Monday, December 14, 2009

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.

Monday, December 7, 2009

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!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

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.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Product Review - Yankz! Sure Lace System

One of the things that has always fascinated me about the multisport community is the sheer amount of ridiculous crap that gets peddled to triathletes. From ridiculous hydration systems (yes, that's $110 for what amounts to a water bottle and a few feet of tubing) to Bento Boxes to compression socks to slightly less ridiculous (but still dorky) hydration systems there seems to be no end to the amount of crap that companies are trying to put on triathlete's bikes or bodies.

Which is probably the reason that I never even gave a thought to Yankz! laces. They look like something you would have used in third grade and seemed to be yet another solution to yet another problem that didn't exist. In fact, I worked in a shop that stocked and (about once a year) sold Yankz! yet I never even took a pair out of the package to see how they worked. However, after checking out my dismal transition times in my first duathlon I figured maybe there was some benefit to Yankz! so on a recent trip to God's Country I dropped $8 on a pair at my local running store of choice.

Let me first say that figuring Yankz! out was a little confusing at first. I was under the impression that the laces were left loose and that you somehow "yanked" the long center loop to tighten them, then hooked in on the little black retaining clip down by the toe box. After carefully reading the instructions two or three times, however, I realized that no actual yanking is involved. Instead, you lace up your Yankz! (a process that took about 5 minutes per shoe), adjust them to desired tightness, and leave them be. The laces themselves are elastic, and that stretchyness allows you enough give to slide the shoes on and off without unlocking the system.

I was skeptical if Yankz! would work for me as I like my shoes to be very tight (probably a little too tight) due to my narrow feet. I figured the give in the lacesYankz! installed on my running shoe of choice, notice I chose neon green which has been proven to be more aerodynamic than standard black would translate into a floppy or insecure fit. One quick run, however, revealed that if anything the Yankz! provided just as secure a fit without the flopping and inconvenience of traditional laces. If anything the Yankz! system proved more comfortable since the elasticity of the lacing allowed tension to be spread more equally over the top of my foot than did traditional, non-elastic laces.

Will the Yankz! speed up my transition times? That remains to be seen. The level of "snugness" I prefer means it still takes a little finageling to slide my shoe on and orient everything the right way, which is a little more complicated than just yanking laces and tying them up. I have talked to several multisporters who have said that they wouldn't want to race without Yankz! and even if the time to put my shoes on hasn't diminished with them I'll still use them for the increased comfort they offer. Since they retail for less than $10 a pair and can presumably be reused as long as they're not cut too short for your next pair of shoes, Yankz! are definitely worth trying out.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Winners and Losers - Winter Rider Transfers

It's the time of year when road riders break out woolen jerseys and socks, trainers are dusted off and positioned in front of the television, mountain bikes come out of the woodwork and it gets dark at about 4:00 PM. It's also the time when teams and riders announce their transfers and, let's face it, transfer time can be messier and more dramatic than a season of Grey's Anatomy. For those who don't have time to follow who's going where and who said what about so-and-so's ugly new kits I've condensed all the transfers announced thus far into the following team-by-team synopsis. If your favorite team isn't listed here it's because they either didn't make any significant rider changes or, morely likely, it's due to the fact that they suck. Enjoy.

BIG Loser - Astana

As I blogged about earlier, Astana is a shell of its former self, with the following riders all jumping ship: Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Janez Brajkovič, Chris Horner, Sérgio Paulinho, and Andreas Klöden. To make matters worse for them there is the continuing saga of whether Contador will stay or go. Vinokourov's return tops off Astana's woes and probably hurts the team more than it helps.

Winner - BMC

BMC is beginning to look like an international ProTour team now that they've signed US champ George Hincapie, former world champ Allesandro Ballan, and current world champ (and perennial Tour also-ran) Cadel Evans.

Winner - Garmin-Slipstream

The plaid crew bolstered their roster despite losing a couple of veterans to retirement. Sprinters Robbie Hunter and Johan Van Summeren as well as time-trialists Tom Zirbel and Peter Stetina will all prove valuable assets to what has become a well-rounded international squad.

Wash - Lampre

Lampre loses Ballan to BMC but brings in sprinter Allesandro Petacchi. Perhaps having two Allesandros on the team would have been too much?

Winner - Liquigas

Although Liquigas didn't sign many significant new riders they did manage to hang on to almost their entire squad. Now if Basso, Pellizotti and Nibali can quit arguing about hair product and play nice they'll have a formidible crew for the grand tours.

Loser - Omega Pharma-Lotto (formerly Silence-Lotto)

Sponsor of the week-Lotto loses their only real grand tour hope with the departure of Cadel Evans.

Loser - Columbia-HTC

Despite signing a slew of new riders Columbia-HTC now appears, on paper at least, much weakened from last year due to the loss of George Hincapie, Boasson Hagen, Thomas Lovkvist and Kim Kirchen. TT specialist Tony Martin remains, however, as does the neigh-unbeatable Mark Cavendish. It will be interesting to see if Columbia-HTC's lead-out train retains its ability to deliver Cav to the line after this reshuffling.

Winner - Team RadioShack

See above about Team Astana. After LA & Co. cherry-picked the best from Astana they threw in Thomas Vaitkus and Geert Steegmans for good measure.

Winner - Team Sky

Sky created an international ProTour team from scratch seemingly overnight. With riders such as Kurt Asle Arvesen, Boasson Hagen, and Juan Antonio Flecha they should make some waves in the grand tours next year.

See, that wasn't so difficult, and you didn't have to go watch the entire back-catalogue on the internet like you did with Grey's Anatomy.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Movie Review - Race Across The Sky: The Leadville Trail 100

Last Thursday Fathom Events screened Race Across The Sky: The Leadville Trail 100 in select theatres across the nation. I have to admit that, not being much of a mountain biker, I considering skipping out. However, I know a couple of guys who rode the Leadville this year and the hopes of seeing people I knew on the big screen was enough to draw me in. So I paid my $12.50 (OUCH!) and settled in for what I thought was going to be the Lance Armstrong show (LA obliterated the old Leadville 100 course record this year).

Although Lance was a prominent figure in the film he was not the focus and that turns out to be, in my opinion, the film's salvation. We've all seen Lance systematically pick apart a race and dismantle his competition and his performance at Leadville differs very little in that regard from his performance at any of his seven TdF victories. Don't get me wrong, there were amazing shots of LA motoring up Columbine climb in an Energizer Bunny-like fashion and the drama of him riding the last several miles on a flat, but let's face it: everyone who follows cycling knew how this film ended before it began.

The things that makes Race Across The Sky an inspiring film and wonderful sport documentary are the stories and shots of the non-pros who show up to race or in some cases simply finish. The Leadville 100 is an epic event on the scale of an Ironman and requiring the same kind of dedication and training. Therefore it's those folks who don't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning who make the story most interesting. For instance, the movie also follows a guy who's run the Leadville 100 fifteen times - on the same bike. There's also the story of a woman who was struck by a car on a training ride but recovered to come back and finish the race.

By showing the "normal" folks who determine to ride the Leadville the film brings the race down to the everyman's level - you see folks who are genuinely suffering but also enjoying themselves - folks who had to make significant sacrifices both in time and money just to show up in shape to finish the race. That's when I, as an amateur rider, started to think, "Man, I'd like to do that one day." And I suppose ultimately that's why I liked the film so much, because I can relate (at least a little bit) to the suffering of the contestants, the difficulty of the race, the comraderie of support teams as well as the accomplishment, pride, and exhaustion that you see on their faces as the riders come in to the finish. It's the kind of thing that makes you want to get out and ride yourself.

I don't know if Citizen Pictures is going to make the film available on DVD but they are planning an encore showing on November 12. Go to www.raceacrossthesky.com for more info and if you didn't see it the first time you don't want to miss it again.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Now Read This

Unfortunately I, like most of you, have a "real job" that doesn't entail writing, bikes, riding bikes, or writing about riding bikes and/or bikes being ridden by others. Furthermore, such unfortunate circumstances dictate that I am sometimes unable to update this blog for several days at a time, during which times you may find yourself dizzy or otherwise feeling ill for lack up to the minute news and insight into the bicycling world. As a public service I have compiled a list of Bikecritic approved websites and blogs that will serve you well in my stead (you should be reading these anyway).

Cyclingnews.com - This Aussie website is THE source for the latest pro cycling news and product info. More content and information than any other site.

Velonews.com - Official website of the VeloNews publication features weekly columns, latest news and viewer e-mail

Slowtwitch.com - geared toward the triathlon community, features race coverage and great articles on training, bike fit, etc.

The Bike Snob - keeps it real and updates every weekday

Neil Browne - editor for Road magazine, amateur road racer, professional bear fighter (make sure you follow him on twitter)

The Road Diaries - Official SRAM blog, make sure you check out their awesome Flickr photo galleries

Those should keep you busy while I'm out riding in God's country hard at work for the man. Until next time.

Friday, October 16, 2009

All Your Rider Are Belong To Us: Is Armstrong the Ulimate Example of Free Agency?

In an astonishing yet predictable move, Lance Armstrong has once again assembled a veritable supergroup of riders to surround himself on his new RadioShack team. Take a look at the list of personnel who have jumped the Astana ship and signed with RadioShack:
  • Johan Bruyneel
  • Levi Leipheimer
  • Yaroslav Popovych
  • Andreas Kloden
  • Viatcheslav Ekimov
  • Chris Horner
  • Dirk Demol
  • Sergio Paulinho

Granted, some of those are bigger names than others, but all have played an essential role in Astana's success and their departure leaves the Khazak squad a shell of the team it once was. Contador has managed to hang on to Haimar Zubeldia, and the two appear to be the only Astana employees unable to weasel out of their 2010 contracts. With two riders (Contador and Vinokourov) who have a proven track record of not getting along with their teammates, an almost totally new team as well as a completely new support squad Astana's struggles will likely extend well beyond their recent financial woes. A big part of Lance's successful formula has been to minimize variables and distractions, two things Astana will likely possess in spades in the 2010 season. Armstrong and his teammates, however, will likely only have to change kits and go about business as usual.

Of course, neither team has received confirmation of their UCI Pro Tour license for 2010 yet, which makes the whole Astana/RadioShack saga that much more interesting. The UCI doesn't just hand out Pro Tour licenses to any upstart team that wants one, but with the big guns on RadioShack's roster the UCI will be under pressure to grant them one. Furthermore, Astana's financial difficulties in 2009 could jeopardize their shot at 2010 Pro Tour spot. To further complicate matters the UCI has proven that it has no problem barring big names and former champions from racing the Tour de France, so what will happen with the 'Shack and the Astana ghost train is anybody's guess.

Beneath all of this is the much more interesting story (interesting to me at least) of Armstrong's pull and "star power" if you will. What's happening with the current dismantling of Astana is the equivalent of Michael Jordan saying to the Chicago Bulls in 1997, "You know what? I'm gone, and I'm taking Phil, Scottie, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr and Tony Kukoc with me. Ok, well, maybe not Kukoc, we'll see if Horace Grant still wants to play." Keep in mind that the former Astana crew listed above all had at least one year remaining on their contract, which they had to break in order to join up with RadioShack. Armstrong (especially since he's basically riding for free) seems to have unlimited ability to do pretty much whatever the heck he wants, whether it's beating up on some domestic riders in Nevada, destroying the Leadville 100 record or cannibalizing his most legitimate opponent's team. Does any other figure in pro sports enjoy the kind of free agency that Armstrong seems to have?

It's well known that Armstrong keeps a close-knit circle of riders, coaches, and staff around him. The amazing part to me is his ability to keep that group largely intact and the mobility that he and his group enjoy, enabling them to jump teams, land sponsors and finagle their way into races (witness the three-man "Mellow Johnny's" team that dismantled domestic pro teams at this year's Gila) pretty much at will. Of course the groupe Armstrong suffers various permutations each time it's reassembled - such as the loss of George Hincapie to Columbia or most recently Zubeldia - but Armstrong & Co. have been pretty much running the same game with the same players for nearly a decade.

Edit - about 3 hours after I posted this RadioShack was issued a a four year Pro Tour license by the UCI.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Sastre May Sit Out '10 Tour - Says Evans a Lock for Whiniest Jersey

According to a recent Velonews article Carlos Sastre has indicated that it's possible he will sit out on the Tour de France for the first time in five years. Although the 2010 edition of le Tour seems to play to his strengths what Sastre really seems to fear is a Cadel Evans who is coming into spectacular complaining form after his disastrous wheel change debacle in this year's Vuelta. Sastre appears ready to concede the Kleenex jersey without even holding a press conference in anger.

"After last year's season and now with the curse of the Rainbow jersey, Evans' complaining will be nearly unstoppable. He should have plenty to whine about and after all the practice from last season, what with the Tour, Vuelta, and all, I don't see how Cadel couldn't win the Kleenex. So it's probably best if I just give up now and start working on excuses for next year."

Sastre admitted that his claim that other riders "don't want [him] to win the Tour" during this year's TdF was greatly overshadowed buy the stellar excuse-making and general cry-babyness that has caused some to call Evans "The John Coltrane of Excuses."

We can only hope (at least for the cycling press' sake) that Sastre's recent statements are merely a shot across Evan's bow and a reminder from Sastre that while some may don wool and windproof vests to reconnoiter race routes in the off-season, Sastre will sit warm and snuggly by his fireplace dreaming up better and better excuses.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Easton Wheel Systems taking aim at Zipp

Last month at Interbike Easton Wheels unveiled several new models, including a 90mm deep "TT" wheelset. They're clearly trying to steal some market share from Zipp with the claim that their EC90 TT is faster than a 1080 "in certain wind conditions" and the equally direct "Dimples are for golf" statement on the EC90 TT product page. In addition to an extra 9mm of depth, the EC90 TT is also able to claim a 30g weight advantage over the 808, although I'm not sure what math their using - according to Zipp the 808 wheelset weighs in at 1499g versus a claimed 1424g for the EC90 TT - a 75g difference if both manufacturers are to be believed. Of course, your pair of fancy carbon water bottle cages probably weigh about that much anyway. So what's not to love about the EC90 TT? Save a few bucks and get a lighter, deeper wheelset with ceramic bearings, right? Well...

I have a couple of issues with the new EC90 TT. First of all, the 90mm rim depth is a bit much for a front wheel. I believe that most riders above 150 lbs. could ride the 90mm rear rim on all but really windy days, but I'd be wary of having a 90mm front rim as my only race-day wheel. Let's face it, most of us can only afford one set of "race-day" wheels and you need a wheelset that can do it all. The 56mm EC90 Aero is the kind of rim that most riders could ride regardless of the wind conditions and, in my opinion, a better choice if you can only have one deep-section front rim. Of course, if you're a bigger rider who can control a deeper front wheel in a crosswind or you've got a bevy of front wheels to choose from the EC90 TT isn't a bad choice. Except...

The hub on the EC90 TT has a much narrower flange than other Easton wheels. The idea is that you pull the spokes in at the hub, effectively reducing the frontal profile of the wheel. The problem with this is that it goes counter to traditional wheelbuilding principles which dictate that a wider, taller flange increases wheel stiffness (as in the new wheels that Gary Fisher unveiled at Interbike). If this is the case, then those who could benefit most from the EC90 TT (bigger riders who can handle the extra cross-section in the wind) are also those who are least suited to ride the narrower (and presumably flexier) hub. I may be wrong and Easton may be able to make wheels built on the TT hub as laterally stiff as their others, but it would be nice to see the 90mm rim available on their traditional (and excellent) R4 hubs anyway.

I also dislike how Easton favors paint over decals on their wheels. Paint can get chipped, nicked and scratched up. At least on a Zipp if you scratch up your logos you can either de-sticker them or replace them with new decals. I know it seems like a nitpick but if you drop $2,000 or more on a wheelset you want them to look nice - and STAY looking nice. And even if you do mix and match an EC90 TT rear with an EC90 Aero front, the logos on the wheels won't match up. Come on Easton, give us a unified paint scheme!

The big advantage that Zipp has, in my mind, is the ability to mix and match wheels. If you're a 100 lb. female triathlete you can purchase a 303 front/404 rear combo and ride it everyday, no matter what the wind conditions. Your average male roadie can buy a 404 front/808 rear combo and be set. Need a disc for calm race days? Zipp has 3 to choose from. Want those wheels in clincher instead of tubular? No problem - almost every Zipp model is available in both. Would you like a Power Tap with that? I used to not like Zipp hubs because the carbon dust covers, although cool-looking, would loosen and rattle and make a very expensive wheelset sound fragile and poopy in general. Now all Zipp wheels (except discs) have the new and much improved 88/188 hub as well as steel bearings that rival most ceramics for smoothness.

For those of us who don't regularly wind tunnel things like dimples, rim shapes and specially matched tubular tires are probably best chalked up to marketing. However, you'll notice that those who do have access to a wind tunnel definitely seem to favor Zipp. I'm not only talking about sponsored athletes, of which Zipp can boast quite a few, including recent female Ironman winner Chrissie Wellington, Pro Tour teams such as Cervelo Test Team and Saxo Bank, and even cyclocrossers. The more telling evidence is the number of folks who aren't sponsored by Zipp and who actually purchase their product. You'll notice several Pro Tour teams including Columbia-HTC running "de-stickered" Zipp wheels at the Tour. Look at photos of any Tour time trial and you'll see many Zipp discs being run with no decals (or even another sponsors decals). Even other wheel manufacturers such as Rolf and American Classic purchase rims from Zipp for their wheels - Easton used to be a customer before the Tempest wheelset evolved into the EC90 Aero.

Of course you'll pay a premium to the tune of at least $500 for all that Zipp goodness, and that's what keeps Easton in contention. They market a competitive product at a competitive price, and for a lot of folks the Zipp just isn't worth the extra cash. Truth be told, most of us wouldn't notice the difference between the EC 90 TT and the Zipp 808 or between an EC90 Aero and Zipp 404 anyway. For those who have to have the latest and greatest or who needs/wants to be able to mix and match their race wheels for the n-th degree of aerodynamics, Zipp is probably the way to go. However, you can save a buck get probably 97.5% of the performance for less with Easton.

Monday, October 12, 2009

UCI Attempts to Ban Armstrong - Armstrong says "Suck it"

Fast on the heels of this years half-experiment to ban radios at the Tour de France the UCI has voted to phase out radios at all levels of competition.

Although some may believe that the ban is a response to critics' complaints that cycling has become too formulaic and predictable because of radios, the keen observer will realize that it's actually an attempt to ban Lance Armstrong's new squad from UCI competition. Obviously the UCI is worried that with Alberto Contador apparently unwilling to ride for any team other than himself, Cadel Evans' Curse of the Rainbow Jersey (and intolerable whinyness in general), the Schleck brothers hunger strike and continous rumors concerning the funding issues of the perpetually eyebrow-less Alexandre Vinokourov's Astana team, there only way to keep Armstrong from dominating yet another tour is to ban his team outright.

However, in a shrewd move Radio Shack is apparently circumventing the UCI ban by changing its moniker to "The Shack." This clever substitution of the article "The" for the word "Radio" not only puts team Armstrong beyond the reach of any possible interpretation of the UCI ruling but also opens the door for some interesting promotional possibilities. Perhaps team The Shack can takes some cues from Rock Racing on how to uglify their race bikes or maybe even have Mugatu fashion their kits as part of the Derelicte campaign.

Considering Armstrong's uncanny abilities to force corporate name changes, dismantle entire teams and re-assemble them under Khazak rule, and incite flashmob bike rides around the world, it should come as no surprise that Armstrong has unveiled step one in what is undoubtedly a plan for world cycling domination - The Mellow Classic. It's now only a matter of time before the UCI is overthrown by the Lance Armstrong Cycling Federation as world cycling's governing body.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Friday - One From the Vault

The following is something I wrote about 4 years ago (since I'm too lazy today to come up with a new post).

There he was on Ellerbe Road about 2 miles north of "the crossroads." He didn't belong in the middle of the road with the glaring afternoon sun beating down on him and searing hot asphalt on his skin. Yet as I passed him I noticed that he was still glistening wet, as if he had simply gone out for a short stroll or maybe to talk to the cows swimming in the other pond. Perhaps he wanted a paper or a change of scenery. Maybe he did belong I thought. Maybe he'd been hoisted from his home by a tasty nightcrawler with a barbed metal spine. Or maybe it was a crankbait. I don't know much about fishing.

I knew he was dead but I almost expected him to speak to me or perhaps dance around like that cartoon catfish with the cane and top hat that I used to see - I can't remember where. That catfish looked suspiciously like Mr. Peanut. This one didn't. His mouth gaped open as if he'd died trying to relay some message, like a fallen war hero in a Hollywood movie. I have heard catfish talk before; they're generally quite disagreeable. He stared at me with that one fishy eye as I cranked passed in wonder, and for a moment we connected. I could see a bit of his innards and I couldn't help but wonder what he would see if he looked through my sweat-soaked body and into my innards. I avoided his glassy, unforgiving stare on my way back. As I passed his pitiful body I reminded myself about something I'd once heard in a song: "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle."

Thursday, October 8, 2009

The Perfect Warm Up

As every cyclist knows, the key to a good time trial is the warm up. Some folks prefer to warm up on the road, some prefer a trainer, some like to warm up on rollers (which I have never understood). Or you can do like Alberto Contador and shove eucalyptus up your nose. You can debate all you want about the best warm up technique or which heart rate zones to hit for how long but none of that is half, no, one-quarter as important as THE most important aspect of any warm up. I'm talking, of course, about the playlist.

There are many ways to approach the warm up playlist - you can go old school US Postal and listen to all ZZ Top, you can join former track-specialist turned roady Bradley Wiggins in some Brit-pop jingle jangle, or you can take the Jens Voight route and "just try to get as angry as possible" (although we saw how that worked out for him at this year's tour). I know several folks who enjoy German grind-core junk such as Rammstein and the more obscure Boltthrower. Whatever you do, don't go the neo-Armstrong route and just listen to whatever college kid BS got released this week. If you don't believe me, read his twitter.

As a recovered musician and former shop TT champion I realized that I could do a great service by providing my fellow cyclists with a sample playlist as well as a general guidline of how to create your own. Call it a sonic road map to greatness if you will. The following 40 (+/-) minute playlist is scientifically designed to increase your average wattage by at least 3 watts, decrease your coefficient of drag, and shave 18 seconds off your 40k TT. Unless, of course, you're still pimping black bar tape, in which case there is no hope for you.

First, you need a couple of tracks to spin lightly to and, in effect, warm up to the warm up:


  • Echo and the The Bunnymen - "Lips Like Sugar"

  • Foo Fighters - "Best of You"

Next up you want to work a little bit and hit that second heart rate zone, so we up the tempo and the intensity, but not too much:


  • Fuel - "New Thing"

  • Nine Inch Nails - "The Collector"

The next phase of my warm up is usually a kind of steady-state, moderate intensity with a bit lower cadence, hence we need some tunes that keep the energy level up but generally have a little bit lower BPM (that's beat's per minute for you non-music types):

  • Does it Offend You Yeah? - "Doomed Now"

  • The Cardigans - "Erase-Rewind"

  • Audioslave - "Exploder"
The next three help you roll into and hit that upper heart rate zone briefly:


  • Better Than Ezra - "Recognize"

  • Metallica - "Fuel"

  • Beastie Boys - "Sabotage"
The final track I include for a little cool-down - you don't want to "leave it in the gym" so to speak. Ideally you can hop off the trainer and go pretty much straight to your start time, although I've never seen an event actually start on time, except for the fabled Mike Simpson Time Trial Series.

  • The Rolling Stones - "Gimme Shelter"
For some reason that tune always gets me fired up. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my magical warm up playlist, now go try it out or create one of your own.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Bike Review - 2009 Orbea Orca

The Orca is the flagship of the Orbea lineup, and although it's been slightly revamped for 2010 I thought it would be worthwhile for me to comment on the 2009 model considering the significant amount of seat time I have on it.

The '09 Orca features subtle revisions over the previous Orca, notably one-piece rear dropouts, a magnesium seat collar, carbon headbadge and revised carbon layup. According to Orbea these revisions shaved about 90 grams off the frameset and made it 20% stiffer. Having ridden both, I can't say that I could tell any difference in stiffness.

My frame (size 51cm, 53.5cm top tube length) weighed in at 940 grams when stripped of all of its metal bits. Total weight for my bike at its lightest build was 15 lbs, 2 oz ready to race (see below for a complete build list). This is certainly competitive with most of the carbon flagship bikes on the market and could easily have been lower with a few substitutions.

How does it ride? In my opinion ride quality is the area where the Orca really shines. The frame does an excellent job of filtering out bumps and high-frequency vibration. This bike is all-day comfortable. Handling on the frame is feels stable to slow - the Orca almost seems to smooth out your line even under hard pedalling. The flipside is that you don't so much dive into corners as much as you herd the Orca through them. Don't expect Cannondale or Specialized Tarmac responsiveness here, although the ride is much better damped than either of those bikes.

In fact, that lack of responsiveness is what I liked least about the Orca. After riding some top-level carbon bikes from other manufacturers I found that they felt much more eager to cut turns or responded much more noticably to pedal input. It seems the Orca rewards smooth, calculated inputs much more than sudden forceful ones. I suppose something had to be given up in order to infuse the Orca with comfort and stability.

I have noticed a few issues with this generation of Orca, all of them related to the reliability of the carbon frame. I personally have seen more than a couple of Orcas that fell over at low (or no) speed, sending the handlebars into the sculpted top tube which then cracked. In my opinion the dramatic lines of the frame create a series of stress risers not found in round tubes and make it more susceptible to such damage. It seems that the ridges of the tubes allow external force to concentrate in that area causing the carbon to fail.

The other issue I encountered was with my personal bike. After a while the carbon headbadge (which also serves as the cable guide for the derailleur cables) formed cracks on the outside edges, apparently from the stress of the cable ferrules and tension of the derailleur cables. Orbea replaced my frame under warranty and I built the second frame using longer housing runs and plastic ferrules per Orbea's advice, only to have that frame fail in the exact same manner. Orbea once again replaced the frame under warranty. According to sources at Orbea, the headbadge has been reinforced on 2010 models in order to prevent this from happening (which also tells me that I wasn't the only person experiencing this).

For racing I believe the Opal is actually a better choice than the Orca. Although it's a little heavier and not nearly as good-looking as its upscale bretheren it should prove far more durable and, from what I've heard, is more responsive. That's probably why Orbea-sponsored Team Type 1 rocks the Opal, along with many other domestic amateur teams.

Of course, all of my reservations about the Orca didn't keep Samuel Sanchez from winning an Olympic gold medal on one. As Lance Armstrong says, "It's not about the bike."

A few more nice features about the Orca include a non-proprietary seatpost (which seems to be a rarity these days) and Orbea's spectacular Made to Order program, which allows you a great deal of flexibility in choosing color, components, wheelsets, even saddles. I know there has been talk at Orbea about scrapping Made to Order but I hope for their customers' sakes they don't.

In my opinion the Orca is best suited for those who want a high-performance rig that isn't going to beat them up on long weekend or club rides. If I were a big sprinter or regular crit racer it probably wouldn't be my first choice. The new improvements for 2010 (tapered headtube, BB30 bottom bracket) should yield a frame that is slightly more responsive and perhaps a little lighter overall, both good things. And there is no denying the Orca's unique look - in my opinion it's one of the best looking bikes on the market, especially in black or red.

Test build (15 lbs, 2 oz):
  • 2009 Orca frameset, size 51 (53.5 top tube)
  • 2009 SRAM Force drivetrain (shifters, derailleurs, brakeset)
  • 2009 FSA K-Force Light crankset, 172.5mm, 52/38T
  • Ritchey WCS 4-Axis 100mm stem
  • Ritchey WCS Anatomic handlebar (42 cm)
  • Bontrager Race X-Lite 31.8mm seatpost (270mm length)
  • Fizik Arione K:ium saddle
  • 2009 Easton EC90 Aero wheelset
  • Vredestein Fortezza TriComp tubular tires
  • Look Keo Sprint pedals
  • Cateye Strade Wireless computer
  • Bontrager Race X-Lite Carbon bottle cages (2)