This year at the Outdoor Summer Market, Chrysler will make its North American debut of its Jeep Xtreme Performance Collection. The JXP is a line of apparel and gear that Jeep says will push boundaries for activities including trail running and mountain biking.
The line contains over 170 apparel items, plus footwear. Beyond the Clouds holds the Jeep license and is manufacturing the line. There are few details ahead of the Outdoor Retailer show coming up. We will follow-up once more is announced.
Trek has expanded its partnership to support the nation’s biggest and most developed high school mountain bike program. Trek Bicycle and the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) announced a new partnership this month, and NICA student-athletes currently competing in California, Colorado, Texas, Utah, New York, Tennessee, Arizona, and Minnesota will enjoy the same benefits as other racers supported by Trek’s retailer-sponsored athlete program.
In additional to the financial support for the program Trek has also made available mountain bikes at prices that are more attainable on a high school budget. Ride on!
National Interscholastic Cycling Association Official Website
Trek Bicycle Official Website
While we never really understand the lyrics to the loopy late 1960s song “MacArthur Park” we have to wonder if any parody song (not that it needs any more parodies) to note a decision to introduce mountain bike trails into San Francisco’s McLaren Park.
The San Francisco Urban Riders are pushing for a plan that would create a bicycle skills park inside the second largest park in San Francisco. Currently there are 312 acres of nature trails and recreational amenities, and the group is looking to convert areas that are currently unused or affected by water erosion. Given that the Bay Area is the birthplace of mountain biking it seems natural to bring it to the city by the Bay. We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops.
For those who go to the extreme on the off-road trails, Leatt will have you covered. The company is set to introduce a new line of protective clothing for 2013, which it will be showing at Eurobike later this month.
This will a new soft body that feature the company’s exclusive BraceOn Strap system that keeps the brace secure without the need for body straps. The 3DF is designed with three-dimensional impact foam used at common contact points, including shoulder, elbows, chest, back and hips. The foam reportedly can stay soft while riding, but hardens upon impact to disperse the force of the crash. At the same time it utilizes a moisture-wicking fabric to ensure that riders don’t get bogged down with sweat. Continue reading Eurobike Preview: Armor Up for the Trial
Designer sports bag and apparel company OGIO just released its OGIO Endurance Collection. The line has bags that address the needs runners, swimmers, triathletes, cyclists, downhill mountain bikers and other athletes in endurance sports and competitions.
The seven-bag line is built to provide organization, protection and comfort for athletes taking part in high-intensity workouts and competitions. The line is made with lightweight yet sturdy materials that protect gear, yet make it light enough to carry to a race or location to workout.
Each year helmets get lighter, but they also get stronger. Technology lends itself to a higher degree of protection using lighter-weight materials. However, even when you’re going to get down and dirty off road you’ll still want to look good doing so. For 2012 Louis Garneau will release the Carve helmet, which will offer that higher degree of protection without sacrificing style. This new helmet promises to be lightweight, highly ventilated and totally geared toward mountain bikers.
There is no denying that getting out and doing some hiking, biking or running is good for the body – but according a recent study from economic consultants Brigitte Bavousett and Gerald O’Neill Jr. fitness can be even better for the economy. The pair prepared a study, titled “Sustainable Economic Benefits of Human-Powered Recreation to the State of Arizona,” and found that the “human-powered” outdoor recreation industry produces $5.3 billion in annual retail sales and generates nearly $471 million in state tax revenues.
The study concluded that 86,000 jobs were directly created from the fitness sector, while 100,000 jobs were indirectly created. The economic consultants even noted that closing state and national parks actually had a negative impact on economic recovery. The thinking hers is that keeping parks open encourages people to use them, and thus buy new products, which puts people back to work.
Meanwhile, Arizona’s neighbor to the west, California, is looking to close state parks to save money. Maybe the new governor should hire these consultants so residents in the Golden State don’t go without those parks.
[Via Arizona Daily Star: Hikers, mountain bikers, climbers boost economy]
It’s hard to let go of that loved cycling jersey, or the shorts with the perfect padding. If you recycle the garments, they really are going to a better place … back on the trails. Women’s mountain biking label Loeka Clothing just started a clothing recycling program that gives incentive to those who turn in their gear for recycling.
Loeka started manufacturing women’s mountain biking apparel in 2005; just enough time that the clothes might be showing just a little wear, or you might want to switch it up for a new design. Fill out a form on Loeka’s website and either mail in your gear or take it to a participating retailer. Retailers currently include Ruckus Skis, Boards and Bikes in Prince George BC; Ski Dazzle at Silverstar Resort; Mt Washington Alpine Resort, Mt Washington BC; Pedal Chic Greenville, South Carolina; and Iride Vermont, Stowe, Vermont.
Continue reading Loeka Women’s Cycling Clothier Starts Recycling Program