Many runners feel that an MP3 player detracts from the experience of running outdoors. That not being in tune to your breathing, or hearing the birds chirping is cheating yourself. I, on the other hand, prefer Black Sabbath screaming in my head and yes, the occasional Dane Cook comedy break.

The more obvious argument is that running with headphones is unsafe; you can’t hear cars, bikes, or pedestrians. I say that only adds to the experience, but I run mainly on trail.

I love to swim, snorkel and even Scuba and being underwater is a peaceful place. It’s here I like to be on alert, listen to my breathing and absorb myself in all that surrounds me. A company called H20 Audio thinks you should listen to music underwater too, and sells a number of waterproof cases (depending on your player) and waterproof headphones.

There are many models to choose from, the iS2 is used with the newer Shuffle, is submersible up to 10 feet and can be worn with the included armband. You can also adjust all the controls even while it’s enclosed.

If diving with sharks is your thing (props to Eli and Karen) and you think it would be more exciting to do so with a soundtrack, visit H20 Audio and get immersed…

Posted by: Lawrence

Lately I’ve become the neighborhood bicycle mechanic. I was sitting on the front lawn replacing the brakes on my wife’s bike, changing the skins and adjusting the derailleurs. Soon a few kids came by with their bikes in disrepair and I was turning my Park tools just fast enough to put up with demand. It would have been a lot faster and less frustrating with a work stand, especially when testing the shifting with derailleur adjustments.

I started looking at work stands recently and especially liked the Spin Doctor Pro G3 Work Stand. I checked it out in a local bike shop and was impressed with the construction. It has a tripod-base, clever quick release clamp and best of all it’s portable, But I don’t have $150 for a workstand, so I’m going to MacGyver one I found on a site called Instructables.

Instructables provides instructions on how to build just about anything yourself using commonly found parts. They feature many homemade bicycle work stands. I like this one, but the best has to be this bench model (and the added variations).

Strap on your mullet, get out the Swiss Army Knife and check out the Instructable site and build something. I’ll be posting pictures of the bench top model after I hit the Depot tomorrow and have a chance to slap it together.

Posted by: Lawrence

I like to run with an iPod so I don’t have to hear the labored breathing of a man killing himself. I prepare song lists for different distances that are based on song type and length. The song lists appear as ‘Running Man 6’ for a six miler, ‘Running Man 8,’ etc and always start mellow with a good beat. I use comedy clips for mundane parts of the run and hardcore or metal for hills and to finish the run. Setting up these song lists requires a lot of thought and examination of previous runs I store on MotionBased.

Like any good technology should, I can perhaps stop thinking so hard. A new product from Yamaha called BODiBEAT will be available this Fall that synchronizes the music I enjoy to my workout. Both an MP3 Player and a heart rate monitor, BODiBEAT changes songs on the fly to match your workout.

The BODiBEAT has four modes; Free, Fitness, Training and Music…

• Free Mode – You control the music: Music playback stays in sync with your movement
• Fitness Mode – The music controls you: Match your pace to the tempo of the music playing
• Training Mode – Create custom programs: Similar to my current method (explained above)
• Music playback – Simply use the BODiBEAT as a music player

For my taste, the look of the BODiBEAT leaves something to be desired. Perhaps I’m just spoiled by the incredible industrial design by Apple, but the BODiBEAT looks like a small brick. Also, instead of a chest strap, the BODiBEAT pulse sensor clips on your ear. On the Web site, the ‘music’ they play in the demo reels would cause me to keep running – right into a mental institution. I’m not sure they can determine the beat of your own music, so Free and Fitness modes might not actually be your music at all. I guess we’ll have to wait until the Fall to find out, unless Yamaha decides to drop something in the mail in advance…

Posted by: Lawrence

About a year ago I bought a jump rope thinking I’d be Rocky Balboa and jump myself back into fighting shape. I couldn’t use the jump rope inside the house because there wasn’t enough height. Even though the garage had enough height the cars left little space. So I would go out on the driveway and jump. My interested waned.

A company called JumpSnap has a solution for frustrated jumpers like me who are tight on space. The JumpSnap is a rope-less jump rope that has two weighted handles with balls. One of the handles also has a computer that tracks calories based on stored user profile data and also acts as a timer. JumpSnap states that you can burn as many as 100 calories every 5 minutes.

For those of you who may wonder ‘why pay $60 for the JumpSnap when I have 2 perfectly good salad spoons handy?’ your point is valid and not easily dismissed. Perhaps the value is in the 3 provided workout DVDs, an 8-minute beginner, 12 minute intermediate and 16 minute JumpSnap Jam Session workout.

The idea of a rope-less jump rope is a good one. It appeals to people who are tight on space, frequently travel or terribly uncoordinated. If the price for the JumpSnap fits your budget it may well be worth a shot to jump in (oye). For those of you who are unsure, they offer a 30 day money back guarantee.

Garmin has released new beta versions of its POI loader and Unit Software Updater, enabling Garmin GPS (Global Positioning System) users to download and install software updates using a Mac and a USB connection. The POI (Point Of Interest) Loader for Mac 2.0.0.1 Beta allows users to load custom points of interest into a GPS unit, accepting input files downloaded from the internet or created custom. Users can configure the unit to produce alerts when they are within a certain distance of a point or are driving over a certain speed near any given point to warn about upcoming school zones, red lights, and speed cameras. POI Loader for Mac 2.0.0.1 Beta is available as a free download, requiring Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Source: macnn

The Dog Powered Scooter just might be an alternate mode of transportation for those lucky enough to have a job where the pooch can come to work. Imagine the faces on those suckers stopped in traffic, while you slip past on your Dog Powered Scooter sipping an organic soy latte – pure Milk Bone-generated power.

Reported to be a combination of adrenalin, pleasure and exercise, the Dog Powered Scooter only needs a few kicks to get going, a pocket full of treats and one tongue-flapping dog. A reviewer measured his dog pulling 175 pounds at just 4-7 pounds of resistance. The dog I see dragging some lady around my block (sans-scooter) is easily pulling 25 times that and at a pretty good clip!

I admit, I’m intrigued. Problem is I don’t have a dog and while my 3-year-old daughter Elli would most likely be up for it, I’m making nice with the Bernese Mountain Dog across the street. For those of you with dogs, keep close tabs on them as gas prices increase or better yet, get the Globalpetfinder.

But what’s up with the lame product name? To be fair the Scootch was not an option and the Pooter is an even worse and might I say significantly off-color portmanteau. But certainly there is something more creative than ‘Dog Powered Scooter.’ I leave it to Bitness readers to come up with a new name in the comments. I see the Web stats people, I know you’re ‘here’ but let me ‘hear’ you. Best suggestion wins a Milk Bone.