Posted on

10 of the Best Gifts for Cyclists on Your Holiday List for Under $25

Finding that perfect gift is always a challenge. Especially for those who seem to have everything. While I could recommend several beautiful new bikes that your loved one would enjoy that might exceed the gift-giving budget. That said, here are some of my favorite cycling and active minded items that will nicely round out anyone’s holiday for under $25. These are in no particular order. Bold fonts contain active product links.

 

  • Splats Sunscreen – perfect for those long sunny day rides. These packets fit nicely in any saddlebag. It is SFP29, goes on smoothly without giving you all a sticky mess. I’ve found that one packet is more than enough for one coating. If you have a plastic sandwich bag, you can save for two applications, or better yet, share with your riding partner ($19.99 box of 10).

  • Chamois Butt’r® Eurostyle Anti-Chafe chamois cream. This menthol and witch hazel cream is soothing and cooling. It is my go-to product for long days in the saddle. It is available in tubes, jars, and individual packets (much like Splats Sunscreen, one packet is more than enough for one application). I took these on my Haute Route Alpe d’Huez trip and they worked like a charm.

Chamois Butt’r also offer a specific female Her’ Anti-Chafe formula for sensitive skin with ingredients that include aloe vera, tea oil, lavender oil, and shea butter.

  • Road iD offers several identification products starting around $15. There is no need for explanation here – having a wrist or shoe ID can come in handy in an emergency. There is plenty of room on the ID to provide emergency contact information and medical information. This is a great gift that will give you peace of mind when your loved one rides.

  • Smartwool® Socks – Marino wool is one of the best things going. Base layers and knee and arm warmers cannot be beat. They wick away moisture and won’t weigh you down like cotton or some synthetics. These cycling socks are a great deal and can be found everywhere. Consider them for hiking and skiing as well! Men’s $20.95 and Women’s $16.95

  • UnTapped™ Sample Pack – Made in Vermont, UnTapped provides quality nutrition products using pure Vermont maple syrup. Not only does the stuff taste great, it works! Maple provides natural sugar and is low glycemic, so you avoid that big sugar spike and crash. An organic product that has been used by some of the best in the business, including the company’s owner Ted King. I’m a believer in the Lemon Tea Mapleaid product but love the Coffee UnTapped Gel and Maple Waffle as well. A variety pack for $25 is a steal.

  • Month subscription to TrainerRoad or Zwift – with the winter months kicking in, how about a monthly subscription to a training platform? TrainerRoad $19.95 a month or Zwift $14.99 a month virtual training could be a nice gift for that grumpy cyclist sitting around waiting for spring. Give them a gift that will get them a bit of a jump start on next season!

  • Buff® – Great for cold days and dusty gravel rides, Buff® Dryflx Multifunctional Headwear comes in handy. When you want to take it off, it easily fits in a jersey pocket. $25 at Buffusa.com

  • Dumonde Tech Lite Bicycle Chain Lube – This quality lube last longer than others I have tried. As a gravel rider and someone who can’t stand a noisy drivetrain, this product works exceptionally well. A little more expensive than other brands but well worth it. You can pick up a 4oz bottle on Amazon for $16.92.

  • Pactimo Release Changing Kilt– lose the towel when changing outside your rig. This kilt has silicone grippers that keep everything where it is supposed to be. No more flashing the parking lot, you can now change in and out of your kit outside the venue and maintain a bit of privacy. Pactimo is having a Black Friday Deal currently selling this for $12.00.

This is a short list of some of my favorites. If you have any other suggestions, please leave a comment.

Posted on

Carrabassett Valley Mountain Bike Trails: Something for Everyone

New to mountain biking and don’t know where to start? Might I suggest a quick trip to Sugarloaf and the Carrabassett Valley Trail System? It’s worth the trip, regardless of your skill level.

I’ve heard so much about the Carrabassett Valley Mountain Bike Trail System that a few weeks ago Briana and I decided to take a road trip to check things out. After a good breakfast, we headed to Kingfield, Maine. It was a beautiful fall day with peak foliage, and we enjoyed the ride. Briana was excited to put her new Salsa Timberjack to the test.

If you are not aware, I’m a roadie, and we are both relatively new to mountain biking, so we were looking for something we could handle and not get in too far over our heads. I scoped out the Trail Map and noticed some intersecting beginner and intermediate trails. It looked like a good place to start. You can download the trail map here but it is also available at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center.

Tip: Trailforks App – download the smartphone app, Trailforks. The app has live GPS routing and shows your current location as well as tracks where you have been. It’s very helpful to stay clear of the super sketchy trails and assists if you get turned around in the woods.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3k12W0gUz5/
Carrabassett Valley Trails 2019

We parked at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center.  Allspeed has a bike shop right there if you need anything before you roll out. We arrived at noon and quickly geared up and hit the trails. The Outdoor Center parking lot is right at the trailhead. We crossed the parking lot and dropped into Snail Trail (signage will say 101) and ripped down a nice flowing trail connecting with Rt 27 Connector (102).

We followed Rt 27 Connector until we came upon The Narrow Gauge Trial. Narrow Gauge opens to some nice gravel double track and rail trail. You could ride for miles on the Narrow Gauge if you wished. We chose to duck into a series flowy single track including Grassy Loops (201) and Golden Road (202). Nothing technical here but great practice and fun, especially for Briana on her new bike.

We spent some time riding around that area and started back to the Outdoor Center when we saw Meade Trail (205). Earlier I had a brief conversation with a rider in the parking lot and he told us not to miss Meade Trail and he was right. Meade is a fun flowy singletrack trail that follows the Carrabassett River, a beautiful Maine scenic trail. Do yourself a favor and take a rip or two on this one. The trail dumps you back out on Narrow Gauge.

When you get a chance take a trip. It is worth the drive, Carrabassett Region NEMBA does a tremendous job on maintenance and trail markings. Kudos folks. We were excited about how the day went, we tackled the easy trails and are now looking forward to going back and trying our hand at some of the harder ones. There is plenty of trails for all skill levels, so unplug and ride.

Posted on

Eliel Endurance Cargo Bib Short Review

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1dqhJ7AhWN/

In July I took part in the Haute Route Alpe d’Huez stage race. In preparation for the event I had some long days in the saddle on back to back days. I wanted a quality bib short that would provide comfort for the six hour plus riding days and also look good. This is where Eliel came into the picture.

While searching for gear online I stumbled on Eliel Cycling. They offered some real clean looking jerseys and a number of nice bib shorts. The Endurance Cargo Bib caught my eye and the reviews were very good so I ordered up a set. Little did I know how much I was going to enjoy these shorts. Now, I know clothing is subjective, but here are a few reasons why I suggest you give these a try.

  • First, it’s all about the chamois and these shorts haves the most comfortable chamois that I have every tried. It’s not like wearing a diaper. They don’t sag in the back when you’re off the bike and they stay where they are supposed to. They stayed dry even after the long hot days in the Alps, a welcome surprise.
  • The garment is seamless. You will not get ridge lines or seams that rub or irritate your skin. The fabric stays snug on the lower leg without that extreme rubber gripper some shorts have. They are laser-cut and fit true to form.
  • Something you don’t often think about is the straps. The straps on the Endurance Cargo Bib are one continuous piece of fabric, no seams. It’s silky but rugged. They don’t twist or bind-up and they help keep everything in place. Eliel really killed it on that one.
  • Finally, the reason I pulled the trigger on these bad boys was the novelty of the Cargo. The side pockets and zipper back pocket seemed like a great idea for long days. Especially on busy roads. It eliminates the need to reach to your back pocket. I put gels in the right pocket and bars on the left. It has been a game changer. The pockets are large enough to fit my iPhone 7 plus. Most importantly the shorts stay right where they are supposed to, even when loaded up.

Eliel clothing is manufactured in California and was started by racing cyclists. The research and development department actively release innovative products and sleek designs of the highest quality. The Endurance Cargo Bib Short is an excellent example. I highly recommend these bibs but they don’t come cheap. They are $260 at Elielcycling.com but well worth the investment.

Disclaimer: This review is based on clothing I purchased from Eliel in 2019. I am very happy with their products. I applied and have been selected to their 2020 Factory Team.