The Louis Garneau Tri-Lite Cycling Shoe
Louis Garneau makes several different triathlon cycling shoes, including the tri lite, which is a mid to higher end shoe.
I updated to the Louis Garneau Tri-Lite last year from a generic regular bike shoe I bought at a big chain store when I first got started in cycling a few years before. After a bit of installation to line up the cleats as I had them, I went on the bike for a ride and immediately felt the difference. This was the first thing I bought with carbon for biking.
By far, one of my favorite features on this shoe is the carbon composite sole. Because it’s stiffer than the last shoe, the power transfer is significantly more efficient, and my feet are much more comfortable when riding. These shoes feel much cooler, as Louis Garneau’s Tri-Lites have vented soles to help…
click to continue reading the [Tri-Lite Shoe review]
Profile Design Aerodrink Base Bar. Simple and basic, this new bracket by Profile Design is probably one of my favorite new products.
With this new bracket, your aero drink mounts directly onto your base bar, freeing up space from your cockpit and brings it closer to your body. For a lot of people, it makes it easier to drink from this new position. This bracket is also… [continue reading]
Zoot Z-Pack Tri Bag
This Zoot Triathlon Bag is what you need for a streamlined race day or training session. The Z-Pack features:
- The ability to attach a Race Travel Bag for complete travel ensemble
- An expandable helmet storage panel
- A Separate wet/shoe storage pocket with external access
- An external ID/business card window
- Two mesh cargo pockets for easy-access storage
- An interior CD/MP3 pocket with rubber headphone jack
- A large main compartment with top access
- Two external zippered, fleece-lined pockets
- Cell phone pocket on shoulder strap
- Vented back panel for breathability and comfort
- Memory foam shoulder straps for comfort
- Adjustable sternum and shoulder straps for different torso lengths
Read more about the Z-Pack on Trigearreviews.
Profile Design T2+ Aerobar Extensions
The Profile Design T2+ Aerobar Extensions uses a system that fits both 26.0mm & 31.8mm bars, making the Profile Design T2+ Aerobar Extensions one of the most practical S-Bend extension on the market! These aero bars are ideal for triathletes and time trialists. These are an excellent replacement if you’re looking a flatter bar that puts you into a more aggressive riding position.
New 2XU Compression
There have been numerous articles and endurance sports press on compression, with questions asking how it works and whether it works. But notably missing are the answers by the manufacturers with clear instruction what is for what and when. 2XU, the craftsmen of products multiplying human performance, aim to demystify and answer those questions with their new line of compression.
What’s new about it, and why is it cool? In short, the fabric has been updated with the latest technology from the test labs in Australia. Scientists and researchers were involved every step of the way at the Australian Institute of Sport in the design of this new compression wear. The end result is that it’s also been categorized, giving you a clear understanding and guide as to what to wear, and when.
Perform – this is the performance fabric used during athletic competition. You use this while you’re running, doing a triathlon, and being active. You can also use this while you’re paddle boarding, skydiving, snowboarding and Cross-fitting.
Refresh – this is for pure recovery. I’m talking workouts that push lactic acid to say “hello” during those long and hard work outs or competitions. Just finished a Cross-Fit competition? How about finishing an Ironman across the country, and now you’re flying back home on a red eye to the West Coast to get back to work for Monday? This is for you.
And for the combined, you have Xform, a cross between pure recovery and active compression. The ying and yang, the swirl of frozen yogurts.
CEP Compression Socks
CEP Compression Socks are worth your buy. Especially after beating yourself up during a race, these are probably one of the most cost effective things you can do to your legs and calves to recover.
These are green, but they come in all sorts of colors if you’re not so inclined to be decked out in alien. I’m just saying.
In all seriousness, there’s sound science in compression wear for recovery. One of the best things about CEP is that they’re part of Medi-USA, which has its roots in medical compression for treatment of conditions that require the most technical knit fabric, as such, the brand has been around for awhile, and is very reputable in the compression industry.
CEP compression is also novel in the fact that it deliveries graduated compression that differs from the toe to the top of the calf. With levels being measured in mmHg, not every single area of your leg requires the same amount of compression, so CEP addresses this problem by making a knit that serves different parts of the calf with different levels of mmHg.
Brilliant huh?
Bellwether Forma Bike Short
It’s all about the short, the short, the short! The bike short, that is. Bellwether’s Forma Bike Short answers the call with a quality chamois, and durable fabrics that’s able with withstand the most aggressive rider on the road.
I’m careless when it comes in washing my athletic apparel, and I usually just throw these in the washer/dryer because I hardly have the time to hand wash this stuff. After about 6 cycles now, the fabric and chamois has held up quite well!
The bonus is that the fabric, as is the case with all Bellwether mid to higher end shorts, is that they have a compressive property to it. In theory, this could possibly be the best value for a compression cycling short!
Check out Greg’s take on the shorts below:
Features:
- LYCRA POWER™ fabric supports muscles
- Ribbed surface improves airflow
- High-density 3D molded seat pad
- Soft elasticized waistband
- Externally sewn silicon leg gripper
- Flat-locked seams
Fabric: Aenergia™, Axial™
Chamois: Physio Pro™
See more Bellwether goods by checking out its product page.
Honey Stinger Gel
A gel that’s made out of Honey? It’s true. Honey Stinger Gel is a gel with one of its main ingredients as honey. I got a chance to try it a few days ago, and liked it!
The gel itself has 120 calories, making it stack up to its competitors quite fairly. It’s gluten free, so if you’re on a gluten free diet, it’s a perfect gel for you.
The taste and texture? Surprisingly thin. It’s thiner than the most popular gels out there, but perhaps thicker in consistency compared to Power Bar’s gels.
Interested in more gels? Check out this nutrition page to see more energy gels.
Gatorade Pro G1 Prime Pouch
Finally got around to trying one of these before our group swim out in Corona Del Mar before work. The Gatorade Pro Prime Pouch might look like an oversized gel packet, but nutritionally, it’s so much more.
This stuff tastes good, was easy on my stomach, and provides the calories, carbs, and electrolytes I’ll need. It’s a winner when it comes to hydration/nutrition category. The reason I like this is that you can easily consume this just like a gel packet right before a race or a workout, and there wouldn’t be much worry about any digestion issues. The bonus is that because it’s in a liquid form, it’s a lot easier to put down than a gel!
Zoot CompressRx Recovery Tight
Ironman on the horizon? Planning on beating you lower body up and sitting on the plane across country? You’re going to need compression, and compression that covers all of your lower body. The Zoot CompressRx Recovery Tight is one of the mac daddies when it comes to compression recovery for athletes that put their legs, quads and butt through the ringer.
There’s been much talk about compression in the past months in magazines. The well settled fact is that compression as a form of recovery helps relieve a lot of the delayed soreness. You’re able to recovery faster, and get back to normal activities a little more fresh than without it. I’m not a scientist, and I won’t pretent to be on here (you can goggle the virtues of recovery compression), but these tights, from the standpoint of a consumer looking to maximal coverage, are great.
I like the fact that these tights cover up every area that needs to be covered, and that they’re also well constructed. Putting them on is difficult, especially if you’re not used to putting on tights of this nature, so you’re going to have to be careful – using too much haste and force in putting these things on will risk damaging them.
Interested in looking at more compression?
