Merebea Danforth x4236

I love bibs for their comfort, but they are certainly inconvenient when you need to pee. I tend to wear bibs on my longer rides, but these are also the rides when you'll need to make "nature stops." The side zips on these bibs make it relatively easy to take a bathroom break without having to take off or partially take of your jersey. I found that the shorts are a bit hard to get down. You kind of have to do it as you squat down. You wont' be able to pull the shorts down while standing up straight. While the process is still a little awkward, it is a HUGE improvement over the alternative.These shorts are really well made from high end fabrics, which you'd expect from Gore Bike Wear. I've been pleased with the chamois, though personally I like the chamois in the Sugoi RSE a lot more, especially for really long distances. This one is a bit thinner than that in the RSE, and personally for my longest rides I prefer something a little thicker. That said, for my longest rides I still reach for the Xenon Sonic Bibs for the bathroom break convenience. The only thing I don't care for on these bibs is the metal clip on the straps. While perhaps it's a different story for different figures, I have no idea why cycling companies feel the need to have women's bib straps clip together. Is anyone actually worried about the strap falling down while riding a bike? These clips kind of feel funny, and in my opinion serve no purpose.

While I'm at it, I'll dream up my ideal bike short. They'd be these Gore Xenon Sonic Bibs with the side zippers, the Sugoi RSE chamois, and the Castelli Truly Free Bib Short strap design that does not have a clip with straps off to the side.

I have a set of the Serfas Guppy Lights in white and red. They just barely fit around my handlebars. I like them because they're pretty bright, and so small and light. They're great for long rides when you start off or finish in low light and you don't want to bring bigger lights that you have to carry around during the daytime. You certainly cannot depend on this to light up the road in front of you, but they're perfect for making you more visible and jump out at cars and other cyclists out on the road in low light.

Yes, this is just a thick piece of rubber with some texture and nice finishing. Your trainer or rollers will stay in place, and you won't sweat on your carpet or wear down the contact points (where the legs of the trainer or roller hit the rug). I had my rollers set up in a loft for a bit, and I swear the beams vibrated at some points, and but not once I got this training mat. The vibration absorption may sound silly, but it's true.

I'll admit that I haven't done too much training with my front tire raised, this a climbing riser block is a nice piece of equipment to have just to get your bike level with the trainer since you're rear wheel is up in the air. I use a CycleOps Fluid 2, and in the lowest groove my bike is about level. These blocks seem level and stable, even when two are stacked together.

This is the first trainer I've used, but I'm really pleased with the CycleOps Fluid 2. It's a smooth ride and feels pretty natural. While it is of course not silent, it is much quieter than my friend's rollers which I've tried. (That said, I'm sure higher end rollers are more quiet.) There seems to be a fair amount of resistance, but I can compare that only to the road. For the same amount of effort, I can go much faster on flat road than I can on this trainer. For those who say it's hard to motivate, I suggest I heart rate monitor, and give yourself some intervals to help the time go by faster. This trainer seems really well made, and is stable.

I got these warmers in white mainly for sun protection, and for a bit of warmth. These warmers are pretty thin, and they certainly are not the warmest out there (which is great for me and the sun protection thing). I haven't tried them in much heat yet, but I think they'll be okay. I really, really wish cycling companies would start making thin long sleeve jerseys for sun protection. There are barely any long sleeve jerseys out there that aren't made with thick, thermal fabrics.

These arm warmers are really well made, which you would expect from Gore Bike Wear, and are well designed. They're comfortable, and the gripper silicon on the upper elastic helps them to stay put. The asymetrical seams make for a comfortable, non-bunching fit. I'd say I'm a pretty average size woman, and the Small fits well. They're tight but not too tight along most of my arm, and they're slightly loose around my wrists.

These bibs are incredibly comfortable and are very well made. The chamois is my favorite out of all of the various shorts and bibs that I've tried. It's pretty thick, and has lots of cushioning and dampening directly under your sit bones. I can tell there is more airflow than your average short when I get up out of the saddle. The fabrics used are quite technical, including a variable density weave to help mechanically wick.

There are a few things I would change. I do not like the clip on the straps, and sometimes I don't bother clipping it. It sticks out a bit under your jersey, which doesn't really bother me but seems unnecessary. It's also up really high, and it's funny that you see it when you unzip your jersey a reasonable amount to cool down (but I don't worry about that too much). Many women's bibs have a clip, which I find odd. Are the straps falling down while cycling really a problem? I cannot imagine mine slipping down. Also, I don't understand why most companies position the bib straps where they do. Why do they need to go straight up the chest. While they aren't really uncomfortable, and I generally don't notice them, I think the strap placement on the Castelli Truly Free bib shorts makes a lot more sense. These straps go by your armpits, and are made from a really stretchy fabric, and I don't even notice they're there. There's no funny clip, and I've never had an issue with the straps coming down.

The only problem with bibs are that it's a pain to pee. (I recommend a full zip or at least 3/4 zip jersey that you can easily get your arms out of and let it hang around your neck.) Gore Bikewear and Pearl Izumi have made some drop seat bibs, and I hope that more companies follow suit. If Sugoi made a drop seat version of the RSE Bib that would be the ultimate short!

I don't really dork out on tires. Though I spend a fair amount of time on my road bike, I don't race and I don't worry too much about weight and rolling resistance. I bought the Ultra Gatorskin on a recommendation from a co-worker here at RealCyclist, and have been happy so far. I've put only about three hundred miles on these, but I think they'll hold up well and give me my money's worth.

I really like the ProBars because they are made from real food, and you can see it in there all mashed together. While I wouldn't call them performance food, they're a healthy snack that packs easily, stores, and tastes great. Who doesn't like chocolate and pretzels? This is a nice combo, and the dried cherry adds to the bar nicely. I think this is my favorite flavor out of the ProBars.

Pedros Ice Wax has been my go to wax for our dry mountain biking here in Utah and for my road bike, and I'm pumped that this "2.0" version is biodegradable. I will say Pedros does a nice job of keeping things environmentally friendly. This stuff goes on pretty cleanly as it's thicker than White Lightening and doesn't drip as much, and works very well. The large bottle I got has a regular tip on it, not aerosol. I always use this wax unless I know I will be in wet conditions.

This degreaser from Pedros does the job and is biodegradable so you don't have to feel too bad about cleaning your bike outside. It is the only degreaser I use.

These leg warmers look like they will be incredibly warm, but they did not work out for me. I ordered a Small, and they were too tight in the upper thigh and too long. Had the length not been an issue, I would have tried the medium, but I knew they would be far too long. I'm 5' 5" 130 lbs. with fairly big thighs, and these just don't seemed to be sized to fit average height women. These definitely look well made and warm with good wind and water resistance. I would definitely buy them if Gore made a women's version. I still recommend these, but take the time to measure your leg and reference the sizing chart before buying.

I haven't yet had to use this tool, but it seems bomber. After hearing too many horror stories about mini, lightweight chain tools breaking on the first use, I decided to go with something beefier, and Pedros does not disappoint with this one. I'm fully confident it will do the job. It is a bit big and heavy for leaving in your pack all the time, but I'd say it's worth the extra weight to bring it along for a 20+ mile mountain bike ride. I'll take the extra weight over a long walk with my bike or some other jerry-rigging.

Clif Shot Bloks taste almost like candy. (Think something between a giant fruit chew and candy.) They seem to do the trick in terms of getting some electrolytes back in you, and how can you go wrong with mostly natural ingredients? Clifbar seems to do a good job on the ingredients front, and these are a nice change from gels. I'll eat two or three in the middle of a long ride or hike. My sister also loves them to get ready for hot yoga sessions and can tell a difference in how she does in the class based on whether or not she's popped a few before.

These are very close to a high end short without the high end price. The 3D Elite chamois is quite thick and effective at vibration dampening. The gripper keeps these in place and they run true to size. (I have a 28" waist and typically wear size 8 or medium and the mediums in these fit well.) I have worn these on 70+ mile rides and have been very pleased with them.

These are probably the most comfortable shorts without going for bibs in terms of pinching at the top. It's hard to see in the photos, but the the top of the short has a very stretchy mesh section in the front which is much more forgiving than a traditional waistband. The chamois offers good padding and vibration dampening. I think these are probably the most comfortable shorts available at this price point, almost as comfortable as bibs but with the convenience of no suspenders.

So far I'm very pleased with these. They do the job, and seem like they're a bit warmer than a thinner synthetic. I also find wool to be warmer when you sweat in it. The small fits this 5'5" girl well, snugly but comfortably. I find that they seem to shrink in length a bit after washing, but when I put them back on they seem to stretch back to the needed length.

I'm not overly impressed by these shorts. While Castelli makes some excellent products, the Cocoon Due Short is not one of them. The chamois in these is Castelli's bottom end one, which is not as good as other brand's entry-level chamois'. It is relatively thin and doesn't seem to dampen vibration as well as some of the competitors'. However, it is still better than nothing, and isn't uncomfortable per se. The shorts are really stretchy, and very thin, though not shear. The thinness of the material is nice in the heat, but they are not at all supportive of your muscles, and don't exactly flatter those of us who don't have perfectly rippling or tight thighs. I wear medium shorts in most brands and have a 28" waist. I find these in medium and other Castelli shorts are the correct fit for me. One final note, the Violet color appears to have a bit of blue to it, but is very purple in the flesh. I think these shorts are fine, but not really at that price. I would recommend spending the extra money for one of Castelli's higher end shorts.

If you have never worn bibs then you have no idea what you're missing. These bibs feel like you're wearing almost nothing. The straps are very stretchy, and go over your shoulders around you armpits as opposed to other women's bib designs which go over you chest (which seems pretty unappealing to me). What really makes bibs nice is no tightness at the top, unlike regular shorts that need a tighter elastic waistband to stay up. The material on the shorts is pretty thin and breathes nicely. The chamois in these (Castelli's top end chamois) is thinner than some other brands top-end chamois', but I've been perfectly happy in these on multiple centuries. Sometimes a bit less is more. They are a little tricky when nature calls, but are worth the extra hassle. I suggest wearing a 3/4 zip jersey with them. Then you can unzip the front of the jersey and pull it up around you neck to get the bib straps down without taking the jersey off completely.

While I don't use chamois cream every time I ride, I highly recommend it for longer rides and when riding for several days straight. The tea tree oil and menthol are a bit soothing (and tingly shortly after applying). DZ Nuts is closer to the Asos cream than Chamois Butter brand. I find the latter too close to vasoline, and I much prefer the consistency of DZ Nuts, and the tea tree oil and menthol are a nice addition.

This bar tape is pretty spungy and soft. It seems like it will do a decent job when wet, though I wouldn't call it especially grippy. I suggest pulling it very tight (to the point that you feel like you are about to rip it) when applying or it will form ridges because it is rather thick. The tape seems to do a good job of absorbing vibration without being too thick and fat. The one thing to note about colors is that the tape is foam and the colors are not as brilliant as the pictures suggest. I have the Bandana Red color and it is much lighter than the picture.

Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed with this computer. My main complaint is that the current speed is very slow to change. The computer displays the average speed over what seems to be a 10 to 20 second interval. When you start riding, it typically displays 0 mph speed for 15 to 20 seconds. When you accelerate and decelerate down and up hills it is also slow to reflect the change in speed about 15-20 seconds again, and mine sometimes displays 0 mph in between. Also, sometimes you don't quite catch your top speed going down a shorter hill, which is too bad, but not a huge deal. All of that said, your total distance remains quite accurate (compared to routes of known length or riding partners' computers). I do like the completely wireless set-up, and the cadence is a nice, simple add on without any wires either. The display is easy to read, with relatively big numbers and visible through sunglasses. Navigating the computer is far from intuitive, but with regular use it's not too difficult. I chose this computer for the altitude feature. If you're looking for the altitude and something wireless, I do recommend this, despite the current speed shortcomings.

I just recently started road biking, and could not stomach buying a new pair of shoes for road cleats. I have a nice, tight fitting, stiff mountain shoe that I wanted to use for both. I highly recommend these pedals for those like me, and for commuters who prefer a SPD compatible shoe. The pedals are relatively lightweight and are doing the job splendidly. My only complaint is they do not always want to seem to stay right side up.

I like the Glycerin Floor Pump fine, but there are a few things I would change. The head locks by twisting it, and I prefer a lever to pull up instead. You twist it one way for the Schrader valves and the other for Presta. I find that it is very stiff to twist in and out of the Presta lock, and I end up loosing a lot of air at either end of the pumping process (putting the pump head on and taking it off the valve). The gauge is relatively easy to read, even for it being at the bottom of the pump. The twisting dial for the arrow is also a nice feature. In all, I think the Cutter pumps are a nice value at a price point slightly lower than the others. I think the extra money for the Fuse may be worth it though.

REVISION:
Who am I kidding. I hate this pump and it makes me frustrated every time I use it. It works eventually, but it usually takes a few tries to get it attached to a tube correctly, and in the process your tube loses a lot of air. I hate to knock our Cutter brand. Some of the Cutter stuff is really good quality, but sadly this pump is not one of those items.

I'm a sucker for Twin Six patterns. Sock Guy made these socks for Twin Six, and I like bird and vine/leaf patterning on them. I find the Sock Guys socks to be a bit bulky in the toe, and the toe seam is not as nice and low profile as some other socks out there. These are fun looking socks and are decent enough quality, but not standout on fit.

These are nice, relatively thin cycling socks. The seam in the toe is pretty low profile and fits nicely. I was hoping to order a S/M, but it was out of stock so I figured I would order the L/XL as the sizing chart said that was correct for me, a narrow size 9. However, I would say these are too big. I have to be very careful not to stretch the socks at all as I put them on, otherwise the heel of the sock is above my actual heel. I would suggest the L/XL size only for those a size 10 or 10.5 and up. All in all, another nice product from Castelli, and the Sentimento styling is pretty and fun.

This lock is quite thick, and the plastic exterior finish won't scuff or scratch your bike. I thought it might be slightly longer (100cm = 39.5") but it is long enough for the job most of the time. I think the lock itself is nice, I'm just a bit let down by the keys. One key was slightly bent when I got it, and I feel like I have to be careful not to bend or snap the key when I'm unlocking. Other than that this is good, beefy lock, especially for the price.

I thought I'd give the Nuun U Natural Hydration tablets a try as a way to get electrolytes without loads of other stuff. I got the Tangerine Ginger flavor, and it's pretty good. At first these tasted a bit like artificial sweeteners (think the fake sugar taste from Fresca) but it grew on me. These are a nice way to spice up your water without adding calories.

The Pedros Equalizer Pro Pedal Wrench is an excellent choice for you pedal removing (and screwing on) needs. The long body gives you plenty of torque, and the grippy handle is fantastic. If you can't get your pedals off with this wrench, you may be in trouble.

The women's Fizik Vitesse HP Road Saddle is certainly an improvement over many men's and unisex saddles. I initially felt pretty comfortable, and that more of my weight was being supported by my sit bones. While I had reduced what the ladies may call "soft tissue pressure", I was fairly uncomfortable after 10 miles and experienced numbness somewhere around 15 to 20 miles. While I've found that an even wider saddle with a cut out to be more comfortable for me personally, I think this saddle is a good choice for some women. (I also recommend the WTB Deva.) This saddle seems to be well made and is a reasonable weight. I'm not convinced the slots on the seat edge do much in terms of flexing and preventing chafing, but they can't hurt!

In my opinion, the WTB Deva SLT is the most comfortable women's saddle RealCyclist carries. It is getting towards the wider side (though I have seen women's performance road saddles that are 155mm vs this one at 142). Because women have a wider pelvis than men, we will be more comfortable on a wider saddle. This saddle is certainly a big improvement over many men's or unisex saddles, though I still had a bit of "soft tissue pressure." I happen to prefer a wider saddle with a cut out. I do however think that many women will find this seat comfortable, and it seems to be well made and durable.

This is a nice saddle, and I'm sure many women would find it more comfortable than the average men's or unisex saddle that may come on a new bike. However, I personally found the Serfas Furano Saddle to be too narrow, and it was only a small improvement in terms of relieving what women politely call "soft tissue pressure." This saddle does seem to be reasonably light, and nicely made.

We women have a wider pelvis than men, and thus wider seats do a better job of getting our weight supported by our sit bones. I recommend the WTB Deva as an alternative, or for even less "soft tissue pressure" the women's saddles by Specialized with the "Body Geometry," which RealCyclist sadly does not carry.

Yes, this water bottle holds water. I'm a sucker for Twin Six's designs. I love the Flyers logo on the Flyer Green color, plus a bright green water bottle is pretty sweet.

I really like this little seat bag. Like another reviewer, my bag was all black which I prefer to the flower design that is pictured. I'm not quite sure what to call the material, but it is very lightweight, an strong. This bag from Pedros seems much later than most other seat bags out there. I also think it will be pretty water resistant, if not waterproof. It's a nice size, just big enough to fit your tube, CO2 inflator and cartridge, multi-tool, tire levers and a thin wallet. Finally, I just like that the Ethnik bag is a bit different from what everyone else has.

Yup. It's a tire lever. These seem to be pretty strong, and come in a set of two. Instead of snapping the tire lever that came on the tag of your shorts, why not grab these from Pedros and be confident they won't break when you really need them?