PricePoint's End Of The Year Blowout

End Of The Year Blowout

If it’s November, it must be that time of year again.  That special time you’ve been waiting for all year.  No, we’re not talking about Thanksgiving…we mean Price Point is having our huge End Of The Year Blowout Event.

With amazing prices on over 800 items and extra savings on over 250 clearance products, you are sure to save some serious cash.

Make sure to get all your bike parts and riding gear now during this huge event. Get your bike ready for the next riding season while saving big. You have to check out the SRAM PC991 Chain for only $32 and also the Shimano XT Shifters only $95, perfect for any drive-train upgrade. Need some fresh new looks? Jerseys and riding shorts are more than half off, $28 for a Fox Attack Jersey and only $39 for Fox Baseline Shorts.

Because you are a loyal reader of our blog (or you may have just stumbled upon this one), here is a secret tip – be sure to visit pricepoint.com starting this Friday for incredible Black Friday deals available all weekend.  You’ll find special Door Buster Deals on hot gear, once-a-year savings on Park Tools and more.  And, check back on Monday for our first ever Cyber Monday event.

Hurry, while supplies last.  With prices this low, our great gear will not last long!

The Best Portable Speaker On The Trail

There are tons of new portable speakers coming out on the market for our iPhones, Androids, and Mp3 players. Lately the quality is getting better and better as well as more affordable. I know most iPhone users will stick with their garden of accessories (anything with an "I" in front of it) and not stray too far away. Well there are some pretty good speakers out on the market today with Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeable batteries and they will come in all shapes and sizes. What is the best speaker for out on the trail? What is the loudest? What batteries last the longest? Well, I have not tried all of them but I have been through a few and also have heard a couple in action from friends comparing speakers. I will talk about some different portable speakers and what may be the best application for listening to some tunes out on the trail. I will start with the best value and go from there.

X-Mini II Capsule

X-Mini II
In my opinion for the price the X-Mini II is a great value. This little ball can throw out some serious sound for around 20 bucks. A 40mm driver, rechargeable batteries and able to chain up multiple speakers makes this a great buy. It's rated an 11 hour run time but I would say 7-8 hours on full volume. As most portable speakers this will require some custom installation (it's worth it) to get this to mount somewhere on your mountain bike. This would be a great speaker for a XC or trail riding unless you can come up with a tank proof mounting setup then I would say all mountain riding as well maybe some light DH?

Goal 0

Goal 0 Portable Speaker

My Green Goal 0

Now my personal favorite is the Goal 0 portable speaker box. This is one loud durable portable speaker setup and can be picked up for around $25 - $35 dollars. It's covered with a rugged weather-resistant material. The material  surrounding this wooden speaker box holds 2 full range speakers. The Goal 0 has a zippered opening to store your phone or music player and to protect it against any damage. This also has a convenient cinch-able shock cord for strapping it down to your bars, frame, or gear bag. Me personally I like to keep my goal zero in my hydration packs cinch-able pocket. This as well is rechargeable and can chain multiple speakers to it. It has USB charging and rated 11 hours of playback on full volume. This is the all-around performer in my opinion. How loud is it? Well... it got the cops called to my apartment because the neighbors complained of loud music blasting from my patio. Yup...I showed the officers where the music was coming from and they laughed...then made me turn it down. These speakers Rock! Goal 0 also makes a fold-able solar panel that recharges all your USB gadgets and a car charger port so you will never be without tunes on the trail.

Cycling Sport Speaker (MB-S100)

Cycling Sport Speaker (MB-S100)

Now there are tons more I have not mentioned as I have not had a chance to use them but one that caught my eye that reminds me of the Ihome type water bottle speaker is the Cycling Sport Speaker (MB-S100) yes this is the only name I have found this by. I do not even think you can get this retail yet in the US as I only see it coming from China wholesale sites, but I want to check it out. The Cycling Sport speaker is in the shape of a water bottle and comes is a few various colors to accent your bike style. I don't recommend this setup for an aggressive rider unless you can tie or strap down the bottle to the cage then it should be good to go for some heavier trails. This water bottle of course has a rechargeable battery (charged via USB). It is able to function with phones, mp3 players, microSD cards, and yes FM radio. The speaker looks big, it can be held in a water bottle cage, and has a carry bag. I have not heard this speaker yet but the reviews I have read are all saying this can produce some clean sound from MP3 and WMA files. Like I said earlier I have not found anyone selling this speaker yet. I am very interested in hearing what this speaker can do as well as how long the battery will last and how clear the FM radio comes in. It will sell for around 50 bucks but I hope this can out blast the competition as they are not the first to come out with a water bottle shaped speaker. I do think a first by incorporating a FM radio.

I'm sure there are some portable speakers I should have mentioned but for what I have seen and used these two speakers stand out very nicely among the rest for mountain biking. Obviously there are a few ways to get tunes on the trail; ear buds, headphones, and portable speakers. I prefer speakers for safety reasons and the fact that your riding buddy (or buddies) get to jam out to the same tunes while still aware of outside noises and dangers. Besides how cool is it to be charging down the mountain with some Slayer blasting out in the trails. Awesome! I wonder when the Cycling Sport Speaker will be available for the US?

Feel free to leave a comment and let us know how your listen to your tunes on the trail.

What do I eat before I ride?

Preparing for the Ride. Ever wonder what to eat before a ride? Me too. Its always been a racing tradition to load up on a hearty carb dinner the night before the race, Chicken Pasta, Spaghetti, etc. Lately, there has been talk about the less intake of carbs and more intake of starches, like eating a rice cake with eggs the night before a race. Also adding proteins and "good" Fats. Isn't there an easy answer? Of course not. Vaguely put I think its best to use your training rides as practice to see what is best for your body and stomach. Here are some basic guidelines. The race night dinner! Before the ride. Ever try taking a test on an empty stomach? Epic failure. Unless, you're riding a short distance at ease, it's going to be hard tackling that 5 mile warm up on an empty stomach in the morning. Fueling your body one to two hours before your ride will help your blood sugar level go up and help burn calories. A light healthy breakfast will get you to the finish line. Eggs, fruit, and protein shakes are great morning choices. During the ride. Liquids and Energy Bars will help keep your body hydrated and fueled during your ride, so you don't find yourself pooped out half way down the stretch. Its best to hydrate your body about every 20 minutes. Any sports drinks will help refuel your body dramatically such as GU Brew Tablets, Nuun Active Hydration, or CamelBak Elixir tablets. About every 45 minutes, its best to eat a snack, so that is when you pull out the picnic basket on your back right? Well not exactly. There are tons of different bars, gels, and snacks out there you can choose to take on your ride. Whats the best? I'm sure your going to hear a lot of opinions but the best rule is to choose the healthiest best tasting bar you can find. Some popular choices: Clif Shot Bloks Chews, Clif Shot Energy Gel, GU Chomps, Honey Stinger Bars, Honey Stinger Chews, and the newest bar at PricePoint the Bonk Breaker Energy Bar. PricePoint's Nutrition After the ride. Refuel! It is best to eat right after you ride (15 to 20 minutes after) to repair fatigued muscle and tissue. Consume a good mix of protein and carbs. Eggs, wheat toast, protein shakes or bars, yogurt and even chocolate milk. This will help replenish all the nutrients your body needs to "Recover" and will alleviate soreness and fatigue you will have later in the day. Be sure to not miss PricePoints Nutrition sale. There is still a few days left to take advantage of before the much anticipated PricePoint Big Sale.