Top 5 Cycling Products of 2008

Below are my Top 5 Cycling Products of 2008. Not all of these items were new to the market in 2008. They are items I used throughout the season and don’t know what I did without them in the past.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know. List your top 5 product of the year. I would love to know what they are.

On to mine…

#5 Cliff Shot Bloks

A chewy alternative to gels. Not that I have anything against gels, well the mess they make of my back and jersey are no fun.

Shot Bloks are easy to comsume while riding, create less mess and virtually eliminate sticky bars. They are a tad sticky to the touch but way less mess than the alternative. Plus if you have an empty wrapper in your jersey pocket you can store something else with it and not fear the mess gels cause.

I find they are easier on my stomach than gels. When riding I monitor my food intake, when a gel is needed I evaluate how I feel and if the riding coming up will permit a gel. If I take it in at the wrong time I can get an upset stomach. This has yet to happen with Shot Bloks.

Info on Shot BLoks

CLIF SHOT ®BLOKS™ chews are a semi-solid, easily chewable source of carbohydrates—your body’s preferred source of fuel during activity

SHOT® BLOKS™ chews were designed for Endurance Athletes – Cyclists, Runners, Mountain Bikers, Triathletes, Adventure Racers, etc. – who were looking for increased eating options in their sports nutrition products.

SHOT® BLOKS™ chews can be eaten 15-30 minutes prior to activity to increase blood sugar levels, and then every 20-30 minutes during activity to maintain energy levels. Keep in mind that SHOT® BLOKS™ chews will affect your blood sugar levels more slowly than gel since they are semi-solid.

Gel and SHOT® BLOKS™ chews are easily interchangeable since they both provide carbohydrate to working muscles. Since 3 chews equal the same calories as one SHOT® gel packet you can go back and forth between each, while easily keeping track of your calorie intake. Always follow both BLOKS™ chews and Gel with a mouthful of water.

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#4 Stan’s No Tubes

By now Stan’s needs little introduction. What I will say is I am currently using his no tubes solution on a set of non-tubeless Maxxis Ignitors. It has performed great! Once sealed up and taken for a ride, (the ride being critical to move the sealant around inside the tire) my tires lost no more air then when tubed.

A recent ride throgh a technical section left me with multiple sidewall punctures unbeknownst to me. We stopped to clear the trail of a tree and when I returned my tire was leaking Stan’s. I started to head back to the car becuase I had no pump with me. On the way to the car I met some riders witha pump. After bringing the pressure back and riding a bit the tire sealed back up. The motion kept the sealant moving throgh the tire and the puncture was sealed.

Get some!

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#3Friction Freedom Chamois Cream

Freedom from Friction

My old chamois butter has been replaced. Maybe due to the warm feeling Friction Freedom gives. Or the fact that after 20+ miles, (in the woods) it is still slick. I apologize about having little to no road data on the product. The only road riding I do this time of year consists of riding my cx bike to the trailhead. However it has performed perfectly after 2 hours in the saddle of my cx bike.

I am a proponent of it at this point and have asked my local shop to get some. Give it a try by far the bext I have used to date.

One edit to the directions for use. I would like to see the slang word choad worked in here. Also note the uase of the word taint by a female pro-cyclist Sonya Looney.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Apply Friction Freedom generously to your taint / choad before every ride and any area in your shorts / bibs where friction is created. Also apply Friction Freedom to the chamois after washing to maintain the suppleness of the original chamois. Do not ingest or put into the eyes.

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#2 MAVIC Crossmac St UST Tubeless wheels.

Light, fast and stiff! Not cheap! Best MTB wheelset I have ever owned! When I put these on my bike this season it was like i dropped 20 pounds. My bike climbs and accelerates faster and I have not needed to true them.

What more can I say?

New and freshly aired up!

Used and put away dirty

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#1 Selle SMP Composit saddle

True love.. This saddle was a gift. I originally wanted a model with padding, (evolution). I ended up with the composit and I couldn’t be more pleased.

After spending a spring, summer and fall riding it I am still just as happy. When indoors on my rollers I would go numb in my taint area after about 20 minutes. With this saddle there is NO numbness. Very comfortable, great size and shape! 5 star product.