X-Training Diary: Park Ride, My Menu and Kit of the Day

Kit of the Day: Lazer Helium in Flash Flouro, XX2i France1 Eye Wear, Gore Bike Wear Countdown Lady AS Vest, Victoria Thermal Jersey and Spinnaker Capris by Terry.

RAPHA WOMEN'S 100, NJ: What a beautiful weekend! I started with a bit of cross-training on Saturday by doing some curls and chest presses on my Nordic Flex machine. Many cyclists neglect the upper arms but you do need a certain level of strength and tone for steering and quick handling.

Sunday morning started off right with a new multi grain cereal. Hodgson Mill Multigrain with milled flaxseed & soy.  It is a hot cereal and takes a little less time to cook than my Irish oatmeal.  It contains oats, wheat bran, milled flaxseed, soy grits, untoasted wheat germ and cracked whole wheat. It is SO delicious and is rich in Omega 3 oils due to the flaxseed. Complex carbohydrates like these were just what I needed for my training ride. Today, I went to my local park to avoid weekend street traffic.

My training buddy. Fully loaded Nishiki Sport Touring

A Ride in the Park
I find riding to my local park to be a cross-training adventure in itself. Once I arrived, there is a fitness trail that you can either hike or bike. It's about a 7 mile loop around the park and past meadows and marshy areas. 
The bright sunshine and blooming flowers and trees we amazing. I stayed on the main road and pulled into this bike rack here to stretch and take a few sips of water. I would have stayed longer but the wind and low temps were making it difficult to extend my training session.

My Menu for the Day
I was glad to have had the multi-grain cereal under my belt. I also had a cup of Rainbow Light's Chocolate Protein Energizer with a shot of coffee added to it. This gave me a bit more alertness and energy. I only did about 5 miles but after bucking the wind most of the time, I was a bit hungry when I got home.  Here is my menu for the day, not including dinner which will most likely be rotisserie chicken and mixed vegetables:

Chocolate milk is a great recovery drink. This is even better!

Breakfast
1 Cup Multi Grain Hot Cereal
1 tsp Butter + Canola oil
Splash of Milk

1 Cup Rainbow Light's Chocolate Protein Energizer

Lunch
15 Small Shrimp fried in Coconut Oil
1 cup mixed organic spring greens
3 marinated mushrooms
1/2 fresh avocado
1 tsp lemon juice
1/3 cup ramen noodles 

I try to keep anti-inflammatory foods like avocado & shrimp high on my training table list.

Kit of the Day
It was only about 48 degrees when I went out just before noon. Add in the wind chill factor and it felt more like 42. I prefer it a little warmer if I can get it of course but it was dry and sunny so I took a chance.  Here is my "weekend kit" which has more visibility due to the flashy green Lazer Helium helmet and white vest. My jersey and knickers are mostly black so I wanted to be sure and stand out for those Sunday drivers.

This thermal kit is good for between 44-48 degrees.

Lazer Helium Lid in Flash Flouro Yellow and XX2i France1 Eye Wear.

Terry's Victoria Jersey had a mandarin collar and is soft brush lined. Terry's Spinnaker Tights have minimum padding as they are more suited for spinning class.
With the added Gore Bike Wear Vest, I was very comfortable despite the wind. That's due in part to the built in Windstopper fabric. You want to keep your core warm.

In the 40's, I prefer full fingered gloves. These soft, fitted Pittards by Pearl Izumi are perfect and I also have a fingerless pair.  That's how much I like them! So this kit offers adequate to good comfort for between 44-48 degrees outdoors.

Last but not least, I always wear my RoadID FIXX ID tags just in case of an emergency. These go on with every kit and I pray I'll never need them.

Giordana Gita Women's Bib Shorts

Having an epiphany...Bib Shorts DO make your ride better, especially if they are made by Giordana. XENON 2.0 Cycle Jersey & Signature Cap by Gore Bike Wear

NEW for Summer 2012 Xenon 2.0

I've always wondered just what men cyclists see in their bib shorts.  I mean they look like they are wearing white stretchy suspenders to hold up their cycle tights. I did try a (unisex) team racing set by LOOK a few seasons back but as I am, let's say NOT flat chested, I found the straps to be really uncomfortable and bothersome.

So it took quite a bit of doing to test drive this new set of Women's Bib Shorts by Giordana for Road ID.  Since these are actually women-specific, they are already quite a bit ahead of the unisex version by LOOK.  Now I'm not saying that I am a chamois snob but my bottom has been treated to some very fancy ones by Terry, Pearl Izumi and Gore Bike Wear to name a few. This season, however, I was introduced to a whole new level of road comfort.

Giordana Gita for Road ID Women's Bib Shorts

Now I'm not above asking, "Do these shorts make my butt look big?" but really there was no need with these. Stretch Moxie Power Lycra with silicone leg grips keeps everything in place. Black is well, slimming!

  

Flat-lock seams smooth out your leg line and the Road ID graphics are very flattering. It was quite hot so I topped these bib shorts with this sleeveless Gore Bike Wear Xenon 2.0 Lady Singlet cycling jersey with lots of mesh and airflow to match the comfy straps on the bibs. These bib shorts are also made with 50+ UPF fabric and offers excellent UV protection. This means you won't need to apply sunblock to the area that the shorts cover although I do use it on the exposed part of my legs.

Matching Women's Giordana Cycle Jersey has UPF of 38+

The chamois itself is gender specific OmniForm TM and seamless so it doesn't interfere with your saddle positioning. Really everything is so smoothly put together that you don't see the outline of the chamois from the outside of the shorts. Sweet!  More specific details on the Giordana insert:

These bibs feature Giordana’s WMC3 O.F. insert. This chamois is specifically designed for use by women and is the result of a focused study on female body movements while pedaling. It is a single, seamless insert with differentiated thickness to contour to the female body and allow full range of motion. The WMC3 is molded using Giordana’s High Frequency OmniForm technique that shapes the chamois using high frequency waves instead of heat. This ensures that the pad remains soft and extremely flexible throughout its lifetime.

  

Take a tour inside the Giordana factory in Italy showing how the chamois insert is sewn into the bib shorts:

The Best Chamois Butter

The padded insert used to be made of deerskin, hence the name chamois.  Some hardcore cyclists of old used to put a steak inside their shorts for long rides. These days, most are made of easy to wash synthetic, high performance materials. The Giordana Gita Bib Shorts chamois, WMC-3-O.F. is a women specific one piece insert that is very lightweight, flexible. Like the shorts, it is made in Italy using a polyester microfiber.

Either way, you will need something between you and your bib shorts. I wear a minimalist thong under my bib shorts (ExOfficio's Give 'n Go Lacey Thong), and use a tiny dab of Mission Athletecare's 5 Hour Anti-Chafe Cream.  Silicone and botanically based, (infused with Aloe & Vitamin E), it has a super light feel but is waterproof/sweatproof. You can even do like the pros and apply this "chamois butter" directly to the pad as it contains no petroleum or parabens. You'll have to experiment to see what works best for you but for me, this Mission Anti-Chafe is the balm!

Exofficio's Give 'n Go Lacey Thong- like wearing nothing under your bibs

The Road Test

I've taken the Giordana Gitas out on my Terry Symmetry Road Bike (see photo below) at least three times for a 7-8 mile trip each time. This bicycle came with a very comfortable but road-worthy Terry Butterfly gel saddle. It is a comfortable saddle but not a "comfort - saddle" and I've always ridden it with some sort of chamois insert.

The Giordana's stayed in place and didn't slip over the seat.  The chamois is so much a part of the fabric of the shorts that it doesn't stick out or feel bulky between the legs. It conforms so well to the female form that all you need focus on is the ride, not pulling up or adjusting your shorts.  So there is my epiphany.  Bib Shorts when done right for your gender and anatomy can make a huge difference in the quality of your ride. These Giordana Gitas are amazing. Check out Giordana for Road ID's Team Cycling Jersey too!

Giordana Gita for Road ID Men & Women's Bib Shorts are available from Road ID

Fashion Week Cycle Chic

Terry's Cadence Dress is cycle wear disguised as chic street wear.  Our Fashion Week pick for Fall 2011.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - It's Fashion Week! You can walk the New York City Greenway or ride the Bike Path to catch up on fall fashions now and previews of Spring 2012.  Speaking of  walking and bicycling, who says active wear can't be stylish?  Pfffft!  Whether you use your feet or bike for exercise, transportation, recreation or a little of each, look fabulous at your destination and be ready for anything.  Arrive in style in Terry's Cadence Dress, (lead photo), with its zip pocket in the back and handy front pockets.  3/4 sleeved in a non-bulky wool blend gives you extra comfort. Adjustable side ruching for more even more mobility on the bike or for walking.  Want more style ideas?  Soho based fashion designer, Phillip Lim's  (3.1 Phillip Lim) latest film Girls on Bikes shows off his Fall 2011 line here:

Want to totally pull off a city wise bike chic vibe?  Check this out: Lazer's new CityZen bike helmets are great for urban cycling.  Covered in cloth and vented, these new fall lids are water resistant and good for colder temps.  The sporty visor keeps the sun out of your eyes and there is a twist knob to adjust the helmet while it's in place on your head.  See even more helmet styles for skateboarding, skating and cycling at Lazer Sports online.

  

Terry's Southside Capris in black check

Southside Capris & Demi Turtles

Demi Turtles by Rudy Project

ExOfficio's Chica Cool Hoodie in Heather- perfect for walking or riding

Pair the Cadence with Terry's Spinnaker Tights or her Mesh Liner underneath and you're 5th Avenue ready.  In fact Terry's Mesh Liner can turn nearly any dress or pants into cycle wear. Her cycle tights have Terry's signature chamois built in but no one will ever know.  Tights are this fall's fashion must-have.  Why not get a pair that can do double duty for your bike commute but look good enough for lunch later?  Throw on some of these seamless Smartwool Kilim Tapestry Merino Wool Socks and black leather Chuck Taylors for an edgy but totally pulled together look.

Carve Design's Blake Wrap Dress in Reef

The Pouch by Linus Bikes

Smartwool Merino Wool Socks

Moxie Scarf by Carve Designs

New for Fall 2011, The Comfort Bike by Italian fashion Designer Ottavio Missoni for Target

 
Forrest Handlebar Bag by Basil (NL)  This waterproof cycle bag works both on and off the bike.  Has an adjustable, removable shoulder strap and attaches to the front handlebars.  It securely locks into place and has a quick release lever.  Inside it has plenty of room and a zippered pouch.  Even has a detachable map cover for touring Midtown.  This is perfect for times you don't need all the room that panniers provide.  The Forrest is more like a covered, waterproof  front bike basket.  Unless you are a professional bike messenger, ditch the messenger bags.  They can shift, distract and interfere with your ride.  Slinging your handbag over your handlebars is also dangerous and can land you a ticket in NYC.  If you commute by bike or use it for local errands, you'll really appreciate not having to worry about shifting cargo.  The fact that you can easily take the Forrest Bag with you on a bike makes it so much more than a fashion accessory.  Work it!  

The Pouch by Linus Bikes is perfect for your keys, wallet, Park Tools and cell plus a little more.  Waxed canvas, oiled leather straps and brass snaps makes this a classic little bag.  Hang it on your handlebars or back of your "Brooks" saddle.  Either way, it looks great and gives enough storage for a local jaunt.  Available in Cream from the Terry Precision Cycling Catalog.

COSA Basket: Shop with THIS!  Do some serious marketing with this beautiful COSA Rear Rack Mesh Basket.  Clips on to nearly any rack and folds down to keep your goods from flying out.  Soft touch handles and feet allow you to save a bag by taking it with you into the store.  I added a Danger Zone Tail Light and it's totally velo-licious now.  By Basil

Basil's COSA securely clips on my Blackburn Rack

Forrest Handlebar Bag on Green Zone's Folding Bike

The Pouch on the back of my Nishiki