Green Daily

Get Green For Snow!

Cat Lincoln — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Climate Change, Fitness

No, no, I'm not talking about some crazy global warming version of yellow snow. I mean it's time to start thinking about eco-friendly ways to enjoy outdoor winter activities!

This is on my mind for a couple of reasons: a big freak storm in San Francisco this week reportedly dropped a foot of snow on the Sierras, which was thrilling for all of my shredding-starved friends. Then I got my favorite eco-newsletter, Smart 2 Be Green, which was all about green winter vacations and Eco-Snowboarding. Finally, someone named Jesse Huffman left very a detailed comment on my surfing post this week, telling us about Protect Our Winters, a non-profit group dedicated toward collective action by the "winter sports community" to reverse climate change.

It was like a sign from the pagan gods of snow and ice saying, "Do a post about Eco-friendly winter stuff!" Who am I to refuse a pagan god?
Smart 2 Be Green shares some cool eco-friendly sporting goods resources, like Arbor Sports which has bamboo snowboards. Yes, sustainable! The Venice-based company is candid about the challenges of balancing green priorities and still providing high-performance gear. They are a great example of how businesses must manage these two goals, and how important it is for us to support the ones that make this effort!

Remember, when you support green businesses, you make it economically viable and desirable for all businesses to go green!

Another reminder for skiers, snowboarders and even those of us who prefer to watch from the cozy (and hot toddy-filled) comfort of the lodge, is that it's important to respect the environment by staying on trails and packing our litter. They also recommend staying at green lodges. From my work writing for travel site Uptake.com, I can recommend that athletes heading west should check out the Ski Area Citizen's Coalition Top Ten green ski resorts.

Are you disturbed by the dramatic changes in the weather, which now limit winter sports? Feel like doing something proative about it? Check out Protect Our Winters. Started in 2007 by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones, the group is based on the idea that the people who "use" the snow most -- winter athletes -- have a vested interest, and responsibility, to take a leadership role in working toward solutions. How refreshing!

It's been a very activity-focused/climate change kind of week, so it seems fitting to add a post about green-snow activities to the posts about climate change, surfing, green gyms and naked, fur-free dancing.

Okay, maybe the naked, fur-free dancing thing doesn't fit in, but you know you wouldn't want me to stop writing about that stuff, either! Happy Friday!

Get Green For Snow! originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surfing Big Green Waves

Cat Lincoln — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: Travel and Vacation, Activism, Fitness

C. Lincon/Lucky Cat Photography

Surfers are one of the greenest and most environmentally-active groups of athletes. It probably has something to do with all of the time they spend hanging out in the water, on their self-propelled boards, waiting for waves and contemplating the environment around them. Looking out for sharks really sharpens your awareness of your surroundings!

Surfrider Foundation is the best known of the surfing environmental groups. Their strategic initiatives (yes, these surfers have strategic initiatives, so much for stereotypes) includes clean water, beach access, beach preservation and protecting special places. They celebrated their 25th anniversary this year with several events, including a beach clean-up followed by a concert, sponsored by Barefoot wines.

A lot of people still think of surfing as male sport, but Smart Girls Who Surf would like to remind us that women are awesome on the board, too. They are a small natural skincare company in California that make environmentally friendly sun protection, soaps, lotions and conditioners. They also sponsor an inspiring team of young women surfers, including world-traveler Liz Clark.

Do you ever think about the carbon footprint produced by surfing? Most of us don't, but GreenSurf.org is a non-profit dedicated to "sustainable surfing" to protect the oceans. From using environmentally friendly products (like Smart Girls Who Surf!) to offsetting the drive or flight to the waves with Carbonfree Surfing, Greensurf encourages surfers to be conscious of how their choices impact the environment. Oh, and they support Liz Clark, too!

You don't have to be a surfer to support these organizations. Just someone who loves the ocean and beaches, and wants them to be around so we can enjoy them. Which is pretty much all of us, right?

Surfing Big Green Waves originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Open - Blue Courts Go Green

Katherine Tweed — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fitness

The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center covers 46 acres. Photo: Katherine Tweed

Down the endless web of concrete hallways at Arthur Ashe Stadium, past framed photos of former champions, there is a large chute on a loading dock with a single purpose: Collecting recyclables.

There are 500 containers for bottles and cans peppered across the 46-acre Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The bins are the public face of a campaign to show that, while the courts may have painted blue years ago, this year the message is green.

"You don't know what you don't know," says Rita Garza, director of public relations and Green Task Force chairwoman for the USTA. Garza is honest about how much she had to learn about paper cups, renewable energy and tennis ball cans when Billie Jean King called for the U.S. Open to green its practices at the complex that bears her name.

Recycling collection point at the U.S. Open. Photo: Katherine Tweed

Although the efforts began in 2007, the 2009 tournament is the first year of scaled up efforts. USTA has been working with Natural Resource Defense Council to move towards clean energy, recycled napkins and visible efforts across the Tennis Center.

Last year only 15 percent of the trashcans were accompanied by a recycle bin. This year the ratio is one-to-one. Napkins once made from virgin forest are now 90 percent post-consumer paper. The U.S. Open, known for its night matches, consumes 2,000 megawatt-hours of electricity, which is now supplied by renewable wind credits. Two kitchens are equipped with large bins to collect food waste for composting. Just over half of the Lexus fleet that couriers players from hotels to the courts is hybrid, up from 20 percent in 2008.

Then Garza ran into the tennis ball can.

For anyone who has ever popped open a fresh can of balls, you know that the new balls live in a pressurized plastic can until you peel back a metal top. The top is held in place by a metal ring attached to the plastic.
It is the metal ring that confounded Garza and everyone she talked to. Because of it, the can couldn't be recycled, she was told. Wilson had already switch the can to about 25 percent recycled plastic, but Garza wanted more. She wanted to recycle the 18,000 to 20,000 cans the U.S. Open plows through in three weeks of play (including qualifying matches).

Tennis ball cans are piled up before collection for recycling. Photo: Katherine Tweed

NRDC told Garza to get in touch with Tom Outerbridge, director of municipal recycling at Sims Metal Management. Soon after, Outerbridge called Garza back on her ever-present Blackberry. "No problem," he told her. Garza was incredulous, but he wasn't kidding. Sims is collecting all the cans and slicing the metal tops off, so the rest of the container can be recycled. As for the balls themselves, they are used in year-round programs at the USTA long after the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium are dimmed.

USTA has benefited from NRDC's relationships with companies like Sims, which they have partnered with in the past as part of Major League Baseball's Team Greening Program. "We could not have done what we've done so quickly [without the learning curve] from MLB," Garza says. Although the U.S. Open is only a few weeks every year and not an entire season, there were many lessons that transferred, says Allen Hershkowitz, senior scientist and director of sports greening at NRDC. "All of the leagues are energetically embracing this issue," he says, "and there's a lot of work to be done."

There sure is. While Garza has found a solution to recycling tennis ball cans at the U.S. Open, it is not something that the rest of the tennis community can easily embrace. Next year, she says fans will be able to bring their used tennis ball cans for recycling, but time will tell just how willing fans are to cart them all the way to Queens. Eventually, the USTA hopes to have best practices guides available to help local leagues switch to clean energy, buy recycled paper products, and eventually work with local recyclers to recycle the tennis ball cans.

Hershkowitz says that it is the trickle-down effect that makes it so valuable to work with professional sports. "We're interested in the environmental footprint of the event," he says, "but we're mostly interested in the environmental footprint of the supply chain." Will the U.S. Open's efforts eventually lead to a tennis ball can that can be recycled anytime, anywhere? We will have to wait and see.

US Open - Blue Courts Go Green originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Add a Bike to Your Travel Plans

Cat Lincoln — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:17:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Fitness

(Photo by Getty Images)

Sure, electric cars and hybrids have their place in the green transportation hierarchy, but bikes are universally acknowledged as the greenest way to get around. Completely emissions-free, powered by muscles and sweat, they are the healthy choice for the environment and for you.

However, like so many good habits (or intentions,) biking your way around town can go from difficult to outright impossible when you're traveling. Bikes are a pain to transport on airplanes, and while you can rent in most places, you never know what kind of equipment you'll find. Plus, even if you are lucky enough to get a decent bike, it can still be hard to find important information like where you can safely ride or if there are bike racks at your destination.

Of course, a clever person named George Gill came up with a solution: RentaBikeNow.com. This site lets you research the available bikes in a city or town, see photos and rates, reserve it online, and then get information on the best and safest routes. You can also get accessories, like kiddie trailers, helmets and locks.
RentaBike.com has information for 157 locations in the U.S. and Canada, and you can see the site in English, French and Spanish. The site just launched a few months ago, but word of mouth is already spreading. Lance Armstrong's coach, Chris Carmichael, even tweeted about it!

And remember, you don't have to go on vacation to use RentaBikeNow.com. It's a great way to ease into a biking lifestyle, trying out different bikes and getting a feel for your local bike scene. Remember, good for you and good for the environment always equals good idea.

One caveat: you might want to check to see if any of those naked bicyclist demonstrators were recently in your area, and if they used rented bikes -- and if they did, make sure the seat has been thoroughly disinfected!

Add a Bike to Your Travel Plans originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minor League Ballpark Offers 4,800 Calorie Deathburger

Josh Loposer — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Local, Fitness

We have an outrageous new contestant in the running for the title of world's most wasteful burger. The West Michigan Whitecaps are adding a 4lb, 4,800 calorie burger to the menu at their ballpark in Grand Rapids. It's called the Fifth Third Ballpark Burger ... but I'm calling it "The Deathburger" -- catchier name, right? Leave it to America's favorite past time to dream up the world's most wasteful burger.
The $20 burger is made up of five beef patties, five slices of deliciously over processed American cheese, nearly a cup of chili, and a liberal quantity of Fritos and salsa stacked high on a 8" sesame seed bun. Apparently, if you can eat the entire thing in one sitting, you get a free t-shirt -- and most likely a trip to the emergency room. Wow, what a deal.

At a time when even unrepentant meat pushers like Burger King are looking to foster a relationship with vegetarians, it seems kinda ridiculou to offer a 4,800 calorie burger. Judging by its ingredients alone, the Deathburger has to be tied with the Bacon Explosion on PETA's watch list.

Minor League Ballpark Offers 4,800 Calorie Deathburger originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yogoco Yoga Bag - Green Daily Giveaway!

Cat Lincoln — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Fashion, Fitness

When it comes to yoga, we all have the best intentions. One thing I do to make it easier to make it to classes is keep my yoga bag by the door, ready to go with all of my gear -- mat, towel, water bottle, and an extra t-shirt, just in case.

"But what magical bag can hold all this?" You may ask. Why, the Yogoco yoga bag, of course!

It has two compartments -- one for your mat, and another one for whatever else you need. There's also an inside pocket to hold your keys, cell phone (turned off!) and money.

Besides being so functional, the bags are socially responsible, too. They're made from eco-friendly, recycled t-shirt scraps. Also? Incredibly cute!

Best of all, this week we're doing a three-way giveaway of a Yogoco bag in your choice of color and pattern! In addition to entering here, you can enter two more times, at sister sites That's Fit and StyleList!

Ready to OM in style? Here's how to enter:

o. To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us about your place to do yoga.
o. The comment must be left before 5pm Eastern Time on Friday, March 27, 2009.
o. You may enter only once on each site, for a total of three entries.
o. One winner will be selected from each site in a random drawing, for a total of three winners.
o. Each winner will receive one Yogoco yoga bag (valued at approximately $89).
o. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

Click here for complete Official Rules.

Winners are notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you're the winner!

Yogoco Yoga Bag - Green Daily Giveaway! originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adidas Goes Sustainable with Rainbeau Mars

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Fashion, Fitness

At last, the sustainable yoga collaboration between adidas and Rainbeau Mars is about to hit the stores. And it looks very cool!

This is good newes for all of the yoginis who want the reliability of adidas, which means you can wash your yoga pants over and over again and they won't fall down down when you're in tree post, served up with a sweet helping of environmental responsibility.

The line uses Tencel(R) fabric, which is made from renewable eucalyptus fibers, sourced from FSC-certified forests. Adidas also uses recycled materials for the trim, and water-based dyes for the prints, both of which reduce the production footprint.

Of course, having the endorsement of yoga guru Rainbeau Mars makes everything that much more attractive. If I get the orange top, will I be able to do that side leg out handstand?

Gallery: Rainbeau Mars for Adidas

Adidas Goes Sustainable with Rainbeau Mars originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shrink Your Waistline to Shink Your Footprint

Christina Clark — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Health, Fitness

Here's something to think about- heavier people have a larger carbon footprint. If two people are the same height and do the same things overall, the heavier person will have a larger carbon footprint.

It will take more power for your car to move you around, which will use up more gasoline. And, theoretically, heavier people would be eating a bit more, adding to food miles, production, etc. It's an interesting thing to add to your reasons to lose weight and something I hadn't considered before.

If you combine some things like walking or biking instead of using the car and eating more locally produced vegetables you'll be accomplishing green goals and hopefully, losing some weight in the process.

Shrink Your Waistline to Shink Your Footprint originally appeared on Green Daily on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Swimmer Phelps Smokes Pot: The World May End

Sea Stachura — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: News, Fitness

How am I to go on? Just last year I was proclaiming a new way to power our homes and fight the obesity epidemic.

All that we needed was a million Michael Phelps. Children could learn his dolphin kick and swim their way to a slimmer waist and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Their pools would be the new dams.

Now that will never happen, not after eight time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps got caught smoking weed at a college party. The environment will suffer for his poor behavior. Who is going to let Phelps teach children the dolphin kick now that there is photographic evidence he knows how to use a water bong?

One has to wonder if the water used in said water bong was then poured into a compost pile or if it was sent into a sanitation system? And was the pot locally and organically grown or was it some of that hydroponic stuff? That weed is grown in abandoned and foreclosed homes under grow lights that suck up lots of water and energy.

How environmentally aware is our 23-year old hero? What is the world to do now that we know his inorganic swimsuit and chlorinated pool is not his only environmental crime?

[via Huffington Post and BBC]

Swimmer Phelps Smokes Pot: The World May End originally appeared on Green Daily on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Recycle your soccer jerseys through charity

Sea Stachura — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:19:00 EST

Filed under: Kids and Parenting, Green Giving, Fitness

How much does a soccer jersey cost nowadays? $50? $75 sometimes more than $100. And how long do they last? A season concludes and the kids are off to new uniforms and bigger sizes. Why not put those old jerseys to good use in another part of the world?

A program through Bangladesh Relief Fund will take those unneeded jerseys off your hands and provide them to kids in Bangladesh. The program is based in Ohio, of all places. It's relatively small, but anyone is welcome to make a donation. The concept is that soccer unites and heals.

I discovered the program after a local newspaper profiled a team of Minnesota players that donated their old jerseys to the program. Think of it, an entire team's worth of uniforms for kids in a poor nation to use and play in.

This YouTube video has more details on the program.

[via Mankato Free Press]

Recycle your soccer jerseys through charity originally appeared on Green Daily on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nature's Bounty $10,000 Giveaway

Kelly Leahy — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:19:00 EST

Filed under: Health, Tips, Natural Body Care, Fitness

Nature's Bounty, a vitamin and supplement supplier, is offering $10,000 for a green home makeover. As part of the company's Healthy You, Healthy Earth Sweepstakes, they hope to raise awareness about their environmentally friendly products and policies.

In addition to the makeover money, other prizes offered are a Nintendo(R) Wii Fit(R), Nature's Bounty recycled fiber tote bags, and gift certificates up to $100 in value. To enter, go to their website and play a brief game of chance. You'll know immediately if you are a winner or not.

What would you do with a $10,000 green makeover? It's not enough to buy the kitchen of my dreams but I could certainly use it for solar panels.

Nature's Bounty $10,000 Giveaway originally appeared on Green Daily on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Schwinn Pedals into the Hybrid Bike Market

Josh Loposer — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Gadgets and Tech, Fitness

Good news for lazy bikers! Sometime in February, Schwinn will be launching its first foray into the pedal-assisted hybrid bike market. Their first e-bike frame will be named (appropriately) the Tailwind, and with its user-friendly, fast charging battery system made by Toshiba, it's sure to be one of the most low maintenance hybrid two wheelers around -- pretty much the polar opposite of the 48V Flat Tracker.

If you're into the whole pedal-assist idea, it sounds like Schwinn has worked out the kinks. The Tailwind plugs straight into a regular outlet, and can be fully charged within 30 minutes (or as few as 7 with an aftermarket charger), that's about 1/8th of the charge time for similar bikes. Also, its battery maintains a 100% charge after 2000 charges and only drops to 80% after 6000 cycles. Here's the only downside I see with the Tailwind -- and it's a pretty big one -- price. According to Schwinn, this baby's going to cost $3,199. Do you think anybody's going to be willing to pay that for a pedal-assisted bike these days?

Gallery: Schwinn's Tailwind

[via CleanTechnica]

Schwinn Pedals into the Hybrid Bike Market originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stupidest Bike Lane Ever Campaign

Josh Loposer — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Health, Fitness

Sure, it's no surprise that every now in then, some city planners don't take bicycle transit seriously. They throw in a couple of completely useless token bike lanes just to say their city is bike-friendly, score some brownie points, and move on to the next luncheon, ribbon cutting, or strip club. If no one complains, then can go about their business pretending that they've made everyone happy.

That's why the guys at SlateV.com decided to go around drawing attention to these so-called bike lanes, an awareness campaign that I think is pretty impressively vigilant. Of course, bikers do have a reputation for going vigilante, but I digress. This is the type of stuff bikers should be doing to pressure their towns to take bike commuting seriously. Slate asked cyclists around the globe to report all stupid bike lanes, and the results came pouring in. Check out some of these idiotic lanes after the break.

[via Good/Blog]

The Stupidest Bike Lane Ever Campaign originally appeared on Green Daily on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Newton Running Reinvents the Shoe Box

Rigel Celeste — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:16:00 EST

Filed under: Fashion, Fitness

Besides striving to make quality running shoes that deliver quality while having as small an impact on the environment as possible, Newton Running thinks shoe boxes as we know them need an eco-friendly makeover and they've taken the initiative to do it. Made of 100% post consumer recycled materials, their shoe "boxes" are really just molded cartons. Because they fit the shape of the shoes they waste less space during shipping and transport, and a pair of socks in one shoe and a reusable shoe bag in the other takes the place of tissue paper stuffing.

Very cool, and the shoes aren't too shabby either.

Gallery: Newton Running Shoes

Newton Running Reinvents the Shoe Box originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Matt Damon and the Sahara Run

Whit Honea — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:04:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Health, Movies, TV and Books, Activism, Fitness

Actor Matt Damon is a charitable guy. That's no secret. He and Charlie Engle co-founded the H2O Africa Project to help communities in Africa gain access to clean drinking water.
It is their charity that is featured throughout the documentary Running the Sahara which Damon produced and narrated. The film follows Engle and two other men as they become the first to run across the Sahara. That's over 4,300 miles which they completed (or did they?) in 111 days. According to ecorazzi that's the equivalent of 170 marathons in a row (my math isn't so good).

That's pretty amazing. I wouldn't have lasted 111 minutes (which I could track on my Limited Edition Running The Sahara Chronograph).

[via ecorazzi]

Matt Damon and the Sahara Run originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eco-Friendly Workout Tips

Christina Clark — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Fitness

It's the new year and getting in shape is on everyone's mind but have you thought about how green your workout choices might be? I'm not going to say anyone is making the wrong choice if they are actually working out but, let's look at some ways you can make greener workout choices.

Go outside! Ok, I know, many of you are dealing with snow. If you can, go outside and walk or job, hike a trail, go snowshoeing, do something. Even shoveling snow will burn some calories. While you're out there, enjoy the nature around you and take a moment to pick up any trash you might see.
If you can't go outside, use some of the workout DVDs you already have or pick some up used as the people who have already gotten in shape tackle their clutter and sell them off.
If you must purchase a treadmill or other exercise machine, buy it used and do your research to find something that is energy efficient.
Look for more natural fabrics in your workout wear, or fleece and other fabrics made from recycled plastics.
If you need to join a gym because of space and weather limitations, think about only joining for the winter months and make sure to be eco-friendly while you are there. Use only one (or no) towels, bring your reusable water bottle and encourage others to do the same.
Create power from your workout with tools like the Pedal-A-Watt.

We just installed a woodstove at our house so I'm guessing my winter workouts will be coming from lots of wood chopping, splitting, stacking and hauling.

Eco-Friendly Workout Tips originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Oregon: A Gym Powered By Exercise

Sea Stachura — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:36:00 EST

Filed under: GreenTech, Alternative Energy, Fitness

Remember going to the local science museum's elecricity exhibit? You get on a bike hooked up to a generator and pedal away until soon that generator feeds a light bulb, that flickers and burns bright.

The Green Microgym in Portland is using the same concept to power the TVs and stereos at the gym. Solar power feeds the lights. Bikes are linked together using a technology called the Human Dynamo.

The Human Dynamo is a bike connected to a battery that stores the energy people create while they pedal. That energy is then converted and appliances plugged into the box feed off its power. The system is particularly effective in group spinning classes, and any other class that involves some sort of wheel.

To save energy the gym also shuts televisions and equipment off when no one's using them.

The Green Microgym's next step in becoming carbon neutral is sending their energy to Portland's power company to create long term energy storage.

[via BBC]

In Oregon: A Gym Powered By Exercise originally appeared on Green Daily on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An Iditarod Race Where People Are Their Own Dogs

Sea Stachura — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Health, Fitness

All of the dogs I know are good running partners and sleeping partners, but I would be pained to see them serve as leads of a dog sled. Now, instead of lashing a group of dogs together to lead a human through the Arctic wilderness, a group of athletes are competing in an iditarod without four-legged creatures.

The Iditarod Trail Invitational is over a thousand miles in frozen Alaska, and competitors can run, bike or ski their way to the finish line. But they cannot use any motorized power and they cannot use dogs. Last year's winner completed the race in just over 18 days. A few food drops are set out along the path, but competitors carry their own gear, cross ice and snow and move continuously until the finish line.

Not many people finish the race. The 350-mile race is more popular. But those who do the longer race and complete it may feel a bit like the dogs who arrive at the end of an sled-dog mush paws bloodied, teeth rotted from dehydration and ready to sleep for a week.

This year's race starts March 1, 2009.

[via NY Times]

An Iditarod Race Where People Are Their Own Dogs originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan's Bicycle Vending Machines

Josh Loposer — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Fitness

Imagine a world where bike racks were a thing of the past, locks were not necessary, and bikes were stored out of the reach of lowlife, thieving, bike boosters. Well, if you lived in Japan, that would be your daily reality. Apparently, we have been totally missing out here in the States, because over there you can store your bike in what is basically a high tech underground vending machine. Awesome.

For a price of 2,600 yen a month -- I know that sounds like a lot, but it's actually about $29 -- you can get a ticket to store your bike in one of the Eco-Cycle storage machines around Japan, conveniently housing bikes underground as to not clog up the already congested city streets. According to some, although I don't really subscribe this idea, one of the major reasons people don't ride to work is because of the lack of safe bike parking. Personally, I think it's because it's cold, hot, rainy, uncomfortable, messes up your hair, and people are lazy. Still, the Eco-Cycle system is pretty awesome, and I'd use it just to watch my bike emerge from an underground cavern.

Check out video of this amazing system after the fold.
[via CleanTechnica]

Japan's Bicycle Vending Machines originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boulder Awarded Platinum Bike Status

Josh Loposer — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Local, Fitness

Over the past year, there's been no shortage of exciting green news coming out of Boulder, CO. Aside from being the first city to shoot for a zero-waste football stadium, the city has been hard at work building one of the most bicycle-friendly traffic infrastructures in the nation, and it appears that their hard work hasn't gone unnoticed. The League of American Bicyclists has awarded Boulder with "Platinum Bike Status" -- one of only 3 cities in the US.

With 381 miles of bikeways, contraflow bike lanes, bike-thru banking (our favorite), and even a real estate company that takes clients on bicycle tours, Boulder has joined the ranks of Portland, Oregon and Davis, California as the dominating platinum bike cities. The two-wheeled enthusiasts at StreetFilms put together this video in honor of city's achievement and to get people interested in the biking wonderland that is lovely Boulder, Colorado.

Which city will be the next to acheive this distinction? Are there any others that are even close?

[via Treehugger]

Boulder Awarded Platinum Bike Status originally appeared on Green Daily on Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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