Udderly Smooth....the best way to fight dry skin

The summer heat and the constant getting in and out of the pool, dry skin is bound to happen.  The harsh chlorine in the public pool where I have been swimming this summer is pretty strong, as it should be to help keep the pool clean.  The chlorine is not so friendly with your skin.  The product line of Udderly Smooth's is where I turned adding hydration to my feet and all over my body.   From the lotion, body cream and the foot cream you are "totally covered", pun intended.  The greaseless Udderly Smooth products are great.  I am not sure how many out there follow my blog locally here in Arizona, but if you do, listen up.  I will bring a bunch of chamois cream samples to the Mesa Sprint that I am entered in next month. Swing by, introduce yourself and ask me for a sample, I would love to share.  I know too, nothing new on race day, so I am not saying you need to use it right then and there, but take it home and use during your training. It will be pretty easy to "spot" me, just look for the tall guy with the aero helmet with cow spots on it.  It's a sample, I mean, it's as simple as that. 

Skin Strong lubricant

I was given samples of the Skin Strong SLIK and SLATHER to try out and here is what I thought of them.  First off, SLIK is clear lubricant used to avoid chafing.  It is applied by a misting spray making it quick and convenient. The bottle says with the spray it is easy to apply in even the hardest reach places, which I had a difficult time with. Of course the bottle is turned upside down and the tube inside does not transfer any product out the spout. I used it on areas I know I get rubbing and chafing while both cycling and running. It worked great and did its job. I would have loved to try, yet have not so far, using it on the neck of my wetsuit where I always have issues with it rubbing and near the bottoms of my legs to easy removal of the wetsuit. The none greasy spray was pleasantly scented and the small 1 ounce bottle was convenient to slip in a gym bag, backpack or jersey pocket. Next was the SLATHER a chamois cream.  The smell was again pleasantly scented. I mainly used it on the chamois of my riding shorts and it stayed in place and helped avoid and rubbing. They suggest also using it for soothing chafing if you forgot to apply before hand.  I am looking forward to trying it out for soothing areas bothered when no anti-friction spray or cream was applied. 

ProGold Lubricants and cleaning products

 So lets face it, you spend enough money on good bike equipment (chains, gears, carbon frames) so why not use the best stuff out there to keep it working properly and looking great. Prolink Chain Lube is a thin lube reduces friction for smooth shifting and quiet chain operation. The lube does not build up or become sticky while shedding dirt and mud. The Prolink Chain Lube I find great on lubricating cables with their Luber Pens for precise applications. Find yourself out on dusty or muddy mountain bike trails or putting in a lot of miles, then you need to use Xtreme Chain Lube.  I use this on both my road and mountain bikes.  It bonds to metal surfaces and also does not build up or become sticky and also sheds water.  After getting your dirty from all the miles out on the road or on the trails ProGold's Bike Wash is great for cleaning your frame, spokes, and components. It is safe for carbon frames too.  Find yourself with your bike just a little more dirty in between uses with the Bike Wash. I use the Degreaser+Wash to work on getting that extra grime off  just a little easier.  When your all done fixing and lubing your ride, ProGold has Pro Towels, an 8"X12" dual textured disposable towel is your answer to clean up your hands and get out on the road faster. The lightly scented towels, come in canister with 90 of them inside. Keep your ride clean and lubed properly.

Swiftwick Socks put to the test

I have worn and tested three pairs of Swiftwick socks over the past two months, training (running and cycling) and here are my findings.  First of all, they are all great socks and are all antimicrobial.  To break it down,  here are the socks that were part of my test.  I wore them all equally.

Up first was the Performance "The Four"  (blue writing on package) -  Very light and well ventilated great compression.  This sock uses olefin an impressive fabric for wicking sweat away.
Next up was the Aspire "The Twelve"  (red writing on package) -  These were similar to the Performance in the ventilation and compression, however with these being "The Twelve"s they offered and delivered support about to my mid calf.  I only wore them while working out, but these would be great recovery socks too with the nice compression, also uses olefin an impressive fabric for wicking sweat away. 
The last of the three was the Pursuit "The Four" (green writing on package) - I need to explain first off that these were my favorite. They are made with merino wool which has great wicking properties. Unlike regular wool, merino wool is not itchy like one would think wool is,  and helps regulate temperature. Like the others, the Pursuit provided great compression support throughout.  They offered a little more cushion along the bottom of the foot but not to much to make them thick and bulky.
 
All three socks performed perfectly, no slipping or gathering and offered great compression and breatheablity.  The socks can be rolled down or cuffed if the wearer does not like to pull them all the way up. The conform to your foot giving support all around.
I look forward to wearing the Pursuit with merino wool this summer on some of the hotter rides and seeing how it performs then. The moisture wicking compression socks are made in the USA and offer the wearer a guarantee to perform to your satisfaction. 

Sportique body care

For the past month I have been using and testing Sportique body care products.  I am very impressed with the whole line of skin care products.  I will get into detail about the full line of skin care products later, but right now I wanted to focus on CENTURY RIDING CREAM, an anti-friction cream.  I have been using this on my synthetic chamois and like it very much.  With cooler water in the lake coming soon, I can't wait to use it on my wetsuit. Everything is all natural and the smell is pleasant and not strong or offensive.