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Featured Nutrition Reviews

BLOCKHEAD

BLOCKHEAD

BLOCKHEADThere are times on the longer training sessions or endurance races when a caffeine shot seems like just the thing. But with cans of energy drinks, let alone a nice tall latte or espresso shot, rarely convenient/possible BLOCKHEAD could be a solution.

 

BLOCKHEAD is a new compressed energy gum, the creation of British sport scientist, Danny Lowe, who applied his knowledge of absorption methods to create a product that reportedly works five-times faster than caffeinated energy drinks. Each pack contains ten pieces, with each delivering 32mg of caffeine which, because its absorbed orally via the buccal mucosa membranes in the mouth rather than in the digestive tract and stomach, gets to work within around five to ten minutes of chewing (compared to 25-45minutes with most caffeinated drinks.)

 

The BLOCKHEAD taste starts not unlike a ‘traditional’ chewing gum flavour (sort of generic fruit) but quickly deteriorates into bitterness, not entirely pleasant and, in fact, not worse than some energy shot drinks. On test rides there was a noticeable caffeine buzz within 15minutes and under slightly stricter test control raised the resting heart rate by 20% within 10minutes and a fairly sustained 25% within 15minutes.

 

Caffeine is certainly proven to increase alertness but technically only improves endurance performance in high doses – around 3-6mg per kg of body weight – and as the maximum recommended daily consumption of BLOCKHEAD is three pieces (96mg) there’s probably only marginal gains to be had here. That said, the recommended daily allowance may be erring on the side of caution when you consider that a 250ml can of Red Bull – to take the market leader as a fairly representative example – contains 80mg of caffeine, which the Food Standards Agency suggests is: ‘the same as three cans of cola or a mug of instant coffee.’

 

Arguably there are other benefits to caffeine – and by association BLOCKHEAD – some (relatively small-scale) studies suggest that caffeine at doses around those found in a single espresso (70-80mg) have a positive effect on both lactic acid build-up and VO2 levels – basically the rate at which the body can absorb oxygen.

 

BLOCKHEAD, which is sugar-free, also packs in vitamins B3 (as niacin), B6 and B12 (all at 15% RDA per piece), along with taurine, an amino acid that, amongst other things, helps regulate the level of water and mineral salts in the blood.

 

Some confusion creeps in with BLOCKHEAD with the mint flavour – which does a better initial job of disguising the bitter taste – as each piece contains an increased 50mg of caffeine and the recommended daily consumption is listed as four pieces. At 200mg total that’s double the recommendation of the standard flavour…

 

Whatever the evidence – or exact levels required – the fact is that many rely on the occasional caffeine shot to get through training or racing (or simply the day) and BLOCKHEAD, with its fast absorption rate, offers an incredibly convenient way of doing it.

 

Single packs of BLOCKHEAD retail at £1.95, with cartons of 18 packs available at £28.08

 

Further details and online purchase of BLOCKHEAD at block-head.com

 

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Featured Recovery Reviews

Nuflex Cooling Gel

Nuflex Cooling Gel

Nuflex Cooling GelOver the year’s Cyclo have tried and tested no end of gels, creams and lotions for fixing those post-ride aches and pains and the latest to cross our desk (and legs and back) is the Nuflex Cooling Gel.

 

Intended for use immediately after (minor) injury the Nuflex Cooling Gel employs a combination of peppermint oils, which both stimulates the skin and acts as a natural, mild local aesthetic, and lemon oil good for stimulating blood flow (and therefore speeding recovery) and for general skin cleansing. The smell – part of the holistic experience of using such gels – is strong, but not overpowering and the sense of cooling, predominantly achieved through alcohol evaporation, is a gradual onset with quite disappointing results for longevity. There’s a general ‘tingle’ that lingers for quite some time after application but this certainly doesn’t go to the lengths that a traditional icepack might achieve; although in fairness the Nuflex Cooling Gel is a more portable, road-side solution than ice…

 

Repeat application – manufacturers rather vaguely suggest ‘several times a day’ – is certainly the way to go with a gel like this, but that does mean the 100ml tube won’t exactly last a race season. It feels more effective (certainly in terms of cooling) when gently applied rather than when more vigorous massage is used; a shame because a more robust application is more likely to help most minor muscle injuries.

 

The mild anti-inflammatory properties from the combined lemon and mint oils did help sooth a generally aching back post-ride and the fact that Nuflex Cooling Gel is non-greasy and rubs in completely is certainly a bonus. Not the most potent cooling gel we have tried (Biofreeze – review here – still leads) but Nuflex is a contender.

 

Nuflex Cooling Gel retails at £11.95 – again Biofreeze betters it on price – and is available from, amongst other places halfords.com

 

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Extras Featured Reviews

Secret Training

Secret Training

Secret TrainingSkincare products probably seem like a secondary consideration for most cyclists and by secondary we’re probably being generous with our priorities. But the recently launch Secret Training range of products comes with some impressive credentials, not least of which is the fact that they are the brainchild of Tim Lawson, European Champion Track Cyclist and founder of nutrition brand Science in Sport. Has that got your attention? Time to clean up.

 

The range is really all encompassing from Anti-Chaffing Cream at £7.99, to Lip Balm at £2.99 and Hygiene Wipes, a snip at £2.50. There’s great attention to detail across the range and a distinct feel of designed by athletes for athletes – although we’re pretty sure that strapline has already been snagged by others. The use of quality ingredients and the idea of keeping things simple when they don’t need complicating seems to be at the heart of the range and the branding and packaging has clearly been thought through to appeal to the more discerning cyclist, although the affordable prices suggest something more egalitarian.

 

To get a feel for the Secret Training range Cyclo looked at the Race Day Personal Care Kit (£49.99) which contains Anti-Chafing cream, Start Oil, Micro Fibre Body Cloths, Post Race Wash, Lip Balm, Pins in a Tin, Sun Screen, Hand Sanitiser and Hygiene Wipes. In all honesty if you turned up a sportive or, heaven forbid a race, carrying this you would probably be on the receiving end of some odd looks (or deserved comments) but the individual products all stack up well and collectively make a good gift for the ‘cyclist who has everything’.

 

The Lip Balm and Sun Screen (SPF 30) really impressed, both being jersey pocket friendly, non-greasy and without noticeable scent, whilst the Hand Sanitiser (£3.69 if bought individually), Post-Race Wash (£5.99) in a 250ml spray that looks suitably like you should apply liberally to the bike and the Micro-Fibre Body Cloth (£4.99) make good sense for the end of a long ride. The only thing that disappoint was the Pins in a Tin, but only because we were expecting mini-mints to be inside.

 

The Secret Training products have clearly been developed and launched with some passion and here at Cyclo we’re more than happy to add them to our race-day bag.

 

Further details of the Secret Training product range and online purchase at secret-training.cc

 

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Extras Featured Reviews

Oakley Radarlock Pitch

oakley radarlock pitch

oakley radarlock pitchTo our eye there often seems something aggressively angular about Oakley sunglasses – whilst the bulkier Jawbone or Racing Jacket may look good on the hunched over form of a pro cyclist we’ve never found anything quite to our liking; that was until putting the Oakley Radarlock Pitch to the test…

 

The Oakley Radarlock Pitch manage to perfectly combine both aesthetic desirability and outstanding performance (the latter no great surprise from Oakley) and their stripped back design and lightweight construction – a mere 30g – make them ideal for rides of any length.

 

Using their bespoke ‘Switchlock Technology’, which makes swapping lenses effortless and ridiculously quick, the Radarlock Pitch – unlike both the Jawbones and Racing Jackets – are frameless below the lens, making them both lighter and less intimidating-looking. The lack of weight also improves comfort; there are no pressure points around the ears as, instead of hooking the ear, they simply rest above them gripping the sides of the head with sleeves made from brilliantly named ‘Unobtainium’ – we hate to be reductive, but suspect ‘Unobtainium’ is basically rubber.

 

On test with Cyclo the Radarlock Pitch fitted perfectly, stayed absolutely put and remained comfortable for extended periods. There are plenty of options for fine-tuning the fit too including changeable nose pads, a nicety you won’t find in £10 bargain sunnies.

 

When it comes to lenses Oakley are, quite rightly, considered second-to-none. The Radarlock Pitch ship with two standard lenses, in the case of the ones RunningMonkey were testing: Jade Iridium and the VR28. The former used for medium to bright light with a neutral lens tint for truer colour perception and an Iridium coating to reduce glare and the latter for less harsh conditions and when greater contrast is required.

 

Jade Iridium option proved outstanding in dazzling conditions and when the sun was low and the double venting to the top, outer edge (also featured on the VR28s) prevented all fogging. Despite the generous wrap of the single piece lens there wasn’t even a hint of distortion, even at the very periphery of vision and it goes without saying that they filter out 100% of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays…

 

The Oakley Radarlock Pitch will set you back a mighty £195 but are, by far, one of the best pairs on sunglasses we have come across.

 

Further details of the Oakley Radarlock Pitch at uk.oakley.com

 

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Apparel Featured Reviews

F-Lite Ultralight Base Layer

F-Lite Ultralight Base Layer

F-Lite Ultralight Base LayerThere are a multitude of options when it comes to picking a high performance base layer but those multi-brand quandaries have now grown to include the F-Lite Ultralight Base Layer. Available for the first time in the UK and part of a wider offering of functional base layers, socks and accessories from the German brand the F-Lite Ultralight lays claim to being the lightest of its kind in the world.

 

The F-Lite Ultralight, as with all the base layers in the newly-launched collection, use the brand’s own F-liteTEX knitting technology – a ‘tubular knit’ system not unlike that used to create the Buff, which means there are no side seams to rub, chafe or distort the figure-hugging shape. The base layer is flat-hemmed at the bottom and the seams that do remain (attaching the short-sleeved arms) are also flat-locked, laying more or less flush with the material and presenting no real risk of irritation even when things warm up on the run or ride.

 

When it comes to the claim of being the lightest of its kind in the world, it’s hard to disagree – the F-Lite Ultralight weighs only 70 grams/m² (presumably giving rise to the garments full name of F-Lite Ultralight 70 GP Base Layer), which means a medium size comes in at a gossamer whisper 75g. The lack of weight, to put it mildly, combined with the seamless/flat-seam construction, makes for an exceptionally comfortable experience.

 

Thermal properties impressed Cyclo too, living up to the ideal of keeping us warm on colder training sessions, but effectively keeping things cool when temperatures climbed. It achieves this unconventionally: constructed of otherwise fairly industry standard polyamide, polypropylene and elastane, the F-Lite Ultralight adds a carbon antistatic finish (cyclists love carbon, no?), which prevents the material sticking to the skin, ensuring a layer of air is permanently on hand to regulate heat.

 

Sticking with the unconventional the F-Lite Ultralight employs a polka dot styling, part of the design input that came from American free-rider and extreme skier Glen Plake. It’s never really occurred to us that design aesthetics matter with a base layer, but it’s kind of nice that F-Lite took the trouble don’t you think?

 

To date the F-Lite has impressed and Cyclo looks forward to testing through greater extremes – both hot and cold – over the coming year. We’re in little doubt it will hold up incredibly well and if you’re looking to layer up over this the newly launched adiZero cycling jersey, at just 65g, could prove to be the perfect partner.

 

The F-Lite Ultralight Base Layer is available in unisex sizes M-XL and retails at £34.99. Further details and online purchase at smgeurope.com

 

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Extras Featured Reviews

Scicon Phantom 230 Pro Carbon

Scicon Phantom 230

Scicon Phantom 230It’s fair to say that Scicon know a thing or two about cycle bags and accessories. With thirty-plus years of design experience behind them the Phantom 230 Saddle Bag is the latest offering to impress Cyclo. In every way the epitome of a well-designed and constructed saddle bag it uses the unique ‘roller 2.1’ saddle fixing, making attaching and removal (or switching to the larger Compact 430 or Vortex 480 options) absolute simplicity.

 

The 2.1 fixing is effectively a two-part clamp – it attaches to any size seat rails without the need for tools and, once in place, allows attachment with a simple ‘twist and click’. However, Cyclo found that it was important to tighten it almost beyond the point that felt component-safe to do so to stop the loaded bag from slipping along the length of the rail.

 

Despite being the smallest of the bags in the range the 0.23L capacity of the Phantom 230 Saddle Bag is more than enough for the essentials: a spare inner, keys, gels, even a phone and the fact that two tyre levels are integrated means that’s one less thing to remember.

 

The Phantom 230 is uses a combination of DuPont’s legendarily tough Cordula and carbon fibre, which makes it both light, at 123g, and incredibly durable. Whilst the ruggedness is to be admired, the relative inflexibility of the material does make stuffing that little extra inside problematic – perhaps this is an object lesson in not over-packing for the ride though… The bag closure is a simple zip for easy access, the rubberised zip tag is cold-finger-friendly, and the reflective detailing is an always-welcome addition.

 

SciCon Mini ToolIf you are also looking for tool options to stash inside the Phantom 230, then the Scicon Mini Tool is a good place to start; a folding combination that includes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6mm allen heads, a Phillips and flat head screwdriver, and a T25 torx bit, it weighs in at a mere 60g and measures barely 3cm by 3cm. Of course the miniscule size doesn’t allow for a huge amount of either grip or control, but as an emergency roadside option it ticks all of the right boxes.

 

The SciCon Phantom 230 Saddle Bag retails at around the £24 mark and the Scicon Micro Tool circa £23 – further details and online purchase at sciconbags.com

 

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Apparel Featured Reviews

Teko M3RINO Pro Ultralight MTB Socks

Teko MTB socksTeko Socks celebrate their tenth birthday this year and Cyclo thought it a fine idea to celebrate by putting their brand-new M3RINO Pro Ultralight MTB Socks to the test.

 

Anatomically designed for left/right foot the Pro Ultralight MTB socks are cut long for the demands of MTB and proved wonderfully comfortable on the ride and crucially don’t bunch or sag thanks to a well-judged elasticated cuff that ensured they stayed put even after a soaking. They feature the ‘New Wrap System’ construction, which is designed to hold the sock onto the foot around the Achilles and over the instep, this both increases comfort (noticeably) and prevents the sock from slipping inside the MTB shoe to avoid chafing or the causing of blisters – again this was noticeable even when everything had enjoyed a good puddle soaking (just the time when the danger of blisters is highest.)

 

The Pro Ultralight MTB sock utilises high merino wool content (42% and Bluesign chlorine-free certified), which makes them soft and comfortable with the added advantages that merino brings: great temperature regulation, good wicking and breathability, plus natural anti-microbial properties that keeps away smells and should extend the product life too. The Lycra arch band supports the underfoot well and there’s light cushioning through the heel and toe (the latter seamless to improve comfort) as well as in the shin to prevent discomfort from leg guards.

 

Also newly available is the Teko M3RINO Light MTB, with broadly similar features but with slightly increased underfoot padding – enough to take out the shock and vibration of the ride, but not too much as to pad out the shoe unnecessarily.

 

If you’re looking for eco credentials (and if not, why not?) Teko offer these in spades. Their socks are created using renewable and sustainable materials and energy sources and even the packaging is printed on recycled paper and uses soy-based ink. It’s all to be applauded especially when the socks themselves also deliver where it really counts most – comfort and fit.

 

The Teko M3RINO Pro Ultralight MTB socks are available in black/red at £14.95 and the M3RINO Light MTB in black/lime at £15.95 – there’s a lifetime guarantee too. Further details and online purchase at tekosocks.co.uk

 

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Featured Recovery Reviews

Sore No More Warm Therapy

Sore No More Warm Therapy

Sore No More Warm TherapyHunched over the bars for hours on end, legs pumping, hands gripped tight, a cold wind whipping around the neck… It’s little wonder that cyclists often end the day in need of more than a little TLC. Heat rubs and creams are always an excellent starting point for easing various aches and pains associated with both training and racing and Sore No More Warm Therapy looks to offer something a little different from the norm.

 

Taking it’s starting point from the various plant extracts used for centuries by the native tribes of northern Mexico the Sore No More Warm Therapy ingredient list reads something like an arcane recipe list. Capsaicin (derived from a plant in the chilli family), rose water and extracts of grapefruit seed, green tea, orange peel and queen of the prairie (a member of the rose family) are all found within, as are two ‘active’ ingredients: 3% camphor and 3% menthol.

 

The cream is non-greasy, rubs in quickly and completely and delivers a solid, but subtle, glowing warmth within seconds. Unlike many heat rubs Sore No More also wafts off a delicate and pleasant armour which is cut through by the scent of orange. Looks like we may have found a cream that smells as good as it works…

 

The science suggests that capsaicin binds to a protein (TRPV1) that resides on the membranes of pain and heat-sensing neurons and when Cyclo used it on a selection of minor ailments (we suffer, so you don’t have to) ranging from aching calves to a ‘frozen’ shoulder we found the long-lasting buzz of warmth worked incredibly well.

 

We have been particularly impressed by Sore No More Warm Therapy and its 100% natural credentials and are pretty sure you will be too.

 

Sore No More Warm Therapy retails at £9.95 for 4oz with further details and online purchase from natremed.co.uk