A Sleeveless Adidas

Another impulse purchase because it was available at a good price. An Adidas running shirt. Sleeveless. In neon lemon colour. As opposed to Rs 1400 regular price, I got it at Rs 839. Home delivered.

From the Adidas website. Those deltoids are not mine

Those who have run in Calcutta in summer would know why a sleeveless T-shirt is an asset here. I bought this for the summer really. Will keep it aside till May/June when humidity becomes a killer and one sweats litres of water over a distance of a few kilometers. This is badged Climacool.

The material is super soft. I have a pair of Adidas running shorts. This will be my first running top from Adidas. It's very soft and the size medium fits me perfectly. Long ago I had bought another sleeveless T from Adidas but that was more for basketball players and it had an itchy feeling. It also did not fit me properly, being too large and the under arm area is too large, exposing the body a lot. I don't even know where it is now.

Pearls of Wisdom - Upper and Lower

Last year I requested my nephew Gublai in the US to get me a pair of cycling bibs from Pearl Izumi when he came home for a short visit. The riding experience changed dramatically ever since I tried them on. In fact I have never got onto my roadie without them since that day. But bibs come with an accompanying and practical problem. Peeing becomes a headache. You have to remove your gloves, helmet, jersey, belt pouch (if you have one on) and then take the suspenders off of your shoulders and pull the damn thing down to relieve yourself. Doing it on the way side on the highway is not a problem but time consuming. Villagers do tend to look at you with surprise written large on their face, but then who cares when you are desperate to go.

I bought the bib for the simple reason that I read in reviews that normal cycling shorts tend to slip down. 

This year when his sister, my niece, was coming I requested her to get for myself a complete set of cycling jersey and shorts. Just so that I have a. a spare pair of padded shorts to wear (cycling clothes have to be worn without any underwear and therefore cannot be worn twice without washing and b. these shorts would be more for my city rides, as opposed to the bib for long rides.

Got the items in my hands last night when Guria and Mezda and Boudi came to our house. A pair of Pearl Izumi cycling shorts in size Small and a cycling jersey in size Medium. While the shorts are black and grey, the shirt is an electric lemon colour.

My personal taste in everything that I wear is very sedate and understated. The colour electric lemon, or fluorescent lemon is not really my favourite colour. But riding a cycle on the streets of Calcutta, particularly early in the morning in winter, you need to stand out. These colours make you more visible to motorists and friends. A reckless motorist is dangerous for you in any case, no matter what you wear or what light you put on. But if you wear something that makes you more visible on the road it is always safer. Rest is in the hands of God.

I remember in Chadar I was climbing down a huge heap of boulders on the river side alone, with my left hand broken and out of action (at that time I didn't know for sure that it was broken though but it was certainly out of action). My other trek mates were resting near the river, having reached ahead of me. I was a good half an hour away from them if I went alone without help. I was in the maze of largish grey boulders, making my way down slowly. Navigating your way through such a terrain is difficult when you have one arm totally limp. Body balance goes for a toss.

I desperately wanted my friends to see me and help. And they did see me simply because of my fluorescent green down jacket. Someone came quickly to my aid and guided me down to the river bed. If I was wearing something like grey or black I wouldn't be as visible. Fluorescent colours stand out clearly.

Also, while riding with some friends last month very early in the morning, I realised the guy who was in a fluorescent orange jersey was really visible from a very long distance. It actually helped me keep track of him from a long distance. Hence, I decided that I must have at least a couple of highly visible jerseys. For brevets wearing gilet with reflectors is mandatory. But wearing a gilet for daily rides is not feasible, particularly in summer.

The Shorts - Select Escape

I chose size Small because that's my correct size for cycling shorts. Cycling clothes have to be form fitting. That is, they should hug closely to the body. I checked the shorts for fit. They fit me perfectly. Snug and a perfect Mamil. The product has two other brands tagged with it. Lycra and 3M.

The Jersey - Select Pursuit

For the jersey I chose size Medium. While it is form fitting on the body, the arms are just a bit loose. The Adidas jersey that I bought from Brand Factory the other day has a stretchable band. This one is plain.

New Rubber for the Feet

Yesterday I ordered for a pair of Under Armour Speedform Gemini from Flipkart. Size 8.5 and colour orange. 

Let me try to analyse why I did it. Basically thinking on my keyboard. A. I got them at a throwaway price of Rs 5.5K. Big brand, properly cushioned running shoes come at minimum 10K, if not more. This was available at almost half the price. Possibly because it is old stock. This particular model was launched in 2015. Gemini 3 is the current model and obviously no one will buy a model that is two iterations old unless offered at a deep discount. 

But curiously enough, on the Amazon international store this same shoe is priced at 12K.

B. Ever since the latest injury I am wondering if my Asics Gel Nimbus 16 is losing its cushioning. Till date I have run 364 km in them. This I did in 137 activities. That means I would have walked an additional 137x2 = 274 km in them because I walk 1 km either way to go to and come back from my runs. That makes it 638 km in all over two years. Given that I am pretty lightweight I wouldn't think that the shoes need to be retired off but I was checking the soles and they have indeed worn off a little on the outside (proving I am a supinator). 

This prompted me to look around for options and soon enough I found the deal. I will possibly not retire the Asics right away. I am sure they have a good 200 km more at least in them in pure running, not counting the slow walks to and from the start/end point. 

I read up on the Gemini. Actually I first read about them and while looking for them on Indian sites to check if they were available I discovered the deal. Here is the detailed review that I read on Sole Review . This piqued my curiosity and the deal sealed it for me. The final endorsement came from this video here.

The review might disappear after a few years. To keep the vital statistics about the shoes. They have a heel drop of 8 mm. My current Nimbus have 10 I think. It's a neutral running shoe, meaning it is not specially meant for under or over pronators.

I have to see how they fit. All websites are saying they fit half a size small. This is the reason I ordered the 8.5 size, as opposed to my regular size of 8. Actually my right foot is perhaps 7.5 and the left is 8. But shoe fit is not just about size. It is also about the shape of the last and the material of the upper.

Shoes in India are always stocked in round number sizes. That is, 7,8,9 and it is impossible to find shoes in 7.5 or 8.5 size. And I have a feeling my correct size for most shoes is perhaps 7.5. Flipkart, for the first time I discovered, has these shoes in 7.5 and 8.5 etc. But since they fit half size less I had to upsize and order 8.5. If it was available I would probably go for 8. They will arrive on Friday, that is, tomorrow.

Friday, December 15, 2017

The shoes arrived today. I had placed the order Tuesday night. That means they took just two full working days and the item arrived on the third day. I would call this super fast service. Very happy.

Now the first reactions after unboxing.

A. The colour is hideous. Absolutely hideous. To me it looks like baby pink. According to Mampu and Monisha it is orange. I had of course chosen the orange colour. But this is not the kind of orange I wanted. To make matters worse, the main upper of the shoe is white. This makes the pair look absolutely hideous on my feet when I wear them. I had thought it would have some orange inside the mesh. It is just pure white.

B. The fit is fantastic and almost perfect. I had deliberately chosen 8.5 on the advice of all the reviewers. I could've done with 8 but that was not available. 7.5 would have probably been tight on the left foot.

C. The first experience of putting them on at home was excellent. The heel stays locked in place. The plantar pain almost immediately vanished from the corner of the heel. The heel feels more firmly held in place than in the Nimbus 16. As you can see in the review, there is no insole and the cushy feeling of the Nimbus is absent, yet the feeling is better. Has the Nimbus really lost its comfort value for me? If indeed that is true then I must say their durability is highly questionable. I have hardly run in them. 350 km is nothing for a pair of modern running shoes, particularly for a lightweight runner like me.

D. The lacing up system is quite different from what I am used to in my Asics. There is just one final hole on each side where you tie the knot in the lace. I prefer two there, where I make a loop and tie the lace in a different way to lock the heel. I use this on my trekking boots and I have saved a boy from calling off his trek due to blister by adopting this technique.

This UA does not have two holes. But the upper mesh material and the lacing up system combine to give the shoe a nice form fit. There is no collar or extra cushion near the ankle. It doesn't matter really. Perhaps it is better for a good grip. I must add, the lace is fairly long.

Another point worth mentioning here is that when you undo the lace before taking the shoes off, it is not easy to take the foot out. The shoe clings to your foot and you have to pull it off carefully. This is a good, albeit time consuming thing because it shows the shoe is literally form fitting.

E. Traction on the shiny floor of the living room felt much better. On a wet road I would be more confident in these than in my Nimbus. That is not to say that the Nimbus is bad. But this is better. I don't know if this is so because the shoes are just off the box but the design of the outsole is definitely quite different from anything else that I have seen so far in running shoes. This interesting and radical design more closely mimics the anatomy of the sole of the foot than anything else. However, it is pertinent to add here that this unique design has been discontinued in the latest iteration of the model. Gemini 3s do not have them.

F. The midsole is not soft, which is basically two pasted layers - the upper one has Charged written on it, the other has Speedform written on it. It is perhaps a little more hard than the Nimbus. But that wouldn't lead to any shock on the feet. Or so it seems.

G. The front toe area has a transparent plastic protection. I have never seen such material being used on running shoes. On trekking boots this is given to give protection against rocks and other such things. I suppose the purpose is quite the same here as well.

H. The shoe does not have any collar around the ankle. It's like our good old keds. This is a speciality of Under Armour. None of their shoes have collar. But you don't feel it and now that I am gradually getting used to it, it is perhaps a good thing.

Except for the colour, I quite like this pair of shoes. This is my first pair of shoes bought off the internet. I always prefer to check them out at the store for fit. With these I took a risk and looks like it paid off. Now I have to wait for the plantar fasciitis to completely go and then I will take a chance with them. Till then I am going to wear them at home.

Monday, 18th December 2017 

Post first run views

Went for a one kilometer run on Saturday. Of course one has to add to that more than one kilometer to reach the starting point and 1.5 on the way back. So a total of 3.5 or almost 4 km perhaps. Here are my first reactions based on that. A. I did not feel the plantar pain while running. It came back a little as I approached my house on the way back.

B. The shoes feel more firm than my Nimbus 16. I guess this is what they mean by stability shoes. It does not have the squishy feeling of the Nimbus 16. These shoes are harder but not in a wooden sort of way.

C. The cushioning is adequate in that I did not feel the shocks of the road much.

D. The grip around the ankle is superb. There are some silicone linings on the edge which sit on the leg. Very comfortable and good grip due to that.

E. The traction is undoubtedly fantastic. Of course I ran on dry asphalt. Even then you can understand the difference easily.

Saturday, 30th December 2017 

I have had a few short 1 km runs in these shoes. I also ran one 1 km with the old Asics in the middle. I think these shoes, being neutral, are better for a proper mid foot strike and it is time to retire off the Asics. They have definitely lost the cushioning though they retain that squishy character, which is rather funny. One simple difference between the Asics and the Gemini is that with the Asics on, I can hear my foot strike the road. Loud and clear. But with the Gemini my run is almost silent.

Once my feet regain their strength I will probably run a shorter run in the Asics once again and see how it feels but it is not going to be my main go to shoe any more. I think I like the neutral nature of the Gemini than the squishy feeling of the Nimbus.

If I could afford another pair I would probably go for the GT 2000 5.

My First Cycling Jersey

Pic courtesy: Adidas

Today I bought for myself my first cycling jersey. A Strava-orange Adidas. Never knew Adidas also made cycling jerseys. I have a black Pearl Izumi cycling bib which had a tremendous positive impact on my riding comfort. I was so far using this with ordinary running T's. I never had a cycling jersey. 

Today while browsing alone through the sports section of Brand Factory I saw this beautiful Strava-orange jersey among a bunch normal running and fashion T-shirts. At first I didn't realise it was a cycling jersey because that's the last thing you would expect in a store like Brand Factory. I was initially attracted by its colour. But then I saw it had full zip in the front. On closer inspection I found 3 pockets on the back. It's Adidas branded and the icing on the cake was that though MRP was 4k it was available at a 70 per cent discount making the effective price Rs 1200. I thought this was a bargain.

A quick trip to the trial room convinced me that M was quite the right size for me. It fitted me pretty well, including around my biceps where it has silicone bands. Cycling shorts and jerseys and bibs have to be form fitting. This one did. I didn't spend too long to decide. Pulled the trigger. 

I needed this shopping therapy to come out of the office blues as well as the injury blues (read about my plantar fasciitis injury here). I hope this jersey will serve me for a long time. 

Once I do a trip with it (hopefully tomorrow), I will add more details to this review. But before that I can give a few basic facts about the jersey.

No. I don't take myself so seriously. Just a joke here :-)

The front zip feels easy and smooth to operate. The sleeves and the bottom have silicone bands on the edge for good fit and body hugging abilities. They have fluorescent reflector bands on them which are of top quality. The very first evening I wore it at home there was a short power cut. I checked out the quality of the reflectors on the mirror in the dark. They were pretty bright. The Adidas logo is also made of the same reflector material.

I learnt something new about cycling jerseys from this. The back of the jersey is a little longer than the front. Probably to compensate for the upward pull that portion gets when you bend over to hold the handle on the drops. So no chance to expose your butt cleavage with this.

The rear of the jersey has three vertical open pockets, typically for keeping energy bars and other such sundry items as an air pump or some medicines etc. One of the pockets has a very small fourth pocket with a zip on top. presumably for a key or anything that is small but too valuable to lose. I doubt if I will have any use of that unless I take the bike in my car to the highway to ride (as some serious cyclists do).

Review After A Few Short Rides In Summer

The winter of 17-18 was a rather idle time for me, what with injury and a general dislike to go out in the cold of Calcutta. By western standards our winters are ridiculously warm but by my standard I hate going out in the dark cold early mornings.

I started cycling back in right earnest from April 2018 and obviously chose this jersey. Short hour-long 20 km rides. Summer has set in and I sweat profusely. This jersey is definitely not warm but the word "chill" in the brand name is an over statement. But it cools much better than any cotton T-shirt. Its only problem is it stinks after a ride. It is not enough if you let it dry out in the sun. The stink does not go. My other T-shirts or socks, with which I have sweated a lot more, don't stink like this. It is not a very strong smell that you can get from far. But if you sink your nose into it, it smells bad. In any case I do wash my T-shirts after every single use. So it's not a problem for me so far.

I love the colour, I must say. One certainly stands out on the grey streets of Calcutta. The other day, as I was coming back home from the Red Road area, I saw a group of amateur photographers near Victoria out on their Sunday shooting practice. Very soon I realised some of them were clicking me !!! I don't think they would have, if I were wearing something duller or more mute.

Is it worth the price? I guess so. Yes.