The main things you'll need for summer X-Training is an ample supply of cold water and well vented clothing. Notice in the photo above, I have a stainless steel water bottle in the cage. I fill my bottles with half crushed ice chips and half cold water. This way when I stop for a drink the water is still very cold. Perfect for short trips and errands.

Longer trips enlist the help of Elite's thermal / insulated water bottles. These are made in Italy and classified as High Thermic. They will keep your liquids cold for twice as long as uninsulated bottles. So the choice is yours depending on how long you plan to be out.

Photo: Elite's Nanogelite Thermal Squeezable Water Bottles are insulated with Nanogel aerogel technology which keeps liquids colder longer.

Features: 74mm diameter 17 oz capacity. Squeezable bottle Insulated with Nanogel aerogel technology fits easily inside most bicycle water bottle cages.

Don't leave home without an ample cool water supply!  Water that has become too warm from the heat and sun can cause nausea and vomiting.  Not something you'll want to have on the road.

Clothing Counts

While tighter clothing may be more aerodynamic for cycling and running, they might also not allow as much air flow to the skin as one would like.  This includes cycling and inline skating helmets.  The more ventillation the better, really.

PHOTO: Terry's NEW Tourista Cyling Top also works great for jogging, hiking and inline skating.

This is the top I am wearing in the photo above and is my favorite all around X-Training cover!  It has three open pockets in the back but is fully cut so that you won't need to wear a strapless bra.

It is aerodynamic but still allows enough air to reach your skin so that you stay cool and dry.  I've worn it on very hot days and it was a life saver as I tend to perspire more in the chest area.  Made in the USA from Terry Precision Cycling!

PHOTO: NEW Terry's Bohemian Flare Skort with Cycling Chamois.

Paired with the Tourista Cycling top, this is my go everywhere skort.  It comes with Terry's sheer flexible liner which is much cooler than the solid spandex ones.  The skort has a great flare and side slits for even more freedom of movement.  On or off the bike, this skort is ready for action... cool and wrinkle proof!

Visit Terry Precision Cycling online for their 2010 women specific bicycles and cycle-sportswear.

Eyewear to Go

RudyProject Technically Cool Eyewear.  Mine have a little secret.  Not only are they state of the art cycling glasses but they also hold my prescription eyeglasses so I can leave my contacts at home! 

Look closely and you'll see the insert behind the exchangable lenses.  Want a different look?  Change the lightweight polycarbonate lenses to any number of available colors such as Racing Red.  I've worn these lightweight glasses for touring and mountain bike races.  They look great and protect your eyes from sun, wind and road debris.  Made in Italy from Rudy Project

Keep a Cool Head

Rudy Project further seals the deal with their new Sterling, 18 vent cycling helmet.  Comes with a removable insect shield.  Perhaps their most advanced cycling helmet to date you'll see it on some of the coolest heads in the Tour De France this summer!

Want more tips on entertaining, beauty, fashion and food for enjoying the summer?  Visit Best Picks Magazine Online

Mood:  caffeinated

This Trangia 27 5 Cook Set including tea kettle, fits neatly inside of my Angletech Panniers!  Perfect for picnics via bicycle.  Trangia cook sets and Trangia Primus Gas Burners available from Campsaver   Aerodynamic Techwind Bike Panniers by Angletech

With the proper gear installed on your bike, you'll find yourself with a much more versatile machine for enjoying an impromtu cook out in the park, the beach or even camping in the woods.  Going on a bicycle tour this summer and want to prepare your own gourmet meals?  Having the right panniers such as my yellow Angletech Techwind Panniers shown here can facilitate this.  These panniers come with long, dual zippers and different colored insert bags so you can separate, wet, soiled or special items for easy access.  Simple clips and handles allow you to take the panniers off suitcase style and rain covers are also available.

Angletech Techwind Bicycle Panniers

Price: $334.00

The aerodynamic design of these panniers reduces drag by 7%.  The square rear of these unique panniers are shaped to catch those tailwinds and blow you down the road. These are not the typical "sausages" you've seen on most touring bicycles!

Everthing you see on the table including the food, utensils and Coleman fuel tank and more fit with room to spare inside these panniers.  That is in part because the Trangia 25 7 Cook Set packs down to the height of about 4 1/2 inches and a diameter of only 7 inches!  This makes this cook set perfect for touring as well as camping.  We rented a cabin for a week last summer and I cooked all of our meals plus tea on this same cook set.  Non-stick pans mean your cleanups require only a quick rinse of water.

The Trangia Gas Burner is a major step up from using the spirit burner included with the 27 5 outdoor stove.  A snap to set up, the gas ring burns a clean steady blue flame which cooks quickly and evenly.  When purchasing camping equipment, it makes sense in the long run to purchase equipment that can be used in a number of activities.  This aluminum, non-stick cook set is very lightweight weighing only 850 grams and stows easily in panniers and backpacks.  Imagine packing your own food to prepare on the road al fresco.  A great idea when good restaurants may not be available on the bike trail or tour.

All of this great outdoor cooking gear and more is available from Campsaver

Tea Time!  Trangia 27 5 Non-Stick Cook Set with Kettle and Trangia Gas Burner boils water in about 1 1/2 minutes on low.  Clean burning steady blue flame.

All of the pieces nest compactly to a very portable 4 1/2 by 7 inch unit.  The Trangia 27-5 comes with: 2 one litre, non-stick saucepans, 1 non-stick frypan, 1 upper and 1 lower windshield, 1 spirit burner, 1 handle, 1 strap and a Trangia logo bag.  Tea Kettle & Trangia Gas Burner sold separately.

So there is a lot more you can do with the right cycling gear.  These panniers give your the option to take along a lot more than just a cycling hat!  You need only think outside of the box a bit more to plan a cycling get-away or cycling - camping trip. 

Photo: Stop & Shop!  Nishiki Sport Touring with Trek Trunk and Angletech Techwind Panniers.  Roomy, aerodynamic, these panniers are fantastic for trips to the market or mall but spacious enough for even a picnic lunch and camping.

Don't forget to keep hydrated and your energy up with my triple play power-up and recovery favorites:  Rainbow Light's Certified Organics Women's Multivitamin, Ultra Energy Plus and Calcium + with 1,000 mgs Magnesium & 500 mgs Calcium.  Take (along) with food!

Remember to take along these Rainbow Light supplements for your cycle- picnic or tour for energy to make it home!

May is National Bike Month and May 17th - 21st is Bike to Work Week. Now we are not going to leave you in the lurch on such an auspicious occassion! There is a lot that you can do to make sure you survive those hills but still look and feel fresh enough to mingle once you arrive at your destination.

What you eat and how well you stay hydrated is going to play a key roll in how all of this shakes out.  I've found the best way to do this is by sneaking in good nutrition that actually tastes good!  I happen to really enjoy raw nuts and seeds of all types.  If you are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts, you can still enjoy their flavor and nutrition with Sunbutter, a sunflower seed spread.  I got to try it at a trade show and it is delicious! Find foods that are healthy that you already enjoy and half the battle is won!  Other take along goodies include Nature's Path yummy assortment of energy bars and snacks.  Get a good breakfast under your belt with Nature's Path Optimum Banana Almond Cereal which is rich in Omega 3.

SHAKE IT UP!  Goods to Go.  Above, Blueberries & Gogi Berry Juice add flavorful antioxidants to this delicious Rainbow Light Vanilla Protein Energizer.  You'll thank Rainbow Light's Calcium Plus Magnesium for soothing your sore muscles after your ride & Deep Defense keeps up your immunity.

Another issue that you will have to deal with while cycling is maintaining proper hydration.  Good old water is first on the list but there is nothing stopping you from packing along a little container of your favorite shake!   This can be your over the hump backup plan when your energy begins to sag a little on the way.  Complex carbohydrates are perhaps your best companion for longer trips where your endurance is tried.

TIP:  Be sure to eat a high protein, high fiber complex carbohydrate meal before taking off in the morning.  You'll find you will have more fuel for your muscles to draw from during and after the trip.  After your ride, take some calcium such as Rainbow Light's Calcium + Mag to help soothe sore muscles and displace lactic acid. 

Power-Breakfast options.  Start your day with a bowl of strawberries topped with a little Zingerman's Aged Balsamic Vinegar.  A serving of Zingerman's delicious Irish Oatmeal with a bit of brown sugar and butter rounds out your morning, (you won't be hungry for hours!) In a hurry?  Try Nature's Path Optimum Organic Banana Almond Cereal with Omega 3. Nature's Path fills in the gaps on the road with their yummy, yet portable Optimum Energy Bars.

We're riding on through this series in Part III which will show you how to pull off a fresh-fashioned look for a day of riding, errands, lunch...whatever.  Also how to pack a complete picnic and camp kitchen in your panniers for dining al fresco.  What to do some shopping?  No one will ever guess you arrived by bicycle unless you forget and leave your helmet on!

Mood:  caffeinated

The best time of the day is when I can get out early and get some road work and errands done.  This may be mixing business with pleasure but I am seeing more and more people dragging out their bicycles for fun, fitness and well, to save some money on gas!  When gas shot up to an unheard of $2.00 a gallon a few years ago, I got a wake up call.  I put panniers on my touring bike, (a vintage 1980's Nishiki), along with a Trek Trunk.  That bicycle has been my second car ever since.

What I have learned along the way is that you should invest in clothing that will allow you to be comfortable on the bicycle yet arrive at your destination looking great.  I remember three years ago being invited to a local charity luncheon.  I got out my bike, donned my spandex and arrived in time for the festivities.  Well, everyone there noted my cycling attire and knew that I came by bicycle.  Now, not that I was ashamed of my mode of transportation that day but I really didn't want to stand out...for that!  I began to talk to Georgena Terry about designing clothing that gets you dressed once but has you ready for "whatever" after getting off the bike.

Now I wear stylish floral skorts, cargo capris and cool cycling tank tops as a refreshing alternative to the black spandex. I feel like a woman again!  More than that, I've found that there are a lot more places I can go on my bicylce than I realized, especially if I have the right clothing.  If I have a short a stop at the post office planned, I will take my Terry Symmetry Road Bike and the Runnur Strap Pack as shown in the photo above.  I only have an under the saddle pack on this bike so  everything you see in the photo below was stored in the Runnur including my GPS. Amazing!

 PHOTO:  The Runnur Strap Pack allows me to take along all of these favorite things and a lot more!  It even includes a carabiner clip for my 16 oz water bottle.  This is a smart alternative to installing panniers or trunks on your bicycle.  Better still everything goes with you once you get off the bike!

Once you've got the packing down, you'll need to look at clothes for the commute.  They need to be loose but not to bulky as too much fabric will increase wind resistance.  Not good on a day of heavy headwinds.  I've found that wearing a cycling tank under an Exofficio Dryflylite Cover is the best combination.  The Dryflylite Cover in Lapis is what I am wearing in the lead photo.  It  is hooded and full zippered.

The breatheable fabric allows you to regulate your temperature and moisture levels.  It also offers a SPF 15 sun protection.  I've gotten caught riding in a spring shower in my Dryflylite and it kept me quite comfortable and was completely dry by the time we arrived home.  Add a zippered security pouch for keys or your MP3 player and viola! The Dryflylite has it all.  Looks crisp and cool off the bike too.

Terry's Tourista Tank pictured here in Lime gives a relaxed fit with no tightness or binding.  It has three open rear pockets so it is a bone-fide cycling top but no one will be the wiser!

PHOTO ABOVE:  NEW! Terry's Tourista Cycling Tank in Lime

Pair this gorgeous tank with the avante guard Bohemian Flare Skort skort shown here below and you are ready to go to the market, the mall or lunch via bicycle.  This skort has Terry's world famous sheer mesh chamois underneath so you are covered and comfortable for the ride. Who knew?

On the Bike Off the Bike

Cycling Capris that look cool both on and off the bike!  You can even convert some of your exisiting capris into biking pants.  To do that, I would definitely invest in one of Terry's removable superlight Mesh Liners with Flex Chamois.  One came with my Terry Scooter Capris which I am wearing in the lead shot.  As they are removable, they can easily be slipped under these soft washed Vent'r Dig Her pants from Exofficio.  I've done this and found them to be extremely comfortable especially with the Dig Her's Tricot lined waistband. The Vent'r Dig Her capris are very lightweight, high wicking and perfect for cycling due to the two zippered leg pockets and drop in cell phone pouch.

These are no ordinary capris!  The Vent'rs are teched-out with a SPF 30+, are stain and water resistant while being quick drying and lightweight.  What more could you ask for on a bicycle or off?

PHOTO: Women's Vent'r Collection, Dig Her Capris from Exofficio

CYCLING SHOES - ATHLETIC SHOES- STREET SHOES

The next most important piece of clothing will be your shoes.  Soft soled sneakers waste pedaling energy and you need to be really wary of shoestrings.  They can come loose, get caught in your crank and cause a really nasty fall.  My Terry Symmetry Road Bike has SPD clips on one side of the pedal and regular rat traps on the other.  I can choose whether or not to clip in so these are a great option. 

As for cycling shoes, I like the on the bike, off the bike technology of Pearl Izumi's X-Roads.  The SPD plate is recessed so you can easily walk in these shoes.  They look fantastic and even offer the same shock absorption of higher end athletic shoes.  Ventilated, reinforced  toe for protection, lug soles and Velcro straps keep laces under cover and out of the cranks.

PHOTO: Pearl Izumi X-Road Cycling Shoes look and work great both on the bike and off the bike!

 The Pearl Izumi Website Says: Another Pearl Izumi first, the X-Road extends the “on-and-off-the-bike” versatility of our award winning X-Alp technology from off-road to pavement. Now you can pedal with ease but still walk, shop, or grab a coffee.

•X-Road nylon plate delivers great pedaling stability, power and efficiency with off-the-bike comfort and walk-ability
•Blown rubber lugged outsole for superior traction and durability
•SKYDEX® heel crash pad for excellent off the bike shock absorption
•Flexible forefoot and a running shoe beveled heel
•Low cut construction for a light, fast fit and feel
•Quick drying, highly breathable mesh/synthetic upper
•Compatible with all SPD style pedal systems

Available in sizes 36-49 (whole sizes)
Weight: 385g (size 43)

In Part II, I'll show you how all of this pulls together on the bike and how to make this a stylish mode of transportation with practical tips on packing, parking and getting the most out of your ride.  We'll also show you how to fuel up with sumptious goodies and drinks to take along giving you extra energy for that hill!