign.com/.
Labeled, “The World’s Fastest Tire” on the Bontrager website, the R4 Aero brings ultra-low rolling resistance and their “aero wing” technology to a clincher. The price is pretty much on par with most higher end tires, and they’re far cheaper than any tubulars out there. With a claimed 37 second advantage over their closest rival in a 40K time trial, I cannot help but drool a little and really want to get my hands on some of these beauties.
A lot of aerobars offer adjustment only in the way of moving the actual extensions in and out if they offer any adjustment at all. With the Black Dog, HED brings a ton of adjustment to the table with 3 different base bars, 3 extension bars and 3 way axis adjustment just to name a few . I find this important because of the changes we may go through as athletes in terms of finding the most accurate fit. On top of that, these carbon beauties have fully integrated brake levers and internal cable routing. While they are a bit pricey, if you’re going for weight and customizable fit(and have an extra roll of cash laying around), these are where it’s at.
I’ve been eying Tanita’s scales for longer than I’d like to admit. These aesthetically fantastic scales not only do the usual weight thing, they give you an insight into your body’s intricate details that often go overlooked. The BC-1000 monitors weight, body fat percentage, and hydration levels but it goes a step further and provides measurements on muscle mass, overall physique rating, daily caloric intake, metabolic age rating, bone mass, and visceral fat! The BC-1000 can also wirelessly link up with your Garmin 310XT and your computer for tangible data. I REALLY want one of these…just saying.
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LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., April 13 /PRNewswire
Polar (www.polarusa.com), the leader in heart rate monitoring and fitness assessment technology, today announced the launch of the CS500 – a new cycling computer that is the first in the market to offer rocker switch operation and a sleek, extra-large display screen. The CS500 is also compatible with the wireless Polar Power Output Sensor W.I.N.D., which provides the rider with cycling power, enabling the highest level of professional training.
Event riders have long desired cycling computers with simpler button-pushing and a display screen with large, easy-to read digits – especially at high speeds. The CS500 meets these demands with two exclusive design features. First, with an extra-large and aerodynamic display – the CS500 offers outstanding visibility, and allows more information to be viewed on the screen, creating a data-rich, cycling computer. Second, the diamond-shaped handlebar unit sits on a pivoting, two-way rocker switch. When cyclists want to change the screen to view different data, they no longer have to take their hands off the bars – they simply use their thumb to lightly tap the left or right side of the CS500, and the screen instantly flips to reveal a different set of performance data. With this unique design, cyclists can better concentrate on their ride.
“With the CS500, Polar is revolutionizing the way cyclists view, track and monitor their data,” said Jeff Padovan, President of Polar USA. “From design to functionality, cyclists can train at a higher level with features including the industry’s first two-way rocker switch that allows users to easily view data and rich feedback such as speed, cadence and power. Additionally, the option to add accessories separately gives the cyclist the flexibility to customize their training based on their changing needs.”
Designed with competitive riders in mind, the CS500 combines the precise and leading Polar heart rate technology with advanced cycling features. The CS500 tracks speed, distance, cadence, heart rate, calories burned, incline, altitude, ascent and descent and temperature. Up to four different data points can be displayed on the extra-large screen and using the auto-lap splits feature, miles automatically roll-over and cyclists can see a snapshot of their data per lap. To simplify training at the right level and help cyclists get a better workout, the exclusive Polar OwnZone® feature provides a personalized, target heart rate recommendation on how hard to ride.
When paired with the Polar Power Output Sensor W.I.N.D., a separate accessory, the CS500 can track high-level cycling data such as power output. With power meter compatibility – available at an affordable price – the CS500 can evolve with a cyclist, as they become more advanced and their training needs expand.
The CS500 syncs with polarpersonaltrainer.com, which is a free, online training journal, where cyclists can easily set goals, track progress, analyze results and challenge friends to a common goal. After a workout, data is uploaded to the site via the DataLink, a new wireless communication device from Polar, which includes Mac compatibility. The DataLink plugs into the USB port on a computer, and automatically detects the CS500 in the room, instantly uploading new workout files to a user’s personal profile. In conjunction with the CS500, polarpersonaltrainer.com has been redesigned with new, cycling-specific features, such as “Training Load,” which helps cyclists make smarter decisions by interpreting how hard a specific workout was, and advising when you have recovered from the previous workouts.
Utilizing Polar W.I.N.D. technology, the CS500 eliminates the issue of data drop-outs or cross-talk between cycling computers, as the powerful, 2.4 GHz transmission signal ensures disturbance-free training. The new Dual Lock Bike Mount, made of reinforced composite metal, guarantees sturdy, rock-solid attachment to the bike, making it ideal for both road and mountain biking. The CS500 can easily be customized and used on up to three different bikes, and also features a “Drink Reminder,” prompting cyclists when hydration is needed during a ride.
To see a video of the CS500 in action and its unique functionalities, visit the Polar USA YouTube Channel.
The CS500 is available as a base set, or bundled with a cadence sensor. The base set includes the handlebar unit, WearLink W.I.N.D. fabric chest strap, CS speed sensor W.I.N.D., and Dual Lock Bike Mount, and is available for a suggested price of $319.95. The CS500 cadence set is available for a suggested price of $359.95. The Power Output Sensor W.I.N.D. is available as a separate accessory for a suggested price of $359.95. The DataLink is also available as an accessory, for a suggested price of $54.95. All products are available online or at specialty stores.
Thanks so much for visiting my site! My name is Brandon Wood and I am the social media manager and a customer service rep for Newton Running. This site and podcast follow my adventures on the way to competing in and training for all kinds of endurance events, especially triathlon and running. Click the "About Me" tab for more info!
Who: This contest is open to anyone and everyone in the U.S. and Canada (also APO)! Tell your friends!
What: Stuffitts! I have spoken about these simple yet awesome shoe savers in the past. Click here to read more about them. I cannot say enough how great they are!
When: Starting NOW! This is an ongoing contest that will be every month, or until every person on the planet has nice, fresh smelling shoes!
Why: Because Stuffitts are awesome! The folks at Stuffitts are being SUPER generous and I also want to give you guys something that I think is a great addition to any athletes arsenal!
How: On the last podcast episode post of each month (example: Episode 99 on June 28 HERE) entrants should leave a comment (however long you'd like). On the following week's show (the first show of each month) I will draw, by random number generator, one winner! That's it!
Good luck!
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