Confession: I wasn’t sure about the Pearl Izumi X Alp Drift II shoes. They looked a bit too much like tennis shoes. A bit about me. I’m a mountain biker. I take spin classes in the winter but I don’t use my bike to commute. I’d say that I’m quintessentially a baggies and jersey girl. [...]
As athletes, we know that winter and spring months inevitably mean…. training in the dark. Where I live and train, winter is long. And getting volume in absolutely means riding and running pre-dawn or post-dusk, most often on remote roads devoid of shoulders or streetlights. Add in plenty of snow and a fair dose [...]
A water bottle is a water bottle. Right? Think the only differentiators are capacity and nozzle-type? Well, that certainly used to be the case. Product Architects decided they could improve your workout experience if they could preserve the cold temperature of your hydration. Meet the Polar Bottle. Much like a thermal cannister, a Polar [...]
In a sport where weight and power are ever so important, Look continues to meet many elite cyclist demands with its new innovations like the Keo Blade Carbon TI. The Keo Blade Carbon TI is a carbon based road bike pedal that is 31% wider in surface area than its predecessor the Keo Blade. What does this [...]
It seems that one of the most popular words in the cycling circles today is power. As we all try to get more out of our body’s performance, “power” has become increasingly popular with not just the elite cyclist, but among all riders. I’ve recently tested the Specialized Expert cycling shoe to evaluate its performance [...]
I have a reputation of doing it all and more. So when it was time to buy a new bike, I needed to make sure the bike could keep up will all my wants and needs. I’m thankful to say that the Orbea Onix Dama TLT lives up to my “do it all” DNA! [...]
New for Spring 2011, Osprey introduces its Active Everyday series. In specific, we have been testing out the Comet backpack. If features it is you like, the Comet might just be the backpack for you. Now I’m not talking about a backpack that has a ton of features that you don’t use, but features that [...]
Whether you’re looking for a bag for commuting to work or a bag that you can take to school, the Timbuk2 D-Lux Messenger Bondage is a great option to look at. I’ve been testing this bag out while commuting to work by bike, train, and foot, and I by no means travel lightly. I like [...]
Garmin has long been the main player in the G.P.S. bike computer market. With several models and features to choose from they cover everyone from the serious roadie to the trail obsessed mountain biker. The 705 sits at the top of Garmin’s G.P.S. line with a list of features that borders on ridiculous. It gives [...]
Bellwether is a brand that for many cyclists was associated with the recreational rider, not the cool-guy roadie. Their products were geared more towards the entry level cyclist with the lime green safety vests and the like. Recently though Bellwether has changed their game and has began making some high end, but not expensive shorts [...]
Blue Bicycles is a relatively new brand out of North Carolina. There triathlon series, the Triad, is very successful and their road and cross bikes are being ridden by more and more top teams. Their mountain bikes however still seem to fly under the radar, but they are definitely worth a look. I recently tested [...]
MountainSmith is best known for their packs, camera bags and lumbar packs. Moving into the growing field of organizational bags, the BikeCube is an ideal bag for any outdoor pursuit. When I was shown the BikeCube for the first time I was expecting a bag with some basic compartments. I was surprised to see the [...]
CycleOps, the maker of PowerTap, have been at the forefront of powermeter technology from the start. Beginning with a wired version, then moving to wireless, the new the Joule 2.0, with ANT+ technology, is a major step up. The new computer displays more information, is easy to navigate and tracks more metrics than it’s predecessor. [...]
Mavic has a long history in cycling, and specifically in manufacturing wheels. At races all over the world, the yellow and black of Mavic can be seen on racers and as the neutral support provider. They’ve long been at the forefront of aerodynamics, weight, construction and performance of wheels. The Cosmic Carbone SLR sits at [...]
Looking for a short that performs climbing uphill, bombing downhill, hopping rocks or commuting to work? Then the Loeka Freeride is the perfect shorts for you. Designed by Coreena Fletcher, a woman’s downhill racer, the clothes are built and tested over and over to make sure they fit the woman’s body. The clothes are meant [...]
Litespeed built it’s reputation on the basis of Titanium being the ultimate material to makes bikes from. For several years titanium was the high end material to use, and then came carbon fiber. Super light, incredibly strong, and able to be shaped into radical forms, carbon fiber quickly rose to the top and still reigns. [...]
Don’t be fooled by the words triathlon pack, this watch is for runners, cyclists and anyone that wants to track their training. The Suunto T6C can measure your distance, time, heart rate, elevation and many other metrics for running and cycling. It also downloads to your P.C. so you can track your workouts and hit [...]
Arm and knee warmers are a great way to stretch your cycling wardrobe and be ready for what greets you outside. During the spring and fall season temperatures can range widely and change on a dime. Or maybe you have to get on the bike early in the morning when the temperature is still cold. [...]
SmartWool is known for their ability to incorporate merino wool into active wear that is not only fun, as well as functional. We recently tested out their arm warmers and were pleased to find that they far exceeded our expectations. The arm warmers are constructed from merino wool (63%), nylon (32%), and elastic (5%). Because [...]
There are several ways to combat the chill of spring or fall when going for a spin on the roads. Knee or full leg warmers help with the lower leg, but do nothing to keep your upper leg warm. The P.R.O. Thermal Bib Short from Pearl Izumi just may be the perfect solution. To add [...]
I rate bib shorts on an hourly scale. That is, how many hours can I ride in the shorts before becoming uncomfortable. Some shorts are low, only a rating of 1 or 2. The P.R.O. LTB Bib Shorts from Pearl Izumi rate don’t get a number, they get an all day rating. When I know [...]
The Munday’s Best khaki pant by Mountain Hardwear makes an attractive, versatile addition to one’s wardrobe, no matter what your activity level. These light weight pants are constructed of 97% nylon (3% elastane), allowing for excellent wicking and ventilation for more ardent activities. These pants are equally fit for relaxing in. They have become one [...]
Wikipedia states that there are roughly 2,500 species of Cicada’s, they may just have to add one to their list with the birth of the Eagle Creek Cicada 28L. The Cicada pack series is a new line from Eagle Creek who specializes in travel packs. After trying this pack out in a number activities, we [...]
