Embrocation, placebo or panacea?
Discussion
As the weather takes a turn for the colder and my legs turn another year older I wondered if it is worth investing in a pot of embrocation? The bike shops and magazines are full of 'stuff' that we are told we NEED, most of which is a placebo of some sort, but I wondered if embrocation actually works?
I hate wearing leg warmers etc, so anything that can allow me to ride with naked legs for a bit longer would be welcomed, being a natural skeptic I can't see how a thin layer of creme would do the trick but I am interested to know if any of the PH massive use it, or have tried it?
I hate wearing leg warmers etc, so anything that can allow me to ride with naked legs for a bit longer would be welcomed, being a natural skeptic I can't see how a thin layer of creme would do the trick but I am interested to know if any of the PH massive use it, or have tried it?
All these things do is stimulate local surface circulation, isn;t it? So your legs will feel warmer until you're working hard enough to keep them warm anyway.
What the consequences might be for ageing knees I don't know, but I imagine that real insulation is a better bet than artificially enhanced skin circulation.
What the consequences might be for ageing knees I don't know, but I imagine that real insulation is a better bet than artificially enhanced skin circulation.
Conventional wisdom is that you cover your knees to avoid cartilage problems caused by the cold restricting blood flow (cartilage isn't well served with blood at the best of times).
Not sure embrocation is a good substitute on that basis.
I know a lot of people who use embro during cold, wet races but perhaps that's more because it repels water when it's raining, whilst not over-warming when it isn't. Can't really be changing leg warmers whilst pedalling.
Not sure embrocation is a good substitute on that basis.
I know a lot of people who use embro during cold, wet races but perhaps that's more because it repels water when it's raining, whilst not over-warming when it isn't. Can't really be changing leg warmers whilst pedalling.
Load of nonsense IMO, when signing on to a race all you can smell is that rank menthol stench, most roadies do it all year round for racing, I've never used it and can't think it makes any difference. If you attack from the gun its not your muscles that are going to take time to warm up (you should have already had a warm up anyway) its your breathing system!
Gizmoish said:
Surely increasing circulation to an exposed area and then going out in the cold is a bad idea?
Not really, production of body heat isn't a problem when cycling, quite the opposite. Getting a bit more warm blood supplied to an area that would otherwise be colder makes sense to me.But I don't use it, once temps are below 10 I would go to having knees covered at least, and once below 6 may as well cover your whole legs
okgo said:
Load of nonsense IMO, when signing on to a race all you can smell is that rank menthol stench, most roadies do it all year round for racing, I've never used it and can't think it makes any difference. If you attack from the gun its not your muscles that are going to take time to warm up (you should have already had a warm up anyway) its your breathing system!
Have to agree. In the Masters this year the changing room smelt like an old sauna! Half of these 'snake oils' are throwbacks to yesteryear when people didn't know any better and kit was pretty crap at insulating and wicking sweat. A decent warmup and appropriate kit for the conditions is all you need...plus you wont look like a fool when you stop for a pre race slash and light up your genitals 
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff