Raising the Bar

Can the world handle another energy bar? The Army thinks so. Named after the Army’s standard response, Hooah! is the performance nutrition bar designed by the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine to help “delay the onset of fatigue and improve the physical and mental performance of soldiers during sustained operations.” And now it’s available to Joe Public. The army’s dieticians claim the bar delivers a slow continuous conversion of glycogen to glucose through the perfect balance of protein, carbs, fat, and vitamins. And it tastes good too, so you’ll be able to “soldier through” your next task without the chalky taste of most energy bars. Shaving your head and carrying firearms are the only foreseen side effects. www.hooah.com.

Sport Report

What sports are becoming more popular? What activites are losing momentum? The Outdoor Industry Association tracks participation in outdoor activities across the country, and it recently released its analysis of outdoor trends over the past eight years. Here are a few of the highlights from its 2005 report:

• Participation in human-powered outdoor activities has increased 6 percent increase since 1998.

• Bicycling is the most popular outdoor activity, with over 38 percent of Americans going for a spin last year. 34 percent of Americans went hiking, 29 percent went camping, 18 percent went trail running, and 14 percent went paddling in 2004.

• The fastest-growing activities over the past eight years are trail running, canoeing, kayaking, and snowshoeing.

• Backpacking had a 23 percent decrease in participation in the last two years, climbing gym participation dropped 34 percent, and rafting participation declined 20 percent. Car camping dropped 18 percent.

• Participation by ethnic Americans in outdoor activities is at an all-time high: 1 in 5 participants in outdoor activities are ethnically diverse. Biking, trail running, and hiking are the most popular activities.

• 80 percent of 16-24 year olds went outdoors last year-primarily biking, rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, and trail running.

Downtown Dirt

The Big Peach ain’t exactly known for being bike-friendly. But that’s starting to change, thanks to the Southern Off-Road Biking Association (SORBA). SORBA is developing a stacked loop trail system at Utoy Creek, a greenway only a mile from a high-volume public transportation station in downtown Atlanta. The trails will be the first new mountain bike paths built within Atlanta city limits in over a decade and could introduce the sport to a more diverse demographic. “The trails are near the Georgia Dome in a predominantly black neighborhood next to an elementary school,” says Patrick Barry of SORBA. “We’re hoping these trails will appeal to a large number of riders and create a mountain biking buzz in this community.” Along with an interpretive walking trail, the master plan for the system includes roughly seven miles of beginner and intermediate mountain biking. www.sorba.org.

Bible Beater

Christian missionaries have been making inroads in the world of outdoor sports over recent years. Now they have a rugged Bible that supports their evangelical efforts. The brand new “Outdoor Bible” is 100 percent waterproof, tear resistant, and weighs less than a pound, so it can handle any conditions you throw at it. The Good Book looks more like a road atlas than a Bible, but the words inside are the same. You can submerge it in water, stuff it in the bottom of your pack, carry it with you during a lightning storm: this Bible will stand up to the toughest outdoor tests-which makes sense, considering Jesus was the first to thru-hike the Great Desert. $34.95. www.theoutdoorbible.com.

Pass Overpriced Gas

Do high prices at the pump have your wallet running on empty? Then you might want to add MapGasPrices.com to your favorite web sites list. The site’s database allows you to map gas stations in your area, compare prices, and find the cheapest pumps around. It also keeps consumers informed with the latest news on gas. Just punch in your address and you immediately get a list of the cheapest, nearest, and most expensive gas in your area. The site also keeps you up to date on national trends, so you now how your state is measuring up with the national averages.

"This tool lets oil companies, refineries, and gasoline retailers know someone is watching and directing traffic to the best deals in town," says Mark Olsen, spokesperson for the creators of MapGasPrices.com.