What Bontrager has to say

Updated for 2011 with Bontrager’s new proprietary Micro-Fit buckle, the RXL MTB WSD gives hardcore cross country racers a distinct performance advantage. Using top-notch materials to cradle the foot in comfort and an efficient Silver-series carbon outsole to transfer power to the pedals, the lightweight and durable RXL WSD stands ready for all-out efforts on the most rugged World Cup circuits.

MSRP: $229.99

Details: Silver Series Carbon, Micro-fit buckle, women’s specific fit, eSoles insole system.

Initial Thoughts of the RXL Shoes

A few key things (other than the price) of the RXL to the RL that were quickly apparent to me.
#1 The buckle upgrade from 2010
#2 The insole was a lower arch support than the one that came in the 2010 RL
#3 the shoes were the same size (42 euro) but feel smaller than the RL. This could because my RL’s are so worn out they have “flattened” and “stretched.”
#4 The RXL and my 2010 RL shoes are within 3 grams of each other

Details that Matter

The bottom lugs of the soles are much softer and gummier than the RL.

Micro-fit buckle clicks at 1.5 increments

The shoes have decent airflow but the “anti slip” fabric on the back of the shoe can rub when you don’t have socks on.

After Two Months Review of the RXL Shoes

These shoes are everything I wanted them to be. Stiff, breathable outer, amazing colors and can do well on the road and longer distance mtb rides. I’m not convinced these will be my goto cyclocross shoes because they are so stiff but I can certainly tell my power to the pedals with these shoes.

After a couple more months I’ll check in with these shoes, give you feedback about cyclocross and how the outer of the shoes last.

 This product was given to me at no charge for reviewing.  I was not paid or bribed to give this review and it will have my honest opinion or thoughts through out.

Giordana Body Clone $150

No elastic waist band, comfortable compression all around and cut to bend with your leg.  One of the more comfortable shorts I’ve used in awhile but after a season and a half they need replacement.

Sugoi RS Short $130

This and the Bontrager below are my all time favorite cycling shorts.  They’ve lasted more than a season, fit my body and work well on road or mountain bikes.   My go to for any ride over 50 miles!

Bontrager RXL $149

Yes, a guys short.  This short is designed to work well with the Bontrager inForm saddles, but if you don’t have one it works well with all shorts.  The chamois has different density of thickness through out, with out stepping down the actually feel of the pad.  So it doesn’t cause the pad to bunch in unwanted areas.  Please it is a bit wider than most pads so it doesn’t hit the crook of my butt as most do.

Loeka Shell Short $60

My favorite mountain bike short, and it comes in a variety of colors too.  Light weight, great fit and the length hits right above the knee so it keeps me well protected.

There are many different TYPES of saddles. I could possibly take the leap and say there are as many TYPES of saddles as there are types of bicycles.

Glancing quickly over at Bontrager, WTB and Terry Bicycles here are the basic types of saddles these large companies design, stock and feel confident enough in the amount of people needing to buy them.

Bontrager :

InForm “racer type” series
Sport series with designed padding and cut out
Approved series is your basic
Commuter series has weather resistant material and gel
Boulevard series, a hybrid style
Suburbia series, wider than above for less distance
Cruiser series, belongs on your beach bike or a tractor
Kids Series

Terry Bicycles:

Women’s Performance
Women’s All Around
Women’s Touring
Women’s Recreational

WTB:

Recreational
Performance
Racing

With all these saddles where do you start? Let me try to put it in more basic terms…

The length of time you’ll be spending on the saddle is important, but also working up the mileage slowly is important.  My rear is used to sitting on something hard, so sitting on a harder saddle is more comfortable to me as I don’t sink into it after 2 hours on the bike like I would on a more padded seat.
Soft, wide saddles are for the recreational rider that normally owns a Cruiser or Comfort Hybrid of some sort.  Their trip distance will be <10 miles and at a slower pace.  The width can cause chafing as it pushing your legs apart, and the padding can break down with age. If you are spending more continuous time on the saddle you may start sinking down into the padding and your soft tissues will be holding you up instead of your sit bones.  If your distance or time picks up look for a narrower, slightly denser padded, seat.

Firmer, recreational saddles are the most popular when it comes to family and mountain bikes.  Normally they will have a well positioned split in the middle towards rear of the seat. The padding is dense so you won’t sink in for awhile, but as you push your mileage make sure this saddle doesn’t sag in the middle like a hammock.

Light, firm, performance saddles are where most women find the most fight when trying to find the right one.  Part of this is fitting and the woman’s anatomy and soft tissue areas.  As we try to get less upright and rock forward we push our soft tissues into the front of the seat.  Finding the seat that feels comfortable in the back but doesn’t make painful issues is hard.  Every woman is made different and the woman that is looking for this level of saddle probably rides a lot and wants to be aggressive in their fitting.

Other Notes:

Make sure a shop takes time to situate the seat to your liking.  The cut out should eliminate many aches from the front, soft, tissues.  The wider, firmer, area in the back should be contacting your sit bones comfortably with no seams or stitching.

Next up in our series I will be talking about the new way of thinking on measuring your sit bones to aid in finding the right seat.

A common question seems to be : What’s in your bicycle bag?

The bag they are referring to could be my seat bag found under most of my saddles, one of my messenger type bags slung over my back on the way to work or the store, or maybe my Camelbak on the way to the local mountain bike trail.

Here’s what is in my two bags today on the way to work.

Messenger Bag :

My 8 year old Timbuk2 bag that seems to take a beating and doesn’t want to stop.
Contents from top left to bottom right include :

• Planet Bike Blaze Front Light (best & brightest battery operated front light in my opinion)
• Spare tampon, always in there because you never know
• Pen
• Moleskin with another pen inside
• Pedro’s Pink Tire Lever
• Bontrager Roll Bar Multi Tool
• Serfas hand pump, which I can’t even tell the model I’ve had it for so long
• Twin-Six wool cap, incase I get somewhere and have horrible helmet hair
• Tshirt for work

Seat Bag :

Contents from top left to bottom right include :

• Seat bag with blinky light attached.  Secured with a zip-tie so it doesn’t pop off
• Two CO2 cartridges, one with a rubber sleeve so not to freeze my hand off
• Spare tube (if on a group ride I carry two spare tubes)
• Bontrager Air Rush CO2 adapter
• Pedro’s Pink Tire Lever
• Bontrager Roll Bar Multi Tool

What’s in your bag today?

For 2010 they are going even deeper with the line and adding more color.  The women are staying pretty subtle but the mens line have a lot of orange through out.

RXL Road

MSRP $229.99

Weight : 560G

This model is new for 2010, originally they womans line went only to RL, this year you will see lighter, stiffer shoes available for women.  Only available in one color, the silver with blue highlights.

RXL MTB

MSRP $229.99

Weight : 670g

Black and gold shoes, with the color option they are going to either hit the market hard and every fast girl will want them.  Or the shoe will sit on my shop floor until we can discount them.  The shoe has a shiny finish, which I think will be easier to clean as a dirty mountain bike shoe gets.   I want to trade in my black and blue pair from 2009 and go to the carbon fiber, light weight “bling” shoe!

RXL Hilo

MSRP $169.99

Weight : 500G

Finally a price effective triathlon shoe for women that is going to fit like a glove!  Our most popular tri shoe is the Sidi T2 which retails for $279.99.  White has been proven to be the fastest color on a bike so this shoe is really going to do well in the womans tri market.

Street WSD

MSRP $99.99

Weight : 680g

Shoes you can ride to work in, work all day and then hop on the bike to go home.  Run your errands at the grocery store with out clicking around, slipping or getting nasty looks.  For your charity road rides, where the rest stops are social gatherings and walking is crucial.  Riding with your family, and so much more.  I love when folks come out with shoes that have style, function and won’t break the bank.