Today it finally felt like summer while out on the training ride. A stop to stretch at the turnaround point and sweat poured out from under my cycling cap onto my shoes and into my eyes. Sand and dead gnats clinged to my calves and I reminded myself that my legs were due for a shave.

Here in the Midwest, we have three months of the heat until the kneewarmers and serious embrocation come out. A short window of time to get a nice cyclist’s tan, the mark of pride that separates us from the sad folks who choose not to cycle.

Sometimes these summer mornings have a slight chill to them, cool enough to necessitate arm warmers, but not enough to cover the knees. Those days call for a lighter coat of embrocation, without the capsican and heat, that an icy day spent racing ‘cross or doing base miles demands. Mad Alchemy in tandem with Embrocation Cycling Journal has just come out with Mangocation. It’s summer love in a jar that keeps the skin supple and provides a modicum of protection from the elements.

I think I’m in need of a jar.