The 2XU Cruise Jacket (M21884a) is designed with high strength elastane for flexibility while also providing long lasting shape.

From a fit perspective, typically when I have purchased other jackets they have had problems with length through the waist and arms (too short). The 2XU Cruise Jacket had none of these issues as it had sleeves that were just the right length for my longer than standard arms.

The sides and rear of the jacket were just the right length to keep my 6’2 height warm without riding up my body.  The sleeves feature elastane providing a grip to keep them from also riding up the arms.

The Cruise Jacket also has a slim, race cut fit which didn’t have any access material to flap around which I liked. The jacket also comes with side pockets and thumb holes.

The second jacket we will look at is the 2XU X:C1 Cycle Jacket (MC1728a). While we don’t experience the sub zero temperatures of Europe, at some stage a jersey and arm warmers won’t be enough through winter.

The 2XU Cycle Jacket with its Swiss membrane technology is designed to simply respond to temperature change. The technology of this jacket traps heat for greater warmth while remaining light for enhanced moisture control.

Amazing engineering was put into the 2XU Cycle Jacket design process. The jacket provides angled pockets for easy access, 360 degree reflectivity for those dark mornings, concealed chest pocket, eyewear docks and a comfortable tailored fit.

The 2XU Cycle Jacket is one of the best purchases I have made though the wallet took a hit so visit your local 2XU Performance Centre and see if they will cut you a deal. You won’t regret the investment.

Footnote: 602nds purchased both of the above products and is in no way affiliated with 2XU.

Okay so not long ago, I noticed a fellow addict ordering a takeaway from my local haunt and in the process handing over this pretty cool looking cup. I asked what it was which led me to contacting the guys at KeepCup to find out a little more about the story behind the design.

The KeepCup is made in industry standard sizes so it integrates seamlessly into any café outlet. It is designed to be easy for the barista to use. The KeepCup design addresses all these criteria, replicating internal volumes, enabling cup identification and the shot to be poured directly into the cup. KeepCups seal completely to keep your coffee hot and easy to transport.

Most disposable paper cups have a water proof coating made of synthetic latex and wax or polyethylene, and cannot be recycled. Worldwide disposable paper cups alone annually account for an estimated:

• 4.5 million tonnes of landfill;

• 54 million felled trees;

• 340 million gjoules of energy (enough to power 5 million homes for a year).

KeepCup aims to support and encourage a change in the way us cyclists of the world enjoy their takeaway coffee KeepCup is the first barista standard reusable cup. Even better the KeepCup fits in your bottle cage. They are also available for the corporate sector enabling a personal design with logo artwork.

Contact the team at KeepCup to order yours today.

]]> http://602nds.com/2010/09/28/keepcup/feed/ 0 http://602nds.com/2010/09/28/jersey-bins/ http://602nds.com/2010/09/28/jersey-bins/#comments Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:04:43 +0000 Wilko http://602nds.com/?p=2207 If like me you have been using zip lock sandwich bags to carry your phone, keys, money et cetera when out riding then I have a simple product for you.

The Jersey Bin is a waterproof bag that is available in two sizes, 95x175mm and 120x175mm. They are lightweight and constructed of a quality, lasting vinyl recyclable material with a strong zip-lock style zipper. In both wet and humid conditions the Jersey Bin have prevented my phone from  being damaged. They are also handy for storing those sticky gel packets.

The small size can comfortably contain a typical mobile phone with larger smart phones such as the Apple iPhone just fitting in. The larger size can easily contain other products such as a digital camera.

Rob Kortus who is the founder and owner of Jersey Bin also has a custom made Jersey Bin available. The custom made are available in quantities of 100 and enable the design of your own size, artwork or logo.

The Jersey Bin are available direct from the website.

As with all things Oakley, the Hand Ratchet reaks of quality and functionality with excellent padding and protection including the Kevlar reinforced knuckles. Two velco straps, across the back of the hand and at the wrist keep the Hand Ratchet secure onto your hand.

Bar grip is provided with sticky dots on the finger tips and the moisture absorbing Clarino palm material. A terry nose wipe is provided on the thumb for additional comfort. The mesh material on the back of the hand and lightweight fabric along the fingers enables adequate air flow even on the warmest of days.

Available in a range of colours and sizes, I was able to get my hands into the Blue Line colour that provide a somewhat retro Oakley look that makes them very individual.

I wore these on the mountain bike on a stinking hot mid-35 degree (celcius) day. The Hand Ratchet proved to be comfortable and provided me a secure grip onto the bars without any numb spots. After the hot and sweaty ride, the gloves washed well in a gentle machine wash and air dried to come up as new.

With a RRP of AU$79.95 the Oakley Hand Ratchet are not the cheapest glove available but sure are the most comfortable and coolest looking out there.

Apple has managed to strip the Shuffle of all buttons and controls with the exception of the on/off button which makes the unit amazingly small. Transport controls are located on the right ear piece cord with three multi-function buttons.

What makes the latest incarnation of the Shuffle so special is that it talks. VoiceOver tells you the name of a song and the artist. It also announces the name of your playlists.

When attached to your gym clothing or cycling bibs with the integrated clip you will hardly notice it on you. Operating the unit is simple and easy without needing to look at the controls allowing you to focus on your activity.

Dimensions are a compact H:45.2mm x W:17.5mm x D:7.8mm weighing in at a measly 10.7 grams. The in-built battery provide approximately 10 hours of playback time when fully charged.

As with all Apple iPods and iPhones the Shuffles connects and integrates with Apple iTunes. Available is a 2GB or 4GB version, the iPod shuffle holds up to 1,000 songs and can be purchased in a range of colours.

The iPod Shuffle retails for AU$79 for the 2GB and AU$109 for the 4GB and will be a welcome addition to your gym or workout kit.

So how did it ride? Given that it is designed to be sat on for an extended period of time, I strapped it on for a couple of 3 hour road rides. The general shape worked quite well both in and out of the saddle, offering stable and comfortable seated positions and not getting in the way when standing. The slightly longer nose helped on descents offering a bit more control over the bike through the thighs. The sloping tail of the saddle allowed seamless entry and exit off the back of the bike when the terrain demanded it. Mountain bike riders in baggy shorts will also appreciate the drop nose on this saddle as it guides your pants back onto the bike with the rest of you, no more snags.

As for the ergonomic claims? The saddle did almost everything it claimed it would, there was little or no pressure on the soft tissue between my legs while riding which was really easy to appreciate after a couple of hours on the bike. The characteristic numbness that accompanies long rides seemed conspicuously absent while on the Evolution. The nose dropped away at the front creating space to climb more comfortably although climbing on the nose of the saddle was out of the question as the length mean that you were just too far forward to climb efficiently.

There was a noticeable reduction in shock to my tail bone, but how could there not be with the great chasm built through the saddle?

Overall the saddle performed as the manufacturers claimed, it cut out the numbness and discomfort that goes with long rides, and kept the sleek shape needed to perform as a racing saddle. It offered plenty of control and room to move around the bike, while offering a design that is user friendly to riders in both Lycra shorts and baggies. If you can get past the looks of this saddle, it has plenty to offer the cyclist intent on long sessions on the bike.

To test ride the Evolution contact the team at Ride ‘n Style

Ride ‘n Style
Ph: 08 9284 2451
585 Stirling Hwy
Cottesloe WA 6017
Australia

The Oakley Kitchen Sink offers every conceivable innovation, from a mobile phone pocket to a padded sleeve that holds a laptop up to 17″. The laptop sleeve can be access through the main compartment or from a convenient side access zip. The top storage compartment is compression molded to protect valuables like sunglasses and small electronics or can be used for a media player with it’s headphone port.

The top of the bag actually lifts up like a hatch by unclipping two beefy D-rings that latch onto a metal cable running around the circumference of the hatch which reveal a separate lockable cable zipper to seal the main compartment. A flap in the middle of the bag opens up to reveal a built-in organiser, and storage compartments tucked in to either side of the bag provide more space for smaller items. A unique compartment at the bottom is separated from the main storage area and has drainage ports for wet or soiled items. You also get plenty of pockets, attachment points and tie downs.

Besides all the storage spaces inside, the bag also has an array of straps and hooks for handling the beast once it’s all filled up. Three compression straps on either side of the bag make it possible to reign in your gear when it gets a little too bulky; while a strip of metal anchors in the middle provide a convenient place to tie down the bag with straps or Bungee cords. A heavy duty handle at the top of the pack allows for one-handed carrying.

The Kitchen Sink is a large backpack and when fully packed can be quite heavy. I have taken the pack interstate as carry on luggage but wouldn’t be suprised if one day was pulled up for it being too big and needing to be checked-in. The shoulder straps are padded and comfortable and are designed to support the pack with fully laid up.

The Kitchen Sink’s design and quality is impeccable and faultless. Being a top of the range backpack and from Oakley, it is not the cheapest pack at AU$319.95. This is one ultra cool backpack that will have you stand out of the crowd.

The Garmin Edge 705 is available in a number of different packages. The packaged reviewed here includes the heart rate sensor and cadence sensor. In my opinion if you’re buying the 705 as the ultimate tool, go for the package that opens up its full potential. The only thing that need to be sorted out with the purchase is what maps to get, the 705 does not come packed with maps.

At first glance the 705 looks huge, only because we’ve been used to the tiny traditional bike computers that display a couple of lines of information. Once installed onto your bikes stem or handlebars and fire it up, you will realise for the first time that you have been missing out in the past.

The 705 is waterproof with solid rubberised buttons on either side of the unit and a joystick and button combination on the front underneath a large colour screen. The rear of the unit has the integrated mounting bracket and the mini USB charging/data connection port.

Setting up the 705 is a cinch. The amount of information you wish to display on a ride is fully customisable, and you have two full screen of user information to customise. On the first screen I displayed eight functions: elapsed time, speed, distance, cadence, heart rate, time of day and calories burned. On the second screen, I have opted for a more basic display showing: speed, time elapsed, time of day and distance – similar data shown by a traditional computer, but on a much large, easy to read display.

The menu button on the lower left side reveals all the settings, navigation entry and stores data. You can easily access saved ride history and pre-determined training ride courses that can monitor your current progress vs a previous – you become your own training partner.

The mode button on the lower left side changes screens by alternating: map, elevation, and the user customised data display. The map and elevation screens can be zoomed in and out with the zoom buttons on the upper right side. The map screen can be customised with user required information. I have displayed: speed and elapsed time so I don’t have to toggle between map and information screens when I just need the map display. Customising the map screen does make the viewable map area smaller, so you would want minimal user information displayed.

Multiple profiles are available for users and bikes. I have a mounting bracket installed on my road and mountain bike and easily switch between the two by selecting the appropriate profile. Nothing else needs to be connected. For the road bike, the cadence sensor monitor cadence and speed. On the mountain bike, I figure that cadence if not required and leave the speed to be monitored by the GPS.

Upon turning on the device it searches for satellites like all GPS devices do. After a few seconds it finds your location and you are ready to roll by pressing the start button. The 705 accurately tracks you route in real-time pausing the elapsed time when you come to a stop. Upon reaching your destination end the ride by pressing the stop button. Before beginning a new ride you have to remember to reset the display. After downloading your information to a computer the unit is automatically reset for the next ride.

The heart rate sensor wraps around the chest in the same way other HRM transmitters do and accurately records your heart rate. Advanced HRM functionality such as training zones can be applied if required. I do question the 705′s accuracy when converting HRM information to calories burned. Compared with other HRMs the Garmin seemed to be rather high.

Battery life is stated as approximately 12 hours which I have never found not enough. I can only see that you will need to supply a charging solution if riding very long rides such as endures or similar. The rear mounted USB port provides standard charging from a wall mounted power source or from a computer. The same USB port downloads data to your computer.

There are a range of software applications for your computer including the downloadable Garmin Training Center and Garmin’s web-based Garmin Connect.

In summary, the Garmin Edge 705 is a very special device. It displays everything you need, provides accurate guidance and records all your data for analysis – it really does it all.

Get the Garmin Edge 705 – you will never look back.

Designed for serious fitness enthusiasts and atheletes the FT80 is loaded with features that make it a leader in it’s class. The FT80′s is a solid and robust watch with a metal case, glass face and rubber wrist band.  I suspect the the large curved glass face could become easily chipped or scratched if it come into contact with a hard surface.

The FT80 is easily operated using buttons on either side of the watch which provide a good, solid feel when pushing them. A logical menu interface scrolls through Settings, Applications and Data. The reversed LCD display features white text on a black background that compliments the modern design but does take some time getting used to. It can be difficult to view the screen quickly when running or riding outdoors in bright sunlight.

When exercising or working-out the buttons scroll through various screens to display information such as heart rate, training zones, exercise time and calories burned. Audible feedback is provided to provide alerts for when you are outside of training zones which can be turned off if required or if too annoying.

Exercise, work-out and data can be transferred to a computer with the Flow Link feature. I found this feature limited and unreliable with Polar’s web-based application. The feature is only available for Windows computers with no Mac software available at the moment. The transfer cradle requires the watch to be perfectly placed to enable effective data transfer.

The FT80 comes with a comfortable WearLink strap which secures the transmitter to your chest. With Polar OwnCode transmission is spot on everytime, even in a gym packed with electronic equipment and other people training with HRMs. The unit is ANT transmission compatible and can be expanded with the additional of the Polar S1 Foot Pod and S1 GPS Sensor to monitor speed and distance. It must be noted that the unit does not provide full mapping capabilies.

As an everyday watch the FT80 ticks the boxes for basic watch functions such as dual time zones, alarm and stop watch. Unlike some HRMs, the battery in both the watch and the transmitter is user replaceable without having to take it to an authorised service agent.

In summary, the Polar FT80 is a great looking training tool that provides all the information you would need to monitor your fitness and progress.

Watch the video (above) featuring Polar experts discussing the new features of the FT80.

For more information about the Polar FT80 check out the Polar website.

Reviewed by Lakers