When I first saw these shoes I was certain they were going to be pretty uncomfortable. They seemed stiff and rigid. Then I slipped my feet into them and started to go about my day. They were so comfy! They didn’t need any break in time, a definite plus in the shoe department.
These shoes are also true to size, I am a solid 8 1/2 and they fit like a glove. The shoe is made up of leather and canvas. The inner side of the shoe (the side facing your bicycle) is made from leather. This gives a nice supple feel that protects your foot. The outer side is made of canvas and is so breathable, which means, no sweaty feet.
The sole of the shoe is sturdy but is flexible enough to be able to have a good grip on the pedal. And gives your foot great support with just the right amount of cush. The toe is covered in rubber that gives your tootsies all the protection you need. As I found out when I stubbed my toe on the sidewalk last week.
The shoe is so cute and has a fun spring and summer look to it. I love just wearing them around even when not on a bike. My only suggestion is that they make more colors available – I would buy a few more pair.
By Elizabeth O. Hurst
Outlier listens to women. Since the New York-based clothing designer started making fashionable, livable trousers for men who bike in the city, Outlier has been inundated with requests from women wanting a female-specific version of their pant. Outlier’s response? The Daily Women Riding Pant. Founders and designers Tyler and Abe (interviewed by Cycle and Style last year) created a pant that makes you wish it took longer to arrive at your destination, but excited about how you’ll look and feel when you get there.
The Perfect Fit
Hands down, the Daily Riding Pant fits me better than most in my closet. I’m six feet tall and a size six by most designer’s measurements except in inseam and hip width. Outlier makes the Daily Riding Pant in a true size six (comes in 0-10) that completely covers my ankles and fastens around my hips without even trying hard. The pant’s Schoeller Dryskin Extreme + Nanosphere fabric (80 percent nylon, 10 percent polyester, 10 percent elastane) makes the legs fit snugly without giving everything away like spandex pants might. The fabric also keeps me comfortably warm in Utah’s sub-45 degree weather. Read more…
There is so much more to Sarah’s story than I could possibly cover here so I recommend her book highly for those who really want the true detailed back story of her life. She gives you her story with its highs and lows, and an unsparing look at the adversity she went through. She had the family support to push her into athletics rather than keep her on the sidelines, and they were there to support her rigorous athletic schedule with lots of travel. But her family life was not an easy one and the upheaval at home compounded the other stresses she went through in her teen years. She had set-backs, dealt with insecurities about her body and made some youthful mistakes. In spite of that, she was an achiever.
I teasingly told Sarah that I thought she had a lot in common with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She’s a petite, very feminine blonde who might look misleadingly vulnerable. But Sarah is surprisingly strong, physically fit, mentally tough and has that undying willpower to do whatever it takes. Like Buffy Summers, she also has had a good team of people around her to give her the support she needed to accomplish her goals. She is the girl that no one might have expected to become so extraordinary.
If you’ve done so much as a 5K or sprint triathlon yourself, you’ll be fascinated with her descriptions of her training and her particular take on athletic endeavors coming at it with a disability. If you need inspiration to do your very first triathlon, century ride or road race, Sarah will be your muse. For those who have had a life-changing experience that has resulted in some type of disability, I think you’ll find some encouragement with Sarah’s book.
As I walked the floor of the 2010 Winter Outdoor Retailers show last month, I was thrilled about a few items that are coming this fall. The following are a few of the products that we can expect to see in the coming year. I will focus on one company at a time for the next several days. This is part 4
Timex® Ironman® Global Trainer™ Bodylink® System
The creme de la creme of HRM!
This all-in-one wrist device is designed for elite performance, The Global Trainer is technologically advanced for modern athletes.Timex knows that today’s athlete is not married to one sport. You can train for just about any sport including cycling, as this will keep track of your cadence and comes with a mount for bike.
Read more…
A few years ago, when I was in my mostly-running-era, I was introduced to a guy who was an avid cyclist. He knew I was training for the Boston Marathon and we discussed my summer triathlons as well. He asked if I used a heart rate monitor. I told him I just used a wristband GPS. He remarked, “I don’t know what it is with you runners, you are really missing out on a basic training tool by not using a heart rate monitor.”
Read more…
As I walked the floor of the 2010 Winter Outdoor Retailers show last month, I was thrilled about a few items that are coming this fall. The following are a few of the products that we can expect to see in the coming year. I will focus on one company at a time for the next several days. This is part 3.
Agion
Try Everything, Stink at Nothing.
Silver, a girl’s new best friend? Agion is using silver to block the growth of bacteria. No bacteria, no stench! It is amazing. This stuff is already used in a lot of products like: cell phones, keyboards, footwear, ice machines and many more. Now that they perfected putting it into white fabric, it can be put into your clothing.
Read more…
As I walked the floor of the 2010 Winter Outdoor Retailers show last month, I was thrilled about a few items that are coming this fall. The following are a few of the products that we can expect to see in the coming year. This is just a sneak peak mind you, but as I get a chance to try these items personally, I will post more in-depth reviews. I will focus on one company at a time for the next several days. This is part 2.
Thorlos (your feet will feel better)
Experience Experia! These aren’t just for skiing anymore. I love a company that will listen to their customers. Thorlos is one of those companies. In this case it took a little bit of faith to deviate from the path they had been on. Thorlos had found great success, but they heard their customers. The word from the consumers? “These socks are too thick.”
So, after research and a redesign they have a whole new product for runners and cyclists. Get ready to experience Experia.
I have not yet worn these socks but I have held them and they are very light weight and thin. The much loved and effective Thorlos padding is there, but only where necessary: at the ball of the foot and the heel. These socks actually have Achilles tendon support! There are a couple of different styles you can choose from including a Merino wool/silk thread, and the Cool Max which is a nylon-coverd Lycra thread.
The Promise
These socks wick very well. Plus, say ‘goodbye’ to blisters and chaffing and ‘hello’ to excellent foot protection. Thorlos saw that running & cycling shoes had evolved and so their socks also evolved to meet the needs of their customers. Way to go Thorlos!
My Preliminary Opinion
I do understand that some may not get too excited about socks, but I personally can’t wait to get my hands on (or better yet, my feet into) these socks! The colors are also great so you can of course, look great, while feeling great! And don’t forget that you really do need to treat those dogs right today, so that they will treat you right tomorrow!
As I walked the floor of the 2010 Winter Outdoor Retailers show last month, I was thrilled about a few items that are coming this fall. The following are a few of the products that we can expect to see in the coming year.This is just a sneak peak mind you, but as I get a chance to try these items personally, I will post more in-depth reviews. I will focus on one Company at a time for the next several days.
Columbia Sportswear Company
Columbia really knows how to treat a woman right! They heard all of us “It- Girls” saying, “Give me something that will keep me warm and make me look good, something I can work in, play in, live in!” They were right on with the Omni-Heat and In2Out collections. And if these lines turn out to be as good as they promise to be, boy did they nail it!
Read more…
“I go for elegance and simplicity in design.”
–Mark Dwight, Founder and CEO of Rickshaw Bagworks
Click on the PLAY button to hear the podcast interview with Mark Dwight. He explains how and why he started his company Rickshaw Bagworks including history of the messenger bag and sustainable business practices in bag manufactering.
Be at the height of cycle chic with this fab Mini-ZERO messenger bag. As the smallest of the ZERO collection this feels more like a purse than a messenger bag. You will love it! It's PERFECT for the bike. The ZERO also comes in small, meduim and large. Depending on the size you choose, the prices are between $40 and $85 -and it's worth every penny!
Listen to our Podcast: Interview with Mark Dwight.
Rickshaw is a new bag company in the city of San Francisco, where people ardently love their bikes and they seriously love their messenger bags. Mark Dwight, the bike-commuting owner and CEO of Rickshaw Bagworks understands those passions because he feels the same way:
“I really love making bags. I love bags as a product, love the way people love their bags”
And as much as he enjoys his work at Rickshaw Bagworks, he loves the way this company allows him to engage in other work he feels strongly about:
“I also love the way running a company like this became a platform for engaging in the community. I am on the board Chamber of Commerce; I support a couple of local philanthropic endeavors like the San Francisco Bike Coalition, and a homeless youth program in the Mission district (At the Crossroads: Street Youth Support). It became a platform for me to be involved in things beyond work.”
The balance of loving what you do and being able to go beyond what’s expected and do more is part of the mantra for Rickshaw.
Read more…
Buying your first new bicycle doesn’t have to be expensive. Specialized has a great little “hardtail” mountain bike priced at an entry-level price named “Myka.” The 2010 Myka has 21-gears, and a lightweight aluminum frame (and a lifetime warranty on the frame). If you are a road cyclist, put those skinny tires away for the winter and take this bike out. Its wider, knobby tires are much better suited for the winter roads. Come spring time, you can enjoy the dirt roads and mountain trails and may find yourself really loving cycling off road! The Myka is expressly designed for women with women’s specific geometry, a lower stand-over heighth, optimal seat and headtube angles and a women’s XC saddle for better pedaling efficiency and fit. It also features splashes of pink in the paint design. It is priced at $389. This would be a great Christmas present.
Note to Want-t0-be-Winter Commuters: This can be your winter commuting bike with the addition of fenders on both tires to keep the slush and snow off of you, front and rear lights for better visibility and if desired, a rear rack to keep some of your stuff on. You may also want to lower the tire pressure to give you better traction on slippery roads.
This very bicycle is available at Bingham Cyclery. The Myka HT is also available at your local bicycle shop that features the Specialized lineup of bikes.
