All Articles & Reviews by
Scott Andrew Bird
(13077 posts in total - only latest ones shown)
Scott Andrew Bird is a writer, photographer and a guy who just loves this stuff. He's been at home in front of a computer for more years than he cares to remember (OK, 37) and is now making amends for years of many mistakes noted in the De-constructing Computer Guy articles (part 2) on T-Nation.
Find out what he's up to via Twitter, Facebook, the Daily 'Paper'; and of course his online home. Enjoy.
NB : Like to write a guest post for Straight to the Bar? I love hearing about how other people are training. And if you've got a strength-related competition or seminar coming up, add it to the calendar. And if you'd love to be on one of the weekly Gymchats - get in touch. Look forward to hearing from you.
STUDIO (Smart Hub For Your Home Gym)
Interesting approach.
Interesting approach.
The STUDIO is a large screen which sits in the corner of your home gym, connecting to any cardio machines you have available. Any age, any brand - as long as they support bluetooth (and there are sensors available for any that don't).
The screen displays various workout classes, as well as the information the machines capture. Running speed, a bike's cadence, your heart rate - whatever you're tracking.
Although it's a fairly crowded market, the ability to connect to older equipment is interesting. A little video to give you an idea of what's on offer :
The STUDIO.
What To Eat/Drink During Your Next Ultra (Courtney Dauwalter on the Spartan Endurance Podcast)
A fascinating glimpse into Courtney's nutritional intake during a race.
A fascinating glimpse into Courtney's nutritional intake during a race.
Looking At : Oct 18, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
SpoonTEK (Taste-Enhancing Spoon)
Interesting idea.
Interesting idea.
The SpoonTEK spoon is a typical piece of cutlery with an intriguing addition - the use of a small electrical current to stimulate your taste buds, enhancing the flavour of any food.
I'm curious to see how it performs on a particularly bland diet, or an unfamiliar one. As well as for people with a damaged sense of smell.
The video will give you an idea of what's on offer :
The SpoonTEK spoon.
Carbon Nanotubes Help Eat Plaque Responsible for Heart Attacks (ColdFusion)
A wonderful look at a recent discovery of nanotech's ability to help eat the plaque responsible for heart attacks.
The TBI 'nanocage' we pointed to yesterday got plenty of people discussing medical nanotechnology in general. Here's a wonderful look at a recent discovery of nanotech's ability to help eat the plaque responsible for heart attacks.
Looking At : Oct 11, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Skill Board (Balance Board)
Deceptively simple.
Deceptively simple.
The Skill Board is a balance board & ball (rather than the typical cylinder) - challenging your moves in 360 degrees. Think of it as the foundation of several types of agility training.
Although I'm keen to test it out myself, I'm also curious to see what it commonly gets paired with. Will it make its way into the home gym, or is it best suited to more commercial spaces? Keen to hear everyone's thoughts.
A little video :
The Skill Board.
3D-Printing Human Parts - The Future of Our Bodies (Venture City)
Although we've touched on several of these possibilities over the years, it's wonderful to see them all in a single video.
Although we've touched on several of these possibilities over the years, it's wonderful to see them all in a single video.
Looking At : Oct 4, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Ghost Pacer (Holographic Training Partner)
Virtual Workout Partner? Yep - for runners, anyway.
Very interesting idea.
Although I'm keen to test it out myself, I'm also curious to see the second and third generations of a product like this. Something a bit closer to the 'Virtual Training Partners' concept we discussed years ago.
While I'm waiting for mine to arrive, a little video :
The Ghost Pacer.
Pillars of Fitness - Types of Fitness Everyone Should Train For (The Bioneer)
Very interesting look at the major areas of fitness - key to a 'well-rounded' approach.
Very interesting look at the major areas of fitness - key to a 'well-rounded' approach.
Looking At : Sep 27, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Intriex (Metabolism Tracking Device)
Very interesting idea.
Very interesting idea.
Although I'm not a fan of the infomercial-style advertising, the product itself - The Intriex Metabolism Tracking Device - is interesting. A couple of questions though :
- Can I export the data for use in another app (either a commercially-available one, or one I've written myself)
- How many times can the strips be used? Will I be forced to buy new ones all the time, or can I clean & re-use them?
Apple Watch Series 6 - Sports & Fitness Hands-on Tests (DC Rainmaker)
The latest generation of the Apple Watch was officially launched the other day, and the reviews have been steadily trickling in ever since. My favourite so far - this one by DC Rainmaker.
The latest generation of the Apple Watch was officially launched the other day, and the reviews have been steadily trickling in ever since. My favourite so far - this one by DC Rainmaker.
Looking At : Sep 20, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Trap Bar Training 2 (Kindle Edition)
Looking forward to it.
This looks great. We looked at the first edition a while ago, and this second volume looks equally superb. I'm about to dive in to it myself, and you can check out the details (and grab a copy) here : John Wood's Trap Bar Training 2.
Why We Need Medical Diagnosis Detectives (Dr Lisa Sanders)
Fascinating.
Dr Lisa Sanders discusses the diagnosis of 'rare' diseases, and shares a few ideas for improving things. Fascinating.
Looking At : Sep 13, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Mobvoi Earbuds Gesture (Wireless Earbuds With Gesture Control)
Interesting combination.
Interesting combination.
Seems the Apple Airpods have started something - a lot of people seem to be looking at wireless earbuds these days. Particularly those that don't mind a little sweat, and won't fall out in the middle of a training session.
Of particular note are the Mobvoi Earbubds Gesture. I'm keen to check out the various gesture controls, especially during a workout.
A little video :
The Mobvoi Earbubds Gesture.
Do This Between EVERY Set for More Muscle Growth (Athlean-X)
The incredible power of measurement.
The incredible power of measurement.
Looking At : Sep 6, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
nimbleToes Trail Addict (Trail Running Shoes)
These sound great.
These sound great.
The nimbleToes is a pair of trail running shoes, with a number of small changes designed to suit the demands of uneven surfaces. Greater stability, less pain.
A little video will show you what I mean :
The nimbleToes.
Rising Phoenix (Netflix Documentary)
A wonderful look at the Paralympic Games. Highly recommended.
Got a chance to watch 'Rising Phoenix' - a wonderful look at the Paralympic Games - over the weekend. Highly recommended.
Looking At : Aug 30, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Move It Swift (Smart Boxing Gloves)
Interesting idea.
Interesting idea.
The Move It Swift is a pair of Smart Boxing Gloves, with the inbuilt sensors recording the punches thrown (and their type) and a companion smartphone app keeping track of your workouts.
To show you what I mean, a little video :
The Move It Swift Smart Boxing Gloves.
Do This Stretch First Thing EVERY Morning (Athlean-X)
Another one for the morning routine.
Another one for the morning routine.
Looking At : Aug 23, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Carbon Trainer (Smart Mirror With A Virtual Personal Trainer)
Perfect.
Perfect.
The Carbon Trainer is a fitness-focused smart mirror with a virtual Personal Trainer built in. The setup uses a couple of sensors to help work out what you're doing, and they can be attached to a barbell/dumbbells/kettlebell and so on.
Whatever you've got.
A little video :
The Carbon Trainer.
Neuralink - Elon Musk's Most Important Company (Steven Mark Ryan)
Really looking forward to the presentation.
Really looking forward to the presentation.
Looking At : Aug 16, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
POUCHPASS (Constant Temperature Monitoring Wearable)
Looks great.
Looks great.
The POUCHPASS is a wearable device (think smartwatch) with the ability to constantly monitor your temperature. A smartphone app shows you the details.
Although it's an incredibly simple idea, it's certainly a powerful one. To see exactly what's on offer (and the various ways it could be used), a little video :
The POUCHPASS.
Using Neural Dust To Eavesdrop On Our Organs (TEDMED)
Wonderful idea.
Wonderful idea.
Looking At : Aug 9, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
August of Arms 2020 (Training Program)
This looks great.
This looks great. I'm a big fan of Jedd's training in general, and am certainly keen to check this one out. As the name suggests, August of Arms 2020 is the latest instalment of an annual focus on arm training. Featuring training programs, video instruction & and a whole heap of suggestions; this is certainly a comprehensive package. Jedd Johnson's August of Arms 2020.
Top 5 Mass-Building Exercises For Faster Growth (Musclemonsters)
Just starting out? Here are a handful of exercises to pack on a bit of muscle quickly.
Just starting out? Here are a handful of exercises to pack on a bit of muscle quickly.
Looking At : Aug 2, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
UCAN SuperStarch (Energy Powders and Bars)
These sound great.
These sound great. I came across these via Tim Ferriss' '5-Bullet Friday' newsletter. The UCAN SuperStarch range is a collection of low carbohydrate powders & energy bars, with a strong focus on the low-GI side of things. To dive in a little deeper, swing by the website. I also strongly recommend Tim's newsletter, which itself peels back the curtain a bit. The UCAN SuperStarch range.
Eating My Old Strongman Diet For A Day - 15,000 Calories! (Brian Shaw)
This is a great way to see just how much difference a good diet can make.
This is a great way to see just how much difference a good diet can make. Whether you're a competing Strongman or not.
Looking At : Jul 26, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Bouncing Back (Book)
Sounds great.
Sounds great. It seems that my 'books to read' pile gets taller by the day, and this one certainly makes it aboard. Bouncing Back is very simply a book that covers the 'What happens now?' aspect of the journey to a post-athletic world. To dive in a little deeper, swing by the book's Indiegogo page. Be warned though, you'll be waiting until December for the full version. Very much worth the wait.
The 'Right' Way to Grip The Bar (Jeff Cavaliere)
Elbow pain when lifting? These changes make a huge difference.
Elbow pain when lifting? These changes make a huge difference.
Looking At : Jul 19, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
MedHub (Smart Medical Intake Adviser)
Interesting idea.
Interesting idea.
The MedHub is a smart container for your medications/supplements, with a smartphone app holding the various details. It'll automatically advise when a pill (or pills) is/are to be taken, and the quantity. Perfect.
To see the device itself :
The MedHub.
Cryotherapy Chamber for the Home Gym (Eddie 'The Beast' Hall)
Very interesting recovery device.
Very interesting recovery device.
Looking At : Jul 12, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Amazfit ZenBuds (Sleep-Focused Earbuds)
These look great.
These look great.
The Amazfit ZenBuds are lightweight earbuds with a definite focus on sleep. With noise cancellation, soothing sounds, sleep monitoring & alarm functions.
Great mix.
A little video :
The Amazfit ZenBuds.
Strongmen Benching in Planet Fitness (Brian Shaw)
Nice one.
Nice one.
Looking At : Jul 5, 2020
What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
The Key to SuperHuman Strength (Michael Eckert)
Interesting approach.
Interesting approach.
OYO Nova Gym (Portable Training Equipment)
Much heavier.
Nice one.
Remember the OYO DoubleFlex Black? Here's its newer, beefier cousin - the OYO Nova. Similar design (ideal for travelling), double the resistance.
Nice and heavy.
A little video :
The OYO Nova Gym.
Are You as Strong as You Could Be?
Grab the Straight to the Bar Strength Kit.
Training Guides, eBooks and of course the Strength & Fitness Newsletter. Absolutely free.
If you love talking about training, make sure you check out the Gymchats. There's a full list of previous shows here.
To give you an idea of what they're like, here's an example :
Gymchat 277 - Barefoot Running - Believe the Hype! (Steven Sashen)
Fantastic discussion.
NB : if you'd like to be interviewed on an upcoming show (or know someone who should be), drop us a line. It's great to find out how other people train. And if you'd like to add your comments and suggestions on the Gymchats in general, we'd love to hear them. Cheers.
what we're saying
NB : As well as leaving a comment or two beneath the articles themselves, you might like to swing by the Daily 'Paper' for a somewhat more frequent dose of training goodness.
ready to get in shape?
A dose of Online Personal Training is ideal. Your place, their experience.
As you'd expect, I work with a number of Fitness Professionals myself - including the wonderful Josh Hewett. If you're about to begin your own strength-training journey, swing by his site at :
top-form-fitness.com/online-coaching
Highly recommended. If you're looking to get serious about 'getting in shape', book some time with Josh. Fantastic guy.
setting up a home gym?
If you're getting ready to put together a solid Home Gym (fantastic thing), here's how.
And for more, swing by the full guide. Absolutely free.
images of strength
Want to see (and learn) more Feats of Strength like this? Dive in.
reading : Ferocious Fitness (Phil Ross, Marty Gallagher)
Remember this? Great book. Ferocious Fitness : A Fighter's Proven Action Plan to Develop Blazing Power, Animalistic Strength and Killer Conditioning is a distillation of Phil Ross' training wisdom, in the form of a superbly comprehensive book. We took a look at the digital version recently, and you'll be pleased to know that the paperback version is now available. Definitely worthy of a place on the fitness shelf. Phil Ross' Ferocious Fitness.
community
talking about If you tweet a lot about fitness and would love to be on this list, let me know.love your grip work?
Check out The Grip Authority. Fantastic site.
daily newsletter
For some people, this site's weekly newsletter (The Strength & Fitness Weekly - part of the Strength Kit) isn't quite frequent enough. For those I produce a daily version, which you can grab here. Absolutely free.
in the wild
It’s always great to see how other people train.
If you’d like to send in a photo of yourself in action (wearing one of the Straight to the Bar Shirts of course - the latest design is here), just upload it somewhere and send us a link. Cheers.
the future of fitness
Over the years we’ve looked at the fitness industry from a number of angles - discussing the history, present approaches and potential future trends involved. Fascinating areas.
When it comes to the last part - discussing potential future trends - things get a little, well, unusual. If it’s an interest you share, or you just want to find out the types of things we think are likely, check out the posts tagged ‘Futurism’. And of course, Gymchat 224 (Roundtable) - The Future of Fitness. Superb discussion.
air pollution & health
We discuss air pollution quite a bit on this site - particularly the various health impacts involved. If you'd like to dive in a little deeper, I invite you to check out the following :
- The 'Electric Cars' list on Twitter
- The 'Leave it in the Ground' newsletter
- The daily 'EVs in Australia' 'paper'
and of course :
Cheers.
checking out
STUDIO (Smart Hub For Your Home Gym)Interesting approach.
The STUDIO is a large screen which sits in the corner of your home gym, connecting to any cardio machines you have available. Any age, any brand - as long as they support bluetooth (and there are sensors available for any that don't).
The screen displays various workout classes, as well as the information the machines capture. Running speed, a bike's cadence, your heart rate - whatever you're tracking.
Although it's a fairly crowded market, the ability to connect to older equipment is interesting. A little video to give you an idea of what's on offer :
The STUDIO.
And for the full list of the Books & DVDs we recommend, swing by the Recommended Books & DVDs page. To check out what we're reading at the moment (and to make suggestions), join us on Goodreads.
See you there.