Mad AlchemyRussian Tea Warming Embrocation One Color, One Size

good stuff for every ride!!Make every ride your best ride ever!

As a cyclist, a friend turned me onto this to use when it's cold outside and i didn't want to use leg warmers. So, i spread some on my lower legs when i started out on my ride around 8 am in the cold spring. It became really hot, like that moment in the movie Dune when the guy thinks his hand is on fire, but he pulls it out of the box and it's fine. Yeah, that kind of hot. But i started riding and it cooled it down. By the time, i made it to the bar, (5 hours later), it had warmed up outside, and i sat when the sun hit my legs. Wow...it became unbearable again. So, i sat inside where it was cooler and it felt more comfortable. Then i went home, and jumped in the shower. Holly Hellfire Batman. Did someone take a torch to my leg? We're talking the fight club scene when Tyler chemically burns himself, only no blisters. Just add water and you'll think you covered yourself in honey and laid in a fire ant hill. In fact, that's what they should call it "fire Ant Hill heat" What sadistic chemist came up with this stuff? After scouring the internet, i read to take a wet paper towel and slather it with dish soap and hold it over the burning skin. That did the trick. Immediately it cooled down and seemed to neutralize it's heat. Maybe you need to ride when it's really cold, then don't take a shower unless you want to revisit a bad memory in your childhood.

This product works really well if you can figure out the exact timing on how to get it working. It really blocks the cold but sometimes takes an hour to activate which is difficult if you don’t wanna get up real early before you ride

My favorite embrocation in the cold, winter months. Love the smell and the medium heat is just enough. For those needed more heat, a second application will certainly do the trick. I have used this product for a few years now and did not hesitate to buy again.For anyone not aware, embrocation is a warming balm used by cyclists, primarily cyclocrossers. It creates a physical barrier, plus warms the skin. If it gets wet, the warming effect reactivates. This is wonderful in the damp, muddy conditions of CX but also on wet, winter training rides. Once home, you can scrub it off in the shower with strong soap or enjoy the warming sensation for a few hours.

I tried the embrocation cream in advance of a forecasted cold race. I have zero tolerance for cold and successfully rode 2 hours in 47 degree weather wearing regular biking shorts and the cream. My primary issue was a burning sensation behind my knees during my ride and later in the day when, as cream lingered on my legs despite my best efforts to scrub it off. Otherwise it worked great.

I've learned that people either LOVE or HATE embrocation ("embro") creams. I started using embro when I picked up racing cyclocross. This one from Mad Alchemy is my all-time favorite embro cream: I LOVE hot tea so I really love the awesome smell of this cream. And the heat lingers on for hours--just be aware of this (as with ANY embro) cream and be mindful when it's time to shower. PS one place people don't always use embro is the lower back area...this particular cream is awesome on the lower back area.

I have used various embrocations for cycling nearly 35 years now and this is darn near the best I have used over that time span. It flat out works; it heats and it stays on in cold, damp to wet conditions, mud or any other weather situation you want to ride in. It will linger after a ride but that's a good thing as it continues to warm your muscles. For those that cringe at that, then scrub it away with soapy water...I use this embrocation from 50 degrees on down and it makes the ride so bearable when the weather isn't so bearable.

This product works well for me riding in the mid 40's in the morning. I always double wash in the shower to make sure it comes off. One point, the deeper I dig into the jar the warmer the embrocation works.Great product!