Heat & Sun Awareness

Cool options for your summer workouts. Mission Enduracool Instant Cooling Towel has an UPF of 45.

May 25th is National Heat Stress Awareness Day. Every year people die unnecessarily from heat and sun stroke because they A) Didn't take the time to check and prepare for high heat conditions and B) Didn't recognize the warning signs of heat stress. Do you know the signs of heat exhaustion and what to do about them?  Here they are:

The Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion:

Enter our Insulated Polar Bottle Giveaway!

Malaise, headache, weakness & loss of appetite
Vomiting
Dizziness upon standing up from sitting or reclining
Dehydration
Elevated core temperature
Sweating

What to do - Treatment:

Stop all exertion & move victim to shade or cooler area
Remove restrictive clothing
Give oral re-hydration solution with plenty of pure water
Apply insulated ice packs or cold towels to the patient’s armpits and groin area. Use cool water to splash or soak until cooled off

So What's New for 2012?

Sunblock
This year the old SPF / UPF ratings that used to go up to 100+ have been done away with.  The most any sun protection product can now claim is 50. This is because the previous values were a bit misleading making people think that a SPF of let's say 90+ was much more effective than a 30.  Really there is not that much difference between the two. I like Mission Athletecare's Continuous Spray Sun Defeated Sunscreen - UPF 30 and their moisturizing gel Lip Protector in 20.

Clothing
There is sun protection being built into athletic wear too.  Safety Smartwear's and Road ID / Giordana's cycling kits have excellent solar protection within the fabric itself. These company's cycling jerseys and bib shorts offer a SPF of between 30-50+.  These newer technical materials also allow for maximum airflow and wicking to help keep you cooler and dryer. (See more: Cycling Jerseys: Buying & Care Guide)

Heat Index Monitoring
Also new for the 2012 summer season is the Kestrel Heat Stress Tracker. Building on the Kestrel line of pocket weather meters, the newest addition 4400 model adds Heat Stress tracking parameters.  This means you can calculate the potential for heat exhaustion throughout the day and in your immediate area. You can then better assess when to pull the plug on an outdoor excursion or take extra precautions during an athletic event. If adverse high temperature conditions are present, the Kestrel 4400 will alert you to them so you can avoid heat stroke.

We plan to test the Kestrel 4400 in the field at the upcoming Outdoor Adventure Expo at Turkey Swamp this month in the NY/NJ area so stay tuned.

NEW for 2012!  Kestrel 4400 Heat Stress Tracker

ENDURACOOL INSTANT COOLING TOWEL
 
Another new item we are excited about is the Mission Athletecare Enduracool Instant Cooling Towel.  It has special polymers that chill when the towel is wet and snapped.  The towel itself has a respectable UPF of 45 and is small enough to fit in any bike or gym bag for multiple uses.  Sweat or pure water is said to activate the towel which I actually found to feel cool even when dry.

As shown in the treatment options for heat exhaustion, you can place the towel under the armpits or groin area to quickly bring down the core temperature. Pack an insulated Polar Bottle half full of ice and your water will be chilly for hours.  If you are out running or on your bicycle, you can simply wet the towel with water from the ice filled Polar Bottle and quickly cool down.

The Enduracool Instant Cooling Towel

I also found a little portable battery operated fan with a carabiner clip.  I placed this on my daypack as it is lightweight and can be used when you need to stop and cool off a bit.
Add a little breeze to a wet, cooling towel and you have a synergistic mix to help beat heat stress.

Remember to know your conditions by checking out the day's heat index before heading out.  Generally the hours between 1 and 3 pm are the hottest. The sun's rays are less intense before 10 am so if you can plan your workout before midday or after 4 pm, you'll avoid unnecessary exposure. (See the Cool Runnings post for ideas on reflective clothing and lights for after dark runs and rides).
Pack extra ice water in thermal containers like a Polar Bottle or Klean Kanteen. Want to stay hydrated without taking along gallons of water? Pack a Purificup Portable Water Filter for fresh, pure water on the fly.
 

Remember to Protect Your Eyes

Do wear a hat and proper UV protective eye wear.  Rudy Project makes a complete line of excellent sunglasses for practically every outdoor activity imaginable.  Their sports glasses are cycling, running, etc. specific and are lightweight while staying put and not fogging up during your workout. The Ability in Raspberry below is made for smaller women's faces and has interchangeable multi-laser red lenses which offer a 21% light transmission. The wrap-around feature keeps wind and road debris out of your eyes while offering the most UV protection possible. Weighing in at only 25 grams, you'll hardly notice wearing them but you will notice a clearer, glare-free view of the road.

Rudy Project Kylix XY Sport Frames

Rudy Project Ability

 

Giordana for Road ID Bib Shorts have a UPF of 50+

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.

 

Save Gas: Bike Commuting Basics

A necessary comfort on any bike commute.  A hot container of coffee in a Portland Design Works Bar-ista cup holder.

Have you had enough yet?  As of this post gas is about $3.65 a gallon in the Tri-State area and quickly headed to $5.  "These are the times that try men's souls."  You got that right, PAINE.  What's your motivation?  Spring is in the air and Bike to School Week is coming up in April with its parent Bike to Work Month in May.  Get a few essentials and be on the road blasting past those over-priced gas stations in style.

BIKE COMMUTING 101

NYC Bike Path - Downtown Chelsea

Well, first you'll need a bicycle. You don't need anything fancy or with a lot of gears at first because just to start out, you'll only be doing local errands.  That's right.  You've got to roll before you can fly and short errands by bike is by far the best way to get your tires wet. Besides most Americans still make trips under 4 miles in their cars. 

CYCLE CLOTHING
Notice the people riding here on the NYC Bike Path.  They have pretty ordinary bikes, some with fenders which help with puddle splashes but they are wearing regular clothes folks.  
If you are wearing pants, you might want to cinch up the right leg so it stays out of your chain BUT if you've got a chain guard on that thing...pfffft.  You're not doing a century (100 mile ride) so don't worry about investing in a cycling kit like Lance.  However when you're ready, Terry Bicycles makes some very chic urban cycling clothes for women riders that work well both on and off the bike. In the meantime think "stretch fabric" for the clothes you choose to ride in.

HANDLEBAR & SEAT BAGS

The Pouch by Linus Bikes 
 
If you're a minimalist, you can get away with attaching a little bag like this to your handlebars or even your seat rails.  Leather straps secure it in place and brass snaps keep your stuff from bouncing out.

These were most often seen on those beautiful Brooks leather saddles which adorn classic fixed gear bikes.  You can certainly go that route but a bag like this can hold a medical kit, a patch or bike tools in case you break down.  Yes, that does happen.

Here is The Pouch attached to the saddle rails of my little Green Zone Folding Bike of the NYC Bike Path Film fame.

In NYC slinging a handbag over your handlebars can earn you a quick ticket (ok maybe not a Hermès).  Still, it's uncomfortable and distracting to try to ride with things like your iPod, keys and whatnot in your pockets.  A little seat bag frees you from all that and can be removed from the bike. Placed on the handlebars or seat rails, it's one accessory every commuter bike should have. 



MESSENGER BAGS

C.F. Martin & Co. Laptop Messenger Bag

Many people already own some version of a messenger bag (primarily as a fashion statement) because they are quite versatile and well...cool.  You don't have to be a messenger to use one but it helps. These things are notorious for sliding off and shifting unexpectedly.

This messenger bag by C.F. Martin & Co. however, has a few tricks going for it such as retractable shoulder straps converting into a much more stable backpack.  This bag also has plenty of room for your laptop, papers and has a water bottle sleeve.  Lots of handy compartments to organize your desk on the go plus a comfortable shoulder strap.

BICYCLE TRUNK BAGS

The D2R & Highway 1 Blend Coffee Dry Bag both by Detours

If you have a bicycle with a rear rack, you're already way ahead of the game.  That's because you can strap a trunk, panniers or even a basket to that rascal to haul way more than a pouch or messenger bag.  

The handy bottle holder on the D2R

Remember, you're goal is only doing short, local errands.  I'm talking about 8 miles round trip or less.  The post office, the library, the bank, the local convenience store.  You won't need large bags for those trips but you will need something to hold a few energy bars, an extra shirt and how about this, a container of hot coffee!

Taking a Detour... on my bike commute.  Detours D2R Trunk Bag

Speaking from experience (25 years +), a trunk bag is going to become your best biking buddy.  Having too much weight on the front handlebars as with large metal baskets can make steering more difficult and also cause a lot of drag up front.  The solution is to stow more weight in the rear (not yours).

Detours D2R Trunk Bag is the best made trunk bag I've seen in a long time.  The no-fuss clips securely attach to just about any rear rack, (I have a Blackburn) and it comes with a comfortable shoulder strap for off the bike use. If your bike doesn't have a water bottle holder or cage, the D2R has one that will easily accommodate a 20oz Polar Bottle or a 16oz Klean Kanteen.  The D2R has reflective accents all around and a light loop for a rear blinkie, both important items for night rides.  This Detours Trunk Bag also has two side zip pockets and an expandable main compartment.  Along with my TechWind panniers, it is very aerodynamic.  The D2R also has a removable rain cover.  I keep it in the side pocket with the shoulder strap so it's ready to go. 

Be Safe 
You'll need lights both front and rear to ride at night and ALWAYS wear a lid such as Lazer Helmet's NEW Hi-Viz Helium in Flashing Fluro Yellow.  Also be sure to have your name, emergency numbers and medical directives  taped inside your helmet or order Road ID's cool The FIXX dog tags.  These also come in wrist bands and hold a lot of helpful information to speak for you if you can't.
  
Commuting and doing short trips by bicycle is one the best things you can do for your health, your community and the environment. Now with gas prices reaching an all time high, you can finally do something for your wallet too.