Category: Triathlon

Rudy is the Man

RudyProjectThis month Rudy Project was named the official Ironman helmet, while it opened a year-round retail boutique in Kailua-Kona, home of the Ironman World Championships. It was announced that the company signed a multi-year agreement that named it the Official Helmet Ironman for North America.

We’re thrilled with our Ironman partnership, as it provides us an opportunity to support triathletes at some of the most grueling competitions on the world stage and to share our helmet technology — specifically designed to aid athletes in reaching their peak performances. Our Ironman connection also reinforces what the world’s best triathletes are already saying with their product choices,” said Paul Craig, president of Rudy Project North America.

Rudy Project Official Website
[Via Bicycle Retailer: Rudy Project designated official Ironman helmet for North America]

Cervélo Tri’s Again

P2-triathlon-bikeCervélo is tri’ing something new. The company updated its venerable P2 triathlon bike, and this year’s new model has a wider range of fit options along with the new P-Series geometry. Sizes range from 45cm (with 650c wheels) and 48 to 61cm with 700c wheels.

The new model features Cervélo carbon, aero, rail-adjust seat post with 75mm of fore/aft adjustment. The bike also is spec’d with the Profile Design T2 Wing base bar and T4 Plus aero bar and a 1 1/8-inch steerer, which the company said allows for a wide range of aftermarket cockpit options. There are integrated storage and hydration options in the toptube and downtube accessory mounts, and even an integrated seatpost accessory receiver. The company has said that these mount specs will be shared with aftermarket makers as well.

In addition the P2 aero offers features that seem borrowed from the top-of-the-line P5 model, and these include aero cable management, a dropped down tube that reduces the gap between it and the front wheel, flattened down tube mounts to decrease wind drag on bottles, and an extended seat tube cutout design. The new P2 is designed to be stiffer than the classic version, but with no increase in weight. Head tube stiffness increases by 16.4 percent and bottom bracket by 6.5 percent. Continue reading Cervélo Tri’s Again

Specialized Tri’s for Women

Specialized-AliasTaking on an alias lets you be someone different, and now there is a bike that provides that quick change as well. Specialized has launched a new line of bikes aimed at women who train and compete in triathlons. The Alias model is designed to allow riders to easily switch between a triathlon race position with aero bars and a traditional road position for training. This bike features geometry and components that allow for a quick position change.

A 35 millimeter setback seatpost works for the traditional road position, while swapping to a zero-offset post and installing aero bars preps the bike for a triathlon or time trial. The carbon frame features aero tube shaping to help cut through the wind.

The Alias will be available in three complete bike models. The Alias Pro Tri will retail for $6,000, the Comp Tri will retail for $3,300 and the Sport Tri will be $2,600.

Specialized Alias Official Website

ENDEVR Enters the Iron Age

MyIDThis month ENDEVR has announced that it has been named the official athletic gear sponsors for the most prestigious event series in the sport of triathlon, the IRONMAN Triathlon Series. At next month’s IRONMAN World Championship in Kona the company will make available its MyID, the customizable medical wristband that stores vital information with an optimized QR code that is easily accessible for the fastest and most complete medical profile in a time of emergency.

In additional the ENDEVAR StrengthTape will be the official athletic tape of the big event. The unique feature of StrengthTape is its ability to be worn for up to seven days and withstand any extreme condition including water training, which makes it a popular one for the IRONMAN.

ENDEVR Official Website

Get HIP About Head Injuries

HIP-TEC

An active lifestyle can be good for the body – unless of course you fall on your head. Numerous studies have shown the dangers that an impact to the head can have, and HIP-TEC is looking to change the way helmets are made.

HIP-TEC’s research has come about thanks to Nick Turner, a former pro kayaker and founder of WRSI helmets. He is now working to focus exclusively on head injury prevention technology. But HIP-TEC isn’t actually making helmets, and instead is looking to make helmet designs safer.

The company offers a patent pending layered design to lower the amount of G forces to a wearer’s head during an impact. This is accomplished by using all of the layers or just a few depending on the speed of the impact. The result is reportedly a helmet that protects just as well at slow speed as high.

Video and Press Release After the Jump

Shark Fuel

SharkiesSome of us are like sharks and can’t sit still. Of course this requires a boost now and then and fittingly the Sharkies are just the thing. These Energy Chews were created in 2003 by a triathlete looking for some organic food that could deliver energy and fuel. The Sharkies Turbo Energy Chrews are made of organic ingredients and are completely Kosher too.

There is no gluten, wheat or diary and of course these are vegetarian, but these are packed with electrolytes and caffeine to help keep us sharks going and going.

Sharkies Official Website

Boa Bites Into Triathlon Market

BoaBoa Technologies has helped cyclists have a snug fit with shoes that is just right. This wire-based system works in place of laces, Velcro strips or ratchet closures. Companies such as Zoots and Speicalized have expanded into the market for triathlons as well.

For 2013 Boa will sponsor nine events including the Boulder, Colorado’s Ironman 70.3 in August and the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in October. In addition to these two Ironman events, Boa is sponsoring seven other Colorado triathlons.

At these various events, racers and competitors will have an opportunity to stop by Boa’s booth to trade their shoes for a new pair of Boa-powered footwear at pro deal prices. Used shoes will be donated to One World Running and Mountain2Mountain, two Colorado-based nonprofits.

Boa Technologies
[Via Bicycle Retailer: Boa enters tri market with shoes, race sponsorships]

Recon Takes Off Like a Jet

Recon-JetRecon Instruments have made a name for themselves in the world of heads-up displays (HUD) snow sports, but this year the company is looking to hit the road with the Recon Jet Pilot Edition. This special line of eyewear is designed for cyclists and triathletes, offering critical information including heart rate, cadence and power output and put it right in view. This can be supplied by third party devices through wireless connectivity via ANT+ and Bluetooth.

It also offers a comprehensive suite of on-board sensors and delivers a full portfolio of precision performance stats and data such as speed, pace, distance, time, vertical ascent and more.

The glasses include a 1 GHz dual core processor, dedicated graphics, Wi-Fi, ANT+, Bluetooth, GPS, HD camera, and a comprehensive suite of sensors making it a standalone computing solution, comparable in capability to a tablet or smartphone. The components of the HUD are distributed evenly across the eyewear, but add just 14grams to each side of the sunglasses. The display can be controlled by a precision optical touch-pad that supports multiple gesture controls and facilitates its use in all weather conditions, even with gloves on. Continue reading Recon Takes Off Like a Jet

Action Wipes to the Rescue this Summer

ActionWipesLast fall at Interbike Action Wipes really saved us. Not only were the bins of the full body wipes a welcome site outside of the port-o-potties during demo days, the oversized wipes were welcome for other uses during the show.

When we got back to our hotel after a long day of riding bikes in the desert, we were in desperate need of a shower. That was when we discovered there was no hot water in the hotel. The layers of sweat, desert dust and maybe a little bike grease made the thought of going to bed and showering in the morning impossible. We didn’t even want to venture out to dinner before cleaning up. Then we remembered we had tucked a few Action Wipes in our gear bag. Smart thinking. Continue reading Action Wipes to the Rescue this Summer

The Water Viper

Viper-Speed-SuitWhile various “speed suits” have been banned in swimming competition the new Roka Viper Speed Suit is ready to race. This new suit was designed for swim trainers and triathletes with help from NASA technology. It might not help you get to space, but with this suit you might just fly through the water.

Roka Viper Speed Suit Official Website

TomTom Joins the Club

TomTomGarmin might have to look over its shoulder as TomTom is set to introduce its own line of Multi-Sport GPS watches this year. Aimed at cyclists and triathletes, these entry level watches feature scratch and impact-resistant glass screens that offer three graphical race training functions. These allow for wearers to race against previous time in the Race mode, while Goal lets wears go for distance, time or calorie count, while Zone tracks a set heart rate.  The watches are compatible with Bluetooth heart rate monitors and cadence sensors, and the step up model offers a built-in altimeter.

The Multi-Sport GPS watches reportedly lock onto the Russian GLONASS satellite array in case that means anything to you, Conrad!

TomTom Official Website

Just the Flax, Carbon Flax

In every cyclists efforts to trim grams, there comes a time when a few accessories, like a hydration system, are deemed essential. Now time trailers and triathletes, among other cyclists, can shave a few grams from their hydration system. Karbon Speed just released its XR Series hydration system, the Karbon Speed FXR, for Front Extended Range. Continue reading Just the Flax, Carbon Flax