The Gift of Sport: Get the Blues

 

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Blue is the shade of the sea and the sky,

known to be a peaceful and relaxing hue. For the cool, calm, and collected…

GIVE BLUE

 

The SOS Gift Guides have something for everyone —

 with a full color spectrum of the best sporty gift ideas!

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1. GARY LINDEN X ST.FRANK SURFBOARD $1950This Dark Indigo Vines longboard is one of four in a collection that unites legendary shaper Gary Linden of Linden Surfboards with the iconic textile designs of St. Frank. Surf it or hang it, this longboard can live on the water or on your walls.

2. CLEYTO REYES VELCRO TRAINING GLOVES $189. For training, sparring, and boxing workouts, these Cleyto Reyes training gloves can give and take a punch. Designed with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship, they are made to provide the best protection and comfort. Shown here in cool blue, they are available in all your favorite colors too!

3. PERFECT MOMENT OVERSIZED QUILTED DOWN JACKET $660. With that 70’s alpine style, Perfect Moment takes this plush oversized down jacket and cinches it with a playful rainbow belt for a look that’s hip – and warm! – on and off the slopes. Read More

 

Posh Pedal Pushers

 

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LESS EXPENSIVE                                                               MORE EXPENSIVE

(RECREATION)                                                                                     (PERFORMANCE)

 

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Whether riding indoors or out, every cyclist needs a shoe that matches their skill level and time spent on the bike. These shoes should be as stylish as any others you would put on your feet, especially as there are so many beautifully designed cycling shoes on the market. One may think for spinning you don’t need a performance cycling shoe, but an indoor cyclist actually puts as much pressure on their feet in a 45-minute class as a 3 hour outdoor ride. The same features a competitive cyclist would look for in a road shoe are just as important for the avid spinner.

Assuming you ride with some frequency, you want a shoe that is going to be comfortable, fit well and of course, look great! The difference between a high priced shoe and a less expensive one is the fabric used in the upper, the material used on the sole, and the buckle system. Brands fit differently… some narrow, some wide, and all offer high and low priced options. Here are 10 chic cycling shoes for both men and women, every budget and every level, ready to go the distance.

LESS EXPENSIVE (left from top)

GIRO TRANS E70 $200. Giro makes some of the most stylish bike gear on the market with the performance to match. The Trans™ E70 features a perforated upper that conforms to the foot, and the acclaimed SuperNatural Fit footbed with adjustable arch support for optimal comfort and pedaling efficiency. Combined with the Easton EC70™ carbon composite outsole, replaceable heel pads, and ratcheting buckle closure, this shoe offers a lot of performance for the price.

DIADORA SPEEDRACER 2 $234.99. Engineered and developed for the pros, the Speedracer 2 features an ultra-thin, but very rigid full carbon/fiberglass sole for efficient power transfer. Innovative features like the Power Flow ventilation system, V-Fit adjust strap and ergonomic insole deliver the highest level of performance.

SHIMANO SH-R088 $119.95. The Shimano SH-R088 road shoes are perfect for indoor fitness and outdoor recreational riders. A lightweight, fiberglass reinforced sole provides pedal power while the stretch-resistant upper enhances stability. Air intake/exhaust system offers continuous ventilation, Dynalast promotes a smoother, more energy-efficient upstroke, and dual offset straps with micro-adjust ratchet give a snug, pressure-free fit.
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The SOS Gift Guides: For The Cyclist

 

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The week by week, sport by sport,  STYLE OF SPORT Holiday Gift Guides continue this week with great ideas for that cyclist in your life. Whether they ride for transportation, fitness, fun, or just like cool stuff, we’ve got the gear every rider will be asking for this holiday season.

ROW 1: SIDI WIRE CYCLING SHOES $499. Top of the line, the new Wire is the choice of WorldTour athletes and pros everywhere. The Tecno 3 closure system provides even pressure across the entire foot for ultimate comfort and pedaling efficiency. Micro-ratcheting buckles allow easy one-click adjustment in either direction, for simple fine-tuning on the go. BUDNITZ NO.1 DISASSEMBLED PRINT $100. From one of our favorite bike companies, Budnitz, makers of some of the most uniquely beautiful bikes, comes this high-quality Giclée archival print of their No.1 Titanium bicycle disassembled.

ROW 2: RAPHA MERINO BRETON $170 From the sophisticated cyclist’s favorite brand Rapha, comes their Merino interpretation of the iconic Breton sweater. BROOKS VICTORIA SADDLE HANDBAG 160€. Originally conceived as a stylish saddle cover with incorporated saddle bag, the Victoria is also a whimsical handbag in the iconic saddle shape. CRANK BROTHERS STERLING SG PUMP $44.99. This sleek alloy mini pump is big on function as well as style. It features a high pressure air switch and gauge, and is compatible with both schrader and presta valves. MOVADO PARLEE CHRONOGRAPH $7500. Inspired by their ultra racing bikes, this 46mm automatic chronograph watch incorporates 250 layers of unidirectional carbon fiber, the super-lightweight bike frame material refined by Parlee Cycles. The edition is limited to 250 individually numbered pieces with a choice of 4 dial accent colors: blue, white, green or orange.

ROW 3: LAZER STREET DLX URBAN LUXURY HELMET $59. Heads will turn in this wood finished bike helmet! It features leather straps and metal strap dividers to complete the unique look, along with 16 vents will keep you cool while riding with such style. GIRO XEN GLOVES $40. Lightweight but durable this all-day mountain bike glove is engineered for fit, comfort and protection, and features touchscreen technology in the fingertips. Crash pads wrap around the palm onto the lateral edge of the hand for added cushioning in the event of a fall. SONY POV ACTION CAM $349. While we all know the GoPro, this palm size Sony POV camcorder is a cool competitor, and boasts a host of features inside its tough waterproof exterior. For cycling or any action sport, SteadyShot™ image stabilization conquers bumps and blur, and up to 5 cameras can be controlled with Live-View Remote via your phone. With 5 video modes including 1080/60p and 2x slow motion, it also captures amazing high quality 11.9MP still images in photo mode. Read More

 

The Calendar of Triathlon

 

 

MAY has arrived and with it brought a new STYLE OF SPORT CALENDAR. The theme this month is TRIATHLON. While May is actually National Bike Month, we were ahead of the curve and featured bicycles on our March Calendar of Bicycles. With summer coming, we wanted to feature lots of outdoor sports, so get ready for 31 days of all the hottest Swim/Bike/Run gear, apparel, and accessories for you seasoned competitors and those new to the sport.

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MAY 31: FELT BICYCLES DA1Here we are at the last day of the month and with so many incredible triathlon bikes to feature, we wanted to put one more in the spotlight. Comparable to Specialized’s top of the line S-Works Shiv and priced at a meager $10,329, the sleek and sexy DA1 from Felt Bicycles clocks in at the world’s fastest time trial bike and weapon of choice for the best triathletes on the international circuit. The focus at Felt is on optimizing rider position to maximize aerodynamic efficiency, comfort being a key factor in the equation. The frame is constructed from UHC Ultimate+Nano carbon fiber and optimized for Shimano Di2 11 Speed electronic shifting. The result is a race machine that is proven to be fast and responsive when the competition requires the best.

MAY 30: 2XU COMPRESSION CALF GUARDS. 2XU makes an extensive array of compression apparel and accessories very popular with triathletes and endurance athletes. These tight-fitting lycra garments are designed to support the muscles to reduce fatigue and injury. They increase oxygen flow to the muscles for improved training, faster recovery and stronger performance. The calf muscles are particularly prone to strain with the 3 sports of triathlon, and the 2XU Compression Calf Guards are a nice option in the warm summer months. They provide 50 SPF sun protection, plus they can be worn under a wetsuit making transition times faster.

MAY 29: KINETIC BY KURT ROCK AND ROLL TRAINER. Most triathletes and cyclists use an indoor trainer during those months when the weather prevents outdoor cycling. Some athletes use them regardless as great way to train on the bike in a controlled environment. The Kinetic by Kurt Rock and Roll Trainer takes the indoor cycling workout to a new level as the only trainer produced that mimics the natural side to side movement of the bike when cycling outdoors. Kinetic is recognized as one of the leading makers of indoor trainers and guarantees the construction and technology of their products with a lifetime guarantee.

MAY 28: ZOGGS PREDATOR FLEX REACTOR PHOTOCHROMATIC GOGGLES. There are lots of great open water swim goggles on the market, but these photochromatic goggles from Zoggs have to be one of the coolest options out there, with lenses that automatically adjust for changing light conditions. The flexible frame provides a secure, comfortable and leak-free fit, while the Curved Lens Technology allows a distortion-free, full 180 degree field of vision.

MAY 27: CLIF SHOT BLOKS. Newest to the line of Clif Shot products are the very tasty Clif Shot Bloks, each one providing 33 calories worth of organic carbohydrate and electrolyte fuel, critical during long training rides and runs. The Bloks come in an assortment of flavors so delicious you might be tempted to eat them even when you’re not in training!

MAY 26: PEARL IZUMI TRI FLY IV CARBON SHOES. A triathlon specific cycling shoe is an important accessory for any triathlete looking to speed up their performance. We featured the high-end S-Works Trivent back on May 6, geared toward the elite level triathlete. The Pearl Izumi Tri Fly IV Carbon is an excellent shoe for all levels, and reasonably priced as well. It is extremely lightweight with a ventilated mesh upper and fully lined for sockless comfort. It features the large heel loop critical for triathletes for easy pull-on in the T1 swim to bike transition. The stiff carbon Power Plate optimizes the transfer of power into the pedal stroke and the concave shaping provides great overall support.

MAY 25: FUELBELT. For long distance training runs, continuous hydration is essential on the road and the FuelBelt is the best way to keep water and your preferred electrolyte beverages handy. The FuelBelt is available with 2-4 bottles, an integrated gear pouch, and is now in a variety of fun summer colors!

MAY 24: ISM ADAMO SADDLES. Adamos are considered the most comfortable performance bike saddles. The patented ISM design has eliminated the nose of the traditional saddle, which tends to force too much weight onto sensitive soft tissue, and directs the pressure onto the more supportive sit bones. The are a number of different models, designed for different kinds of competition and levels of riders. The Attack is the newest road racing saddle, just voted “Best In Class” by Triathlete Magazine, but The Breakaway and Podium are also very popular. The Saddle Selector on the ISM website, helps narrow down which saddle is best for you.

MAY 23: ADIDAS TRAINING SANDALS. You’ll be stylin’ round the pool deck this summer, before and after laps, in the hot collection of training slides from Adidas for both men and women. These no-slip flip-flops and sandals will pamper your feet with the super cushy Fitfoam® of the Chilwyanda and massage nubs of the Adissage. All come in a fantastic array of fun summer colors!

MAY 22: ZIPP 404 FIRECREST CARBON CLINCHERS. Despite a number of excellent competitors, Zipp has dominated the aero wheel market for many years and the 404 Firecrest Carbon Clinchers are a new milestone in race wheel design. Their revolutionary rim shape is not only incredibly aerodynamic and light, but has resulted in handling more stable than any other Zipp wheel. In addition, a wider brake track allows more air in the tires for a silky smooth ride. The unmatched combination of superior aerodynamics, ride quality, strength and handling make these wheels the ones to beat.

MAY 21: CASTELLI ROSSO CORSA CLASSIC GLOVES. Chic Italian style and technical performance come together in this classic glove. Reticulated gel-padded palms, breathable mesh back and an anatomically designed shaped provide great comfort and protection. The smooth interior finish, slip-on wrists and central pull tab make them easy to put on and take off. The microsuede wipe panel on the thumb is another appreciated feature, especially out there on the road.

MAY 20: TIFOSI OPTICS FOTOTEC/HIGH SPEED RED. While interchangeable lenses are a great option, even better are photochromatic lenses that adjust automatically to changing light conditions, much more convenient during the course of a long run or ride. Tifosi Fototec lenses with variable tint technology transition from light to dark very fast and provide 100% protection against harmful UVA/UVB rays. The “High Speed Red” option is ideal for triathletes as it sharpens contrast, highlighting details the road ahead. The TEMPT is a small-medium frame, ideal for women, but still offers good coverage. Made of Grilamid TR-90, characterized by an extremely high bending strength, these sunglasses have adjustable hydrophilic rubber ear and nose pieces for a customizable, comfortable and no-slip fit. Read More

 

8 For The Road: Cycling Shoes to Go

 

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Spinning, triathlons and road riding are all extremely popular at the moment, and chances are you are participating in at least one of these activities. If so, you are in need of a good cycling shoe. Now as we are talking about shoes here, you want them to be kinda fab. In sports however, performance is key. What is most critical in a cycling shoe is that they be lightweight for efficiency, have a stiff sole for power, good ventilation, and adjustable straps for a secure and comfortable fit. Above I present 8 that have it all and are pretty hot looking too. So yes, you can have your cake and eat it too, as long as you keep riding!

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Row 1: MAVIC ZXELLIUM Road Shoes $149.99 (on sale)SHIMANO SH-R191 Road Shoes $229; Row 2: NORTHWAVE FIGHTER SBS Road Shoes $79 (on sale); DIADORA AEROSPEED 2 $99.99 (on sale); Row 3: GIRO FACET TRI $200SIDI GENIUS 5 Pro Carbon Road Shoes $239.99; Row 4: PEARL IZUMI PRO LEADER Road Shoes $269.99; LOUIS GARNEAU FUTURA XR Road Shoes $179.99

ALL SHOES AND MORE AVAILABLE AT PERFORMANCEBIKE.COM

 
 

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