When you go for a walk, it’s easy to strap on a pedometer to measure the distance you travel. But what about when you’re on a bicycle? Well, something like the Cat Eye CC-CD300DW bike computer could do the job and then some. It straps to your handle bars with a transmitter attached to the left chain stay to keep track of what your wheels are doing.
Let’s take a look at some of the features of this “cyclometer”:
- records total pedal revolutions
- keeps track of current, average, and maximum speeds as well as current, average, and maximum cadence
- offers lap/split timer and keeps track of lap distance, cadence, and speed
- includes white LED backlight, so you can view the screen at night
Usually we talk about fitness gadgets for people, but this one is for your pet. If you’ve got a big dog like an Alaskan Malamute that was born to pull dog sleds over great distances, chances are a walk around the block isn’t going to wear him or her out. Taking your dog for a bicycle ride is a great way to get him the exercise he needs, but it can be dangerous to try and handle a leash and steer and control the speed on your bike all at the same time. This is where the Springer Bicycle Dog Jogger comes in.
The Springer attaches to the side of your bike, leaving both your hands free for the handle bars. It has a low-mounted coil spring that absorbs and reduces your dog’s tugs and pulls, so it’s easier for you to keep your balance as you ride. It also keeps the dog at arm’s distance from the bike, so there’s no danger of him getting hit by the pedals or caught in the wheels. The device comes with a safety release mechanism that allows your dog to break away if he ends up on the wrong side of a post or tree somehow.
You can get the Springer online for less than $50:
If you’re racing or pumping out 40 miles along your city trail, you probably want a high-speed, high-tech road bike with lots of cool features. On the other hand, if you’re buying a bike to run errands and cut down on driving, you may want something a little more comfortable.
I remember riding a bicycle much like this beach cruiser as a kid (I miss those pedal-activated brakes… much easier on the hands), and believe it or not, these types of bikes are coming back into style. You don’t have to be by the beach to enjoy a “beach cruiser,” and if you’re looking for comfort over speed and features, it can be a great way to go. Bikes like these also happen to be a lot cheaper than those fancy smancy racing ones. This particular model is $160 from XYZ Bikes.
So, you think you’re pretty hot stuff on your mountain bike, eh? Or maybe it’s your skiing or snowboarding that’s completely show-off-able. Whatever your sport, you can now take video footage of your moves through your own eyes. Well, not quite through your eyes but alongside your eyes anyway.
The ATC-2000 Action Helmet Camera from Oregon Scientific mounts to your helmet, handlebars, or other sports equipment so you can take video footage anywhere you go. Including batteries, it weighs just a half a pound, so it’s light enough that you’ll barely feel it on your head (or wherever you stick it). The company promises it’s water-resistant and shock-resistant, so it’s suitable for extreme conditions. The price is $130, but you’ve got to pay for a memory card and batteries, so include that in your estimate if you’re thinking of making this someone’s Christmas present this year.
The scariest thing about riding at night is worrying about whether motorists are going to see you. Well, with a bicycle helmet that sports red LEDs along the back and white LEDs in the front, you shouldn’t have to worry about that too much any more. This rechargeable bicycle helmet (now, there are a few words you never thought you’d see linked together) can run up to 15 hours on a charge, so you can ride all night long if you want to. According to the company, the bright LEDs can be seen for over a mile, so you’ll even be good on those long winding country roads. The cost? $69.99 and you can choose from red, black, or white helmets.
Got a couple little kids you can’t leave at home alone while you go out for your bicycling work out? Well, the TrioBike might be the answer. This bicycle has a seat built right into the front that’s roomy enough to hold two kids. Sure, you could just get one of those wheeled carriers that goes on the back of your regular bike, but I’ve seen kids trying to escape from those when you’re not looking. With the TrioBike, they’re right up front so you can keep an eye on them. There are also three wheels on the bicycle itself, which offers added stability when you’re carting around your most precious possessions.
Bicycles are traditionally a good workout for your legs. But what if you want to give your back, arms, and abs some exercise? Well, you get a Rowbike, of course. I first saw the Rowbike on the same show that featured the Aquaskipper, and I’ve since seen someone using it out on the Burke Gilman Trail here in Seattle. It looks pretty fun, and it’s a good way to get a rowing workout without signing up for a crew team or buying a rowing machine for your basement gym. Hey, it’s always more fun working out in the fresh air (as long as it isn’t raining) than in the gym, right?