Rowbike - Cool or Weird?
Imagine rowing off into the sunset on two wheels. You can do it with the Rowbike. This cool/weird contraption was invented by a guy named Scott Olson, more famous for sticking rollerskate wheels on his hockey boots in 1979 to spark the rollerblade craze. In the mid-1990s, Olsen came up with Act II -- the Rowbike.
This recumbent rower on wheels is not like riding a bike. According to Outside magazine's Lab Rat's Nick Heil, it's a good workout if you can survive the weird stares. Rising above the odd-factor, rowbiking delivers a killer ab workout and burns more calories than jogging, without the joint stress. Rowbike's popular 720 Sport (pictured) sells for $1,190. If you can't ride a bike, no excuses -- try the 4-Wheel Crewzer ($1,999).Check out the Lab Rat's 2:00 video on the rowbike, and learn more about the product here. About 6,000 have been sold over the years, but I've never seen one. What do you think -- cool, weird or both?
The clouds are thick and gray, frost covers the morning grass and flurries are whipping about -- winter cycling season is here (at least in Chicago). From the right snot rag to sandwich bags over your feet, here are a few tips to keep you warm, safe and cycling all winter long:
Don't be one of those gross people who holds one nostril and blows a wad of goo out the other, while riding, of course. Keep a paper towel folded up your sleeve and de-snot at the red lights. Better yet, try the high-tech Snot Spot shown in the gallery below.
Layer wicking clothes on your torso and legs. No cotton allowed. Wet, cold cotton kills. Don't wear it.
Cover that noggin' with a balaclava, but make sure you find one that doesn't muffle your hearing. You need all five senses on alert to cycle safely.
Lobster gloves (two fingers and a thumb) over a silk glove keep you warm, or any glove/mitten combo. For wet gloves, one Bicycling Magazine reader suggests you toss 'em into a convenient store microwave for 30 seconds. This is a selfish move -- just think of the construction worker behind you unknowingly walking out with a microwaved-double cheeseburger a la sweaty glove.
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Your dad taught you how to buy a car. You had a couple 'How To Buy Your Dream Home' books on your nightstand when it was time to purchase your first piece of property. But when it comes to home gyms, most of us head into the treadmill store total amateurs. If you're hoping the tree will be trimmed with a new piece of cardio and some weights this Christmas, pass along these don't-miss-home-gym-buying-tips to your Santa in disguise:
Research machines and space -- Treadmill Doctor has reliable feedback on cardio equipment and the American Council on Exercise offers home gym points to ponder.
Check Craiglist, eBay, even local classifieds for house sales -- dusty treadmill steals are out there.
Test drive before buying -- bring your gym clothes along while shopping. Give it a true work out, then you'll know if you really like it.
Cardio equipment is like a piano -- be prepared to pay for delivery if you're buying used, as that behemoth probably won't fit in that gas-guzzling SUV you've been trying to sell in this nightmare economy.
May your home gym dreams come true this holiday season. 
iPhone and iPod Touch users, get ready to get fit! New, easy to use, and fun applications are just waiting for you to download. What's more ... many of them are free! iTunes Store has added a category for apps, so after searching for your favorite workout tunes, you can search for a new tool to help you track your exercise minutes, count calories, or monitor your vital statistics while working out. Whether you're dedicated to tracking your progress and plan to do so from here on out, or you just need to track your progress for a few days to make sure you're still on track, putting an application on your iPhone or iPod Touch makes it easy. %Gallery-36742%