Reader Ray contacted us with a link showing how to make your own rain shoe covers. At Bike Touring Tips Ray writes:
While I don't particularly enjoy riding a bike in the rain, it is something every bicycle tourist has to be prepared to do. I always carry rain gear when I tour. In addition to a thin, yellow, non-breathable rain shell, I also carry rain pants and a shower cap to cover the holes in my helmet, should it really start coming down.
The unsolved problem for me is my shoes. I hate riding when my feet are soaked. I’ve tried neoprene booties, but they weren’t waterproof. I’ve tried waterproof socks but find that I never seem to have them on when the rain is at its heaviest. In addition, the socks do nothing to keep my shoes dry.
I’d been considering this for some time and the main problem was the part that covered the front of the shoe. It needed to keep the top of my shoes dry and to stay on while I pedaled but not be attached across the bottom of the shoe, so that I could still clip into my pedal and to prevent it from wearing out when I walked on it. In a flash, the idea of using a slit plastic, disposable water bottle as the front of the bootie came to me.
Plastic bottles solve all the above problems. When sliced on one side and cut to the right length, they not only cover the top of my cycling shoe, but they “hold” on without needing attachment across the bottom. What’s more, since these bottles are disposable, reusing them is environmentally beneficial, they are easy to find and usually free.
Ray not only used a bottle to cover the toe, but also created a gator to help keep water out of the back of the shoe. This picture shows the final product -
Check out the full article on Bike Touring Tips for all of the details. Thanks Ray!
Grime, dirt, and water can all be enemies of a cyclist. There are many ways to play defense, however reader Rob came up with a solution that is truly unique . . . and stylish. You may have seen beer can mudflaps, but a shoe mudflap? I highly doubt it. Take it away Rob . . .
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I needed a mudflap for my fender, but I didn't want to make an ugly one out of black rubber for my beautiful old Raleigh. Brooks sells a leather one for $40, but I am not spending $40 for a tiny piece of leftover leather.
Then I remembered I have a pair of thrift store wing tips that I don't wear anymore. First I tried cutting out the tongues, but they were too narrow. Then I tried cutting out the toes. Presto!
Rather than drill holes, I attached them with two tiny document clips and slid out the shiny metal handles when they were on. Now I have a wing tip mudflap. I rode through some water today and it worked just fine. Best yet, when I took apart the shoes I realized they were actually pleather. Even better. For mudflaps, not feet.
Have you found a creative way to fight grime? Feel free to let us know so that we can post for the benefit of all.
We get to review products every once in a while and one product I was very happy with, and has an awesome name to boot, is Anti Monkey Butt Powder. Sweat "down there" can lead to all sorts of complications and Anti Monkey Butt helps to soothe you, and others around you for that matter.
The fine folks behind Anti Monkey But sent along information about a couple of contests they are running. The first one requires entrants to be from the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico. The contest page is here and details are below.
Monkeys must be good for marketing becauase we have reviewed both Anti Monkey Butt Power and the Monkey light. Either way, getting your monkey on is a good thing!
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The Anti Monkey Butt Powder “Sponsor My Butt” Contest runs until May 31, 2011. Ten lucky teams will be randomly selected to win a prize package, which includes:
$100 American Express Gift Card for supplies, travel, beer money, etc.
10 Anti Monkey Butt Powder T-shirts
10 Anti Monkey Butt Powder hats
10 bottles of Original Anti Monkey Butt Powder
10 bottles of Lady Anti Monkey Butt Powder
Winning teams will also be able to share photos and videos of themselves on the Anti Monkey Butt Powder Facebook page.
The official entry form for the “Sponsor My Butt” Contest will be available on the Anti Monkey Butt Powder Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/antimonkeybutt.
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A second contest they informed us about is the following, available to those in the U.S.
We also thought that you and your readers would be interested in the newly launched “All-Star Antiperspirant” Sweepstakes that our sister-brand Certain Dri is holding.
Going to the big leagues just got easier! Step up to the plate with Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant and enter the Certain Dri “All-Star Antiperspirant” Sweepstakes for a chance to win our MLB All-Star baseball game prize package!
The Certain Dri “All-Star Antiperspirant” Sweepstakes runs from March 1, 2011- May 23, 2011. One random winner will win a trip for two to the 2011 MLB All-Star game and the Homerun Derby (travel accommodations included) in Phoenix, Arizona along with a supply of Certain Dri.
I have been commuting by bike for about seven years now and I was recently thinking about some of the products I rely on for my commute - products that are not necessarily "bike" products. Sure I carry bike specific products like a hand pump, inner tubes, a multi-tool, a lock, etc. each and every day, however there are some other products not specific to cycling that greatly enhance my commute.
Seven products that I rely on every day are described below. I would be interested in what readers might have to say as well so if you have non-bike products you rely on for your commute, feel free to comment or send us an email.
1. Lip Balm
This one is pretty simple - I hate dry lips and one of the best ways to dry your lips out is to commute by bike. Your face takes the brunt of wind when you ride your bike and it does not take long for dryness and cracking to set in.
I actually relied upon lip balm on a daily basis long before I started to commute by bike - dry lips have been a huge pet peeve of mine for a long, long time. I think I've tried every lip balm on the market. Burts Bee's, Carmex, Blistex, and a host of others have been in my pocket at one time or another but I always find myself returning to Chapstick.
Maybe it's because of those great Suzy Chapstick commercials from the 1970s - there, I dated myself.
2. Baby (or similar) Powder
Another "body product" I use each and every day is baby powder, or some version of powder. We received a product from those over at Anti Monkey Butt and I still must complete a review of the powder they sent (in short, it's good stuff - and they have a woman specific powder as well).
The obvious use of powder is to help keep shoe stank at bay. Even though most bike shoes have some sort of mesh or built in airflow to help keep you feet from overheating, if you commute in a climate that features rain or snow, shoes can get wet and start to stink. A daily splash of powder helps to make sure my commuter bike shoe (a pair of Shimano SH-MT21 MTBs that I have had for about four years) do not scare off people who visit my office at work.
Cycling shorts also have a way of heating up your private parts and I never ride without a healthy splash of powder "down there." I keep a bottle of some sort of powder at home and at work and it serves the dual purpose of keeping me comfortable as well as not upsetting the olfactory glands of anyone around me.
3. Bandanas
Bandanas for me are an essential item for me for two reasons. First is protection - from my helmet. It might sound funny, but I never let a bike helmet touch my head. This may seem especially weird since I will wear a merino wool shirt multiple times before washing it, however the thought of helmet pads that have been subject to daily doses of sweat and heat touching my head, hair, or forehead freaks me out. It probably has something to do with the fact that helmet pads rarely, if ever, get washed.
My solution in temperate weather is to put a bandana on my head to separate my head from my helmet. In cooler weather either a balaclava or hat serves the same purpose.
The second purpose of bandans is for use as a towel. Every morning when I get to work I take a commuter shower. I do not have access to full shower facilities so I have to get creative in the bathroom at work. After a few commuter showers I felt very guilty because I was using copious amounts of paper towels. I thought about trying to cut down on paper towel usage and a bandana was the perfect solution.
Bandanas are light, dry quickly, and are easy to wash. I am partial to the color orange and I have like 30 pretty much identical bandanas that will get me through a few weeks of commuting.
4. Battery Charger
Most of the year my evening commute takes place in the dark and I do everything possible to make it impossible for a car to not see me. Taking all my lights into account, I use 10 AAA batteries and 6 AA batteries. My bike resembles a space ship and my set up is probably overkill, but I like it. I ride with -
1. A headlight (features steady and flash modes)
2. Two rear blinkie lights (multiple flashing patterns)
With the light show I put on there is no way I want to keep purchasing disposable batteries and thus a charger is an essential product for me.
5. Army Surplus Storage Vest
I covered this in another post but it fits in well with this list. Long ago I grew tired of how I was going to carry stuff - like lip balm, batteries, and bandandas among other things - on a daily basis. The moment of enlightenment for me came in an army surplus store. I saw of bunch of different vests. I had been thinking for a while about trying to find a shirt with a bunch of pockets for the same purpose but could not find one I liked.
In the surplus store I stumbled upon a vest section that had all sorts of options. I was able to find one that was light weight and featured tons of pockets. I immediately bought two of them and now I commute with one and also use one for travel. It's a great way to keep all of your valuables on you without having to use a separate bag. A button up shirt or light coat covers it up so you do not look like a someone embarking on a fishing trip.
6. Podcasts (NPR Preferred)
I am a total honk for NPR. I love their programming and listen to Podcasts on a daily basis while I commute. While this is not a physcial product, it is a service that makes my commute more enjoyable. If case you are wondering, yes, I have responded to pledge drives so do not sick Ira Glass on Bike Hacks.
My favorite Pocast is Marketplace but there are lots of offerings to choose from. I like to be educated while I commute and NPR keeps me in touch with the world. A directory of NPR Podcasts can be found here.
7. One Earbud
While I certainly enjoy listening to NPR podcasts on the way to work, I also enjoy staying out of emergency rooms. Some of you might have flinched when I said I listen to news while I ride, but there is a caveat - I always have one ear free to listen to what is going on around me.
I received my worst grade every in my high school physics class and I cannot tell you scientifically why it is not good for a cyclist to run into a car - but simply speaking cars weigh more than I do - by several tons. Thus it is wise that I avoid them as well as joggers, dogs off their leash, children, bouncing balls, Frisbees, blowing trash, etc.
As it happens, I had a set of ear buds but one bud stopped working so I just chopped it off. Alternatively you can just leave one bud out and store it in an extra pocket.
What non-bike specific products are essential to your commute? Comment or email us.
Reader Phil recently contacted us with a hack for a messy problem. Here is his email, and the solution to his dirty problem:
This is a post-wrenching hack really, which I discovered by accident this morning. I had a rear derailleur malfunction on the way to work, which left my hands oily and road-grimy. Shower gel wasn't going to cut through the crap, so I looked around for some kind of abrasive.
I have found a new use for cold leftover coffee grounds! Mixed with liquid soap/other detergent to make an exfoliative paste, the oily gunk scrubbed away and left my hands pink and shiny. Cheap, effective and fully caffeinated- just like me.
NB: if you don't have coffee grounds sugar and soap/detergent paste works the same but is harsher on the skin; washing powder on damp skin also works but not as well, plus it stings like hell in cuts/abrasions!
Thanks for the tip Phil. From my side of things, for years I have been employing a rather simple hack to solve "dirty hand syndrome." Sometimes on the way to work my chain will come off or I will get a flat. The repair is often messy and the last thing I want to do is go to a meeting at work with grease all over my hands and under my finger nails.
My solution is to tie an old sock to my seat post, frame, or rear rack. When I need to repair something, I simply slip the sock over my hand and it prevents dirt and grease from making a mess of my hands. The sock can also be used to wipe mud or grime off my bike prior to parking it in my office. Plus a sock basically says, "I'm a bike hacker, hear me roar!" See hard core examples below =)
Do you have a hack to keep clean or remove dirt and grease? Feel free to comment or give us a shout out.
A couple of weeks ago Bikehacks ran a post on active lifestyle products that can help make you more comfortable in the saddle or even in your office chair. Depending on your line of work/lifestyle, eye strain and irritation may be part of daily life...even if you don't wear glasses or contacts.
I have been using eyedrops on and off for a few years now and have tried quite a few different brands...most recently I've been using Naphcon A. For the past couple of weeks however, I have been using Rohto Ice eyedrops. The product claim is that they "...relieve redness while also soothing itch, irritation and burn with an intense cooling sensation". With relation to the cooling sensation, 'intense' may be a small understatement.
When I applied the drops for the first time, it was a little shocking to say the least because of the strong and immediate (intense) cooling sensation. It can be a very strong sensation at first, seemingly depending on the level of irritation in your eyes. The intensity quickly fades into a pleasant cool and moist feeling for your eyes. I've gotten used to them now and look forward to the extra kick that these drops provide when they are first applied.
In addition to providing personal eye comfort, Rohto Ice eyedrops can also be used on unsuspecting inebriated friends...to help snap them back to reality, and provide a few laughs at their reaction to the intense cooling sensation. For more information on Rohto's eyedrops, click here.
One of the challenges of bike commuting is dealing with getting hot and sweaty on the way to work. Some people have access to showers at work and others don't. I don't. I take a "commuter shower" which I have been meaning to detail on the site for a while and will do so soon. Two products that I use daily for my commuter shower are baby powder and antiperspirant.
Riding can also cause redness and irritation in your eyes. I have contacts but I rarely use them. I suffer from astigmatism and contacts for this symptom are typically weighted and have to sit in your eye a perfect way to see clearly. If wind causes the contact to shift, I have to furiously blink to try to get it back to the right position. Just so happens I deal with a lot of wind while cycling. I thus wear glasses most of the time but whether wearing glasses or contacts, riding can really put the hurt on your eyes.
We recently received three different active lifestyle products to review and I am happy to say that the manufactures have also agreed to let BikeHacks run a contest to give away free product packs.
The first product is called Anti Monkey Butt Powder. When choosing a name for a product it is wise to link the name to the purpose, and the name Anti Monkey Butt pretty much says it all.
The product rep who contacted us wrote the following:
It’s 85 degrees out, but with the humidity it probably feels like
100,
right? You’re halfway through your ride, your shorts are drenched and
the chamois butter you caked on earlier is history. Monkey butt is in
full swing and there’s no stopping the chafing and irritation that’s
about to ruin your ride! As an avid mountain biker and roadie, I too,
have had run-ins with the dreaded “monkey”…. which is why I wanted to
let you know about a really great product called Anti Monkey Butt Powder
(AMBP).
The great thing about Anti Monkey Butt Powder is that it’s like a two in
one product. There’s talc to help reduce excess sweat and calamine
soothes the chafing. Good luck finding a chamois butter that does both!
Plus, you can also put AMBP in your shoes, leg pads, helmet, etc.
Anti Monkey Butt Powder also has a special bottle for the ladies, which I
use. Lightly-scented Lady Anti Monkey Butt Powder still delivers the
same great results as regular AMBP, but the calamine is combined with
cornstarch (vs. talc) for a silkier, feminine texture.
Both products are available in mass market retail nationwide, as well as
via online retailers and at www.antimonkeybutt.com.
Suggested retail price is
Anti Monkey Butt Powder is $5.95 for a 6-ounce bottle.
The second product is Certain Dry antiperspirant. We got two sticks in the mail, one is to help fight sweat and the other is focused on scent. The product description follows:
Monkey butt and sopping wet jerseys (from high intensity sweating)
usually go hand in hand. One way to fix that is with Certain Dri
Anti-Perspirant, the number one over-the-counter antiperspirant
recommended by doctors for treating excessive perspiration While other
over-the-counter antiperspirants claim to be “clinical strength” and
“waterproof”, the Certain Dri formulations – 12% aluminum chloride
–Roll-On and 25% aluminum sesquichlorohydrate – New Solid - are the
strongest available without a prescription, providing 72-hours of
protection with each application.
And the third products is a set of Rhoto eye drops. There are four kinds and the description is as follows:
Eye Irritation: Sun, dirt, leaves and bugs are just a few of the things
that irritate my eyes after a long ride on the trail or road. ROHTO
Cooling Eye Drops, a favorite among endurance athletes, are a great way
to relieve irritation and redness, and restore moisture. More than just
“eye drops,” they provide a cooling “kick” that helps refresh and
rejuvenate your eyes, helping you stay focused.
Rhoto is also running an Endurance Sweepstakes and the details are as follows:
Your readers may also be interested in entering the ROHTO Endurance
Sweepstakes through September 30, 2010, where two grand-prize winners
(one male and one female) will receive a men’s and women’s Ceepo® bike,
respectively. The sweepstakes also includes weekly prizes of ROHTO
Training Kits that will include a valuable assortment of training gear
and nutritional items. Go to www.winrohto.com to enter or print a $1.00 coupon.
BikeHacks will be reviewing these products and we will be running contests to give away free product packs to readers. The BikeHacks brain trust will be working on ideas so stay tuned for your chance to win.
