I’m looking for something (preparation oil) to keep my leg/calf muscles warm until the sun warms the air on those early morning spring rides. I can usually get away with knee warmers until the temp drops to 3-5 degrees Celsius (35-40F) but those first few Kms almost always make me want to turn around and fetch a pair a tights. Ideally, said product would have the similar effects of Tigerbalm but would not leave me smelling like a medicine cabinet. If it did not stain cycling clothing like some oil based products - that would be awesome (SportsBalm is mineral oil/petroleum based and therefore should not come into contact with synthetic cycling clothing). I know of a few products commonly used in Europe during Spring Classics but can anyone recommend something readily available (online or in Canada)? What do you use? What do you recommend?
Mad Alchemy Embrocation. The stuff works fantastic, smells cool, and hasn’t had any effect on my cycling clothes.
I use the Elite Ozone warming oil (Italian). Not too shiny, none of that super hot, Belgian knee warmer effect, and has a nice smell. You can get it online anywhere. Perfect for what you are describing - will not stain clothes.
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Sixtus warming oil is awesome. Do a search and there are some threads on it. I’ve used it for marathons in cold weather and it is awesome. A bit pricey, but works great.
Thanks for the pointers. I’ll look around the LBSs to see if I can find any of these.
Cheers mates
Just curious: do any of these products actually warm up muscle? Or do they just warm up skin? Or, failing that, do they only feel like they warm up skin, but don’t actually produce any heat? Your thigh muscles are pretty big, and it would take a lot of exogenous heat to raise the temperature of your thigh muscles noticeably.
I’m pretty sure that capsaicin (in peppers and in some topicals) doesn’t actually produce any heat at all.
There’s a difference between actually warming up muscles and feeling more comfortable in the cold.
Just curious: do any of these products actually warm up muscle? Or do they just warm up skin? Or, failing that, do they only feel like they warm up skin, but don’t actually produce any heat?
This is how SportsBalm explains it : http://www.sportsbalmusa.com/how_systemred_works.htm
Just curious: do any of these products actually warm up muscle? Or do they just warm up skin? Or, failing that, do they only feel like they warm up skin, but don’t actually produce any heat?
This is how SportsBalm explains it : http://www.sportsbalmusa.com/how_systemred_works.htm
"Sportsbalm Warm Series-products contain selected ingredients that stimulate nerve-endings and muscular vessels in the core of the muscles "
I don’t buy it. I’m not a doctor, but I’m pretty sure you can’t buy stuff OTC that penetrates the skin to any appreciable degree. How do these magic ingredients get into the core of the muscle? I could not find any list of actual ingredients at the link provided.
you mean this:
Medium Balm
(2 Warm-XX):
Increases circulation by providing stimulating heat to the muscles with active natural ingredients that penetrate through nerve endings. For colder conditions (10-30 F.) than Rub Down Gel.
Ingredients: Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Tea Tree Oil, Wintergreen, Cayenne, Paprika Oil, Nutmeg Oil.
you mean this:
Medium Balm
(2 Warm-XX):
Increases circulation by providing stimulating heat to the muscles with active natural ingredients that penetrate through nerve endings. For colder conditions (10-30 F.) than Rub Down Gel.
Ingredients: Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Tea Tree Oil, Wintergreen, Cayenne, Paprika Oil, Nutmeg Oil.
Thanks. I call snake oil: those things are insulative (oil, petroleum jelly) and skin stimulants (cayenne, wintergreen). None of those things will penetrate the skin (going through “nerve endings” just isn’t the same thing, unless you consider all sensations on the skin that are transmitted to the brain to be “penetration through nerve endings”) and affect the muscles.
that was the first thought that came to my mind at post title…haha!
The primary ingredient in all the embrocations is capsium. The “heat” is a function of the percentage used. Cramers Atomic Balm is 1%, Red Hot is 4%.
There is no actual heat or penetration. It’s a skin irritant. All the other “stuff” is carrier, goo to keep it on in foul conditions, and smell.
Capsium’s main use is in pepper spray, as in “spray in your attacker’s eye’s” sort of thing.
All that said, I’ve used it for years and continue to. It’s great for spring races and cooler days in the fall. The very best warmth is still leggings, tights or leg warmers.
A few tips: Use disposable gloves to apply it. Don’t put any on the opposite side of your knees (back of the leg in the joint). If you don’t use gloves, make sure you have a way to clean your hands well afterwards. If you wipe your eyes or touch your junk when peeing, you’ll really regret it. Don’t overapply the stronger versions. Your legs will burn for many hours otherwise.
I second the Ozone suggestion. But yes, gloves while applying, no eye or willy touching. And for that matter, never apply to the back of the knee (knee pit) or above the shorts line on the leg (more circulation/innervation, very sensitive skin, your legs will feel like they’re on fire). And try it on a small patch in training first before racing with it, because if you change your mind and try to wash it off, it just makes it burn more (like drinking water after eating spicy food…)