Fight Foggy Glasses
Wow, it's been cold in the U.S. lately. So cold, in fact, that all of the politicians have been forced to walk around with their hands in their OWN pockets. Ha!
Actually it's been cold enough that one of the biggest problems for cool weather cyclists is having your glasses fog up/freeze up when you ride. This is especially true if you wear a balaclava (ski mask) or scarf that channels your warm moist breath upwards toward your eyes. So how to you thwart this?
There are several recipes for fighting foggy glasses on cold days. If this is a problem for you, why not try this:
- Take a bit of Ivory bar soap and rub it lightly on the lenses, then buff with a dry soft cloth designed for use with the lens material. The slightly slippery coating helps keep water molecules from clinging to the surface.
- Try using a commercial anti-fogging agent such as Fogtech or Speedo. Frankly, in my experience, however, none of these solutions have been particularly effective though once you get ten or more degrees below freezing.
- Consider giving up your balaclava. It's essentially a choice between having a warm face or clear glasses.
- Consider switching to ski goggles instead when it is really cold. The goggles are sealed and won't have the same problems with fogging up as ordinary glasses or sunglasses.
- One final option: a cyclist I know said he experimented with exhaling through a cut-off snorkel that pointed down under his jacket. He said it worked better than the anti-fog lens treatment but I'm still not sure if he was pulling my leg or not with this "solution."
Are foggy glasses a problem for you? What do you do to counter this? Comment below.
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Your New Year's Riding Resolutions
With 2010 upon us, it's a time to look forward and think about what you want to accomplish in the new year.
Many cyclists don't set any kind of goal at all, either for distance or total miles or whatever. They are just happy to ride their bikes whenever and wherever they can. Other riders -- particularly those training for fitness or an event -- carefully track their bike miles to make sure they are doing what they need to do to be ready.
Personally, I don't have any kind of overall mileage goal, either for a week or a month or a year, that I need to achieve. I just ride my bike any time I can, whether it's back and forth to work; on shorter jaunts with the family in the evening; or longer weekend rides with my friends. I do track my miles in a simple spreadsheet, however, so I can quantify for myself just how much I've ridden, and how that total compares year to year. I also have a comment line where I'll note interesting items about a particular trip. Things like, "saw a deer," or "early morning ride along the river." Or remarks if I've ridden out of town, such as, "brewery tour in Ft. Collins" Whatever. It's enormously satisfying to watch the miles accumulate, and to see the total at the end of the year
For me, my only goal is to ride more miles in 2010 than I did this year, so long as that's compatible with family and other obligations. So that's not much of a "strict" goal, but something I'd be happy for since it means that I've spent a lot of time on the bike. And at least as many century rides as I did in 2009, because in my mind there's nothing that quite compares to an epic, day-long ride.
Whatever you do, keep in mind that riding is supposed to be fun, and we do it for our bodies, our spirits, and each other. How fortunate we are to be able to enjoy this!
What are you aiming to accomplish in 2010? Any mileage or fitness goals? Or is there something else on your list? Comment below.
Louis Garneau Introduces New Gym Shoe For Spinning
If you're a person who does spin classes, the matter of what you wear on your feet is always important. Do you drag along your cycling shoes in a bag and change into them once you get there? Perhaps you wear your ordinary tennis shoes and just climb on the bike. I sure hope you don't put on bike shoes at home and then drive with them on before clomping on your cleats through the fitness center. :-)
Seeing this, Louis Garneau has rolled out a new pair of shoes called the new Lite Trainer. They look like any other ordinary pair of tennis shoes that you'd see someone wearing to the gym, only they've also got the built-in features of a cycling shoe, including a recessed SPD-compatible cleat.
Ha! This is brilliant. Put on the shoes at home, go to the gym and walk around like a normal person, yet still climb on the bike for your spinning class and off you go. You're locked into the pedals so you can ride like Lance, yet no more dragging extra sets of shoes along for you.
"We know that cyclists move indoors in order to be able to train year round," said Pierre Perron, Louis Garneau International Marketing Director. "We wanted to offer something that fits the style of indoor cycling with the needs of outdoor cycling."
The Lite Trainer shoes offer an ultralight rubber outsole with laces on top for a traditional fit. Ventilation comes through both a mesh upper and ventilated insoles to keep your feet cool. The shoes are available in both a men's and women's version, and you can find them online for $85-90.
Related article: Spinning Classes - what they're all about, and are they right for you
Question: What kind of shoes do you wear for spinning classes? Normal shoes, bike shoes, perhaps something else? Comment below.
Quote of the Day
"The bicycle is the answer to all our questions, the cure for all our problems."
- source unknown
Related Links
USA Cycling - Schedule of National Championships in 2010
Want to see the biggest races in the U.S. up close and personal, where the champions are crowned? Sixteen events in 2010 will provide professional and amateur cyclists of all ages with opportunities to race for the coveted Stars-and-Stripes jersey that signify a national championship. Check out the 2010 schedule of national championships in a variety of cycling disciplines, all sanctioned by USA Cycling.
Links:
- 2010 Schedule of National Cycling Championships
- Varsity College Cycling Teams - list of U.S. colleges and universities with staffed and funded cycling programs
- Pay for College With Your Bike - a guide to cycling scholarships available
Don't Worry About the Motorists Who Honk At You . . .
. . . At least you know they see you!
- original source unknown.
Related article: How to ride safe in traffic
Cycling Jerseys for College Sports Fans
Whether you're a college hoops or gridiron fan, this is a big time of year. Basketball is just heating up and we're within days of the first bowl games that will determine the top dogs in college football. And if you're looking for a way for you or your favorite college sports fan/cyclist to show your allegiance to your favorite team, check out these bike jerseys by Adrenaline Promotions. We tried out these jerseys recently and you can read what we thought of them in our complete review.
Officially licensed NCAA products, these jerseys -- both road, mountain bike and BMX -- will help you show your colors both on the bike and at the game. Top-quality construction and crisp graphics that won't bleed or fade means you'll be enjoying these jerseys for seasons to come. Over 90 schools to choose from.
Prep Your Bike For Winter Storage
When putting up your bike for the winter, there are several things you want to do to store it properly. Taking these smart and easy steps will help prevent deterioration from disuse and also ensures that your bike will be ready to ride when it's time to take it out next spring.
Read the whole article: How to Store Your Bike for the Winter
Related:
- Jack Frost Can Take a Hike: Dressing Right for Cool Weather Riding
- Cool Weather Riding: Use Layers to Stay Warm
- A Surprising Problem: Avoiding Overheating on Cool Weather Days
Is there anything special you do when storing your bike? Comment below.
Photo credit: Nikolaus Bauman/flickr
Santa Rampage in Chicago
If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend in Chicago, be sure to check out the Santa Rampage. Either as a spectator or participant, you'll get a kick out of this bevy of Santas on bikes buzzing around the city's downtown, promoting holiday cheer and the joy of cycling in the central shopping district.
Full Santa regalia required to participate; fully costumed elves, reindeer, and grinches grudgingly allowed. 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 13th at the Twisted Spoke, Ogden and Grand. For more information, check out all the information here.
It's all part of Bikewinter.org, a loosely-organized collection of groups that promote the fun and practicality of cycling, even when temperatures drop. Along with the Chicago chapter, others include Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin and St. Louis, Mo.
Related Articles
Just Out: New Book by Lance Armstrong
So you can't get enough Lance, eh? Well the good news is that he's just released a new book this week called Comeback 2.0: Up Close and Personal that details his return to professional cycling in 2009.
The book is essentially a collection of Lance's own journal entries compiled over the course of the past year, and features color photography by top-notch cycling photographer Elizabeth Kreutz, who followed Armstrong along the way.
In the intro, Lance talks about his decision to return to cycling after being gone for three years. He was in an Ohio hotel for a Livestrong conference, killing time between sessions and one day found the Tour de France on the TV:
What got to me was watching the stage when they climbed Alpe d'Huez. I have history with Alpe d'Huez. Good history. Most notably when I won a Stage 16 time trial there that was critical to my 2004 Tour victory.
As I watched Carlos Sastre make his move on Alpe d'Huez, a move that went essentially unchallenged, I felt a pang: I want back in. It was the first time I'd even considered a return to the Tour de France. I can't say that I decided right then and there to mount a comeback, but the seed was planted. In the days and weeks that followed, it was on my mind. Increasingly on my mind.
Armstrong goes on to recount the responses of his family, his coach and his friends and business partners to his desire to return to professional cycling. Not surprisingly, Lance received mixed reactions. But in true Lance fashion, he pressed on, and we watched it all unfold last July when he ended up third on the Tour de France podium.
The 208-page book is published by Simon & Schuster and retails for $27.99. You can read the full introduction here.
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