iBike Dash turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a cycling computer

IBIKE DASH CC WIRELESS CYCLING COMPUTER LAUNCHED FOR IPHONE & IPOD TOUCH

Works as Your Own Personal Fitness Trainer -- Low-Cost Intelligent Biking System
Calculates Heart Rate, Intensity, Speed, Calories, & Time to Safely Get You into Shape

Boca Raton, FL, February 22, 2011 -- Velocomp LLP, www.iBikeDash.com, a leading sports technology company and creator of the iBike® line of power meters, announced today the iBike Dash CC (Cycling Computer), a light-weight wireless bicycle computer system that turns any iPhone or iPod touch into your own personal fitness trainer. Priced starting at $199, the iBike Dash CC creates an entirely new category of interactive cycling devices, enhancing the cycling experience in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before to help you finally keep that New Year's resolution to get in shape!

Includes Free iPhone/iPod touch Bike App with Easy-to-Read High-Res Color Graphics & Animation

Easy to install, the compact (3.2 oz) iBike Dash CC takes your biking from leisure to fitness, helping you quickly reach your goals by measuring your speed, power, heart rate, wind speed, time, trip, elevation, and calories to become healthier and fitter. The iBike Dash CC includes a free iBike app available from the iTunes App Store at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibike/id369550718?mt=8, which features customizable tools, from simple speedometers to work-out programs. The app is displayed on the iPhone or iPod touch screen with easy to read high-resolution color graphics and animation.

Dispels "No Pain, No Gain" Myth – "HR Pacing Meter" Tells Boundaries – Critical for Safe Training

Intelligent biking is all about sustaining your energy, so that you have more than enough left for the last few miles. Forget the "no pain, no gain" myth, the iBike Dash CC tells you how hard is too hard. Riding within your boundaries is critical for safe training, and with the iBike Dash CC's "HR Pacing Meter," you can see at a glance whether your heart rate in the right zone. The HR Pacing Meter determines your fitness level with 5 Heart Rate Color Zones from 50% to 100%. These zones indicate the degree of difficulty you will experience when cycling in each zone at your fitness level: from Blue (very light) to Red (very hard). Each of the zones address different goals, from losing weight in the bottom zones to improving fitness in the middle zones, to maximizing performance in the top zones. After regular exercise, you'll find you're able to exercise more comfortably in the upper zones and for longer times in the lower zones.

Use Optimal Cycling Effort to Burn Fat

iBike Dash CC also tells you when your cycling effort is optimal for burning fat; how many calories you're using during the ride, on all rides this week or all rides this month; what speed and distance you're traveling; and even where you are on your bike route. Also, iBike Dash CC can help you set some personal goals, measure your progress and allow you to adjust your performance as you enjoy your ride.

Virtual Co-pilot, Navigator, & Trainer -- All in One

"We'd all like to be fitter, healthier and lose some weight, but the truth is just riding your bike for
half an hour or so a day won't necessarily do it," said John Hamann, CEO, Velocomp. "With the revolutionary iBike Dash CC on your iPhone or iPod touch, you can take the next step, knowing how to manage your biking effort to the best effect to help you become fitter with an amazing cycling dashboard at your fingertips -- a virtual co-pilot, navigator, and trainer -- all in one."

iBike Dash CC Features:
50 power-based and Heart Rate (HR) zone workouts.
Includes ANT+ speed sensor with optional sensors for cadence and HR.
User customizable touch screens display cycling information in color with unique graphics and animation.
Features easy-to-read large fonts with back-light display for night-time viewing.
· iPhone's GPS, map, and weather capabilities operate seamlessly with the iDash, greatly enhancing the rider's experience.
· Power-based indoor trainer feature.
· Bike odometer.
Calendar feature keeps track of weekly cycling stats, including calories, miles and speed.
· HR Zone dial presents cycling exertion in an extremely intuitive manner.
· Easy-to-follow, on-screen instructions and instructional videos.
"Phone BoothTM" dashboard/case houses circuitry, keeps out water and absorbs shock.
Easy to install, use, and move from bike to bike.
No need for calibration.
Allows seamless hands-free calls using your iPhone and Bluetooth headset with no interruption to ride data collection.
Allows full use of touch screen, even while wearing cycling gloves.
A rechargeable/replaceable spare battery can be housed inside the "Phone Booth" to extend the
operating time of your iPhone/iPod touch.
· Compatible with all ANT+ speed, cadence and HR sensors.

Pricing & Availability

The iBike Dash CC is available immediately for iPhone and iPod touch, priced at $199 MSRP for the basic version and $329 MSRP for the advanced version with additional features (including cadence, HR, calorie measurement, battery and charger) through the Apple Store at: http://store.apple.com/us/product/H3828LL/A or Velocomp at: http://www.ibikesports.com/ibikestore.html. iBike Dash CC includes the holder, mount, wireless speed sensor, iBike app for iPhone or iPod touch, and iBike software for Mac and Windows desktop computers. For more information, see www.ibikedash.com.

About Velocomp - First to Deliver Advanced Power Measurement at a Consumer-Friendly Price

Velocomp, LLP is a leading sports technology company based in Boca Raton, Florida. The first in the bicycle industry to deliver advanced power measurement at a mainstream price, Velocomp is dedicated to
product breakthroughs in the areas of performance, measurement, design, and value. Launched in June
2006, thousands of iBike® power meters are being enjoyed worldwide. For more information, see www.iBikeSports.com.

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Why You Need an iPod Touch This Holiday Season

 

We really did our damnedest to select only one Apple product for the Mashable 10, but try as we might, we just couldn’t omit the iPod touch. For nearly a decade, Apple’s iPod line has largely defined the world of portable media players. When it comes down to it, the iPod is still the king.

The original iPod was designed to do one thing: Play music. The iPod shuffle and the iPod nano are evolutions of that basic idea — and both are stellar music players. With the iPod touch, however, you get more than just a music player — and more than just a video player — you get a bona fide pocket computer.

Here’s why we think it deserves a place on your wish list this year.

The iPod touch is one of the most versatile gadgets on the market. As an audio player, it’s pretty fantastic — after all, this is an iPod. Playing back video is equally impressive, especially with the new retina-display. Like the iPhone 4, the iPod touch has a new display that is super clear, meaning that text, images, games and video all look amazing.

The fourth generation iPod touch also includes dual cameras — just like the iPhone 4. Although the still camera on the iPod touch is lacking, it takes great looking 720p HD video. It also features a front-facing camera, which works with Apple’s FaceTime.

What continues to blow us away about the iPod touch is just how thin and light Apple manages to make the device. I thought my second generation iPod touch was small — but the latest model is even thinner (how?) and lighter. It also has a longer battery life.

If you’ve got an Android smartphone, the iPod touch is a great way to still get to experience all the apps and games available for iOS. That means that you have access to the 300,000+ apps in the App Store. Virtually every app for the iPhone also works for the iPod touch.

From Facebook to Flight Control, there really is an app for almost everything. There are also some very high quality games.

Nintendo and Sony might publicly scoff at the notion that the iPod is a threat to the Sony PSP or the Nintendo DSi, but both companies have every reason to be scared. The fact is, more and more high profile game companies are flocking to iOS, and thanks to the new display, the updated processor and the powerful graphics engine, the iPod touch is a great portable gaming device.

Titles like RAGE HD and Dexter the Game easily rival anything you’d see on a handheld console. Plus, with Game Center, you can compete with your friends or with strangers across the Net.

What’s more, Apple updates the iOS software a few times a year, adding in new features and enhancements. iOS 4.2 was just released, adding AirPlay and AirPrint support to the mix.

In short, the iPod touch is a lot more than a poor man’s iPhone 4 — it’s a pocket powerhouse.

Let us know how many iPods you have owned over the years in the comments.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, hatman12

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