Don’t get us wrong, we love energy bars and gels as much as the next person, but truth-be-told, after the fourth or fifth on any given day, they uh…start to loose their charm…at least for us. But what’s the option? With so many studies supporting their benefits, it’s easy to forget that Mother Nature has a few offerings of her own – like say the Banana. In a recent Bicycling article, Joe Lindsey, breaks the Banana down, examining much of the natural goodness it can offer. For example Bananas contain Potassium which Lindsey says regulates blood chemistry, controls carbohydrate metabolism, and can affect the way blood glucose is transported through the cell wall. Further, the yellow fruit contains vitamin B6 which Lindsey points out assists in red blood cell production, as well as the metabolism of more than 60 proteins. He says that bananas can provide up to 17% of ones daily vitamin C requirements, and offers up magnesium which plays a roll in energy transport. His final point – our favorite – is that unlike its processed step-step-step brethren, a banana’s packaging is biodegradable.

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Posted by David at 3:27 PM | Permalink

Author / bicycle mechanic Mel Allwood has published four books which so far have focused mostly on mountain biking. Her latest work however addresses the needs of all bikers, with London Cycle Sport saying that the book speaks to “all levels of riders with perfect simplicity.” The range of topics in the book includes basic ones, like choosing the right bicycle, to more advanced ones like in-depth maintenance. The reviewer found the books to be “beautifully and practically illustrated” going as far as to say that it could become a “bible for commuters, competitive riders and beginners.” We think that’s a pretty tall-order, so we’re going to have to withhold judgment until we get our hands on a copy. Buyers can expect to spend around ₤18 for a copy, though Amazon UK does have it for around ₤12 new or ₤10.50 from resellers.

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Posted by David at 5:24 PM | Permalink

The Chinese Economic News Service (CENS) has said that bicycle exports from Taiwan have declined – 4.9% for complete bicycles, and 7.3% for parts. The report sites various factors that include EU tariffs on Chinese / Vietnamese bicycles which are impacting the Taiwanese supply chain, delays from Shimano, and a supply shortage of carbon-fiber – though you would never know it looking at the supplier booths at Eurobike. To make it through these harder times Taiwanese bike manufactures are planning to focus on sales at home, as well as products that appeal to women and older riders.

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Posted by David at 4:33 PM | Permalink

Cool weather riders know that layers can be the key to a comfortable day out. In the past we have tried to adapt this concept to gloves, but we’ve never been thrilled with the combination of fit and comfort. ASSOS is hoping to change all that with the introduction of their new 3 glove winter system which will allow riders to mix-and-match three different gloves specifically designed to work with each other. The lightest glove in the system – the innerGlove – is designed to serve as a seamless, next-to-skin insulation layer. While ASSOS does not recommend wearing the glove on its own, they say it can bee paired up with a summer glove for spring riding, or other gloves in the three glove system for even cooler weather. The next glove is the earlyWinter 851, which maximize insulation while minimizing volume. It is wind resistant, offers shock absorption properties, and has a silicon pattern to increase grip. The final glove of the three, the lobsterShell, is designed to be worn over the earlyWinter gloves, and acts as an outer shell protecting against cold winds. The lobsterShell has been crafted to match the shape of the earlyWinter glove, and adds an additional layer of insulation. ASSOS says the system is designed to work in temperatures that range from 21ºF to 61ºF / 6ºC to 16ºC.

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Posted by David at 11:33 AM | Permalink

Dick Lamb, the co-founder of the Balance Bar Company, has announced the launch of a new antioxidant energy drink called FRS. The ready to drink – i.e. no powders or mixing required – beverage begins an initial roll out in the Seattle area, but it seems that Lamb has national, if not global aspirations. While we have not had a chance to sample the new offering from Lamb, the release says that FRS is formulated to “provide a sustained energy boost, improved mental focus and powerful antioxidant protection.” As of now, FRS will be available in orange, lemon-lime, and wild berry. Cyclists may find the drink especially interesting, given that in a double-blind cross-over study which measured cycling performance, riders saw a 3.1% improvement in overall time. The study was published in the Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (Aug 2006). Product link.

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Posted by David at 4:50 PM | Permalink