Embrocation Cream
 

I love embrocation for cold weather riding. Since my commute is about 40-50 minutes each way, I like to put it on my neck, shoulders, lower back, and legs for those cold morning commutes. When it's 50 or colder I typically wear wool cycling legwarmers, too. (and the associated gear, such as layers of wool in various places, depending on temps). And the wonderful smell and ritual of putting it on helps energize me in the morning as I'm stumbling around in the half-darkness, trying not to wake my wife and child so I can slip out before they wake up (don't worry, I'm the afternoon pick-up parent).

I started with Rapha's Summer and then Winter Embrocation. I just love the smell and the formulation of these! But they're expensive (US $30 for a 125mL container), and I really love the heat of the winter embro, so I decided to go with Mad Alchemy's Madness. GOOD LORD this stuff is hot! But in a good way, because I adore that warm feeling when I ride. Using embro helps me not scrunch up my shoulders from the cold. It has a clove-mint smell that is nice--just not as gloriously formulated, scent-wise, as the Rapha.

I feel like using embro, along with yoga and stretching, helps keep me flexible for cycling and for life in general. Are there others who love the burn? I don't even mind when it heats back up in the shower--although I have had colleagues comment on the redness of my neck after I get ready at work, haha.

I was introduced to Atom Balm (or something similar) freshman year on my high school cross country team. The coach offered it up to us on the first cold-weather practice day. I still remember that first post-run shower...(Yikes!)

I love that toasty feeling when riding in the cold. I ride year-round down to 10F, and I have found I "loosen-up" on my own after about 10 minutes of riding, but then, I tend to run hot. As far as morning stiffness I replaced my coffee in-take with Yerba Mate a few months ago. It has similar caffeine content, but far less acidity than coffee or tea. It turns out to have anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine properties. At 56, I now have far less leg and back stiffness in the morning than I have for the past few years.

However, it smells like wet grass, whereas the clove-mint fragrance of your embrocation cream sounds delightful.

Oh man, yerba mate is SO delicious! Good idea--it has so many good things in it. I ought to drink it more often. Amazing stuff! I especially love it with a slice of cake, Argentine style, in the afternoons. A friend of mine who spends a lot of time in Argentina introduced me to it a while back. It's amazing.

And the Rapha embrocation cream is even better than the Mad Alchemy--although MA's formulation is quite nice, with the clove and mint. There's all kinds of good stuff in Rapha's formulation--vanilla, wintergreen, pine resin fragrances. They say it's supposed to recall Mont Ventoux, which I'm sure it does (but I have never been there).

I don't really understand embro. Does it really raise the temperature of the skin (or muscle)? Or is it a chemical illusion of a warming sensation?

At prices like that, if I wanted to get into embro I would definitely look for DIY recipes, I bet you can make it for way less than half the retail cost.

I don't think I've ever heard of it before, and now I'm curious. My commute isn't long enough for this, but I also do longer rides. Would it help keep my feet warm on long rides?

I guess Cyclocross racers use it to keep their legs warm during races, because legwarmers get soggy.

It might help on feet--but I always recommend wool layers of socks and warm shoes to keep toes warm. That's a body part you want to keep toasty. As far as I can tell, the burning sensation from the cream only helps keep you feeling warmer.

And the previous commenter has a good point about DIY. I imagine after getting all the fragrance components I want, making it would be a little spendy, but it would be a fun project and gift!

They do make mild versions! The Rapha summer embro is gentler, and Mad Alchemy makes several gentle formulations. Some people love the insane burn, others not so much.

I like the Mad Alchemy Russian Tea. Smells like Christmas!

While it is pricey, a 125g jar (4 oz.) usually lasts me at least a year and a half. You could call it a chemical illusion of a warming sensation, but it helps a person feel warmer on rides. Of course, still dressing for the weather is important, but embro makes my early morning commutes a lot more pleasant.

The capsaicin (the active ingredient in chiles) activates sensory neurons in the skin, causing a burning sensation. Because the compound is fat soluble, maybe the best way to remove it is rubbing the areas with vaseline or oil (probably wear gloves for this, and use something disposable, like a paper towel).

OK, that's interesting, but what I'm curious about, if it's only a chemical illusion, could you end up with frostbite because you couldn't tell how cold your skin actually is?

Just wondering...Do any of you use embrocation AND wear knee warmers or tights? Seems to me that in the cold, tights help warm the entire leg and using embrocation under the tights would focus on keeping the knee flexible and protected. When riders apply it to the neck, etc., it's obvious that they coverup with a jersey, jacket or more. Is it different for knees? The descriptions on most of the sites selling embrocation claim that using it makes warmers and tights unnecessary.

It is a banned dopant in horse racing.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6006555/
I wonder if the body responds to the chemical simulation of heat stimulation as it would to true heat by dilating vessels close to the skin to cool if it would contribute to short term feelings of warmth at the expense of longer term heat retention.

You can try a bottle of Sriracha.

Just don't mix up the embrocation with the butt butter. :eek:

Probably, and man is that an MPU (Minimum publishable unit).

I checked the website and can't find what's ACTUALLY in the product. All I get is the standard essential oils and vegan/veg/eco/plastic **** with no information.

:mad:

Thus, I wouldn't trust it as far as I could throw it, some with those untested Shower Pass jackets (no specs = no buy, over here).

Capsaicin should be ingested in curries, rubs and jerk sauces for best effect, and should be kept away from sensitive areas.

Thus, I wouldn't trust it as far as I could throw it, some with those untested Shower Pass jackets (no specs = no buy, over here).[/QUOTE]

Sorry to go off topic but since you brought it up...

You really need to check your facts. Go to the Showers Pass site, choose waterproof jackets from the drop down 'products' menu and then choose any jacket. Under 'products comparison', the chart gives the fabric type and the star rating. Below that is the technical data, per the star rating, regarding both breathability and waterproofness. It's been there for years. Combining the provided data with the customer reviews, I'm not sure what more you could want. If you don't like Showers Pass, fine. Just don't fabricate facts to fit your agenda or biases.

I do not work for or have any connection with Showers Pass; I'm just a satisfied user that prefers accuracy.

Please refer to this image from the reference archives to understand the proper application of Sriracha in cycling
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4tf79xIMAAfRHT.jpg

No image to be seen, but I recommend blending with mayonnaise for an even application that stays in place.