Road ID Firefly Supernova Lights

This Firefly Supernova Wristband easily laces through the vents of this Rudy Project helmet.

As the season's weather heats up, you may find yourself wanting to train in the cooler temperatures of early morning or after sunset.  While there are great advantages to this, ( less traffic, pollution and heat), visibility is going to be more of a challenge.  Bright LED lights have become the standard and are cheaper yet burn longer than traditional halogen bulbs.

 

Here's a Bright Idea (or two)

LED's are so bright that they are even visible during the daytime. I have three bicycles that I ride in rotation with various panniers, trunks and baskets. Each has some sort of LED blinkie clipped on but now my vented helmets also have lights! As far as I'm concerned, the more the better. I'd rather be lit up like a Christmas Tree in July than not be seen at all.

What makes LED's so cool is that they are cool.  They don't give off a lot of heat so they can be worn pretty close to the skin such as you see here on the zipper of my hoodie. That makes them very versatile, allowing drivers to see you coming and going. Light it up!

The same light on my wrist for night running

ROAD ID's FIREFLY SUPERNOVAS

Road ID is known for making wristbands with personal contact and medical information engraved. However they also offer a line of LED lights for runners and cyclists.

These operate on a watch battery (included). Lightweight, cool and super-bright, these are the ultimate blinkies for all sorts of outdoor activities when being seen is key.




Supernovas come with a variety of attachments: bicycle, wrist band, belt/clothing clip-on so you can use them everywhere.  They weigh under an ounce and have a run time of about 250 hours. Choose, red, blue, green or clear. Best of all these are blindingly BRIGHT. Set on flashing, they are visible even in broad sunlight so you know they will get the driver's attention on night-time excursions.  Don't take chances!  These are inexpensive, (about $15 each) and easy to use.  Just a little extra insurance out there.  More Road ID safety and ID products can be found at their website: Road ID.com

In addition to riding with lights, make sure your cycle wear has reflective qualities too.

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

No Nose Saddles: Spiderflex Review

The Spiderflex Noseless Saddle installed on our Green Zone Folding Bike.  The Pouch by Linus Bikes.

Noseless or no nose saddles are nothing new.  They have been around for sometime now and for many people, they will make the difference between riding and not.  Why?  Well, because the traditional road bike saddle design tends to put pressure on the delicate blood vessels in the groin area.  This can cause foot/leg numbness due to decreased blood flow and for men this can also negatively effect prostate and penile function.  Some men have had to give up cycling entirely because of the horrendous impact hours in the saddle made on their sex life.

Why Spiderflex?

We looked at a number of no nose saddles and heard a lot about how uncomfortable and weird they felt.  Then we came upon the Spiderflex saddle which stood out from the rest of the pack for the following reasons:

We liked the design plus the extra shock absorption found in the back of the Spiderflex saddle, (see the "spider" on the black shock absorber in the photo above...that's it).

It is ergonomically designed to allow the "sit bones" to be supported and cradled without cramping.  It also gives you full freedom in the crotch area without the pressure or chaffing most other saddles are notorious for.  Prepare to be free, baby!

There is nothing skimpy about this saddle.  Sturdy stainless steel rails and a very supportive, yet comfortable wide positioned seat come together in ergonomic perfection.  The Spiderfex  was easy to install and fits all standard seat posts and clamps.

We also really liked the "just right" firmness of this polyurethane covered saddle.  Here are some key features:

• Comfortable ergonomic bicycle seats for all bike riders
• Wide seat area for better weight distribution
• Ergonomic center relief eliminates pelvic/perineal pressure
• Ventilated seat slots reduce heat/moisture buildup
• Cradles your "sit-bones" to alleviate pressure points
• Eliminates chafing on the inner thigh area
• Comfortable "long ride" suspension system
• Works great on trainers and exercise bikes

Spiderflex Saddle on a folding bike.

Personally I have ridden everything from a hard antique Brooks leather saddle to the newer gel filled road saddles such as The Butterfly by Terry Precision Cycling.  Most rides, I wear a little padding or chamois such as the minimalistic type found in Terry's Spinnakers.  The Spinnaker is actually made for spin classes, hence the name, so it does not have a high performance chamois like some of the more aggressive cycle shorts.

My folding bike is primarily ridden in an upright position as seen in the photo here, so the Spiderflex saddle was actually just the thing to replace the one that came with the bike.  I'm not complaining about the Green Zone Bike's saddle because it is very comfortable.  It's just for us women, certain times of the month, the last thing we want is pressure between our legs.  Also for this seat is a God's send for women who have just given birth and want to ride or to do some spinning on a stationary bike.  Pop on the Spiderflex seat and spin away!  No stress, no pressing.  

I've test driven the Spiderflex for a bit over a month and only had it adjusted once.  Make sure you have someone who knows what they are doing installing it.  If it is not positioned correctly, you can feel as if you are sliding forward.  However, once it is set up, it does take a bit of getting used to as you will need to find your "sweet spot" in order to truly appreciate the ride.  I like not having any pressure on the back of my thighs as I'm pedaling.  So liberating!  Better still there is no sweating, chaffing or irritation no matter if I wear a chamois or not.  I think this saddle would make a great Christmas gift for someone who wants to ride more or even yourself.  No need to wait for problems to arise.  Be proactive. See if the Spiderflex Ergonomic Bicycle Seat can make a difference in your next ride.