I have a reflex action every time I see someone sporting those oh-so-trendy Lululemon workout clothes … a shake of the head. An eyeroll. A muttered-under-my-breath exhalation of “sucker.”

Go to any yoga studio or CrossFit gym, though, and you’re sure to see people who paid upward of a hundred clams for the privilege of sporting that omega logo on their workout duds. Why they’re so willing to shell out when there’s a company like Tasc Performance, I’ll never know.

I picked up a bunch of Tasc’s bamboo gear during a blowout sale at Sports Authority … back when Tasc was known as Thriv (neither name is very good, but I think Thriv fits the eco-friendly vibe better. Clearly, this company needs hard-core, visionary branding consultants.).

Here’s the deal: Bamboo fiber is allegedly less stinky when exposed to sweat than my typical synthetic gear. And it’s soft – like polish-your-camera-lens-with-it soft. I ran a wide range of gear through the ringer … two fitted t-shirts, two pairs of gym shorts and a pair of fitted boxer-briefs. I didn’t pay more than $20 for any single item (on-sale, but retail prices were still reasonable).

All were ludicrously comfortable. And yes, I noticed that I smelled far less worse when wearing Tasc gear. Here are a few observations about each item.

Hybrid fitted SS Crew – The sleeves are a bit long, coming slightly below the biceps. But that’s no big deal. Perfect performance and fit for yoga, CrossFit, running … just about anything that breaks a sweat. I can’t think of a single improvement.

Shorts – Off-the-charts comfort, but I want the exact same shorts with two changes: Lose the built-in underwear, and add pockets. Getting rid of the undies means they’ll pair well with the Ventilate compression shorts. Other than that, these are very close to perfect.

Ventilated compression shorts – I wish all my underwear fit this way. But I noticed immediate wear in the meshy area up-front. Nothing should develop a hole by its second use, so some quality control should be high on Tasc’s list.

Other stuff to note: Tasc’s website is a touch clunky; I’m hitting items in the drop-down menu that don’t seem to take me anywhere. The company could also improve and focus its social media efforts: Tasc needs to interact, not just talk about its products. Social media sells me on organizations. A strong social media can encourage me to try a product that I can’t otherwise get my hands on … the unexpected find of cool bamboo stuff at Sports Authority was fortunate happenstance on both our parts. But I think Tasc needs to work the social media hard to get its name out there more. Especially vital since Tasc sells on its website.

I also wouldn’t mind seeing some pants for hiking and some for yoga, along with socks. This bamboo thing is for-real, and what body part needs anti-stink support more than our feet?

Tasc could use some Twitter followers. Get over there and get them talking!

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Foreign money confuses me. It takes me some time to settle in and figure out what’s up with all the different coins and bills.

John from TechiXoft contacted me to say “dude, we have your back.” TechiXoft’s Currency Banknotes app for the iPhone aims to, among other things, get travelers familiar with the local currency. Before you even board your flight, you can learn to tell the difference between dollars and dông, shekels and shillings, yuan and yen. It also does the typical but handy jazz like currency conversion.

Since I roll with an Android-based Motorola Cliq XT, I can’t test the Currency Banknotes app. TechiXoft plans to unveil an Android version(it’s not just Apple devotees who travel abroad, ya know!), but not soon enough for my trip to South Korea. In the meantime, here’s John’s breakdown of some key features:

• Convert 150+ currencies from all over the world.
• View banknote or currency images.
• See colored images of paper bills from numerous countries worldwide.
• Zoom in and out of banknote images with ease, to see them in full detail.
• Instantly calculate the conversion rate of the top 10 currencies of the world.
• See pictures of RARE and HARD-TO-FIND banknotes or currency images.
• Get a glimpse of another county’s culture (people, architecture, etc) by means of their paper bills.

You can also check out the YouTube demo of Currency Banknotes. And you can like TechiXoft on Facebook, too.

Again, I can’t test this one yet. But it sure seems like clever thinking.

iPhone users – give this a try and let me know what you think. I’ll write another post with a roundup of your thoughts and experiences.

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Comments

• September 14, 2011, Currency Banknotes for iPhone Makes Waves in the App Store | About the Iphone writes: [...] popular travel blog WanderingJustin.com, also published a post featuring the app, and commended the “clever thinking” behind [...]

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Miguel from Adventure Bicycle Company in Mesa has heard every fib and sob story from people trying to pull a fast one. Don't even try!

“Bike mechanics know when you’ve been abusing or neglecting your bike – just like the dentist can tell that your choppers haven’t seen floss for years.”

That’s the beginning of “4 Lies People Tell Their Bike Mechanic,” a post I wrote for the Trailsedge.com blog. It’s all about some of the most filthy, vile whoppers people use to turn misfortune or negligence in their favor.

If you are cyclist of any sort or a mechanic, take a look. Nod sagely, and pass it on!

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Read my mountain bike ramblings at the Trailsedge.com blog.

Need a fix of mountain bike blogging? Then bounce on over to my work on the Trailsedge.com blog. I’m covering mountain bikes for the online retailer.

My mission at Trailsedge.com: to be informative, but funny. So far, I’ve hit on some pressing topics … why you shouldn’t wear tighty-whiteys under your bike shorts, how riding a bamboo bike makes you cycling’s answer to Bono, how gyrating dancers in sequined bikinis mean you must always carry a digital camera, and how to avoid winding up being vulture bait during hot summer riding.

Check it out and enjoy!

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Notice the always-reliable Fox gloves.

I love Giro bike helmets. Even its less-expensive models are beyond reproach.

This track record had me pretty excited about trying out its Giro Xen gloves. I picked some up at South Mountain Cycles in Ahwatukee, Ariz., in December of 2009. Since then, I’ve been able to test two pairs and have some strong opinions about them.

They had a lot to offer: full fingers (nice for cooler temperatures), lack of bulk, nice fit. And they looked cool with a swirly gray-and-black urban camouflage pattern. The hook-and-loop fasteners were a bit odd, wrapping counterclockwise around the wrist. But that seemed to be the only major deviation from convention. They were reasonably priced at $30.

It didn't take long to start poking holes in the Xen.

Unfortunately, they’re also the flimsiest gloves I’ve ever owned. Within four months, stitching on the palm of the right glove started coming unraveled. I couldn’t find my receipt, but Giro was accommodating enough to send a new pair. They arrived for the hot summer riding. I split my time between the Xen gloves and an old pair of Fox half-finger gloves.

The palm started unraveling, too.

Despite a fairly light workout, the newer pair developed problems. By December, the left glove’s index finger developed a pinhole. By December, my finger was poking all the way through.

My Fox gloves, on the other hand, are so old that I can’t even remember buying them. Age and heavy use have made them crusty and skanky – even after a thorough tumble in the wash machine. But they are still in one piece.

That makes my next glove purchase a no-brainer: I’ll get another pair of Fox gloves. Unfortunately, Giro’s gloves are nowhere near a match for the excellence of its helmets.

The Xen gloves DO look cool, though.

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1. Gear Review: Switch Sunglasses Take a look at Switch sunglasses - their interchangeable lenses...

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The Switch "Stoke" sunglasses survive their first off-road test handily.

UPDATE: You can win a free pair of Switch sunglasses. Check out the Switch Facebook page to find out how.

Last year, I bought sunglasses with interchangeable lenses. But actually changing the lenses is a pain even under the best of circumstances. They’d drive me crazy if I had to change lenses out on the trail at dusk in the middle of a race. I managed to put the clear lenses in, and I left them in. I used one pair of old glasses for daytime riding, and the “interchangeable” pair for night riding.

That paved the way for Switch Vision to offer a pair of its sunglasses for my depraved dungeon of product testing.

All the items in the Switch line have a magnetic system (Magnetic Interchange Lens System, in the parlance of Switch) that holds lenses in place. When I first read about it, it sounded like a great theory.

This is a look I call Blue Steel.

Switch delivered a pair of its Stoke glasses in a tortoiseshell finish to my door.

Forget reading the manual – what about this magnetic deal? Well, the lenses slid right out with a gentle tug. There are metal bits embedded into the top edges of the lenses – I’m not sure if those are the magnets, or if the other metal bits in the frames are the magnets. Either way, I was eager to see how they get back in. With my other glasses, this would cue twisting, pushing and profanity.

Not this time. I got the lens in the vicinity, and the magnets sucked the lenses into place. Impressive! I tried it a few more times with the same result.

I drove around wearing the Stoke glasses for a few days. Then I hit the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, one of the rockier beasts in the area.

Hitting the Trail

First, the optics are super-crisp. I have the Switch “Glare Kit” of lenses, which includes the Polarized True Color Gray and Rose Amber lenses, along with a plastic lens pod. The True Gray turn even the brightest light into something your eyes can live with. (I tried the Rose Amber a few days later on a cloudy day – they allowed a bit more light in while keeping the harshness out.)

The Stoke is not a lightweight pair of sunglasses. But they never dented the side of my nose. They didn’t slide down my pointy beak despite being lubricated by sweat. The rock-and-rolling of well-rubbled off-road trails was not a factor.

Even without magnetic lenses, Switch gives you some very sharp optics and a comfortable fit. Add the cool lenses, and you have a standout product.

I wanted to be sure I wasn’t just giddy over cool factor, so I showed them to a few buddies. The magnetic retention amazed them all. A few were extra-impressed by the availability of prescription lenses. After the oohs and aahs, they asked “Where can I get a pair?”

Here in Phoenix, the answer so far is at selected local eye clinics. I hope that expands in the future to bike shops and other sports suppliers. I saw the Stoke advertised from $169. The new Switch model, the Boreal (the company’s first full-frame model), will range from $119-$189.

What’s Missing?

One thing I didn’t notice in the lineup of Switch products is an all-clear lens for middle-of-the-night mountain biking. That’s an easy fix, though.

Bottom Line

Someone at Switch thinks like an outdoor enthusiast: Dealing with small, finicky bits while your heart is pounding, while you’re getting dehydrated, while you’re started to cramp … is absolutely no fun. So they made sunglasses that take at least one gadget-related worry of your mind.

What’s Next?

A long-term flogging. The Switch Stoke sunglasses have impressed me. They’re a lot pricier than my usual glasses, but I see what Switch is offering for the extra scrilla.

I’ll update this post in a few months with new observations and thoughts – the kind that only come from lots of hard-core flogging and use. Stand by!

In the meantime, Switch deserves some props.

You can find more by following Switch on Twitter at @InsanelyFast. You can also see far prettier pictures of the full line of Switch sunglasses at Switchvision.com.

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Landmannalaugar in all its unearthly glory.

Alright, so it’s nearly the end of the first month of 2011. And guess who hasn’t said jack about his Best of 2010? That’s right … this guy right here. That ends today. Here’s what I’ve got from this most awesome year of traveling, adventuring and blogging!

One of the advanced students moves through a kata (I believe this Craig)

One of these days, I'll be photogenic in a racing photo.

Best Race: The Midnaeturhlaup – This was a good year for racing, beginning with the Kona 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. But it’s the Reykjavik Midnaeturhlaup that takes top honors. Find out how awesome it is to run a 10K and then hang out in hot tubs with your fellow racers – all long after Jay Leno would’ve signed off!

Best Skiing: Breckenridge – I’ve fallen hard for Breckenridge. It’s big, pretty and filled with absolutely sweet runs. But it’s also got more for it. Find out all the cool things about skiing at Breckenridge – especially the crepes!

Hawaiian Airlines - Doing social media right.

Best Twitter Accounts: There’s more to succeeding with social media than just setting up a Twitter account and tweeting about your sales. ExOfficio, Hawaiian Airlines and First Ascent are three companies that get it. They interact with followers and make their companies seem fun and committed to what they do. I’ll give the best government twitter to Maricopa County Parks – talk about getting people fired up about local outdoor recreation!

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Comments

• January 31, 2011, Erica at ExOfficio writes: Thank you so much for the kudos!
• January 31, 2011, admin writes: You are welcome, Erica. A good social media presence really makes it a lot easier for me to support a company. Great source of info, of course, and a great way to build a relationship. ExOfficio is doing it right!

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This is what you can do with a Pentax DSLR.

Just before my trip to New Zealand (which was so awesome that I still can’t shut up about it two years later), I got a Pentax K-100 Super camera. It was my first digital SLR, and I learned tons from toting it on my misadventures.

And it’s given me some insight about the new entry-level Pentax, the K-x. Here’s my in-depth look at my camera and what it’s taught me to expect from the K-x.

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Five years old and already outdated - even with a Fox fork and hydraulic disc brakes.

In the latest edition of Mountain Bike, the staff issues a six-paragraph apology in a sidebar titled “All Apologies: Good Reviews for Terrible Products? Yeah, It Happens.” Here’s what I think:

Dear Mountain Bike.

I realize your apology is tongue-in-cheek. But seriously, there isn’t a magazine out there that hasn’t done the same. We now have the luxury of looking back at the Biopace chainring, the hydraulic rim brake, the Manitou EFC and the Pro-Flex bikes and smugly, sagely saying they suck.

But they didn’t back then.

Tell me, how much fun did we all have on these products that “suck”? A whole boatload, yeah? So, then, did they really suck?

Nope. They were the absolute best of what we had. They took us incredible places. They -in their anodized purple glory- let us express ourselves. And they spawned innovation after innovation.

So don’t apologize, even in jest. The only thing you should possibly apologize for is a line in the last paragraph: “The products on these pages are guaranteed to make you ride better, and will surely stand the test of time.”

Haven’t you learned anything, Mountain Bike? At some point, those words are going to come back to make a monkey of you.

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Comments

• October 19, 2011, Taylor writes: You're bang on. Technology is always changing, so anything newer that comes along is going to have a short shelf life. Nothing technology driven is going to stand the test of time, but may have been a building block to what we use today. And for its time, the tech may have also been solid...its just that something better always comes along sooner than later.

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The wheel of a Santa Cruz Tallboy 29er dwarfs that of its 26-inch counterpart.

If you drop into Adventure Bicycle Company in Mesa, Ariz., you might notice something odd about some of its mountain bikes – nearly half of them seem to have huge wheels, far bigger than then 26-inch wheel that has been typical since the first days of mountain biking.

It’s not just the bikes at Adventure: Bikes with 29-inch wheels – a side-show curiosity just a few years ago – are mounting a real challenge to the 26-inch status quo.

Read the Rest!

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