The Harsh Reality

Not too long ago Tony Kornheiser made the remark that people should just run cyclists over. I've heard similar remarks from various folks over the years. Obviously those people never had an experience like I did this morning - the experience of finding someone you know and have ridden with on several occasions lying in a ditch with life-threatening injuries.

Early this morning a friend and I had our training ride interrupted by emergency vehicles only to find that an acquaintance of ours, Mike Bitton, was a victim of a hit and run accident that left him severely injured and unconscious. His assailant was nowhere to be found, and fortunately a small group of cyclists had found Mike and gotten a local resident to call 911. My friend Brad recognized Mike's bike and we began to try to call anyone who might know how to get in contact with his immediate family. Lesson to cyclists - there's no reason not to have some sort of ID on you at all times with a list of emergency contacts.

Mike was taken to a local hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He suffered some broken vertebrae, blood loss, head injury and internal injuries. In fact, I just got word that he is still in the ICU and doctors are working to stop his internal bleeding (this is some 13 hours after help arrived on the scene). I hope you all will join me in wishing Mike a successful and speedy recovery.

Although Mike's injuries are terrible, to me the real stomach-turning part of this situation is that today, a human being - whether intentionally or not - left another for dead. As I rode home from the scene of Mike's incident I though to myself that whoever hit him was probably not a hardened criminal but was probably someone with a regular day job and more than likely a family, maybe some kids. I imagine they were the kind of person who might be your neighbor - and that should make us all a little sick inside. I wondered what Mike's assailant was doing as we rode back to the shop, stopping often to answer our cell phones and trying to get information to his family. I wondered how that person spent their day as others went to the hospital to check on Mike, stopped by our bike shop to get more information, zinged updates out on Facebook, and drove up and down River Road looking for a Toyota with a missing headlight.

I was also sickened by the comments I heard from a few of the responders, things such as "Well, it's not the guy's fault, but why would you be out here alone?" and even "I think they should take you guys off the roads and put you on the levee." It pissed me off to no end for someone to suggest that an experienced rider on a 20 pound bike was somehow to blame for being waylaid by someone in a 3-ton vehicle doing 60-plus miles per hour. Never did I hear emergency responders say something resembling "I can't believe that one human being would treat another in such a way."

The bottom line is what I happened to Mike today was, at best criminal negligence and at worst attempted murder. I hope whoever was at fault has the good sense to come clean about what happened and face the consequences, and if not I hope that they're caught anyway and punished to the fullest extent of the law. The public needs to know that a driver's license is not a license to assault your fellow humans, and that just because you have the bigger vehicle does not mean you can do whatever you want on the road with impunity.

Above all, the public needs to know that we will not tolerate any kind of disregard for the safety and well-being of others.

State Police tell us the model of the car that fled the scene is believed to be a 2005-2006 model Toyota Tundra or 2005-2007 Sequoia. The truck is missing a right front headlight, bug deflector and probably has some body damage to the vehicle. If you have any information that can help solve this case, call Louisiana State Police at 754-8500 and press option 1.

Bike Review: 2010 Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod 1 (sort of)

The all-new 2010 Cannondale SuperSix dropped last August and I have spent approximately 2,000 miles on the saddle of one of the first examples to hit stores. If you want the short version, it's a phenomenal bike and I highly recommend it. If you want the long version, read on.

The SuperSix is one of the latest entries into the superlight, vertically stiff/laterally compliant superbike fray. My size 52cm bike built up with race wheels, computer, pedals, and bottle cages to 14.5 pounds for a complete ready to race bike (see complete specs below). Although I received the SuperSix Hi-Mod 1 which comes spec'd with Shimano Dura-Ace, I stripped the Dura-Ace shifters and derailleurs and replaced them with a SRAM Red/Force mix in order to lower weight and save money. Plus, I simply prefer SRAM.

Highlights on the build include a frame which features a tapered head tube, massive "Beat Box" bottom bracket (BB30, of course), carbon cable stops that are molded into the frame and even full carbon dropouts and front and rear (although the rears feature aluminum clamping surfaces to prevent damage) to save weight. The sub-600 gram Cannondale Hollowtech BB30 crank comes assembled with standard chainrings but inlcudes all the necessary tools and parts (including an extra set of FSA chainrings and bolts!) to convert it to compact.

The finishing kit on the SuperSix 1 is pro-tour ready with a complete FSA K-Force cockpit and seatpost, Fizik Arione CX saddle and Mavic Ksyrium SL Premium wheels. Sure, most folks will swap out the Ksyriums on race day for something deeper in carbon, but it wasn't too long ago that Ksyriums were being ridden up mountain passes in the grand tours. I'd race them with no hesitation and they make a great bullet-proof yet lightweight "everyday" wheel.

The first time I hopped off the 2009 SuperSix I said "that's a perfect crit bike." The 2010 model retains the 2009's crisp, precise handling and instant power transmission whilst cutting frame weight - the black/white version of the SuperSix Hi-Mod frame weighs in at 837 grams for a size 52cm. In spite of the HUGE frame tubing the SuperSix evinces a surprising level of comfort. I did notice a slight increase in road buzz compared to say, the Orbea Orca, but I feel that the SuperSix is at least if not more comfortable than similar superbikes such as the Specialized Tarmac and Trek Madone and definitely more comfortable than rigs like the Cervelo Soloist.

The massive tubes and asymmetric chainstays combine with the aluminum BB30 crank to create a pedaling platform that gives no sensation of power loss. Stomp on the pedals and the SuperSix goes NOW. If you get dropped from your local Tuesday Night Worlds on the SuperSix you certainly won't be able to blame it on the bike. Another nice frame feature that smaller riders such as me might appreciate is the very slightly sloping top tube which allows you to run two full-size water bottles. I've often been able to carry only a small bottle on the seat-tube position due to the slope of other frames.

An interesting note on the Hollowgram SL crank - unlike most crank manufacturers, Cannondale fashions their super light crank from aluminum instead of carbon. Each crankarm is actually two precisely machined and press-fit pieces that leave a hollow void in the middle of the crankarm. All SuperSix Hi-Mod 1s also ship with the extra interchangeable spider in 110 bolt circle diameter so you can choose compact gearing, standard gearing, or even swap back and forth. Cannondale also makes the same basic design in a mountain bike crank.

Overall impressions? The SuperSix provides excellent handling, a solid, responsive pedaling platform and a ride that won't beat you up as much as many other "stiff" bikes at the end of the day. I have to say that even after 2,000 miles the prevailing feeling I always get from the SuperSix is one of rock-solid stability. It never fails to go exactly where I point it and it always feels as though every bit of power I make goes straight into the rear wheel. My complaints about the Supersix? The headtube may be a little short for some, but those looking for a more comfortable ride should probably be looking at bikes in another segment anyway. Other than that, my only complaint is that I couldn't get one in black.

Another nice thing about the SuperSix lineup - if you forgo the flyweight components and "Hi-Mod" carbon frame (I suppose you get "Regular-Mod" instead?), you can get the same great performance and handling for as little as $3,750 MSRP. Or, if you're an extremist and regional Category 4 champion hopeful, you can get it decked out complete with Zero-G brakes, DT carbon wheels and SRM for a mere $13,300. Each of the build/pricing levels on the SuperSix is well thought out.

2010 Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod 1 Test Build (14.5 lbs.)

Frame/fork: 2010 SuperSix Hi-Mod 1 size 52cm

Crankset: Cannondale Hollowgram SL BB30 with FSA 53/39t chainrings

Shifters: SRAM Red

Rear Derailleur: SRAM Red

Front Derailleur: SRAM Force

Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 12-25

Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900

Wheelset: 2009 Easton EC90 Aero

Tires: Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp tubular

Handlebar: FSA K-Force

Stem: FSA OS-99 (90mm)

Seatpost: FSA K-Force (25mm setback)

Saddle: Fizik Arione CX

Pedals: Look Keo Sprint

Computer: Cateye Strada Wireless

Bottle Cages: Bontrager Race X-Lite (x2)

(In case you're curious, the weight with the included Kysrium SL Premium wheels and Schwable Ultremo R tires 15.2 pounds.)

Stop the Presses - Armstrong Riding New Pedals

I know what you're thinking: "Kristin Armstrong is riding new pedals?" No, but Lance Armstrong is. You know this is a significant event since VeloNews decided to post a story about the switch complete with a near 20-year history of LA's relationship with his Shimano pedals. I suppose the bike media are just clamoring for another Lance story after the drought of drama since he and Contador parted ways and began preparing to actually ride bikes rather than take jabs at each other in press conferences.

For those of you who aren't get into that kind of thing this is kind this is basically the equivalent of finding out that your favorite athlete uses Colgate instead of Crest. Ok, maybe there's a little more to it than that, but the Look and Shimano pedals are pretty much the same design, even though this latest Look that Lance is now using substitutes a "crabon fibre" spring where a steel or titanium would usually reside.

The logic behind the change? Performance? No. Light weight? No. Lance wants to ride the same pedals as his teammates so that he can steal their bike during a race emergency.

Nu Freds Get Excited - SRAM to Drop Apex Group Soon

Rumor got out yesterday that SRAM is going to release a budget group called "Apex." From what little I can see in the photo the shifters appear to have the same shape and function as the Red/Rival/Force pieces and it appears that unlike their other road groups the Apex crank will use an inboard cartridge bottom bracket rather than the now ubiquitous outboard cup/bearing BB (presumably to lower costs).

I assume that the Apex group will slot in under the Rival group, which generally retails for less about $800. Since SRAM does such a great job of trickling down technologies to their lower-level groupsets while still beating up on Shimano and Campy in terms of weight, value and (quite arguably) performance you should expect to see this grouppo on all kinds of "upper entry-level" bikes. I predict that once again SRAM will undercut Shimano and that the Apex group will provide similar or better performance than 105 at a lower price.

Quick Take - Clif Quench Fruit Punch Sports Drink

Last night I tried Clif's Quench sports drink in Fruit Punch flavor and I have to say it wasn't too bad. I liked the fact that with 90 calories per 16 oz. serving it fits somewhere in between traditional sports drinks and low calorie electrolyte replacement beverages. It wasn't particularly "quenching" for my tastes, however. It does tastes a bit salty (more like PowerBar Electrolyte) and Clif even lists "Real Salt" on the ingredients. I remember reading an article once where a nutrition company said that they tried to mix hot-weather drinks that actually weren't too thirst quenching for their athletes, the logic being that such a drink would actually encourage them to drink more. With that in mind the nearly all-organic Quench might be just the thing for long, hot summer training rides.

Product Review - Specialized Miura Sunglasses

Sunglasses are an essential part of any cyclists kit. They protect your eyes from both flying debris and harmful UV rays, prevent strain from "squinty face," and perhaps most importantly ensure that you never really have to look another roadie in the eye.


With that in mind I'd like to take a look at Specialized's Miura model ($145 retail) and compare it to one of the most popular pairs of cycling sunnies out there, the Oakley Radar ($155 retail in black/black).


The Miura frame is constructed of Grilamid (read "fancy plastic") and the particular model in this review features the NXT lens which, according to Specialized, is superior to their Adaptalite photochromic model in both light weight and shatter resistance. The Miura is available in both Regular and Small lens versions and I found the regular version to fit my face just fine.


The Miura is my first venture into a lens color other than standard black. I have to admit to being an Oakley fan and generally I choose their Black Iridium lens because my eyes are extremely light-sensitive. The Miura's red lens does let in a little more light which I found allowed me to wear them in more overcast conditions, however, I didn't have any issues when the skies opened up. Although I personally wouldn't choose them for cloudless days I think most folks could wear them under sunny skies without issue.


I assume the red tinted lens is intended to increase visual acuity (although Specialized makes no such claims on their website). I can tell you that the lens makes my red Castelli gloves and red road bike look AWESOME. As far as visual acuity, the roads I generally ride on a so boring that if there were anything to see it would stick out like a neon sign anyway. The cows I ride by weekly still look like cows, and I don't believe I see them with any more definition. I also found that after extended wearing everything looked extremely blue immediately after I removed the Miura.


Ventilation seems on par or perhaps slightly less than with the Radar, which is important in our sweat-soaked southern summers. Lens coverage is excellent, and as with the Radar I never get an errant beam of sunshine in my eye nor do I have a lens edge splitting my field of vision when I look back over my shoulder.


I do have a couple of gripes with the Miura. The first one is that after 2-3 hours the ear pieces can begin to irritate that bone above and behind my ear. I was surprised by this as the Miura frame feels much flexier than the Radar frame, however with some side by side comparison I realized that while the Miura flexes more near the lens, the thin earpieces of the Radar allow more flex in this critical area. The Radars do receive a demerit for having earpieces that are so long they can interfere with hats or sometimes helmet retention systems, a problem I've found with all Oakley models I've tried.

I also like the fact that Oakley includes multiple nose pieces with their sunglasses, allowing cyclists to effectively raise the lens off the nose a little more. This helps with keeping the brow portion of the frame out of the line of sight while in the cycling position. I noticed that although both models are roughly the same height from nose bridge to brow, the Muira blocked my line of sight slightly while the Oakley did not with its optional taller nosepieces installed. Specialized sells a style called the Arc which starts at $155 retail and features a one-piece frameless lens that remedies this issue.

Bottom line: the Miura offers similar performance as well as a bolder style statement (I'll let you decide if that's good or bad) than the Radar at a similar price. If you've got to customize and color-coordinate to the Nth degree or simply want more lens options the Radar may be a better choice, otherwise they're both equally well suited for cycling use.

Taste Test - Carb BOOM! and Honey Stinger Gels

Even though lately I've gravitated towards eating sandwiches, bananas, and even the occasional breakfast biscuit on the bike, gels often supply some of my fueling needs as well. I've decided to make an ongoing series of gel taste tests, and since this is the first installment I'd like to point out what I've found to be a few of the pros and cons of gels when it comes to eating on the bike.

Pros:

• Gels are easy to carry - I generally pack at least two for any ride of two hours or more and often add another if I'm going to be riding with others (to offer to someone else who may have forgotten or need extra food) and I never notice they're in my pocket
• Gels are easy to eat - for the most part eating a gel takes less than 30 seconds, just rip open, squeeze, swallow, put the wrapper back in your pocket (don't litter), wash it down with a little water and you're done
• Gels generally sit well in your stomach - one of the best things about gels is that you can get a carb and electrolyte hit without making your stomach do too much work, which is important during medium and high intensity activity
• Gel wrappers can make an emergency tire boot - I actually saw a friend's gel wrapper "patch" that stood up to over 50 miles of pretty tough mountain biking

Cons

• Gels a relatively pricey - most run about $1.50 or more per gel - compare that to a banana or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• Gels don't give you a "full" feeling - while this is a good thing during an intense workout, during lower intensity activity they do little to satisfy hunger
• Gels can get boring - I don't care how many flavors you have, eventually you'll get bored of the same texture over and over

Once you've figured out when gels do and don't work for you, the question remains: which are the best and tastiest gels around? This is where I, your intrepid reporter, have subjected and will continue to subject my taste buds and digestive tract to various energy gel offerings in the hopes of enlightening the masses. In order to keep things as controlled as possible I consumed these on low-moderate intensity training rides of 2 hours or longer. I've rated each on one a 1-5 scale on taste (1 being "I had to spit it out" and 5 being "I'm going to eat this for breakfast everyday) and "stomachability (1 being "This product gave me gastrointestinal distress" and 5 being "I had no issues whatsoever").

First up is the Carb BOOM! energy gel. Carb BOOM! gels differ from most in that aside from having an awesome name, they contain no artificial flavor, sweetener, or color (not sure why you'd color a gel, if you can see it, you're doing it wrong). The primary carbohydrate source in Carb BOOM! gels is maltodextrin, which I've been told by folks who know way more about that stuff than I do is one of the better carb sources to have.

• Strawberry-Kiwi: I expected this to be my favorite of the Carb BOOM! gels because my favorite gel flavor is PowerBar's Strawberry Banana. I suppose, however, that strawberry and kiwi flavors in their natural state are actually a lot milder than my Americanized taste buds have come to expect, and what I ate tasted to me more like an unripe banana with berry and kiwi overtones. Perhaps the maltodextrin flavor just overpowers this combo, but I would not purchase this gel again. Taste: 1.5, Stomachability: 4.5
• Vanilla-Orange: I didn't know what to expect out of this one but after the Strawberry-Kiwi had some trepidation about trying it. I was pleased to find that although this flavor still had some of that weird maltodextrin taste the orange masked it well without being overpowering. I didn't notice a lot of vanilla flavor, although I do think that hints of it helped take the "edge" off the orange. Taste: 2.5, Stomachability: 5
• Apple-Cinnamon: I bought this flavor as a deviation from my usual routine, and as a rule I don't eat apply-cinnamony things. However, this ended up being my favorite of the Carb BOOM! gels, if for no other reason than it tasted exactly like what I would imagine apples and cinnamon to taste like. Of the three flavors I thought this one was the richest without any of the maltodextrin taste that the others had. Plus with this test happening in December I felt it brought a little holiday flavor to my ride. Taste: 4, Stomachability: 5

I would like to point out that while I didn't always like the flavors, the Carb BOOM! gels always sat well on my stomach. Their product is available in 8 other flavors as well and I will probably feature some of those in an upcoming test.

Next up we have three offerings from Honey Stinger, a Colorado-based outfit that sets itself apart by making nutrition products containing mostly, you guessed it, honey. You can read more about the claimed benefits of using honey as a natural sweetener on their website. The gels also contain maltodextrin as a carb source and a variety of electrolytes. One important note - since they do contain honey, most Honey Stinger products should not be fed to infants under one year of age. Your budding athlete will have to get his/her nutrition elsewhere until their first birthday.

• Chocolate: I admit I have a sweet tooth and I love chocolate, however, even on a slightly chilly, moderate ride this flavor was a bit much for me. The common thread of the three Honey Stinger gels I tried is a syrupy sweetness (which I suppose one would expect from honey) and paired with cocoa it's just a bit much. This particular gel was also fairly thick and I had to resort to folding the packet in half and using my teeth to remove its contents. However, it does deliver exactly what one would expect from honey mixed with chocolate. Taste: 3, Stomachability: 2
• Ginsting: At first I thought this gel might possibly be some sort of piney, gin-flavored gel but was disappointed to learn that it's really just honey, ginseng, and some other crap that you will just gloss over when you read the label. As expected there was a predominant syrupy sweetness from the honey as well as a little bit of spice. Not bad, but still a little overwhelming in the sweetness department. Taste: 3.5, Stomachability: 2
• Gold: As far as I can tell "Gold" flavor just means honey. I thought this gel might contain actual gold flakes (like Goldschlager), however a quick scan of the ingredients reveals no metals whatsoever. It's just as well, Honey Stinger would get crap for including gold anyway because it's obvious that titanium is a much more appropriate choice, followed by 6061 shot-peened aluminum. To be honest, I'd have difficulty distinguishing between "Gold" and "Ginsting" because the flavors are very similar. It seems honey tends to overwhelm whatever you pair it with. Taste: 3.5, Stomachability: 2

I thought I felt a bit of uneasiness in my stomach after I first ingested each of the Honey Stinger gels, however after a few minutes the feeling always passed. Still, I can't help believe that during an intense event these gels would not sit well at all. The other issue I had with the Honey Stinger is the packaging: by combining a thick consistency gel with a relatively thick package they've produced a product which is more difficult to consume on the bike than its competition. Twice I cut the sides of my mouth with the sharp edge of the package whilst trying to extract the contents. And that, dear reader, will make for an unpleasant ride.

Christmas Shopping for the Cyclist on Your List

So it's December 7th and you still don't know what to get for that hard-to-shop for cyclist in your life. Well the Bike Critic is here to help - below you'll find ideas that are sure to please any cyclist and fit any budget. Although I composed this list mostly with roadies in mind I've also included a few ideas for those whose bicycle tastes wander away from the open road. You've only 17 shopping days left as I type this, so get crackin!

$5-20 Range

Nutrition Items: Gels and nutrition bars retails for about $1.50 - $2.00 each and are something that every cyclist will use and can be found at any local bike shop (that's LBS for short) and often at places such as GNC, Whole Foods, Target, etc. The idea here is to get a smattering of flavors so that you turn every ride into a culinary adventure! Popular gel brands include PowerBar, Gu, Accel, and Hammer. For solid foods I recommend Bonk Breaker, Clif Bloks, and PowerBar Bites. Purchase an array of these to make a great stocking stuffer.

Tubes: Every cyclist flats once in a while and although tubes aren't the most exciting thing around they're extremely practical. And at $5 a piece retail you can easily replenish your loved one's stock. Make sure to get the right size - if you don't know what size your cyclist uses then carefully check the tires of their bike, it's printed on the sidewall. Look for a number such as "700cx23" or if they're a mountain biker "26x2.2." If their tire size starts with "650" consider getting them an entirely new bike without ridiculous tiny wheels. Write the number down, also note what kind of valve stem is on the wheel (if it looks like your car valve stem or not) and take that info to your LBS. They'll be able to find the right tube for you. Make sure you get standard tubes, anything fancier is really a waste of money.

Bar Tape: This is another practical item every roadie/triathlete can use that runs from $10-$20 retail. Fancy tapes such as "Stitch Wrap" or "Grippy Tape" are popular, and Specialized makes a kind of textured tape that is great for triathlon bikes. You can color coordinate with their rig or just buy white. Repeat after me: "Black is slow, white is fast. Black is slow..."

Wool Socks: Riding in the cold sucks in general but it sucks a little less when you can actually feel your toes. Wool socks start out at about $15 and will keep your cyclist's tootsies from going numb on those miserable winter training rides. Smartwool, Sockguy, Castelli, and many others make excellent wool socks in a multitude of colorways/designways. Make sure you get ones with tall cuffs.

Coffee: Roadies love their caffiene and there are a surprising number of bike-themed coffees available in the $10-20 range. Jittery Joe's, 53x11, and Phil Liggett's are just a few of those available.

$20-100 Range

Cycling-themed Casual Clothing: Cyclists want the world to know that they ride even when they're off the bike (why do you think we shave our legs?) so it's hard to go wrong with cool cycling-related casual clothing. Twin Six currently makes some of the coolest cycling-themed t-shirts around and their quality is top-notch. You can also find cool tees from Rock Racing or Lance Armstrong's Mellow Johnny's bike shop. If you're a big spender then you can drop around $100 for a track jacket from Castelli (remember, Castelli stuff is made for tiny Italian people so order one size up, unless your cyclist happens to be a tiny Italian) or a wool jersey from Pearl Izumi. Wool jerseys are available from many manufacturers and often look as good off the bike as they do on it.

RoadID: For a little over $20 you can get a laser-engraved ID tag for your loved one to wear whenever they hit the road. RoadID offers multiple models in several colors (the RoadID Elite is particularly cool) and you can add up to six lines of emergency info. What better way to show you care? Order by December 14th for Christmas delivery.

Magazine Subscriptions: Give the gift that gives year round! You can look in your cyclist's bathroom to see what magazines they currently read or use my handy guide below.

Your cyclist is a:

• Roadie - If he's a Europhile who rides a Colnago or Pinarello, try Cycle Sport or ProCycling. If he's a Category 1/2/3/4 racer who spends every weekend at an event, then go for Road or VeloNews.
• Triathlete - Triathlete. Doesn't get easier than that.
• Casual/Recreational cyclist - Bicycling magazine.
• Mountain Biker - assuming they're literate, Dirt Rag or Highlights for Children

Blinky Lights: Keep your cyclist safe as the days get shorter with a set of blinky lights. For the ultimate in compact lighting that will delight the gadget/tech geek, I suggest the Blackburn Flea. They're a available as a front/rear combo for about $50. For the casual cyclist/hipster Knog makes compact lights in multiple colors. For the commuter or just the ultimate in visibility I suggest the $25 Planet Bike Superflash (this same light is also sold under different brand names so ask at your LBS).

Cateye Bike Computer: The Cateye Strada Wireless ($60 retail) is one of the best bike computers for its ease of use and installation. It's also available in a double-wireless version that features cadence (very popular with triathletes) for $100.

$100-$200 Range

Really Sweet Kits: It's hard to go wrong when decking your cyclist out with a full team kit. Mellow Johnny's has some of the best looking outfits around, and teams such as Garmin-Slipstream, Cervelo and Rock Racing seem to have realized they can sell more shorts and jerseys if they look cool. You can go with your cyclist's favorite team or try some of the fashionable jerseys from Twin Six (don't forget matching socks). DO NOT purchase anything from Primal Wear unless your cyclist rides either a) a single-speed mountain bike or b) a recumbent.

Carbon Fiber Bottle Cages: Roadies love lightweight fragile things, so if your cyclist doesn't have carbon bottle cages this will make their rig complete. To find if your cyclist already has carbon cages, wait until they're not around then go up to their bike, look at the bottle cages, and make a mean face. If the cages don't crumble under the oppressing weight of your grimace, they're not carbon. Carbon cages can be found at your LBS for about $50 per and are made by just about every bike manufacturer, so you can match them to your loved one's bike. I prefer the RXL Cage from Bontrager; Arundel, Serfas, and many others make nice carbon cages as well.

A Helmet: If your cyclist does time trials or stage races or if they're a triathlete, they need an aero helmet. These are the kind that make you look like a rocket man from a 60's comic book. Specialized, Giro, and Louis Garneau all make nice ones in multiple colors. Make sure you go whole hog and get the carrying case too, otherwise it will suck when that $200 helmet gets crushed in the trunk.

Suppose your cyclist has an aero helmet or maybe doesn't time trial. If their current helmet is over 3 years old, it's time for a replacement. Helmet foam breaks down chemically over time so that it doesn't protect as well. Get a top-o-the-line model from Giro, Bell, or Specialized and you can't go wrong (you can check their current helmet for brand and size preference). Don't know what color to get? You can match your cyclist's team kit, or remember that white, silver and black go with anything.

The Nuclear Option

If you're a corrupt Wall Street CEO or your coffers are just particularly well-lined this season, here a few show-stopping (albeit spendy) ways to make it a Christmas to remember

Rapha Bike Clothing: If your cyclist has a $9000 Italian superbike but only rides it three times a month then consider some bike clothing from Rapha. I've never seen the stuff but it's incredibly expensive and sure to satisfy the snob in them.

Zipp 404 Wheelset: Zipp wheels are the gold standard in aero and the 404 is the most versatile wheelset of the bunch. At $2300 retail they're not cheap, but if your cyclist doesn't have a set, he wishes he did. If you're feeling particularly generous you can get the PowerTap SLC+ version and let your cyclist monitor their power on their rides. If your cyclist is a triathlete then go for the Zipp 808 wheelset instead. Note: wheelsets are component-specific. If the components on your loved one's bike say "SRAM" or "Shimano" make sure you buy a SRAM/Shimano wheelset. If they say "Campagnolo" then consider buying them a complete SRAM component group as well so they can get rid of that Campy crap. And don't forget the Zipp Tangente tires at $110 a pop.

Cycling Vacation: I've heard these exist but have never been on one. Apparently they include sag-supported rides through various scenic locales and plush accommodations. Trek Travel offers several complete packages as do others. For the ultimate gift, make it a European cycling vacation.

Other Ideas

So you say to me "My cyclist isn't a hard-core roady, what do I do?" Here's a short list of things that are sure to appeal to the other riders out there.

If your cyclist is a:

• Triathlete: Visit your LBS and ask for the most complicated hydration system they have. The more tubes, bottles, and mysterious hardware the better
• Cyclocrosser: Beer. Anything from Belgium in a 750ml bottle
• Mountain biker: Beer. Anything from Wisconsin/Colorado in a 12 oz. can
• Commuter: Home composting starter kit
• Recumbent rider: Personal grooming kit
• Hipster: Carton of Camel Turkish and the new Animal Collective CD
• The Bike Critic: Cannondale Slice Hi-Mod Ultimate size 54cm with SRM cranks, Hed Black Dog aerobar, SRAM R2C shifters and Look Keo 2Max Carbon/Ti pedals

Happy Holidays and happy hunting!

Product Review - Castelli Free and Velocissimo Shorts

I'm going to say right off the bat that I'm a big Castelli fan. I own several Castelli bits and although everything they make isn't perfect, when Castelli gets something right they get it right. Castelli has fostered several innovations in bicycle clothing and has sponsored ProTour teams longer than I've been alive, so it's safe to say they know a thing or two about making bike shorts. The question I've set out to answer here is should you pay top-dollar for their most high-tech offerings or will the mid-range stuff do just fine? Read on to find out.

The Castelli Free short has been their tip-top of the line (until the introduction of the "Body Paint" short at Interbike this year) and is priced as such at $199.99 retail. The Free features their AC seatpad and a total of three different strategically placed fabrics. Castelli uses their more durable "Action Micro" fabric at the saddle contact point and the light "Energia Micro" and "Breathe Micro" everywhere else in order to maximize cooling. All fabrics on the Free have been treated with Castelli's Prosecco treatment which helps prevent the fabric from absorbing water, thus speeding evaporation. The multi-density AC seatpad supposedly uses a NASA developed material that is not only more comfortable than other chamois fabrics but also helps regulate body temperature (which is especially important in the crotchal region).

The Free short is without a doubt the most comfortable I have ever worn. The seatpad is just large enough to provide comfort and small enough that it never gets in the way. I've worn the Free in duathlons and had none of the "diaper" sensation that you often do when running in other bike shorts. The Free is also one of the best shorts in hot weather thanks to the minimalist fabrics on the outside of the thigh and the well-ventilated chamois. These became my go to shorts for 3 hour rides in sweltering summer heat. The seamless leg grippers proved much more comfortable than traditional silicone grips, however their two layers began to separate after several months of use. Although this was annoying in a $200 short it in no way affected their function. Durability seems to be the main concern with the Free due to their thin, super-flyweight construction, and I'm actually surprised that mine have held up to over a year's worth of wearing and washing.

At $109.99 retail the Velocissimo short is priced right in line with most manufacturer's middle to high-end shorts. Castelli uses their Affinity Lycra and Breathe Micro fabric with Prosecco treatment and thei Kiss+ seatpad, a thicker version of the award-winning Kiss chamois. The leg grippers on the Velocissimo are similar to those on the Free, however they inexplicably sport silicone grips on the outside as well as on the inside of the leg openings (silicone which, by the way, began to peel off after a few months of use). The Velocissimo also drops the flat-lock stitching of the Free.

At $90 less than the Free the Velocissimo offers the same fit and about 9/10ths of the functionality. While not as airy as the Free the Velocissimo is certainly comfortable and if anything will probably prove more durable thanks to the use of heavier-duty fabrics. The Kiss+ seatpad is almost as comfortable as the AC but its added bulk does sometimes feel a bit, well, bulky in comparison. In my opinion Castelli should have spec'd the Kiss+ on the $90 Dome Due short and the regular Kiss seatpad (which has slightly less padding) on the Velocissimo. Thanks to its slightly thicker and less breathable fabrics the Velocissimo is great in any weather and can be worn more comfortably in the Spring and Fall when ride temperatures begin to fluctuate.

Both of these are great shorts and both are, I believe, good buys. I've always encouraged people to splurge on shorts for two reasons: one, your butt is the main point of contact with the bike and you want it to be as comfortable as possible and two, bike shorts, when properly cared for, will last a long time. That $100 or $200 pair of shorts doesn't seem so expensive when you realize you'll be wearing them 2-3 hours a day for a couple of years. For those with the cash who put in a lot of miles in hot climates the Free is hard to beat, and the Velocissimo offers most of the comfort as well as all-season versatility at almost half the price. Word to the wise - unless you have a exhibitionist streak, never buy Castelli shorts in white. Trust me.