ATC Staff Picks Under $100

Austin Tri-Cyclist employees know their stuff, so we gave them a homework assignment: name their favorite cycling or multisport product under $100 and tell us why they like it. This quickly evolved into a contest to see who could include the most innuendo (“supple” being an important keyword); not all the results of the experiment were included verbatim.

Adam Stroobandt – ATC manager, triathlete, soon-to-be father of two  

Swiftwick socks, seamless running socks that don’t bunch no matter how soggy they get during summer runs, are Adam’s pick. “Swiftwick is a sock that spoils your toes,” he says, adding that he hasn’t had a blister since he switched to using them. Thin and light, Swiftwick socks are a good choice to wear with minimalist running shoes or tight cycling shoes.
ATC logo design, $15.99
Zero Aspire, $12.99

Dustin Bright – ATC staff, expert bike/motorcycle/car mechanic, mountain biker

A fan of a Maxxis Ikon 2.25 rear tire and a Maxxis Ardent 2.35 front, Dustin says he recommends the combo for mountain biking “because the Ikon is fast rolling and the Ardent is grippy in the corners to keep you from washing out when you’re shredding.” Also, the tires feature thick sidewalls, which  means you won’t have to worry about ride-ending cuts from sharp rocks. Dustin uses tubeless, so he runs them at 24 psi for a more “supple” ride.

Tristan Uhl – ATC staff, pro mountain biker, accomplished all-around cyclist

Tristan, always the overachiever, chose two items. The first was Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews. “These are hands down without a doubt the best fruit snacks I have ever eaten,” he says,
energy chews in hand. “Jam packed full of juicy fruit juices and essential vitamins and minerals to help you power through the day. Sometimes I even eat them while riding bikes.”

His second, “supple” pick: Vittoria Latex tubes. “When everything is on the line, I roll with Vittoria Latex tubes,” he says. “Because no other tube can match the superior puncture resistance and supple feel of latex.” (Available for auditions. Please provide bottled water and fruit chews. To reach Tristan’s agent, call ATC and ask for Don.)

Chews, $1.95 ea.

Tubes, $17.95 ea.

Brandon Smith – ATC staff, Cat 2 roadie 

Brandon gave NeoGenis BEETELITE his endorsement, saying that he’s had some of his best results in and out of competition using the popular new supplement. “It’s organic, no side effects, tastes fine, doesn’t require any ‘loading’ or additional supplementation,” he says. “Amazing product.” BEETELITE NEOSHOT is available in original or black cherry.
10-pack, $34
Individual packet, $3.49

Tim Carr – ATC staff, former pro-level roadie & mountain biker, suspension-fork expert

“I’m a big fan of the Continental hard shell tires,” Tim says, citing fantastic performance, ample traction, and a smooth ride with the protection of a Gatorskin. He says the 25mm are his favorite; wider is better! Gatorskins are super durable for training, including use indoors on the trainer.

Allison Atkinson – ATC staff, Pure Austin spin instructor, member of Haute Wheels elite women’s cycling team

Allison’s go-to recovery drink after every ride or gym workout is Hammer Recoverite (chocolate!). “It contains amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and protein to help repair damaged muscle tissue,” she says. “It tastes great and dissolves easily in milk or water with no clumps!” Hammer Recoverite also comes in strawberry, citrus, and vanilla.
6-pack, $19.50

Kimble West – ATC staff, roadie, mountain biker
The ATC Zevlin Bar Tape is Kimble’s pick. “Unlike most bar tapes that are coated in some sort of butter or coconut oil, the Zevlin bar tape becomes tacky while riding, not slick like a slip and slide,” he says. According to Kimble, deciding to get an aluminum bar and stem is the right choice for stiffness and crash resistance, but you can afford to go plush with your bar tape.  
$31.95

Chris Warren – ATC staff, runner, mountain biker, newly initiated roadie 

ATC’s “Renaissance man,” Chris likes the custom ATC Camelbak Podium Big Chill water bottle. The summer months are almost here, making hydration accessories a necessity.These bottles are insulated and large capacity, featuring the stylish ATC logo. CamelBak is the official hydration sponsor of team Garmin-Sharp Barracuda, so you’ll be riding like the pros.
$9