Weekly Picks, Promos & Premes presents some of the new products that amateur racers like us will either lust after, or at least be able to afford. Designed to be a good mix of the rational and the aspirational, it will help you save money on gear - and then show you where to spend those savings.
Vans Podium Shoe
OK, it's not actually called that. Technically it's the "Old Skool Custom." With Vans online configurator, you can pick your own colors for just about every part of the shoe - toe cap, side stripe, foxing stripe, tongue, tongue binding, and on. The result is a one-off pair of kicks matched perfectly to your team kit (as long as your team has colors in Vans' configurator engine). They won't make you race faster. They won't improve your technical cornering ability. They are not recommended for running barriers and are not SPD compatible. What they will do, every time you pull them on, is remind you of what you've chosen to be a part of - a sport, a lifestyle, a team. That may be useful when training the 50% of racing that is 90% mental.
MSRP $60.00
More at www.vans.com
Topeak Defender R1/R2 Fender Set
Designed for road bikes with no-tools quick-release installation and removal, these babies can make the difference between getting tough, and getting sick. They also keep much of the winter road spray off your drivetrain, which will save you several times their price when you don't need to replace your chain, cassette and chainrings, not to mention slicing a big chunk out of your cleanup time. But don't get them just for yourself. They really should be standard issue for winter pack riding. I used to live in Vancouver, and guys who showed up to group rides without a pair of fenders were given the same look we normally reserve for noobs who roll up with aero bars.
MSRP $52.00
More at www.topeak.com
Specialized All Condition Armadillo Reflective Tire
A word about winter tires - they're not backup tires, or gently used tires, or whatever tires you had on your bike in September but haven't bothered to switch out yet. They're way more important than that, because their function is to keep you moving when it's 30 degrees, not shivering while your sweat condenses and you change tubes. Their other function is to give you the confidence that you can actually start and finish a ride without having to stop and shiver, making it easier to get out there in the first place. And now, thanks to Specialized, they have a function nearly as noble as helping you make the most of your training time - they keep you alive. The All Condition Armadillo Reflective Tire has all the flat protection and ridability of the regular Armadillo, but also has a reflective stripe ringing the sidewalls. This time of year one missed turn, a minor mechanical, or unexpected cloud cover could mean the difference between riding home in glorious winter sunlight, or tempting fate and SUVs in dangerous twilight. You need new winter tires anyway. The Armadillo Reflective is worth considering.
MSRP $55.00
More at www.specialized.com
--
What did I miss? Keep me in the loop by email if you've got products, deals and promotions that GamJams readers should know about.
Fan us.
Follow Us.
Network.
Comments