Cycling Kits I Like - Betty Designs Garden Party Cycling Jersey and Shorts (and Tri Top Too!)

Action shot!

Purchase the jersey here!

Purchase the shorts here!

Purchase the tri top here!

Everything Garden Party here!

No muffin in sight!

Pros:

• Bright, colorful, and unique design sure to get you noticed on the bike path!
• Strategically placed mesh on the back and sides of the jersey helps keep you cool. That same mesh is also on the back of the tri top.
• I really like the "yoga" waistband on the cycle shorts - it is extremely comfortable and also helps cover up any bloat.

Cons:

• Pricey, but you get what you pay for and the price is consistent with Smashfest Queen's kits.
• The one pocket on the back of the tri top is kind of a bummer - I like to have two to keep my keys and cell phone separate.

This one pocket I speak of is the blue floral block of material on my lower back

My Thoughts:

I've been staring longingly at everything on Betty Designs' website for over a year. If money was not an object, I would have one of every item on their site! A few months ago, I finally bit the bullet and purchased the Garden Party kit. Like the Smashfest Queen kit I got, I got the cycling jersey, cycling shorts, and tri top for year-round use. 

The size chart can be a little deceptive. Unless you desire a super tight fit, size up! Even though my measurements fall in the "small" column, I went up to a medium on everything and I was happy I did. I found that a combination of consulting the size chart, reading the FAQs posted on Betty Designs' site, and contacting Betty Designs ensured that everything I received fit perfectly. I like my cycling jerseys a little big so that I can pack everything into the back pockets - this actually worked to my advantage, as the sleeves on the size small jersey would have been too snug.

I love the full zip and the gripper at the bottom so everything stays put!

Too often, you have to choose between stylish and function, but Betty Designs does a great job of hitting both marks. In fact, I decided that this kit would get trial by fire - the century test - and it passed with flying colors! I almost wore the tri top, as I knew it was going to get pretty hot in some of the canyons we rode through, but I ended up wearing the jersey, as it was also pretty cool in the morning. Despite my concerns, I did not overheat - the mesh side panels helped keep me cool and dry. As a system, the kit worked extremely well. Everything stayed in place so I didn't have to waste time or be distracted fidgeting with the jersey or shorts.

Venting magic along the sides and just below the neck!

The shorts also held up beautifully during all 100 miles. Usually, no matter what shorts I wear, I have some sort of discomfort after 100 miles in the saddle. However, I have yet to experience any discomfort of any sort in these shorts. The chamois is made of a dense foam that is thicker in the sit bones and other critical areas. The leg grippers keep the shorts in place without feeling sticky. To top this all off, the yoga waistband means absolutely no muffin top, even when my stomach is bloated (thanks, gluten allergy)!

Love these shorts!

The tri top is also great. I still think I prefer Smashfest Queen's built-in sports bra to the zip-down front, but I do see the merits of both designs. Ideally, I would like a tri top with a full zipper, similar to the jersey, but I have yet to find such a top. It definitely runs tighter than the jersey. The jersey is pretty loose on me, but the tri top is comfortably snug. Now that it's pretty hot and muggy here in Southern California, I'm loving the zip-down front and back mesh for venting. It also dries incredibly fast. 

The zipper is fully unzipped

I'm still on the fence as to whether I will get the matching tri shorts - so far, I've been really enjoying just wearing this kit for cycling. I can only imagine they are just as comfortable and functional as the rest of the set, though!

Thanks for stopping by! This is not a sponsored post – I purchased the above item(s) with my own money and I am reviewing the product(s) because I like them a lot. :) There may be Amazon Affiliate links, but I am not compensated by or affiliated with the manufacturer of the product(s).

Tri Stuff I'd Like to Do - My Bucket List

This week has been crazy, but I did have a chance to publish my swim, bike, and/or run bucket list! Stay tuned for more reviews next week. In the mean time, enjoy this lovely sunrise from a recent bike ride. :)

Tri Nutrition I Like - All Things Bonk Breaker

What we're currently stocking in our pantry

Purchase energy bars at Amazon, All Star Health, or direct!
Purchase high protein bars at Amazon, All Star Health, or direct!
Purchase energy chews at Amazon or direct!

Pros:

• Great taste - no chemical aftertaste
• Minimal ingredients mean fewer opportunities for GI distress
• Packages are easy to open and easy to carry in your jersey and/or pocket
• The bars and chews are dense, compact sources of energy

Cons:

• Pricey, especially compared to Clif Bar products, though there are deals to be found.
• 13 to 15 grams of protein isn't exactly "high protein" - though it does fill me up better than Clif Bars.

My Thoughts:

I've been a fan of Bonk Breaker's bars for some time now, but now that I've had a chance to try (and really like) their energy chews, I figured a review was due. As someone with a picky stomach, I really appreciate the simple, easy to read ingredient list. You can tell that the people who created Bonk Breakers are endurance junkies (like me!), as each of their products was created with a specific need in mind, and they serve that need extremely well.

Shown with a dime for size comparison

I mentioned the Bonk Breaker energy chews in my July Wants, but I was gun-shy due to their price. Well, when I saw the chews on Active GearUp, I decided to give them a shot, and boy, am I glad I did! My one complaint about the Clif Shot Bloks, my old standby, is that they are a little too "chewy." Bonk Breaker got their chew level just right for my taste. Expressed in gummy candy terms, the energy chews are like Sour Patch Kids, while the Bloks are like sour gummy bears. If you're not a fan of gummy candy, just disregard this whole paragraph - you probably won't be able to tell the difference. :) In terms of taste, the strawberry is not cloyingly and/or artificially sweet. I also really like that there are electrolytes added.

Yay, caffeine!

Of the energy bars, the Espresso Chip flavor is my favorite. I also like the Apple Pie and Blueberry Oat flavors, but nothing beats the mini "jolt" you get from the 30 mg of caffeine in the Espresso Chip flavor. For your reference, that's about the same caffeine as a 12 oz can of Coke. I also appreciate that the chocolate doesn't get overly melty, thus creating a mess when you try to eat it while on a bike ride. Plus, the balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fat in the energy bars means that you're consuming something that will provide steady, sustained energy during a long endurance effort.

The "jelly" layer is a great touch!

Of the high protein bars, the Peanut Butter & Jelly flavor is my favorite. It has a great balance of flavors with a little bit of crunch to make things interesting. These are my go-to bars after long rides. Although I don't consider 13 to 15 grams of protein to be "high," I do understand that for endurance athletes, the primary goal after an extended period of exercise is glycogen replenishment. I just make sure that my next meal has plenty of protein. The Cookies & Cream flavor is also good, but it doesn't really taste like cookies and cream. Plus, Quest Nutrition's Cookies and Cream bar takes the cake for this flavor! Overall, though, I haven't had a Bonk Breaker product yet that I didn't like!

No cookies or cream in sight - which is fine by me :)

Thanks for stopping by! This is not a sponsored post – I purchased the above item(s) with my own money and I am reviewing the product(s) because I like them a lot. :) There may be Amazon Affiliate links, but I am not compensated by or affiliated with the manufacturer of the product(s).

Tri Shoes I Like - Brooks Glycerin 12 Running Shoes

I'm a moron and wore WOOL socks on a run in July in Southern California! Pro tip: consume caffeine before grabbing your running socks!

Purchase here! Brooks recently released an updated model - the Glycerin 13 - found here!

Pros:

• Comfortable, cushy ride for longer runs.
• My orthotics fit perfectly into the shoes - I don't have any pain on the top of my feet.
• No long break in period (*cough* Newtons *cough*).
• Plenty of bright and cheery colors to choose from.

Cons:

• Not as "fast" as my Newtons 

My Thoughts:

In true "me" fashion (go big or go home), I am now training for a marathon in 2016. I had told myself that a half marathon was enough, but then i started joining a friend on her midweek pace runs and her weekend long runs. After a particularly grueling pace run where we managed to do some pretty impressive negative splits, I was so overcome with runner's high that I committed to doing a marathon with her in 2016. Why 2016? Well, I am already registered for a triathlon on the same day her marathon is this year! 

The marathon this year is in October, so we're starting to pack on some serious mileage. I quickly discovered that my Newton Gravity running shoes, although being awesome shoes, are not so great for higher mileage runs. My feet need more support and cushion for any run longer than about an hour. I had mentioned in my review of the Newtons that I was considering a cushier pair of Newtons or going back to my tried and true Brooks Ghosts. Well, I decided to change things up and try Brooks' other pair of neutral high mileage shoes - the Glycerin 12.

Right out of the box I knew I was going to be happy with these shoes. I normally wear new running shoes around the house a few days to make sure they actually fit, and right off the bat I was impressed by how stable and supported I felt. This sentiment continued once I actually ran in them - they really do fit my feet like gloves. One thing I've discovered with Mizunos and a few other brands is that they feel great for the first few runs, but after that they start to hurt the top of my feet. I've put over 100 miles on the Glycerins without a hint of pain on the top of my feet. In fact, my feet have been the least of my worries as I continue to increase my mileage, and it's nice to know that my shoes won't be the limiting factor on my long runs.

I'm really glad that I decided to go back to my standby brand but mix things up with the model. So far, Brooks running shoes have never let me down. I've owned 4 different pairs of Ghosts, and while I was doing CrossFit (about 2 1/2 years) I went through 2 1/2 pairs of PureConnects. I still wear that third pair to work when I know I'm going to be on my feet all day. :) 

Thanks for stopping by! This is not a sponsored post – I purchased the above item(s) with my own money and I am reviewing the product(s) because I like them a lot. :) There may be Amazon Affiliate links, but I am not compensated by or affiliated with the manufacturer of the product(s).

July 2015 Arms Workout

Well, that was an unintended hiatus from blogging! Between work, life, and going back to school things have been a little crazy around here! 

Earlier in 2015, I decided I was tired of looking generally "big" (for my standards) and decided to do something about it. I started my gradual exit from CrossFit, going from 4+ days a week to 2 or 3 days a week, eventually quitting altogether. Unfortunately, CrossFit did not give me the beach-ready body it promises. It made me bulky, and anyone familiar with endurance sports knows that extra bulk means less speed.

I already biked on the days I didn't CrossFit, so I started biking more and also added running into the mix. Both these activities helped to slim down my legs, but unfortunately didn't do much for my upper body. Therefore, I started adding a dumbbell arm workout to the mix. I change the workout up every month to prevent boredom and plateaus.

During the winter, doing this workout before embarking on a run, bike ride, or brick ensures that my arms don't freeze off my body and that I'm partially warmed up before I head outside. During the summer, being warmed up is the least of my worries, but so far it hasn't made me too warm to work out!

This month, I'm doing the following workout 2 to 3 times a week. I typically do all the movements in a row without any rest and then rest 1 minute and the end of each round:

For further information on the movements shown above, please check out the following links:

Side Fly Extension

Hammer Curl

Front Raise (Just Steps 3 & 4)

Overhead Triceps Curl (I use two dumbbells)

Cheer Press

Dumbbell Floor Press

Dumbbell Crossover (Underhand)

Russian Twist (Use a dumbbell instead) - Tapping the dumbbell on the right AND left sides is one repetition 

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my training regimen. As I am not a physician, please consult your doctor before performing this workout if you have any injuries or if you are embarking on a fitness journey for the first time. Honor your body and if it hurts, stop! Thanks!

Tri Stuff I Want - July 2015 Edition

I know it's only two days into the month, but I've already compiled a list of things I want!

1. Lululemon Run: Stuff Your Bra II: It's getting hot here in Southern California, and I also run super warm, so that means on my long runs I have to wear as little clothing as possible while also staying decent. Cute full-support running bras are a summer essential for me, and I'm a huge fan of Lululemon's Run: Stuff Your Bra II. I already have one from last year in bright orange, but I'm really liking the black/white stripe and pink one this year. Another cute sports bra is CW-X's VersatX Support bra - it comes in a polka dot print, though the black might get a little warm so pink might be a better option.

2. Sidi Women's Genius Fit Carbon Road Shoes: Pink bike shoes?! I'm in love! If they weren't so expensive, I would already own a pair. As I mentioned in my review, my Pearl Izumi Tri Fly V Bike Shoes aren't suitable for cold weather riding. Maybe they'll go on sale before it starts to cool down. :)

3. Rais Case Leather Tayler Messenger: Ok, so this isn't triathlon-related, but I've been crushing on Rais Case's entire collection for some time now. Right now, I have my eyes on this black and tan number. I always go with safe colors like black, tan, grey, etc. because they match everything. I secretly love this bag and this bag (both also made by Rais Case), but I fear I couldn't pull them off...

4. Betty Designs Pucciesque Sexy Back Swimsuit: Now that I'm back to doing Masters Swim 2-3 times a week, I'm getting annoyed by the fact that I have to wash my one "workout" one piece swimsuit several times a week. The first two places I looked for a new swimsuit were Smashfest Queen and Betty Designs. Smashfest Queens only has an adorable bikini, and I'm not ready to rock a bikini for swim practice quite yet. Betty Designs has a much better selection of both one pieces and bikinis. I'm loving the Pucciesque Sexy Back Swimsuit the most - though I wouldn't mind any of Betty Designs' one pieces! TYR also has a super colorful swimsuit ("multi" print) that I like.

5. Bonk Breaker Energy Chews: I'm a little confused as to why Amazon thinks these energy chews are for men only. =P The price is a little high, but I love Bonk Breaker's bars, so I'm wondering if I should give the chews a shot. It is pretty hard to beat All Star Health's price on Clif Shot Bloks, though, and we go through these things like candy (because that's what they taste like...)!

I hope you enjoyed my monthly picks! Please note that all these links are for products that I just happen to think are pretty cool. There are a few Amazon Affiliate links, but I am not compensated by the companies for featuring their product(s).