Cycling and Outdoor Gear

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Getting in the Mood for Gifting

November 25th, 2009

I love to give people gifts of gear that I have come to love. Among my favorite winter things this year (don’t read on if you think you’re on my gift list):

Outdoor Research Verglas gaiters. They’re lightweight and waterproof/.breathable. They have a sturdy strap that goes under your boot and Velcro that stays tight on your leg; and they stay put, with no sliding or twisting.
Yaktrax (for traction on snow and ice). If you don’t have these, I feel sorry for you. These babies go on my winter boots at first snow, and allow me to walk sure-footedly on sheer ice or crust.
Turtle Fur MFS (micro fur stretch) neck gaiter. If my neck is warm, I’m warm. When I’m warm, I’m happy.
REI mittens. Fleece liners, waterproof outers, downright cozy.
Victorinox One-Hand Sentinel Clip knife. My husband loves knives, and this one is his favorite. It’s simple and practical – just a serrated locking blade, tweezers, toothpick and clip. And the one-handed opening comes in handy on the trail.
SmartWool light hiker socks. Soft and warm; so comfy I want to wear them all the time. And they fit especially well in my winter hiking boots.

When you click through and buy these or other items this Christmas Season, you’ll be helping those less fortunate.

– Deb Acord

Related Links:

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Tags: outdoor gear, outdoors
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Waterproof Jackets Guide

April 23rd, 2009

If you’re looking for a rain jacket for your outdoor adventures, there are 3 main kinds of materials. Membranes, coated fabrics and vinyl.

Vinyl is cheap and keeps water out but also does a really job of keeping your sweat in. Membrane fabrics are the most breathable. Coated fabrics breath somewhat but not as well as the membrane fabrics.

The 2 main membrane fabrics are Gore-Tex and eVent. Gore-Tex now comes in a couple different types. I’ve seen lab tests that say that eVent is more breathable than Gore-Tex but probably not by enough to make a big difference in the real world. Gore-Tex and eVent are also very durable because they’re made of 2 or more layers.

If you’re working out at a high heart rate, you’ll still have moisture build up even with Gore-Tex and eVent. Still you shouldn’t get totally soaked and keeping cold water out will help keep you warm.

The advantage of jackets made with coated fabrics is they don’t cost as much. The big name outdoor jacket makers such as North Face, Columbia and Arcteryx use different names for their fabrics. Jackets with coated fabric will become less waterproof as the coating wears off.

Although there are only a few different types of fabrics, the design of the jackets can make a big difference in how well the jacket performs. Many jackets provide vents on the upper back and also zippered armpit vents. Some jackets have elastic around the wrists and others also provide velco so you can better control the fit.

A jacket with a hood will keep water from getting in around the back of the neck. Some hoods are removable. Personally I don’t like the feel of an attached hood when I turn my head. I get a jacket with a removable hood and don’t use it. I have been using the Mountain Hardware Windstopper hat. It’s not ideal for hard rain but rain in Colorado doesn’t generally last too long. I used similar gear on an Alaska expedition and backpacking in rain in Washington and it worked fairly well.

I’ve long used Columbia jackets. They used to fit me well and they warranted them when zippers would break after 4-5 years of hard use. Honestly I wouldn’t have complained if they just told me I had worn the jacket out. The last time I needed a new jacket, the Columbia jackets no longer fit me well.

I ended up getting a North Face Triclimate jacket and really like it. I’ve also used jackets that consist of a separate shell and a fleece liner. I rarely zip them together but I feel they fit better than trying to combine separate fleece and shells.

The great video above describing waterproof jackets is from Webtogs. They carry quality outdoor gear including North Face Jackets in the UK and ship throughout Europe.

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Tags: gear, hiking, skiing
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Cycling and Outdoor Gear Winner

March 16th, 2009

This past week, I’ve enjoyed reading what readers would buy with a $50 gift card and what adventure they’d use it on. Mike Panic is the lucky winner of the $50 cycling and outdoor gear giveaway. Congratulations!

This is what he said.

Thank you! I’ve been looking / wanting a new travel bag, my Thor MX bag is too big to take for most week-long trips and I’m going to St. Thomas in June and need a manageable bag to carry a week’s worth of clothing. While I should be buying new running shoes or a new rear derailleur for my road bike, I feel this Gravis bag in Rebel Yellow would be the best use of the $50 for me right now to help me schlep my gear to a sunny island this summer. I’ll even send you a postcard!

Oh, I still need to purchase Thule LB50 load bars to complete the roof rack system I pieced together this winter.

Mike, I’m looking forward to the postcard! To claim your gift card, send me an email with your choice of cycling and outdoor gift card.

Price: $268.44

Price: $159.94

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Tags: cycling, gear, giveaway, hiking, mountain biking, running, skiing
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7 Cycling and Outdoor Gift Ideas

November 28th, 2008

People are searching for the perfect Christmas gift for their family and friends. If you’re searching for gifts for a cyclist or someone into outdoor activities, here are 7 things I have and love or would like to receive as a gift.

Update: 12 More Gift Ideas for Cyclists

Crank Bros Multi 19 Tool

This multi-tool has everything you need for on the road or trail bike repairs. Not only does it have the standard hex wrenches and screwdrivers, it also has spoke wrenches and a chain tool. The chain tool doesn’t work as good as my stand alone ones but it’s saved me from walking many miles.

SPOT Satellite Personal Messenger

The SPOT is one piece of gear I don’t have but have hiked with someone that has one. It is really nice for loved ones that are at home wondering if everything is alright while you’re in the backcountry. It’s a GPS unit that can send your location so others can view where you are on a map online. If you aren’t where you plan to be, you can send a signal that all is Ok. If something does go wrong you can send an emergency signal and rescuers will know your exact location.

Mountain Hardware Windstopper Hat

I like the soft feel of fleece for a hat. I’ve had a regular fleece hat but in the strong winds it doesn’t even feel like I have it on. Not so with my Mountain Hardware Windstopper one. It’s nice and toasty even in the cold wind.

CamelBak Rogue Hydration Pack

The Camelbak Rogue is the hydration pack I use the most. Actually I have two of them I like it so much so I can do a quick swap during long mountain bike races. It has enough storage space to carry a jacket, tubes, and my Crank Brothers multi-tool but doesn’t seem bulky. The 70 ounce bladder is big enough on most rides to get me to where I can refill. When I need to carry more gear and water, I use the Camelbak Blowfish.

Garmin Edge 305/705

The Garmin Edge 705 is the ultimate cycling computer. It is a newer version of the Garmin Edge 305. They both have GPS and heart rate monitor and can be bought with an optional cadence sensor. The 705 adds a color screen and maps. With the right maps you can get turn by turn directions.

YakTrax Pro

YakTrax provide amazing traction for hiking or running on snow and ice. They are easy to slip on and off and small enough that you can carry them in your pocket until you need them. The Pro version has a strap that goes over the top of the shoe to help keep them from slipping off. An alternative is the Kahtoola MICROspikes. I have tried them but they’re all metal on the bottom so they are probably more durable than the rubber of the YakTrax. They also weigh 12.5 ounces versus 4.4 ounces for the YakTrax. The MICROspikes also look like they could stab your shins if you aren’t careful.

Olympus Stylus 1050SW

I’ve been using the Olympus Stylus cameras before they were even digital. They’re compact and are designed to be used in all weather. I ride and hike with one in my pocket. The 1050 SW is a hardened 10 mega
pixel model that is waterproof, shockproof and works in cold temperatures. It has a tap control feature to make it easier to use with gloves on. If you want an even more rugged camera, the Olympus 1030 SW is waterproof to 33 feet, can handle being dropped 6.6 feet and can withstand 220 pounds of pressure.

If none of the gear above is a good fit for your gift buying, check out another dozen cycling gift ideas and the Cycling and Outdoor Gift Card Guide. Also, below are links to some more gift guides for even more gift ideas.

Gift Guides

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Tags: Christmas, cycling, outdoor gear
Posted in gear, holidays | 7 Comments »

Win Rock ‘N’ Roll Extreme Chain Lube

April 14th, 2008

Update: Bicycle Frenzy is no longer being maintained.

Bicycle Frenzy is giving away a bottle of Rock ‘N’ Roll Extreme Chain Lube on each of the next 3 Mondays. That would be April 21, April 28, and May 5.

I’ve been reading Bicycle Frenzy for a few months. It’s definitely worth reading if you’re a cyclist. Entering the contest will make sure you don’t miss new posts. All you have to do to win is sign up for the Bicycle Frenzy RSS or via E-mail and then leave a comment on the post that says you subscribed.

I’m not giving anything away but while you’re at it you can sign up for my feed or new posts by e-mail.

Price: $268.44

Price: $159.94

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Tags: cycling, giveaway
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Gift Card Giveaway Winners

December 24th, 2007

A big thanks to everyone who participated in my gift card giveaway. I had planned to start it a few days earlier but had too many other things going on. It seems everyone else was also busy with Christmas. This gave the ones who took the time very good odds.

First here are the ones that helped spread the word about the giveaway.

Random.org picked ProfessionalJackass.com as the winner.

The giveaway was really about getting feedback and I only got 2 comments. That gave each entrant a 50% chance of winning something extra for Christmas. Both gave excellent feedback and it looks like I need to work on improving the search matching.

kwc
NannaBee

For this one, Random.org picked NannaBee.

Congratulations to ProfessionalJackass.com and NannaBee! They get their choice of gift cards from this page.

I’ll probably do something similar in a couple months when people aren’t so busy so keep an eye out.

Price: $268.44

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Tags: cycling, hiking, skiing, snowboarding
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Last Day to Enter to Win $50 Gift Card

December 23rd, 2007

Just a reminder that today is the last day to enter to win a $50 gift card. All the details are here and the list of gift cards is here. Everybody is busy with Christmas shopping so you have a really good chance of winning.

I’m not going to be picky about the exact time for what is tonight. Any comment that’s submitted by the time I check in the morning will get counted. I’m not exactly a morning person so it won’t be too early.

Price: $268.44

Price: $159.94

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Tags: cycling, hiking, skiing, snowboarding
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New Sweat Gutr

May 17th, 2006

Back in March I reviewed the Sweat Gutr I bought while at Texas Hellweek. Since then they’ve improved them slightly and they sent 2 of them to me to use for RAAM. I’ve been able to test them on long climbs here to get a good comparison to the head bands I’ve used in the past. In Texas it was warm but there weren’t any long climbs. Here I’ve done some of our 2 hour climbs and they still work great! Occasionally I’ll get a couple drops of sweat on my glasses but I think it’s actually dripping off my helmet.

The new ones have a slot on the sides over the ears. One of the reasons for them is to make them more comfortable if your helmet pushes them down onto your ears. I’ve never had that problem so it never was an issue for me with the one I got in Texas. The other reason is it allows it to bend some to better fit your head. I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in fit with the new ones. One of the things I said in my original review was that it was hard to get off the packaging. They’ve also improved the way they package them and I was able to get the new ones out without using scissors or a knife.

They are trying to help me for RAAM and RAAM will give me a portion of the sales that I refer. They don’t have an automated way to track my referrals so for me to get credit, you’ll need to send me your e-mail address after you make a purchase through the Sweat Gutr website. They are by far the best head bands I have ever used.

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Tags: cycling, mountain biking, Sweat Gutr
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New Headband

March 20th, 2006

After raving about the Halo headbands that E-Caps/Hammer Nutrition carries in a post a couple weeks ago, you may have noticed I was wearing something different at Hell Week. There was a guy at the check-in for Hell Week selling the Sweat Gutr headbands. Over the eyes they have a lip just like a rain gutter to cause the sweat to flow to the side of the head. They looked like they might really work but I needed to test one out to be convinced. With the temperatures in 80s and more humidity than I’m used to, Hell Week seemed the perfect place to test it.

The first day I put it on and started riding. It was noticeable that it was cooler since only a very small strip of skin is covered instead the much wider strip of a normal sweatband. My helmet sits pretty low on my forehead so I did have a little problem getting my sunglasses, headband, and helmet spaced correctly. Once I got everything positioned, it worked very well. On Thursday it was around 80 and very humid at least compared to what I’m used to. My aero bars were wet and slimy as were my bottles. My gloves were soaked from sweating and I still never needed to take off my sunglasses. Even in better conditions, I end up taking my sunglasses off with the Halo headbands.

Ok, so I have a couple minor issues with the Sweat Gutr headbands. The band is attached to the cardboard packaging with large zip ties that are hard to cut off. It would be much easier if it was attached with twist ties or at least smaller zip ties. The second thing is that it had a freshly minted chemical smell that I kept getting pretty good whiffs of the first couple days. The smell pretty much went away after a couple days and wasn’t noticeable anymore.

Not only did it work great, but it was more comfortable because you can easily adjust how tight it is. It’s a great product and I expect you’ll see me wearing one during RAAM.

5/17/06 Update: Sweat Gutr sent me a new Sweat Gutr. They changed the packaging and made a slight change over the ears to make it fit better.

Price: $268.44

Price: $159.94