exercises

Swarms of shiny red bikes will hit Denver streets on Thursday, making it one of the few U.S. cities to boast a bicycle-sharing program. Starting on Earth Day, residents of the Mile High City looking for a more eco-friendly commute or a stationary bike alternative will have access to hundreds of B-cycle bikes stationed throughout the city.

For commuters, the rental fee might be cheaper than gas. A 24-hour rental is $5, a 7-day rental is $20, and a 30-day rental is $30. Commuters can join the annual program for $65, giving them access to bikes for 365 days.

If a biker can pick up and return their bicycle to any station within 30 minutes, the rental is free.

At Denver B-cycle's launch, 400 bicycles will be available, making Denver host to the largest bike-sharing program in the country. Up next is Washington, D.C.'s SmartBike program, which distributes 120 bicycles.

But B-cycle isn't only renting out bikes; it's aiming to build community, too. "Denver B-cycle members will have their own personal account page, which will track total miles, carbon offset, calories burned, money saved, and trip details, among other things. Members will have the ability to share this information on Facebook and Twitter with a simple click of a button," Brent Tongco, B-cycle's spokesperson from the city and county of Denver, told CNET. … Read more

The ubiquity of computers in the workplace has created a legion of workers who spend long days typing and staring at screens, often to the detriment of their bodies and their productivity. Oh, we know we should take breaks to rest our eyes, wrists, and minds, but that's difficult to do when the work seems never-ending and deadlines are looming. WorkPace is an ingenious program that reminds--or forces--you to take periodic breaks, ensuring that both your mind and body have a chance to refresh themselves.

The program is extremely well-designed, and first-time users will find a thorough introductory video … Read more

If roller skating is one of the fun physical activities you hate to give up as you age, and you care more about your health than what you look like maintaining it, the just-released Skaters Coach might be for you.

The device, which looks like what might happen if a walker and a tricycle got together and made babies, is bound to turn heads as you flex your age-defying muscles to the delight of passersby. It's neither as lazy as steering a Segway, nor as crazy as staying upright on a unicycle.

"It's a perfect tool for … Read more

Just breathe. It's a mantra any athlete must repeat, as obvious--and unavoidable--as the activity may be. But because of pollution outdoors, poor ventilation in gyms, or just stress (example: we climbers tend to hold our breath, to our detriment, when working through big, scary moves), it can be hard to get enough oxygen.

Thus was born Oxyfit, a lightweight backpack-with-tube that is touted as "the world's first compact personal oxygen supply." Although mention of it has only recently surfaced on U.S. tech blogs, the system appears (via Google Translate; I do not speak or read … Read more

In theory, Advanced eLearning Builder allows users to create quizzes, tutorials, and other electronic learning tools. In practice, the program is a confusing jumble of features that left us unable to create even a single page of a quiz.

The program's interface is both unattractive and unintuitive. Users can select from a variety of templates, including those for multiple choice, true/false, and fill in the blank exercises. Although they're not pretty, the templates seem like a nice idea, until you realize that it's seemingly impossible to edit the templates and actually insert your content. We tried … Read more

Music Theory Basics - Interval Training Complete has a focused set of tools for learning musical intervals. By offering a few basic options and some great tests, this program will appeal to anyone learning or relearning music theory.

The program's interface is surprisingly simple and intuitive, considering the complex material it covers. The layout consists of large buttons and onscreen directions that shouldn't require a trip to the Help file, which is fortunate, because there's no Help file to consult. Music Theory Basics opens with a simple menu asking how you want to learn. You can choose … Read more

When my husband came down with H1N1 a few weeks back, I was certain I'd get it. As he sweat through a fever that climbed to almost 104 degrees, I took care of him, slept 10 hours a night, and didn't leave the house so as not to spread the virus. And yet the only fever I felt was of the cabin variety.

I thought I'd somehow avoided the highly contagious strain of influenza, but new research indicates that, thanks to my daily habit of biking and/or climbing, I may have gotten away with a barely … Read more

The TrekDesk press release is packed with all sorts of alarming statistics about adult obesity, as well as alluring statistics about the benefits of walking. The combination is designed to make you want one, and want one now, in spite of the product's $479-sans-treadmill price tag.

Why go for a lovely walk outside, or exercise on an ordinary treadmill inside, when you can walk at your desk--without even sweating? It is "Easy to Do" and "Requires No Extra Effort." (The All Caps mean they Really Mean It.)

TrekDesk is by no means the first attempt … Read more