Tour du Equator Coffee & Teas

Have you ever wondered what goes into producing that hot cup of coffee you drink in the morning? For most, the process is simple: buy the coffee, put it in the coffee maker, add water, and drink the coffee. But there is much more to it. This past Monday, Andy, Steve O., Brandon, and myself were given the opportunity to learn all about the newest sponsor of Team Mike’s Bikes p/b Incase: Equator Coffees & Teas ­­­­­­– a Marin-based coffee roaster with major focuses on quality and sustainability. Our tour began with a brief introduction to the company and its history by the company’s co-founder and CEO, Helen Russell. As she spoke about how the company was started in a garage, Ted Stachura (Director of Coffee at Equator) began brewing and pouring samples of the new TMB Speed Blend and their single-origin Don Pepe Bourbon for side-by-side comparison.

We continued the tour though the facility with Ted, as he thoroughly explained the process Equator takes in establishing long-term relationships with its growers around the world, and the life of the coffee bean from fruit to brew.

Equator is proud to be one of the first roasters in the nation to possess a Loring SmartRoaster, a sophisticated machine that reduces carbon emissions by 80% without compromising their artisan quality.

After taking a short look at their operations for packing and shipping, Ted and Caitlin took us through Equator’s cupping system of tasting coffees in small batches, from beans in green form, side by side. It’s a very delicate process, and allows them to try several different samples from potential suppliers in a timely manner.

To finish the tour, we were each given an Equator t-shirt and a freshly roasted bag of TMB Speed Blend before it hits the shelves at Mike’s Bikes stores around the Bay Area.

Equator’s commitment to producing their coffees and teas at the highest quality, and in such environmentally responsible methods, is beyond cool. This was an incredible learning experience, and we’re stoked to have such an awesome company on board to help support our racing and development.

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Specialized Toupe Saddle

The right saddle can prevent injury, increase wattage. A bike saddle is a basic piece of equipment, one that most people don’t put much thought into. They should. For years I rode on a popular, narrow Euro saddle that touted its long length as a quality that let the rider shift around, hopefully into the right position. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I never shifted into anything close to an optimum spot. It turned out the saddle’s talk of length was just an effort to compensate for a lack of performance and unwanted motion. And my body and wattage suffered as a consequence.

Specialized Toupe Saddle

Enter the Specialized Toupe. After years of dealing with mysterious use injuries, many of which seemed to stem from my sacrum and low-back, within a week of riding the Toupe they were gone. In their place came a crazy new sensation – sit bone contact. It turned out that my shifting on my old slender, Euro saddle had been causing irritation; the lack of sit bone contact had undoubtedly been costing me watts. The Toupe makes this happen with its simple but thoughtful Body Geometry philosophy: design saddles to fit a rider’s body. And one size doesn’t fit all. That’s why the Toupe comes in three sizes, 130, 143, and 155 MM. Your local Mike’s Bikes shop can tell you what size you are with a simple tool that measures the width of your sit bones. I’m a 143. My old Euro saddle was ~130. Because that was the only size it came in.

Beyond assuring a proper fit and optimum sit bone contact for power output, Specialized’s Body Geometry team lab tests its saddles to assure blood flow to sensitive arteries. Enough said about that. All this and the 143 mm Toupe Pro tips the scales at just 137 grams.

Smith Pivlock V2 Sunglasses

By Brandon Trafton

Simply a great product. Sunglasses are not only an aesthetically pleasing addition to a cyclists uniform, but they provide the very important roll of protecting a set of very vulnerable organs, the eyes! Proper eyewear should not only protect your eyes from UV damage, but from the random projectiles launched by your riding companions tires. I am sure many can recall that large thud given off when a rock hits that precious S-Works paint job, one of those to the eye will turn an awesome ride into a bad day pretty quickly.

There are 3 features to the Pivlock V2 sunglasses that I particularly find noteworthy:

First and foremost, the lack of peripheral vision obstruction. Smith Pivlock sunglasses have no solid edges, leaving your peripheral vision range unobstructed. I find this absolutely crucial when I am racing handlebar to handlebar on a narrow technical circuit. The last think I want when I am racing, is a large piece of plastic obstructing my sight when I am in O

2 

debt trying to out maneuver though 100 guys on the final lap of a criterium.

Secondly, the weight of the glasses You can hardly notice them on your face, but they are surprisingly secure. There is often a compromise, the lighter the glasses the less secure they are on your head. Fortunately, Smith found a great balance.

Lastly, they just look good. The Pivlocks accent the clean, fast and light concepts of road cycling. We roadies want everything to be lighter and more aero, which these lenses compliment well.

Eye protection on the road is a must, because as the saying goes, “it is always fun until someone gets their eye pocked out.” How do you make sure you remember to wear eye protection? Easy, get a pair of really cool sunglasses, like the PIVLOCKS.

Capo Bib Shorts: Only the Best Survive

By Dana Williams I hate to admit this during a product review of one of our sponsors, but Capo for the second year in a row made the same mistake. Hold your breath......sorry Capo, I hate to say this, but you made your bib short too good once again. It's mid season now and the shorts and chamois still feels like new. How can a company expect to sell their products when they make them so superior? I could still be wearing my shorts from last year and be happy.

All jokes aside, what I pointed out above is true. In all my years of riding and racing, I haven't worn a bib short that feels so great and last for so long. And no, Capo isn't paying me to write this. I was going to write a similar review at the end of last season, but life got too busy (my wife had our second child, I started my new training and cycle coaching business; www.achieveptc.com, among other things) and I wanted to see if this years shorts were just as good. And yup, they are.

There's not much else to say. The chamois doesn't cause any sore spots (wash them after each ride, like you should with all shorts), the spandex doesn't stretch out so it still compresses my legs and the stitching and seams stay together well. Thank you Capo. Keep up the great work.

Zipp 404 Wheels: Going Fast Just Got Easier

By Eric Riggs It has long been my opinion that wheels are the most important thing a cyclist can get right in his equipment lineup order to go fast. Even as the sport is rapidly approaching this new era dominated by aerodynamic road bikes and helmets, wheels are still the most important piece of equipment to making a cyclist go fast.

With this in mind, I couldn't be more pleased that Team Mike's Bikes p/b Incase are riding ZIPP 404 Firecrest for the 2013 season.

These wheels are the fastest on the market and a testament to ZIPP's innovative thinking and approach to wheel building.

Aero wheel designers typically focused only on the front half of the wheel. While this will produce a fast front half, when it is flipped in reverse on the back half it would often slow a wheel down and never reach that wheel's full potential.

ZIPP started looking at how wind attaches to a wheel and then trails off, which caused them to spend a considerable amount of time working on the back half of the wheel. They found this was a vastly superior approach to aero wheel building. The end result of this labor is the Firecrest wheel.

Racing these wheels for two years now, my experiences have reflected the data. These wheels are obscenely fast. I was dorking around and threw my 404s on an old, steel Lemond frame and was absolutely amazed at how much faster the bike rode. Racing these wheels in technical crits they are adequately stiff to get me around the corners and take a tremendous beating when I'm throwing tons of force into the front end during sprints and attacks. Strangely enough, these wheels seem a ton more stable in crosswinds that other deep dish carbon wheels I've ridden. I can't really explain it, but it feels like they are just slightly being pressed by crosswinds rather than wrecked and thrown around all over.

Feel free to demo these wheels and see what I'm talking about: http://mikesbikes.com/about/bike-and-wheel-demos-at-mikes-pg900.htm

Specialized S-Works Prevail Helmet: Cool, Comfortable and Safe

By Shawn Rosenthal Coolness:

Thermoregulation is one of the most important aspects to consider during an endurance event in the summer sun.  Your head is one of your body's radiators.  Keeping it cool is essential.  This helmet is made with massive vents to channel cooling air.  Lots of air.

When I get to the start line of a warm, sunny race and I see others wearing a closed vent aero road helmet and a thick, dark skinsuit, it cracks me up.  I'll stay cool in my mesh white jersey and vented helmet.

Comfort:

Years ago, I remember switching from one of my old helmets to one of the new Bell helmets.  What a world of difference it made having a helmet that simply disappeared out of thought once I put it on.  The Specialized Prevail sits yet another step up. I got the same impression when I went out riding for the first time with it.  It feels like I am not even wearing the helmet.  This is accomplished by two characteristics.  First, the helmet fits to your head perfect with a minimalistic, padded frame, holding the actual structure of the helmet away from your head.  Second, the helmet is a featherweight.

Safety:

Yes, the helmet protects the head.  We got a chance to crush one in the testing labs.

This one far exceeds the required safety requirements and is one of the safest helmets on the market.  It utilizes a large amount of lower density polystyrene on the sides, allowing the helmet to crumple a greater distance for a lower pulse upon impact.  They've achieved the ability to use lower density polystyrene through their kevlar internal skeleton.

This is one component under appreciated that will make you feel better and enjoy your ride more.

Shawn is the 2013 NorCal District Road Race Champion. He lives in Berkeley, CA and run his own cycle coaching business: http://www.provantagesports.com.

Zealios Sun Barrier: We Use it to Protect Our Skin and Maintain Performance

By Adam Switters Although many cyclists manage to get more tan than cast members of the Jersey Shore, it comes with the unwanted side effect of multiple hours in the sun everyday. It’s about time we started to protect our skin and that’s why Team Mike’s Bike p/b Incase is proud to be sponsored by Zealios Sun Barrier.

Along with preventing skin cancer, wearing Zealios Sun Barrier is also performance enhancing; it reduces radiant heat absorption and keeps your body cooler. Zealios Sun Barrier is made for athletes. It’s oil free and isn’t greasy like a lot of sunscreens out there. It’s sweat resistant meaning you’ll still be burn free 4 hours into your long ride. It even has anti-oxidants to help absorb free radicals!

We use Zealios Sun Barrier because we know it’s the best and you should too.

Hydration Essentials

Team Mike’s Bikes is fortunate to use a great hydration product – Osmo.  Osmo Active Hydration brings together proven science and common sense – a sports drink’s primary function should be to hydrate. Osmo Pre-Load supplements even the best in-competition hydration plans to improve performance on the hottest days and in the toughest efforts. Just ask Peter Sagan. But this post isn’t about Osmo or the latest sports science on hydration. At the end of the day, one thing about hydration is universally accepted – if you lose your bottles during a race, what’s in them doesn’t really matter.

Enter the water bottle cage – the unsung hero of hydration.

What matters most about a water bottle cage? First and foremost, your bottle needs to stay in it. In three years of racing, when the roads have gotten rough – and we certainly have our share of those in Nor Cal – TMB bottles have stayed put. From Madera, to Copperopolis, to Challenge, when rough roads jettison bottles left and right, ours have stayed securely in our BikeSmart HydroCarbon 4 Carbon Fiber Bottle Cages.

And better still, these cages get the job done while weighing in under 20 grams. And with a sleek profile that sits flush to the bottle, you’ll add about as little drag as possible while carrying a standard bottle. The aerodynamic engineers that spend hundreds of hours on your frame will appreciate it. It’s hard to argue how you buy a better upgrade for your bike for just $44.

Zipp Wheel Review

by Adam Switters Team Mike’s Bike p/b Incase is very lucky this year to be sponsored Zipp, the fastest wheels out there on the market. Riders are using Zipp 101 clinchers for training and Zipp 404 Firecrest Carbon clinchers for racing.

Zipp 101’s

The Zipp 101’s are the perfect training wheel. My 25mm tires fit perfect on them and they are bombproof for my not-always-considered-pavement training rides. They handle superbly and aerodynamics are not compromised for the sake of durability. The extruded aluminum rims are very sturdy and I’ve had no problem with braking, even in the rain.

Zipp 404 Firecrest Clinchers

These wheels just scream fast. Coming in at a scant 1525g for the pair, these wheels are light enough for the steepest of climbs and responsive enough for the most technical criteriums. The dimpled aerodynamic profile of the wheels makes it top of the class in aero performance among other carbon clinchers. New heat resistant resin on the braking surface also dissipates spikes in heat from hard braking as seen in other carbon clinchers. I’ve raced these wheels in some of the worst racing roads in California (Snelling and Madera) and they are still as true as the day I got them.

Incase Sonic open ear headphone

Incase Sonic open ear headphone Working as a cycling coach, I spend a lot of my time either at home, at the cafe, or on the road. I love music and I like it to sound good. Wherever I am, I've got a nice set of over ear headphones that look as good as they are comfortable.

With the soft, open cell memory foam, they mimic some of the properties of open air headphones. This does mean that sound emanate to your surroundings a little bit more than the standard closed air headphones. Maybe not the best headphones for a quiet car ride while listening to auto-tuned fun from Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen. Quiet enough for any other environment. This helps reduce the pounding sensation that other headphones will create and also allows for a more natural sound.

We're on Spotify now.

Something I've found with every over the ear headphone I've used is that my MacBook just doesn't produce enough juice. Check out the app "Boom" for extra volume and a global equalizer to push the headphones harder with some extra pumping, distortion free bass.

Did I mention it's got an inline microphone for making hands free phone calls? Consolations with clients, talks with mom, weekly team conference calls etc.

Did I mention anything about the comfort? They use memory foam for padding. Memory foam has been widely accepted as a godsend material for pillows and mattresses. I've fallen asleep with these headphones on.

For more isolation and for an active lifestyle, they've got the stylish earbuds with inline volume control, track control and a microphone.

Detangling Life

I recently got an Incase USB Mini Cable Kit and this small and simple product has completely changed how I pack. The USB Mini Cable Kit is a small pouch with three USB cables (iPod connector, Mini USB, & Micro USB). After getting the kit, I left it in my backpack (Incase Range Large Backpack) and when I got back to the campus, I had to run to the library to work on a project. After some studying I remembered to download my training files from the ride and that I needed to charge my phone. It took me a second and then I realized that I already had the cables with me. Ever since then I have taken this kit with my everywhere. I no longer have to plan which long, tangled cables I should bring for a trip (whether to a race or just to study). This kit fits my lifestyle because it allows me connect all the devices I need for both my cycling and school everywhere I go.

To go on a ride I use two of the cables to make sure that both my phone and Bike Computer are charged and downloaded. To go to school I use anther two cables to make sure I have all my textbooks (Kindle - Micro USB) and my phone are charged.

Thank you Incase for this awesome product.

-Marcus Smith

2013 Specialized S-Works Road Shoe Review

When I first tried 2013 S-Works Road Shoe (size 42.5, the same size as my previous 2012 s-works shoes), I noticed that these shoes fit slightly on the smaller side. For me, this wasn’t a problem since I was between a 42 and a 42.5 with the old pair anyway. Right away, something just felt right... like these shoes were custom-tailored for my feet. The heel cup feels deeper, and better shaped, so there is virtually no heel-slip. On the inside of the heel, the lining has little rubberized grippers for even more anti-slip protection - a very nice detail.

One of the biggest advances that Specialized made with these shoes was the way they positioned the BOA dials. Instead of going straight across the tongue of the shoe, they’re slightly askew - so as to pull the two sides of the more supple upper together to wrap around the foot, rather than just to secure the foot down to the sole of the shoe. This was the biggest difference that I noticed while riding in them. I didn’t find myself needing to re-tighten them after a few hours on the bike like I did with the previous generation S-works shoes. This also made the shoes much more comfortable to wear on the longer 4+ hour training rides. It may sound a little cliché, but I often forgot I was wearing them.

I’ll be honest, I have a pair of white “hand-made” Italian cycling shoes that I wear on occasion for the short coffee shop rides on recovery days or local group ride. But with the panache styling of the new 2013 S-works Road shoe - super clean patent finish upper, and bold, sleek lines – you’ll more than likely see me enjoying my next mid-ride cappuccino and muffin wearing these shoes instead.

I accompany my S-works Road shoes with a set of Specialized Green Performance Insoles and Look Keo cleats in Grey, also available at your local Mike’s Bikes.

-Travis Lyons

LOOK Keo Blade Carbon Pedals - Mini Review

Pedals are fairly simple component that serve one vital purpose: Keep your shoes locked on to the bike in order to throw down the watts. I pushed the pedals around many many times in 2012, and I've been notably impressed with the Look Keo Blade Carbons that were issued to Team Mike's Bikes.

Having been a stalwart user of the ubiquitous chunks of aluminum called Shimano Dura Ace for many seasons, I was initially skeptical of the Blades incredible light weight, composite construction, and crazy carbon leaf-spring retention system. What if I clip a pedal and snap the thing off? Won't the composite cage wear out prematurely?

Well, after a full crazy year of riding, It's January 1st, 2013 and the Blades feel as crisp as they did when we picked up our brand new bikes last January. I'll be the first to say I'm not the easiest on my equiment, and the Blades have held up to some serious abuse on some very tough terrain. I also love how easy it is to clip in and out of them; the light but solid engagment belies the fact that the pedals hold my zero degree float cleats tighter than any other brand I've used.

Overall, these pedals have performed far above and beyond my expectations. I'm stoked for to pedaling the Look Carbon Blades around again in 2013.

The Look Keo Blade Carbon are available at your nearest Mike's Bikes for $289.99.

BikeSmart Elmer Crudd Fender

BikeSmart Elmer Crudd fender has a bolted hinge that allows it to fit the shape of any bike perfectly. The hinge also allows it to fold up small enough to fit into a backpack (for example the Incase Large Range Backpack), so you aren't bikefendering when the roads are dry, but are ready when they are wet!

Gary's Panforte

Favorite new Clif Bar flavor!

BikeSmart HydroCarbon 4 Carbon Fiber Bottle Cages

Carbon bottles cages are usually seen as gimmicky, overpriced, fragile, and for the weight weenies. Before using the HydroCarbon cages, I couldn't have agreed more. Why would I want to spend a ton of money for a few grams on something that I count on supplying me with water? Worse yet, why would I want to risk the potential of dropping a heavy bottle onto my chain drive and suffer an expensive mechanical?

Well I have used the BikeSmart HydroCarbon 4 Carbon cages for two seasons now and have yet to break a cage or launch a bottle. This includes hauling full 24oz bidons for two and half weeks over the cobbles streets of Belgium. During the Kermis races, full bottles slid across the course as the bumpy pave ejected riders bottles into the peloton but my Cliff bottles stayed snug and secure in my cages.

Now one might think, sure I bet your bottles stayed in your cages but I bet they take the jaws of life to pull one out for a drink. Actually the the carbon fiber material provides the perfect amount of flex allowing you to remove and replace your bottle with ease.

One of my favorite subtleties of the cages is the mounting slots for the bottle cage bolts on your bike. If you take extra precaution when packing your bike for travel and like to remove your cages, or trying to shed that extra gram in a Hill Climb or bit of drag in a Time Trial, these cages are a breeze to remove and install. Instead of having to completely unthread and remove the bottle cage bolt from the frame, you merely have to loosen it to slide the cage up and pop em off with ease.

Best part about these cages? BikeSmart has so much faith in their product and such dedication to improving them that they offer a no questions asked lifetime warranty on all their products! So lets say you for some reason got a bad cage and it cracks a year later, you simply walk into a BikeSmart vendor (Mike's Bikes for example) and swap it for a new one. No receipt, no problem.

Weighing in at less than 20 grams, the BikeSmart HydroCarbon 4 Carbon Fiber Bottle Cages cost $44.99 in Black and $54.99 in painted White. Not a bad price for the last bottle cage you will have to buy.

Visit mikesbikes.com or drop into your local Mike's to pick some up.

-Hank

Specialized Tires

I'm definitely one to toot my teams sponsors horn but in this case the proof is in the picture. One product that I definitely feels doesn't get enough credit for how phenomenal they are is Specialized tires. Pictured below is a staple punctured into my rear Specialized All Condition Armadillo Elite (25c) with the tire still inflated. I was able to remove it and the tire held air the rest of my ride. Without sounding too cheesy, I have been riding the All Conditional Armadillo Elites exclusively for the past two years and will continue to do so. Their flat protection and life is simply unbeatable. Some people prefer the Espoir or Roubaix tire for a little less weight and more supple of a ride but I find these makes me enjoy my Turbo Tubular Team tires that much more come race day.

Right now I have Specialized Purgatory and tires on my Stumpjumper, All Condition Armadillos on my road bikes, and Turbo Tubular Team tires on my Zipp 404s. Next time you wear our a tire or blow a sidewall, check out what Specialized has to offer.

-Hank

Chappy Wood

I love riding bicycles. I can count the things I like better on one hand's fingers. Sometimes I don't want to ride, sure, but when I do and can't, shit hits the fan. This has been the case since the middle of January, as knee troubles have resulted in nonexistent or short and inconsistent riding. Being the dork of human anatomy and physiology that I am, my inability to diagnose and remedy this situation frustrated me to a further extent. Bike fits, countless foam roller sessions, massage, self-massage, ice, heat, ice, heat, biofreeze, voltaren, ice, heat. Feel better. Try to ride. Feel worse. It seemed I was no good at the things I enjoy. (Euro english:) "Oyyyyuggghhh Amateur."

Then I saw Chappy Wood. This is not a euphemism.  Chappy is a real person. And he's actually good at what he does. Really good. Within a few minutes of observation and tests, he diagnosed gluteus medius and minimus weakness and hip flexor (tensor fascia latae) weakness and tightness. Then he whipped out the laser gun. This is not a euphemism.

With the help of electrode stimulus, a pneumatic super-pulverizing massage gun, a laser gun, targeted muscle release, and chiropractic expertise, I walked out of his office with a spring in my step. My pedal stroke felt more fluid than ever. My neuromuscular connection was reinvigorated, and I felt efficient and smoooooooth on the bike. I loved riding bicycles again! He sent me home with some specific stretching and strengthening exercises, and things have continued to get better on the bike.  My hips are now pulling on my knees in the correct directions and proportions, and I'm on the road to recovery.

My advice is two-fold:

- Don't ignore any inklings of pain. Injuries begin with microtraumas, which most often do not cause pain. When pain begins in the slightest, you are already part way to a real, debilitating injury.

- If you want to get faster on the bike, go see Chappy, if only just for one visit. Even if you have no pain or injury. Training hard is but one aspect of becoming a successful bike racer; others include (but are not limited to): neuromuscular connection, biomechanical efficiency, mental game, equipment and support, and proper nourishment. Fortunately, just about all of these are easier than killing yourself with 2x20s every week. Go see Chappy at Marin Spine & Wellness Center and have him optimize your human machine. It's easy. (Except for the pulverizing super gun, that part hurts).

Is It About The Bike?

I’ve often wondered how much of a difference there really is between today’s high-end road bikes. They’re all light, few are lacking in stiffness, and differences in strength sound like they would take a sumo wrestler riding Belgian cobles to discern. So do the differences matter for a 5’ 8” guy with a sprint that might take a city limit sign on a geriatric group ride?

Signs point to no. And that’s the answer I would have given, until I took a little spill.

Yeah, that’s my femur. And the tiny crack you may see kept me on crutches and off my bike for the better part of this past fall. Fortunately, I received some good medical care, the bone has healed and I’m now back on the bike, fully equipped with some new steel hardware in the bone.

Shockingly, I’m not quite putting out the wattage I was before the accident. So when I picked up my new Specialized Tarmac SL4 last month, I wasn’t expecting to notice any difference compared to the top-of-the-line euro carbon bike that I had been riding.

But I did. Somehow, even pedaling at the speed of rehab, the Tarmac flies. Features like the tapered head tube and one-piece bb/chainstay help the frame achieve its industry leading stiffness to weight ratio. Bottom line, with this kind of pickup cruising at a modest pace, I can’t wait to see what the bike feels like attacking on a climb.

And the acceleration isn’t even the best part. I’ve certainly never been god’s gift to ballsyness in the bike handling department. Not surprisingly, the trauma of breaking my femur in a crash didn’t help my confidence. This was immediately clear when I was allowed to get back on my euro carbon bike at the end of December. I saw gradual improvements in confidence over the next few weeks, but the process promised to be painstakingly slow.

Then I got the Tarmac SL4. Within two rides, I already felt better descending than I had on my Gucci euro carbon ride of nearly three years. The razor sharp handling has provided just the confidence boost I needed.

Maybe most importantly, these features make the bike fun to ride. More fun leads to more time on the bike, which is a good thing whether you’re training to race, rehab or just get some exercise.

So apparently, there is a difference between high-end carbon bikes, even for a little guy without a sprint and some new steel in his leg. And as I rehab my way back into racing, I’ll take any advantage I can get.

-Steve O.

Zipp 303 Impact Testing

A major concern with running any carbon wheel is their durability. A rear Zipp 808 Firecrest retails for $1,624.99 alone so you definitely want these hoops to hold up. Zipp covers manufacture defects and has a great crash replacement program but the intensity of racing sometimes forces you into the wrong line or the rider in front of you may suddenly changes his sending you into a pothole. Luckily built into Zipp's Firecrest rims is an amount of flex which allows the wheel to bend under impact and hopefully avoid cracking. Check out this video of a Zipp 303 Impact Test: