After hunting around, looking at price, material and of course colors I decided on some Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Barrier WxB Shoe Covers. Why? #1 price at $50 MSRP. #2 wind AND water protection #3 bright ass yellow.

Details from Pearl Izumi

• MSRP $50.00
• P.R.O. Barrier WxB fabric provides optimal wind and water protection
• Fleece lined
• Waterproof, fully taped internal seams
• Two stage hook and loop closure provides both sleek fit and easy on and off
• Kevlar® road bottom spreads open for easy on and off while providing superior durability
• Recommended for road shoes with external cleats
• Reflective elements for low-light visibility

I purchased this product on my own dime. It was not given to me for review and I was not bribed to say nice things. This is my disclaimer.

At the end of 2007 I purchased my first “smart phone” an iPhone. It was awesome, it had a camera, could connect to WiFi, did all smart things with my MacBook Pro. I was smitten, it went every where with me.

Then one day I crashed with it in my back pocket. The delicate screen cracked. I was saddened as there was no insurance for these things. I sent it off to a place in Florida that specialized in replacing the screen. $150 later I had my phone back and it was back to being in love. 6 months later I dropped it 1.5 feet to a counter, it cracked again. I was done, with it cracking it shattered my heart. How could I love something so much that was so delicate?

At this time the cases were very flimsy and the famous Otterbox was not invented, but there was rumors about it. Fast forward, I had a BlackBerry for a year and a half, and then an Android for almost two. At the end of this past December I was gifted with a new iPhone 4s and again I’m back in love with my phone. I work more efficiently, I talk to Siri when I am driving and I am content. (I’ve been doing my best not to live on the phone btw.

Cases that Seem Bike Shop Girl Proof

Over the past couple weeks I have been looking at all different cases that would keep the iPhone in one piece and safe from me. Cases have been recommended and the general consensus has been Otterbox Defender has been the general consensus. There has also been talks of the LifeProof Case.

The above cases seem the most durable, the LifeProof can be waterproof but is recommended to test prior to submersion.

BioLogic Bike Mount Case – seems cool, the idea of having my iPhone on the front of my bike does worry me, but probably safer than my jersey pocket.

This guy won’t keep your phone too safe, but it sure is cute – found on Cafepress with oceanem.

 Wahoo Fitness Bike Pack turns your iPhone into a cycling computer with wireless sensors. It mounts to your handlebar through a pretty simple looking mount (has anyone used one?) I’m going to try to get my hands on one of these for testing, or if you have one please contact me for a review.

If you want something more basic, Topeak has a cool dry bag with foam built in. Plus a mount on the back to put on the handlebar. Oh, they come in white – which is catchy for me!

The Troll was an interesting vehicle and rather fun to ride. Take the proven 1×1 platform, edit a few things, add a crap ton of braze on mounts for fenders, racks, and various other things. Add mounts for a killer Surly trailer, and have sliding drops like I’ve never had before. The Troll also has a bigger brother, the Ogre, which is the 29er based completely on the Karate Monkey. Once the Ogre is available in another color other than army green I plan on replacing my beloved Karate Monkey frameset with the new Ogre. It won’t be breaking any weight barriers, well maybe with being heavy, but it is tough, stout and can take abuse from the best of them. Oh yeh, it’s steel – that’s a winner too!

Details from Salsa Cycles

The Casseroll is our relaxed road bike, perfect for long road rides, credit card touring, and randonneuring events.

Intended Use: Randoneur, Commuting, Century Rides, Credit Card Touring
Key Specs: Steel frameset, Shimano Tiagra 9 Speed, Tektro cantilevers, Salsa Delgado Cross rims, painted to match Salsa front rack

Overview from my Eyes

To say the least, I was elated when the words came through this past September that Salsa would be sending an updated Salsa Casseroll for review.

For the past three years I’ve been commuting, morphing and loving my original Salsa Casseroll purchased as an all around steel bike. (Purchased with my hard earned cash, not given to review.) There were things I wish were different, like the strange semi-compact geometry which was fun to ride as a road bike but not as upright as I would like for long distance or commuting. Or that the long pull brakes didn’t allow me to run fat 38c tires with fenders.

As I have been beating around, commuting, tooling around Charlotte, taking along the back roads, finding hard packed gravel roads and learning what this bike yearns for – I am pleasantly surprised. Never did I think there would be so much change between the two bikes. The characteristics are still the same, but the handling, geometry and capabilities have grown. Personally, I added a rear rack to compliment and allow for panniers or a rear trunk bag. The front rack that comes stock is beautiful, but I’m still left wondering what type of bag to put on it. Normally I am left strapping a stuff sack with a bungee cord.

A full review is coming along well, I need to somehow do a quick over night tour on it before I can tell you how it does for “credit card touring.”

This bike was provided to me for no charge from Salsa Cycles. I’m reviewing this completely unbiased and my relationship with Salsa Cycles as a rep will not taint any views or opinions I have of the bike or how I share them with you. Swear.

Initial Impressions of the Trek Lush

It took a full ride to get used to riding a 26″ full suspension bike again. Lucky for me the Trek Lush is very forgiving and climbs well even when wrenching out of the seat like a single speed freak.

The bike is responsive, with the DRCV rear shock and full floater design on the backend the bike rides very well uphill. The 26″ wheels allows you to whip around the turns and cut short angles as needed. Going down hill is the most fun you can have on a non-all mountain bike. The 120mm of travel (just shy of 5″) is more than enough for cross country riders, while the DRCV rear shock and sturdy fron Fox Shox is confident inspiring to push you a bit harder and faster.

Comparing the Trek Lush to EX Series

I’ve been riding an 2009 Trek EX-8 since it came out. It has treated me well and after riding the Lush it inspired me to pull it out of the attic where it has been sitting, hibernating, since the spring. Riding the two I need to say the suspension works pretty much the same for me. The biggest difference is my EX-8 doesn’t have the DRCV rear shock, and I would love to have the 15-mm thru axle on the front fork as it really stiffens up the front end in the corners.

The other thing you will notice is the geometry and of course weight. The Lush fits women better, has a better stand over and everything I have read on test rides, the Lush reacts better to lighter weight women with the suspension setup. I’m 160lbs, so I don’t need to worry about the lighter weight suspension setup!

Overall Impression

Since the Trek Lush Carbon was a loaned bike from a traveling rep I didn’t have the bike as long as I normally do. I didn’t make as many long 5 hour rides in the mountains as planned due to weather but I did ride the bike a good amount.

The Trek Lush, is a great riding women’s designed full-suspension mountain bike. It is straddling the line of cross country machine and light all mountain. I believe having a completely redesigned bike like this will push the targeted market. Hopefully get more women to try new things and go confident as this bike does inspire confidence.

The handling of the bike tracks very well, allows you to make some errors that other bikes would make you regret. That has always been the way of the Trek “full-floater” suspension design.

 The Trek Lush in the carbon model will be a stretch for some women. I am sure Trek didn’t stock as many of this model, but I do believe there is opportunity to sell a sub $5k mountain bike and the person interested in it will want the spec that Trek put on the bike. A good drive train, carbon bars, light components and stout yet reasonably weight wheels.

It was a very, very, fun bike to ride. Personally I don’t think I would go for the carbon mostly for the cost. If you are a woman in the mountain bike market, the Trek Lush series starts at $2,199 which is rather reasonable for the bike build. If you can find a local demo and take one for a spin.

Things I Would Change

There were two main points on the bike that I highly disliked.

The grips – some folks like those foam basic grips. I am not one of them. The whole time I was missing my Ergon‘s!

The crank – I wanted a compact double on this bike. It would make the shifting and chain slap a ton better, plus I don’t see myself climbing on a 120mm bike in the granny gear or jamming in the big chainring/small cog very often.

Disclaimer: Trek Bikes provided this bike free for review, I wasn’t paid or bribed. 

It’s one of the top selling women’s road bikes. Many women asked for Lexa by name at demos, and dealers also told us they had many women coming in asking about them. Women love the comfortable fit, race-inspired performance, and the fact that we have so many color and graphics options. It was fantastic to see so many of them at the many triathlons that we sponsored this year. - Trek Women Brand Manager

These bikes are also a very searched term that brings many new readers to Bike Shop Girl. We should have a couple of Trek Lexa’s in our hands soon for review. Make sure to check back if you are looking for more riding feedback!

2012 Trek Lexa Road Bike Line Up

2012 Trek Lexa SLX $1,379.99

The SLX is the top dog of Trek women’s aluminum road bikes. This frameset has shaped aluminum tubing to allow for stiffness where you need it, compliance where it benefits. Equals a lighter ride that is more comfortable to ride. The drivetrain is mostly Shimano 105 10-speed matched with Bontrager components.  Available from 47 – 58cm. Also available in a white and grey color.

2012 Trek Lexa SL $1,209.99

The SL takes a step down on frameset to a more standard round tubing. Still a great frame design if you are riding <40 miles. Drivetrain is the new Shimano Tiagra 10-speed with Bontrager components. The bike is available in a compact double (two chainrings) and triple. I hope that you’ll find mostly the compact double at your local bike shop. Available from 47 – 56cm. Also available in a dark blue and white color. Note there is no 58cm in this model.

2012 Trek Lexa S $959.99

The same frameset as the SL with different parts. Taking a large step down to a Shimano 9-speed Sora drivetrain. This bike is a great starter, but if you really get riding you’ll start wearing out parts. Personally the plum color of this bike is my favorite of the Lexa lineup as I’ve never seen a women’s bike this color. Also available in a light carolina blue and white color. Note there is no 58cm in this model.

2012 Trek Lexa $729.99

The same frame as the SL and S but now with an aluminum fork. Drive train is 8 speed and I would recommend this for either someone looking to dabble in the sport, a teenager still growing or someone on a tight budget. If you think you’ll ride more than 2-3 times a month, take the upgrade to the Lexa S as the carbon fork and 9 speed parts will be better suited if you keep the bike for awhile. Also available in a white and mint color. Note there is no 58cm in this model.

 View the full line up and more details at TrekBikes.com

Here for photos? Scroll all the way down.

Out of the Box Raleigh RX 1.0

Very first thing I noticed is the coloring of the bike, very white with mint green ascent color.

Next thing was the drive train and sissy brakes. Yes, I call those brakes on the handlebar sissy brakes but I do like them! SRAM Apex shifters front derailleur, Rival rear derailleur, Tektro RL721, FSA Gossamer Pro Cross BB30 Cranks and sprinkled with Avenir components. Finally, rolling on Weinmann rims with Formula hubs and Vittoria CX Cross XG Pro tires.

Features of the 2012 Raleigh RX 1.0 Women’s Cyclocross Bike

A few key details I am really digging on the bike so far.

Rear rack bosses. Allows the bike to be used for more than cross. Commuter, grocery getter, campus ride, road bike, baby puller, and well… do you get the idea?

Tektro brakes. These brakes set up well, and are rather inexpensive.

Shaped rear seat stays. It is hard to see in a flat photo, but the rear stays are flattened which in practice should smooth the rear end allowing the aluminum to give some. At the least it shouldn’t be as darn stiff vertically (to your butt/back.)

The rims are slightly deeper in depth. The jury and all of its testing is still not shown if deeper rims help get through mud and sand. Regardless, they are deeper on these wheels and show the labels off well. Also, makes the bike look faster.

 More words to come soon…

A first review will be ready in a couple weeks. Need to get this bike dirty first!

Disclaimer: Raleigh USA provided this bike for review, I wasn’t paid or bribed. 

Rain pushed aside I hope to swap the stem and get pushing dirt tomorrow

“The Edge 200 was designed for those budget conscious cyclists looking for the basics — speed, distance, time and calories,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “With no set-up or sensors required, simply switch on, press start and go. The Edge 200 adds so much to your ride that no ride will ever be the same again.”