Category Archives: Misc. Products

Mountainsmith Bike Cube Review

Get Your Life Organized by Entering the Cube

Mountainsmith Bike CubeIf anyone tells you that cycling or triathlon is a simple sport that requires minimal gear – tell them they’re crazy.  It’s seems like the more you get involved in endurance athletics, the more gear and little gadgets you get.  Staying organized, in and of itself can be a huge challenge.

Fortunately, Mountainsmith had the insight to create something that has simplified and changed my whole equipment/clothing management experience.

The Bike Cube, is exactly what it sounds like.  A handy cube shaped bag that literally stores everything you need (minus your bike and wheels.)

Whether you’re are doing a single day race, or a multi-day stage race – you’ll love the Bike Cube.  Of course you can put all your soft clothing into the Bike Cube, but it also contains a special compartments and space within that compartment for your helmet, shoes, sunglasses, food, sunblock, tools, etc.

I have yet to find something that I haven’t been able to find a handy place for within the Bike Cube.  They make a basic and deluxe model.  While there isn’t much difference between the two, the deluxe looks a little sharper and has many more little compartments to put various smaller equipment.

The only potential drawback some might experience with this product is that it doesn’t pack down smaller than the cube.  It’s a fairly stiff, well-shaped bag and so if you’re trying to squeeze it into a fully loaded car, you might have some problems.

The Bike Cube Deluxe is regularly price at about $75.00.  Certainly not the cheapest bag, but I believe it’s well worth the money.  If you get tired of looking around your house or car for this, that, and the other piece of equipment – get the Bike Cube and simplify your life.  I love not worrying if I have something or where I put this particular item.  I just know that it’s all in the cube.

The Bottom Line ~

Mountainsmith is a quality company that makes quality products.  After 3 years of using the Bike Cube, I swear by this product and recommend it to all my friends.  It’s so easy to keep all your biking stuff together, in one place.  It makes bike trips a dream and will keep you organized.  It may not be the cheapest  piece of equipment, but it’s well worth the money.  Keep an eye on Bonktown and other discount sites, as they will offer discounts.

Do you have an experience or comment about this product?
Please help fellow athletes by leaving a comment.

Body Glide Liquified Powder – Skin Glide – Review

That is smooth!

Body Glide Skin Glide

New Packaging and Branding

[Update: I talked with Body Glide today and they notified me that Liquified Powder is now called Skin Glide. Body Glide wanted to bring this product under the same branding umbrella and Skin Glide falls a lot more in line with Body Glide than Liquified Powder. I believe this is a good move. There is something to be said for the name of a product being exactly what it is, such as Liquified Powder, but Skin Glide takes advantage of the powerful Body Glide brand. With the new packaging and name, Body Glide also wanted to make sure people understood that Skin Glide not only aids in protection, but in repair as well.]

I love products that can be used for real life problems. About a month ago I headed to the gym during my lunch break to do an interval running workout. As I started to change in the locker room, I realized that I had forgotten my Drymax Socks. I thought about wearing my dress socks but didn’t want them to get all sweaty, so I decided to go sock-less. I thought it would be a deeper foray into the minimalist movement. Instead , I had deep abrasions on the tops of my feet as the fabric from my shoes tore into my skin. If only I could have remembered Body Glide’s saying, “Stops trouble before it starts,” and more importantly actually used body glide.

Body Glide Liquified Powder

My feet weren’t the only problem that Body Glide could help me with. I had recently increased my cycling by a lot (30 minutes a week to three hours). Saddle sores can be a literal pain in the…I think you get the picture. Thank the heavens that I got my hands on some Body Glide Liquified Powder.

Body Glide’s website states that the liquified powder is a “technically advanced cream that transforms into an evenly disbursed, effective, yet dry & protective skin lubricant.” I have the 1.6 oz. tube which costs around $8. The product also comes in small pouches. The liquified powder comes out as a cream or lotion. The truly amazing thing is that as soon as you start to rub the liquified powder into your skin, it absorbs and goes on dry. The greasy film that lotions leave on your skin is non-existent with the liquified powder. Within a handful of seconds you can barely tell that you have put anything on your skin. The liquified powder is ideal for feet, but not limited to that area.

In a short amount of time Body Glide Liquified Powder is becoming a favorite at my house. After my running without socks incident, I used the liquified powder to reduce anymore damage to the tops of my feet. The combination of the powder and actually wearing socks stopped any more friction to the wounded area and became a non issue within days. I should note that you are supposed to avoid contact with open wounds. I also used the liquified powder in the saddle sore area and any discomfort has diminished. My wife and daughter have tried it on their feet when they wear certain shoes that has caused discomfort in the past. They both say it works great as their toes and heels survive much better through the day.

The Bottom Line ~

Although the liquified powder treats the same ailments as other Body Glide products it is definitely different and actually has a slightly different feel on the skin. Body Glide truly provides comfort and what I love best, is that after you finish a hard training session, you can focus on repairing your muscles, rather than wounds due to chafing.

Do you have an experience or comment about this product?
Please help fellow athletes by leaving a comment.

TriEssential App Review

Checklists and more!

Tri EssentialA few months ago I reviewed an iPhone app called Tri-Checklist and shortly thereafter a buddy told me to check out TriEssential’s iPhone app which includes a checklist and much more. I really like the simplicity of Tri-Checklist. It simply did what it was supposed to without any additions or flare, something the minimalist in me loves. But I also have a creative side and I was excited to check out what TriEssential had to offer.

The TriEssential app is currently free. You must have a WiFi connection when downloading due to the numerous high-resolution photos that come with the app. The app has a different tip for everyday of the year along with a picture. There are also quotes that can help you get through your work day or work out. There are also quick-links to a handful of blogs that can be helpful on your quest to health and/or an Ironman. All these items are very cool and are fun to surf through when you have a few moments to spare, but the real meat of the app are the tools; Time Projector, Race Checklist and PR Keeper.

Triathlon Time ProjectorThe Time Projector is really cool. How many times have you been sitting with your tri-friends talking about what your finish time will be on any given event? And how many of those times have you had to pull out a pencil and try to figure out the ridiculous math and compare pacing to finish time? It is typically too difficult so we give our times in general terms. Well, TriEssential has come to the rescue. You can enter your pace time or final time for each leg, including transitions, and the app will instantly provide you with your final projected finish time. It is awesome.

There are some limitations with the Time Projector. You can only use the time projector for Olympic, Half and Full distance Triathlons. The next triathlon I have signed up for with my buddies is an Olympic but the bike distance is a few miles short of the full Olympic distance. The Time Projector doesn’t allow for any customization. The swim only gives a pace per 100 meters. For over 30 years I have always swam in yards, so I still need to google the correct pace. It can also be a little difficult to get the slider to the exact time that you want. I will slide my finger to the desired pace, but when I remove my finger from the screen it will sometimes bump a few seconds up or down. The only other problem is that the run pace gets maxed out at ten minutes per mile. I can do that for the Olympic and Half Iron distance, but for the Full Ironman, that pace is out of reach. The Time Projector really is great, so don’t let the small limitations prevent you from enjoying this great tool.

Personal Record keeperEvent checklistThe Checklist and Personal Record (PR) Keeper are basic tools that are nice to have at your disposal. The checklist is completely customizable. The default gives you sections for preparation, swim, bike, run and finish. All of the basic items for each section is already loaded into the system and you can also add more of your own and even delete the ones you don’t need. The one thing I wish the TriEssential Checklist had, is the ability to add different race checklists. That way I could have a marathon checklist and a triathlon checklist. This would allow the user to customize a different checklist for every event that they participate in.

I love the PR Keeper. I used to keep all my PR information on my phone’s notepad. It always reminded my of just scratching notes on a yellow pad of paper, rather than having some pride and displaying them nicely. The PR Keeper also allows you to customize the screen for your events. Another nice addition is that it allows you to keep some notes for each event. It is a great little tool to have on hand wherever you go…and it is even more fun when you can update those times.

The Bottom Line ~

This is currently a free app and well worth your time to download. The tools are very helpful although there are a few limitation. The motivation tips, quotes and pictures are incredibly helpful for those days you struggle. The app also allows you to email some of its content to your friends to help motivate them. I really like this app and encourage you to check it out. It adds a lot to your standard checklist app.

Do you have an experience or comment about this product?
Please help fellow athletes by leaving a comment.

TrainingPeaks Review

If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to FailTrainingPeaks Review

The most important component to your athletic performance is, arguably, your training plan.  Without a plan, you will end up doing too much or too little, and have no idea when you should be turning up the intensity or when you should be tapering.  The very first step to a successful bike race, triathlon season, marathon or Ironman is a solid training plan.

It can be difficult to find something that allows you to plan out your workouts ahead of time, record your results and keep an ongoing tally of all your training.  I first discovered TrainingPeaks, when I worked with my cycling coach.

TrainingPeaks is a powerful, easy-to-use software that can completely change the way you plan your workouts.  This online program has many features that I could write a small book about, so I will just give some of the highlights.

With TrainingPeaks you can:

  • Build an Annual Training Plan (ATP) based on periodization training.
  • Use a Virtual Coach to help plan workouts.
  • Track and record your daily nutrition.
  • Monitor your daily weight, fatigue, stress level, and sleep.
  • Categorize workouts based on type of activity.
  • Upload workout files from your favorite training devices (i.e. Garmin Forerunner, Timex, Suunto, etc.)

TrainingPeaks has been consistent about improving their website. In their latest re-design they made  it so you have to click into a sub-page to log in.  This is just a little bit annoying because you used to be able to log in from the home page.  Another disadvantage is that it’s built using Flash.  This causes for a much slower load time and makes their website incompatible on mobile devices.

They do have a mobile App, and an iPad App, but I think they are pretty poorly designed and don’t functional well.

Despite these drawbacks, I feel like TrainingPeaks is great tool for every endurance athlete.  I know that when I use it consistently, my training is much more effective and I feel better prepared for upcoming races.

The Bottom Line ~

TrainingPeaks is a great solution for the serious athlete trying to plan out and keep track of all his/her workouts.  They have a basic free version, that doesn’t let you plan ahead.  The full-version runs about $80.00 a year, so it’s very affordable.  While the website and the apps have a few quirks they easily let you upload your training files, record your daily nutrition, and track many statistics.  If you are meticulous about keeping records – TrainingPeaks is great solution for you.

Do you have an experience or comment about this product?
Please help fellow athletes by leaving a comment?

Body Glide Review

Do you hate the chafe?

Body Glide Chafe protectionThere are few things more annoying than the slow aggravating feeling of the beginning of a chafe. Once you get that feeling you know it is too late. And then you hope that your endurance event is close to the end, because if not, you are guaranteed blood and pain. Thankfully there are products out there which can help, and I would suggest using Body Glide Anti-Chafe Balm.

Body Glide will typically run you anywhere from $6 – $20. It is a specialty product which means you will probably need to buy it from a specialty store like a tri-shop, bike shop or REI. If they sold it at your neighborhood grocery store you could probably purchase it for cheaper, but your neighborhood grocer doesn’t carry it so you have to pay the marked up price at the sports stores.

Body Glide really does the job it is supposed to. After you have run a few events you will know where chafing will occur. Rub the Body Glide directly on those areas and the irritation during your next event, or training, will disappear. Body Glide goes on quite nicely. You use it as you would a deodorant stick and apply as needed to your tender areas. We all have different tender areas but I will use it on my neck and shoulders, near my armpits, when I use my wetsuit. Whenever I have used it I have never had a problem with chafing, When I haven’t used it…the chafing is inevitable. I will also use it on my nipples to avoid the horrifying chafing that can happen there.

What I really like about Body Glide, as opposed to Vaseline, is that it isn’t messy and doesn’t feel oily or greasy. Body Glide is non-petroleum based which is awesome and helps reduce any greasy feeling. The Body Glide website states “It penetrates the skin and creates an invisible, comfortable barrier against friction and moisture – without clogging pores or trapping perspiration; feels ‘dry’ to the touch.” I am not a scientist, so I can’t confirm all those claims, but my experience with using the product for more than three years tells me that they have it nailed.

The Bottom Line ~

You should never have to suffer from chafing again if you do yourself a favor and purchase some Body Glide Anti-Chafe Balm. The product is easy to apply and does not feel greasy. I have heard some say that a drawback to the product is the inability to share because you don’t want other people rubbing your deodorant like balm on their more private areas. I say that’s a plus, because your Body Glide will last you a whole lot longer if you don’t share, and make your tri-buddies go but their own. The product can be a little expensive for such a small package, but I believe it is well worth it.

Do you have an experience or comment about this product?
Please help fellow athletes by leaving a comment.