Gear Review: 2XU Comp Tri Shorts

While cruising on GearScan last week, I found a sweet deal on 2XU Comp Tri Shorts......$32!! I jumped on it for two pair, not really knowing what I was getting but expecting at least some nice bike shorts.

These shorts are really AWESOME!  Theyare still available for reduced price at DepartmentofGoods.

Here's a quick rundown on them. For $32, everyone should jump on this deal. Yes, I normally shop locally, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to ensure you have a nice, clean pair of good shorts laying around so you can't find a reason not to bail on a workout.

Overall thoughts:  AWESOME! These might just take over as my favorites, beating out my truly beloved and treasured DeSoto four pocket tri shorts. WOW!  When I put them on for the first time, my thought was "Ooooooh, these are niiiiicce!"

Fit: These are just a tad bigger than most size large shorts I have. They are certainly bigger than the DeSoto "large" shorts I have. I'm 6'1" and 190 pounds right now, and these are just a bit tight. Come summer when I'm 15 pounds lighter, they might be a bit loose. I'm not worried about it at all, but everyone always wonders how the sizes compare to others.

It seems that these shorts are shorter than other shorts in certain areas. The legs feel like they come down about an inch less than other shorts; not a huge problem but causes a bit of concern about sunburn lines come summer time. The waistband is a bit lower than other shorts, and this is actually a great thing for me because I don't like the waistband coming up near my bellybutton, so I normally just push them down a bit, which causing some bunching of material.

Chamois: I have three rides totalling a bit over five hours int hese shorts. No problems with pinching or rubbing. They are really nice. The tri-shorts I bought last year for the triathlon club pinches alot after 90 minutes or so. These have no stitching in any area that might pinch.

Fabric: The fabric has a nice feel to it. The product description talks about the technical aspect of the shorts. That doesn't really impress me much because I'm more into functionality and feel. These feel great. They stretch well, and it seems like they'll maintain that stretch.  All of my races require a wetsuit, so the hydraphobic characteristics of these shorts don't mean much to me, but I guess that's important to alot of people.

Coolest thing about these shorts:  POCKETS! Four total pockets!  I love pockets because I need a place to hold gels and such.  These have pockets on each leg, and even two more on the outside of the waistband on the back. The leg pockets are a bit shallow, but they work. The waistband pockets are bigger than you'd expect, but I'm not sure I could actually run with a Hammer Gel flask back there...we'll see this week.

Bottom line is that these are some sweet shorts....watch GearScan for the deal and good luck.

Dumping the Kurt Kinetic bike computer...and going Garmin+Global Trainer

When I bought the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine fluid trainer two winters ago, I also got the bike computer that goes with it. The main purpose of the bike computer was to begin my foray into "training with power," even if it was "power by math," meaning the bike computer used a math formula to determine watts. Everything I read during the research and continue to read now says that the wattage is very close to real. "Close enough" was good enough as long as it was consistent.

I did find the power readings to be consistent. But I really don't like the bike computer as a bike computer. Many reviews you might read comment on the non-user-friendliness of the screens, which I find to be absolutely true. There are just too many buttons to push, and the screen is too dark to read inside on my trainer in the winter (and fumbling with the backlight is really bothersome).  

And then....this was the kicker....the thing didn't work at all during my one main race last summer...that really sealed the deal for me that this piece of gear needed to go away.  (BTW, I sarcastically maintain that I bonked on the run because I went too hard on the bike because I didn't have any data telling me I was going too hard other than my heart rate spiking...but I got that under control, and I still bonked. Well, that and it was hotter than expected, and I went out waaaay too hard on the swim, and a few other things).

So anywho...I dumped that Kurt Kinetic bike computer and have gone ANT+ gear all the way.

It all started back with the Sufferfest's Tour of Sufferlandria. That's how I found out about Trainerroad.com, and how you can really train with power on the cheap....and a truly useful manner. So, I geared up with a Garmin ANT+ USB Stick, although I recommend you get the mini-version from Suunto simply because it's smaller and looks like it will stay out of the way better.  Then I got the ANT+ Garmin cadence/speed sensor (super easy to install!) and an ANT+ Garmin Heart Rate Monitor (the "premium" version!").  

As I went through the Tour of Sufferlandria, I really like the feedback I was getting with the (formula-based) power reading and heart rates and all that on the computer screen in conjunction with the Sufferfest workout....Really, that is really cool and you should check it out!

With my new-found love for the cadence/speed sensor and Heart Rate Monitor, I started looking for the perfect headset/computer to give me readouts when I was off the trainer and away from the computer screen. Alas, I found the Timex Global Trainer for $150 on Amazon! (seriously...$150 new without the HRM). Wow! I remember drooling over that when it first came out for $300. Now it's sitting on my desk waiting to be used.  I did some basic setup with it and learned how to use the most basic functions, and so far I like it (although the battery life seems short at this point....we'll see about that this summer).

I am now quite happy with my data products. It cost a few bucks to upgrade to ANT+ gear, but I like it so far. They were all so easy to setup....and I didn't have to run any wires or anything. And I can finally dump that Kurt Kinetic bike computer!

I wonder if I'm missing the opportunity to jump a tech-generation and go straight to the bluetooth products. But ultimately, I think it will be three years out til there are some good bluetooth products for Android (I'm no apple-fanboy).  And, frankly, I don't feel like keeping my 4.3"-screen-phone always out and viewable for for every bike ride.

And what about the new Kurt Kinetic inRide power meter? It's simple....I want something that goes with me when I go outside.

For now, I'm quite happy about my gear.

Equipment setup for cross-training with cross-country skiing

In the previous post, I discussed the different clothes you'll need to start cross-country skiing.

In this post, I'll talk about the gear you'll need. This gear will allow you to ski fairly efficiently on local trails in powder or a ski-track or on a groomed trail.  These are not the skis that you can make downhill turns with (although I hear some people do).  Also, this is not the gear that will get you on the podium in any cross-country ski races.  This is medium-grade gear that will get you out on the trails and break that cabin fever!

Skis: I like the Rossignol BC70 as a great all-purpose cross-country ski. It is about the widest ski that will fit into a groomed track, and it comes with metal edges for control on descents. Definitely get metal edges! And you'll also want to get the "scales" on the bottom that allow you to get some traction going uphill....you shouldn't need climbing skins for basic cross-country ski adventures; those are used for more advanced backcountry skiing.

Bindings: The bindings are a very important piece of the equation here. To increase the capability of your skis (but adding only a few dollars to the cost), you certainly want to get NNN-BC bindings. These bindings have a little bit thicker bar on them where you click-in your boots to the skis, thereby increasing your stability.

Boots:  Boots are a very personal decision, and I don't want to send anyone in the wrong direction here by recommending a specific boot.  Some of the things to look for in a boot are

1) Proper fit (no kidding, right?)

2) Zippers. Do you really want zippers that can freeze up or break? I don't like them, but others do.

3) Ankle stability. The pair of boots I got don't have a plastic strip on the ankle that can provide stability. I wish I had paid extra for that. Definitely consider the upgrade to a pair of boots that has a plastic stability strip around the ankle and a velcro strap across the shin.

4. Waterproofness. Consider that your feet will be sliding through snow for several hours, in contact with that snow against the warmth of your foot and boot....all that produces water. Water and cold and feet don't mix!  Try to get a pair of boots that has really good waterproofing. Full plastic boots is probably overkill, though.

5. Eyelets. Like the zippers, lacing eyelets can break and freeze-up. I prefer a standard boot-lacing system over multiple laceing eyelets.

Poles: When you buy the skis, you can consider getting poles. You'll definitely need the poles. But...you might already have a pair for backpacking or whatever.  The general-purpose trekking poles work just fine, but the powder baskets tend to get lost alot more than you might expect.....and the poles don't work without the powder basket.  I think this is more of a financial decision than anything else if you already have trekking poles, but the default answer is to get the poles that come with the skis, especially if you are into a package deal.

Backpack: I'm assuming you want to get out and ski local trails and not in a resort area. You'll definitely need a backpack to carry assorted items. For starters, you'll NEED the TEN ESSENTIALS of being outdoors. I recommend you also carry those extra gloves and socks I mentioned in the clothes post the other day. I sometimes take a small camp stove and hot chocolate mix if I'm with a crew that is more about experience than the workout...or I'm taking my kids out for the day(!).  ALWAYS PACK A HEADLAMP for the same reasons that you pack the heavy socks and gloves. The backpack should have a place for a water bladder, of course. I recommend that it have a flap or stash-pocket on the outside to secure layers on the outside of the pack (putting them inside the pack takes time and gets all the inside-stuff wet).  

Finally, as far as food and such goes, take the same stuff you would take on a long bike ride and then add some good "fillers" like cookies...hey, this is supposed to be fun!

Getting setup for cross-training with cross-country skiing

With winter now in full swing and enough snow on the ground, it's tough to maintain running volume for triathlon training. Solution? Cross-country skiing!

I'm a big fan of cross-country skiing, and after a big adventure recently, I wanted to share some start-up tips with anyone thinking about getting into cross-country skiing out on local trails.  I'm not a competitive cross-country skiier, and almost all of my gear is bought with multiple, year-round uses in mind...think hiking, fishing, skiing, running, biking, mountain biking all using some of the same gear. So, you won't find much sport-specific gear here. These tips and gear recommendations are meant to get you skiing as efficiently as possible without breaking the bank.

Starting with clothes, you have to figure what kind of weather you'll be in most of the time. For me, that means about 10 - 25 degrees with some 10  - 20 mph winds. It might still be snowing when I go out. And of course, you need layers; you can't be out there skiing with a big jacket because you'll be nice and warm for the first ten minutes, burning-up-hot and sweating while skiing, and then instantly cold from being wet in the cold the second you stop.

Here are my recommendations from top to bottom for clothes. Please keep in mind that the links are to an online store to give you a picture of what I'm talking about....there are generally cheaper places to find the same thing if you look around on the internet. And remember, cotton kills in the backcountry.

Hat: any basic fleece beany will do great. I prefer fleece because it breathes well. You might consider the type of headband that lets the top of your head vent while keeping your ears warm (I did this for a year but never really like the feel of it, although it worked great).

Neck gaiter: not really needed, but you might want one to wear on the way to the trailhead.

Sunglasses: get a good pair of polarized, UV-stopping sunglasses. They should be all plastic. Get some that have a built-in nosepads; the ones with additional pieces that attach to the pads tend to bend and break.

Base layer: I like a technical t-shirt (generally the kind you get as a freebie in your race goody-bag) as a base layer. They tend to dry quickly and don't rub on the skin.

Second layer: This is usually a long-sleeve technical shirt, but sometimes I go with cotton (against my own rules, but this layer doesn't get much sweat on it).

Third layer: Very light fleece jacket that zips up. You don't want a pullover because you can't vent it as easily as a zip-up. A 3/4 zip fleece could probably work pretty well.

Outer jacket layer: This is the real protection from wind, cold, and snow/rain. As such, I usually just wear a standard outdoors backountry-style rain jacket like a Marmort Precip, and it works great. Make sure you have pit zips and some velcro around the wrists to crank-down on your gloves if you're in a section where you might fall (this keeps snow out of your gloves and wrist area). A hood is needed, too, and it should be adjustable so that it doesn't come down over your eyes when you put the hood over your head.

Gloves: light fleece will normally be enough unless you get into windy conditions, in which case you need something that can break the wind. I normally carry two extra pairs of gloves in my pack, in addition to the ones on my hands, for a total of three pairs of gloves. Hey, if your hands get cold, it will ruin your trip! So, the three pair of gloves I carry at a minimum: one light fleece, one light glove that has an exterior that can break the wind, and then one set of very warm backcountry gloves in case something goes wrong (broken leg, get lost, etc) and I need some really good gloves for an extended period of time.

Underwear: I just wear standard, every-day cotton boxers. Yes, that's against my personal rules again, but it is a minor point.

First layer on the legs: I like wearing a pair of lightweight running pants next to my legs. If I start sweating alot, this layer soaks up sweat. These are not cotton!

Second layer on the legs: I have a pair of heavier outdoor pants that are nice and durable and provide protection against abrasions,of various sorts or snow or wind if I'm skiing without snowpants. Cargo pockets are a must.

Outer layer snowpants: I normally but not always wear a pair of snow pants to protect against wind, cold, and snow when I fall. I've had a pair of North Face Freedom pants for ten years. These are full-zip without a cargo pocket, and they don't make them like this anymore (now they replace the full-zip pants with a cargo pocket). I don't recommend the insulated versions because they will be too hot, even if you open up all the vents....the insulated versions are for downhill skiing when you have to sit on a lift.  I wish my pants had a cargo pocket, but I'll take the full-zip over the cargo pocket. I found a cheap pair of suspenders to use with these, too, to keep the pants up where they belong....I think bibs are overkill and probably too hot.  When these pants finally give up the ghost...as in they have too many rips and don't hold out the water (the North Face Hyvent is VERY good waterproof material, by the way).....I'll probably get the new style of these North Face Freedom pants.

Socks: Smart Wool!! That is all that needs to be said about the type of socks. Like gloves, I carry always carry multiple pairs of socks with me, and the reasoning is the same as the gloves. If your feet get cold, it will ruin your trip! I like a medium pair of smart wool on my feet, a similar pair in the backpack, and then a heavy pair added to the backpack for the "just in case" events that will make me slow down (again, a broken leg, getting lost, etc).

Next post will review the kind of equipment you need to get out on the trails for cross-country skiing.

Ten things to look for in a point and shoot camera for an active lifestyle

If you're wondering what kind of camera you need to capture an active lifestyle, this is what you are looking for.

These are a few features to look for in a good point and shoot camera that you'll take along on your active lifestyle, year-round, all-climate adventures.

1. Drop-rated: Many of these new point and shoot cameras are rated for 10-foot drops. With kids who want to play with it, a drop-rating is an absolute must, and ten feet seems reasonable. Oh yeah....it's not just the kids who will be dropping it, right?!?!

2. Waterproof: I wanted waterproof because we love to be by the water, whether it's fishing or the pool. Standard waterproof-ness goes to 30 feet these days. You probably don't need more. And don't go for a camera that uses a case...why? because the case can break and then you have to buy another case. I personally think that the seals and such in a waterproof camera body will outlast the external case...I've had two Sony cameras that attest to the non-durability of an external case.

3. 1080 video: yes, you need 1080 video capability going into 2013 and beyond. 720 is not good enough anymore because of the playback on the big screen televisions. Don't go cheap on this! Get the 1080.

4. GPS: do you really need GPS? Probably not. I wouldn't be too concerned about this unless you are already using this feature.

5. WiFi capability: This is something I don't use currently but think I would if I was to get a new camera. It really is a kind of a pain to take out the memory card and put it in the computer every time I want to get my pictures on the computer.  And then how many times have I left the card in the computer?  Get this if you can, but it shouldn't over-ride any other features.

6. Moving parts: I like to minimize the number of moving parts in any gear that will be used alot in relatively harsh conditions. Every time you drop the camera, moving parts become less apt to move as needed.  Specifically, I don't like a shutter and lense that moves in an out every time you turn the camera on or off.

7. Battery adaptability: I say "adaptability because I don't really have a good word for the flexibility of a battery. You should be able to buy inexpensive replacement batteries and rechargers. The battery should be able to be quickly recharged. You should be able to recharge that battery somehow with a solar-charging device you might already have.  The battery should be rated to work well in the cold, too, although not many batteries do well in the cold anyway.

8. Ease of Handling / One-hand operations: the camera should fit in your hand nicely, have a nice grip to it, and be able to be be turned on on/off and zoomed with just one hand, preferably with gloves on. You should be able to have a strap attached to it, too.

9.  Function and Review options: You should be able to review a shot quickly and easily. This function gets into the handling and such, but it is also all about the software being intuitive and able to run through things quickly. You don't want to be sitting there on a cold, windy ridgeline trying to remember all the menu options.....you should be able to do things quickly with cold hands that have gloves on them.

10. Megapixels: You should get no less than 10 megapixels. I base this on the ability to print a nice 8x10 photograph. Sometimes you get really lucky with a point and shoot, and you get an awesome pic that you want to blow up. I've done a good 24x36 print with my 12.1 megapixel, but there is just a little bit of distortion visible to a regular guy.

This is the camera I have now. It works pretty well for everything I need. I can use it with gloves easily, too!  It's about three years old now, and the only thing I wish it had is 1080 video; the 720 is what was available when I bought.

Canon PowerShot D10 12.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-Inch LCD by Canon

• $299.00 $279.99
• Order in the next 35 hours and get it by Monday, Dec 31.
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These are the cameras I would probably buy today if I had to (luckily I don't have to. The Canon above is going strong!).

 Canon PowerShot D20 12.1 MP CMOS Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Image Stabilized Zoom 28mm Wide-Angle Lens a 3.0-Inch LCD and GPS Tracking (Blue) by Canon

• $349.00 $289.00
• Order in the next 38 hours and get it by Monday, Dec 31.
• More Buying Choices
• $289.00 new (20 offers)
• $265.00 used (4 offers)

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 Nikon COOLPIX AW100 16 MP CMOS Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS and Full HD 1080p Video (Orange) by Nikon

• $379.00 Click for product details
• Order in the next 38 hours and get it by Monday, Dec 31.
• More Buying Choices
• $209.00 used & new (29 offers)

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• #1 Best Seller  in Underwater Photography Cameras
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Jaybird Freedom bluetooth headphones now under $80

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005B28DOM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Jaybird Freedom headphones review update

Back in September of 2011, I wrote about the Jaybird Freedom headphones that claimed to be sweatproof.

Over a year later, I'm happy to say that these things are still going strong, and I absolutely love them. They stay in my ear while cycling. I don't know about running because I don't run with headphones (mostly because I don't like the player having to be strapped on me somewhere or carried).

They sound great, too!

Battery life is good enough for two full workouts of about two hours each.

I haven't lost the charging cord yet. It's not a standard cord, so I have to keep track of this thing.

The nice little case it came in has not been used at all. It's a waste of money. I would prefer to save $5-10 on the packaging. I guess my two year old likes to open and close it, so I it gets some use.

The only problem I've had is build-up of earwax in the buds. I have to clean that out every now and then, and it's kind of gross. Nothing serious, but I would rather not have to deal with it.

I am tempted to try the Jabras and the new Motorolas, but I can't justify spending money on new headphones when I have a great pair already. I'm sticking with these until they don't work anymore.

But Jaybird has some new versions that look REALLY GREAT and tempting.  I can't see spending over $150 on headphones, though.

10th Day of Christmas: Running Gloves

In February or March, cruise the glove aisle in the local discount store like Shopko for great deals on gloves. Find pairs suitable for different temperatures in the fall, winter, and spring. A couple years ago, I picked up ten pairs for an average price of $2.50 (no kidding!). Now I have gloves stashed in several different places and never have an excuse for not running because my hands might get cold. Same goes for hats, of course!

11th Day of Christmas - Swedish Goggles

 I love the simplicity of these goggles, and you can't beat the price! Never worry about losing a pair of goggles again....because it's not a huge monetary loss if it's these. I usually buy 4-6 every couple of years, in whatever color fancies me but usually a couple clear sets for indoor pools.  If you haven't worn them before and are wondering if you could ever wear a pair of goggles with no padding, have no fear. These will indeed work with absolutely no leaks; it will take a few workouts to get used to them, no doubt, but in the end you will prefer them. Also, these don't cause black-n-blue eyes like padded goggles sometimes do.

Xterra wetsuit sale.. GREAT DEAL!

https://www.xterrawetsuits.com/index.php/2011-ironman-arizona

Awesome deal....60% off.

Change of Seasons = Gear Room Changeout

We have a small room in our house set aside as the "gear room." It's also a guest room, but it's main purpose is to hold our gear (and act as a stash for all the stuff we don't know what to do with!). Most of the in-season gear just stays laying out and easily accessible, mostly because I didn't take the time to put it all away.

Last week, the seasons switch got flipped, so it's time to changeout the gear room. Funny how that season switch works around here: one day it's summer, next day it's winter, and the reverse is true in early June.

So...into hiding goes the water shoes, fishing rods, fishing bags, tent (I use a yurt in the winter!), and bike helmets.  Running shoes stay out because I AM COMMITTED to running in all weather....if only I could get back into a consistent routine....I am happy to say that the weather was never a reason for not running last year.

Out come the ski boots, thick socks, ski glasses, ski safety gear (avy beacon, avy poles, etc), parkas, gloves, hats, and all that stuff.  As for triathlon, my bike trainer gets a focus area now, and the swimming trunks get washed and ready for what is hopefully twice-weekly use.

It's kind of a fun time getting all the winter gear out because I start thinking about all the possibilities the new season brings. And then putting all the summer gear away can be either sad or happy, depending on what memories hit when I start putting gear away. This summer, the memory about summer will be the incredible snow pack we had and how it held up fishing alot.

Does anyone else do a gear room switch-out?

Product Reviews coming

Wow! Life is busy busy busy again. What I really want to be doing is writing about the Marine Corps Planning Process and how to apply it to a triathlon career, season, or race.

Instead, I'm travelling alot and missing my kids, all while getting a bit fatter every day and fighting off a sinus infection.

HOWEVER....there is some excitement. I received the Kurt Kinetic Wireless Power System and the Jaybird Freedom headphones. I haven't got the power system lined up on the bike yet, although I did manage to get my bike ready for a winter on the trainer....I just didn't have the power system at that time when I had the motivation. I'm starting up on the bike again on October 5, so maybe I'll have it ready for that. I most certainly want to get a good Lactate Threshhold test completed fairly early in October, though.

As for the headphones, they are wireless bluetooth headphones that come with a lifetime guarantee against sweat, and they are supposed to stay in the ear fairly well. I wore them a bit while driving this weekend and while on the phone a bit. There is very little bass sound, even when considering they are headphones. At the same time, the higher frequencies are quite clear, leading to me hearing a few "new" notes in some of my music. I would prefer to have the bass, though. The headphones sound ok for the phone, and they paired really easy with my phone. They stay in the ear pretty well during driving, but I haven't tried them running yet.

Detailed reviews coming up!

More travel coming up. Hopefully I'll get going on these planning articles.

Bike rack review and thoughts and Results of the Duathlon Great Experiment

Two points in this post: Quick thoughts on Feedback Sports A-Frame Event Bike Stand and the results from tonight's grand experiment at the local club duathlon race.

Have you ever wondered about getting your own bike stand? I saw one at the local bike/tri club race series tonight. Built by Feedback Sports, this bike stand is rated at eight bikes racked by the saddle. Tonight, it seemed that six would be the max for any race event; eight seems fair if you're taking your time to put the bikes in place neatly.  It was quite sturdy, taken down by one guy in about two minutes (that I saw, might have been quicker), and then put into a great looking, durable carrying case.  Anyway, it's a great piece of gear if this is what you are looking for!

Experiments can be useful in validating race strategy, but it's hard to find the right time and conditions to try them. I find it difficult to experiment wildly out of my norm during a race I paid for because it just seems like paying to suffer isn't my idea of fun; paying to go slow while following a plan is doable, though.  And tonight's race was my chance to experiment with an all-out effort on the bike to see what would happen on the run because it's a no-kidding race and it's free (so easier to deal with if it goes horribly wrong).

Tonight's course was the regular 10k bike (5k out and back) followed by a short 1.5 mile run (originally 3 mile, changed to 1.5mile for whatever reason I don't know). Sunny and windy, and at least it wasn't freezing cold...somewhat warm in fact.

Anyway, I beat my previous times for this year by about a minute but still slower than last year's best, and I think the wind has everything to do with that. I went all out on the bike, with average heart for 10k bike at 164 versus last years 40k bike average heart rate of 152. The heart rate of 164 matches the all out efforts from the previous two races.

After a quick transition, I sprinted out to start the race, and I immediately blasted to heart rate of 174. Wow! I didn't know that was even possible outside of doing the Alpha Killer / Ass Kicker hill workout.  That effort didn't last long, and I backed off after a couple minutes, and then backed off again after a couple more minutes until I finally settled in at at a hard pace and heart rate of 162ish. From there I started building faster until finishing strong with a heart rate of 164, right where my average was last year during the 10k runs of an olympic race.

So, tonight's experiment was a success. I learned that I can't bust it all out on the bike and then sprint out of T2 and expect to run well. Best to keep a good, hard effort on the bike and then set a cruise pace right out of T2 and build to finish...pretty much my tactics from last year, but this year I can push just a bit harder right out of T2.

It was a great day to be riding and running!

Good deals on bike gear @ Sierra Trading Post

FYI if you're looking for some new bike gear but don't want to break the bank. I have the shorts and shirt that are shown below, and I like them. A good gear setup for $70 total.

These don't have pockets for gels like the DeSoto Forza's do, but these are great shorts for the price.

SAVE: $16.50 (30%)

Pearl Izumi Triathlon Shorts - Built-In Chamois (For Men) Our Price: $38.50  Retail: $55.00     (2 reviews) Closeouts. Improved performance and through-the-race reliability is the name of the game when you're wearing Pearl Izumi's Triathlon ...read more or see more from Pearl Izumi Sizes Available General(US): S(29-31½), M(31½-34½), L(34½-37½), XL(37½-41½), 2XL(41½-45) Colors Available (1):

I have these shirts, and they're great. I got two in a lime green color (very bright!), but I guess that color is not available anymore.  They are pretty light and will be great on hot days. Til then, I'm wearing another shirt underneath to hold off the cool wind a bit.

SAVE: $17.50 (35%)

Canari Sport Cycling Jersey - Short Sleeve (For Men) Our Price: $32.50  Retail: $50.00     (70 reviews) Closeouts. Lead the pack with Canari's Sport cycling jersey; its polyester mesh fabric has the softness of your favorite T-shirt with...read more or see more fromCanari Sizes Available General(US): M(40-42), L(42-44), XL(44-46), 2XL(46-48) Colors Available (5): More...

Pear Izumi Select Tri Shorts

My annual training schedule brings a change in focus at Spring Break, which is just a few weeks away. In preparation for that, I went to get some Hammer Recoverite at the local sports shop. They were out of the big containers, but I started looking around saw some Pearl Izumi tri shorts...they looked nice, and at $55 before at 20% tri club discount, I figured I'd get them. I was looking online and most of the shorts at the low end of the price spectrum come in at about $45.  Buy local, get the discount, prices are the same........good deal!

I want to use these shorts mainly for bike riding and maybe a few bricks (if any...I'm not into running around in spandex, I prefer running shorts!). I have two pair of DeSoto four-pocket tri shorts that I absolutely love, so I don't wear them for training because they are fairly expensive. My current and only pair of training-only tri shorts are some Carrera's I got off Sierra Trading Post, and they are ok; I just want another pair so I don't have to worry about laundry schedules.  I don't do anything over 40 miles or two hours, so tri shorts generally fit the bill as far as padding goes.

I bought the "Select" series, and I want to make sure everyone understands the difference here. The Select series is the lower end of three series, with "Elite" and "Pro" being the higher end lines.  I don't know exactly what the differences are at this point, but the "Select" series is just fine for my limited purposes of basic 20-40 mile bike rides.

Anyway....these shorts certainly do the job they are meant to do. They are comfortable and provide some good compression on the quads. I am 6'1" and 185 pounds, and the large fits nicely. These shorts go up pretty high on the abs and back. I'm not a fan of that, so I just roll them down. In some cases, I've read that having that extra support on the abs can help improve your riding, so that's a nice option to have if I ever want it.

In the three hours I've spent on the bike with them (a one hour ride and a two hour ride), I didn't notice any chafing from bad seam placement.  That's important! 

The chamois is a minimal tri pad, and I haven't tried running in it, but it feels like a regular tri pad that shouldn't be an issue. I won't be wearing these in the pool, and I wouldn't it, either, as chlorine can really eat away at any fabrics. This fabric dries pretty quickly when soaked in sweat, and that's really nice, too.

Overall, a nice pair of shorts for $45!

New Shoes! Nike Structure +14 review

My Montrail Streaks have come to the end of their daily use life, and it was time to get a new pair of shoes. I figured I'd go with some basic road shoes this time around. I've been wearing trail shoes for the past four years or so because I ran on mostly dirt and no-kidding trails. But with my training this year, I've been running mostly on roads.  And my A-races are all on roads, although there are two races (Janet's in West Yellowstone and the Utah Xterra) that are on dirt roads/trails....but they are not A-races.

I looked for reviews for moderate pronators, and I found the Nike Structure Triax +14. I also looked Nike Free Runs but decided against them as a daily trainer because they didn't seem to have enough overall support.

The Structure Triax +14 had good reviews, and I'm happy with them after a few weeks and about 80 miles. I started with one three-miler to see how my body would react, and with no issues after that first short run with them, I turned on to daily six milers and have had no issues. In fact, my plaguing calf muscle issues are a thing of the past; I really don't even think about that any more, and that is what I was most worried about, I think.

A few other thoughts about these:
- I think I'll be able to go barefoot/sockless in them with no problems. I haven't tried yet because it's still cold/chilly out.
- I think the Nike sole will wear out much sooner than a good Montrail sole made for abuse. That makes these more expensive than just the initial price tag because I have to replace them sooner.
- They look fast.....so nice and white and bright. :)

Chariot Child Carrier and Cross Country Ski Attachment review

A review of the Chariot Cross-Country Hiking attachment.....and the Chariot in general.

Last Saturday I went for a rather long (2.5 hours) cross country ski pulling my Chariot with not one but TWO thirty-pound kids in it. I had a wonderful day. Sure, the weather was good and hearing the kids yell “Wheee, this is fun…faster!” will certainly make for a great day. I’ve since realized that a lot of the “great day attitude” came from having a piece of gear that works really well and better than expected.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking at buying the Chariot and/or the XC Ski kit for it, get it if you think you’ll use it. It’s worth the money and will perform beyond expectations while cross-country skiing. It’s not made for downhill turns, so don’t expect to be doing that.

Pros: Works even on “single-track” XC trails. As long as there is a track to follow, you’ll be able to pull it. You’ll think the skinny skis won’t provide enough float, but they do. Also, it’s incredibly easy to put together….. I have prep time down to ten minutes on a slow day.

Cons: Feels a bit jerky to me, but the kids still sleep really well in it so it much not be a big problem. Gets hard to pull when there is no established track.


Back just before Thanksgiving, I finally bought the Chariot XC Ski attachment. $250! Wow, that was expensive. Of course, I wondered if I would get my money’s worth and if it would even be something that worked well enough to use regularly. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Chariot Cougar 2 that we have: it is incredibly smooth and straight when running, and I don’t even know it’s there behind my bike, and it holds A LOT of gear if you want it to!

Cruising on a single track XC ski trail with the Chariot. 

I’ve taken it out a couple of times this year with two year old, thirty-pounder Paul in it. Prior to Saturday, I stuck to a basic snow-bound road with packed snow on the surface kind of close to the car so in case there is a problem or Paul has a meltdown, it’s no big deal. And we always had fun. He sleeps the first hour of going up hill and then enjoys cruising back downhill to the car. Ninety minutes in the “cruiser” (as I call it) works well for him, it gets me outside to ski, and it gives his Mom some peace and quite at home….win, win, win!

This past weekend, I took a leap of faith and got out of that comfort zone. The plan was to follow a snow-bound road for an hour or so and then turn around. We were cruising along nicely on the road in snow-machine tracks, and then decided to follow a “through-the-trees-single-track” trail to get back to the car. I was skeptical about how the chariot would handle. It was AWESOME! It really felt the same as it did on the road, even though the ski track was a foot deep or more in places. The chariot chassis just rode up higher on the snow, and the skis provided sufficient float for the 60 pounds of kids, 10 pounds of gear (baby bags are heavy!), and 25 pound chassis. The suspension system is really the key to this success. Only on a very steep spot did I have to get some help from the guy behind me; had I been able to open up my stance for a good herringbone, I wouldn’t have needed that help (but the track was deep at that point).

The cross country ski kit comes with a waist belt attachment. I had heard from friends who have made their own conversion kit by putting skis on bike trailers, and they all said that they found a chest harness or backpack attachment to be the most comfortable. So, I was wondering how this waist belt attachment was going to work out. It don't mind it at all. It is not uncomfortable for me, and it doesn't cause any back pain. The only problem I have with it, and this is minor, is that the waist belt tends to work its way down from my waist to around my hips to the point where I lose some efficiency. If that happens, I just put it back up high on my waist and crank it down tighter...not a big problem at all.  I wish there was a way to get the hiking harness with the skis without purchasing both the hiking and skiing setups...I think that would make alot of people really happy, certainly lest skeptical when thinking about purchasing. Let's face it, the waist belt looks wimpy (and it sort of is, really....but it works). At the same time, the hiking harness will probably prevent you from wearing a backpack with water or other gear you want in easy reach.  How about this? Make something that can be flexible, or at least just provide the option. I just put all my stuff in the chariot storage bin and don't wear a backpack when pulling it, anyway, so I would much rather have the hiking harness with the skis.

Long story short...... the 60 minutes through the trees on a single-track trail (packed ski tracks in an ungroomed area) proved that the Chariot XC ski attachment is a great piece of gear. It works better than you think it would. Seriously, if you plan to use this thing once you purchase it, you’ll get your money’s worth. I have probably two more seasons with it because we have another boy due in March. If you buy it and then it sits in your garage, then that is your fault because it will perform if you give it a chance.

Here's the map of last week's route.......click on it to open it up and then make it a topo for details.





Conversion kits (http://www.chariotcarriers.com/english/html/conversion_kits.php)
On another note, the Chariot Cougar is great for running and biking, also. I ran a 10k course three times a week for three months with it when Paul was 6-9 months old. It runs very smooth and straight with the big jogging wheel. I can’t talk to the stroller wheels other than to say “if you have the jogging wheel, why would you need the stroller wheels?”

The Chariot is great when attached to the bike, too. I don’t use it for bike training because I can’t rationalize how it could possibly be safe enough, especially if I’m concentrating on going fast rather than what Paul is doing. For family outings attached to a mountain bike or city cruiser, it can’t be beat. Again, it rides really smooth, and you might forget it’s there! You can pack a lot of picnic gear in it, too.

Accessories http://www.chariotcarriers.com/english/html/accessories.php
There are several available accessories, many of them fairly expensive (that's a common trait with Chariots, but they are worthy of the price). The baby sling, bivy, and head support work well (I'm told) and are probably worth a purchase. The bunting bag looks like it would work for camping anyway, so I'm thinking of getting it. The XC cargo rack and handlebar console seem to be a bit much, considering the already quite-roomy cargo areas. The ezHitch will make life easy if you want to attach it to two different bikes, although only you can decide if it's worth nearly $30(!). The jogging brakes would be nice on hilly terrain. I also recommend you buy a a spare tube, tire pump, and lock/cable to put in the storage area

Other uses to justify a purchase
So, all this is adding up to over $1,000. How do you justify that? Well, getting your kid(s) outside is important, especially if that means you get to get in your runs and/or cross training in the snow. Think about this: when the kids get a bit older, you can use the XC ski kit as a sled for your gear when you go out snow camping. Or, you can pull it behind your bike to go to the grocery store when gas is $10 per gallon. Or you can haul a small deer out of the woods if you are so inclined and a good shot.

This weekend, I’m planning a longer trip in that same area, mostly on the road. The weather is supposed to be nice, and today we’re getting six inches of fluff in the valleys, so there will be more than that up in the mountains where we’re heading. My goal is to get some other dads together, head out into the hills, and then have a picnic and some sledding fun at the halfway point on what is forecasted to be a sunny and warm day………..all of it made possible by a great piece of gear, the Chariot and its XC Ski attachment!
Look for pics of that trip next week!