Category: Reviews

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Extras Recovery Reviews

Elite O3one Pre-Comp Warm-Up Oil

Elite O3one Pre-Comp Warm-Up Oil

O3one OilWarming up before exercising should be second nature to diligent riders; preparing your muscles for the hard work of anything from a pro competition to a Sunday sportive or even the daily commute will invariably help your body work harder and, crucially perhaps, suffer less post-saddle. Warming your legs through stretching or by starting at a slow pace for the first mile or two (less of an option on a pro race Cyclo grants you) will go a long way towards increasing the temperature around your muscles, but better still – or at least additionally – is the application of pre-ride muscle rub which has the added benefit of rapidly stimulating blood flow. Always happy to put on a little oil for the enlightenment of our readers, Cyclo took the plunge with the Elite O3one Pre-Comp Warm-Up Oil.

 

Available in 150ml at around £15.00; what we can say with some certainty is that it’s not unpleasant smelling, fairly non-greasy, rubs in well and leaves very little residue – the result being that your muscles are nice and warm when you hop on the bike. Where things become more complex is in trying to accurately measure the oils more specific claims – namely that this is an “Ozonized oil” (hence the “O3one” name, see what they did with the ‘3’ there? Cute) and as such it will ‘help to convert lactic acid (in part) to sugars that can be used by the muscles.’ Hmmm, even if you accept the less-than-proven ‘lactic acid is bad’ theory let’s just say that Cyclo can’t see Dr Ben Goldacre and his Bad Science buddies reaching for a bottle on the strength of that claim any time soon.

 

There are huge benefits to be had from making sure you don’t ride out with cold muscles and there are equally clear advantages to what amounts to a little gentle massage as it delivers the twin-joys of both warming you up and stimulating blood flow. Do you really need to spend £15.00 on an oil to do that? Well if you accept the ozone-therapy angle then sure and either way it will be less greasy than the much cheaper baby oil option. As for Cyclo, think we may look for some middle ground on this one…

 

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Featured Reviews

Oakley Jawbone

Oakley Jawbone

Oakley JawboneThere’s nothing more likely to give Cyclo that feeling of conflicting emotions than taking delivery of a shiny new pair of cycling sunnies. On the one hand there’s the knowledge that they will make you (hopefully) look and feel good but on the other there’s the underlying sense that they are something of an indulgence. And starting at £190 the Oakley Jawbones can unequivocally be described as such.

 

Having seen them sported by the likes of Lance Armstrong, Mark Cavendish and Thor Hushovd we certainly had high hopes for these unconventional looking shades and in most respects they held up well to testing. The lens quality is, as you would expect from these market leaders, excellent – offering 100% UV protection with superb hydrophobic properties, meaning they will repel sweat and rain rapidly. There is virtually no image distortion even at the very edge of peripheral vision and there are a good range of optional lens replacements available (at, it goes without saying, considerable cost) making them suitable for almost any ride conditions.

 

But it is this ability to switch lens that, in our opinion, begins to let this model down. The hinged lower frame swings away to let you flip out one lens and replace it with another (a feature that gives them their Jawbone moniker) but this feels considerably over-engineered and adds overall weight to the glasses, meaning they sit quite heavily despite a customisable nose bridge. It’s a nifty sounding feature on paper, but in practice is far less successful.

 

If you’re after a pair of glasses that will make you look like – even if not necessarily ride like – one of your cycling heroes then the Oakley Jawbones could be for you. Similarly if you are looking for frames that can accommodate a range of lenses (including prescription options) then again these might be for you, but make sure you try before you buy as the heft and weight distribution of these will certainly not suit everyone.

 

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Extras Reviews

Camelbak Extras

Camelbak Extras

CamelbakHydration systems and packs, such as those produced by market leaders CamelBak, can be an excellent investment on a long ride. Not only do they allow you to carry more water (or sports drink) than a regular bottle, but the “to hand” nature of the drinks tube is likely to encourage more regular imbibing – “little and often” – rather than the all too common practice of riding for miles without drinking and then glugging to make up for it.

 

If you have taken the plunge and bought yourself a hydration system there are a number of useful additions worth considering. Firstly the Camelbak Thermal Control Kit (RRP £15.99) is worth considering for hard winter rides when, in the most extreme conditions, the feed tube can be become inflexible and even freeze. This simple solution is an insulated 42” tube (complete with bite valve and bite cover) that keeps things flowing at just the right temperature. It can also prove useful in hotter weather when the water in the main bladder may well be protected from the sun but the slug held in the tube has a tendency to heat up with unpleasant results. Basically whatever the extreme of weather the Thermal Control System comes in handy in our experience.

 

Adequate cleaning of Camelbaks can also be problematic and, if left to fester unused for extended periods, the results can cut your ride seriously short as you head for the nearest hedge. The Camelbak Cleaning Kit (£19.99) includes a two flexible brushes – one for the feed tube, one for the bladder, cleaning tabs (also available stand-alone at £10.99 for eight) and two hangers for drying the system out effectively.

 

Finally, and arguably for riders with more money than sense, there is the Antidote Insulated Tube with Flow Meter, which combines the insulating properties of the Thermal Control Kit with a nifty flow meter that gauges both how much you are drinking and how much still remains in the bladder – it can also be set to keep track of your “personal hydration goals”. At £39.99 I think Cyclo might continue on without one, but would still highly recommend the Cleaning and Thermal Control Kits.

 

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Apparel Extras Reviews

Buff

Buff

Could the Buff, a simple tube of colourful material, really be the most essential bit of cycling kit? Well no, you wouldn’t get far without, say, peddles or a saddle, but once those essentials are out of the way it could well come in close behind. History has it that a keen off-road trials motorcyclist from Spain, Juan Rojas who had worked for more than a quarter-century in the textile industry, realised a need for a simple multifunctional garment that could be worn on or around the head in a variety of conditions. He eventually found a high performance microfibre that was breathable, moisture wicking and wind resistant and created a proprietary “tubular loom” knitting process for a seamless finish. The Buff – a derivation of the Spanish word “bufanda” meaning scarf – was born.

 

The microfibre construction means that the Buff keeps the head cool in summer (and wicks away sweat highly effectively) and reacts to cooler temperatures to keep the head warm under winter conditions and because it is seamless it is endlessly comfortable however you choose to wear it. And there are certainly a good number of ways that it can be worn from beanie, which fits under most cycle helmets, to Foreign Legion for keeping the sun of the back of the neck (high UV protection versions are available), to simple head-band or face mask for keeping bugs, dust and debris out of the mouth on tough off-road rides. Take a look at the video below for just a few examples.

 

Since their launch the range has also grown dramatically in include polar, reflective and visor Buffs amongst many others, but it’s the original Buff that Cyclo is still truly in love with. Available in dozens or designs, it’s even possible to order customised patterns (price on application) so long as you’re looking for print runs over 25 units – so worth considering if you’re influential in your cycling club.

 

A final word on the multitude of uses for Buff, and one that the manufacturers don’t appear to advertise, Cyclo has used them on more than one occasion as a perfectly good clean-up cloth after a road-side chain adjustment or tyre change…

 

Buffs are widely available with prices starting at around £13.00. Essential.

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Apparel Reviews

Montane Featherlite Velo H2O Jacket

Montane Featherlite Velo H2O Jacket

Montane V02 Velo JacketMontane have long enjoyed an incredible reputation for ultra-light gear and the Featherlite Velo H2O Jacket is, Cyclo thinks, such an essential piece of kit that it should ship with every bike purchased. The weight – or perhaps lack of – is the first thing you will notice about the Velo; the medium size hefts in at a mere 150g (5.3oz) with the large adding but a few grams to that. So what? You might think – anyone can make a light jacket, it just won’t keep the weather on the outside! But here’s the thing: The Velo does. And some. The shell is made from FREEFLOW® H2O – which actually means a 43g/m² 30 denier nylon with a PU coating – that keeps all but the mightiest of downpours at bay, is incredibly wind resistant those steep, fast downhills, but remarkably breathable on the long slogs up. When things heat up there are also good rear vents incorporated and when things get really hot the whole jacket packs down into its own mini stuff-sac, barely the size of a tennis ball, for easy stowage.

 

Want more? Being Montane’s bike-specific model, the Velo is cut to fit the rider with a longer tail section than their other products, has fully taped seams for comfort and more than adequate 360° reflectives thanks to the incorporated 3M Scotchlite. The manufacturers recommend that to maintain the full water repellent properties that the Velo should be re-proofed every six months, for which they suggest Nikwax TX Direct widely available online.

 

The Montane Featherlite Velo H2O Jacket comes in three colour combinations – blue/silver, black/silver and yellow/silver, although the “silver” element in each combo is really just detailing. The jackets retail in the region of £80.00.

 

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Extras Reviews

Knog Lights

Knog Lights

Knog LightsKnog, the Melbourne-originated brand, has been producing highly distinctive panniers, apparel and cycling kit since 2003 and here at Cyclo we were delighted to get our hands on two of their dinky and delightful lighting solutions. Okay, the nights aren’t drawing in to quite that extent yet, but it’s never too early to remember the “be safe, be seen” mantra…

 

First up the Knog Frog Strobe LED Twinpack a pair of flexible silicone bodied lights with an impressive 80 hour burn time in flashing mode on a single set of CR2032 batteries (reducing to 50 hours in constant mode) and with visibility of up to 600 meters. Whilst not intended to replace the legally required main lights on your bike, the Knog Frogs can clip on just about any major part of the bike from handle bars to seat post with their quick release system and are small and light enough to carry in a pocket or pack for those all-too-annoying “just in case moments” when failing light catches you out. Water resistant, cute, available in three colours – black, white and transparent (more options would be nice) and with three flashing combinations (plus constant) we think that the Frogs are series competition to the NiteRider Lightning Bugs. Expect to pay in the region of £20.00.

 

Stepping up a gear – not to mention a price bracket at £45.99 – The Knog Boomer LED Twinpack is a “proper” set of lights, with the front component burning for 4 hours (or 36 hours in strobe mode) at an impressive 50 lumens and the rear light managing 12 hours (72 flashing) at 30 lumens – both on a set of two AAA batteries. Although only available in either black or white it’s the stylish looks of the Boomers that are likely to swing a purchase when what you really don’t want is something less design conscious cluttering up your bike.

Knog lighting is available at wiggle.co.uk

 

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Extras Reviews

Deuter Race 10 Litre Rucksack

Deuter Race 10 Litre Rucksack

Deuter backpackAt Cyclo we’re always on the lookout for accessories and kit that help make the most of our two-wheeled forays but one of the trickiest areas to tackle, we find, is in using the bike for work commuting. Aside from the hazards of rush hour traffic (and the sometimes undesirable side-effect of arriving for a meeting a little more fragrant than is ideal), one of the biggest headaches is finding a way of carrying all the detritus of work life. Enter the Deuter Race 10 Litre Rucksack, something of a mini-marvel whose size belies a wealth of nifty features. To start with, as the name would perhaps suggest, it has an adequate 10litre capacity (12 and 15litre variations are also available) into which a quite surprising quantity of work-related kit can be stuffed and with two small zipped pockets – one on top, one on the front – keys and smaller “to-hand” items can be kept separate to avoid the big bag rummage.

 

Safety is also at the forefront of design on the Deuter – in addition to ample 3M reflectors on the side and back, a simple loop on the back allows for the addition of light blinker (along the lines of the NiteRider Lightning Bug 2.0 – see the Cyclo review here). Ingeniously the pack also has an integrated rain cover in a safety conscious dayglow hue. Hip and chest straps keep things firmly in place and whilst the shoulder straps lack any serious padding, their mesh design along with the “Airstripes” back ventilation system should help to keep the ride to work relatively cool.

 

A gusseted flap on the top and a hose holder on the shoulder strap also allows for the addition of a hydration pack, although the official Deuter 2litre bladder is a steep £32.99 so Cyclo would suggest shopping around for more basic models that can be had for as little as £10.00.

 

At around £40 the Deuter isn’t the cheapest option for a commute pack, but it’s certainly one of the most feature-laden, stylish and practical and when you consider that a rain cover alone could set you back £15.00+ this start to look less pricey.

 

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Apparel Recovery Reviews

CompresSport F-Like Full Legs

CompresSport F-Like Full Legs

CompresSportCompression kit seems to be everywhere these days. At it’s most basic compression wear is simply close, actually very close, fitting socks, shorts, leggings or tops with a high lycra (or similar elasticated material) content for which manufacturers make some quite extraordinary claims. It has long been recognised that in the case of socks/stockings such gear can help post-operatively and it was this discovery that has lead to the evolution of these sometimes disturbing looking items of apparel into performance enhancing must-haves. With this in mind we took a look at the CompresSport F-Like Full Legs…

 

Whilst claims that compression leggings aid venus return (the return flow of blood back to the heart) are probably true – whether or not this is a true benefit is still open to debate. If lactic acid (simply a by-product of breathing during cardiovascular exercise) is viewed as in some way “bad”, as it still is by some experts, then increased venus return is certainly beneficial because, the argument goes, lactic acid causes muscle fatigue and possibly cramping. However Cyclo understands that there is a growing school of thought that lactic acid is, if anything, benign – which certainly undermines some of the claims made by compression wear suppliers. Regardless, there are still ample benefits to sporting leggings during a long ride. Muscle oscillation is reduced which can stretch the amount of time to fatigue and even more helpfully they help to keep the muscles warm and therefore performing at their maximum for longer.

 

CompresSport are one of the newer kids on the block and their excellent “F-Like Full Legs”, which look rather like hold-up stockings, measure up well – so well in fact that the likes of Ironman (woman?) extraordinaire  Chrissie Wellington sports them. Admittedly Cyclo found these a touch – shall we say – feminine? They have a rather odd semi-Goth squiggle just at the part of the thigh that you would least like someone to stare at, but, and this is probably more important, they are incredibly comfortable and felt supportive of the muscle through the whole length of the leg. Useful too for post-ride recovery which is an area in which compression kit has clear and well recorded benefits. Not cheap at £70.00 a pair, but if they are going to help you ride harder and recover faster they could be worth every penny.

 

Available from www.compressport.uk.com