Rocket Science Sports, a triathlon-based equipment company based in Austin, TX that offers high-end wetsuits, race apparel, bags. Yeah, the same guys the make the fancy-schmancy aerodynamic dimpled water bottle that we recently reviewed.

Next in line is their top of the line water resistant race day gear bag – the Rocket Bag. My first impression upon opening the box was the obvious thought to detail and design. The bag is rugged but very contemporary in its appearance. The black water resistant material that covers the bag from head to toe, including all exterior zippers, is what sets it off. In addition, a number of reflective strips are incorporated into the panels to help keep you safe in the dark. The choice of materials and their composition is very unique and will scream to your competitors that you mean business. Or maybe you’re just a poser…

As I began to examine the Rocket Bag a little more I began to notice the numerous exterior compartments, straps, zippers, pads and other little gizmo’s. So I started to search for some directions to tell me what’s supposed to go where because I’m used to dumping everything in one spot. This bag, on the other hand, has a specific compartment for every piece of your gear. Crap!!! I’m not that organized. I guess that’s why I still occasionally show up to races without vital necessities such as SHOES!!!

Exterior Storage

Water Bottle Storage
Storage for one water bottle is provided for on each side of the bag. The water bottle storage compartments are sealed with a water resistant zipper.

Helmet
The helmet storage compartment is in the typical location as found on other bags. The helmet is secured snugly with the combination of an elastic band integrated in the outer material and two plastic locking clips.

Electronics
A smaller water resistant compartment behind the helmet storage is provided for storing electronic devices such as iPods.

Personal Items
Identification, car keys, and other miscellaneous personal items can be stored in a water resistant compartment on the outermost portion of the bag.

Cell Phone
Storage for a cell phone is provided for in a specific case located on the front of the main harness strap so you can easily answer your phone when you’re on the go. The container is removable so you can take it with you.

Lower Compartment
Finally, a storage compartment accessed by a water resistant zipper of the bottom of the bag is intended for storage of the transition mat. But it could be a good spot for storing your nutritional needs or other secret “stash”.

Interior Storage

The needs of the triathlete were definitely addressed with the design and function of the interior portion of this bag. The interior compartments were designed in a manner to separate the gear of the swim, bike and run disciplines. The mesh compartments helps with ventilation and lets you see what inside without having to open up each individual compartment.

Shoe, Eyewear, Heart Rate Monitor, & Pre-Race/Post-Race Gear Storage
Two separate mesh compartments were provided for on the inside of the outer portion of the bag to store running and cycling shoes. A larger mesh compartment in the main body of the bag is large enough to hold post-race clothing. Inside this are separate holders for your eyewear and heart rate monitor. The entire compartment can be unzipped to reveal what? Yep, another storage compartment! This water resistant compartment was designed as a wet-dry storage area. The wet-dry gear clothing compartment is also removable so it can be transported separately if you choose.

Transition Mat
Included with the Rocket Bag is waterproof transition mat (13”w x 25.5”l) with a non-slip PVC coating. It’s good for keeping your gear what the guys at Rocket Science Sports describe as “clean and happy”.

Fit

Padding
The padding for the back and shoulder strap areas of the Rocket Bag consists of numerous cushy gel pads described as RSS Gel Technology. Eight generous pads, referred to as the Air-Flight™ Padded Back, are located on the back of the bag to help keep you cool on the bike. In addition the shoulder and waist harnesses are gel padded to keep things comfy when it’s all locked down.

Straps
What really tops off a nice looking bag is one that has good ergonomics for cyclists. Securing the Rocket Bag to your body are two padded shoulder harnesses that can be secured together with an adjustable locking strap at chest level. In addition, another padded strap is provided for at waist level which includes a convenient storage area for your photo id or racing license. If you choose not to strap the Rocket Bag to your back a nylon strap wrapped with a flexible rubber handle has been provided for on the top of the bag. Lastly, a nylon strap with a 360 degree rotating plastic fastening clip allows you to hang the bag from a locker or transition area.

Durability
I’ve only had this bag for a little over a month so I can’t really vouch for its durability but I did get a chance to talk to the Rocket Science Sports guys for a little bit at Interbike. I asked how the exterior material of the bag would hold up over time and was shown a Rocket Bag that had been in use for a year and it was comparable to a new one on the rack.

Stitching
The stitching for the Rocket Bag is of high quality and well thought out as they have concealed the majority of the stitching to the interior of the bag. This provides for a very clean exterior appearance and more durable product.

Overall

Would I recommend this bag to others? Yeah, it’s probably one of the highest quality gear bags I’ve come across. The only possible downside to the concept of this bag is the number of storage areas it offers becasue I found the number of interior compartments reduces the physical amount of the bag’s potential storage capacity. However, I think it makes perfect sense for the triathlete because of the need to keep race gear separate. Now that I think about it, this bag would make a very good computer bag because of its versatility. So it comes down to what works best for your personal needs and preferences.

The guys at Rocket Science Sports spared no expense with this bag. Even though it’s geared primarily towards the triathlete, this bag will easily accommodate the needs of others as well. It looks good, it’s versatile, and at the very least can help you keep your gear organized on race day. The Rocket Bag is quickly becoming a hot item. Just ask Rock Racing’s Rahsaan Bahati. Apparently someone five-finger-discounted his Rocket Bag that he won at a race earlier this year before he ever made it back to the team bus. I guess he was a little distracted with the podium girls, picking up his prize, and all those other things winners get to do.

Item: Rocket Bag
Manufacturer: Rocket Science Sports
Dimensions: Height (20″), Width (13″), Depth (9″), Depth with pocket (10″)
MSRP: $159.99
Website: www.rocketsciencesports.com

Here’s a suggested Triathlon Pre-Race Checklist. Put it next to your triathlon bag and check off the items one by one as you pack them. You can customize the list to add anything specific that you use or remove those items you do not use. In transition there’s not a lot of space usually, so bring only the items you need, including the extra pair of goggles and everything you will use to race, but avoid any unnecessary extras you do not want to carry around, specially after the race when you are tired and ready to go take a hot shower and have a good meal.

Follow the list, make sure everything is working, in good shape and ready to be used. Go replace anything old, broken or that might cause any issues on race day.

And remember the #1 rule of racing “DO NOT TRY ANYTHING NEW ON RACE DAY”. And anything means ANYTHING!

Pre-Race Day Triathlon Equipment

Triathlon Pre-Race Checklist

Swim Items

• Anti-Fog Solution
• Cap
• Goggles
• Swim Suit
• Wetsuit

Bike Items

• Bike
• Bar-end Plugs
• Cycling Gloves
• Cycling Shirt
• Cycling Shoes
• Cycling Shorts
• Helmet
• Tool Kit
• Socks
• Sunglasses
• Water Bottles
• Pump

Run Items

• Hat
• Orthotics
• Running Shirt
• Running Shoes
• Running Shorts
• Socks
• Water Bottle

Clothing Items

• Flip Flops/Sandals
• Post Race Clothing
• Singlet
• Sports Bra
• Towel
• Tri-Shorts / Trisuit

Misc Items

• Body Glide
• Confirmation Letter/Email
• Directions to Race
• Money
• Race Number Belt
• Race Number
• Sunblock
• Towel for Transition Area
• Transition Bag
• USAT Card
• Vaseline
• Water
• Watch
• Energy Bars
• Energy Drink
• Energy Gels
• Head Light/Flash Light
• Heart Rate Monitor
• Sodium Pills

Magui Martinez-Pena
USA Triathlon, Level 1 Certified Coach
USA Track & Field, Level 1 Certified Coach
Dave Scott-Team In Training, Certified Triathlon Coach
2829 Bird Avenue #11
Miami, FL 33133

P 305-460-9980 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 305-460-9980 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
F 305-460-9979 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
E info@trijungle.com

www.TriJungle.com
TriJungle,Your Ultimate Source for Triathlon Gear and Expertise

This venue is usually reserved for NASCAR and Grand Am. However, this will be the first time that what’s speeding around the track doesn’t have a transmission to rely on — just pure human energy. Competitors will run and bike on the Speedway track and swim in a certified-clean and clear manmade lake.

Trijungle’s owner, Magui Martinez-Peña, said, “We’re very excited to be involved with a local event, supporting the local triathlon community and our customers.” Magui added, “Since Trijungle recently became a USAT Certified Multisport retailer, we are especially proud that this sensational USAT-sanctioned event has come to Miami.

“And borrowing the course from its usual stock cars adds another level of fun and excitement to the race,” she added enthusiastically.

As a sponsor, Trijungle’s group of triathletes and triathlon coaches will create a series of pre-race clinics all oriented to help the athletes perform their best. Miami Speed Expo will attract more than 3,000 people between athletes and sport enthusiasts. Exhibitors, kids attractions, food and refreshments will  be available throughout the day. For more information about the race and expo or to register, log on to www.miamispeedtri.com.

On both days, you can visit Magui — who is a USA Triathlon Certified Coach, PowerBar Elite Team athlete and has a USAT Track & Field Level I Coaching Certification — and her team. But you can also visit her at Trijungle, where trisuits, wetsuits, goggles, tri pants, helmets and more are always available. The store is open Monday through Friday from 10–7 pm and Saturday from 12–5 pm at 2829 Bird Avenue, on the second floor of the Grove Center Mall. For more information, call 305-460-9980 or toll-free 877-874-5864. And Trijungle’s online store and blog are always open at www.trijungle.com

TriJungle
2829 Bird Avenue #11
Coconut Grove, Florida
P 305-460-9980
Toll-Free 877-874-5864
F 305-460-9979
info@trijungle.com

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Join Trijungle’s free group run/walk each week

posted by Grapevine at 11:00 AM

In January, Trijungle doubled its retail space from 650 square feet to 1,300 square feet at its location on Bird Avenue in Coconut Grove. The store now displays more of its impressive inventory of trisuits, wetsuits, tri shorts, nutrition and beyond by brands including Orca, 2XU and Garmin.

With the expansion and remodeling, Trijungle emerged with a new changing room, more parking and a meeting space perfect for training sessions, seminars or whatever the future brings. The space is more inviting than ever, featuring fresh white and apple green décor. The helpful and knowledgeable staff has a hand in that inviting vibe as well. Whether you’re a beginning triathlete or a veteran Ironman, you’ll feel right at home with Magui and her staff.

In addition to their store expansion, Trijungle hosts free Group Run/Walks every Wednesday, starting at 6:30 pm. The group is organized by Star Endurance Club, and open to all training levels. And as host, Trijungle serves up excellent hospitality in the form of raffles, store discounts and special events throughout the year.

Magui — who is a USA Triathlon Certified Coach, PowerBar Elite Team athlete and has a USAT Track & Field Level I Coaching Certification — has more plans on the horizon for her growing business. Visit the store Monday through Friday from 10–7 pm and Saturday from 12–5 pm at 2829 Bird Avenue, on the second floor of the Grove Center Mall. And arrive in your running shoes every Wednesday evening for the Group Run/Walk. For more information, call 305-460-9980 or toll-free 877-874-5864.

Trijungle
2829 Bird Avenue, Suite 211

Grove Center Mall
Coconut Grove, Florida
P 305-460-9980
Toll-Free 877-874-5864
F 305-460-9979
info@trijungle.com

www.trijungle.com

To paraphrase Star Trek fans, “wind resistance is futile.” At least when that wind is up against  new 2011 Louis Garneau cycling helmets and apparel. Among triathletes, Louis Garneau is known to create some of the most technical gear available. Well, for 2011, they shifted up to an even faster gear, with the Vorttice helmet (coming soon to Trijungle, reserve now!), Pro Shorts 6.5, Tri Pack Revo and Race Day Revo triathlon backpacks.

The aerodynamic Vorttice cycling helmet underwent wind tunnel testing in Colorado and Ontario before its debut at the Kona Ironman in 2010. And with that, the Canadian brand debuted a new way of thinking about wind management: send the wind through the helmet instead of over a long tail. Basically, Vorttice’s unique air intake positioned at the highest pressure point on the helmet directs the air along the three evacuation channels, keeping your head cooler and directing the flow of air through the helmet. Ah, the winds of change.

Garneau is also changing its shorts, so to speak. The new-and-already-popular Men’s Pro Shorts 6.5 feature a 6.5-inch inseam, which stops shorter, about mid-thigh, and ensures legs are not too restricted. These tri shorts for men feature the familiar dimpled mesh structure of the Delfino fabric, providing breathability and chlorine-resistance. But now there’s less of it, which means you’ll be showing more skin — and also more speed.

When it’s time for race day, Garneau offers the Race Day Revo and Tri Pack Revo triathlon backpacks. Both offer flaps, straps and pockets galore — perfect for lights, protein bars and other triathlete essentials. And the extremely popular Race Day bag even features a cushioned, ergonomic back. However, Tri Pack is more of a “deluxe” model, offering more comfort for your money, such as ventilated shoulder straps, a cushioned and ventilated ergonomic back, a foldable chair and adjustable sternum strap.

So shorts and backpacks are all well and good for when the temperatures rise and triathlon season kicks in. But it’s still winter and you’re going to need a little winter protection. Louis Garneau’s Electra 2 Jacket will keep you protected on milder winter days. And detachable sleeves turn the jacket into a vest – a two-fer! Maybe you should be it in multiple colors, then mix & match the sleeves. Hello, fitness fashion statement!

To guarantee the arrival of your order by Christmas Eve following this Holiday Shipping Schedule:

• GROUND – Free Shipping
  Order by December 17th 5pm
• UPS 3nd Day Shipping
  Order by December 20th 5pm
• UPS 2nd Day Shipping
  Order by December 21st 5pm

If you have any questions about ordering your Christmas items and want to check availability and estimate delivery date please do not hesitate to contact us.

TriJungle
2829 Bird Ave #11
Miami, FL 33133
1-877-TRI-JUNGLE

www.TriJungle.com

Ground Shipping to Florida locations take only 1-2 business days to arrive from the moment the order ships.

Are you local in South Florida?

If you are local in South Florida, Miami area, come visit our fully stocked Triathlon Store in Coconut Grove. We are open Mon-Fri from 10am to 7pm and Saturdays from 12pm noon to 5pm.

UPS Ground Map – Business Days in transit from TriJungle located in Miami, FL 33133

By RunTheLine.com

Click here to buy

As both an avid fan and long time user of the Garmin Forerunner Sports Watches I was very excited to hear that Garmin were releasing a new model. The Garmin 210 is set to bridge the gap between functionality and price, as not only does it incorporate some essential features that unfortunately were not included in the previous 110 model, but Garmin have also opted out of including some of the more superfluous features (such as wireless technology and training partner) that although are good to have, are not essential for your training and only pushed the price up on some of the other Garmin Forerunner watches.

This Garmin Forerunner 210 Review explains the main features of the Forerunner 210 as well as some experiences and opinions as I put it through its paces over the course of a few runs.

GPS Functionality

The reliable and accurate GPS functionality of the Forerunner Series has been one of the main reasons why they are a firm favourite with runners all over the world. The new ‘Hot Fix’ technology allows the watch to both find satellites more quickly and remain locked on to those satellites for longer, ensuring that the training data the 210 provides as up to data and accurate.

After loading details like my age, weight and measurement units, the next thing was to take the watch outdoors and let it find a satellite so that it would set the time and be ready for running. With my old Garmin 405, the ‘finding satellite’ time varied considerably from run to run even though I was usually running from the same starting point most of the time. With the new Garmin 210 however, the watch only took 38 seconds to locate a satellite during setup and less than 15 seconds for each subsequent run after that.

I tested the watch firstly on a long 10k route that incorporated tunnels and bridges into the route and I am happy to say that the watch performed excellently, picking up the signal within five seconds of me running out into the open. I have yet to test the watch around a city with hi rise’s but even if GPS signal is going to be a problem in these areas then the optional Footpod that you can buy with the Forerunner 210 is really going to pay for itself.

Training Statistics

Current Pace (Finally!!!)

Garmin made a big mistake with the model previous to the 210 in that they really didn’t seem to listen to what training indicators runners said they wanted in a sports watch. As the 110 was limited to only displaying ‘Average Lap Pace’ this effectively restricted the watches potential as a useful training aid and really only allowed it to be a GPS watch for beginner runners. Although Average Lap pace is a good statistic if you are running relatively short splits (such as 800m or 1km splits) as any changes in your pace will be reflected pretty quickly by the watch. If however you are running longer distances like 10k’s, marathons and ultra marathons and you don’t break these races up into singular 1km or mile splits, then the ‘Average Lap Pace’ statistic pretty much becomes useless as by the time you have realised that you are running slower than your target pace you could have ended up minutes behind your target time – not good!

The Garmin Forerunner 110 seems to have resolved this problem with the inclusion of the ‘Current Pace Statistic’ which gives you virtually real time pace data and lets you keep track of how fast you are running at any point during you run. Unless you are a very consistent runner, this statistic can wander all over the place but it is still an essential tool for any serious runner. I tend to use it mostly towards the end of a race when the finish line is only a few minutes away as then one quick look at my current pace and time lets me know if I am going to make my target time or fall short. I honestly don’t know what I would do without it and in my opinion Garmin have made a big improvement over previous models by including this in the new Forerunner 210.

Average Pace

The Garmin Forerunner 210 also lets you display Average Pace which is a measure of your pace over an entire run. It is not something that I especially look at until after a long run to review my performance, but I do use this frequently in interval sessions to track my overall average pace over all my intervals up to a point. It’s a useful statistic to keep track of, especially when reviewing your performance after a run as it is a really good way to measure overall gains in fitness.

Distance and Time

The Garmin Forerunner 210 wouldn’t be a sports watch is it didn’t keep track of times and distances. The watch displays both your total activity time and distance as well as individual lap time and distances.

Battery Life

The Forerunner 210 battery takes about an hour to charge from empty and that one charge will give you enough juice for about a standard week’s worth of training (if there is such thing). The inbuilt power save mode turns the GPS off after a period of non use which greatly improves the standby time of the watch and the light button only turns the light on for eight seconds, which is a big improvement over older Garmin watches where you had to remember to turn the light off after you enacted it.

Charging can be done using either the supplied AC mains charger or the USB cable, but charging from the USB charger takes a little longer – even though you have the added advantage of being able to upload the 205’s runs at the same time.

Customisable Laps

The Forerunner 210 allows you to change the length of each lap split that you would like it to view training statistics for. Set to either one mile or one kilometre by default (depending on your unit’s selection, you can change this distance to whatever you like to reflect your preferences or training goals. The watch not only beeps to let you know when you have run the required distance for your current lap, but also momentarily displays your last lap’s data before resetting automatically for the new lap. Your totals are carried over to the next lap but both your lap pace and lap time is reset automatically, meaning you don’t need to fiddle around with the unit mid race or training session.

Interval Training Sessions

Another new addition to the Forerunner 210 over previous models is the Interval Session functionality. The watch allows you to quickly setup an intervals session with a few clicks and lets you customise both the distance and rest periods of each interval. When you are out running the watch beeps to let you know that you have covered the required distance for each interval and then beeps again to let you know when rest time is over and it is time for the next interval.

This is an incredibly useful feature and one that I use regularly purely because it is such an easy way to train. Not only do I not have to worry about looking at my watch every few seconds to make sure that I am not over or under my required distances and rest times, but I don’t even need to touch the watch until the end of the session. All too often with my old 405 I would be half way through a hill reps session to realise that I hadn’t quite tapped the touch bezel in the correct place or not hard enough and as a result my last few intervals hadn’t been recorded properly. The interval workout feature of the Forerunner 210 solves this problem and as a valued addition to the watch.

Water Resistance

A big improvement over some of the previous Forerunner models is the water resistance capabilities of the new Forerunner 210. Previous models were pretty much only splash proof and were not designed for prolonged pool sessions or water sport activates, whereas the 210 has been updated with a much needed 1m waterproof capability.

Although Garmin don’t recommend that you use the 210 for prolonged swimming I have used the Forerunner 210 during a 2.5km swim session with no problems. Being an indoor pool the GPS functionality wasn’t applicable and I am unsure if the GPS would work consistently (if at all) in open water. As this is something that I really would like to find out I am going to head to an open air pool in the next couple of weeks and see how the watch performs.

Heart Rate Monitor

Another big improvement with the new Garmin 210 watch is the heart rate functionality. With older models you were given a heart rate monitor that had a large heavy plastic section on the front of the strap that provided the watch with your heart rate readings. The old style heart rate monitors were heavy and as a result were very poorly fitting. In order to obtain a relatively good fit you had to tighten up the strap to an annoyingly restrictive level to ensure that the monitor didn’t start to slip off mid training session. I am happy to say that Garmin have made a big improvement with their new style heart rate monitors that are supplied with the Forerunner 210 as a standard. Not only are they lighter due to a reduction in the size of the actual heart rate sensor, but they are also much better fitting and comfortable to wear due to both the reduction in size of the sensor and the new style elastic strap.

Using the new style heart rate monitor with the Garmin 210 is incredibly easy and straight forward. You simply fit the strap to your chest, making sure that is sits just below your pectorals, and then the watch should pick up a reading within a few seconds. If it needs a little encouragement, then tap the page button on the 210 to set is scanning for pair-able devices in range.

The heart rate functionality has been pretty impressive when I have taken the Garmin 210 out running with me. The watch picked up the monitor quickly and easily before every run and the heart rate level always seemed to be reflective of my exertion and there was very little delay between when I upped my pace and the increased reading on the watch.

Heart Rate Calorie Calculator

One of the advantages of combining the Garmin 210 with its heart rate monitor is the ability to benefit from the watches inbuilt calorie calculator. The Forerunner 210 essentially looks at the body weight figure that you entered into the watch during setup and then uses this and your actual heart rate to calculate the amount of calories you exert over a run or training session. This feature is not only useful for any avid calorie counters out there, but also will come in handy for long distance marathon or ultra runners who can make a better informed decision as to when and how much they need to eat during a race.

Gym Equipment Compatibility

Another advantage of the wireless Heart Rate technology is that it is compatible with some gym cardio equipment. I am not really sure why you would want to use the heart rate monitor with the cardio equipment instead of using the watch but I guess it does give you another option if your Garmin 210 runs out of battery or you don’t want to keep looking at your watch to find out your heart rate.

Heart Rate Alerts

One last option that the Garmin Forerunner 210 gives you is the option to setup heart rate alerts. You can chose from either five pre determined heart rate zones or a custom zone and the watch will beep if your heart rate drops below or above your selected band. Each of the five pre determined zones are calculated by the watch from the age that you enter during the watch setup whereas the custom band can be set to whatever you like. Both the maximum and minimum heart rate alerts are incredibly useful, but I use the maximum far more than the minimum when out training. If like me you have a tendency to try and give your most in every training session, those long easy lactate threshold runs can easily turn into short and sharp 1ok’s as you push yourself too hard. I use the maximum heart rate alert to make sure that I keep me exertion below 145 bpm to ensure that my easy days stay as just that and don’t turn into junk miles.

Garmin Connect Online Portal

One of the main reasons that Garmin GPS watches are so highly thought of amongst the running community is because not only have they managed to produce a range of high quality watches that accurately record vital statistics and metrics, but they have also created an online portal where you can transfer this data from your watch using the provided USB cable, so that you can track your long term performance. This portal is called Garmin Connect and is a free service that anyone with a Garmin Forerunner Watch can sign up to. Whist reviewing the Garmin 210 I made large use of the Garmin Connect portal, the main features of which are listed below.

Google Maps

Every run you record and transfer to the Garmin Connect portal can be viewed on a Google map that sows you exactly where you ran. This is great for remembering old routes and keeping track of any potential new ones.

Summary Statistics

The first thing you see when you log into the Garmin Connect portal is a section displaying your last training sessions’ details. There are a number of statistics displayed, including Time, Distance, Average Pace, Best Pace, Worst Pace, Total Calories and even Elevation. You can view this data for the whole run or for each split which means there are a whole host of metrics that you can judge your performance against. You can also rename your individual runs or activities so you can find them easily at a later point.

Player

This is a relatively new feature that has only been added to the Garmin Connect portal over the past few months. The player section of the portal lets you play back your run (in varying amounts of speed) and displays your location on a map as well as your speed and elevation at that point on the map. This is great for gaining a graphical picture of your performance over a run and lets you see whether a slowdown in pace was due to elevation or something else along your route.

Reports

Reports is one of the most powerful tools in the Garmin Connect portal as it aggregates all of your training data and lets you track your long term performance. You can view all of the statistics recorded by your Forerunner 210 over any kind of time period that you like. Personally I use this section of the Garmin Connect portal to keep track of my total mileage for the month to make sure that I am not inadvertently running too little or too much (as I am currently rehabbing from a knee and hip injury I don’t want to build up the mileage too quickly). I also check to see if my overall average pace is on the downward trend along with my heart rate as a guide to how well I think I might perform in my next race. It is possible to pull some quite scary statistics out of the reporting section as you can find out things like how many calories you have burned over a year and how many hours of your life you have spent running. Always good for a laugh…or a cry depending on how you look at it!

Health

Again, the Health section of the Garmin Connect portal is relatively new and not something that I have explored much. You need something called a Tanita BC-1000 which measures body statistics such as weight, body fat percentage, muscle mass and bone density – all of which are very useful things to be aware of, especially if you are running as part of a weight loss program. The Tanita BC-1000 can be bought from the Garmin website and according to the Garmin site, transmits date to your Garmin 210, 310xt, FR60 or Edge 800, with some of the data being displayed on the watch whilst all of the 9 readings are stored for future transmission to Garmin Connect. I am a bit dubious about this working with the 210 as I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere else apart from on one page on the Garmin website but as you can see from the screen shot below from the Garmin Website, they clearly imply that the Tanita Bc-1000 is compatible with the Forerunner 210.

Goals

The goals section of Garmin Connect is another pretty useful tool as it lets you define and track your own running goals. You can create your own goals based around total time, distance, calories or frequency over a variety of different time horizons and then every time you complete a run using the Garmin 210 your progress will be displayed as a cumulative percentage. This is something that is pretty useful if you are training for a marathon or ultra and need to ramp up your mileage every month.

Explore

Last but not least is the Explore section of the Garmin Connect portal. This section of the site lets you search for activities (running, cycling etc) that other people have uploaded to the site from their own Garmin Forerunner watches. It is possible to search for an activity in a certain geographical area by keywords so for example, if you want to train for a specific race, then you can type its name in the search box to bring up a list of runs that people have used their GPS watches to record. When you find a run you like the look of, you can find out details like the runners heart rate, pace and splits as well as incline and a Google map of the route – the level of information available is pretty insane.

Watch Look and Feel

This Garmin 210 Review wouldn’t be a review at all if I didn’t mention a few points about the watch’s look and fee. Straight from the box it is possible to see that the Garmin 210 is much a similar size to the previous 110 model and weighs about the same. The big difference between the Forerunner 210 and watches like the 405 is the fact that the 210 is fitted with buttons and not a bezel, which make operating the watch during runs and in the cold and rain much easier. As it is controlled by buttons and not a bezel, the Forerunner 210 looks more like a conventional sports watch and as such wouldn’t look as out of place in an office or for normal everyday wear. The watch fits comfortably on both small and large wrists and is still comfortable to wear after use in a swimming pool.

Summary

Garmin seem to have finally struck the right balance between functionality and price with the new Forerunner 210 GPS watch. By adding key features such as current pace, heart rate monitoring, interval session setup and adequate water proofing they have turned the watch into a performance training tool that is more than suitable for runners of all abilities. From my Review of the Garmin 210 I have found the following features to be most useful.:

• Track important training indicators such as Pace (current, average), Distance, Time, Calories and Heart Rate by both splits and over the entire activity, using GPS or footpod.
• Heart rate based calorie calculations make the watch ideal for marathon or ultra runners who need to keep track of when they need to eat and how much.
• Alerts if you drop above or below one of five predetermined heart rate zones.
• Setup advanced interval workouts with the touch of a button.
• See a summary of your past lap after each lap, of entire completed activity before uploading to Garmin Connect.
• Use Garmin’s advanced Online Connect Portal to track your long term performance, set fitness goals, share runs and activities, play back your runs, and plot your routes on Google Maps.

Click here to buy from TriJungle.com with Free Shipping

• Weight: 10.1 oz/285 g
• Quickly adjust strap position
• Super MSB Technology

The Diamond Helmet represents our greatest achievement in helmets. At 285 grams and over 40 vents, we have designed a helmet to out perform the competition. Through patented technology, we have unleashed an absurd amount of ventilation while still meeting safety standards. Worn by Chrissie Wellington in her record-setting 2009 Ironman World Championship title.

• Weight: 10.1 oz/285 g
• Certifications: CPSC-ASTM-CEN-AS 2063*(*Order 1408847 for Australian certification)
• Vents: 40
• In-Mold Construction: Industrial process binding the microplastic and polystyrene together to add superior mechanical properties to these materials.
• Spiderlock Elite: Adjustable and detachable rack-and-pinion mechanism using only one hand to stabilize the helmet on the head. It is provided with ergonomic padding.
• Steplock Divider: Cam locking device to quickly adjust strap position.
• Sealed Airdry Padding: Washable sealed adjustment padding for enhanced durability, ergonomic design for optimum comfort.
• Evacuation channels: Moisture channels provide better airflow and moisture wicking.
• Super MSB Technology: Ring-shaped protection at the base of the helmet reinforces the perimeter to spread the shock of impact.
• Exo-Insert Technology: Lightweight inner plastic reinforcement spreads the shock of impact and helps maintain the helmet’s structure.
• Composite Reinforcement: Inner composite-made frame which spread the shock of impacts. It provides support and protection while being lightweight.

Click here to buy the Louis Garneau Diamond Road Cycling Helmet from TriJungle with Free Shipping

PRODUCT REVIEWS: ON TEST: LOUIS GARNEAU DIAMOND HELMET
Philip Booth — www.roadbikeaction.com

STORY:
For the past couple of years Louis Garneau has been the helmet sponsor for the Bouygues Telecom ProTour team. For 2009 Louis Garneau stepped up their sponsorship in the United States by supplying helmets to Team Type 1 and Rock Racing. To match their commitment on the race course Louis Garneau developed the Diamond helmet.

TECH:
The Diamond is Louis Garneau’s top of the line helmet and features forty vents. Of these forty vents, eight are what Louis Garneau calls Venturi vents and are designed for maximum ventilation. Louis Garneau has even wind tunnel tested the Diamond to validate the effectiveness of the Venturi vents and at 293-grams the Diamond still surpass safety standards.

The Diamond Helmet features Louis Garneau’s Super MSB (Monocoque Structural Base) technology. The monocoque polycarbonate base acts like an exo-skeleton and is one of the strongest ways to achieve structural strength. Along with their MSB technology, Louis Garneau also uses their EXI (EXO-INSERT) technology. The EXI uses two polycarbonate bars placed inside the helmet at key structural locations along with nine carbon bridge inserts to provide added strength in the case of a crash. This design allows for lighter weight and an increased number of vents. Their single knob Spiderlock Elite ratcheting tension system is used to ensure a secure fit.

RBA SAYS:
The Diamond features quality construction, fits well and the Spiderlock Elite retention system is a great addition that allows for easy one handed adjustment and provides a secure fit. A nice feature of the Spiderlock Elite system is the addition of foam padding around the rear tension strap to aid in comfort. The most notable feature of the Diamond is the eight Venturi vents at the front of the helmet. They also were the source of the greatest amount of debate between testers. Most of the debate came down to styling; with half the testers liking the look of the small vents, the other half thinking that vents didn’t fit the lines of the helmet. As for the effectiveness the Venturi vents, no testers noted a discernible difference between the Diamond and a comparable helmet with conventional vents. Despite the lack of perceived effectiveness of the Venturi vents, all testers agreed that the Diamond provided good airflow and was comfortable enough for long rides.

Overall the Diamond is a great helmet with several unique features and styling elements that separate it from other offerings on the market. If you are looking for a well built, stylish helmet with a bit of French Canadian flair, the Diamond is worth a look.

PRICE: $189.99
INFO: http://www.trijungle.com/lg-1405847.html
BONUS POINTS: Quality construction, Spiderlock Elite retention system, Comfortable.

Click here to buy the Louis Garneau Diamond Road Cycling Helmet from TriJungle with Free Shipping

By Angelique M.

Your friends at Trijungle hope you had a great — even championship — triathlon season. Now that you’ve made it to the triathlon off-season, you may be wondering what to do with yourself. The temperature is dropping, the days are shorter and you’re due for some much-deserved rest.

Of course, for triathletes like you, “rest” means recharging with a few weeks of light, diverse training. Fortunately, you can make cross-training fun with hiking, skiing, snowboarding, football, hockey and more. This is also prime time for focusing on form and correcting any shortcomings in your technique, allowed by the shorter and less intense off-season workouts.

And it’s a great time to improve on your racing performance. If your streets are snow-free, keep cycling. And even though the sun sets by 6 pm, you can install some Knog or Blackburn bike lights and roll with it —on familiar streets.

With months of 5Ks, 10ks and marathons now ahead of you, the triathlon off-season feels like “running season,” doesn’t it? Well, reflective gear makes running after dark safer. But don’t count on your sweat to keep you warm. Whether biking or running, layers are essential to avoiding illness and pulled muscles. Suit up with an Orca or 2XU running jacket; fullfinger gloves; arm warmers, toe warmers and leg warmers; shoe covers; 2XU, Skins or Orca Compression tights and tops; a winter jacket and, of course, a hat cover. Even running or cycling in the cold without an ear cover could give you quite a headache. And that dry winter air means you still need to keep hydrated, so choose the top-rated Fuel Belt Hydration Belt.

I know, that’s quite a wish list. However, some of this triathlon gear may already be in your closet. And the rest is a great investment, so you’ll be in top condition when triathlon season blooms again. After all, hibernation is for bears, not triathletes.