I switched to Tifosi this summer after wearing Oakley's for at least 10 years when it became way too expensive for me to have multiple glasses for my ever changing moods or forms of exercise. Along comes Tifosi and I will never go back again. These glasses are stylish, functional and above all super reasonable for the athlete that wants more than one pair of glasses. I am a firm believer in their Fototec lenses especially after trying some of their competitors that didn't change their tint level quickly or did not get dark enough. The glasses pictured, the Dolomite, are one of my day to day glasses and also my mountain bike ones. They are perfect for the woods because of the aforementioned Fototec lenses that adjust to the ever changing sun to shade conditions instantly. They also have vents on top of the lens which prevent fogging. Check out these glasses at your local retailer or online at Tifosi Optics.

Ok, I have tried lots of products in my years of racing, and this is the first product that I swear actually works. Note, I am not sponsored by them and I do purchase my own supply from AJ's. The product I am talking about is Sport Legs. USA Today actually wrote a piece about the product this summer proclaiming their benefits. Now this is a legal and safe supplement that when ingested right before a hard workout or competition minimizes the effects of lactic acid build up which is what causes your legs to burn. The key word here is minimizes because if you are out there pushin 500 Watts, your legs are still going to burn. I haven't done any in-lab tests with the product, but I do know that when I race and train with it my legs don't fatigue as fast and I am able to push myself that much harder. This is not some miracle cure for missing training, but it will give you a little edge.

Check them out at your local retailer or online at Sports Legs.

DLO Action Jacket for Ipod Nano

You may think this is strange review for me to add, but this is one of the best purpose built products I have ever used. A little background may be helpful: I run with my IPod all the time, I couldn't get through a long run with out my MP3 wonder. I was using the Apple leather arm strap and I really hated it. It would get sweaty and slide all over my arm and the placement was terrible. My wife got me the DLO Action Jacket for Christmas and it has been a Godsend especially after doing the Goofy Challenge recently, 39.3 miles of torture. The product comes with an arm band but I think I lost that already, the key is the "jacket" has a clip on it that you can attach anywhere. My favorite spot is on my waist in the back. Unlike the armband, it stays where it is placed, never moves around keeps my Nano protected thanks to its clear plastic screen and neoprene case. Another nice feature is you can leave the "jacket" on when synching the IPod because the bottom of the player is accessible.

I give this a product a 4.5 out of 5. You can find this product online or at major retailers like Target.

Asics Piranha SP

I got these shoes from Hit the Trails a couple of months ago and have had mixed feelings about them. They are without a doubt some of the lightest non-track sneakers you could possibly imagine and I kind of dig the styling. They fit like socks and feel great. I did make the mistake of running a half marathon with them and will never do that again. Basically the shoe has zero support, so when you tire your foot tends to pronate a lot and I was very sore after the race and attributed most of the pain to the shoes. I have since made the shoes my 5K race wear and love them for that, but I will never use them for anything above that distance as I don't want to do any damage to my foot or ankle.

I give this a product a 3 out of 5.

Polar RS800 GPS

I have been using this unit for a few months now and hate to run without it. It gives me instant data on my pace showing MPH or Minutes per Mile, heart rate and various time functions. I have used Garmin units in the past and hated their bulky watches, it is nice in theory having the GPS built into the watch, but the added heft made me want to leave the unit at home. The Polar RS800 GPS has a separate GPS unit that easily clips to your clothes and is light enough that you don't even realize it is there. The watch itself is very light and actually pretty stylish for a heart rate monitor. The heart rate strap is also another great innovation as the strap itself is extremely comfortable and is also washable after clipping off the small wireless sensor. The unit stores a tremendous amount of data that is easily uploaded into Polar's own software where you can compare previous workouts and analyze your results over time. This is great especially if you run on similar routes all the time. Since this unit uses a GPS sensor you can also use it cycling, swimming or any other activity where you are moving. I used it on a 102 mile ride and it was within a tenth of a mile to my buddy's dedicated cycling computer. The only complaint I have had with the unit is the GPS sensor's accuracy when it is not in the open and/or the battery is low. To prevent this issue, I keep AA batteries handy as the GPS unit takes one and make sure no clothing is covering the GPS sensor.

I give this a product a 4 out of 5.Check it out at your local shop or online at Polar USA.

Cyclops Magneto Trainer

Yes, I live in Florida so why would I need a trainer when it is sunny here 99% of the time? Well, for those days when I want to ride at night or even more importantly when my workout calls for intervals, there is no better tool than a high quality trainer. I have tested a few trainers recently and chosen the Cyclops Magneto trainer as my tool of choice for specific cycling training. I have used Cyclops products in the past and have always been impressed by their build quality and durability. The trainer itself is a perfect example of simplicity as it has very few moving parts and is rock solid. Cyclops claims this unit is "The world's first and only mag trainer with progressive resistance." It is super quiet and gives you a tremendous range of resistance. The bike attaches to the unit using the rear wheel quick release skewer and is tightened using a combination of a screwed in anchor on one side and a twist lever on the other. The only thing I can gripe about the unit is the lever to release the bike requires a tremendous amount of force.

I give this a product a 4 out of 5.Check it out at your local shop or online at Cycle-Ops.

Nu-Tek's Pro5 Protein Supplement

Thanks to loyal customer to the shop, I stumbled upon a great nutrition product that not only works as advertised, but has also taken my training and body to another level. Okay, I know what you are thinking already, this is just some lame sales pitch, or I am being paid to say it, but in actuality I actually paid for this product and bought another supply today. I have always known the benefit of Protein supplements, but have only used them sparingly in the past because I didn't feel any real benefit from them or just hated the taste. Well thanks to Vince guiding me over at Nutrishop in Brandon, I have found the perfect protein supplement. It is Nu-Tek's Pro5 and I chose the Cookies and Cream flavor because it literally tastes like a milk shake. Also, based off Vince's advice I mix Vitasport's GL6 with the shake which is a Glutamine supplement which speeds muscle recovery. My recovery time has literally been cut in half. Even after hard workouts, I am no longer sore the next day. My times have consistently dropped in training and racing and I have gotten leaner and more defined which I know doesn't increase my speed necessarily, but the wife sure does like it. The best part is all I do is mix the Pro5 and the GL6 in a little hand blender with a little cold water in the morning, after a workout, and at night and I am good to go. I highly recommend this product. Go see Vince as he is highly knowledgeable about the products and also very passionate. Tell him Ken sent you!

I give this a product a 5 out of 5.Try it out at your local Nutrishop store or if you are in the Brandon area stop by and see Vince at Nutrishop of Brandon

Enervitene Cheerpack

Ok, maybe it is not politically correct but I call Enervitene Cheerpacks liquid speed. It is by far the most noticeable nutrition product I have ever used, period. It is not a gel, a bar, or a powder mix. It is simply a small shot of a very concentrated liquid that will give you almost instantaneous energy. It does this without caffeine so it doesn’t give you a jittery feeling similar to some other energy shots. It comes in a reseal able container, which I find strange because you can’t really sip it, in original and orange flavor. I honestly think both flavors taste very citrusy. I can’t say it tastes good, but it also isn’t bad by any means. What is really nice about it is I have never experienced an aftertaste with it which I know is a problem for some other products.

I give this a product a 4.5 out of 5.You can purchase it at your local bike store. Good news is AJ’s Bikes and Boards just started carrying the line.

Zoot Ultra Sprint Suit

I have been using Zoot products all year and I have grown to love their quality and fit. At my first true sprint distance race of the season I tried out their Ultra Sprint Suit. The official company line on the suit is that it is perfect for a race when a speed suit doesn’t make sense because of the distance. It has a water repellent finish on it that allows you to slip through the water like a speed suit but doesn’t cover the entire suit so you are able to wear it throughout an event unlike a traditional speed suit which is always removed after the swim. It has a zipper on the back which is a little difficult to get used to but I have been told that is necessary for ITU races. The fit on the suit is very snug, but it is still very comfortable which is an oxymoron. The padding is sufficient for racing, but I wouldn’t recommend doing long training rides with it. I have the black suit and it has a very sleek look to it like it is screaming out how fast it is. I was actually worried that I would overheat in the suit because of the water repellant panels, but I stayed very cool despite the 90 degree temperatures. Somehow Zoot managed to find a way to make this suit both well ventilated and hydrodynamic. The suit felt great in the water and allowed me to post my best swim result of the year. I would definitely recommend this suit to anyone doing a lot of sprint races or someone who doesn’t want the hassle of having to remove a speed suit after finishing the swim leg of a triathlon.

I give this a product a 5 out of 5 as my minuses are inconsequential. The suit retails for $175 and can be purchased from Zoot directly or from AJ’s Bikes and Boards as they are now a certified Zoot dealer.