Excellence in Customer Service: Thule

Last winter I purchased a car that I am rather fond of. One of priorities in outfitting my little race wagon was fitting 4 bicycles and 4 front wheels on top of the car. After doing a bit of research, I stuck with Thule and purchased a set of feet to mount to my factory racks, 2 new bike trays, extra long cross bars and 4 front wheel mounts.

I installed the rack per instructions in the early spring and didn't use the new trays much, as I had mounted my 2 leftover Rocky Mount trays in the outside spots, which caused me to use these more often as they were more accessible.

My third time using the driver's side bike tray my carbon fiber Fuji SLM 2.0 popped out at highway speed on Route 1 North, leaving the city (lower deck of the Tobin in Chelsea). I hit a bump hard. The bike did a dramatic end over end tumble before skidding to a stop in the middle of a traffic lane. A box truck had to lock up its brakes and swerve to avoid the carcass, complete with smoking, squealing tires. I came to a similar squealing stop in a traffic lane, as there is no breakdown lane on the lower deck of the Tobin Bridge.

I considered leaving the mess on the road, but thought better of it and jammed in reverse and squealed the tires some more. There was a distinct smell of burnt carbon when I opened the car door, but that may have just been Chelsea. I collected my bicycle, my spoiler and as many pieces of the tray as I dared gather.

The frame was toast. Other parts of the bike were in various states of damage. The bike didn't look terrible, but it is carbon fiber and close inspection indicated that the frame was cracked badly in more than one place. Also, the bike ripped my spoiler off of this car that I am very fond of.

Here I am, with a broken race bike and a damaged car. Initially, I cursed my own stupidity for misusing the rack. I backtracked to figure out where I went wrong and the more that I thought about it, the more I was convinced that I had used the rack properly. After mulling the issue over for a few days, I spoke with Mark Vatour at Landry's who immediately called his Thule rep (I didn't purchase the Thule equipment from Landry's) and told him the issue. I was put on the phone with the rep; I briefly told the rep what happened. The rep put me in touch with Thule's claims department within minutes.

The Warranty Claims Specialist, Travis Stevens, patiently listened to my story, while asking clarifying details. Hyper sensitive to lawyerly questioning, I got the distinct feeling that Mr. Stevens was only looking to understand the issue as opposed to finding reasons for denying my claim. At no point did Travis ask any questions or even imply that I may have misused the bike tray.

After clarifying what happened, Stevens offered me a clear, simple and logical protocol for submitting a claim. While the required documentation was thorough, nothing was superfluous, obstructionist or deliberately difficult. He was clear on the time tables and the procedures that Thule would follow in evaluating the claim.

I mailed Thule both of the heads of the bike trays for inspection. After a few weeks of dithering, I got my act together and gathered the receipts and documentation and submitted the claim. Days later, after some phoning and emailing back and forth to clarify and explain details, Stevens contacted me and asked that I mail him my bicycle.

Within 2 weeks of submitting a complete claim, I had a check that covered the complete cost of repairing my car and the complete replacement cost of the bicycle (the bicycle was team purchased, so I was given an amount that covered another team purchased bike including shipping costs). Furthermore, Thule sent two more robust (and more expensive) bike trays to replace the two I sent back.

While some of you are reading this as a post about a failed product, I am writing this to point out how great Thule was in handling my issue. Most companies will replace a failed product while under a warranty. But usually, getting a company to pay what is essentially an insurance claim is adversarial and contentious. I got none of this feeling while working with Thule and Mr. Stevens. Thule was straightforward about making the situation right and get me on my way quickly. Some of you know that I can be pushy at times. I want to assure you that I never even felt the desire to become pushy with Thule, they were just so clearly trying to do the right thing without being pushovers (and their not being pushovers makes me respect them even more).

For this, they have earned a heartfelt thank you and a customer for life. It feels really good to report on a company that attempts to fix a situation that didn't go right instead of shifting blame and trying to evade responsibility. Thank you Thule.

BTW, the new trays are pretty sweet.

Product Review: Shaklee Physique--The Recovery Drink of the Gods

I have had bad luck with cycling drinks, in particular with recovery drinks. Most of the time they contribute to and exacerbate my "race gut," which is an unfortunate condition that I'll spare you the details of. Endurox R4 almost ended my marriage, as it caused me some of the most disgusting and prolific flatulence imaginable. It was like living in a feedlot. The Negative FX of other drinks have been less dramatic, but nonetheless unpleasant.

Considering my run of bad luck, I was skeptical of Shaklee's Physique. I originally won a tub at Wells Ave as a prime. It sat unused for a month or two as I continued drinking chocolate milk for recovery. Then I won another tub of Physique. My cabinet space is limited, so there was some pressure to disappear a tub.

On returning from a hard Wells followed by a long ride, I found that I had NO FOOD in the house. Hesitantly I mixed a drink, drank it and waited for the rumbling in my belly to begin. Nothing. I showered and then went out for some solid food. Still no rumbling. Later in the day, no gas (or at least no more than normal for me).

I still wasn't sold. I continued to use the Physique, especially when I was away from home and/or food sources. I have consistently found that my system handles the Physique well without turning it into stink.

Nutritional Content: it compares favorably to other recovery drinks. a half cup has 38 grams of carbs, 21 gr sugar (dextrose and maltodextrin) and 14 grams of protein (Milk and Whey protein isolates).

Taste: I have only used the Banana and it tastes fine. Not quite great, but palatable and not unpleasant, even when warm (such as when your water has been cooking in your car for 5 hours in the sun). If you make a shake with some fresh fruit and ice, the Physique tastes great.

Mixablity/Lumps: Even in a water bottle, it mixes quite easily and has minimum lumpiness.

Price: Comparatively high. 1 lb 14 oz is $33 from Tony Vallentine at Wells Ave. You can't really price shop this stuff online, nor can you get a deal on it through your team. While, I am pointing out that the price is high in comparison to comparable products, I have to consider that this stuff doesn't tear my insides apart, which is priceless. If you find that you feel better after drinking this, then you may find the price fair also.

The Verdict: If you are using another recovery drink that is doing the job at a lower price while not blowing you out, then stay with what's working. If you have struggled with recovery drinks in the past or are muscling down some disgusting flatulence fueling glop, then you should definitely hit Tony Vallentine up at Wells Ave or drop him an email (avallentine at verizon dot net) and pick up a tub.

As a sidenote: there is a whole contingent of local sprinters who sit in at Wells waiting for the Shaklee primes. I have become a dedicant of this race strategy, so if you are in the A race and hear the bell with Chris yelling "Shaklee Prime!"you can rest assured I will contest it. In fact the prime with 5 to go is often a Shaklee Prime, which leaves me smoked for the finish. I'd rather get the drink than end up here.

Oh, when you see Mr. Vallentine, thank him for giving out primes every single week at Wells. Of all of the people you meet, he is perhaps the biggest supporter of local racing week in and week out.

Product Review: CycleOps Joule 2.0 -- It Works Well Enough But It Ain't Cheap

By some fortunate accident, I was one of the first users of the CycleOps Joule 2.0 ANT+ computer. Overall I have been enjoying the computer. The display is large and allows the user to monitor multiple ride metrics simultaneously. The rechargeable batteries and USB 2.0 download and charging is convenient, especially compares to the Cervo's cranky proprietary USB cradle/docking station. While the Joule is compatible with any ANT+ compatible power monitoring systems, I can't help but compare this computer to the Cervo, the iconic yellow computer that comes stock with a PowerTap system

The Good

The computer was easy to set up and mount. The Joule's mount is a serious improvement over the flimsy Cervo mount. We all know someone who has lost a Cervo on a ride after hitting a pothole...and if you don't, but you know me, you now know someone who has lost a Cervo (2009 CT Stage Race).

Unlike the Cervo, the Joule allows you to displaying heart rate, power output, speed and cadence all at the same time. You have the option of selecting the metrics to display and where to display them. If you are most interested in Power output (as most of us are), you can display that reading on any part of the screen. The screen is completely customizable and very well thought out.



It becomes your job to figure out what YOU want the display to look like (recently, Adam Myerson made fun of my setup and changed the locations of several indicators).

The computer is very easy to program and navigate.




You can figure out how to perform most functions, such as zeroing the PowerTap without consulting the owner's manual. You can easily program the computer to work with multiple Power monitoring systems. For instance, you could ride your SRM equipped road bike in the morning and then swap the computer over to your PowerTap equipped cross bike and change the sensor that the computer is reading in under a minute.

You are able to view data and mini analyses of your ride, even as you are riding. For instance, if you just killed the Wachusett climb, you can go into the computer and see what your highest power output for 10 minutes was on the ride.




It's fairly easy to check on interval power and heart rate. In short, you no longer have to wait until you get home to start geeking out over the data.

Downloading data and charging the computer is a breeze.

The Bad

$450-500 retail price. As my students would say, "That's mad guap yo!" While the Joule is great, it seems steep for a computer. Then again, if you already dropped the loot for a power meter, then $500 to monitor it well during the ride might seem like a bargain.

Size. Its big. It's chunky. It dwarf all but the beefiest of stems; mounting it to a handlebar seems impossible, as it would actually interfere with hand positioning on the tops.




It doesn't bother me when riding, but it irritates me while transporting the bike.

Not programmable. You can not enter a workout into the computer and have it beep and time the whole thing out for you. While some may not care about this, I am not very bright. I need a computer that will tell me when to ride hard and when to rest.

The Scoop

Overall, the Joule is a significant improvement on other cycling computers I have used. If you have deep pockets or a hook up, I recommend the computer. If you are a working person and paying full retail...maybe it's still worth it, but it is too expensive to be an impulse buy.

Product Review: Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Glove: RMM’s GoTo Glove

Gloves are one of those things that competitive cyclists constantly think about. In changing conditions, it is difficult to strike ideal the balance between sufficient insulation, low profile and breathablity. In the colder months, I generally bring two pairs of gloves on every ride, a super warm pair and a more moderate pair for when the mercury or the exertion level rises later in the ride. 95% of my rides find me packing the Pearl Izumi Pittards Elite Thermal gloves.

I have found that these gloves are good for a relatively wide range of temperatures and conditions. The wind proofing on the backside is moderately water resistant, but not water proof by any stretch. Generally, I use them at temperatures ranging from 35 to 55. Obviously the length and type of ride as well as weather/wind conditions will help determine which glove is appropriate. These are not cold weather gloves. They are more suited to early season road racing, cyclocross, fall commuting, and cold mtbing. The wind proofing helps maintain warmth even when saturated, which is nice when an unexpected rainstorm drenches you in a 70+ mile April road race.

These gloves have been extremely long lived. I have thrashed them through 2 entire cyclocross seasons, a winter of heavy outdoor use, an early spring of road racing and a few cold, nasty MTB races. I have crashed while wearing these more times than I can count and other than ground in dirt, they show no damage. They have been saturated in mud and washed multiple times and they still maintain their shape, suppleness and superior grip.




The gloves fit tight like…er…a glove. While the fit is snug, the fingers are long enough for my nose pickers. Over time, the gloves have resisted stretching and deforming. 1.5 years of heavy use and they are still snug and comfortable.

While on the bike the snug fit allows you do everything that needs to be done on a bike without glove removal. This includes precise shifting, braking, feeding, checking messages on the cellular, skipping songs on the iPod, and controlling the cycling computer.




Grip. I have commented before on Pittard’s Leather’s incredible quality of becoming more grippy when wet. In a race, these gloves prove their worth when the weather turns nasty. As an aspiring hardman and habitual sprinter, I value gear that helps me push through adversity. These gloves have allowed me to remain confidence while sprinting in vision obstructing downpours as well as mud spattered cyclocross races.

The Velcro wrist closure is minimal, but works perfectly. The snot wiper is adequately soft and absorbent.

Value is a difficult thing to peg. After 1.5 years of heavy abuse, I found the $40 MSRP to be a great value.

Bottom line: these are my go to gloves for most cool/cold rides. They are dependable and still going strong. They fit me perfectly and I have absolutely no complaints (which for me is really saying something).

Product Review: Tufo Cubus 32mm Cyclocross Tires—They Handle Mud Really Well

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you may remember that I have swallowed the Kool-Aid concerning tubular cyclocross tires. I currently have 3 sets of tubs. While my Challenge Grifo’s are great all around tires, and my Dugast Pipistrellos are fast; I am most impressed with my Tufo Cubus 32’s.

The Cubus is a highly specialized tire. They are meant for deep mud and seriously greasy, sketchy courses. On pavement, you can hear the raised knobs robbing you of speed and momentum. But in a shit show like New Gloucester 2009 or Mercier Cup 2008, these tires will save your ass and keep you riding while others are slipping out and walking.

The super aggressive center tread pattern really bites into the ground and offers decent traction on deep, slippery, loose mud. At New Gloucester this year, I was able to ride many sections that my competitors ran. I attribute my 2 uncharacteristic Verge podiums at least partially to the grip offered by these tires on the slick climbs.

In corners, the side knobs dig in and offer stability and confidence. Since they are a mud tire, you will never feel like you are riding on rails, since every corner should be greasy if you are using these. But you will be able to push a little harder in corners knowing that your tires are gripping.

The tread pattern sheds mud as good as any other specialized mud tire. This is the constant trade off: aggressive tread vs. mud shedding ability (for instance Fangos shed mud, but aren’t aggressive enough when conditions truly deteriorate). Tufo has struck a good balance with the Cubus. They grip well, but don’t pack up terribly, though, as with any aggressive tread, if the mud is sticky enough, they can’t help but pack.

Many people object to Tufo tires because they are much less supple than fancier tubulars. The flip side of this is that Tufo tires are indestructible. You can whale on these tires all season, run them at ridiculously low pressure and bottom them out multiple times per race and not worry about hurting them. And if they puncture, they are easily resealed using Tufo’s sealant. Call me a philistine, but I like my mud tires to be able to handle the inevitable abuse that they will suffer: getting smashed into hidden rocks, roots and the like. I have noticed no downsides to the stiffness of the casing. They don’t conform to every little change in surface, but they conform enough in off cambers to allow the tread to do its job.

These tires were comparatively cheap. $50 on World Class Cycles. That’s cheaper than Challenge tubulars cost at wholesale.

The bottom line: If you are looking for an inexpensive, durable tire that will help you improve your mud riding, this might be it. If you need a suppler casing, you can get the Flexus casing with the Cubus tread for about twice as much.

Product Review: Ritchey WCS Protocol Wheelset--Great Wheelset for the Money.

My initial impression of these wheels, before I owned them, was that they were flimsy. PVB had a set that he thrashed during a cross season and then on the road. Obviously with a wattage cottage like Pierre, who is known to destroy parts, the wheels gave up under the abuse (PVB later stated that he was happy with the wheels and admitted that they held up well under after he dogged them).

I got my set as part of a Record 10 UT grouppo August of 2007. I needed a set of cross clinchers, so I resigned myself to killing these instead of selling them and buying something more durable, such as Ksyriums.

First off, these wheels are light. They weigh in around 1500 grams, which puts them in the same weight category as Ksyriums and Easton EA90's. They are semi aero with bladed spokes and a low spoke count.

I have been using these wheels as my training clincher for the 2007 (season curtailed by injury) and 2008 cross season and race on them occasionally, for instance when my tubulars need regluing or the valve stem gets stuck in the extender.

The front wheel went out of true early on. I trued it once and it has remained true ever since. I attribute this to normal settling of a machine built wheel and don't hold it against the wheelset.

I have been riding/abusing these wheels in all the conditions that New England cyclocross throws at you and I have been very happy with their performance and durability. Seriously, I have crashed these, smashed them into blind ruts and roots, bottomed out the tire onto the rim countless times and they are still true and ride straight. I even take them on light mountain bike terrain without issue.

While the bearings were never as smooth as my Campagnolo hubs, they are smooth enough for daily usage. The hub speed has not degraded with time, which leads me to think that they are well sealed, considering the mud, ice and rain that these have been ridden through.

You may notice that I am not using the Ritchey quick releases with these wheels. "Why?" you ask. I like the Ritchey quick releases so much that I use them with my "A" wheels. 2008 I used them with my Zipps on road and then my Egde/DT Swiss wheelset for cross. Now I am using the Ritchey skewers with my Easton EC 90 Aeros.

I do have complaints. First, admittedly not a big complaint, the freehub pawls are loud. Seriously loud. Like these things interfere with normal conversation if you are coasting. Its reassuring that they are working well, but man are they loud.

Second, the decals on the rim are shoddy. They are more like stickers. They were applied poorly and have bubbles underneath them.




While this is not serious either, its just irritating. I would just peel the stickers off, but that would create work for me and I'd rather just leave them.

Overall, I am quite happy with these wheels. I plan on using them as my cross clinchers for the foreseeable future. Considering how well they are holding up, I have no reason to expect that these will need to be replaced any time soon.

As you may know, these are available quite inexpensively on eBay and on other internet sites. Also, Ritchey is making a tubular version of this wheelset, which I assume is of comparable quality. If I were on a tight budget and needed a reasonably light bargain wheelset, these (clincher or tubular) would be very high on my list.

Product Review: Ergon GR2 Grip--RMM May Have Been Saved From Arthritis

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So I started mountain biking this summer. I have been racing regularly and riding offroad at least once a week, usually twice. While I have noticed an increase in bike handling skills, I have also noticed that my hands are really sore after a long ride. I asked other off road riders if they had the same problem and most of them indicated that it came with the territory; they told me to man up.

A stranger to manning up on the bike, I got to thinking about ways to fix the problem. Carpal Tunnel affects many cyclists, and I don't want to be one of them. After investigating the available handlbars and grips, I settled on the Ergon GR2. I got these because the grip is actually shaped like the palm of a hand. Ergon's website pointed out that both the grip angle and the bar end are independently adjustable, and if that wasn't enough to justify the expense, they come in two sizes and Ergon has a bunch of scientific looking diagrams.

Set up was simple. My first time out, I set the grips how I intuitively thought they should be and then adjusted them on the trail to dial them in. Overall, it took about an hour of riding and stopping to adjust before I was happy with them. I haven't touched them since that first ride.

My hands are no longer sore after a long ride. The grips do exactly what they are meant to do. They spread the stress of offroad cycling over a larger section of your hand than normal grip. Instead of your hand adapting to the grip, the grip is adapted to the hand. I won't try to sell you on bar ends, you either already have them or you think that they are for dorks.

Since I have a larger contact area with the bars, I have noticed differences in how I grip the bars in various situations. For instance, I no longer get the white knuckle death grip when situations get hairy. I am not saying that the grips are making me a better bike handler, but they are making me more comfortable, which inspires confidence.

My only functional complaint about this particular model is the bar end. If you are going to have a bar end, I would prefer it to be longer. Ergon offers a model with a longer bar end, I just didn't choose it, which is my mistake.

The grips are not light. If you are hyper concerned with grams, you can upgrade to the model with carbon fiber bar ends, but that increases the cost to about $100. But even these baubles are heavier than standard lock-ons or Oury's.

Speaking of which, even the magnesium grips I bought weren't cheap at around $50 retail. My justification for the expense was as follows: Wait, do I need a justification for spending money on a part that will improve my cycling experience? If you think that I do, perhaps you are reading the wrong blog.

The last question most people ask when they are considering a new part is: does it improve the overall appearance of the bike? Or: does it look fast? The answer to both of these questions is "No." These grips look goofy. Natasha laughed when she first saw them.



I have grown used to them, but I expect that my friends will laugh at them when they see the bike. I have never been one to succumb to peer pressure. Furthermore, I am almost 10 years older than most of my cycling friends with all of the amplified aches and pains associated with increased age.

I am a sucker for ergonomics. I sleep on a Tempurpedic mattress; I am current sitting on a high falutin' multi adjustable office chair with memory foam cushions. On my road bike, I use ITM K-Sword handle bars, because the handlebars are shaped exactly like my hands (I'd review them, but they are no longer in production). Basically, Ergon had me in mind when they developed their product line.

If you are experiencing hand pain after rides, you should consider checking these grips out. If you have no issues with pain, stay with what you are running because those grips are definitely lighter than Ergon grips. I had hand problems. Ergon's have helped alleviate them. I am very happy with my new grips. Based on my experience with this model, I will be trying some of Ergon's other grips when I get my next mountain bike.

Product Reviews: Handlebar Tape Mini Reviews.

I have used a few different bar tapes and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. While I believe in trial and error, I also believe that hearing what I have to say could allow you to avoid getting something that you will definitely not like.

Cinelli Cork Ribbon

For many years this was the benchmark by which other tapes were rated against. I have had lots of experience with this tape. In fact, due to an ordering glitch, I currently have this tape on my road bike.

The tape is easy enough to apply. It stretchs and conforms well enough. On problem in application is that the adhesive strip in the center of the tape can seperate from the tape when you stretch it out. While this is disconcerting and annoying, most of the adhesive remains in place and does its job. Once applied the tape remains in place.

The tape offers good vibration dampening and decent grip when dry.

The problems start when it gets wet. The tape becomes slippery when wet. Gloved, barhanded, it doesn't matter, it is slick. Think sweaty summer crits, intense trainer session, passing showers or driving rain: in any scenario, your grip will suck. In fact, if you are riding without gloves and get caught out in the rain, you should pull over and wait for the dampness to pass lest your hands slip when you hit a bump and you knock your teeffs out.

Another issue is the bits of cork in the tape. Even out of the box, the "white" tape is not Kyle Smith, gleaming white. For many this is not an issue. It puts me off. Kyle probably would ride tapeless...That said, the tape cleans up well enough, so you can bring it back to its original "whiteness" with a quick scrub.

The tape does not appear to collect bacteria. Sweat seems to stay on the surfuce instead of burrowing in and causing stink.

Stella Azzura Techno Spungna

For years this was my goto tape. It has great vibration dampening, it is gleaming white and it has great grip when dry, gloved and bare handed. In the rain or with a sweat I would rate the barehanded grip as just over the acceptable line. With gloves in the damp/wet grip it acceptable to good.

When wrapping bars, I have found that this tape will tear if you pull too hard on it. But you'd have to pull real hard to rip it.

Amongst its disadvantages are its releative obscurity; few local shops stock it and those that due are often running low.

Also, it does not clean up well. Once you sleaze it, it will never be the same. I have experimented with various cleaning methods and products and the best that I could do was get a light grey to off white after many minutes of scubbing with strong cleaners.

As with Cinelli tape, this does not collect stinky bacteria.

Fizik Microtex

I have given this full review already.

It has great grip in all conditions with moderate vibration dampening. It is difficult to apply, but once you get it on it looks great. You can clean it easily.

The only real problem is the stink. It has a serious BO problem if you use it on the trainer. The micro perforations allow sweat in. And most of us don't hose down and scrub the bike after an indoor training session, so the sweat festers inside. Enough said.

Insane though it is, the tape will look PRO but stink like a piss bum. After the stink sets in, you can't scrub it out, believe me, I tried everything, bleach, degreaser, worse.

SRAM Superlight

This tape has many of the positive attributes of the Microtex, often surpassing it, but it doesn't appear to collect stink.

It has great grip in all conditions and better vibration dampening than Fizik, though it does not approach the cushiness of Stella Azurra or Cinelli Cork tape.

I actually find the grip on this tape to be best in class. It has a confidence inspiring suede texture. I have never slipped on this tape.

I got grey bartape, put it on my cross bike. I have not noticed any change in color, so I can not comment on whether the tape cleans up or not. But I imagine that the lighter colored tapes may be difficult to clean because of the grippy texture. Grippy texture grips dirt too.

My biggest complaint was how stiff the tape was when trying to wrap the bars. It does not conform easily. It has a tendency to crease and fold unattractively instead of molding around obstactles such as brake hoods. If you are an expert handbar wrapper, you will work it out. If you are starting out, practice on something more pliable first. I found it frustrating, but after a couple of attempts I achieved an acceptable wrap.

Deda Elementi

I have this on my track bike. I only use this with gloves in dry conditions. I have never slipped, so the grip is perfect for normal track racing. It has decent vibration dampening (not really necesary on the track), cleans up well enough.

Since this tape has seen limited usage, I can't discuss whether it will perform well in adverse weather.

You should also see Justin Spinelli's tutorial on wrapping handlebars so that no matter which bartape you choose, it will be properly applied.

Product Review: Mad Alchemy Embrocations PRO Chamois Creme--Thumbs Up.

As you may have gathered, I am a big advocate for chamois creme. I get by in cross season without it since the races are so short, But during road season , when saddle time usually exceeds 2 hours, and once or twice a week reaching 5-6 hours, a layer of undercarriage lubricant is essential to keeping everything running smoothly. If you have ever had a saddle sore, you know how important it is to avoid them.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first purchasers of Mad Alchemy Embrocations PRO Chamois Creme (MAEPCC). I have tested it on three rides, one long (4+ hours), one short and intense ride with lots of sweating and a 2 hour mountain bike ride.


The short review: Good chamois creme, you should try it.


In Depth Review:

When you open the lid of MAEPCC you will find yourself trying to place the smell. It is vaguely citrusy and grassy, not medicinal. When you check the ingredients list you will find a number of essential oils, which will describe the complex aroma.

The texture is greasier and smoother than most other chamois creme, like a white gel, as opposed to a confection or frosting.




MAEPCC is not as thick as other cremes. It has the consistancy of a thick lotion, which made me initially skeptical of its efficacy on a long ride.

No tingle upon application, just a cooling sensation on the underside. While I have grown accustomed to Yash's "100 tiny angels licking my ass", I have found that this is not an essential feature of chamois creme.

The chamois creme stays in place. I have found that MAEPCC offers plenty of protection over a long ride. When using MAEPCC, I didn't think about my saddle, my riding position or my grundle. At the end of my rides, I took one for the team and checked my chamois for residue (sorry Cort, I had to check) and sure enough, there was the characteristic greasy streak proving that the chamois creme was still present and protecting my goods.

On the MAE website, Pete Smith offers that "The best cycling gear is the gear you never notice" and I have to agree with him. While MAE Warming Embrocations announce their power immediately by burning and continuing to burn, MAEPCC is a subtle product that does its job silently, but no less effectively.



I must admit, that I have been on the fence between MAEPCC and Assos Chamois Creme. I have been switching back and forth between the two. In a demented moment, I considered mixing the two. In the end, I decided that they are both great chamois cremes, but I will be using Mad Alchemy after I run out the ACC.

Mad Alchemy uses natural ingredients and is made locally by a real human, a good guy in fact. These three features are usually enough to sway me, as I am a huge advocate for buying local and personally knowing your suppliers.

Next time you are buying chamois creme, I encourage you to try the local stuff, you won't be disappointed.

Once I get a little more money in the coffers, I am looking forward to trying MAE's
PURE Chamois Grease and Skin Protectant.

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