Be Seen on the Road with Traffic Master

The fast-approaching winter means two things: longer hours of darkness and colder temperatures. The Traffic Master jersey from ElevenGear addresses both. Bright and warm, this jersey will serve you well through the winter months.

This long sleeve jersey is made from a material that’s lightly textured exterior is paired with a fleecy interior to keep you warm as the temperatures approach freezing. The two layers work to transfer moisture away from your skin, which keeps dry warmth next to your skin. A full zipper gives you options, including adding the jersey as an outer layer or jacket. Continue reading Be Seen on the Road with Traffic Master

Holiday Shopping Season Begins With Primal

The holiday shopping season is here, and for many parts of the country that also means winter is around the corner. The primal instinct might be to stay close to a warm fire, not head out on a long ride. But fortunately Primal Wear has you covered, or rather has a jacket that keeps you covered and warm. And it would make a great holiday gift for that cyclist in your life.

This is the Team Eleven Paradigm Thermal Jacket (MSRP: $199.95), which features HXT-Hexathermal fabric, extended tail, rear zip pocket and luminite reflective piping. It features the Primal T3D cut that ensures the sleeves and tail of the jacket won’t creep up which riding. The HXT-Hexathermal fabric is further embedded with a special filament membrane that allows airflow out and prevents moisture or cold air from coming in. For those long winter rides that means you can stay warm even if the weather outside is frightful.

Primal Wear

Project RideRED Campaign Starts

This week pro cycling photographer and AIDS Awareness advocate Brian Hodes of VeloImages kicked off “Project RideRED.” This is a national campaign to raise awareness of and funds for a cure for AIDS/HIV. The event is timed to coincide with World AIDS Day, and the year-long Project RideRED campaign will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first AIDS diagnois.

“More than a million people in the United States currently live with HIV, with more than 50,000 new infections occurring each year,” said Hodes. “The last thirty years of AIDS has brought heartache and suffering to too many families ­­­­- now is the time for us to stand together. I invite members of the cycling community everywhere to throw on a red jersey or red product and RideRED.”

The campaign will be with a series of organized and individual tribute rides on November 28, 2010 and people from all over the world have committed to the event, where they will sport red clothing, accessories, components and/or bikes when the ride. Riders have further committed to taking part in 30 mile rides (one mile for each year of known AIDS infection).

Project RideRED partners include Primal Wear, HUDZ, Rolf Prime, FLUID, Earth, Wind and Rider, SIDI America and Walz Caps. All proceeds from the sale of limited edition items will benefit Until There’s a Cure.

Project RideRED

Prepping for Those Winter Rides

Winter arrives sooner in some areas. In Minnesota, there’s already a slushy blanket of snow on the ground and temperatures to match. Scott Thayer, GM at Civia, Cycles discussed his morning commute during his morning commute and details gear that’s helpful to make the cold more endurable in those winter months.

Civia Cycles

via [EcoVelo blog]

Sizing and the Art of Buying a Bicycle

It all comes down to geometry. A bike frame is essentially two triangles. Both the angle and length of each side of the triangle is determined by its two other sides. EcoVelo has an interesting look at how geometry affects the fit of a bike, even when the triangle is the same height, the angle can yield very different results. This is true to determine stand over height, which the article discusses. Another consideration in bike fit is the reach. Very often a road bike will have a longer reach for better aerodynamics. When I bought my last road bike, the shop owner pointed out that Felt bikes tend to have a shorter reach, which is a better fit for me and that became the deciding factor. It’s a good idea to consult a good shop that will be able to fit you for a bike, and also know the differences between the different brands, for example the reach on Felt bikes, and be able to help you find the bike that will fit you best rather than just make a sale.

via [EcoVelo]

Socks that Fit Like a Glove

Each foot has five toes, yet they all go into one sock and get pushed together in the shoe. Some people believe each toe should go in its own fabric, like a glove. The Tetratsock from injinji is designed to allow the entire foot to perform naturally and freely inside the shoe.

Toes provide proper balance, posture, stability and grip. These abilities are kept when toes are in toe socks, as injinji calls them. The company just release a midweight toesock in its Tetratsock line. The midweight sock is designed for sports such as running, walking, cycling. The toesock provides more padding and several additional properties.

Restriction-free movement of the five toes eliminates skin-on-skin friction and therefore blisters, hot spots and other common foot ailments. The socks are designed with a reinforced compression arch and Achilles heel support.

In conventional socks, injinji claims your toes are forced to work together as one unit creating heat and moisture build up. Blood circulation is reduced by skin-on-skin friction that reduces healthy air around your toes. If you want to use the mitten and glove analogy, mittens keep your fingers warmer since they’re all together, though you lose dexterity. Gloves may offer less warmth, but increased dexterity.

The Midweight Performance Toesock ($16) is made from CoolMax freshFX fabric, which bonds wicking CoolMax fibers with anti-odor and antimicrobial silver. The socks also have nylon and lycra added for strength, flexibility, and a glove-like fit. We don’t know if these socks will work with shoes such as the Vibram Five Finger ones, but the concept is along the same lines.

Injinji Footwear

RunPhones, Music to Cold Weather Runner’s Ears

Music is essential in most workouts. Yet there can be a danger with headphones that block traffic and other noises. Headphones can also be a nuisance when they bounce on your ears or earbuds that don’t stay in your ears. There are a few headband-style headphones, and now AccousticSheep has come out with RunPhones, a headband with removable earphones built into the fabric. Continue reading RunPhones, Music to Cold Weather Runner’s Ears

CyclingForums.com Announces 2010 Product Review Contest

Our friends at CyclingForums announced  a new contest that will run from this coming Sunday, November 15, through December 31. The 2010 Product Review Contest is help the premier cycling website showcase its new product review feature.

The 2010 Product Review Contest will feature more than $12,000 in prizes. It will offer readers a chance to win some of the best gear in the industry, including products from Guru and Bellweather. Readers are encouraged to write a review of their favorite products, and every review will count as an entry – with winners being selected at random at the end of the contest’s run.

CyclingForums.com

Will Disc Brakes Change Cyclocross?

Our friends at BikeRadar.com asked an interesting question recently, whether disc brakes would be the future of cyclocross. As we recently reviewed the new Redline Team Conquest cyclocross bike this is something that we’ve been thinking about as well. While the braking is good with the cyclocross bike it doesn’t quite have the same feel as a true mountain bike, especially in more technical off-road conditions. This has remained a common complaint amongst many riders, with the question being asked how much better disc brakes would make the bike. Continue reading Will Disc Brakes Change Cyclocross?

The Kids of Red Team Are Alright With Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge

This week it was announced that the Trips for Kids (TFK) and its “Red Team” of supporters won the CLIF BAR 2 Mile Challenge, a nationwide, six-month long campaign to fight climate change by encouraging people to ride a bike instead of driving a car, especially for trips of two miles or less.

The friendly competition of young riders in the Clif Bar 2 Mille Challenge further resulted in Trips for Kids receiving a bonus grant of $25,000 following the initial grant of the same to each of the three non-profits that support the event. A portion of the awarded funds to Trips for Kids will go to chapters in good standing so as to purchase needed equipment and to create information sharing and program materials, while funds will also be used to create new TFK chapters. Continue reading The Kids of Red Team Are Alright With Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge

Fitness Journal: Can’t Buy It? Build It!

About a year ago my friend, Sean, and I were at Tam Bikes in Mill Valley, California when I noticed a bike which caught my eye – a belt drive mountain bike by Spot Brand. I immediately feel in love with the belt drive concept due to the simplicity, but I was not in the market for a single speed mountain bike as I already owned a few. But if you can’t buy one, the next best thing was to build it, which is exactly what I did. Here is the story of building up a bike. Continue reading Fitness Journal: Can’t Buy It? Build It!

Movie Review: Race Across the Sky (2010)

About a month ago, my wife and I sat down and watched the Race Across the Sky 2009 movie from Citizen Pictures featuring Lance Armstrong’s win of the Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike race. We both enjoyed the 2009 movie, not because we are huge Lance fans, but because the footage allowed my wife to finally see the course. She has been my number one supporter during each of the five Leadville 100 Mountain Bike races that I have competed in during the past 10 years. I had recently finished race five, so the course was fresh in our minds when we sat down to watch the film. The 73 minute film offered a complete and concise look into not only the racers, but the vast number of volunteers and supporters that it takes to make this event happen.

Continue reading Movie Review: Race Across the Sky (2010)

Spin with Google Street View

The season to go outdoors for a workout is coming to a close and we’re looking for ways to make spinning on a stationary bike more enjoyable. There are plenty of programs that let you play video games with the pedal, or take you on scenic routes, but what if you want to explore some real neighborhoods and streets? Continue reading Spin with Google Street View