Safety Smart Wear: Milan San Remo Kit + Polar Bottle Giveaway

The Right Kit:  Milan San Remo Bib Shorts with matching jersey by Safety Smart Wear.

May is National Bike Month!  In celebration we will be posting a series of articles to help you rock the road by bicycling. PLUS our GIVE AWAY WINNER of this LIMITED EDITION 24 oz ROSE THERMAL POLAR BOTTLE IS....

Johan E. of Roanoke, TEXAS 
  

Johan won this SWEET 24oz  LTD Ed. Thermal Polar Bottle!

CONGRATULATIONS JOHAN!!!!

 


Why Bib Shorts?

If there is one thing you don't need it's a chamois that keeps shifting and chaffing during your ride.  That's why getting the right fit is so important.  Once you do, you can become one with the bike and forget the rest.

Most of us start out wearing cycling shorts, which are major step up from cut offs.  One of my favorites would have to be Gore Bike Wear's pro oriented line for women cyclists.  Very lightweight with effective padding right where you need it.  However bib shorts are quite another thing all together.  They are like having wide stretchy suspenders holding up your cycling shorts.  The first set of bib shorts I tried were by Look of Italy and they were not women specific.  They also did not give much attention to the fact that women are not flat chested like men so the straps were a bit annoying.

Little things like that can make it uncomfortable so you'll think twice about wearing bib shorts, but even with that minor annoyance, you will find them SO much more effective for long rides.  What I've found is that with bib shorts, you no longer need to adjust or pull up your cycling bottoms. No more worrying about if your jersey is covering your backside when down in the drops. Everything stays neatly in place and comfortable no matter how hard you exert yourself.

SAFETY SMART WEAR

Safety Smart Wear is a Colombia, SA based athletic clothing company with international tastes.  They specialize in beautiful, yet highly technical sports-wear for competitive triathletes, cyclists, runners, swimmers and skaters.  The Milan San Remo Kit featured here is from their Espiritu Santo Safety Premium Collection and has an UPF of 30+ via Sun Smart.  Both the jersey and bib shorts are made of new advanced Lycra Sport from Invista, (also see our review under "Cycling Jerseys: Buying & Care Guide").  

However there are a few special additions to this kit that place it ahead of the curve.  One thing that I really like are the smooth, non-binding arm and leg openings with flat stitched seams.  They even out your leg and arm lines while working great with knee and leg warmers such as the new ones by Smartwool I am wearing in the lead photo. The fit is tight and very aerodynamic which is what you want on a road bike.  Flapping, loose fabric will only slow you down. The cycling jerseys from their Espiritu Santo Safety Premium line have a zippered rear pouch with reflective accents and three rear open pockets.

Safety Smart Wear Women's Bib Shorts

Italian made Espiritu Santo Microfibre Women's Chamois

What really impressed me with the Espiritu Santo Milan San Remo Kit is the business end...the bib shorts.  The chamois is delicately designed for the female form but amazingly effective in cushioning your bottom from road bumps.  The Espiritu Santo Milan San Remo Chamois is made in Italy by la Fonte Sport Pads and is just the right thickness with no bulkiness.  Made of four way stretch Microfibre, it is sheer and dries rapidly.  Flanged edges and flexible stretch in the chamois makes it fit like a second skin.

The real difference are the comfortable straps on the the Safety Smart Wear that take into account us women have breasts.  The airy straps converge into a "T" that links between your breasts.  This is WAY more comfortable than having a strap on each side doing a bad push up bra impersonation.  The "T" strap lays flat with no distractions.  Safety Smart Wear's creed is "Tested in the real world by real athletes" and may account for their meticulous attention to detail in this high performance cycling kit. The fit is more Italian so you may need to order a size up but I ordered my kit to size.  Tight but right the Milan San Remo has moved to the top of my favorite cycling kit list!  See Safety Smart Wear's 2012 Online Catalog. 

Saftey Smart Wear's 2012 Catalog featuring their Men & Women's collections.

 

Summer Survival Kit

Beach scene on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

There are just a few essentials every athlete needs to survive the summer, even when on vacation. The heat and humidity has its own challenges but you can pack a few items in your gym tote or backpack to make sure you stay ahead of the game.  Starting with sun protection:  

Mission Skincare's Organic Strawberry Lip Balmer

  

A la Olympic Medalist - Amanda Beard this lip treatment offers a SPF of 15.  Keep one of these on hand and reapply especially after swimming.  The flavor is delicious so you'll have no excuse not to use it.

 

Rudy Project Ability Sunglasses in Raspberry / Multilaser Red Lenses

We now know that excessive exposure to UV rays can damage our eyes leading to cataracts.  Rudy Project makes a full line of athletic sunglasses for cycling, running and much, much more.  The Ability model is woman specific with a great wrap around design but fitted for a smaller head size.  Fit is important and you'll find out your Ray Bans won't cut it leaning over your Aero Bars or jogging uphill.  Regular sunglasses are just too heavy and bounce around when you trying to be active.  Not these and with the wrap around lens, they thwart rain, (rolls right off), road glare and debris with ease.

Spray On Sunblock

You'll want at least a SPF of 30 and the ease of a spray means I can spritz and go.  Avon's Skin So Soft or the CVS Pharmacy knock-off, Soft Skin Spray are perfect.  This type also offers a bit of moisture (something we all need), and has mild insect repellant properties.  I believe in combining as many tasks as possible so this type of sunblock works for me.

 

Trek's Trunk detaches & has a carry strap

Medical / First-Aid Kit

These are important to keep in the car or on your bike in case of a situation on the road.  You could easily go down with your bike, miles away from home and help.  I keep an Adventure Medical Kit in my rear trunk for just such emergencies.  You can also make your own and include:

Adhesive bandages
Triple Antibiotic Ointment
Sterile Gauze
Baby Wipes
Aspirin (can be crushed in H2O & applied to stings & bruises)



The idea is to have some emergency care items on board so you can get home.  For longer trips or tours, I carry a full on Medical / Survival Kit that not only has a very inclusive first aid kit but has equipment for on the road repairs of your gear and items to help you weather an unexpected night out.  Just like the Boy Scouts, be prepared.

Topricin and Mission Athlete Care take the pain out of your summer workouts.

Pain Relief

One thing that doesn't seem to let up even during summer sessions is sore muscles and joints.  Making things worse, lactic acid build up is even worse because after a sweaty workout, you may find yourself dehydrated.  When that happens expect the night time Charlie Horse or cramp to visit.  Inflammation is an athlete's worse enemy so using a product that regularly combats this will help tremendously.

Topricin Topical Pain Cream: Based on a Homeopathic formula and including anti bruise botanicals such as Arnica, Topricin belongs in every locker room and sag wagon. Odorless and oil free, Topricin disappears into your skin, providing relief from stiff joints, pulled muscles and bruises.  You can also use it before your workout to avoid muscle strain and pain ahead of time.  Used along with Topricin's Healthy Joint Function supplements, you'll find a unique synergy between the two products.

Mission Athlete Care Maximum Strength Muscle Rub and Foot Rehab Cream are both amazing for acute and severe muscle pain as well as sore feet.  Formulated with a plethora of botanicals and nutrients, it helps you relax shortly after application.  It has a vanishing scent which is good and the Maximum Strength Muscle Rub rolls on which helps to eliminate waste.