As a cyclist, the search for newer and better gear is constant —
there's always something else out there. Premes, Picks, Promos will
highlight both the next big thing and the sleeper deal.
Back in my running days – years ago by now – I was continually a season behind everybody else. Huh? At the time I was working a pretty low-paying newspaper job in beautiful Waterloo, Iowa (note: not beautiful, but still in Iowa), so things like $45 running shirts weren't exactly for me.
But that same running shirt, found for $15 on the clearance table in November? Yes, absolutely. When the next spring rolled around, I looked like everybody else did the year before.
Now that I've moved onto a well-paying ... wait. Nevermind. I work at a bike shop. There's not that much pay involved. Still, though, I love a deal.
While internet clearing-houses like Nashbar and Performance have lots of stuff that doesn't cost much, it's all cheap. As in not good. Hit up a place like Competitive Cyclist for some off-season gear, though, and it's a different story.
Really nice Giordana bib shorts for $120 is a good place to start (as modeled by the partially headless fellow to the right). They retail for $225. Yeah, I know – you have plenty of team kit, and therefore plenty of shorts. So do I, but that doesn't mean a pair or two of reasonably plain shorts isn't nice to have around.
Be sure to poke around on the rest of the site. Most of the good componentry specials are long gone (really inexpensive Dura-Ace 7800 bits), but it's still easy to snag a good deal.
'Tis the season
I'm going to go ahead and admit that one of my vices is Peppermint Stick ice cream. I buy ice cream maybe two or three times a year, but all of those times are from late October through Christmas – the window of availability for Peppermint Stick. (Mike May, by the way, mentions Pumpkin Scones on a fairly regular basis.)
Also available for a limited time: alternate flavors of training standbys. GU has a pair of holidays-only flavors: Mint Chocolate (tastes like melted Andes candies) and Vanilla Gingerbread (this is a new one, so good luck).
Clif has three alternate energy bar flavors: Spiced Pumpkin Pie, Cranberry Orange Nut Bread and Iced Gingerbread.
After a year of the flavors I ordered at this time last year, having another option available is refreshing. I know I'm not alone when I pull a GU out of my pocket, look at it and sigh, "Ugh. Again?"
Check out GU's holiday options here and Clif's options here.
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In addition to being GamJams Tech Editor, Bryan Redemske manages the Trek Store of Omaha, is a professional writer and a Cat 3 racer. He drinks a lot of coffee.
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