Author Archives: Reynard

Dec 17 2013
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Kit, Lust List

Zackees turn-signal cycling gloves include built-in indicators to keep you safe

London has been greatly troubled recently by a number of tragic cyclist accidents resulting in several fatalities, an occurrence which has seemingly grown in the dark winter months. It seems paramount that cyclists need to do their absolute utmost to ensure being seen, and thus being safe.

This is why the new cycling gloves from Zackees could prove to be a life-saving invention. Created by former Google software engineer Zach Vorhies, these gloves do away with traditional hand signals by instead including illuminated turn signals inside.

The gloves provide extra lighting and lets motorists around you know your intentions

Each glove has an array of LEDs embedded in its back, which are powered by two onboard coin cell batteries. Those LEDs form a blinking directional arrow, and are activated simply by touching a pair of metal contacts together – one on the inside of the glove’s thumb, and one on the inside of its index finger.

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Dec 17 2013
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Events/Races, Fitness, Running

Looking for some new years inspiration? Look no further than the Jantastic running challenge

Getting yourself motivated for winter runs is never easy, especially if you’re taking it up for a new year’s fitness regime. However, this might all be about to change, thanks to the Jantastic running challenge.

The Jantastic running challenge is looking to inspire all runners

Created by the organisers of running podcast Marathon Talk and backed by English Athletics and Adidas, Jantastic is a free running challenge which looks to inspire all ages and abilities to start or continue running in 2014. Registration is now open, and over 5,000 people have already signed up. In 2013, the challenge saw more than 125,000 runs and 600,000 miles logged, with a bigger total targeted for 2014.

Launching with a new website www.jantastic.me, the challenge will see the creation of an online running community which organisers hope will help get people started and running more and faster through the difficult winter months between January and March.

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Dec 14 2013
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Fitness, Running, Wireless

Magellan Echo smartwatch goes on sale

With the smartwatch market becoming ever more crowded, manufacturers are looking to introduce new and innovative features in order to tempt consumers. A new smartwatch released this week by Santa Clara-based firm Magellen, the Echo, promises to solve one of the biggest problem users encounter when running with a smartphone – viewing and controlling fitness apps while the phone is tucked away.

Echo streams data and controls from your smartphone to your wrist, allowing users to see their distance, pace, and heart rate from fitness apps in realtime.

The Echo is available in a variety of colours, and can also serve as an everyday watch

The device connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth Smart and allows users to control fitness applications through four customizable buttons on its side. However, the obvious downside of this is that, you need to have your phone on you while running to get the most out of the device, unlike standalone fitness watches such as the Adidas miCoach.

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Dec 13 2013
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Lust List, Running, Shoes

London-based designer shows off ‘running shoes of the future’

The running shoe market has changed so much in the last decade that it would properly be mind-blowing for runners from twenty or thirty years ago to see how far it have developed. But how will shoes evolve and change in the future?

At this week’s Wearable Futures conference, London designer and researcher Shamees Aden demonstrated a concept shoe which shows how he sees the future developing. The shoes, which Aden is developing with University of Southern Denmark professor Martin Hanczyc, are 3D printed from protocells, a synthetic biological material that can repair itself overnight.

Coming to your feet in the near future?

The shoes’ unique construction allows them to be 3D printed to the exact size of the user’s foot, so they would fit like a second skin. While running, the shoes would react to pressure and movement, providing extra cushioning when needed. Continue reading →

Dec 13 2013
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Apps, Fitness, Wireless

NHS launches apocalypse-themed fitness app

Getting people involved in exercise is always a challenge, and the NHS has tried a wide variety of tactics to try and get people to be more active. Now they are embracing gamification through the release of a new app, The Walk.

Developed with app-maker Six to Start, who previously made the excellent Zombies, Run!, The Walk encourages players to walk in order to progress through a story and unlock audio clips.

The Walk places characters in an Britain ravaged by a mysterious event

Described as a mix of North By Northwest and The 39 Steps, the game begins with a fictional explosion at Inverness station which knocks out transport and communications networks across the country.

Players then assume the role of a character called Walker, who has to carry a mysterious package the length of the country.

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Dec 10 2013
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Fitness, Kit, Running, Wireless

New Nike smartwatch landing early 2014?

Today’s second piece of Nike news concerns wearable technology – as following the release of the Nike+Sportwatch and Fuelband SE smartwatch in 2013, it seems that the company is gearing up to launch an entirely new smartwatch early next year to compete with Adidas’ MiCoach device.

Occasionally-reliable electronics news site DigiTimes, citing sources along the supply chains in Taiwan, is reporting that early production runs on the wearable computing solution are already taking place at assembly plants run by EMS firm Flextronics International.

Nike’s recent FuelBand SE was well-received – could we be seeing the next generation soon?

This could mean that a Nike smartwatch could be set to go on to be released in the first half of 2014, with early prototypes possibly making an appearance at CES in January or even Mobile World Congress in February in Barcelona.

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Dec 10 2013
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Running, Shoes

Nike introduces LunarElite Sky Hi wedge shoe

Nike has been building up its Lunar shoe range recently following the release of the FlyKnit Lunar +1 shoes back in March, and has this week announced a new model, the  LunarElite Sky Hi.

The LunarElite Sky Hi mixes old and new styles in an innovative wedge shape

Drawing from Nike’s deep heritage in running, the LunarElite Sky Hi mixes Lunarlon cushioning technology with the classic Nike Elite running shoe model from 1976, creating the lightest wedged Nike shoe to date.

This is also the first Nike sneaker with an external wedge, with large perforations and a ventilated neoprene cover providing breathable, sock-less comfort.

Wedge shoes are making a comeback, and Nike is leading the way

The LunarElite Sky Hi will be available exclusively at Net-A-Porter  from this Friday, December 13th.

[Via Nike]

Dec 07 2013
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Apps, Fitness, Wireless

World Fit 1.0 introduces users to a new fitness social network

California-based World Fit has announced its brand new fitness app for the iPhone and iOS that promises to help users tone and lose weight.

World Fit 1.0 offers users a calorie counter that has the added power of social media. The application has a number of diet plans to pick from along with the option of sharing and getting tips from other users or friends. The app is based on the company’s ethos, explained by CEO Carlos Padilla as, “If you surround yourself with others that have the same goal as yourself, you are more likely to succeed”.

World Fit 1.0 allows users to link into a social network dedicated to fitness

Meal plans can be shared and viewed with the diet plans customizable to suit the user’s needs, and the app is aimed at those looking to lose weight along with adding and toning muscle, and is suitable for users of all levels of fitness

Useful tips, advice, and encouragement can be found from other users and friends who may also be using the app can be kept track of via the fit share feed.

World Fit 1.0 is available worldwide on the App Store now, priced at £0.69/$0.99.

[Via Daily Apps Show]

Dec 06 2013
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Apps, Events/Races, Running, Wireless

Fuel My Run app helps you stay fully-charged

There are a wealth of fitness apps available for smartphone users now, but so far none has focused on the challenge of ensuring that you stay energised throughout your exercise. However, that issue could well now be solved by new app Fuel My Run.

Nutrition is a crucial aspect for long-distance runners, and with prospective marathon runners getting stuck into their training across the winter period, fuelling needs are paramount in order to get results.

Fuel My Run is aiming to make fuelling up easier, providing distance calculation, fuelling reminders, carbohydrate consumption data, and plans for keeping nutrients in check during long workouts.

Users can input the different types of fuel they will use to simulate a race environment

Based on creator Mark Kennedy’s personal marathoning experience, Fuel My Run provides a fresh new take on a challenging and complex element of endurance sports: keeping carbohydrate levels up during long, difficult workouts. After hitting the wall at the 30km mark, Kennedy realized that he had overlooked his personal fuelling strategy-a common oversight for even the most experienced runner.

“More often than not, its lack of adequate fuelling that causes a runner to hit the wall. All the training in the world will not help a runner in those last few kilometres of a race unless they have taken their fuelling seriously. Fuel My Run is the tool I wish I had while training for my second marathon,” Kennedy says.

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Dec 06 2013
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Apps, Kit, Running, Shoes, Wireless

Meet Project Runsafer – the running shoe that tells you when you’re going wrong

We all love running, but it can’t be denied that it does bring the risk of a wide range of injuries. But how can you avoid overstretching yourself and causing potential damage?

That’s the question that the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) from Germany has set out to answer. It has this week announced that it has, in association with scientists in five European countries, developed the Runsafer smart running shoe, which will help identify potential issues before they become troublesome.

Project Runsafer utilises a number of sensors to gather information on your running style, which will then be sent to your smartphone

The shoe uses a range of built-in sensors measuring G force, direction, and GPS in order to determine how hard, how fast, and how long you’re running, including information about whether you’re on a hard or soft surface, and when you are taking a break.

The shoe transmits this data via Bluetooth to your smartphone, which then connects to a central computer which will analyse this information. Based on this, you will get tips sent back to your phone suggesting ways to improve your workout.

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