12.04.08 - More and more athletes outside of Germany and Austria buy at Racelite

When I started Racelite more than 2 years ago, I knew I wanted to have both an English and a German version. Most of my participants in the Yukon Arctic Ultra are from the UK. They were the ones who inspired me to start this project in the first place. Even though we do not advertise the number of customers outside of the German speaking countries is growing. So, the effort was more than worth it.

I have to apologize for not featuring more English news in this section of our website. So far, we have focused on developing our product portfolio and improving our service.

We have had some great additions lately, e.g. the

• full range of inov-8 Race Pro packs and shoes
• unique compression socks from cep
• Swiss outdoor clothes from R'ADYS
• perfect Hydration Systems from Nathan

07.12.07 - Non-functioning link to Terms & Conditions

Due to an update the link to the Terms & Conditions out of the ordering process is currently not working. This link leads to an empty pop-up window. Please check the new Terms & Conditions in the menu on the left - in the Service Section. The title of these is "Terms & Conditions (new)". The rest of the ordering process works as usual.

The programmers are finishing the changes and soon the link in the ordering process will work again. Sorry for any inconveniences. 

28.11.07 - Changes in menu

Over the last year we have had a few enquiries regarding the menu on Racelite.com which guides you to the products. In the past we have only had our products sorted by sports. At the moment we are adding the possibilty to sort by Product Category and by Brand. You will already find these options on the left. However, not all products have been updated, yet. We hope to be finished by November 30th. In the meantime you can of course still use the sports as a criteria to find the right product or you use the search function at the top.  

10.09.07 - Awesome scenery and adventure at the Natventure Trophy Tiroler Oberland

I not only sell gear. Another passion of mine is organising races (see also news update from July 7th). One of the races I organise took place Sept. 1st to 2nd in the Tiroler Oberland which is situated in the Austrian Alps. The weather for our Adventure Race was not ideal for the photographers – cloudy and some rain. However, the athletes enjoyed the fact that we had mild temperatures. They had a lot of challenges to face. The race course included Mountain Biking, Adventure Running, High Ropes Course, Via Ferrata, Kayaking on the river Inn, Inline Skating and orienteering. A highlight for the participants of the Master-Class was a 180 m (!) Abseil near the so called Anton Renk Hütte. “Just for that it was worth coming here”, they all said at the finish line.

Our 180 m Abseil - Photography: Josef Mallaun

Unfortunately, we had no English speaking teams this time. Next year. The series will grow and become even better. So, keep up to date here on Racelite.com or SleepMonsters.com.

Gear lists on Racelite.com

I am currently working on a gear list for winter ultras like the Yukon Arctic Ultra. This is a race that takes place every February in the Yukon and is a great adventure for all those who like the cold and beautiful wilderness. If any of you have participated in this or one of the other winter ultras around and you want to share your experience, please let me know. I will gladly add any input to the list!

  The gear of Joachim Rintsch, YAU 2007, 430 mile race - Photography: Joachim Rintsch

The same goes for desert ultras which will be the next gear list I will put online. Let me know what you think is important for anyone running and walking in the deserts.

New products on Racelite.com

I am very proud that as of now we feature the RACE PRO backpacks from inov-8. Whilst in Germany and Austria inov-8 is near unknown you guys are aware of their great products. Of course inov-8 is mainly famous for its many award winning shoes. However, the backpacks are a great addition to their range and have won awards already, too. The 2 litre drinking reservoir fits around the lumbar region of the backpack and adds support and stability while being easily accessible.

More new products are:

• CamelBak Bottle – the innovative drinking bottle which has turned into a bestseller in a relatively short period of time.
• CamelBak Unbottle – a drinking reservoir that is great for trekking tours as it can be placed on the outside of your backpack.
• In stock again: the CamelBak Charm, a 1.5 litre drinking system designed for women - perfect for long training runs or excursions with your Mountain Bike.
• FREE LACE – a MUST for long distance runners. This new shoe lace system prevents pressure points and gets incredibly good feedback from endurance runners all over the world. Check it out!
• Gerber SHORTCUT – small, light and red, a great multi-tool for those who want to minimise weight. 

07.07.07 - Another great Natventure Trophy in the Olympiaregion Seefeld / Mittenwald

It was raining before and after the race. However, during this year’s Natventure Trophy one week ago the sun was out and shining. It was a great Adventure Race with athletes having fun, an awesome support crew and a challenging race course. You will find a short report and great pictures on www.natventure-trophy.com.

  Piotr Kosmala from Team SPELEO SALOMON napieraj.pl is crossing the river Isar -
  Copyright: Klara Zerdzicka

From September 1st to 2nd this year’s second Natventure Trophy will take place. For the first time also individual athletes will be allowed to start. Try it out! The Tiroler Oberland is a great region and you do not need to have skills in the rope activities or rafting. If you want to practise before the race why not try our AR Workshop with 5 days of guided activities at an affordable EUR 180/person. Which already includes the entry fee for the race.

Natventure Trophy winners (Master-Class Teams of 2) keep on keeping on with their
RaidLight Runner R-LIGHT backpacks - Copyright: Klara Zerdzicka

For a team of 2 that wants to start as Team Racelite.com I will sponsor the entry fee. Should there be several teams interested we will make a draw. Please email me until July 31st to info@thegreatoutdoors.de.

P.S. Apart from handling the German SleepMonsters website, selling gear on Racelite.com and organising races such as the Yukon Arctic Ultra, I also organise the Natventure Trophy races since last year.

New products at Racelite.com

A few years ago I met Mike Parsons at the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon (KIMM). As a lot of you will know he has created this race. In his role Mike has had a big influence on Trail Running and also gear for this sport. His race is now called Original Mountain Maraton (OMM) and so is the range of clothing and gear he offers.

It was just a matter of time until I would sell OMM products on Racelite.com. And this moment has finally come.

Another new brand in our store is KOMPERDELL. Already since 1922 this Austrian company is producing ski and trekking poles. They stand for stability, flexibility and quality. Research on a high level has led to many innovations and KOMPERDELL continue to lead the field. That is why we have now included two of their best models in our range, i.e. the ultra light Carbon trekking poles and the less expensive but still light Titanal model. Especially interesting: both products are available as a women's version, too. 

27.04.07 - Racelite.com now available in English!

Racelite has been existing as a German online shop since December 2005. I had started it because a lot of athletes I know are always keen on training, competing and travelling with light and innovative gear. Very often it it takes quite some time to find or get certain products here in Europe. Racelite.com wants to help. It offers a range of some of the most innovative and light gear around. And not always does this mean that the gear has to be expensive, too. 

At the moment the products are clustered by sports, i.e. Adventure Racing, Trail Running, Running, Trekking Mountain Biking and Orienteering. As we continuously improve our service, we will in the future also offer to sort the products by brand and possibly other criteria.

The German Racelite website has developed a great reputation and experienced steady growth. I hope to achieve the same now with the English version. I also hope to get as much feedback as possible. So, if you think we need to improve on something, please let me know. 

If you want to know more about myself and what I do, please check out the "About us" section (menu left side).

Best regards,

Robert Pollhammer