The Cross Training Cyclist

Swiftwick Blog

I am a believer in Swiftwick socks, without a doubt. They are extremely durable and will last for quite a while. They are made in the USA and use the best materials and technologies available to create a superior product.

Give them a try and let me know what you think. What do you have to lose? If you don’t like them, Swiftwick will buy you a pair of your favorite socks as a replacement. You can buy them starting at $12.99 on the Swiftwick website or at your local retailer. They also have various other sizes and several colors to choose from. The Maxus is just one more example of why Swiftwick makes some of the best socks in the industry.

Note: I received this product in exchange for a review. The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it. I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.

Friday, March 11, 2016

SportShield Review

Whether you are new to running or are a seasoned veteran, one thing that can plague us all is chaffing. I know that this is never a fun topic to discuss, but finding a solution can make the difference between waddling like a penguin after a run and walking normally. We should first discuss why chaffing occurs.

Chafing is caused by friction — skin rubbing against skin, clothing, or other materials. Skin chafing can be made worse by sweat, which forms salt crystals on the skin increasing friction. This is why people who exercise are more likely to experience skin chafing. Running clothes that are made with materials that don’t breathe well or don’t have sweat-wicking technology can also cause friction and increase the occurrence of chafing, as well as wet or dirty clothing.

2Toms is the maker of SportShield, a product that can be useful in the fight against Chaffing. They have three options, a SportShieldRoll-On, SportShieldfor Her! Roll-On, and SportShieldSingle-Serve Packets. The idea of Sport Shield is that it creates an invisible barrier that eliminates friction when your skin rubs against skin, clothing, or other materials.

SportShield is non-greasy and non-toxic. It is made with Dimethicone (a moisturizer used to treat dry skin), Aloe Vera Extract, and Vitamin E. SportShield will not rub off, it will not wash away from sweat, and it won’t stain your clothes. It also does not contain any animal products is fragrance-free and dye-free.

If you have ever tried Bodyglide, which is probably the most popular anti-chafe product on the market, you know that it is like a hard deodorant stick. It tends to clump and it can be hard to wash away. Bodyglide will also melt if you leave it in the heat. SportShield is a liquid that will not clump or melt. You can’t even tell that it is on (because it goes on so thin).

I wanted to see what the reviews online were saying so I looked at several online running retailers as well as Amazon. Here is the crazy part. At Road Runner Sports, out of 18 reviews, only one gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Everyone else gave it 5 stars. On Amazon, There were 175 reviews. 86% of the reviews were 5 out of 5 stars. I have never seen a product reviewed that high on Amazon. The worst review was that there wasn’t enough of it. That is the worst complaint… really!!!

I am a huge fan of SportShield now that I have tried it. I not only love the roll-on, but the single-serve packets are awesome for a gym bag or keeping in the car (remember, it won’t melt). It worked on my hardest 2 hour runs and it was pouring rain. My clothes were soaked and the SportShield was still there, protecting my skin. I love how it is odor free and washes off in the shower. This is a must have for my long training runs and races.

Pros:

Odor free

Convenient no-mess formula

Easy Cleanup - Washes away with soap and water

Inexpensive

Available in roll-on or single-serve packets.

2Toms’ Social Media Links

Brooks Blog

While there may be anti-chafe products out there that work, nothing that I have tried even comes close to SportShield. It is inexpensive, works well, and won’t ruin your clothes. You can pick up the SportShieldRoll-On and SportShieldfor Her! Roll-On for $13 and the 10-packof SportShield Single-Use Packets for $15 on the Medi-Dyne (2Toms) website. You can also find SportShield on Amazon and at your local retailer (click here for locations). Blisters and chaffing, you have met your match!

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Go Raw Review

I have been on a mission to get back to my Ideal Race Weight, which is around 168. I have lost about 19 pounds and have 5 left to go. I have been following the Paleo Diet for the most part and it has been great. While I don’t have quite as much energy as when I eat grain based carbs, it has really helped me drop some weight without feeling hungry all of the time. I ran across a company that makes snacks that are Paleo so I knew I had to try them out.

Go Raw was founded by Robert Freeland. Robert was working for the Optimum Health Institute when he was 17 years old. He found that there was a limited amount of choices when it came to raw foods. In 2002, Robert renovated a small retail space in San Diego and began producing his forst flaxseed crackers. After a lot of hard work, he started selling at the Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market and his crackers quickly sold out. One day he got a call from Whole Foods, which agreed to carry his products across the country. Robert relocated to Mountain View in 2005 into a 4,000 square foot facility with 10 staff members, where he began to develop more products. Today Go Raw is located in a 65,000 square foot facility with 100 employees. They make over 40 different products ranging from sprouted seeds, to bars, to crackers and more.

So, what exactly is a raw food and why should you eat them? Raw foods are loaded with enzymes that help your body to properly digest food to get the most out of the ingredients. Most companies cook the nutrients out of their foods. Raw food is alive (insert tiny screams here). Go Raw products are gently dehydrated by utilizing a process that maximizes enzymes, nutrition, and flavor.

Another important thing to understand is the benefit of sprouted seeds. Go Raw’s products are seed based. Sprouting “wakes up” the dormant seeds and start the germination process. That in turn unlocks the seeds dense nutritional value. Go Raw only uses that best, organic seeds available so you have the best tasting, most nutritious snacks available. All of their products are gluten free, wheat free, nut free, dairy free and soy free, in addition to being raw, vegan and kosher

I received an assortment of tasty treats from Go Raw. I received the Raisin Crunch Sprouted Bites, Pumpkin Seed Sprouted Bites, Ginger Snap Sprouted Cookies, Choco Crunch Sprouted Cookies, Zesty Pizza Sprouted Flax Snax, and Sweet Spirulina Sprouted Bar. I was really excited to test out the Zesty Pizza Snax, but after testing all of the products, the Raisin Crunch turned out to me my favorite. I am thrilled to find snacks that are not only great tasting, but are really good for you.

The Pizza Snax are flavored with tomato and garlic. The Ginger Snap Cookies are full of flavor and have a little bit of a bite from the Ginger. The Choco Cookies are a healthy chocolate treat so you won’t feel guilty after you eat a handful. The Pumpkin Seed Bites are both salty and sweet, the perfect combination. The Spirulina energy bar is made with the superfood Spirulina, coconut, and banana. The Raisin Crunch was irresistible though. I loved the taste of each of the products and can’t try the other Go Raw products.

Pros:

Great tasting

Raw food, better for you

Tree nut and gluten free

Non GMO

Go Raw’s Social Media Links:

If you are trying to lose weight or even just make healthier decisions, it is really hard to find a decent snack that isn’t full of saturated fat or void of any nutritional value. Go Raw makes tons of products that taste food and are good for you. You can buy them on the Go Raw website, online, or at your favorite grocery retailer. Pick up a bag or bar today. With Go Raw’s awesome products, you can eat healthy and still enjoy your snacks.

Note: I received this product in exchange for a review. The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Tailwind Endurance Drink Mix Review

There are tons of drinks out there that help you recover some electrolytes that are lost during your runs. Many people will not only carry their electrolyte drink, but energy gels or gummies as well. I have read several articles about how mixing electrolyte drinks and energy (gels or gummies) can lead to upset stomachs and have even experienced it in some of my runs. Tailwind Nutrition has a solution to that problem.

Tailwind was started by endurance athletes that were competing in ultra events. The athletes were able to perform well for the first couple of hours, but about 4-6 hours into the race, they would start to develop stomach issues and leg cramping. The drinks that they were taking were too sweet to drink for any extended amount of time. The people at Tailwind did tons of research and combined fuel, hydration, and electrolytes into one convenient drink.

Say goodbye to sticky gels, bars, and chews and say hello to an easier way. Tailwind uses a glucose/sucrose blend of fuel that takes advantage of how our bodies absorb nutrients so your body can absorb everything easier.

Tailwind drink mix dissolves completely when it comes into contact with water and is easy to clean up. Some electrolyte drinks out there will leave a film or taste in your favorite bottle that will never go away. With Tailwind, there is no film, lingering aftertaste or gooey mess. Just a side note, if you leave warm drink mix in your bottle, it will smell funky after about a day. It is easy to clean out though and there is no residual funky smell.

So you may look at the packaging and see that there is no protein. After tons of research, testing, and consulting with experts, it was determined that taking protein during exercise does not improve endurance, but it does increase the risk of GI distress. Not only that, but the addition of protein can slow the absorption of carbohydrates that you need to rebuild your fuel (glycogen) supply. That is why Tailwind left out the protein. Tailwind is wheat, gluten, soy and dairy free too.

I got 5 single serve samples to test out. I have had plenty of other drink mixes from other companies that are too sweet. Tailwind was slightly sweet and refreshing. The flavor was not overpowering, but wasn’t non-existent either. I liked every flavor that I tried but my favorite was the Lemon. They have an unflavored version and several caffeinated versions as well. Using Tailwind is actually cheaper than gels too.

You can get 7 single serve packs for $16.05 or get their bags. The medium bags come with 30 servings (uncaffinated bags are $24.99 or $26.99 for the caffeinated). The large bags come with 50 servings (uncaffinated bags are $34.99 or $37.99 for the caffeinated). Each serving is 100 calories, 25 grams Carbs, and 25 grams of sugar.

Pros:

Great tasting

Don’t need electrolyte drinks and gels/gummies

Cheaper than buying everything separately

Easy to mix and clean up.

Tailwind’s Social Media Links:

I really liked the taste and convenience of the Tailwind drink mix. It did supply me with plenty of fuel for my long runs without having to take electrolyte drinks and gels with me. Having to take less with me is a great thing, especially on longer runs where I would have had to take 5+ gels with me. I plan in using Tailwind drink mixes in my future races and found it useful in my trainings at various distances. Give it a try and you will probably be a fan too. Go to the Tailwinds website to purchase yours today.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Grayl Ultralight Purifier + Filter Bottle Review

Have you ever been out on a trail run or on a hike and run out of water? I have and it was terrible. I had a long way back to the car and I didn’t want to drink from a questionable stream. The water looked clean, but you never know what could be lurking in that water. I have seen tons of water filtration devices on the market, but many of them are either not portable, weigh a lot, or require special lights/batteries to work. There is a new water filtration device that not only filters water, but purifies it as well. Meet the Grayl Ultralight Purifier + Filter Bottle.

The Grayl Ultralight bottle is currently part of a Kickstarter campaign that will be running until March 4^th. Grayl was founded by Nancie Weston in 2012 and is based out of Seattle, Washington. Nancie was concerned about plastic pollution and the poor quality and taste of water that she experienced when traveling. She wanted to create a personal water filtration system that actually worked, was easy to use, and could be taken wherever her travels might take her.

The first two products that were produced by Grayl were the Quest and Legend purifiers. While they are both great products, Grayl wanted to make a more streamlined product for adventure enthusiasts that want the filtration capabilities without the extra weight. “We stripped away every unnecessary ounce and element. So all that’s left is the perfect tool” says Travis Merrigan, the companies COO and co-founder.

The Ultralight is not designed to replace your Camelbak. You would want to still have something to carry your water. This also isn’t going to be something you take on your 5k or half marathons. The Ultralight is great for long trail runs or hiking where you want to refill your hydration pack on the go. You could even fill up hydration packs for all of your buddies, if you feel like they deserve it.

The Ultralight would also be ideal for camping, traveling, or even in your disaster preparation kit. Just imagine going to Mexico or some other destination where the water isn’t safe to drink out of the tap. The Ultralight could make the difference between enjoying your vacation and spending days in bed or on the toilet. With just one press of the Ultralight, you remove 99.999% of viruses, bacteria, and protozoan cysts. It also filters particulates, chemicals like chlorine and benzene, and heavy metals including lead and arsenic. With several major cities having problems with their drinking water, this could really be beneficial.

The Ultralight is so simple product to use that anyone can use it. You just fill up the bottle with water (to the line), insert the inner press, and push down. You have clean, purified water in less than 15 seconds. How awesome is that.

Pros:

Very lightweight at only 10.9 ounces

One cartridge replaces 300 single-use water bottles (great for the environment)

Great price, starting at $49

Can be used for travel, sports, or during natural disasters

Removes/filters viruses, bacteria, chemicals, heavy metals and more

Grayl’s Media Links:

Facebook

Instagram

Blog

The only way to get your Grayl Ultralight bottle at this time is through their Kickstarter campaign that is currently running through March 4^th. A Kickstarter pledge of $49 or more gets you the Ultralight bottle (Estimated retail price is over $60 + taxes and shipping) or for $69 or more will get you the Ultralight bottle and a replacement filter (Estimated retail price is over $85 + taxes and shipping). The estimated delivery for the Ultralight is in June 2016. You can purchase the Quest or Legend at the Grayl website if you just can’t wait that long, although it isn’t quite as light as the Ultralight. I have been in situations where the Grayl Ultralight would have really come in handy. If you like to trail run, hike, or travel, give the Ultralight a try. I love mine and I am sure you will too.

Friday, January 15, 2016

RAD Rod Review

I was so impressed with the RAD Roller products I reviewed a few weeks back that I contacted the company about testing out one more of their products, the RAD Rod. It can be used in conjunction with the Helix and I really wanted to see if the RAD Rod could impress me as much as the Rad Roller and Helix did (click here to see my review).

RAD Roller is based out of Boulder Colorado, one of the healthiest places in America. Michael Mallory, a biomechanics specialist, and Dan McIntosh, a professional triathlete, came up with the idea to fill a void in the massage tool industry. They wanted to create a massage tool that could be used on the back that would not put pressure on the bones in your back and neck. This is a common complaint I have with almost every foam roller out there. That is where the RAD Roller came into existence.

After a short time, the RAD Roller was expanded from the original (blue) to a firmer model (black) and a softer model (green). They look like two racquetballs that are attached in the center. RAD Roller quickly expanded their lineup. Another product is the Rad Rod, which is a thin rod that is made to push the waste materials out of your soft tissue.

The Rad Rod is 21.25” long and about .75” in diameter. Its handles are covered in blue silicon, which provides a great grip. The rotating center of the rod is made up of grey EVA foam, which is the material in the midsoles of many running shoes. The smaller size and low weight (only 1 lb. 2 oz.) makes this an easy piece of equipment to travel with.

I was very impressed with both the RAD Roller and Helix, but the RAD Rod blew me away. I have been able to focus on areas of my legs that I simply can’t with my traditional foam rollers. I was able to roll out knots deep in my muscles that I never knew I had. After only using the RAD Rod for about a week and my legs feel more rested and ready for my runs.

Like I said earlier, you can use the Rad Rod with the Helix. They even sell them as a kit (you save $10 by buying it as a kit). The Rad Rod goes inside the Helix and you can roll out your muscles or have your wife, husband, or whoever else, work on your back, neck, or other hard to reach areas. You can take turns and both feel great afterward.

Pros:

Great Price $39 Rad Rod ($78 kit)

Can easily travel with you.

Can release tension and toxin in hard to reach areas

Can really massage deep into your muscles

RAD Rollers’ Media Links:

Google+

Blog

I love my RAD Roller products. The Rad Rod is my favorite, but you can’t go wrong with any of them. I still use my OPTP stretch out strap every night, but my RAD Roller products have become part of my nightly recovery plan. You can pick up the RAD Rod for $39.00 and the Rad Rod/HELIX kit for $78.00. They are available on the RAD Roller website and at Amazon. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Proviz REFLECT360 Gilet Review

If you have followed my blog for a while, you will know that safety is a big concern for me and I stress the importance of safety a lot. You can never expect that drivers will see you in a bike lane next to the road, but there are some lights and clothing that will increase your visibility.

Proviz was started in London by two brothers who worked corporate jobs and commuted by bicycle. They used equipment to help them be more visible but realized that there was a void in the market that they wanted to fill. The first device they invented was an electroluminescent light pack. The company’s most popular products are in the REFLECT360 series which was introduced in 2014. It is unique because it uses 100% reflective materials, which look grey in the daytime, but is highly reflective at night. The REFLECT360 series includes jackets, gilets, vests, backpacks, helmet covers and more.

I am reviewing the REFLECT360 gilet. First of all, I was absolutely shocked by how reflective it really was. The tag that came with the gilet, which is similar to a vest, said to take a picture with your camera’s flash on. I have included pictures with my flash on and off so you can see the difference.

The gilet has several features that really make a difference. The shoulders are fitted, which works hand in hand with the armholes. They hug your arms so there is no excess material, which would allow air to get in and cool you off. They don’t restrict arm movement either. There are two zippered side pockets where you can put your gloves, a hat, or your phone. The back of the gilet is perforated to allow heat and moisture to escape. There are zipper pull tags so you don’t need to take your gloves off to get your pockets open. There is a softer material around the neck area for comfort as well.

I was very pleased with the fit and function of the REFLECT360 gilet. It has been a little cold and the gilet allows me to keep my core a little warmer, while not totally overheating. I noticed that my sweat made the reflective material work even better, not that it is a real selling point. I believe that Proviz uses the same type of glass beads in their gear that is used in the striping of your local roads. There really isn’t any comparison between this and other visibility products as far as what is more visible.

Pros:

Decent Price as low as $52.97 (on Amazon)

Light weight and breathable

Makes you very visible to traffic

Proviz’s Media Links:

Google+