DoTheContango
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DoTheContango's Stats
- Review Count5
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First Review2 February 2012
- Last Review25 July 2020
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4.6
Reviews Comments
- Review Comment Count0
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First Review CommentNone
- Last Review CommentNone
- Featured Review Comments0
- Question Count4
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First Question20 January 2012
- Last Question9 February 2013
- Featured Questions0
- Answer Count1
- Helpfulness Votes3
- First Answer28 April 2014
- Last Answer28 April 2014
- Featured Answers0
- Best Answers1
DoTheContango's Reviews
Give your body the perfect combination of electrolytes and minerals for optimum rehydration after your workout with High5 ZERO hydration tablets. The light and refreshing sports drink can be taken pre and post exercise to reduce tiredness and fatigue.
Overall rating
Avg 5
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5
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Tastes good and works well
Posted25 July 2020
DoTheContango
fromRural PA
Country : USA
Age : 35-44
Interest : Road Cyclist
Level : Regular
Gender : Male
" These are great when exercising in the heat. It's easy enough to take on extra water but replacing electrolytes lost through sweating is just as important. There are all sorts of things you can use and frankly many of them are a hassle. Cans of loose powder that clumps, bottles of sugar-loaded junk and the like just don't cut it, and as soon as that term "sugar-free" appears the chances are something is loaded with aspartame and saccharine and other stuff that gives it a foul aftertaste.
High5 tablets are sugar-free and contain sucralose as a sweetener. Since I'm using these when I'm exercising, and usually exercising hard, I'd rather they just used sugar - it's not as if a few calories will hurt. But sucralose beats aspartame in my book so I can live with that. They are easy to work with, divide in two (I find a tablet and a half is a perfect dose for my 24oz bottles) and taste pretty good as well.
"
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Schwalbe Durano Plus Performance Folding Road Tyre 2014
Maximum puncture protection for race machines!
Overall rating
Avg 4
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5
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Good tyre, not for heavier riders though!
Posted28 April 2014
Quality
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Value
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Performance
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Appearance
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DoTheContango
fromLondon, England
Country : United Kingdom
Age : 35-44
Interest : Road Cyclist
Level : Regular
Gender : Male
" I used these tyres after deciding I wanted something lighter and faster than the Marathon Plus. They seemed like a good compromise between narrow/light and robust - even when tyres can be removed without tools I hate dealing with punctures.
These tyres roll well and are resistant to punctures. The only time I punctured them in about 2000 miles was when I didn't quite miss a patch of broken glass. The downside of the puncture protection is they are very difficult to get on and off the rims, which really isn't a good thing when you're trying to fix a flat in the rain.
They are rated to 70kg, which isn't enough for heavier riders. I weigh a little bit over 100kg so by the time the bike is added, the weight distribution is considered, and anything is put in a pannier, I'm over the rated weight for the tyre. I didn't know that when I bought them, so was quite disappointed to find the blue strip showing around 1800 miles.
They are rated 85-115psi. I usually ran them at 100psi and they were fine. In fairness pushing a worn rear tyre to the maximum may not have been the best idea, but the one time I did pump it to 115psi I ended up walking home when the bead detached from the tyre and the rear tube blew.
For lighter riders I'd recommend them, I'm seriously considering sticking with them and just accepting I won't get a lot of miles out of them, but also looking at a slightly wider folding tyre that is rated to take my weight.
It would be nice if the narrower versions came with the reflective sidewall like the larger versions, but it's easy enough to use spoke reflectors to deal with that.
"
Pros: Attractive, Rugged
Cons: not for heavy riders
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KMC X9-73 9 Speed Chain
A 9 speed chain that is compatible withShimano, SRAM and Campagnolo 9 speed systems. Features include their XSP treatment, X-Bridge and the Bulls-Eye pin - a unique KMC riveting system that provides unsurpassed side plate retention.
Overall rating
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5
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Keeps on turning
Posted28 March 2014
Quality
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Value
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Performance
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DoTheContango
fromLondon, England
Country : United Kingdom
Age : 35-44
Interest : Road Cyclist
Level : Regular
Gender : Male
Budget : Value for money
" When I bought my mountain bike back in 2009 it came with one of these. I rode the bike until the chain was way overstretched, then replaced it (and the cassette) with another KMC. When I bought my cross bike (secondhand) it came with a very dirty Shimano chain - it was in a bad way so the first thing I did was get rid of it and replace it with a KMC. Since then I use them exclusively.
These aren't the lightest (but then neither am I), they work, they've never let me down, and I routinely get 3000 miles or more before my chain gauge says it's time to replace them.
If I had to choose a "con" it would be nice to have them in a shinier silver but at this price I'm not complaining.
"
Pros: Durable, Great Value, High Quality, Rugged
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Ortlieb Back Roller Classic Panniers
A no-compromise waterproof rear pannier with an air-tight roll top closure system and the simple and secure QL1 mounting system. Ideal for long distance bike tours and excursions.
Overall rating
Avg 5
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5
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Brilliant panniers
Posted2 May 2012
Quality
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Performance
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DoTheContango
fromLondon, England
Country : United Kingdom
Age : 35-44
Interest : Road Cyclist
Level : Regular
Gender : Male
Budget : Value for money
" I bought these on special offer, on the recommendation of a friend. The first time I used them was to haul about 30 pounds of scrap metal to a friend's place. Then I used one pannier to carry light stuff (usually the kind of stuff that wouldn't quite fit in a saddle bag). The second time I used them in anger they were both full on a 35-mile ride, then one was full (the other in a support vehicle) for a 170-mile tour.
The third time I used them in anger they were both full of food, water and layering options for a 100k ride (I carried stuff for my wife so she could focus on the ride). Along the way we went through knee-deep water, forded a couple of rivers and rode through torrential rain and high winds. The water came above the reflective markings on the panniers, and the contents stayed absolutely bone dry.
So they are definitely waterproof. I've cycled through hailstorms and rainstorms in them and they don't leak from the top either.
Sometimes the slight tapering towards the bottom can be a little limiting but against the overwhelming positives I can't dock any stars from a product that is otherwise unbelievably good.
"
Pros: Durable, Adjustable, waterproof
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Super strong yet light tubular aluminium rack with integral top plate and triple stays.
Overall rating
Avg 4
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5
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4.5? Good, but slightly irritating
Posted2 February 2012
DoTheContango
Age : 35-44
Budget : Value for money
" This seems to do a great job, although I only use it for side panniers it can clearly take a trunk bag as well as panniers if I ever needed to haul that much stuff.
Installation was easy, with clear instructions. Annoyingly I set it up slightly wrong before trying to mount it which required an adjustment but I can't blame the unit for that.
So far it seems like a pretty solid unit. My only irritation with it is that I went for the model with the spring, and sometimes the spring clatters a little if the road is uneven. Not a big deal, just a little irritating. Maybe I'll see if a bungee cord will end the rattles.
"
Pros: Attractive, Adjustable, Versatile
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DoTheContango's Questions
Altura Night Vision Windproof Bib Tights
Windproof fronted bib tight with the addition of large areas of highly reflective trim make these a must for winter riding.
Practicality?
Without wishing to get too anatomical, it would seem impractical to impossible to answer a call of nature while wearing these things. It's all well and good if you can get back to a club house or similar but what happens if you're in a remote area and nature calls?
With regular cycling shorts it's easy enough to use any tree with a bit of privacy but with these is there any option other than having to remove the top half entirely?
With regular cycling shorts it's easy enough to use any tree with a bit of privacy but with these is there any option other than having to remove the top half entirely?
8 years, 2 months ago
by
DoTheContango
London, England
This Thule 968 FreeWay rear-door mounted three bike carrier designed for hatchbacks and sedans (for 3 bikes).The high quality, economic alternative cycle carrier mainly for saloon cars.
Size of bikes it carries?
Will a 19" Specialized Rockhopper fit on this rack? I had a rack before but the bars were too far apart for my wife's bike to fit on it.
9 years, 1 month ago
by
DoTheContango
ZV0 Electrolyte Tablets - 20 x 4.5g
A unique sports drink that increases fat burning and maintains the immune system during training. ZV0 replaces 7 key electrolytes and provides 1.6g of immune boosting glutamine per serving
Ingredients
Is there a list of ingredients available for this product?
9 years, 1 month ago
by
DoTheContango
Nuun Active Hydration - 8 x 12 Tablets
Pronounced 'noon' this handy little tube is a revelation in hydration. Whether you're biking, running, swimming or generally building up a sweat, it's important to stay properly hydrated. Supplied in a box containing 8 tubes.
Sugar free?
The text says they are sugar free, does that mean they aren't sweetened or do they contain artificial sweeteners?
I don't see any mention of warnings of being a source of phenylalanine so I assume there's no aspartame in them but a list of ingredients would be nice to have.
I don't see any mention of warnings of being a source of phenylalanine so I assume there's no aspartame in them but a list of ingredients would be nice to have.
9 years, 2 months ago
by
DoTheContango
DoTheContango's Answers
Schwalbe Durano Plus Performance Folding Road Tyre 2014
Maximum puncture protection for race machines!
durano plus or marathon plus?????
Anyone rid both and which did they prefer? And is there much difference In the puncture protection?
I've ridden the 700x32 M+ and 700x25 D+
The M+ is a heavier tyre and much more durable. I put 5000+ miles on a pair of M+ tyres. The rear tyre looks like it's got another 5000 miles in it, the front tyre looks like it's barely used. Seriously, if I cleaned it up and told someone it had just been round the block a couple of times they'd probably believe me.
The D+ is lighter, rolls faster, but doesn't last anywhere near as long. After 2000 miles my rear D+ tyre is no more. The front one still looks OK, it's probably got nearly 3000 miles on it. I'm a heavier rider - a smidge over 100kg, so I'm pushing the limits of the weight rating on the tyre at the back. The tyre at the front is within limits (assuming approx 60-40 weight distribution).
If you want to do even light offroading the M+ is probably the one to go for. I took in short sections of canal towpaths (compressed gravel, not mud) on the D+ and they coped OK. The M+ coped much better with less grippy surfaces. Neither are great in the mud but the M+ wins slightly.
If you're staying on the road and want speed go for the D+. If you want endless durability and near bombproof protection the M+ has more protection than the D+, but be aware that if you do get a flat you'll be there for a while fixing it.
You will need more than one tyre lever to get either tyre off, and chances are you'll also need levers to get them back on again.
With M+ tyres I got one flat in about 5000 miles (caused by a hawthorn spike), with the D+ I got one flat in 3000 miles (caused by a sliver of glass).
So for normal use I prefer the D+, if I was commuting to work where extra weight was a price worth paying to not be late for work because I was fixing a flat in the rain I'd go for the M+.
The M+ is a heavier tyre and much more durable. I put 5000+ miles on a pair of M+ tyres. The rear tyre looks like it's got another 5000 miles in it, the front tyre looks like it's barely used. Seriously, if I cleaned it up and told someone it had just been round the block a couple of times they'd probably believe me.
The D+ is lighter, rolls faster, but doesn't last anywhere near as long. After 2000 miles my rear D+ tyre is no more. The front one still looks OK, it's probably got nearly 3000 miles on it. I'm a heavier rider - a smidge over 100kg, so I'm pushing the limits of the weight rating on the tyre at the back. The tyre at the front is within limits (assuming approx 60-40 weight distribution).
If you want to do even light offroading the M+ is probably the one to go for. I took in short sections of canal towpaths (compressed gravel, not mud) on the D+ and they coped OK. The M+ coped much better with less grippy surfaces. Neither are great in the mud but the M+ wins slightly.
If you're staying on the road and want speed go for the D+. If you want endless durability and near bombproof protection the M+ has more protection than the D+, but be aware that if you do get a flat you'll be there for a while fixing it.
You will need more than one tyre lever to get either tyre off, and chances are you'll also need levers to get them back on again.
With M+ tyres I got one flat in about 5000 miles (caused by a hawthorn spike), with the D+ I got one flat in 3000 miles (caused by a sliver of glass).
So for normal use I prefer the D+, if I was commuting to work where extra weight was a price worth paying to not be late for work because I was fixing a flat in the rain I'd go for the M+.
6 years, 11 months ago
by
DoTheContango
London, England