More expensive equipment really does make a difference - PRODUCT REVIEWS - JP Fitness Forums

Kaiser · 07-11-2003, 11:56 AM

FYI for any roadies out there. I'v e never really seen the need to look at top of the line stuff before but it was time to get new shorts and helmet for my road biking, so I splurged (without telling the wife) and got the Giro Pneumo helmet and the Pearl Izumi Microsensor shorts. I've got to say that getting the best gear really does make a big difference.

I got the helmet after very positive recommendations from a few in our riding group. It is very light, fits perfectly, and is more hole than helmet so it keeps your head cool. I got it from performancebike.com for $129 (retail is $159).

The shorts have a special 3 dimensional pad, and while they felt bulky walking (and I hate bulky shorts), they were incredible in the saddle, even managing to keep me comfortable in a soaking rain (which is hard to do once your shorts and saddle are wet). Got the shorts for $100 (retail is $120) from same source.

sarah · 07-11-2003, 05:10 PM

You got a new helmet and shorts, and I'm getting another new set of easton's put on my bike right now. I broke my bars today. (I missed a switchback and ate dirt.) It was a freaking blast!!! The helmet rocks, and the shorts sound comfy...I really like performancebike.com a whole lot!
Sarah

Jean-Paul · 07-11-2003, 05:25 PM

Yeah, you should have seen Sarah's arm and legs... I feel terrible! We will do that again next week and hopefully avoid crashing this time!

Sarah's a trooper though... covered in blood and dirt, carrying a bike down the trail with a handle bar broken in half, and a smile beaming from ear to ear!

sarah · 07-11-2003, 05:29 PM

There is no reason for you to feel bad, at all. I had such a blast! Now, I know what that ride is all about. I'll remember the long climbs and switchbacks next time, and be better prepared. I had so much fun, my bars will be fixed by 6 if you want to get in an evening ride and try it again.

Kaiser · 07-11-2003, 11:29 PM

Aww man, I'm jealous. I don't have anyone to 'show me the ropes' for mtb around here, plus I live in flatland Illinois. My poor mtb is the neglected step-child in the garage - my road bike is getting all the action where last year it was the reverse.

Ate dirt and broke a pair of eastons? Hell of a fall, girlie! Every time I bite it, I usually have a big grin as well, but then I've never broken handle bars (just a chain so far). What kind of scabs will you have to show for it?

When I was riding road yesterday and it was driving, I mean driving, rain - the kind that is coming down so hard it hurts - I had the biggest freaking smile on my face. People who saw me must've thought I was crazy. but I was flying in the face of the elements, and doing it pretty quickly too. So I can empathize Sarah - you smile when you lay it all out and get your money's worth.

Tonight I went to one of only 19 velodromes in the country (which happens to be only 4 miles from my house) and watched the fixed gear guys go at it - man, those guys can FLY! They have open racing for road bikes on some nights, so I may try it before the end of the summer.

Hey Sarah, is JP as wild as he sounds? Or does he ride relatively conservatively and under control? Just trying to match up riding style with the voice at the end of the phone!

sarah · 07-12-2003, 05:14 PM

I really wasn't on top of my game yesterday, but JP looks like he has the potential to thrash. I can't wait to throw down with him again. He showed me a great training hill and a hell of a downhill that will keep me in scabs the rest of the summer, I'm sure. Right now, I have scabs from my left wrist to shoulder, a 6 in space of scabs and bruises on my left thigh, my left side and abdomen are pretty beaten from where I took the bars and I'm pretty speckled in trail rash, and my right knee took a knocking. I got to pick rocks out of my arm last night, and I'm seriously considering starting to shave them after this. I'm really lucky, it could have been much much worse. It's not as bad as it sounds or looks though, I was back on the bike this morning jumping logs. Besides, chicks dig scars.

sarah · 07-12-2003, 05:17 PM

So, did the velodrome look like fun? Have you raced road before or will this be your first experience racing? I'm interested in getting in good enough shape to enter some beginning class road or mtb races next season. Here's a link to the handlebars I used, and just replaced...

[ July 12, 2003, 07:42 PM: Message edited by: Jean-Paul ]

Kaiser · 07-12-2003, 11:58 PM

You trashed a pair of Easton composites?! Ouch, a very nice bar to have to replace. That sucks. And you like scabs...sounds like you would be a hell of a riding partner.

Nice amount of 'trophies' you collected on your ride.

I haven't raced bikes ever...road or mtb. The Velodrome looks like a lot of fun and I'll try it a few times before the end of the summer since it is suited to my strength of sprinting (over endurance), but I'm not sure if I'll like it. Similar to skiing, where I've done the NASTAR races, with bike riding and skiiing part of the appeal is the freedom to go where I want and do what I want. When I am told where to go, how hard to go, and for how long, that takes a lot of the fun out of it for me. Which is actually surprising considering my true nature is pretty competitive. But for those two sports, I guess it takes away some of the fun. That doesn't mean that I don't want to kick my riding partners' collective asses at the track or in a sprint at the end of a 40 miler though.

"Chicks dig scars." I thought that meant on Keanu or other pretty-boy types. [img]smile.gif[/img]

sarah · 07-13-2003, 12:11 AM

If only guys dug scars.... I'm not exactly the kind of girl who cares if what I do is dug anyway, but it would be nice. Personally, I find scars appealing on men. Keanu is too pretty for me. Personally, I'm a Nicolas Cage ("Gone in 60 seconds") sorta girl. The velodrome sounds kick ass! I'm just starting to find my competitive side; usually, I just like to go out and have fun. JP is really competitive though, and I know he's going to teach me a hell of a lot about adventure racing and sports altogether.

Kaiser · 07-14-2003, 12:34 AM

Being all scarred up myself, I can tell you that most women don't particularly care for it. My wife doesn't care one way or the other. Nic Cage: great actor, but I have no idea what women find attractive in him at all. While Keanu is a pretty boy, he does have nice eyes. Personally, I think Pierce Brosnan is a good looking man.

"JP is really competitive" - thanks for the heads up.

I'm going to head to the velodrome this week during off hours and try it out. The women's races on Friday were incredible and the girls were cruising pretty fast - some strong legged females there. Once again this weekend, my mtb stayed in the garage while my road bike got 75 miles in 2 days. Unfortunately, I'm having such fun and increasing my speed and endurance in the road (plus it's been ridiculously wet here in IL) that I'm not sure how much I'll hit the trails this summer.

Good luck with the new bar - keep the helmet side up!