Arts Cyclery Blog

2XU Compression Leggings can be used while working out or during recovery.

Overview: The 2XU Compression Leggings provide all the benefits of graduated full-leg compression without the restrictive feeling of tights.

Price: $62.99

Last Fall, I traveled to Australia for the International Triathlon Union Age Group World Championships. I bought some travel/recovery tights (from a brand that competes with 2XU) to wear on the plane to help fight the effects of jet lag by hopefully increasing blood flow through my legs.

They served their purpose in that I felt fresh when I got off the plane and my legs didn’t have that heavy, dead feeling I’ve experienced on previous international flights. But I had a huge problem with them on the plane. They were so hot and restrictive, the 15-hour flight felt about twice as long. I couldn’t stop sweating and was constantly shifting my weight around trying to get comfortable. They succeeded in providing effective compression to my legs, but they failed in their wearability. As I was suffering on the plane, I thought about cutting out the crotch and rear of my tights so that only my legs were wrapped.

The product engineers at 2XU must have had a similar experience with compression tights. They have successfully designed a product that provides the amazing benefits of full-leg graduated compression without the restrictive nature of tights. As far as I know, they are the only company with this type of product. Skins makes a Leg Sleeve, but it only comes up to the mid-thigh.

"Graduated compression" means that the tightest area of the garment is at the bottom, maximizing circulation so blood pumps in the proper direction.

When I come home from a 5-hour ride, spending most of my day in tight bike shorts, the last thing I want to do is put on some sweaty, restrictive tights that actually cut off circulation to some very important parts of my male anatomy.

With these leggings, you can wear your own underwear so you don’t have to suffer the wrath of restrictive tights. The material is a circular knit, 70 denier fabric for maximum support throughout the life of the leggings. An antibacterial treatment neutralizes odor and a UPF of 50 provides sun protection.

I am currently wearing these leggings to work because I’m suffering from a torn calf muscle. The level of compression delivered is perfect, and I feel like they are aiding my recovery process. The material is a medium weight, high gauge fabric, making it suitable for use during activity or recovery.

Bottom Line: These leggings provide awesome compression benefits at about half the price of tights with less restriction. Slipping into these after a hard workout feels amazing. After trying compression socks, tights and calf sleeves from multiple brands, this product is my official favorite.

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Sign up for our mailing list between now and the end of the month for a chance to win entry to the SLO Gran Fondo or a $100 Art’s Cyclery Gift Card. The SLO Gran Fondo is on October 23rd and features a beautiful 100-mile ride along the coast from San Luis Obispo to San Simeon. This is an awesome opportunity to ride with athletes from Team HTC-Columbia!

Check out the SLO Gran Fondo website here.

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Overview: This top-end model delivers across the board and provides everything you could want in a cycling shoe. Specialized Body Geometry features deliver a solid platform that make this shoe wearable for a majority of foot types, two BOA closures secure a perfect fit and the FACT 12, high modulus carbon sole is as stiff as you would ever want.

The 2011 S-Works Road Shoe in White and Red.

Price: $349.99

Specialized has perfected the use of the BOA closure system with the new S-Works Road Shoe. Nothing has changed from the 2010 model - all the same Body Geometry features are present along with two BOA S1 dials that rotate in either direction to tighten or loosen the shoe. The top dial locks the ankle and heel down while the mid-foot dial snugs the arch and forefoot.

I previously owned a pair of the 2009 S-Works shoes that only had one BOA dial. I bought a pair of the new model to see if performance and fit were enhanced with two dials instead of one.

I was in awe at the comfort of these shoes right out of the box. There was no “break in period” what so ever. This may be due to the fact that I was already riding in Specialized shoes, but I was still impressed with how comfy these were on my first ride. Sizing and fit feels similar to previous editions of the shoe. I found the heel to be on the narrow side with a snug mid-foot and roomy toe box. One of the reasons I truly love this shoe is that it will fit a range of foot types thanks to the BOA closure system. I have a slender foot, but the dials allow me to tighten these down enough to get a secure fit. There’s no way this upper would work on my feet if I was trying to synch down a buckle and a couple Velcro straps. This phenomenon has made me a believer that the BOA dials are a superior closure system over traditional buckles and straps.

The BOA dials rotate in either direction to tighten or loosen the shoe.

The cords of the BOA lacing system disperse pressure more evenly over the top of the shoe, creating a uniform enclosure, the way the laces of a running shoe work. The inherent problem with straps is that they can cause pressure points as you tighten them down. Many companies address this problem by making pads that are built into the strap that disperse pressure. The Specialized Pro Road Shoe utilizes this design. If you can’t get past the idea of having dials on your shoe, the Pro Road has all the great Body Geometry features of the S-Works shoe without the BOA dials.

The super-stiff carbon sole has an air port near the toe and features a better heel pad than the 2009 S-Works shoe.

The FACT 12 carbon sole supplies sensational stiffness. Every time I stand up to pedal, I feel confident knowing my shoes are working for me, not against me as I push down on the pedals. The sole is also ventilated to keep air flowing through the shoe. The water-resistant upper is well ventilated too, with open mesh panels on the tops and sides of the shoe.

• Varus Wedge: Engineered into the outsole of the shoe to account for the naturally canted angle of the foot. Having this angle is fine for walking, but it can cause rotational movement of the knee, shin and foot while biking. This creates knee pressure and strain while degrading efficiency. The varus wedge accounts for this angle, creating a balanced platform for maximum power output.
• Metatarsal Button: Lifts and separates the metatarsals to eliminate hot spots that occur from bunching of the toes.
• Longitudinal Arch: Similar idea to the varus wedge, except arch support is supplied from the footbed instead of the outsole. Specialized offers three levels of arch support in their footbeds which can be purchased separately.

The White/Black color scheme is ultra classy.

Final Score: I have never given a perfect score in a review, but I’m so impressed with these shoes that I have to give my first ever 10 out of 10. The fit rivals the slipper-like feel of the Sidi Ergo 2 at $80 less. The sole is stiffer than anything else I’ve ridden. The BOA closures are a definite improvement over the 2009 model, giving the upper a customizable, secure fit. The styling is classy without being too flashy. Some people may not like the shiny finish, but I think that if you’re dropping $350 on shoes, you want to be noticed, at least a little.

The only issue that can, and probably will arise, is that the BOA dials will need to be replaced. Like all moving parts, the BOA dials and cords will wear out over time. I have never had to replace these, but I can’t imagine it being too difficult and the parts cost less than $20.

Specialized uses the BOA dial on several other models in its line of 2011 shoes. They seem to be ahead of the game, creating trends and utilizing new technologies. It will be interesting to see who follows suit.

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Jason Singer celebrates after ascending one of the most iconic climbs in France, the Col du Trourmalet.

Art’s Cyclery customer Jason Singer conquered the iconic Col du Tourmalet, riding the exact route of the Tour de France’s 17th stage in 8 hours 37 minutes. Over 10,000 people started the Etape du Tour Mondovelo, and Jason finished in the top third. It took him 1:56:33 to climb the 18 km Tourmalet, which has an average grade of 7% with the steepest section at 10%+ in the final kilometer.

Way to go Jason!

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SRAM's new Limited Edition Red Gruppo with yellow graphics

SRAM is releasing a Limited Edition Red Groupset with Yellow graphics to pay tribute to the Tour de France. You’ll see these components on the bikes of Lance and Alberto. The black polished brake levers will feature the Tour issue oversized SRAM logo in yellow, as seen on Team Saxo Bank and Astana bikes. Features and benefits stay the same as the SRAM Red, and it remains the world’s lightest gruppo. These components will be available in September and the cost will be about the same as a Red group. If you’d like to pre-order this gruppo, e-mail us at info@artscyclery.com.

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What: Smith Pivlock V90 and V90 Max

We love innovation here at Art’s Cyclery. Whenever new products show up at our warehouse, we hover around like bugs attracted to a neon light, dissecting the new features of the product.

When the new styles of Smith’s Pivlock showed up at our warehouse, there was a considerable deal of buzz surrounding these unique shades. Their styling is undeniably European – something you’d expect to see from Gucci if they decided to make cycling-specific sunglasses.

The color options pretty much cover the spectrum, so your chances of finding a pair that will match your kit are high. But as cool as they look, I needed to find out how these shades performed while riding. After five rides, I have to say that the Pivlocks far exceeded my expectations.

The Pivlock V90 in Race Green is flashy and comes with three sets of lenses.

Smith claims the Pivlock to be the “lightest performance interchangeable rimless sport style” in the world today. I don’t have the facts to back that up, but I do know that after riding in them for about an hour, I seriously forgot I had them on. I tried out a pair of the Pivlock V90 in Race Green, which perfectly matched my Art’s Cyclery Aussie kit. This particular style came with three sets of lenses for options in every light condition. To my surprise, the Yellow Mirror lens worked exceptionally well in sunny conditions. Most yellow lenses have a high percentage of light transmission, but not these – the optical clarity was perfect and glare was non-existent.

Changing lenses is really easy. The only other sunglasses I’ve tested with a simpler design are the Jawbones from Oakley. But the Pivlocks come with three lenses instead of two and cost significantly less. All you have to do is pivot the arms up and slide the nosepiece out. Once you get the feel of it, you can do the swap in less than 30 seconds.

I felt the coverage on the Pivlock V90 was adequate for my smallish face and I didn’t really need the extra coverage of the Pivlock V90 Max, which fits better on larger faces.These shades come with some other awesome features like the Grilamid TR90 frame, which provides the gold standard for active sunglasses. Hydrophilic Megol pads on the nosepiece and temples grip better when wet, ensuring a comfortable non-slip fit. Smith’s Tapered Lens Technology eliminates optical distortion by progressively tapering the lens from the optical center towards the outer edges. Light waves are thereby delivered straight to your eye resulting in zero distortion and true optical clarity. Put more simply, what you see is what you get. A sweat-seal hydrocoating keeps sweat and other liquids from streaking the lens. Water will bead right off, keeping your field of vision clear.

Final  Score: Based on style, functionality and value, I give the Pivlock a 9.5 out of 10. My only concern is that over time, swapping the lenses may become difficult since the arm pieces slot directly into a hole on the lens. One small crack or chip around this hole could potentially ruin the lens. But, all Smith sunglasses come with a Lifetime Warranty, so if this does happen, Smith will replace the shades at no cost to you. We have a limited supply of T-Shirts that will be free with the purchase of any Smith sunglasses.

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We are excited to announce our newest apparel line, LUNA Sport apparel. You may already be familiar with the LUNA nutrition brand, which makes women’s-specific products and is owned by Clif. The mission of the LUNA apparel brand is to create superior go-to riding gear just for women. Inspired by the racers on the LUNA Chix Pro Team, LUNA Sport is devoted to creating functional and flattering apparel.

The Eclipse Jersey is the most technical top in the LUNA line with mesh ventilation panels to keep you cool.

Here’s an excerpt from the LUNA website:

“Everything we make is designed from scratch with input from some of the best female riders in the world. With insight from LUNA’s mountain bike and multi-sport team pros, we are able to develop, test and refine the most authentic women’s cycling clothing available.

The Valtellina features a 10-panel construction with a low-profile, flat waistband and an Italian sourced chamois. Ooh-la la!

And better still, our function comes with form. Everything in the LUNA Sport collection is designed to flatter a woman’s body. Fitted not too tight, but just right. Made using the sweetest fabrics and featuring the sharpest colors. All perfect to ride in, perfect to live in.”

We are especially impressed with LUNA’s commitment toward sustainability, using recycled materials and natural -fiber fabrics. It seems like most companies these days have one or two pieces in their line that are “eco-friendly.” LUNA sets a new standard, using recycled materials throughout the line while minimizing waste by cutting down on packaging. A short supply chain allows LUNA to build garments based on demand, thus limiting their environmental impact.

The LUNA brand has also donated more than $3 million through direct donations and fundraising programs that help the Breast Cancer Fund.

Check out the entire collection of LUNA apparel on our site. Please let us know if there are any other pieces you would like to see us bring in.

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Mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 15th! The Cervélo eRide truck will be cruising into San Luis Obispo around 4:00 p.m. with a strong fleet of 2010 bikes for you to ride. You can test out an R3sl, S3, RS, or P3. All bikes are equipped with SRAM Red components, ZIPP wheels, and TestTeam equipment partner products.

The Cervelo S3 is waiting for you.

If you know you’ll be in town and can’t wait to try out one of these dream machines, register here to reserve a bike. There is no cost to participate and you can test as many bikes as you want.

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Cycling is an expensive hobby. There’s the initial cost of a bunch of gear  you need just to get into the sport (bike, shoes, pedals…the list goes on and on), but then there’s all the stuff you have to keep buying to sustain your passion like tubes, nutrition products, water bottles and cages.

That’s why we have implemented multiple discounts on the items you go through the quickest so you can save more when you buy in bulk. Check out the products below for price breaks when you buy multiple items. These deals are ongoing. If there are any other items you buy in bulk that you think we should discount, please let us know!

When have you ever bought just one tube? Stock up and start saving!

Tube Discounts

Continental Tubes - Buy 4 or more and receive a 25% discount
Vittoria Tubes - Buy 4 or more and receive a 20% discount
Michelin Tubes - Buy 4 or more and receive a 15% discount
WTB Tubes - Buy 4 or more and receive a 15% discount

Nutrition Discounts

Fluid Recovery Drink - Buy 2 or more and receive  a 20% discount
Hammer Race Caps - Buy 3 or more and receive $3 off per bottle
Hammer Anti-Fatigue Caps - Buy 3 or more and receive $3 off per bottle
Hammer Endurolyte Tablets - Buy 3 or more and receive $3 off per bottle
Clif Shot Electrolyte Drink - Buy 2 or more and receive a 15% discount
FRS Concentrate Drink - Buy 2 or more and receive a 15% discount
Nuun Electrolyte Tablets - Buy 3 or more and receive a 20% discount

Camelbak's Podium Ice Bottle keeps your drink cool for hours.

Bottles and Cages Discounts

Arundel Bottle Cages - Buy 2 or more and receive up to $5 off per bottle
Camelbak Podium Bottles - Buy 2 or more and receive a 15% discount

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This is the fourth installment in a 4-part series about nutrition from our resident expert, Jenna Kowalski. Jenna is a Cat 2 cyclist and graduated from Cal Poly with a B.S. in Nutrition.

1. Carbohydrate consumption triggers insulin secretion

2. Protein provides a source for rebuilding tissues

If you remember from my first blog post, the primary function of insulin is to allow entry of glucose into cells, or tissues (an analogy I used to describe the process to a co-worker: insulin acts as a key; as you would need a key to enter a castle, glucose needs insulin to enter cells). Insulin also functions in alternate mechanisms to aid the recovery process. The presence of insulin stimulates protein synthesis (creation of new protein for tissue building) and inhibits protein degradation (breakdown of protein).

Fluid is an all-natural recovery drink with the optimal ration of carbohydrates to protein. Fluid also has L-Glutamine, an amino acid which has been shown to support the immune system, decrease muscle soreness and inflammation.

So what does this mean for you? While you were out pinning it for a few hours during your race or training ride, your body was busy breaking down proteins and tissues to be recycled as fuel. This process will continue UNLESS you eat! So, you eat or drink your recovery snack, which is digested into glucose and proteins. The glucose triggers the secretion of insulin, and insulin tells your body to stop breaking down and start rebuilding (using the protein you just consumed), ultimately resulting in less fatigue and the ability to maintain performance throughout the training week or race weekend.

Now that you have made it through your hammer ride, it’s important to acquire a recovery snack or meal ASAP. And by ASAP, I mean within 30 minutes of ride completion. This 30 minute window is essential to achieve the most benefit of the recovery process previously described. And conveniently, many recovery nutrition products are made for this reason. Recovery drink mixes (i.e. Fluid, Endurox, GU Brew Recovery, Hammer Recoverite) are a great option as they provide a 4:1 ratio of carbohydrate and protein, as well as other *antioxidants, and amino acids to aid the recovery process.

Clif Shot Roks provide 20 grams of protein per package.

Other convenient choices include bars or Roks made by Clif Bar - Check out our Nutrition section on artscyclery.com for more options! And what about chocolate milk? Chocolate milk is an excellent recovery drink. With an optimal ratio of carbohydrate and protein, it does the job. Chocolate soymilk is another alternative, but if you have the choice, go for the milk (milk provides both a quick and slow release type of protein, allowing for longer lasting recovery; soy only provides quick). However, chocolate milk and soymilk do not provide the added goodies which most recovery products advertise (added vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc.).

Within two hours post ride or race it is important to eat a regular meal with carbohydrates, protein, and fat to replenish caloric losses and glycogen stores. The carbohydrates consumed post ride are converted to glycogen at a higher rate during the first two hours post ride, so take advantage! This glycogen replenishment is especially important if a hard workout or race is planned for the next day. AND if you have a comfy spot to relax, put on some compression tights, elevate your legs, and enjoy the rest of your day

*Many recovery nutrition products advertise added ingredients such as L-glutamine, an amino acid, which has been shown to support the immune system, decrease muscle soreness and inflammation; electrolytes replenish those lost through sweat, and are needed for proper nerve transmission, muscle function, and fluid balance; antioxidants, like vitamin C and E, reduce tissue damage due to free radicals (fancy name for destructive oxygen molecules).

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