Reading Time: 2 minutes

Many climatologists and armchair experts have stated that geographically, the only reliable part of the country to run a ski operation 25-50 years from will be at altitudes found only in parts out West. Does this mean it will not snow in New England in 25-50 years? Probably not, but with global warming who the hell knows – it’s late October in New England and 80 degrees outside!

You can rely however, on the sad but simple fact that more mountains will close in New England (and all over the East coast) in the coming years, adding to the approximately 600 ski areas already lost.

A site called the New England Lost Ski Area Project (www.nelsap.org) is a guide to lost ski areas that may be in your backyard and you never even knew it! Here in Rhode Island I can see Yawgoo Valley ski area lit-up at night from my house. I couldn’t imagine that RI could possibly have another mountain, but NELSAP showed me the way to 4 more!

Outside of RI there are far more areas in Massachusetts and Connecticut and of course Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. If publicly accessible, they can serve as a great way to introduce yourself to a backcountry-like experience, with the proper precautions of course.

If you live in New England and are thinking about what to do on a snowy day this coming winter, consider a new adventure in your own backyard!

Posted by: Lawrence

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Growing up I raced around on BMX bikes – dirt tracks and backyard jumps. We would set up some pretty crazy jumps and there were a few trips to the emergency room. One time we stacked up 4 tires and made my friend’s little brother stand in them. Just the top of his head was peeking out and his eyes would bulge as we sailed overhead. For crying throughout the whole ordeal we gave him a beating – we sucked (sorry Evan).

The next time I picked up biking was years later and I bought a mountain bike. I rode a few into the ground before I got my hands on a Gary Fisher Super Caliber – I loved that bike and respected the abuse it could take. I could never part with it and still have it in storage.

One type of cycling I never got in to was road biking. I think being a gear guy the clothing was an instant turn off. No man (and 99% of women) should be seen in spandex. So when I finally decided to give road biking a shot I went in my regular shorts and after a while, well… my ass hurt.

Enter the Oakley Alloy 2.6 biking shorts which were designed for mountain bikers and show blatant disregard to wind resistance. I have the padding I need and the loose fitting style I like. While these short themselves are discontinued (check the Oakley Vault for left overs), Oakley carries newer models.

I rushed to put these shorts on and went to put my ID, some cash and chapstick in my pockets – only they weren’t pockets but zippered vents. The pockets were lower down on my thighs and could easily be unzipped when riding – smart! I kept the vents closed initially but opened them up halfway through the ride – ahhh.

Something was digging into my side most of the ride and I later discovered it was a tire tool – cool! I certainly don’t need a tire tool in my shorts, but I do like the sentiment. There are loops on the top of the shorts – do I break out the rainbow colored Mork suspenders on my next ride? Under one of those loops is a hidden pocket – just like Bugs Bunny would have. Bugs could always produce something – a carrot, hat, alarm clock, you name it from his invisible pockets.

Posted by: Lawrence

Reading Time: < 1 minute

First Page Fitness compiled a list of the craziest fitness gadgets of all time. But as past posts prove on Bitness, there are still crazier gadgets out there. Here is a recap of 7 crazy gadgets covered by Bitness in the last 10+ months (from oldest to newest)…

1. Hypoxi L250 – ‘Lounge Riding that Sucks‘
A recumbent stationary bike in a vacuum chamber.

2. Mechanical Core Muscle Trainer – ‘Giddyup All You Geriatric Cowpokes!‘
A mechanical bull-like stool running in slow motion.

3. Scott eVest – ‘Who Left the Web site on?‘
A jacket with a whole bunch of pockets with a whole bunch of holes.

4. Genetic Supplements – ‘Bitness Labs Experiment 18382b.2 Genetic Supplements‘
Supplements targeted to individuals based on race. What happens when a Caucasian takes a supplement intended for Hispanics? Anarchy ensues…

5. The Rowbike – ‘Row, Row, Row Your… Bike?‘
A bicycle you row. Where have you been? Even Kevin Costner uses one.

6. ROM CrossTrainer – ‘The CrossTrainer Four Minute Workout‘
I don’t doubt the benefits, but a 4 minute workout? $14, 615? Sounds like your wallet is getting the workout.

7. The Dog Powered Scooter – ‘Keep Them Doggies Rolling‘
Not so much a fitness exercise for you, but Fido is gonna get ripped for your beer runs.

Posted by: Lawrence

Reading Time: < 1 minute

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

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Of all the gadgets I own, the most basic of equipment eludes me – a good pair of workout sunglasses. I own several pairs of sunglasses, in fact 3 pairs in the same style with different lenses. But none of the sunglasses I own are made for exercise. When I exercise in my regular sunglasses, the frames start to slide off my face and sweat becomes trapped in the frame. Annoying and not terribly safe.

A good pair of exercise sunglasses is very different from regular sunglasses. They should be lightweight, use materials for the nose and ear pieces that keep them on your face, enhance visibility, offer good UV protection and protection from projectiles as well as shed sweat, rain and dust.

A HYDROPHOBIC coating on PLUTONITE lenses is a fancy scientific or markety way of saying the Oakley LiveStrong Flak Jacket glasses are a good example of glasses that accomplish all the above. Available for $150, know that $20 of that price goes to the LiveStrong foundation which inspires and empowers those living with cancer.

Posted by: Jay

Reading Time: 2 minutes

When I was younger my oldest brother Paul made a series of movies with my father’s 8mm (film). He remade Airport 1975, complete with the crash scene (planes with straws glued on them and strung-up in the garage). I was cast in the role of Sam, the Jerry Stiller character who sleeps through all the action. Dressed in my suit I leaned-up against the rakes while the other kids ‘acted.’

Probably one of the funniest things Paul ever shot was a video from our dog Reggie’s perspective, running through the house with the camera at knee level. Something about that movie cracked me up and I watched it over and over. I like first person (or dog) point of view film making, which is why I want the ATC2K Waterproof Action Camera from Oregon Scientific.

Attach it to the handlebars of your bike or strap it to your helmet and capture digital video in 640 X 480 VGA (standard NTSC) at 30 frames per second to an internal SDA card. The ATC2K comes with accessories that allow you to strap it to other gear as well, a windsurfer perhaps, it is waterproof up to 10 feet! The ATC2K is also shock resistant, takes only 2 AA batteries to run (lithium batteries recommended for cold environments) and measures 4.25L x 1.75D x 2.25H (in).

Although currently out of stock, the ATC2K can soothe your inner Spielberg for only USD $129.99. You can request to be notified when they become available, but for now start planning and storyboard your next glade run, wipe-out, downhill attack, Eskimo roll, rappel or simply strap it to the dog for a good laugh.