Bike Diva

PowerBar Products

Last week I was contacted by Kristen Zemeitus of the Carmichael Lynch Spong public relations firm. She reps PowerBar products and wanted to know if I would like to receive samples of some of the PowerBar products to review for the Bike Diva site. My husband and I have been a big fan of PowerBar products for a number of years, so we were excited to receive the box of samples. I thought I'd get a PowerBar or two and maybe a few gel paks, but Kristen went out of her way getting me setup with PowerBar samples. Here is a listing of what the box contained, I will be sampling and writing reviews on all of the products in the next week or two.

• PowerBar - 1 box Tangy Tropical
• PowerBar Gel Blasts - 3 packages each of lemon and cola
• PowerBar Gel - 1 box strawberry banana and 1 case chocolate
• PowerBar Endurance - 1 jar lemon lime

I was especially pleased to see two flavors of the PowerBar Gel Blasts, this is a brand new product that my local bike stores don't even have in stock - SWEET! Take care, Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Long Team in Training Ride

I just used the Map My Ride site to map out our Team in Training ride that we will be doing on Sunday, October 5th. We will be starting from Ocean Reef Park on Singer Island at 7 AM. We’ll ride south to the Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach and back for a total of around 82 miles. BRIDGES ARE BACK!!!! We get to do everyone's favorite - Skyline and Blue Heron bridges - twice! They should be a piece of cake after all your experience with the HUGE bridges going over Hutchinson Island.
Approximate distance between rest stops Ocean Reef Park to Boynton Inlet Park = 20.34 miles Boynton Inlet Park to Hillsboro Inlet = 20.58 miles Hillsboro Inlet to Boynton Inlet Park = 20.58 miles Boynton Inlet Park to Ocean Reef Park - 20.34 miles This will be our longest training ride of the season, as we get ready to do the 20th Intracoastal Century Ride in Cocoa Beach, Florida on October 26th. I am participating in the Intracoastal Century Ride as part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training (TNT) program. My husband is coaching, and I am mentoring our local TNT cycle team. Each team member has pledged to raise a minimum of $2,100 to help support the Lymphoma Society. Take care, Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Reivew of Bethesda Sunscreen Soap

Bethesda Skincare A few weeks ago I was contacted by the marketing company for Bethesda Skincare. They wanted to know if I would be interested in trying Bethesda Sunscreen Soap. Washing with Bethesda Sunscreen Soap leaves the skin protected with a minimum protection of SPF 10. My family and I live in SE Florida and are very active - cyclists, runners, hikers, swimmers. We are always outside in the sun, so I was very interested in receiving a sample of the soap to try out. Bethesda Sunscreen Soap Last week I received two bars of Bethesda Sunscreen Soap to try out. I’ve been using the soap for the past week, and I gave my husband and son, who share a bathroom, the other bar to try out. The soap is all-natural, hypoallergenic and has a pleasant scent that isn’t perfumey. I find that traditional sunscreen has an unpleasant scent, while Bethesda Sunscreen Soap has a neutral odor, which is perfect for everyday use. Some of the ingredients included in Bethesda Sunscreen Soap are lemon juice, olive oil, balm of gilead, aloe vera juice, lavender oil, rosemary oil, rose extract, chlorophyll and glycerin. Skin Cancer Last fall my husband was diagnosed with skin cancer. One spot, on his chest, was melanoma and had to be surgically removed. His dermatologist just found another spot on his leg, which will need to be surgically removed. Our 17 year old son had a pre-cancerous spot removed from his lower back 2 years ago. Trying to get my son and husband to remember to put on sunscreen is just about impossible. Bethesda Sunscreen Soap is the perfect solution for them. Melanie Policy When I mentioned that my husband has skin cancer, the marketing rep mentioned Bethesda Skincare’s Melanie Policy: “I would love to give you some information about Bethesda ’s Melanie Policy, which you might be interested in. The Melanie Policy is in honor of the creator’s sister, who is fighting cancer, and is motivated by the fact that chemotherapy and cancer treatment can deplete the skin of its nutrients, causing it to become fragile. Bethesda is giving away a free bar of soap to anyone who is suffering from cancer or knows of someone who has cancer. You are welcome to send the name, address, and the recipient’s condition to store@bethesdaskincare.com, and be sure to reference The Melanie Policy. Feel free to pass this message along to anyone who may be interested.” Additional Protection I would still apply a sunscreen, in addition to using Bethesda Sunscreen Soap, when going out for a long bike ride, or early morning run. But as your first layer of protection, and for everyday SPF protection, Bethesda Sunscreen Soap is a terrific way to protect your skin. Visit the Bethesda Skincare website for additional information, or to order a bar or two of Bethesda Skincare Soap. Take care, Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Update to Bikes VS Motorists

Just found a post on the Miami Herald website about a cyclist that was hit by a car this morning in Ft. Lauderdale. The cyclist didn't make it. Here's a link to the story: Bike Rider is Hit by Car, Dies. Very upsetting to hear the news. Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Sun Suntinel Biking Article

I was reading the forums of one of the mountain bike clubs I belong to, when I came upon a post about an online cycling article. The article, which was published to the Sun Suntinel website, is titled Bicyclist's, Motorists Battle Over South Florida Roads. Click on the article title to be taken directly to the web page where you can read the entire article. Interesting article. But I don't think motorists, that aren't also bikers, are ever going to understand cyclists. We have the same rules as a motorized vehicle. We have to stop at red lights and stop signs. And we have the right to ride in the road when there is no bike lane available. And even when there is a bike lane available, it is often so full of glass, debris, potholes, sand and water, that it isn't safe to ride in the bike lane. Cyclists have the right to ride in the road when a bike lane isn't available and when the bike lane contains hazards. I can understand the frustration of certain motorists over cyclists who don't obey the law, run red lights, don't stop at stop signs. They are the exception, not the rule. In Florida, motorists are supposed to give cyclists 3 feet, a law was passed that allows motorists to cross the yellow line, if necessary, to give cyclists a 3-foot clearance. I can't tell you how many times my friends and I were out riding, in the bike lane, to have idiot drivers pass within inches of us. I also know quite a few cyclists that have been run off the road by passing motorists and even hit by cars. It's very frustrating for us cyclists that obey all the rules of the road, to be harassed by passing motorists. Another pet peeve of mine is motorists screaming at us to get off the road and ride in the sidewalk! I usually ride with groups along A1A, which is not as crowded with vehicles as most roads down here are. The speed limit is also lower along A1A, usually around 25-30 miles max. I may not be the fastest biker out there, but I'm often riding at speeds of 20-25 MPH. Not much slower, and sometimes the same as the posted speed limit! So bikers, please obey all the laws when you are out there riding. And motorists, take a chill pill. We are out there getting exercise, saving gas, trying to have a good time. Many of us, such as my husband and I, are training for events which benefit non-profit charity organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Take care, Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Road ID Personal Identification System

The Bike Diva is proud to announce she has just signed up to be an affiliate for Road ID. Road ID is a personal identification system that can be used by runners, cyclists, triathletes, and other outdoor sports enthusiasts. I go on many solo bike rides, having an ID attached to my sneaker, in the event that anything should happen to me while I'm out riding, gives me peace of mind. Road ID is available in five different forms: the FIXX ID, the Shoe ID, the Ankle ID, the Wrist ID and the Shoe Pouch ID. Road ID slogan "in the event of an accident, if you can't speak for yourself, your Road ID will." Check out the Road ID website for additional information: www.RoadID.com

Take care, Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Pictures from Jig-A-Loo Giveaway

On September 8th I wrote about the Jig-A-Loo Giveaway & TNT Yard Sale that my husband and I were hosting at our house. This was part of a yard sale which helped to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program. The sale went smoothly, although it was a long day, as we started setting up at 5 AM and didn't finish breaking everything down until 1 PM. A few members of the cycle team went out to lunch at La Bamba's after the yard sale. Here are a few more pictures of the Jig-A-Loo display taken during the yard sale.

Nuun Hydration is Sponsoring Bike Diva

The Bike Diva just received another sponsorship offer on the SponsorHouse site. Nuun is a portable electrolyte hydration system that can be used by all athletes. Each tube of Nuun contains 12 tablets, each of which can be used along with a 16 ounce bottle of water. I am waiting to receive my first shipment of Nuun, and will be writing a detailed review of the product once I have had a chance to try it out. I live in SE Florida, and will be using Nuun to hydrate during my jogging workouts and on bike rides. Check out my SponsorHouse profile page for a complete listing of all the companies that are currently sponsoring me. Take care, Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

SCVS Ride 4 ABreast

The Space Coast Velo Sport road bike club, based out of Brevard County, Florida, is conducting the 2nd annual Ride 4 ABreast. This is a non competitive bicycle ride through central Brevard county for breast cancer awareness. The ride takes place on Sunday, October 12th. The 28 and 42 mile options start at 8 AM, while the 12 mile option starts at 8:30 AM. The ride features t-shirts, gift and goody bags, fully stocked rest stops and SAG wagon support. Register for the ride by 9/20/08 for $35.00 per person, or $40.00 after that date. Members of the Space Coast Velo Sport bicycle club receive a $5.00 discount. For additional information, visit the Space Coast Velo Sport website. You can register for the ride through the Active.com website: Ride 4 ABreast. Take care, Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Lance is Back!

It's official - Lance Armstrong just made the official announcement that he will be competing in the 2009 Tour de France. AWESOME!!! You can visit the Livestrong blog to read the official announcement, and view a short video of the man himself: Armstrong to return pro cycling. I was so excited to hear the news, that I left the following comment on the Livestrong blog: You ROCK Lance! I was just hired to be the cycling blogger for the Charity Mile website. My Thursday post will be all about your return to professional cycling! My husband, 52 years old in October, and I, 45 years old in November, are participating in our third season with the Leukemia Society’s Team in Training cycle team. He is coaching and I am mentoring the team that is training for the October 26th Intracoastal Century Ride in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Age is just a number, it’s all about maintaining a positive attitude. All the bike rides we do benefit non-profit organizations. Some year we’d like to do the Livestrong Challenge, wish there was a ride in our area (S Florida). Take care, Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva