Gear Reviews

HOJI with Cramp-In Crampon

I am flirting with putting these on my boots. Trouble is, can't find them, they are costly, they will not work with any other mountaineering boot I currently own. Fix or alternate solution: Petzl Irvis Hybrid or the Black Diamond SERAC Clip version that is stainless with a front strap and a heel clip.  The Petzl has a changeable toe piece that will work with any mountaineering boot with or without toe welts. Second solution: buy the Salewa speed nose crampon adaptors. cons: more little bolts to lose when not using them or get loose when in use. I will make the decision soon and write a review on my choice.
So, I pull the trigger on the Black Diamond Sabretooth Crampon. I should have a chance to use them later this week. Because of the speed nose I went with the Clip version.

My disappointment is having to order the "clip" version vs. the "pro" version. This creates more gear, more stuff etc because I will not use these on my toe welt mountaineering boots when the time comes. Thus, redundancy by owning two pair of mountaineering crampons (not to be confused with my pure Ice crampons).

What I would like to do is develop a toe bail system that is interchangeable with a boot that has a toe welt and one that does not have a toe welt.

As an engineer, I envision simply pulling out the toe welt bail and replacing it with the non toe welt bail. The non welt bail would simply hold the rubberized toe piece you currently provide with the "clip" version.

This allows me to use the same crampon that I am used to having on my boots providing a simpler, safer experience =

No Tubes Grail CB7 Wheelset

I am still ticking off couloirs in the Tetons but my mind and body has also been on gravel riding. I have been really ready to rid myself of the Giant TCX CXR1 alum wheelset since I put gravel tires on them. Why? the alum wheelset is harsh, heavy and unreliable. Carbon from Stan's No Tubes just solves all of these wishes. The wheelset comes in around 1270 grams. I have put my Valor wheelset through the paces for a couple of seasons now and absolutely love the wheelset. They have held up to CX abuse, singletrack training and tons of gravel pursuits in ME and ID. The Grail has a wider cross section (21.6mm internal) and should ride even smoother and accommodate lower pressures better. Coming soon!

No Tubes Valor Wheelset

I recently started using the Valor wheelset exclusively for my CX racing pursuits. Soon I will post review on my thoughts on this magnificent wheels.

Giant Propel Advanced 

The new ride for Downeast Racing team this year. 

• Advanced grade composite frame
• allow/composite OverDrive steerer
• Shimano Ultegra 11 speed
• Giant SpeedControl aero brakes

My feedback so far:

I have a few hundred miles on this bike so far and it is a completely different machine than the TCR we were on in 2014. The Propel doesn't feel as reactive at the rear wheel to me, basically seems slow to accelerate. I have changed out the stock P-A2 wheels and we will see if this is the issue. The bar/stem is not stiff enough to overcome flex and it pushes on the rigid brake house so my front brake rubs on the rim when I am out of the saddle torquing the bars side-to-side. The bike is smooth on the road and not harsh at all. In fact the bike feels fast.

Once up to speed this baby screams speed and rolls with ease, gotta like that. I am curious about its ability to climb, as it is a pound heavier than last years steed. I think this is mostly due to the aluminum steerer tube vs. a carbon steerer married to the carbon fork.
 Also, it feels twitchy which again may be the wheelset.  I am curious about its ability to be in tight spaces like a Criterium.

I think the wheelset has alot to do with the bike handling and feel. Last year the TCR certainly turned out to be a completely different bike once I took the stock wheels off and donated them to a closet corner for the season.

I need more time on the bike and make some changes to make a true assessment. 

Black Crows Camox Ski Review

Tip 133/Waist 98/Tail 123
This ski is described as a mid-fat all mountain ski capable of ripping deep snow or perfect turns on groomed pistes, the camox is offered up to blossom on all surfaces. Designed as a 70% all-terrain and 30% piste ski.

The setup: I put a pair of Rottafella NTN Freerides on this ski and I choose to drive my Tele skis with the Scarpa TX. My foot just really like the Scarpa fit and the Intuition liner is second to none.
The skier: I am a skier that has spent 20 years skiing the front side and the back country in the Tetons. I learned to Tele ski on Teton Pass and at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and sprinkle a few spring trips in Alaska around the Thompson Pass area (Chugach Mtns NE of Valdez).

So what did I find? I really like this ski. The ski likes both an Alpine and a Tele turn, it likes a medium and large radius yet I found the dual construction was quick and precise when asked to change into smaller radius turns. The ski performed best on smooth ground: powder, corn, or groomers that were not ice. It is unstable at high speeds in the mank or chop. I found that I could really over drive this ski and the tips would fold on me in the mank at high speed. Not my ski of choice for ripping faces at high speed or in variable conditions.

(+)The Camox is user friendly and likes a neutral stance. The Freeride binding really drives this ski and it rails on soft groomers. In-fact it lays trenches in a groomer in a medium radius.
(-)Not a ski you can drive hard and really doesn't want to hook up on frozen hard pack. Breaks up at higher speeds in the mank.

This is a really good Tele or Alpine mid-fat ski for those who want to ski hard, but not push it beyond its limit. A solid mid-fat ski which is effective without much effort.

Glutathione (GSH)

Glutathione (GSH) is an important antioxidant in plants, animals, fungi and some bacteria and archaea, preventing damage to important cellular components caused by reactive oxygen species such as free radicals and peroxides.

Glutathione has multiple functions:

· It is the major endogenous antioxidant produced by the cells, participating directly in the neutralization of free radicals and reactive oxygen compounds, as well as maintaining exogenous antioxidants such as vitamins C and E in their reduced (active) forms.

· Regulation of the nitric oxide cycle, which is critical for life but can be problematic if unregulated

· It is used in metabolic and biochemical reactions such as DNA synthesis and repair, protein synthesis, prostaglandin synthesis, amino acid transport, and enzyme activation. Thus, every system in the body can be affected by the state of the glutathione system, especially the immune system, the nervous system, the gastrointestinal system and the lungs.

Raising GSH levels through direct supplementation of glutathione is difficult. It is possible to increase and maintain appropriate glutathione levels by increasing the daily consumption of cysteine-rich foods and/or supplements.

Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3), the active metabolite of vitamin D3, after being synthesized from calcifediol in the kidney, increases glutathione levels in the brain and appears to be a catalyst for glutathione production. It takes about ten days for the body to process vitamin D3 into calcitriol.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is available both as a drug and as a generic supplement, and has positive effects on glutathione production. Alpha lipoic acid restores intracellular glutathione. Other supplements, including S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and whey protein have also been shown to increase cellular glutathione content.

Low glutathione is commonly observed in wasting and negative nitrogen balance, as seen in trauma and athletic overtraining.

So as an athlete how can I prevent low glutathione levels? You can supplement and eat cysteine-rich foods. These include: Dairy Products: Ricotta cheese, cottage cheese and yogurt are particularly rich sources; eggs, garlic, onions and fresh unprocessed meats like Chicken and Turkey breast; Asparagus, avocados, squash, tomatoes, peaches, raw goat milk and walnuts boost glutathione; as well as Oat Flakes and Granola increase cysteine and also reduce cholesterol levels. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) promotes the synthesis of glutathione in the body. Food sources of ALA include spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, peas, Brussels sprouts, and rice bran. Spices that contain curcumin like tummeric

Hammer Whey is rich in two highly beneficial amino acids, methionine and cysteine. These two nutrients stimulate the natural production of glutathione, one of the body's most powerful antioxidants. Endurance exercise increases free-radical production, so endurance athletes need extra antioxidant protection. Glutathione also supports immune system and liver functions.

Hammer Super Antioxidant has 100mg of L-Glutathione, a protein that is produced in the liver from three specific amino acids. Along with the mineral selenium, it forms the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which, along with SOD, is one of the body's endogenous antioxidants, and perhaps the most important one of all. Glutathione is also part of another enzyme, which has liver protecting qualities. It protects individual cells as well as the tissues of nearly the entire body and is an important nutrient in helping with the prevention of cancer, particularly liver cancer.

Hammer Endurance Amino contains 100 mg of reduced glutathione, a tripeptide consisting of the amino acids glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. Glutathione is one of the three endogenous antioxidants the body maintains to control excess exposure to free radicals produced during exercise as well as from exposure via the environment. With an Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity (ORAC) score/rating estimated to be an astounding 12,000+, glutathione is undoubtedly a potent antioxidant and very important one for training recovery.

Hammer Mito Caps contain 50mg of Lipoic acid (in the preferred 'r' isomer form used in Mito Caps) is often called the "universal antioxidant" because, unlike other antioxidants, it scavenges both water and fat-soluble free radicals.

So with a little enhancement to your diet with both high cysteine rich foods and supplementation through nutrients like amino acids and lipoic acid you can lower your toxicity and fatigue and enhance the immune system and increase energy through increasing your glutathione