Bike Diva

Bike Diva Reviews Shandali Microfiber Towel

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Above: Shandali travel towel comes in small or medium in gray, navy or light blue.

I recently got to test out a microfiber towel from Shandali. I do a bit of running and cycling and always carry a small towel in my gym bag. I don't like beach towels, they take up a lot of room, and once you use them you're left with a stinky, wet mess. Shandali was kind enough to send me one of their small, ultra sport travel towels, which measures 20" by 40". 

I use one of those chamois cloth towels on the rare occasions when I go to the gym or pool to go swimming. Chamois cloths have to be wet to work, so they are great to dry off after swimming but not so great if you're just trying to dry off after a hard workout in the woods. I probably should have gotten the medium size towel, which would have fit better on the driver's seat of my van so I could use it to sit on during the drive back home after running/biking.

Great Sports Towel

The towel is very thin and folds up neatly to fit in the bottom of my sports bag without taking up a lot of room. The towel is made from super absorbent micro-fiber which doesn't get soaking wet after using it. I do most of my workouts outdoors, far away from a gym. I am a heavy sweater and need to have a towel to dry off after working out before getting back into my van.

I carry the towel with me at all times. It's a perfect way to dry off after a hot and steamy trail run or off-road mountain bike ride. The sports towel would also be perfect for taking to the beach or packing with your hiking and camping gear. So if you are looking for a great sports towel, and are tired of using soggy beach towels, give the Shandali travel towel a try.

Above: UltraSport Travel Towel by Shandali.

The Shandali Travel Towel Available on Amzon 

Lighten your load and stay dry all day long with new and advanced microfiber lightweight material

ULTRA-ABSORBENT & QUICK-DRYING: Support your active lifestyle with a towel that absorbs wetness and drys 10x as fast as a cotton towel

TRAVEL | SPORT | CAMPING | BEACH: Shandali UltraSport Travel Towel is multi-purpose towel that allows you to use the same great towel in multiple places. Enjoy it during a relaxing day at the beach, a kick-*** workout at the gym, or while you're camping out on a kayaking trip. 

100% MICROFIBER MATERIAL: Soft on your skin, super-durable, and extra-compact so you hardly notice it's in your bag. Take it backpacking and keep your load light. 

COLOURS: Comes in Pebble and Stone, River Blue and Light Blue.

SIZES:
S: 20"x40" inches
M: 24"x48" inches

BASICALLY:
Super Absorbent! Ultra-Fast-Drying. Light and Tightly Packed Towel. Perfect for Camping, Backpacking, Shower.... And best of all, No Bleed Dye!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Compression Tights & Compression Triathlon Shorts

CW-X Conditioning Wear

I recently had a chance to test out compression tights and triathlon shorts made by CW-X. I had been wanting to get a pair of compression tights to start using as a recovery tool after my long bike rides and runs. I figured the compression tights would also double as running tights in the winter and the tri shorts can be worn for regular biking and bike-to-run bricks. I probably would not wear them for any of my races, too many sponsorship obligations so I am usually racing in official team gear for Team Odwalla or one of my other sponsors.

CW-X has a size guide on their website. They say if your height and weight has you falling between sizes to choose the next size larger. I ordered the compression shorts and tights in women's size medium. In addition to the tights and shorts, CW-X makes a complete line of compression gear including:

• arm sleeves
• calf sleeves
• socks
• support bras
• running and triathlon tops

Compression Gear Features

According to CW-X their compression gear has a variety of features:

• Warm-up - establishes the optimum state to begin your workout safely and effectively.
• Training zone - maintains peak performance and stabilizes temperature during activity.
• Cool-down - helps the body slowly return to its resting phase.
• Recovery - facilitates circulation and venous return, minimizing lactic acid build-up and muscle soreness during and after activity.

Above: CW-X women's Ventilator triathlon shorts.

 

Above: CW-X Perform-X compression tights

 

Bike Diva's Verdict

Both the compression tight and compression shorts were a little bit tricky to get on. They kind of reminded me of putting panty hose on, work from the ankle up to the knee then finally pull them up to your waist. You work on getting on one leg at a time, and since they are so tight, it also kind of reminded me of putting on my wetsuit.

At first I thought I wasn't going to like the tri shorts, as they hit just above the knee. That is way longer than any of my other biking or running shorts. But once I started running, it was heaven! I normally have a lot of hip flexor pain, due to tight IT band, but the shorts felt like I was getting a message the entire time I was running. And they have a very light weight chamois pad to make the transition to biking comfortable.

Above: my husband and I at the completion of the 2011 St. Anthony's Triathlon. Yes, I found the beer tent right after crossing the finish line.

Disney Marathon

Living in south Florida I will mainly use the compression tights as recovery gear to wear at home after my long run and bike workouts. But it does cool down for a day or two during the winter in Florida, so I might actually get a chance to wear them while running. I am doing the Goofy Race & 1/2 Half Challenge in Orlando in January, it can get a bit cool in Disney World that time of year, so I will pack my compression tights with me just in case. And I will definitely want to wear them after doing the 1/2 half marathon the day before doing the full.

Participating in both the Disney ½ marathon and Disney marathon is called the Goofy Race and ½ Challenge. I will be participating in this event with my local Team in Training chapter, while helping to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Disney will be my first running event with Team in Training. I have completed 5 century bike rides and 2 triathlons with TNT since 2006, while helping to raise over $30,000 for cancer research. My fund-raising page is located at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/pb/wdw12/lsmythe.

Promotive Website

I purchased my CW-X compression tights and triathlon shorts on the Promotive website as part of a pro deal discount. I qualified for both the Industry Pro Deal and Outdoor Media & Industry Advocates teams on the Promotive website.

You've heard of brands that hook up "pros" with free gear to expose their products to flocks of potential buyers.  You may not know those same companies offer discounts to other high-profile customers as well.  You're receiving this invitation because I think you're discount-worthy, and I'm pretty sure a bunch of cool brands will feel the same way.  There's only one way to find out if you qualify for up to 70 percent off retail - register with ProMotive.com for free!

Additional Information

CW-X clothing can be purchased from a variety of on-line retailers including Paragon Sports, Zappos, Back Country and Tri Sports. Shop around for the best prices; I found them going on the internet for between $50 and $100 for both the shorts and tights.

Website: http://cw-x.com

Twitter: twitter.com/CWXWSSC

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/CW-X-Conditioning-Wear/69163765916

 

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

 

KSwiss Sponsorship Opportunities

Bike Diva Races

2011 marks my 4th season of racing. My complete racing schedule can be viewed on the Bike Diva blog: Bike Diva's Races. I have a few companies that sponsor me, by sending me free or discounted equipment, gear and sports nutrition products. I've written on the topic of athletic sponsorship a number of times on the Bike Diva blog:

• How to Find Sponsorship Opportunities
• Amateur Athletes Yearly Racing & Training Budget

Above: a plethora of KSwiss running shoes. Left to right; K-Ruuz, Keahou II, Blade-light race.

KSwiss Sponsorship for Amateur Athletes

I've watched the Ford Ironman Triathlon Championships, which take place in Hawaii every October, for the past few years. I've noticed quite a few of the pro athletes were running in KSwiss running shoes and wearing KSwiss triathlon outfits. I've also seen ads for KSwiss running shoes in Triathlete Magazine.

Always on the look out for possible sponsorship opportunities, I visited the KSwiss website to see if they had any programs available for amateur athletes. Besides their full product sponsorship programs, which they offer to professional athletes, they also offer a variety of pro deal discount programs to amateur athletes.

Above: KSwiss women's triathlon shorts and triathlon top in the USA color scheme.

KSwiss offers three sponsorship programs for amateur athletes, coaches and personal trainers:

Each program offers up to 50% off the retail price of KSwiss footwear, clothing and accessories, along with limited offers exclusive to members of the program. Members must purchase at least one product package per year to maintain their membership. If you qualify for any of these sponsorship programs, you can fill out an online application on the KSwiss website.

K-Team Preferred Player Program

• USPTA and/or PTR certified teaching professionals.
• Juniors with a top 25 USTA Sectional Ranking or a top 200 National Ranking.
• Adults with a Top-10 sectional, Top 50 National singles ranking in Open or Age Group play or Top-5 sectional or Top-10 nationals in doubles.
• Current collegiate players with proper documentation from school.
• Endorsed referral from a K-Swiss advisory staff member.

K-Fit Preferred Fitness Program

• Certified personal trainers.
• Affiliates of major health and fitness associations.
• Regular competitors in fitness events.
• Endorsed referral from a K-Swiss advisory staff member.

K-Fast Preferred Triathlete/Runner Program

• Year-round event competitors.
• Affiliates of major triathlon and/or running associations.
• Age groupers with a Top-20 placement at a major racing event.
• Current collegiate or high-school runners with proper documentation from school.
• Endorsed referral from a K-Swiss advisory staff member.

Above: close up of KSwiss Blade-light running shoes. This is the Bike Diva's new go to shoe for her triathlon and duathlon races. Easy on/off, no need to wear socks. Will make for some speedy T2 transition times.

Additional Information

Website: www.kswiss.com

Sponsorship page: www.kswiss.com/page/pros/Sponsorship.html

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KSwiss

Twitter: twitter.com/KSWISS

Above: Bike Diva, wearing the KSwiss Blade-light running shoe, crossing the finish line at the 4/03/11 Spring Training sprint triathlon.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Swim a Triathlon With Snorkel

Can I use a snorkel?
A question new triathletes sometimes have is; can they use a snorkel during the swim portion of a triathlon race? Here is the answer according to USAT rules:

A. Actually, yes. Since it does not propel you forward, the use of a snorkel is allowed under USAT rules.

Well, I think I would be too embarrassed to show up to a race with a snorkel, but it is interesting to know they are allowed. However, if you are a fairly new swimmer, you might want to consider using a snorkel to help you get more comfortable in the water.

Above: A triathlete training in the pool with a Finis snorkel.

Finis Snorkel

Finis makes a snorkel that is marketed to triathletes, which retails for around $35. My husband has seen a triathlete swimming laps at our local YMCA that occasionally brings his snorkel with him when he wants to swim a FAST couple of laps. My triathlon coach doesn't recommend using the snorkel for pool training, but he did recommend I get a snorkel to use while practicing swimming in the ocean.

Why would a coach recommend a snorkel? I have extreme anxiety whenever I try doing an open water swim in the ocean, well, at least on days when there are huge waves. Getting in and out of the surf causes a major panic attack, and I basically just bob along in the water, and don't do anything resembling swimming.

My coach recommends getting a snorkel and doing a lot of ocean swims. He says I need to learn how to relax and have fun in the ocean. A snorkel should help prevent anxiety and not feel like I can't breath. I need to get my head in the water and actually swim, not bob around, when I'm in the ocean if I want any chance of being able to do a triathlon where the swim portion takes place in the ocean. My husband is a fish in the water, and loves body surfing. He says I need to stop fighting the waves and let them push me to shore. Easy for him to say.

Above: Members of spring 2011 south county Palm Beach Team in Training triathlon team. Bike Diva is the terrified looking one in the white swim cap, and this photo was taken BEFORE we went into the water.

Bike Diva in the Ocean

Here are some comments I made to my Facebook page after a recent attempt at an ocean swim. The Team in Training triathlon team had just completed a bike-to-run brick workout at the Boynton Beach Inlet.

Bike Diva: Coach Louis Blanco, thanks for dragging my a#s through the ocean 2x today. Holly crap those waves scared the bejesus out of me! Coach's prediction: "I see a lot of ocean swim practices in your immediate future." Guess I have homework before FAU and ST. Anthony's triathlons.

Bike Diva: But the good news for the rest of the TNT Tri team, if the girl who has major water phobia could actually go out 2x in today's waves, then y'all should have no problem. And props to Louise, Miss Fish, the only one without a wetsuit to go in the ocean, awesome!

Coaches reply: Lynn, you can do this. I know that it is cliche, but you have to believe in yourself. I would go to the beach as often as possible and just have fun snorkeling, bodysurfing, etc.

Bike Diva: Have fun? In the water? R-I-G-H-T. Maybe I can take a sedative before my tri's - zzzzzzzz. HA! My competitive side won't let me quit. Luckily I only compete against me, myself and I. Unfortunately those beyatches are really competitive. :)

Bike Diva: This mornings swim technique = deer in the headlights. Yeah, major panic, didn't like those waves, everything I learned about swimming sucked right of my brain today. Didn't like getting goggles sucked off head first time going out, luckily... I caught them before they washed out to sea. Didn't like getting power slammed into the ocean bottom first time coming back to shore. But not going to let all my phobias slow me down. LOTS of room for improvement during open water swims, always look on the positive side of things. Some people find this tri swim stuff fun!?!

Above: Some of Bike Diva's swim gear. Do I see a snorkel being added to this pile of equipment in the near future!?!

Bike Diva's Final Conclusion

I probably won't go out and buy the Finis snorkel, but my husband used to be a diver so I think we have a regular snorkel or two laying around the house somewhere. Now we just have to find the time to get over to the ocean and do some practice swims. That's not the kind of thing I can do by myself, need to have a least one person with me in case I run into trouble. And I have to remember, on race day, there will be lots of volunteers in the water to help the swimmers should they have any problems. At the first triathlon we did last month, there were 3 kayak's, 2 jet skiers and 2 rescue boats filled with lifeguard and Coast Guard volunteers.

So if I do decide to practice any open water swims while wearing a snorkel, I will be sure to get a picture or two taken. :)

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Triathlon Race Day Essentials

Above: Swag from 2009 Miami Man. You can see my race number attached to my race belt in the bottom of the photo. The race towel is the perfect size to use to set up all your gear in your transition area.

 
Race Day Essentials

Although 2011 is my first year racing triathlons, I have raced in 24 duathlons during the past two years. So I have a bit of experience going through the transition area while participating in sprint, Olympic and half Ironman distance races.

Here are a few of my tips to make your race day more enjoyable and less stressful. T1 refers to the swim to bike transition, while T2 refers to the bike to run transition.

Above: Swim gear including swim caps, swim goggles and ear plugs.

Transition and other Racing Tips

Bring extra gear - I always like to bring two pairs of swim goggles with me. A clear pair and a mirrored pair. I decide which pair to wear based on the conditions on race day morning. Also, it's nice to have a second pair with you in case the strap to the first pair breaks. Been there, done that!

Above: Some sports nutrition and personal care products you may want to bring with you on race day.

Hydration and nutrition - I also bring a few gels with me. You never know what kind of nutrition and hydration choices they will have at the rest stops of your races. I always bring a brand of gel that I have used during training, race day is not the time to have to worry about stomach upset. I also bring along a tube of Nuun hydration tablets for my longer races. Many brands of electrolyte drinks give me an upset stomach, I can place a Nuun tablet in my water bottle before filling it up with plain water at the rest stops.

Transition mat or towel - used to mark out a space in your transition area to place all of your bike and run gear. I place a small hand towel, usually from one of my races, near the front wheel of my bike. I place my bike shoes, running shoes, racing belt with race number attached and running hat on the towel. When I get into T1, I place my swim goggles and swim cap on the transition mat then put my bike shoes on.

Above: Setting up transition area at a triathlon race.

Bike helmet & sunglasses - I place my bike helmet upside down on the top of my aerobars. I place my sunglasses inside the helmet. After I've put my bike shoes on, I put on my sunglasses and helmet, then leave T1 to start the bike portion of the race. I use a pair of sport specific sunglasses during the bike and run portions of my races. I like to use sunglasses with interchangeable lenses, that way if I wake up on race day morning and it looks like rain, I can switch from my usual dark smoke lenses to a lighter rose colored or even clear pair of lenses. I CAN NOT bike without wearing some sort of sunglasses to protect my eyes from wind and dirt.

Race number belt - My husband likes to swim without a shirt, then puts on a cycling jersey while in T1 before heading out on the bike. He also wears the cycle jersey during the run so he pins his race number to the front of his jersey. I wear a triathlon top and triathlon shorts for the duration of my races. I've never tried swimming with a race number pinned to the front of my tri top, that seems like it would be a bit awkward.

I use a race belt to attach my race number to. I place the race belt on before I leave T2 to start the run. You could place the race belt on while in T1, but it is not required during the bike portion of the race. You already have your race number attached to your bike frame and bike helmet so you can wait until T2 to put on the race belt. For longer events I use a race belt which has a small pocket. I can place a gel pack or two in the pocket, along with a tube of chap stick, and even a travel pack of Kleenix. I can't tell you how many race venues I've been to that run out of toilet paper - YUCK!

Above: Bike Diva during the run portion of the 2010 Miami Man half Ironman duathlon, using a running hat, race number belt and sunglasses.

Run hat or visor - bring it with you even if you don't think you want to use it. I live in south Florida, a run hat is almost mandatory. I have a light weight running hat on my transition mat and place it on my head, after removing my bike helmet, while in T2, before starting the run portion of the race.

You can also place cold, wet sponges or pieces of ice underneath your run hat on really hot and sunny days. I also like to have a hat with me to wear after any event involving swimming or biking, to hide my nasty salt water hair and/or bike helmet head.

Above: Essential tire changing gear.

Tire changing kit - there's nothing worse than getting a flat tire during a race. There is also nothing worse than hearing the sound of exploding inner tubes while setting up in the transition area on race day. I always carry the following tire changing items with me while training and/or racing:

• inner tube - specific to the size and type of tire you are riding on
• set of tire changing levers
• CO2 cartridges - I usually have 2 with me
• CO2 cartidge adapter - to use the CO2 cartridge to inflate the new inner tube

Change of clothes - most events offer some type of food for the athletes after crossing the finish line. The Club Med series of triathlons, lets each participant indulge in their buffet breakfast at the resorts restaurant. It's always nice to have a set of clean, dry clothes to change into after your races, especially if you have a long drive home or are sticking around for the award ceremonies.

I bring along an empty Walmart or grocery shopping bag with me to place all my wet, stinky race clothes in. There's nothing worse than having your stink clothes contaminate all the other gear in your race bag. When I get home, the bag goes straight to the laundry room. Then I go take my shower, eat some food and chillax before tackling the dirty laundry. I keep hoping the laundry fairy will show up while I'm showering, but so far I haven't had any luck.

Race bag - you need some sort of athletic bag or duffle bag to place all your gear in, to get in and out of the transition area as easy as possible. I have a back pack type sports bag, which I usually use. I can carry the bag on my back, while pushing my bike from the parking lot to the bike racks in the transition area. Some events have quite a hike from where you have to park to the beginning of the race.

A back pack style bag is much nicer than an over the shoulder bag, it helps distribute the weight more evenly instead of a single strap digging into your shoulder. Triathlon specific sports bags will have specialized pockets for your shoes, water bottles and even a spot to place your helmet, plus one or more larger pockets for all your other gear.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

What's New in Bike Diva Gift Shop

Visit the Bike Diva Gift Shop, on Cafe Press, for a full line of products emblazoned with the Bike Diva logo.

Here are links to some of the new items we've added over the past few days:

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Amateur Athletes Yearly Racing & Training Budget

Above: Just a small sampling of the shoes a runner will go through in a typical year.

Budget Your Athletic Expenses

Although I've been a cyclist for about 7 years, 2011 will be the beginning of my 4th race season. I started running about 3 years ago, when I decided I wanted to start competing in duathlons and a few half marathons.

Somewhere along the way I decided to look into possible sponsorship opportunities. I was born in 1963, so my racing age will be 48 years old for the 2011 race season. I wasn't expecting much, at my advanced age, and not being an Olympic hopeful, but I figured nothing ventured is nothing gained and sent out a few sponsorship proposals. Read my article How to Find Sponsorship Opportunities for details on how to write a sponsorship proposal and find sponsorship opportunities.

Now that I have a few years of racing under my belt, I am realizing I am quite young. I've raced against girls in their late 60's and men in their late 70's, and they are still kicking butt! You are never too old to start racing. I think the fact that I participate in so many races, over 20 this year, and am a freelance writer with two sports related blogs, probably helps my chances of getting sponsored.

Above: Examples of a few personal care products used by athletes.

Yearly Athletic Budget

For 2011 I am looking into possibly getting a few monetary sponsorships. Right now my sponsorships are either in the form of free gear or a Pro Deal Discount on products. But I have quite a few expenses and would like to be able to compete in the USAT Duathlon National Championships which take place in Tucson, Arizona in 2011 and 2012. So I decided to come up with an athlete budget which I could include in my sponsorship proposal, to show potential sponsors where their $$ contributions are needed.

Lynn Smythe Yearly Athlete Budget

1. Race entry fees
2. Gas and vehicle expenses
3. Meals
4. Personal trainer and/or coaching fees
5. Club memberships
6. Books and Magazine subscriptions
7. Nutrition and hydration
8. Personal care products
9. Shoes and clothing
10. Bike equipment and maintenance
11. Airfare
12. Bike shipping
13. Hotels

Above: Two aero hydration systems by Profile Designs.

Break Down of Athlete's Expenses

1. Race entry fees. I like to go over the previous years races, decide which ones I want to race in next year, drop the races I didn't enjoy, and add a list of new races I'd like to participate in for the upcoming race season. Local 5k events aren't too bad; around $25-$40 per race, but some of my bigger events, like the Miami Man half Ironman duathlon cost $280 or more to enter. My 2010 race entry fees came out to around $1,000.

2. Gas or vehicle expense. Might just be easier to figure out your total miles driving to and from your events and then figure on a per mile rate for gas and vehicle maintenance. In 2010 the IRS is allowing you to deduct 50 cents per mile as a business vehicle expenses. I'm not saying you can deduct 50 cents per mile on your tax return for all the driving to/from your events; I'm just trying to figure out a way to guesstimate your athletic related vehicle expenses for the year. 

3. Meals. Some of my events are an hour or more drive to and from my house. I try to bring all my necessary fluids and food with me, but sometimes you just have to pull into the nearest convenience store for a cold drink or stop at a restaurant on your way home to enjoy some real food. Gel packs, shot blocks and electrolyte drinks get old after awhile. And if you are getting a hotel room a day or two before events that are further away, you will definitely want to figure out your cost of meals, drinks and snacks while away from home.

4. Personal trainer and/or coaches fees. I started with a cycling coach at the beginning of the year. He was a great coach, but as my main focus is on duathlon racing (run-bike-run) a cycling coach really wasn't what I was looking for. The coaching was also done online and through phone calls, I am more of a one-on-one type of person. I started going to a personal trainer a few months ago, to work on my upper body and core strength and I absolutely love it. I was working out at home a few times a week, but having the weights and equipment right next to my laundry room just didn't work out that well. I always felt guilty about working out when there was a huge mountain of stinky clothes staring at me.

I started out going to the personal trainer twice a week for 1/2 hour at a time, but I have recently gone to 3x per week. Personal trainers are NOT cheap. Mine charges $80 per hour for individual sessions or $70 per hour if you sign up for 3 hours at a time. So it costs me $210 every two weeks for 6 half hour sessions. So assuming I don't take any time off for vacations, my yearly personal training budget comes to $5,460 - YIKES! My cycling coach only charged $50 per month plus a yearly $100 setup fee; but the triathlon multisport coaches I've been researching charge anywhere from $200 to $400 per month, so I guess my personal trainer fees aren't that far out of line.

5. Club Memberships. Do you belong to any cycling, running or triathlon clubs? My husband and I belong to a couple of local bike clubs which charge a yearly membership fee to each of their members. One of the bike clubs is through a local bike shop. You get a 20% store wide discount, excluding bikes, for being a member of the club. Definitely worth the $30 yearly family membership fee.

Above: Fluid makes a great protein/carb recovery drink to have after your intense training sessions and races.

6. Books and Magazine Subscriptions. I go to the bookstore every few weeks to see which issues of my favorite magazines have come out. It can get a bit pricey to buy individual copies of magazines, so you might want to look into getting a yearly subscription to your favorites. I subscribe to Triathlon Magazine, but still buy individual copies of certain issues of Inside Triathlon, Trail Runner and Runner's World. I might eventually get subscriptions to those magazines in the future.

Have you purchased any sports related books to help with your training and racing? Keep records of your yearly purchases and figure that into your athletic budget. I am a book NUT, I try to find discounted copies of books through Amazon.com and occasionally get free review copies of sports books to review for my Bike Diva and Run Diva blogs.

I am relatively new to racing, so right now I'm in the sponge stage. I can't get enough of cycling, running and triathlon magazines and books. Here is a list of books I purchased in 2010:

• The Triathlete's Training Bible
• Zinn & the Art of Triathlon Bikes
• The Athlete's Plate
• Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes
• Racing Weight
• Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running
• Marathon; The Ultimate Training Guide
• Training and Racing with a Power Meter
• The Slow Fat Triathlete
• Shape Up with the Slow Fat Triathlete
• The Triathlete's Guide to Bike Training
• The Triathlete's Guide to Run Training

7. Nutrition and hydration. For all your sports related food and drinks. Electrolyte powders, salt tablets, recovery drinks, protein bars, gel packs, shot blocks, etc... I go through a ton of this stuff every year. I have a few sponsors that have given me a Pro Deal Discount on various nutrition products so I have a closet full of nutrition and hydration products on hand at all times. In lieu of sponsorship, try buying in bulk, i.e. full cases and canisters of products instead of individual packages.

8. Personal care products. Do I have to spell it out for you? Here is a list of some of the personal care products I use on a regular basis:

• Chamois butter - to prevent chaffing and saddle sores while on the bike
• Body Glide - to prevent chaffing while running.
• Sun screen - I live in south east Florida and go through a TON of sunscreen each year.
• Lip gloss - I try to use one with a SPF of 15 or higher.
• Bio Freeze - or similar product. To rub on sore muscles during and after long training sessions and century bike rides.
• Adult wipes - Action wipes or similar product. To do a quick wipe down of muck and grime after riding. Especially nice if you are out on the mountain bike trails, miles away from indoor plumbing. 
• Travel size Kleenix. I can't tell you how many races I've been to and there is no toilet paper in the porta-potties. I've even been to events with indoor plumbing, and again no tp when you need it. Maybe guys can get away with the shake it off and put your junk back in your shorts method, but most girls need a bit of paper to get the job done. TMI?

9. Shoes and clothing. Figure out you yearly expenses for cycling shoes, running shoes, running hats, socks, jogging bras, shorts, tops, racing uniforms, etc... I go through a ton of running shoes per year, but my road bike shoes and triathlon bike shoes should last a couple of years. Clothing and equipment eventually wears out and will need to be replaced. I also figure out expenses for things like compression sleeves and quick laces into this category. And do you need to put your sponsorship logos on your race uniforms? Then you will need to research companies that will make customized clothing for you at a decent price.

Above: Most runners, cyclists and triathletes will want to invest in a good run and/or bike computer with heart rate monitor.

10. Bike equipment and maintenance. Unless you are a pro cyclist or triathlete, you shouldn't need to get a new bike every year. But your bike will need at least a yearly tune up, unless you know how to do that yourself, and certain items on your bike will need replacing and/or upgrading on a regular basis. I own three bikes, a Felt Breed single speed cyclocross bike, a Trek Madone 6.5 carbon fiber road bike and a Cervelo P2C triathlon bike. Right now I do all my racing on the tri bike, so I only figure in expenses for that bike into my yearly racing budget. Here's a few items to consider adding to your yearly bike budget:

• Tune ups - yearly or more often if you do a lot of racing
• Tubes and CO2 cartridges - unless you are blessed with never getting a flat tire, you will need a few inner tubes during the year. I ride clincher tires on my tri bike, if you ride tubular tires, you can eliminate this expense.
• Tires - tires don't last forever, I usually replace mine at least once per year. And you might want a couple of sets of tires depending on the various training and racing conditions you will encounter throughout the year. I race with red Michelin Pro 3 Race tires on my tri bike, they retail for around $55 to $65 each; that's over $100 per set of tires. But these tires last FOREVER!
• Misc. bike components - water bottles, water bottle holders, bike bags, lights, etc... You should be able to get a few years out of these items, but they will eventually need replacing. And my dishwasher occasionally melts my water bottles, or the bottles get launched into never-never-land when you hit a big bump.
• Helmets - I wear a road bike helmet for training and one of those funky aero helmets while racing. I crashed on my road bike a few months ago, no big deal, but after a close examination of my helmet I noticed three hairline cracks. That helmet got trashed and I had to get a new helmet. Good road bike helmets can cost upwards of $100, my current helmet retails for around $185, and my aero helmet was around $300. Luckily I have a Pro Deal discount from Rudy Project for cycling helmets and sunglasses.
• Sunglasses. I guess this could be put in the clothing and shoe category but good cycling and running glasses can cost a bit of $$$$. I put sunglasses in the bike expense category, all my sunglasses are cycling specific but can also be used for running. Most of my sunglasses have interchangeable lenses so I can change out the lens depending on weather/sunlight conditions.
• Bike upgrades. New set of wheels, aerobars, etc... I've got some really nice bikes, but I'm always drooling over the latest and greatest equipment upgrades I see in magazines.
• Electronic gadgets. Cycling computer, run computer, multisport computer. I was using a Garmin Edge 305 cycle computer while biking, and a Tech40 run computer while running and walking. I recently misplaced the cycle computer, and as I have a birthday coming up, I decide to indulge in my wish to own a Garmin Forerunner 310XT multisport computer with heart rate monitor. It is pretty cool. It is water proof and can be used for run, bike or swim workouts. It even has a multisport setting, which will be perfect for recording all my data during my duathlon races. This piece of equipment, while pricey, should last you many years. The Garmin Forerunner 310XT retails for around $400, shop around online to find the best price.

11. Airfare. Are you doing any out of state or out of country events? Then you will want to figure in airline expenses into your yearly budget.

12. Bike shipping. Again, you only need to figure this expense in if you are flying to out of state or out of country events. Check the ads in the back of triathlon magazines or do a search online for bike shipping companies. Might be cheaper and more secure than having the airlines ship your bike.

13. Hotels. For far away events. Out of state, out of country, or even in state events that are more than a few hours drive from your home.

Above: The Bike Diva's road bike prior to upgrading the wheels. I crashed on this bike at the beginning of the year and tacoed the back wheel. I'm now riding this bike with a pair of Easton EA90 SLX road bike wheels - NICE!

Contact the Bike Diva

Leave me a comment at the end of this blog post. I would love to hear about your yearly athletic budget. Are there any major categories that I've forgotten that you think should be added into a typical athletes budget? Maybe conferences and clinics? I guess if you are traveling to Interbike or attending a special training session by a famous athlete/coach you will want to add that into your budget.

After writing this blog post, I realize I have caviar dreams and champagne wishes on a happy meal budget. Do most amateur athletes have similar expenses or am I pro racer wanna be!?! Luckily my freelance writing income covers most of my training and racing expenses, but I was really hoping to start saving up that $$ to use a a down payment on a house in North Carolina. Bummer.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Bike Diva Reviews Pearl Izumi Women's Cycling Bibs

Above: front view of Pearl Izumi's women's drop tail cycling bib

Perks of the Trade

One of the perks of being a writer, is from time-to-time, I am contacted by companies wanting to know if I'd like to receive samples of their products to test and review for one or more of my websites. I get a lot of socks, clothing, running shoes, nutritional products, heart rate monitors, etc... sent to me. I have yet to have a cycling manufacturer contact me wanting to know if they can send me a sample bike to test - bummer.

Free Sample

Pearl Izumi contacted me a couple of weeks ago to ask if I would like to test a pair of their new women's cycling bib shorts. Is my nickname the Bike Diva? Heck yeah, I would like to test a pair of women specific cycling bibs.

My husband has been wearing various brands of men's cycling bibs for years. He swears by cycling bibs as opposed to regular bike shorts, whenever he's out riding. The problem I've always found with bib style shorts, is that you practically have to get naked when you have to go to the bathroom.

Above: back view of Pearl Izumi's women's drop tail cycling bibs

Pearl Izumi Women's Drop Tail Cycling Bib

• Available in black only
• Retail price: $130
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Anatomic 3D chamois technology. According to Pearl Izumi, this chamois offers PRT (pressure relief technology): "Our system of patented multi-density and multi-tiered padding optimizes riding comfort, blood flow and athlete performance while dampening vibration."

Above: women's specific chamois pad in the Pearl Izumi drop tail cycling bibs

Pros

• Nice 8 inch long inseam
• Comfortable tummy - the waist band of regular cycling shorts can sometimes dig into my less than skinny waistline.
• The drop tail feature allows you to go pee without having to first take off your cycling jersey, then lowering the bib shorts shoulder straps like you have to do with regular bib shorts. Simply slip the back portion of the shorts past your booty, kind of like you are getting ready to moon someone, and go pee. NICE!
• Ample padding for longer club rides and events - these shorts have quite a bit of chamois padding, they would be perfect for keeping you butt happy on long metric century and century bike rides. I'll be doing El Tour de Tucson on November 20. That's a 109 mile road bike ride which takes place in Tucson, Arizona. I plan on using the drop tail cycling bibs at El Tour de Tucson.

Cons

• Price - they retail for $130 per pair. While I always say you should invest in one or two pairs of high quality cycling shorts, instead of lots of pairs of cheap shorts, this is a pretty hefty price tag.
• Shoulder straps - I already have the straps from my sports bra digging into my shoulders, not sure if I like having a second set of shoulder straps from the bib shorts.
• Too much padding for everyday riding. I don't like doing regular workouts or sprint races in shorts with too much padding. I often go for a short run after many of my training bike rides, these shorts have a little too much padding for me to want to use them on a daily basis.

Bike Diva's Conclusion

Here is my final verdict on the Pearl Izumi women's cycling bibs. I recommend these shorts, if your budget can afford it, and you are looking for a high quality pair of women's specific bib shorts to use on your longer club rides, and/or charity bike rides. Just try not to moon your friends in public when using the drop tail feature, I won't be there to bail you out of jail.

Additional Information

• Pearl Izumi website: www.pearlizumi.com
• Pearl Izumi Twitter page: twitter.com/PearlizumiKody
• Pearl Izumi Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Pearl-Izumi

Future Product Reviews

Lynn Smythe, AKA the Bike Diva, is always looking for products to review for the various websites and blogs she writes for. Please go to the Product Review page if you are interested in having your product reviewed on Bike Diva.

Blog Diva Network

Bike Diva is part of the Blog Diva Network which includes the following blogs:

• Backyard Diva
• Bike Diva 
• Conspiracy Diva
• Craft Diva
• Cuisine Diva
• Horror Diva
• Run Diva
• Tea Diva
• Writing Diva

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Win a Terry Women's Cycling Wardrobe

Win a $500 Cycling Wardrobe from Terry Burlington, VT - May 18, 2010 Dear Lynn , Terry Bicycles is launching a $500 Cycling Wardrobe Giveaway to one lucky cyclist. Registrants can sign up online, and no purchase is necessary. A winner will be randomly selected on June 21, 2010. Terry, "The Original Women's Bicycle Company," was founded by Georgena Terry in 1985. The company offers women's cycling apparel including shorts, knickers, tights, jerseys, base-layers, sports bras, outerwear, cycling gloves, socks and helmets. Terry also designs a line of comfort saddles for men and women. A pioneer of women-specific bicycle design, the company features several women's road and hybrid bikes. Georgena Terry has been honored by Bicycling and Outside magazines as an innovator in women's cycling. In April 2009, the Company was purchased by new CEO, Elisabeth Robert, former CEO of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. The company headquarters were moved to Burlington, Vermont, in December.

 

Fashion Bicycle Seats

PRESS RELEASE

Bike Fashion Trend- Dressing Your Bike for Rainy Days

GOUDA, The Netherlands, May 11, 2010/PRNewswire/ --

- Dutch Lifestyle Brand BikeCap Conquers Europe and US

Only three years ago, the Dutch company BikeCap introduced caps that guarantee a dry bike saddle and 'make you smile'. That is the central idea behind the brand, owned by designer Carla van Niekerk. She designed the caps in dedicated themes and colours, inspired by the latest trends in fashion. The caps vary from red and white polka dots to multi-coloured flowers. Thousands of bicycles in the Netherlands are 'wearing' the bike fashion item with the well-known orange label.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100511/389934 )

The company is expanding rapidly and the brand is getting more and more popular in Europe and the United States. Dressing your bike is a new trend that brings urban mobility lifestyle closer to the world of fashion and makes it much more fun.

The success of the BikeCap collection is partly based on the fact that one can 'dress' a bike in a personal style. However, in the first place it's a practical item; it protects a saddle or a bike box from rain. The many themes and colours make the product popular amongst a wide public, and the bike caps are now available in a special version for children.

Urban mobility meets bike fashion

After the introduction on the Dutch market, BikeCap is now expanding to the European and US market. Consumers like the bike caps because they make you and your bike stand out from the crowd, and because they are practical, stylish and cheerful. Using a bike for day to day transport is getting more popular. This trend is visible in agglomerations and big cities all over the world. Cycling guarantees flexibility, freedom, and it keeps your body and mind balanced.

Amsterdam Style

Soon after the bike cap, the box cap was introduced. The numerous trendy bikes with a bike box as seen in Amsterdam, and among other Dutch cities, were dressed with a box cap in no time. The latest item is the pillow, which can be attached to the back of the bike so children can sit comfortably. In the Netherlands, the Pillow is a big hit amongst young urban families.

For more information please visit our website http://www.bikecap.nl and choose the English or German section.

http://www.bikecap.nl

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100511/389934

Source: BikeCap BV

Editorial note: BikeCap BV, Ania Piechota, [email protected], Telefoon: +31(0)182-515-457