David Bars, Cusa Coffee: 2 Holiday Gifts Really Suitable for Cyclists

By Kevin Kolodziejski

“What the hell, Diane?”

She rode with us most weekends we didn’t race, and even though she only started racing in her late 30s, Diane Castor (now Diane Grim) got so good she did some riding as a pro, and even a bit of it in Europe. She’s also one of the most thoughtful people I know, as well as the possessor of a wicked sense of humor that I absolutely get.

So I was not the one who asked the above question in the parking lot before our ride that Saturday morning while unwrapping the Christmas gift she had given to each of us. I knew exactly why all five guys had received what looked to be a dark blue handkerchief.

What’s Hardest to Keep Warm on a Really Cold Ride?

It had been an especially cold ride a few Saturdays before, which inevitably led to the group discussing which body part was the hardest to keep warm. While I voted for hands, feet wound up the winner.  One guy, though, cast his vote for another spot.

In case any kids are reading, let’s just call that spot “down below.”  It’s a spot susceptible to frostbite if you opt for worn-thin bibs and leg warmers on a day that demands thermal tights — and you’re a male.

I won’t lie and say I recall exactly how Diane answered the question about the gift she gave en masse. But knowing her, it was probably a deadpanned explanation of exactly where the rectangle of base-layer material should be placed if you make the aforesaid mistake — after which she smiled like a Cheshire cat.

So now that I’ve shared this not exactly heartwarming story (though warming all the same), I’m curious about something. But it’s not if you carry a handkerchief on winter rides.  It’s if you’re getting your bicycling buddies anything at all this holiday season. In addition, that is, to a really good whupping next time you all ascend that legendary, wheat-from-chaff-separating local climb. Let me be bold and suggest you buy them a little something — with the emphasis on little — for a reason beyond “It’s the thought that counts.”

Beyond the Thought That Counts

It’s because — unless you’re Henry Potter, Ebenezer Scrooge, or the Grinch Who Stole Christmas — you’ll get almost as jazzed up giving your buddies gifts as leaving them behind on the aforementioned climb. And if those gifts also promote good health, that really good gift-giving feeling will only get better.

Which is why I have two suggestions for you, the first of which has no surname.

Just a First Name, Ample Protein, Awesome Taste

It’s simply called David, named after arguably the most recognized sculpture in the world. What’s not up for argument is that this bar has been constructed as meticulously as Michelangelo’s masterpiece and is capable of its own type of beauty: an increase in muscle mass without an increase in body fat. To achieve that, David bars contain 50 percent more protein than typical protein bars — yet only 150 calories. This means, as hard as it is to believe, that 75 percent of the bar calorically is protein. Something else that’s hard to believe is the taste.

Taste tester Number One was given the Cake Batter flavor and called it “amazing, a mix between vanilla birthday cake and a blondie brownie.” Taste tester Number Two was given the Fudge Brownie flavor and was just as glowing, calling the bar “incredible, [with] no chalk taste at all like most protein bars.” To achieve this incredible taste, the company employs what they call the David Flavor System, which uses no artificial sweeteners or no artificial flavors, but natural ones like cocoa powder, stevia, and monk fruit extract. All of which have no impact on blood sugar or insulin levels and seem to help gut health.

Also incredible is how thoroughly the David website explains the other four “systems” that make the bar so good for you and good tasting. I urge you to check it out — before you check out the price of a dozen bars. It’s the reason why you’ll want to give one or two bars to each buddy instead of gift wrapping boxes of 12.

A Quick Note About the Cost, Though

At first, I considered it to be steep — until I ate a bar or two. Now I see it as just another example of that old cliché about only getting what you pay for. And I’m now, despite being a proud penny-pincher, paying for these bars since the samples are all gone. I’m so hooked, in fact, I get two boxes automatically shipped my way every two months.

Another thing that has me hooked is good coffee, which means I’ve never written a word about instant.  Until now, that is. But what the following instant-coffee gift suggestion shares with the David bars is surprisingly good taste. What it doesn’t is that it goes by a last name — and only a partial one at that.

Full Taste, Half a Name

Cusa, the company founded by Jim Lamancusa, offers a full line of instant coffee in single-serving or pitcher packets and also sells all types of instant tea. When their publicist offered me coffee samples, I was skeptical, but in order to create a 50/50 mix similar to what I concoct at home to perform a taste-test, I requested both Dark Roast and Decaf. After two mornings of drinking three cups of Cusa instead of my own brew, I have only one complaint — that really isn’t one at all. The single-serve instant packets make it way too easy to make a fourth (and maybe even a fifth) cup and get more caffeine than what’s good for me.

While I’ll admit to still preferring what I personally make at home, it’s not by a wide margin. Moreover, during the taste test I remembered all of those times I was still grading papers after a demanding day of school and wishing I had a quick cup of coffee, not because my brain was fried but because 40 hilly miles on the bicycle were soon to follow.

So if you have friends or family members who sometimes delay bike rides or strength training workouts because they’re stuck at work, Cusa instant packets could be a godsend. As would those David bars for somebody trying to add some muscle but no fat during the cycling offseason.

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Kevin Kolodziejski began his writing career in earnest in 1989. Since then he’s written a weekly health and fitness column and his articles have appeared in magazines such as “MuscleMag,” “Ironman,” “Vegetarian Times,” and “Bicycle Guide.” He has Bachelor and Masters degrees in English from DeSales and Kutztown Universities.

A competitive cyclist for more than 30 years, Kevin won two Pennsylvania State Time Trial championships in his 30’s, the aptly named Pain Mountain Time Trial 4 out of 5 times in his 40s, two more state TT’s in his 50’s, and the season-long Pennsylvania 40+ BAR championship at 43.