Category Archives: Shopping

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.

Yakima QuickBack Review

Nice Rack!

I would rather just bike somewhere rather than throwing my bike in the back of my car or putting it in a rack and driving somewhere to then bike…but sometimes we do have to drive to go bike. And when I do drive to go bike I would rather place my bike on a roof rack on top of my car than on the rear. And when I do have to place my bike in a rack on the rear of my car I would much rather use a hitch system…but I don’t have a hitch or roof racks, so I chose the Yakima QuickBack.

I have been very impressed with the Yakima QuickBack 2 (The QuickBack 2 holds two bikes and the QuickBack 3 holds three bikes).  I hate driving with my bike attached to something on the outside of my vehicle because I fear that it will go flying off at some point during the drive, but with the QuickBack I am comfortable enough to forget about it.

The QuickBack is solid, so much that I have seen many people complain about how heavy it is. I am comforted with the fact that it is heavy-duty. Every piece seems high quality which tells me that it will last, and more importantly, it will do what it is built to do…keep my ride secure.

I would encourage anyone who is looking to purchase a bike rack to utilize Yakima’s “Fit my Car” application on their website. The QuickBack may not work on all vehicles but it seems to be more adaptable to vehicles than most trunk bike rack products. It is also recommended to read the installation guide carefully and make sure you are comfortable installing the bike rack on your vehicle before you file the guide away.

The QuickBack has six straps that attach to your vehicle in different locations. The middle and bottom hooks work quite easily on most vehicles because they hook on the side and bottom of the trunk. There are some cases where this option may not be available for your vehicle. The top latches can tricky. On my sedan the hooks work quite well as I attach them to the top of the trunk. My one problem is that I have another vehicle that has a hatch-back and even when open there is too little space for me to attach the hooks to the frame or utilize the window hooks. I am sure with a little bit of force I could get it to work…buit ultimately I would rather drive my sedan.

Everything on the QuickBack is labeled clearly. The system works quite well so that you can tighten the product snug against your car without fearing any damage or scratches. After installing the QuickBack I would try to move it, and the whole car would shake…again, it is solid. It is always best to make sure that if you are packing anything in your trunk, you should have it done before installation, but I was able to open the trunk and grab thing as needed while the QuickBack was still attached without too much trouble. The weight can make this difficult, but it can be done.

Attaching your bike to the QuickBack is also fairly straightforward. I was able to do so without too much trouble. The arm which holds the bike can be lowered when not in use and then put parallel to the ground when placing your bike in the system. The hard rubber straps, along with an anti sway cradle keeps your bike in place and prevents it from knocking into your vehicle and other bikes on the rack. One challenge that any bike rack company has is the number of different styles of vehicles and bikes. The one issue I have with my bike and the QuickBack is that the point where one of my cables attaches on the cross tube is exactly where the strap lines up to hold my bike in place. I have placed some extra padding there to protect my bike.

The Bottom Line ~

This is a great solid product that can leave you at peace while driving down the freeway at 75 mph with your precious ride attached to the back of your car. There can be some quirks with different styles of vehicles and bikes so do your research to make sure it will work for you. The first time setting up the QuickBack can be a little tricky…but take the time to have comfort in your soul, and then it is easy from there on out. I would suggest that a roof system or hitch system is a better option but if your finances can not afford it, the QuickBack is a great option for around $200.

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

Bonktown Review

There’s No Place Like Home for Your Inner Cheapskate.

Bonktown Website

I write this review with a bit of hesitation, because I lovingly think of Bonktown as my small, little hometown.  Thus, the more people I tell about it, the more people move in.  But, I do want to share the love, so here goes.

If you have never been to Bonktown you’re in for a real treat.  This online shopping site is well-designed, incredibly simple, and easy-to-use.

Bonktown sells one endurance related product at a time, until it either sells out our until the time limit passes – which is usually about 20 to 60 minutes.  The best part is that all the items are deeply discounted.  They usually sell for at least 50% off, but many times as high as 70%.

With as expensive as endurance athletics are, you need save money wherever you can – and Bonktown helps you do that in a big way.  Some of the items they sell include:

  • Cycling Kits – quality brands like Capo, Castelli, Hincapie, Loius Garneau
  • Fully Built Bikes – For Roadies, Triathletes & even Hipsters
  • Nutrition Products – Clif Shot Bloks, Accelerade
  • Biking Shoes
  • Helmets – Giro, LAS
  • Sunglasses

Now you might be a bit hesitant to buy specialized athletic apparel online, but Bonktown has incredible, and I mean incredible, customer service.  They also have a solid return policy – 30 days no questions asked.  And their return process couldn’t be easier.

Bonktown Order ScreenAs you can see, I have ordered a lot of items over the years from Bonktown.

My orders have always shipped on time, with 100% accuracy, and they have always accepted my returns.  That’s why I never hesitate to buy from Bonktown.  In fact, Bonktown is easier to buy from then my local bike shop or sports store.

My only complaint with Bonktown is that the items sometimes sell out before I can buy them.  So, to maximize your deal getting, install the desktop alerts for PC or Mac. Also, follow their social media because you sometimes get clues about what deals are coming up.

Be forewarned: you’re starting down the road of a dangerous and euphoric addiction; rivaling only your addiction to Triathlon, Cycling, and Running.

The Bottom Line ~

Bonktown is a simple, well-designed, and clever website that will save you lots of money on your favorite endurance products.  They don’t sell the newest products right from Interbike, but what they do sell is top quality.  You can’t lose with their solid customer service and 30-day, no questions asked, return policy.  If it were up to me, Bonktown would be our nation’s capital.

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