RaceRocket MT Pump By Topeak A Real Deal
Colorado front range mountain bike rides require cyclist to be prepared for flats. Tubed tires are subject to pinch flats bouncing over rocks or slamming 3 foot drops and slow leaks caused by goatheads or the occasional prickly pear cactus encounter all spell doom. Even the sealant ready tubeless followers burp a bead on a switchback or don’t [more...]
TOPEAK’S SPONSORSHIP APPRECIATED
At the end of another great race season, major sponsor Topeak’s Byron Tsai joined founder Stephen Lechner and Dave Strouse for a Rockies game in Denver. Byron and friend Jeff were in the Mile High City following the Las Vegas Interbike show. Yeti’s Steve Hoogendoorn also treated the pair to a round of golf before [more...]
Optic Nerve-Roger That…The Perfect Shade
The 2011 Optic Nerve menu contains a myriad of styles and lenses types. One of the best choices for the active cyclist is the polarized Roger That . The shades are designed for the average face build and display classic coolness beneath your cycling helmet. Although the Roger offers removable side shields, leave them on [more...]
TOPEAK TOOLSTICKS 11 and 22 DO IT ALL
Over 85% of the tools needed to maintain and tune a modern mountain or road bike can be found on two tools. The historic choice among bike shop and race team mechanics was a pair of blue and green three-ways. Topeak has obsoleted that duo. Eight versus six. Do the math. The Topeak Toolstick 11 [more...]
Yeti Big Top Review
I’ve ridden a few 29′ers in recent years and can honestly say that Yeti did their homework on this one. I wasn’t too sure about the aluminum front at first… I thought, ‘why not all carbon?’ Having ridden all carbon 29er’s before I thought going to aluminum would seem harsh and unforgiving. Not the case [more...]
Optic Nerve Pneumatic sunglasses- my new love
I just got the Pneumatic in white, and I’m in love. These are my favorite every day, all-around pair of shades. I really like the way they look on my face and how light they are. It doesn’t feel like I’m wearing sunglasses at all; they just feel like a part of my face. Optic [more...]
Powerbar – Energy All Day Long
During the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde race nutrition and hydration were key to finishing strong especially when you are only on a two man team. This meant more riding and less time off inbetween laps to recover. During the race it was so hard to drink while on course because the singletrack was so [more...]
COMOtion Sports Team Arrives in Fruita…Take a break before the start.
The 13th annual COMOtion Sports training camp is set for this weekend in Fruita. Historically, the event has vacillated between Moab and Fruita and this year we once again ride the legendary West slope trails including The Ribbon, Mary’s Loop, Road 18′s Whoop Dee Do and the Rabbit Valley MSC course. Some will road ride the spectacular [more...]
Schwalbe Racing Ralph’s
By far the fastest race tires out there. They roll great, but still maintain all the traction needed, and they are light!!!!!
PowerBar Drink Mix Review…
I’ve tried a bunch of energy drinks over the years, and PowerBar Endurance and Recovery drink mix is the best I’ve used. A lot of other drinks are too sweet or upset my stomach, but the Endurance drink mix has just the right amount of ‘sweet’, and the Recovery drink is easy on my stomach [more...]
Optic Nerve Photomatic Glasses – When Conditions are Uncertain
Riding here in Colorado you never exactly know what type of light conditions you are going to get. It could be really sunny, but when you are deep in the trees in Telluride you need a different sunglass lens then when you started in the bright sun, but you really can’t stop and change your [more...]
Smartwool Microweight Crew-Keeping You Dry and Comfortable
Today, it was a warm and sunny day for doing some early season alpine touring so I opted to wear my Smartwool microweight baselayer for my day on the skis. I’m glad I did, the microweight is the perfect balance of keeping you warm, as well as keeping you dry in those above freezing extended high [more...]
Topeak WhiteLite™ HP 2W 2W high power LED lights up the night
Topeak’s WhiteLite is one of the slickest bar mount light sets I’ve come across. One bracket on the bar and one on the stem provide for a very clean battery and light head configuration. The included battery also has dual outputs so a second light head can be added without the weight of a second [more...]
PowerBar Double Latte Energy Gels pack 3 fold energy perfection!!!
Long rides go soooo much smoother with a couple PowerBar Double Latte Energy Gels along the way. The flavor is not overly sweet like so many gels on the market. Could be the 2:1 glucose to fructose blend or the higher sodium content or the 2X caffeine but PowerBar’s Double Latte Energy Gel really seems [more...]
Smartwool Glove Liners – Make Any Glove Warmer!
I enjoy being outside as much as I can in the winter but I consistently have the same problem regardless of activity, cold fingers. Whether is base miles on the road bike, nordic or alpine skiing, winter hiking, or just walking to dog my fingers are usually the first thing to get cold, which can [more...]
Smartwool PHD Ski Socks – Ski Boot Comfort All Day Long
So what do mountain bikers do in the late fall when the trails are muddy, their isn’t a cyclocross race nearby, and its dumping in the high country? Head for the mountains for some early season powder skiing!! Unfortunately our local ski area here in Grand Junction Colorado isn’t open yet so I slapped the [more...]
PowerBar Energy Bites – Long Lasting Energy
With all the recent snow here on the western slope of Colorado I decided to go on an alpine touring adventure up our local ski area that isn’t quite ready to open yet. I brought the PowerBar energy bites along with me because they are a simple way to eat while on the go skinning [more...]
Power to Push
It’s been said that the race is 90% mental. Racing mountain bikes and cyclocross certainly requires resilience, fortitude, and mental discipline. However, not even the power of positive thinking can fuel an empty tank. When it comes to priming the body pre-race, fueling working muscles during the toughest races, and replenishing the fuel stores post-workout, [more...]
Smartwool Headliner – Extending Your Riding Season
The Smartwool headliner is easily my favorite piece of Smartwool gear I own. It’s warm, its very comfortable, doesn’t itch, and it stays in place for entire ride. It seems like such a simple product, but Smartwool really got it right with the headliner. Other styles itch like crazy, do not stay in place, and [more...]
Bike Bag Necessity – Topeak Mini Pro 20
In such a small design, Topeak packed just about everything you would need for on trail repairs. It has a variety of hex tools, 2 screwdrivers, T25 Torx, tire lever, chain tool, spoke tools, and even a bottle opener for post ride beverages. It’s a solid steel design that hopefully you’ll never have to use, but [more...]
Making Dust and Dirt Removal Easier – Topeak Prepstand Race
For a bike that doesn’t use cable housing around the bottom bracket area this is a great work stand. Unlike a traditional work stand that secures the bike by the seat tube, this stand mounts to bottom bracket area and secures the fork with a quick release skewer. This design makes the bike extremely stable [more...]
Happy Feet – Smartwool Ultralight Cycling Socks
These socks are always in the dirty clothes hamper because they are my absolute favorite ones to wear. In the summer heat they breathe well to resist hot spots even on long MTB and road rides. When temperatures drop a bit they are still great because they keep your feet warm without overheating them. They [more...]
Full of Electrolytes and not too SWEET
The Powerbar endurance drink has the right mix of electrolytes and carbs to keep you feeling good even when you are racing on the toughest MSC courses of Telluride and Snowmass, but has a smooth taste that doesn’t pucker you lips every time you take a swig from your water bottle. Many energy drinks are [more...]
All Day Comfort – Smartwool Bib Shorts
Today I went for a good road ride through the peach orchards and vineyards of Grand Junction. It was pretty hot and sunny as most August days are here in Grand Junction with very little wind. These bib shorts from Smartwool were a great pair of shorts to wear on a ride like today. When [more...]