Awesome Photos from DCM Photography

The Grease Monkey Wipes team is so lucky to have amazing friends that help us along the way. Most recently, our friend and fellow cyclist Dave McLaughlin, owner of DCM Photography, did some photo shoots for us, our products and for some fabulous models (fellow triathlete friends Lindsey & George.)

He deserves a big shout out, and a huge recommendation from us in case you are looking for a photographer. Thanks Dave + Lindsey + George!

(Of course, if you like what you see here, make sure to visit our online store because it's all for sale!)

Strolling into the Tank

Finally it is getting real.  More and more promos are coming out about our journey into the Shark Tank.  Check out the clip here for another peek into our upcoming episode.  Daymond promises to make someone "filthy rich."  Could it be us?  Tune in Friday, January 15 at 9 ET/8 CT to find out.

Tim's Tips: Proper Air Pressure

There are a lot of questions out there about how much air a road bike tire should have.

This has been a hot topic among wheel and tire manufacturers and most of the major companies have put a lot of time and money into testing what is really faster. Nearly every test had the same results. Most people were a little surprised about the results. The tests showed that the pressure that had the least amount of rolling resistance was actually around 90 psi. The general rule of thumb up to this point was the higher the pressure, the less resistance you had. Most people simply aired their tires up to whatever the tire was rated to. What the tests showed was that when the tires were aired up to more than 120psi the tire actually bounced on the small bumps that all pavement has. This bouncing caused the tire to lose momentum and it took more effort to keep the tire going at the same speed. When the tire was aired up to 90psi the tire deformed over the bumps and kept the momentum going.

This same result also showed up when using 23mm tires versus smaller "faster" tires. The 23mm tires deformed over the bumps and the 19mm tires bounced on the bumps. If you want to know more about these tests, here is one that is pretty good and it shows you how to figure out exactly what your perfect pressure is for you weight and tire size.

http://thelazyrando.wordpress.com/tag/bicycle-quarterly/

Sneak Peek

Here is a top secret image taken from this week's episode of the Shark Tank.

Epic battle of monkey vs shark. Who will win?

Simply Too Funny...

Every now and then I find myself taking cycling too seriously, and I have to stop and remind myself I ride because I love it and when you strip it down like that it becomes fun again. I found this great blog post over on the Jack & Adam's blog that really made me laugh and brought it all into perspective. Great post Sam.

Tim's Tips: Eating

The biggest food mistake recreational cyclists make is eating too much on short rides, says Allen Lim, chief of sports science and technology for Slipstream Sports. On rides that last less than two hours, leave energy foods at home. You're not burning enough to warrant the extra calories.

Eat complex carbohydrates with fiber and protein two-and-a-half hours before riding. Try oatmeal with yogurt and eggs, and steer clear of sugary foods like doughnuts. "They give you an insulin spike," says Lim. "Your blood glucose levels rise, and an hour later you get a sugar low and feel like total dung."

If you're riding long, don't try to subsist on energy gels, sports drinks and bars, which consist primarily of processed sugar and aren't meant for sustained energy. A savory snack, such as a turkey sandwich, provides a break for the palette and the stomach (remember, at lunchtime it's expecting a meal), as well as some needed protein and fat.

The ultimate on-bike snack: potatoes, which are an abundant source of potassium, sodium, fluid and carbohydrates.

So get your potato on and jump on the bike and ride.

See ya Trek...Astana's riding Specialized in 2010

Alberto Contador and his Team Astana mates will be riding Specialized bicycles as he strives to win a third Tour de France in 2010.

“It is very important to have the best if you want to win the Tour de France. This is why I made it a requirement to have Specialized as the team bike for my return to Astana,” said Contador during a video conference with the company’s founder and president, Mike Sinyard.

Chief brand officer Ben Capron said Specialized was “totally committed to supporting Alberto and the rest of the team in their pursuit of another Tour victory.”

“Winning the Tour has been a dream of ours for many years, but even more important is the opportunity to work with riders like Contador and (Alexander) Vinokourov to help us create the best bikes possible and bring them to riders everywhere.”

The company has already worked with Astana’s general manager, Yvon Sanquer, when he was with Team Festina during 1999-2001.

“I could see the professional attitude that animated the company; they never stopped developing and improving the material they supplied to the riders,” he said at the team’s training camp in Pisa, Italy. “Since then, Specialized has continued its progression to become the reference point in road bikes.”