I became a believer in these gels after running my first marathon. They provide a physical as well as a psychological boost when you need a little bit of motivation and refreshment to keep moving toward the finish line.

Amazon is the place to get your Gatorade gels. I’ve only seen the chewable gels – which aren’t as effective in my experience – in grocery stores. Any supplement, cycling, or running store should carry Endurance gel, however you’re going to pay a premium at these places.

I notice an energy boost as well as enhanced mental focus about 10 minutes after consuming these when running marathons. There are 20 grams of carbohydrates per pack as well as moderate amounts of sodium and potassium to help replenish your electrolytes as you sweat. While the gel has a smooth mouth feel, it’s best to drink some water soon after to help rinse out your mouth and aid with rapid absorption into your bloodstream.

There are some varieties (not the ones included in this variety pack) of Endurance gel that contain caffeine. I take advantage of these at the route stations during marathons, but I wouldn’t use these for routine training.

The Endurance packs are small enough to throw one in each pocket to take with you when you run or cycle longer distances. I find that one provides just the right energy boost for running up to 10 miles or cycling up to 20 miles if you’re well-hydrated.

This variety pack comes with three packs each of mango, vanilla, blackberry, and apple pear. Gatorade makes several other flavors that you may be able to find on Amazon or at a supplement store. All of the flavors that come in this pack taste pretty good, with blackberry being my favorite. If you’re wondering why they included mango and not chocolate in this variety pack, you will know the first (and probably only) time you try to swallow it.

It’s incredible how many repairs you can do on a bike on the side of the road with a surprisingly limited number of tools. For as light as it is and how little space it occupies, there’s no reason not to have the Wotow 16-in-1 kit stowed away in an under-the-seat bag to get you or one of your riding buddies out of a tight spot on long rides.

One mile seems like nothing when you’re riding, but it’s much longer when you’re walking with or carrying a disable bicycle. I like to ride through Amish country (which is just a few miles away from our house), and guess what – there aren’t many houses with phones that I could use to call my wife to come pick me up if I get a flat tire.

While it doesn’t have everything you would want in an auxiliary tool kit, it has most of the critical components. It comes with three nylon pry rods for removing and installing tires to change blown inner tubes. There are sockets and allen wrenches in the most common sizes, as well as a flat head and Phillips screwdriver. Don’t worry about the small size of this tool – the majority of bike repairs or adjustments that you would be making while you’re out riding don’t require high torque values.

The quality is more than fair for the price when you consider how much this tool could do for you when you have a problem out on the road or on the trail. I would want higher quality tools in my shop to stand up to day-to-day maintenance and repairs on my vehicles and equipment, but this set is more than adequate for occasional use. I liken it to the cheap ratchet and socket set you keep in your trunk in case you need to change a battery out in a parking lot.

In addition to this kit, I suggest carrying a spare tube (if you haven’t gone tubeless yet), a small pump or a C02 inflator, small needle nose pliers, spoke tool, chain tool, and a couple of zip ties. Between the Wotow 16-in-1 tool kit and these additional items, you’ll be well-equipped to handle all but the most serious mechanical problems while you’re out riding.

“Man, does this saddle feel hard,” I thought, as I test drove my new-to-me Trek Domane 2.0 road bike before I handed over the cash. I assumed I would get used to it.

This was my first time owning a bike that didn’t come from a department store. With its aluminum frame and carbon fork, it was fast and agile. 15 miles into my first distance ride had me vowing to check out my Trek Facebook group when I got home to get recommendations for swapping out the stock Trek saddle as soon as I could.

Virtually everyone in the group told me the same three things: yes, the first several rides will be very uncomfortable, but you will get used to it, second, get some padded cycling shorts, last, keep the harder stock saddle if you can, because it’s designed that way for a reason. All three pieces of advice were valuable looking back on it.

Cycling shorts have made my rides more enjoyable and rewarding. They are a “must have” if you ride a road bike. I get a better workout because I am more likely to push myself to keep riding because I am no longer in discomfort.

I ordered one size larger than what I normally wear, as these are Asian sizes and tend to run small. The shorts fit perfectly and had a great cut with attention to detail in the right areas. Most importantly, the gel padding was in just the right areas to be effective without getting in the way, which is the problem with many wider, softer saddles.

Sponeed uses sublimation printing, which is a process that uses heat to bring ink and fabric together as one to resist washing out and fading. The graphics and colors on my shorts have held up well to frequent use and washing.