Product Reviews

With fall term winding down (maybe? finals?  ouch?) and Thanksgiving right around the corner, we thought we'd take some time to remember what we're thankful for as a team: the advice and support of our team advisor, Michael Rea; the invaluable coaching of Steve Weller at Bell Lap Coaching; and the products and services of our various beloved sponsors.  Thus, over the next couple weeks, we'll be featuring a series of product reviews and testimonials from our team members.  

As college kids, we tend to put a high priority on value and convenience, and as Dartmouth students, we like to think we're a pretty intelligent bunch, not to be fooled by gimmicky advertising.  If it gets the Big Green stamp of approval, chances are it's worth your money, too.  Please remember that these sponsors make our mission of developing student-athletes in the sport of cycling possible.  Every time you make a cycling-related purchase you have a choice - please choose to support the companies that choose to support us.





Ibex Outdoor Clothing



I had been hearing about Ibex basically from the minute I came to Dartmouth in September 2009.  It was a brand with an almost cult-like following among people in the Dartmouth Outing Club.  As someone who had worked in bike shops and read outdoorsy magazines, I knew that there were several companies marketing so-called "smart wool" products to athletes, but none of them got such amazing, I-would-trade-my-first-born-child type reviews as Ibex.  On top of this, they were a company that was easy to like, being based in nearby White River Junction, VT and having an annual tent sale in Quechee.  So when I emailed Ibex on a whim last June to see if they would be interested sponsoring our team, I was thrilled when they responded that they were, in fact, just starting a pro deal program and we would be among the first groups on board.  Considering how many team members (including people whose other hobbies include backcountry skiing, rock climbing, mountaineering, and solo thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail) were already paying full price for Ibex products, I knew Ibex would be a popular sponsor.  For those have doubts about wool - and there are some lycra- and polypropylene-clad cyclists who feel this way - I assure you that this is not your grandmother's wool sweater.  It wicks and insulates, and it doesn't itch or smell.

Here's what Mike Holmes D '08 DMS '13 had to say: "Ibex clothing ranks among the best for outdoor performance in all conditions.  Whether I'm scrambling up mountains, skiing backcountry powder, or heading out on long trail runs, nothing keeps me as warm and comfortable as my Woolie baselayers and Climawool shells.  And Ibex cold weather cycling clothing is second to none during chilly training rides."

For more information go to www.ibexwear.com

Enzo's Buttonhole Chamois Creme



Enzo's Cycling Products is a new sponsor for the 2010-2011 season and we're very happy to have them on board.  Chamois cream is one of those things that, if it's doing its job right, you don't even notice is there.  But if you've ever been on a long ride and wished you had applied chamois cream, you know just how important it is.  I can also say from personal experience that there is a big difference in quality between brands of chamois cream.  In other words, all chamois lubrication products are most definitely NOT created equal.  Buttonhole Chamois Creme is by far the best I've used.

Five reasons to use Buttonhole Chamois Creme:

-First of all, it comes in a jar, not a tube, which just makes sense when you consider that the way you use chamois cream has a lot more in common with silver polish than tooth paste (just think about it).
-Second, when you scoop up some of the creme and rub it between your fingers, you immediately feel its lubricating properties and smooth texture, unlike other brands that come out of the tube very dry and paste-like.
-Third, the minty smell is phenomenal.  Bold scent of PRO.
-Fourth, Wayne "Enzo" Simon, the company's owner and founder knows a thing or two about the value of good chamois creme.  I've ridden with Wayne and he definitely logs some hours in the saddle.  I've shown up to a two hour group ride with Wayne and discovered he rode 3 hours beforehand.  No big deal.  Mr. Simon is also a huge supporter of the local road and cyclocross scene in his hometown Chicago.
-Finally, and most importantly, as the Enzo's website explains, Buttonhole Chamois Creme is free of the potentially harmful chemicals found in other brands.  When you consider that chamois cream is in direct contact with a sensitive part of your skin for hours on end multiple days every week, you definitely don't want any questionable compounds down there.  We have multiple med students, a public health expert, and a testicular cancer survivor on our team - Buttonhole Chamois Creme gets their stamp of approval!

Here's a few words about Buttonhole Chamois Creme from Ben Hemani '10 of Newburyport, Massachussetts: "Getting back into the saddle after a long ride, particularly early in the season, can be a bear.  But Enzo's cream is soothing and cooling enough to make sure you never miss a ride because of saddle sores. And admit it, a little minty smell covering up a stinky set of bibs goes a long way."

For more information, go to www.enzoscyclingproducts.com

Bell Lap Coaching



Bell Lap Coaching has been a long-time sponsor of the Dartmouth Cycling Team.  Its owner and founder, Steve Weller, is a 2005 graduate of Dartmouth College and a current Category 1 cyclist racing with the powerhouse BikeReg.com/Cannondale elite team.  Steve coaches a wide variety of athletes, from 45+ masters weekend warriors to professional cyclocrossers racing in Belgium and everyone in between.  His coaching is invaluable to our team, especially because as a Dartmouth alum and former collegiate racer, he understands the need to balance training and "real life" - work, school, family, etc.

Elle Anderson '11 of Stowe, VT, our women's captain this year, worked one-on-one with Steve last year and can attest to his effectiveness as a coach.  Elle had multiple podium places in ECCC races, top 10 finishes at Collegiate Nationals, and some very impressive results in top regional races and National Racing Calendar events.  Here's what she had to say about Bell Lap Coaching: "Steve Weller understands perfectly what it means to be a college student fitting in training around studying. His coaching maximizes both efficiency and fitness, with no wasted efforts and great results. Steve is very knowledgeable and amazing to work with."

For more information, including Steve's various coaching packages, check out Bell Lap Coaching's website: www.belllapcoaching.com


Giant Bicycles


We are proud to have been sponsored by Giant Bicycles for the past two seasons.  Through our sponsor shop, the Bike Hub (scroll down for a review), we are fortunate to get an incredibly good deal and equally awesome customer service.  Giant has a complete product line that few if any other manufacturers can match - from ProTour winning road and time-trial bikes to World Cup worthy hardtails and full-suspension mountain bikes and a full range of entry-level bikes in every category.  
Just as impressive is the fact that Giant is the single largest manufacturer of bicycles on the planet.  If you're in the market for a new bike, chances are many of the bikes you're looking at from competing brands are actually made by Giant and relabeled - so why go through the middle man?  In a day and age where nearly all affordable racing bikes are made overseas, it's reassuring to know that Giant has owned its own factories in Taiwan since 1972 and has the highest standards of quality control.  Quite simply, Giant knows how to build great aluminum and carbon frames.

Rosalie Lipfert '13 of Cornish Center, NH has been riding road and mountain bikes since high school.  She just upgraded to a Giant TCR Advanced with SRAM Rival from the Bike Hub.  Here's what she had to say about her new ride: "My Giant TCR feels weightless. It shifts smoothly and with a compact crank can ascend any hill around.  The brakes feel especially secure. Overall a very smooth ride-bumps and cracks in the pavement are barely noticeable!  Plus the color combo is just hot."

For more information about Giant, check out their website (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/) or stop in to the Bike Hub.

Revolution Wheelworks



Revolution Wheelworks is a company that lives up to its name; their approach to building and selling high-quality, affordable wheels is truly revolutionary - not because their products are exotic, but because their attitude is down-to-earth and their concern with customer service is obsessive.  I've spoken with the company's co-founder, Andy Rose, and can honestly say he's one of those people in the bike industry who really gets it.  He supports college teams and local races, and he understands that most amateur racers and enthusiasts who don't get their gear for free want reliable, quality products that won't break the bank.  That's exactly what Rev offers.

Dartmouth alum and current cycling team advisor Michael Rea TDI '08 is the proud owner of two of Rev's signature products, their 50mm deep carbon tubular REV-50s and their superlight aluminum clincher REV-22s.  His comments need little introduction:

"The quality of hubs, skewers, and freehub bodies exceed expectations for any race wheelset and are exceptionally durable.  I've only seen minimal notching on the Shimano freehub body after a hard season of use, which surprises me.

"The Rev 22's accelerate like no other wheel I've ever had and are plenty stiff enough to survive racing.

"The Rev 50's are of exceptional quality and exceed expectations for durability.  After a season and even a crash, they have not needed truing nor have any signs of wear.  The coated brake surface yields great linear and predictable response.

"Customer service for rebuilding broken wheels defies the industry norm.  Turnaround time is fast and the end price is always less due to the sensible re-use of non-damaged spokes.

"All in all, I'm a more than happy customer and will continue using, purchasing, and recommending Revolution Wheelworks to others."

For more information, please check out their website: http://www.revolutionwheelworks.com/home2_page.html

The Bike Hub

The Bike Hub, located just across the river on Route 5 in Norwich, Vermont, has been our official bike shop sponsor for the past two years.  Bill McFadden, the shop's owner and founder, has been a big supporter of collegiate and development cycling teams.  He also has experience in many disciplines of cycling, from road cycling to 24-hour mountain bike racing.  His staff is consistently knowledgeable and helpful, ready to answer your questions, especially if you're new to the sport.  Coming from Chicago, where bike shops are a dime-a-dozen and typically very impatient, the Bike Hub is a breath of fresh air.

As Devin Chu '14 of Hilo, Hawaii said of his experience with the Bike Hub: "I would like to say that The Bike Hub has been so helpful through the whole process of getting a bike. Bill took the time to find which frame would best suit me, and when the bike arrived the employees helped me find the right shoes and other gear needed to get me up and riding. Customer service was fabulous."

In addition, the Bike Hub's array of CompuTrainers have been a great winter training tool for our team and the Upper Valley cycling community in general.  The shop has also played host to some awesome events, like repair clinics and group rides.  Check out their website (http://thebikehub.com/) for more information.

-Dartmouth Cycling