I’ll be in Portland this week to cover the “celebration of the frame builder” that is the MADE Show. To me, the indy frame builders and the outliers of the bike industry are often underrepresented, so it’s nice to see a spotlight on ’em. This is the first year for the MADE Show, but I have a good idea of what to expect.

MADE Bike Show Founder, Billy Sinkford has a passion for the bike and all that surrounds it. That passion is palpable and contagious just to be around him. The show will be an extension of that passion. It will be an unapologetic celebration of the bicycle and its culture. It will likely celebrate inclusivity as last year’s Philly Bike Show did. It’ll celebrate the component makers, the frame builders, the “one-offs”, the individuals that think outta-the-box, and the craftsmanship we’ve come to expect from custom builders.

Yakima Makes My Drive to MADE a Bit More Comfortable

Needless to say, I’m very excited to attend the show. I’m also excited to make the 15-hour (1000-mile) trek in our “new-to-us” 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, camping along the way.

Yakima Rib Cage Rack for Jeep JL 4-Door

To outfit that Jeep, Yakima has sent over their new Rib Cage Rack system made for the Jeep JL (JL is the latest iteration of the Wrangler, Yakima has another version for Jeep JK) Unlimited (4-door) for me to review, along with their SkyRise HD Medium rooftop tent.

The Rib Cage is a relatively new product for Yakima Racks and retails for $600. There are a few different ways to attach a rack system to a Jeep JL. A few surround the top without touching it, with attachment points on the rear bumper and front cowl area of the Jeep, and require no drilling.

However, the Rib Cage falls into the group of rack systems that are a little more permanent and require some drilling through the fiberglass top. These types of racks use the inside of the Jeep and the “roll cage” to reinforce the rack. This allows for a larger payload, and/or use of a rooftop tent. The others out there are over twice the cost of the Yakima Rib Cage.

As it works out, the Yakima Rib Cage has the largest weight capacity of most, if not all of the systems available for this application. Furthermore, Yakima “fully tested and off-road rated” the Rib Cage.

Static Weight: The “static” weight of a rack is basically the amount of weight the rack can hold when the vehicle is not moving. Think your rack and rooftop tent with you in it. The Rib Cage carries a static load rating of a whopping 825 lbs.

Dynamic Weight: The Dynamic weight of a rack is how much it can carry while the vehicle is in motion, and arguably for those that are often off-road, the most important rating. The Rib Cage’s dynamic load rating is 330 lbs, which is the highest I know of in this application.

Another key point to mention about the Rib Cage is that it can be easily disconnected, allowing for the full removal of the Jeep’s top (one of the highlights of owning a Wrangler).

Installing the Yakima Rib Cage on Jeep JL

The installation of the Rib Cage was involved, not really very difficult, but involved. What I mean by that, is that there was a lot of reading and re-reading the detailed instructions, which Yakima suggests you do prior to starting the installation. I also watched the available video 3-4 times prior to the installation as well.

There were a lot of parts to the rack, as expected, as well as the needed tools. The parts and the tools were very well organized in a compartmentalized package.

Drilling the top of our Jeep was daunting, so I wanted to make sure that I “measured 5 times and cut once”. Our Jeep has the color-matched, painted top, so it seemed even more weird drilling into it. But, the Rib Cage is a well-thought-out solution that eliminated some of the stress of installation.

As I mentioned earlier, it wasn’t really hard, but I would suggest getting a friend to help. I struggled on some portions of the installation where another set of hands would’ve helped tremendously.

After the installation, the rack pretty much disappeared and looked like part of the Jeep. It is a fairly stealth final product before mounting the load bars. The Yakima HD Bar crossbars went on very easily and tightened right down.

One thing that I was worried about was the rack making noise in the cab of the Jeep. But, the design of the rack being attached outside the Jeep and anchored inside the Jeep, keeps it quiet.

As of right now, with about 600 miles on it after the installation, it is quiet with no signs of creaking or squeaking showing up in the future. I’ve already done a couple of decent off-road trips with the SkyRise rooftop tent on it, and it has remained silent.

Yakima Rib Cage Details

• Fully Tested and Off-road rated up to a 330lb dynamic load rating and an 825lb static load rating.
• 48″ HD Track sections allow for variable crossbar spreads to support 2 or 3-bar or multiple tower LockNLoad platform setups.
• Freedom panels are removable while the system is in use and is easily disconnected to fully remove your hardtop.
• Rooftop Tent compatible
• The internal supports attach to the roll cage ensuring lateral stability for maximum strength.
• The minimal footprint of the internal supports will not intrude on your passenger or cargo space.
• To fully outfit your system, you can choose either the Yakima TrackTower with crossbars or platform of your choice, or the Yakima SkyLine Tower and Landing Pad 26 with crossbars or platform of your choice (sold separately, additional parts may be required).
• End caps allow the installation of T-slot hardware without having to remove caps.
• Compatible with Jeep Wrangler JL 4dr Hardtop models only.
• Separate Jeep JK 4dr Hardtop model available
• $600 Retail

Yakima SkyRise HD Medium Rooftop Tent for a Jeep

We’ve used a similar tent to the SkyRise for about 4 years, and we were pretty satisfied with it. But, I’ll tell you, as soon as I opened the box from Yakima, I could instantly tell, this was a much higher-quality tent, which it should be as it retails for $2499.That’s twice the cost of my other rooftop tent.

It’s classified as a 4-season tent, so the material of the tent was thicker and felt nicer. We will see how that works out as winter is right around the corner.

The SkyRise HD uses 600D Ripstop Polyester fabric with a 3000mm waterproof PU coating. I noticed the 2.5″ foam mattress was denser and seemed of higher quality as well.

The SkyRiseHD Medium is slightly bigger than the regular SkyRise tent with a closed size of L 58″ x W 48″ x H 17″, and an open size of L 56″ x W 96″ x H 48″. It weighs in at a svelt 114.6 lbs, making it a great choice for smaller vehicles.

Yakima SkyRise HD Medium Tent Details

• Two size options provide room for two or three campers (small and medium)
• Frame geometry offers more usable space
• Large doors, windows, and skylights open up the vistas
• 4-season weather protection: 600D Ripstop Polyester fabric with a 3000mm waterproof PU coating
• Rainfly with 210D Ripstop Polyester, 3000mm PU waterproof coating
• Guy lines and D-rings on the tent floor to hang gear or tie down the tent in windy conditions
• Abrasion-resistant tent floor with a textured finish for added durability
• Ladder has mid-height adjustment points for easy set-up
• Ladder auto-close function that makes it a snap to close up
• Tool-free and lockable vehicle mounts—easy to put on, quick to take off
• Easy-to-deploy design means less work and more play—great when it’s dark or raining
• 2.5″ thick foam mattress
• Foam sleeping pad includes a removable cover for easy cleaning
• Mesh panel improves ventilation and lets you view the starry skies
• Aluminum tent frame is light, strong, and pre-set to make pitching a breeze
• Open Dimensions: 56″ x 96″ x 48″ High
• $2,499 Retail

Yakima SkyRise HD Medium Specs

• Weight: 114.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: L 58.00 in x W 48.00 in x H 17.00 in
• Minimum Crossbar Spread 26.00in
• Maximum Crossbar Spread 40.50in
• Limited Two Year Warranty

Installing the SKyRise HD Medium Rooftop Tent on a Jeep JL 4dr

After removing the box, I set the tent on its side and attached the “tool-free” lockable vehicle mounts to the bottom of the tent. I could’ve used a second set of hands for this as well, but I got it done.

I then attached the rainfly better, as it comes just sitting on the top of the tent and needs a little installation. After that, I installed the ladder and the external cover. I removed the mattress to make it a little lighter, and then I had my sister-in-law help me put it up on the crossbars. I then centered it up and locked it down.

The tool-free lockable mounts are pretty slick. They will make loading and unloading the rooftop tent a lot easier. They sit a little higher than I would prefer, but the added convenience of being able to quickly remove the tent from the Jeep is worth it to me.

My wife and I have yet to sleep in it, but we are camping on the way up to the MADE Show and on the way back, and we are stoked to give it a try. We’ll also be stopping by the Yakima headquarters in Oregon on the way home to touch base and see what’s coming up on the horizon.

Stay tuned!

Yakima.com

The post Road to MADE Show: Yakima’s New Rib Cage Rack System for the Jeep JL + SkyRise HD Medium RTT appeared first on Bikerumor.

I’ve had this top tube bag on my Masi Incanto for about 200 miles now and I’ll tell you, I’ve never had a bag this easy to open while riding, not any type of bag… ever. The Orucase Top Tube Bag is a game changer when it comes to accessing your goodies with only one hand while you ride, as it offers true one-step/one-handed access to get what you need from the bag.

Whether it be nutrition bars, a small banana, a plethora o’ lil’ snacks, or your phone, they’ll all be super easy to grab and use thanks to the way the Orucase Top Tube Bag opens and closes. The bag uses a magnetic ‘zipper’ that allows you to just plunge your hand into the bag to pull out what you need. So simple.

I chose the Orucase to replace the top tube bag that I bought for the Incanto when doing my Dream Build last October, and I’ll tell you why.

The Rouge Panda Alamo Top Tube Bag in the “Gordo” size retails for $90, and has some nice features, like a foam-padded bottom that hid the screw heads and protects your phone from unnecessary damage. And it had a waterproof zipper… not really a big deal here in Southern California where I live, but nice regardless.

After I rode a few rides with it, I realized that my phone didn’t fit all that well in the bag in spite of measuring length-wise to make sure it would.

Look, I love taking photos with my phone while out for rides. Other than just being fun to do, it can also be part of my job at times. Regardless, I just like having really easy and quick access to my phone while on the bike. And, not having to stop every time I see a shot, is a big deal to me.

It turns out I didn’t take the downward curve along the top of the bag into consideration when measuring to make sure my phone (Google Pixel 6 Pro) fit before making the purchase. While on the first ride with the Gordo top tube bag, I found myself forcing my phone in and out of the bag, sometimes needing to take both hands off of the handlebars to zip it back up.

Other than that, it was a good lil’ bag.

So, the search for a new top tube bag started, as I wanted something that will fit my phone and still be rather small on the top tube.

Using the Orucase

There was an article on Bikerumor about the Orucase “Design Labs” Mini Frame Pack a while back, which used a combination of conventional zippers and magnetic zippers. I was intrigued and checked out Orucase’s website. I found that their Top Tube bag was the right shape and size to fit my phone, and it doesn’t look too bulky on the top tube. Plus, it had a magnetic zipper for super quick and easy access!

The Orucase Top Tube bag comes with two hook and loop straps and two oval grommets on the bottom (updated for 2023 along with a slightly larger size). These give you the option of either mounting it to your top tube via straps or water bottle bosses. There is a non-slip material along the base and a line-loc paracord strap to go around the steerer to help keep the bag in place.

There is a cable port in the front of the bag as well, allowing for the use of headphones, or charging your lights or computer via a battery bank kept in the bag. The Top Tube bag, like all of Orucase’s products, comes with a Lifetime Warranty.

I received one of their Top Tube bags in black and immediately installed it on the bike. I ditched the included Velcro straps and opted to use the frame’s bottle boss mounts to secure it to the top tube. It was really easy to install, but I noticed it didn’t have a protective cover for the mounting screws…

That seemed a little odd to me that the screws are left exposed. My phone, however, has a case on it (doesn’t everyone’s?) and so far, that has kept the phone protected while in the bag, even on the super rough stuff.

Also, the magnetic zipper is super convenient and a really great (my favorite) feature of the Orucase, it looks like it will only keep a little water out of the bag, as it’s not really “sealed”. So, if your top tube bag needs to be 100% waterproof, the Orucase Top Tube bag may not be for you.

One other little thing, and it may just be my OCD acting up, but I found the bag leaning to the left a bit when just carrying my phone. I noticed that the Line-Loc paracord that goes around the steerer sits a little low on the bag. There was another opening for it a little higher on the bag that allowed me to move it up, making the bag a lot less slouchy.

OK, on to it… out on the bike, the Orucase Top Tube bag, so far has been, dare I say, close to perfect. It holds quite a bit, even my Showers Pass windbreaker without issue. Usually, I have a bandana, some nutrition, and my phone, with a little room to spare.

It is the easiest bike bag I’ve ever had to get into while riding. It’s true one-handed access is so convenient, especially when you roll up on a potential photo and need your phone pronto – just reach in grab your phone, snap the shot and slip it back in, remove your hand and it closes itself back up, Bob’s yer Uncle, your back in business.

Orucase Top Tube Tech Specs and Retail

Retail: $50

Construction

• Durable and lightweight Challenge Sailcloth EPX material
• Magnetic zipper

Dimensions

• 9″ x 4.5″ x 2″
• 1-liter capacity

Organization

• 1 main compartment with 1 handed access
• Cord port for charging lights and computers

Attachment

• 2x Velcro straps
• Adjustable headtube paracord Line-Loc
• 1/4″ oval grommets for top tube bolts

In Conclusion

As I had just mentioned, the Orucase Top Tube bag is the easiest bike bag I’ve ever used when it comes to accessing your stuff while riding. It has a well-thought-out design, the magnetic zipper being a highlight of said design. It comes with adjustable mounting options, so it will work with a lot of different frames.

I really like the size of the Orucase Top Tube bag as well, it’s big enough to hold the largest phones, while staying trim in its width, and not too tall on the top tube, helping it to “disappear” while riding, until you need it, of course. Fifty dollars seems like a very fair price for a product that is so well-designed and useful. It seems to be durable and I can see it withstanding many miles of use and abuse.

I would absolutely recommend this top tube bag to anyone in the market for one.

Check out all that Orucase has to offer by hitting the link below.

OruCase.com

The post The Orucase Magnetic Top Tube Bag is a Lil’ Game Changer appeared first on Bikerumor.

Back in April, I wrote about a really cool bike storage system by Stashed Products that I saw at the Sea Otter Classic. The system is called the SpaceRail Bike Storage System, and it’s a pretty ingenious concept that uses a weighted hook that can slide and rotate allowing the user to alternate the bikes in an ass-to-tea-kettle type of spacing, to get them as close together as possible.

And, look…I don’t know what ass-to-tea-kettle is – it’s something my dad used to say… but, I think you get the gist.

All of the parts that make up the Stashed SpaceRail System are 100% made in the UK, even the custom extrusion for the Space Rail itself. They are expanding into the US and are very proud of their innovative packaging.

They use only cardboard when packaging and shipping their goods which was surprising to me when they told me that they have a 100% success rate on the delivery of the last 1000 systems that were sent “across the pond”.

Stashed sent me two space rails and enough hooks for 6 bikes (4 of my own with 2 hooks left over for review bikes). The package came to me through DHL, and when I opened the box, I noticed there weren’t a lot of small, loose parts to deal with, and that the packaging was efficient, clean, and minimal.

Of course, I had just moved, the garage was a mess, and I was very excited to try out the system if anything just to get the bikes out of the way. Anywho, to my disappointment, I got it all installed without snapping one pic of the clever packaging. Sorry guys.

The SpaceRail System

Stashed Products offers three different mounting options for their SpaceRail system with a Ceiling Mount, Angled Mount, and Wall Mount. I was sent the Ceiling Mount. And as I mentioned earlier, it came with enough hooks to hang 6 bikes.

The parts to get the system installed were only a few, with the really small hardware organized in a separate bag.

• 2ea. SpaceRails (one Space Rail can hold up to 4 bikes)
• The bike hooks
• Spacer kits (for between the hooks)
• The specific mounts for the Ceiling application
• Two Space Rail end caps
• One SpaceRail Joining Kit
• All of the necessary small mounting and installation hardware

SpaceRail System Installation

The included instruction booklet… yes, a booklet, was complete and thorough, with really good illustrations. I started by getting all of the pieces laid out and separated.

I started by sliding the hardware for the Ceiling Mounts into place to match the distance of the ceiling joists where they will hang. When that was done, I added the rail’s end cap on the far end that wasn’t getting the extension. It was easy to mount the first rail to the ceiling by myself.

The actual SpaceRails are one-piece aluminum and I found them light enough to hold in place while installing the mounting plates to the ceiling. But, that being said, I’m not sure if that would be the case if you were attempting to screw the long wood screws in with just a handheld screwdriver… if that were the case, you’d need another person to hold the SpaceRail.

I did predrill pilot holes in the joists so that when using a drill to install the included wood screws, they installed quickly and easily without splitting the wood.

I then added the end cap to one end and the SpaceRail Joining kit to the other end of the installed SpaceRail. After making another joist location measurement, I slid one end of the second SpaceRail into the Joining kit and attached the mounting plates to the joists.

That was it. It took me approximately 30 minutes to get the two SpaceRails installed and ready to accept the six bike hooks. Hooks are easily installed by simply keeping one end free of the end cap and sliding them into the Space Rail. Once they are all slid in, install the end cap and it is ready to store your bikes.

SpaceRail Performance

Once I got the SpaceRails installed on my ceiling, and ready to install the bike hooks, I noticed that the instructions stated that I should measure the width of the axel/fork leg width. They said that if that measurement is less than 150mm, I won’t need to install the included spacers…. and if it’s over 150mm to install them.

I confess that I didn’t take the measurement… I just assumed I would need the spacers. So, I initially installed them on every other hook, but after a few days of placing and removing the bikes from the hooks, I found that didn’t actually need them.

Removing them (obviously) allowed the bikes to squeeze in tighter than they did with the spacers installed. And, having the bikes stored closer to each other is something that I felt I needed in my tight little area of the garage.

The hooks are, more or less, “locked” in place when there is no weight on them. This allows for the hook to stay stationary while lifting your bike onto the hook… keeping the hook from being bumped and sliding down the rail away from where you need it.

Once loaded down with the weight of the bicycle, the hooks “free up” to slide and rotate freely in the SpaceRail with very little resistance.

Stash Products Pedal Wraps

Believe it or not, one of my favorite items during my review of the SpaceRail System is the cool Pedal Wraps. These are handy little neoprene and Velcro wraps that conveniently wrap your pedals to keep them from damaging the neighboring bike upon sliding them together.

Stashed sent me a pair of large, medium and small. They are easy to install and remove from the pedals. I used the large size for my wife’s large DEV5 flat pedals…

…and the medium for my Shimano XT Trail pedals, and the small size for my Shimano XTR pedals. A very simple solution that works very well.

There are also little “outboard” hooks on the outside of the bike hooks that allow you to hang your helmet, wet jacket, gloves, or whatever you think of.

SpaceRail Storage System Features & Pricing

Features

• Free UK shipping over £50. Free European shipping over €350. T&C apply.
• Universal hooks to store every type of bike, including e-bikes
• Saves up to 50% space, with easy bike access
• Simple to install using just four screws & basic DIY skills
• A single SpaceRail (1200mm / 4ft) can hold 120kg (30kg / 65lbs per hook) *good for most eBikes*
• Easy Load system with Auto Lock Tech

Pricing

One 4′ section of SpaceRail can hold up to 4 bikes. You can add additional SpaceRail Bike Hooks to your one-bike system for an additional $83ea. This allows you to use just what you need, adding hooks as your quiver grows.

If you were to grow past 4 bikes, you would just need to buy the SpaceRail Extension Kit for an additional $128, allowing for up to an additional 4 bikes. See some examples below.

1ea. SpaceRail kit for one bike (includes rail, 1-hook, and mounting hardware): $204

1ea. SpaceRail kit for four bikes (includes rail, 4-hooks, and mounting hardware): $382

Pricing is set where you can store as many as 24 bikes for $2099

*Price as tested (includes 2-rails, 6-hooks, 1-SpaceRail Joining kit, and mounting hardware): $598

All Stashed Products carry a 2-Year unlimited warranty.

In Conclusion

Stashed Products’ ingenious system is easy to use, and won’t damage your beloved bicycles as you get them up and out of the way. I love that you can swivel the bikes to stagger them and get them really close. I’ve got 5 bikes stored that only span 4’7″ wide… that’s impressive and an overall pretty small footprint considering one bike has the 810mm wide Tumbleweed Persuader Bar and another bike’s got the Redshift Sports 50cm Kitchen Sink Bar.

I found the system a snap to install and even easier to use on a daily basis as it’s a breeze to slide the bikes apart, pick your steed and pull it down for a ride. The quality of all of the parts seems top notch and I have zero reason to believe that they won’t last a good long time.

The hooks have a replaceable protective polymer cover that doesn’t seem to be marring my rims. Also, the hook trolleys are rebuildable, which is refreshing.

I wouldn’t just recommend this system for anybody that is space challenged when it comes to storing their steeds, I would recommend it to anybody in need of bike storage solutions, as it is a well-thought-out, safe way to store your bicycles.

Check ’em out at the link below.

StashedProducts.co.uk

The post Hang, Slide & Rotate Bikes Effortlessly with the Stashed SpaceRail Bike Storage System appeared first on Bikerumor.

Right off the bat, I will tell you that I had never heard of Ekrin Athletics when they reached out to me to review the Bantam, their new mini-massage gun. My initial reaction was not to review it, but then I thought that you all probably use a massage gun of some sort, as I do, and maybe this is a nice device. So I said yes to the review request. Plus my latest Amazon special massage gun had just given up the ghost a few weeks earlier.

We who ride the bicycle know that muscle recovery is important, and I am not a stranger to the benefits that a massage gun can offer. But, I didn’t know that much about Ekrin Athletics, so I did a lil’ homework to get familiar with the company.

According to the Ekrin website, they have a lot of professional athletes using their products, from the WMBA, and NHL, to the NFL. I didn’t see any cyclists though, which I felt was a little surprising.

Do massage guns work? They seem to, I’ve personally found benefits while using a massage gun after both long rides and rides with big efforts. I even use the gun on the no-ride days that fall between the riding days. I use it on my back and neck as well. It works well, and I am a proponent of the tech.

But, let’s talk a little bit about percussive therapy.

Some Thoughts from UCLA Health

According to UCLA Health, percussive therapy, which is also called percussive massage, uses “rapid and repetitive pressure combined with vibration therapy. The massage head moves quickly and forcefully, applying pressure directly to your soft tissue, while the vibrations engage the outer layer of skin”.

A good massage has been proven to help with stress reduction, easing pain, and improving circulation, says UCLA Health. But, not everyone can afford or has the time to partake in a professional-level massage. For this reason, a massage gun is a great “DIY” alternative. But before purchasing one, UCLA Health suggests the following features to consider:

• Speeds: More options give the gun versatility.
• Weight: Since you could be holding the gun for up to 10mins, they suggest a gun falls in the 2 to 4 lbs range.
• Noise: This may affect where you use it and how “relaxing” the experience is.
• Battery: How long the battery lasts between charges can affect whether it’s ready to use when you need it.

Benefits of Percussive Therapy

You don’t have to be an elite athlete to enjoy the benefits of percussive therapy. Some of the gains you achieve are just good for your overall health. Contrary to what you may think, I am not a medical professional, and I won’t be doing a super deep dive into the full medical benefits of percussive therapy, I will however list a few that UCLA Health mentions:

• Improved mobility – Stiff necks, sore back or aching muscles may be due to fascia, layers of tissue and fluid that can surround and stabilize your bones, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels can lead to limited mobility. The repeated pressure at high speeds of percussive therapy thins and distributes the thickened fascia fluid helping your muscles move easier.
• Reduced post-exercise soreness – Lacitic acid builds up in muscles after exercise which causes pain and soreness. A massage gun’s percussion forces the muscle fibers to release lactic acid reducing the soreness you’ll feel.
• Decreased delayed onset muscle soreness – The pain and soreness that we feel 24 to 72 hours after doing a new exercise, or unfamiliar physical activity like moving or lifting something heavy is called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) resulting from tiny muscle fiber tears. Research has shown that vibration therapy increases skin temperature, blood flow, and hormonal response to reduce inflammation and pain associated with DOMS.

To summarize… it is safe to use a massage gun, before a workout, after a workout, or whenever you have muscle tension or stress. UCLA Health does say that if you are suffering from ongoing muscle soreness or stiffness, reach out to your primary care physician.

On with the Review Already

Being the lil’ bro to the B37, the Ekrin Bantam massage gun is the smallest, most compact massage gun that they offer, weighing in at a little under 500g (1.1lbs)… half the weight of the bigger B37.

On top of being lightweight, it’s really compact and easy to use. The carrying case is small measuring 7.5″ x 7.5″. Being lightweight, the Bantam made for an ideal on-the-go massage companion… although I haven’t had a reason to use it like that very much. But the times that I did travel with it, it packed away nicely in my suitcase.

It’s even small enough to actually fit (without the case) in my wife’s purse with zero problems. It’s really small and light enough to take with you on a long bike tour or bikepacking adventure if that suits your needs. Backpacks and gym bags would also be a perfect match for the Bantam.

When it comes to dealing with my pre/post-ride muscle routines, I usually rely on stretching to relieve any muscle aches, but I’ve used the Bantam quite a bit in the last 8 months since receiving it, and that’s changed the game a little. And after actually reading about the benefits of percussive therapy, I’m going to be using the Bantam much more often and on a regular basis.

Right away I noticed that despite its small stature, the Bantam packs way more “punch” than my Amazon special, which was almost twice the size. With its quiet motor, quality build, and rubberized grip area, the Bantam is easy and relaxing to use.

It came with four attachments:

• Flat (silicone): For overall use
• Bullet: Pinpoint usage for hands, feet, and knots
• Round (silicone): Low impact for treating sensitive and sore areas
• Fork: Designed to treat spine and neck

These attachments quickly and easily can be pulled from or snapped into the gun without the need for tools or any real effort. It also uses a USB Type-C charging cord making it easy to charge anywhere. Erkin says they use a premium lithium-ion battery and claims a 6-hour battery life.

I can attest to the 6-hour battery life claim, as the battery in my Bantam lasts a very long time between charges. The power didn’t fade while I used it two or three times a week for weeks at a time without having to charge it. However, it does have a convenient indicator light on the bottom of the gun, that will let you know when it needs to be charged and when it’s done charging.

The Bantam uses a redesigned brushless motor that has three speeds, low (2000 rpm), medium (2600 rpm), and high (3200 rpm). I found all three speeds to be the perfect amount for me. All three of the speeds were useful, and I found it easy to find the right speed for the task at hand. In contrast, when compared to my Amazon special gun’s 5 speeds, where basically only two of its speeds were useful.

Ekrin Athletics Bantam Features and Retail

Retail: $150 (free shipping)

• Compact Design
• USB Charger
• 4 Attachments
• 6 Hour battery life
• Slim, Easy-Grip handle
• Three speeds (2000 to 3200 rpm)
• Travel case included
• Ultra Lightweight (1.1pounds)

Conclusion

I am a firm believer in the benefits of percussive therapy, I have been using and enjoying the results of massage guns for the better part of three years. The Erkin Bantam is the best one I’ve used. I love that it’s so small and can go anywhere I may need to bring it. Its power is unmatched when compared to the other massage guns I’ve used. It doesn’t bog down when applying a lot of pressure to trouble areas. It’s a great little massage gun that’s not terribly expensive and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone in the market. Its lightweight, and quality build will no doubt last a long time.

Check out Ekrin’s other massage gun options and accessories below.

ErkinAthletics.com

The post Beat The “Sore” Out with the Ekrin Bantam Mini-Massage Gun appeared first on Bikerumor.

Wow, this year flew by! I still can’t believe it’s already the end of 2022. Can you?

Well, I’ve had a great year in my little world of bicycle shenanigans. The product I have been privileged to test, try and review has been abundant and amazing.

There were a few really memorable trips that happened for me this last year as well.

First, there was Monterey Bay for the Sea Otter Classic, and Bend, Oregon for the Best of Both a multi-terrain race, and a Masi Bicycles Brand Ambassador event. In mid-September, we got invited to Colorado, for the Gunnison Gravel press trip and did some glamping and gravel riding, which was pretty amazing. I had never been to Colorado and it was everything that I expected it to be and more. The last trip of the year for me was the flight to Philadelphia to experience the Philly Bike Expo for the first time. The was a pretty powerful bike event.

So much fun with bicycles and bicycle people on those trips. And between the Oregon and Colorado trips, it was some of the most impressive bike rides I’ve ever done.

I will give my top picks below for some of the products. These will be items that I’ve actually reviewed, some that are in the process of being reviewed, and some I feel just need to be mentioned, as they are something that I think you need to hear about. Capiche?

About Ron

I love the bicycle, to me, it’s literal art in motion. I love bicycle culture as well, it’s where I belong and where I choose to immerse myself. This year like most was filled with everything that had to do with these two-wheel freedom machines that we love. I got to test out and try so many really cool bike-y type things. And the rides were plentiful and so much fun.

Testing and reviewing stuff meant the year was chock full of all kinds of different rides. A lot of them were solo rides. And I’d be fibbin’ if I said that I didn’t enjoy the solo ride now and again, sometimes it’s needed, ya know? For me, a solo ride is a place of peace and inner reflection. That sounds cliché, but it’s the truth. Sometimes I feel dislocated, and a solo ride pops me back into place, like a shoulder back into its socket putting you “back to normal” instantly.

But as much as I enjoy the solo ride, the rides with my buddies, Matt and Dave, are my favorite rides. I’ve been riding bikes with them consistently for over 25 years, and it’s always been fun. So, here’s to many more years of riding to come with you two!

OK, so usually you can tell a little bit about the cyclist, and how they like to ride by checking out their stable of steeds, their quiver if you will. So, let me give you a peek at my humble collection of bicycles. As of right now, I am down to four personal bikes; my Surly Krampus (fully rigid), my Masi Speciale Raondonneur Elite, my Rivendell Clem Smith Jr, and finally, my Masi Incanto Ti gravel bike.

These bikes are me, who I am and how I ride right now.

I prefer to ride metal.

I’m no weight weenie, seriously.

I lollygag a bit more.

I’m more concerned with smiles per hour than miles per hour.

I am the Unracer that would rather spend the entire day in the saddle than snag a KOM or, “beat yesterday”.

I’m the cyclist that’s honestly done almost all of it… not to be a grouch about it, but I’ve kinda “been there, done that”.

Let’s just ride our bikes, stop at the dam for a beer, or stop and do a #coffeeoutside session, take lots of pictures of our bikes, have good conversations, and try to solve the problems of the world, all while having a total blast on two wheels!

Look, this year has been a total blast. Thank you to everyone that reads, makes constructive comments, makes dumb comments, opines, pokes fun, and just takes part in what we do here at Bikerumor, it is greatly appreciated.

Ok, let’s get poppin’ onto my picks of the best bike goodies of 2022.

All Terrian Bike

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Tanglefoot Hardtack

The Tanglefoot Hardtack was a bike that I had a hard time giving back. It had a build that lined up with my bike build philosophy… where versatility, comfort, and fun rule the roost. It was supplied to me with USA-made Velocity Blunt SS wheels in the 27.5 flavor and clad in 2.6 tires, so it was super comfortable for long climbs, bombing fire roads, with the ability to be superbly shreddy on some chunky singletrack. You can pack it down and take it camping, or run errands around town. Hailing from rural Vermont, this bike is built to be used for anything.

When James at Tanglefoot Cycles builds you a bike, I imagine that it will feel like this one did for me, like it was built with you personally in mind, just for you. That’s how the Hardtack felt, like it was mine… but alas, it was not. After the review, I reluctantly packed it up and sent it back.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

I miss it.

Best Bike of 2022, The Tanglefoot Hardtack, hands down!

All Arounder Bike

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Rivendell Clem Smith Jr.

This might be against the rules. But, “fu@*k it, we’ll do it live!” Oh, and also, you should all buy one of these bikes. I purchased mine back in November of 2021 (drove 7 hours up to Walnut Creek, Ca. to pick it up) and I have to say that it rides like no other bike I have ever ridden. Seriously, the comfort level and ride quality are off the charts. I mean, look at that wheelbase and chainstay length, how can it not ride like a magic carpet? And the beautiful fork? Get outta here with that, it’s a one, two-punch of awesome!

If you don’t know who Grant Petersen is, or Rivendell Bicycle Works, do yourself a favor and check them out. It’s not just the bikes that are amazing at Riv, it’s Grant’s philosophy behind the “whats” and “whys” he does what he does, that make the bikes that much better.

This bike is one of my favorite bikes I’ve ever owned and a “go-to” for just about whatever I fancy at the moment.

I can’t imagine my stable without it… the Clem is my other choice for Best Bike in 2022!

Tires

EDITOR’S CHOICE: American Classic Kimberlite

What can I say, this tire performed well above my expectations. The American Classic Kimberlite is a durable, well-constructed tire that is really easy on the wallet. At $45 a tire, the cost for two tires can be the cost of one of the other brands. As I said in the review for these tires, “The puncture resistance, aesthetics, and tubeless compatibility are on par with its competitors. Sure, it’s a bit hefty, but is it really? Compared to other tires, it is very competitive in the weight category.”

The tire is still holding up and honestly, they still look new. I really like the Kimberlite and really recommend you give it a try.

My pick for the Best Tire of 2022!

Disc Brakes

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Paul Component Klampers

This pick may or may not be a surprise to you if you read my review of the Paul Components Klampers back in September. I really do like these brakes… a lot.

I like these brakes so much I am running them on my Krampus in the short pull version with the Paul Canti-Levers (review of this configuration coming soon). Stopping power on tap, with hydro brake modulation. Yeah, seriously.

I use them on my Masi Rando bike, and the Masi Incanto Ti that I just built up for the Dream Build Project I have been working on.

These disc brakes are handmade in the USA, completely serviceable, rebuildable, and easy to set up and maintain. The Klampers aren’t just about hype, they are about stopping your bicycle…really well. They just work and they work better than most/almost all of the brakes that I’ve ridden in the last 20 years. They modulate better than any other cable-actuated brake out there. Period. They are worth a go (or stop), you won’t be sorry.

Best Cable-Actuated Disc Brakes? Nay! The Paul Components Klampers are the Best Brakes of 2022!

Honorable Mention: Shimano Deore XT BR-M739 “V” Brakes

Yup, I said it. They still work and work superbly. In my opinion, Shimano’s Parallel Push design for their V Brakes is the best of their V Brake offerings from back in the day and may very well be the best rim brake ever developed. Hell, I used to race downhill with these brakes!

I use them on the Clem Smith Jr. just about every single day. They really are some of the best feeling, best working brakes to this very day. Period.

Wheels

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Mason X Hunt 650b Adventure Dynamo Disc wheelset

The Mason X Hunt 650b Adventure Wheelset has been, quite frankly, bomb-proof. I am not a small rider, and I have almost 2500 miles on this wheelset, I have zero plans to take them off of my Masi Rando bike. The wheelset has a combined weight of 2011 grams with tubeless tape installed but no valves. They also come with a SON Dynamo hub which is a high-quality, long-lasting dynamo hub, some say the best dynamo their is. The internal rim width is 25mm, and that seems to be perfect for a 650bx48mm tire.

The fact that you can get a high-quality, purpose-built, lightweight, strong, aluminum wheelset with a SON front dynamo hub for under $800 is one of the main reasons that it gets my pick for Best Wheelset of 2022!

Editor’s Choice: Sugar Wheel Works

Sugar Wheel Works is a custom wheel-building studio out of Portland Oregon. The last three personal wheelsets that I’ve purchased have been custom-built by Sugar Wheel Works. The first set was for my Krampus, the second for the Clem Smith Jr., and the most recent build was for my Masi Incanto Ti. The Sugar Crew is amazingly easy to deal with and to order your wheels through, making the ordering process seamless and fun. They have a lot of options to choose from if you want specifics or tell them what you want and how you ride and they can help you choose, using their experts to guide you through the process. They have top-notch customer service and a super speedy turnaround time.

And I will tell you, between the first two wheelsets I’ve had built, I have about 1500 miles combined on those wheels, and about 70 on my brand new Incanto wheelset. So far, they are perfect and true. They know what they are doing because that’s their specialty. I won’t go anywhere else for my custom-built wheels.

The best custom, hand-built wheels of 2022 come from Sugar Wheel Works!

Eyewear

EDITOR’S CHOICE: AARN Nylaarn Bio-Yellow Sports Sunglasses

I did a post of my first impressions of the AARN Nylaarn Sports Sunglasses a few weeks ago. I’m still wearing these glasses on every ride and liking them more and more as time goes on. They feel light on my face and don’t squeeze my temples. I love the durability of the titanium spring that is used in the springless hinges. And the best part, is I don’t look like a space traveler when I wear them.

Aaron does offer prescription lenses for these glasses as well. I can’t find my current prescription, so I need to take another eye exam. After that, I will be ordering the RX versions from Aaron and including that experience in my review of these great sunglasses.

Aaron makes these glasses in-house using his own, personally-built, American supply chain. These aren’t made by a huge eyewear company, they are made by Aaron right there in Philidelphia.

Look for my full review coming soon, stay tuned.

These sunglasses deserve to get the Best Riding Glasses of 2022!

Honorable Mention: Article One x Mission Workshop

I just got these Article One sunglasses a few months ago. The glasses are a part of their Active Collection and these particular pair are a collab with Mission Workshop. and have been wearing them off of the bike and while driving. I really like them so far. They are scoring really high in the “stylish” book for me. I really like the amber lens and the unique shape of the frames. They are really comfortable, even on long road trips where they are on my mug for 4-6 hours straight. Which I would expect from a pricy pair of sunglasses, but you never know. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised.

I will be doing a review of these as well.

Bike Bags

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Tunitas Carryall Basket Tote 137

The Tunitas Carryall Basket Tote 137 is made to fit perfectly into the Wald 137 basket. You simply unlatch the hook from the “D” ring and weave it through the basket to keep it from falling out. This allows for quick removal of the bag to take into the store (or wherever) with you. I have been using this bag almost daily on my Clem Smith for about 7 months. It’s such a great bag!

Tunitas Carryall is individually owned and operated by one person, Jessica Chan. It is run out of San Fransisco and she is an avid cyclist and knows what works when it comes to bags and bikes. Shop small and go visit her shop.

It’s design features and the ability to quickly remove it for off-the-bike toting, make the Tunitas Carryall Basket Tote an easy pick for the Best Bicycle Tote Bag of 2022!

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Tunitas Carry-all Basket Bag

My Tunitas Carryall Basket Bag X10 Cotton needs to share the spotlight here for Editor’s Choice. I use this bag for everything from s240’s, groceries, #coffeoutside, and working remotely…whatever I throw at it it takes in stride.

It has an expandable inner bag with a drawstring to let you stuff it to the brim of the roll-top when it’s fully unrolled. I have had it for over a year, and it still looks new. It’s a great bag and well deserved of sharing the spotlight with the Basket Tote.

I have to give another Editor’s Choice Award to Tunitas Carryall for their Basket Bag X10 Cotton. This is my favorite bag to stay in my Clems basket, making it ready for any adventure I can throw at it.

It makes my pick for Best Basket Bag in 2022!

Cycling Publication

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Calling In Sick Magazine

Every now and again you need a reminder that you are not the only soul that feels the way you do about certain things. When I first learned about the magazine, Calling In Sick with its tagline “Extreme Alternative Cycling Magazine” I was intrigued and thought this looks like it was a magazine about “me”, and promptly ordered issue #5. The cover didn’t have a guy decked out in spandex, wearing a $300 helmet, $400 shoes, on a $13,000 road bike, wearing space-man glasses, no, it had a guy jumping over a Rivendell Clem Smith Jr. on a skateboard… like a beacon, it called to me. I mean, it was right up my alley, and pretty punk rock. I was kinda sold before even reading it.

When I got the issue in the mail, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the pictures and writing. I found inside the pages, an irreverent, refreshing, albeit familiar mindset being expressed about bikes and bike culture. This magazine was my jam, I thought! It was a nice reminder that there were others out there that felt, and rode the way I did. I now eagerly await the next issue and pre-order when the time comes for the next.

In fact, I’m excited that my copy of issue #8 is on the way as we speak.

You can expand your cycling mind, with its witty, well-written, smart, and truthful content. I strongly and wholeheartedly recommend it. Its great cover photos and quality binding make it a great addition to any coffee table.

It for sure gets my pick for Best Cycling Publication of 2022, and beyond (I hope).

Bike Industry Movers, Shakers, and Status Quo Wreckers

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Industry Inclusivity

There is a welcoming movement in our industry that is long overdue and gaining momentum. The bike industry and some brands are finally starting to realize, that not everyone is built the same, nor do we ride the same. Like Shimano’s All Bodies on Bikes and SRAM’s Philly Bike Expo Inclusivity Scholarship. These types of efforts make a difference.

But, this isn’t obviously true for all brands though… as some brands aren’t quite there yet. But a lot are. It’s forward movement, and it’s a good thing.

Some big organizations are taking steps toward gender equality as well. For example, the recent news that a high school senior Hayley Yoslov, as part of a project for her “Ethics and Justice” class, put together a petition, Let Women Ride: Improve Gender Equality in the Sea Otter Classic.

The petition addressed the start times of the event’s races, which was that “every single women’s category (excluding pros) is starting behind every single men’s category”. Yoslov made the argument that the fact that every women’s race had to start behind every men’s race was hugely disruptive for female racers. She provided some data using 2021 race results. She states that female racers, aged 17 to 29, on average passed 78 men with the leaders needing to pass 218. Stating that there was “no reason why capable young women should be starting behind 70-year-old men”.

Life Time (the parent company that owns The Sea Otter Classic) took notice and changed the start times. That’s progress, forward progress.

That kind of change is overdue and congrats on this victory Hayley!

I believe that our goal as industry professionals is to encourage and build up with the hopes of getting everyone on a bike. Everyone. To be ambassadors for our sport while out on the bike, spreading goodwill and encouragement.

Anywho, I just wanted to take this opportunity to give kudos to all of the individuals and brands that are driving our industry to pay attention to inequality, correcting their stance on inclusivity, and making the effort to market to ALL of the cyclists.

If you know of any, celebrate them in the comments below!

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Hayley Yoslov, SRAM, Shimano, and all of the other brands and individuals that I am unaware of, or are quietly addressing and making change…you know who you are!

Tools & Accessories

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Wolf Tooth Components 6-Bit Hex Wrench

The Wolf Tooth Components 6-Bit Hex Wrench is a lifesaver. It’s danglin’ from my hip every day. It’s saved me numerous times. It’s slim, compact, well-thought-out, and a high-quality tool. It’s been a great addition to my keychain.

 I find it essential, along with my pocket knife, as an everyday-carry item. It has been at my side every day since April. It’s been durable and has a lot of “bang-for-your-buck” value. It’s got the quality and well-thought design I have come to expect from the peeps at Wolf Tooth Components.

The Editor’s Choice Award for Best Tool of 2022 goes to Wolf Tooth for this mighty little ass-kicker, companion of a tool.

Well, that’s it, my two cents, take it or leave it.

I do hope you enjoyed the read as much as I enjoyed writing it and sharing it with you.

Bikes, huh? They’re great.

Anywho, thanks again for reading, now go out and ride your bike!

The post Bikerumor Editor’s Choice Awards 2022 – Ron’s Most Favorite Bike Stuffs appeared first on Bikerumor.

Well, here we are, the Masi Bicycles Incanto Ti dream build is finished and ready to ride. Not sure if you remember, but back in late September, I had an idea to start a dream-build project. As a Brand Ambassador for Masi Bicycles, I reached out and requested the new Incanto Ti frameset to use as the platform for this build.

The Incanto Ti is Masi’s titanium gravel/allroad offering. The bike comes complete with a full Campy Ekar groupset, or as a frameset with a carbon Brunello gravel fork, headset, seat collar, and titanium seat post. The frameset proved to be the perfect canvas to “paint” my masterpiece of a “dream build”. And lucky you, you get to read about it here on Bikerumor.

The idea for the dream build was to use some componentry that might not be considered by most when doing a build like this…like, say mechanical brakes and a mullet drive train. And then ride it and review the parts in this application.

For the last couple o’ months, I reached out to brands to participate in the build and accumulated some awesome parts from some great brands. I think it turned out amazing!

The build has been done for a few days, and I’ve already squeaked out roughly 55+ miles on it so far… it rides great!

The Plan

I had a plan. And some criteria I wanted to meet. I wanted to:

1. Try to keep the complete bike (with pedals) under 20 lbs.
2. Be able to use my favorite mechanical disc brakes.
3. Build using zero carbon fiber parts (other than the fork).
4. Use 700c wheels.
5. Be comfortable for long days in the saddle.
6. Build a gravel bike with a mullet drive train (drop bar shifters = business up front, and mountain bike gearing = party in the rear).
7. Run (at least) a front dynamo light.

Well, I nailed number one! I weighed it… with pedals, the empty top tube bag, and the computer mount and it weighed in at 19.2 pounds. I was really pleased with that, considering it’s a 58cm frame, but I then realized that I left the tool roll on the bike when I weighed it, so now I’m really stoked!

The tool roll had a CO2 cartridge, the Spurcycle Ti tool kit, A DynaPlug, and Wolf Tooth Pack Pliers. I haven’t weighed the bike again, but I am sure without the tool roll mounted, it’ll drop slightly below the 19 pounds mark, I couldn’t ask for more as the finished weight exceeds any/all of my expectations.

Let’s go over the parts list.

The Parts

I decided that I am just going to be touching on the parts used for the build here, showing you how they look on the finished product. I will be doing a deep dive into all of these components as I ride and review them all.

OK, let’s get started!

The Cockpit

• In this case, the cockpit consists of the stem, bars and tape, and headset.
  • Stem: Paul Components, polished Boxcar Stem in 90mm x 15-degree rise
  • Bars: Curve Cycling, Walmer Bar, 500mm in width
  • Bar tape: Curve Cycling Walmer Bar Tape in black XL size (comes with the bars)
  • Headset: Masi Bicycles house branded Token sealed bearing (comes with Incanto frameset)

The Fork

The Masi Incanto Frameset comes with the Masi Brunello gravel fork, and there were zero issues with that fork. But I opted to run the new Rodeo Labs Spork 3.0 in its stead. The reasons for the swap? That, I will dive into during the review of the new Spork 3.0.

The Shift/brake levers

Velo Orange sent over the Sensah SRX Pro 1×11 shift/brake levers. They meet the required criteria that I set… they work with mechanical disc brakes and pull cable for 11-speed Shimano mountain bike rear derailleurs. In the words of the late, great Stan Lee, ‘Nuff said.

The Wheelset

The wheels for this build were custom-built by Sugar Wheel Works out of Portland, Oregon.

The build spec:

• Front hub: SON 28 Dynamo Disc Hub
• Rear hub: Velo Orange Disc Rear Hub
• Rims: Velocity Blunt SS, Polished
• Spokes: Sapim CX-Ray
• Nipples: Sapim

The Crankset

Located in San Diego, 5DEV was only an hour or so away from where I am located. So, after talking to Will Talbott we decided it would be cool to drive down and watch these prototype Gravel Cranks get cut on the CNC machine for me while I waited. These cranks use the SRAM 8-bolt mounting and weigh in at 20-30 grams lighter than their Trail/Enduro cranks.

Pedals

I chose the Shimano XTR pedals because, in my opinion, they are the best pedals out there. I still use the Shimano PD747 on my mountain bike and they are 20 years old with zero sign of quitting. The new XTR pedals have good mud clearance, are lightweight and look to be just as bombproof as they’ve always been.

To me, there was only one pedal choice for this build.

The Bottom Bracket

The BBInfinite BB86-PF-RD bottom bracket is a one-piece aluminum-bodied bottom bracket. I had never installed a press fit BB86 bottom bracket before. Press fitting the aluminum into a titanium shell was a bit daunting, but they sent along their Master Tool Set. That, with great instructions, made it pretty easy. And the cranks spin like buttah!

The Chainring

The Wolf Tooth 38t chainring (pictured above) is the round version. I just swapped it for the same size but with their Power Trac Elliptical 10% ovalized chainring, pictured in the first and last photo in this article.

The Rear Cassette

In keeping in line with goal number 6 of this build,  I chose to run full mountain bike gearing for this build, and in my experience (I’ve been running these on my mountain bikes for a few years), there is no beating the good ol’ Shimano 11-46 XT M8000 cassette.

I will say, that for some reason, I am not liking the 9-tooth jump from the 37t to the 46t. It’s a non-issue on my mountain bike. But, it might be too much for this bike. I might switch to an equivalent cassette that has a more even step to the bailout gear. I might even just run the 11-42 XT M8000 cassette, and call it a day.

The Rear Derailleur

Still staying with goal number 6, I chose the iconic Shimano XTR M9000, medium cage, rear derailleur. The Sensah SRX Pro shifters move it up and down the cassette without issue. I won’t be racing the bike, but keeping in line with goal number 1, I was pinching grams, and at 222 grams, the XTR fits the bill and was notably feathery in my hand.

The Brake rotors

Adding an additional splash of blue highlights down at the hub area, I chose to use the Hope Technology Road 6-Bolt floating rotors. 160mm on both front and rear. I was a little worried as I had heard clearance on the Klampers might be an issue with the rivets contacting the brake’s body. But, Travis at Paul said that may’ve been an issue with super early iterations of the Paul Klampers, but they have remedied that a while back.

They look great!

The Dynamo Light

To align with goal number 7, I chose the Sinewave Cycles Beacon 2 for the dynamo light. The Beacon 2 has quite a few refinements from the very popular prior-generation Beacon. I will be touching on that in my review of this little powerhouse of light.

The Tool Roll

The Tool Saddle Roll was provided by Road Runner Bags out of Los Angeles. I will be covering what’s going into this tool roll in the review. I’m working out some titles for the review:

1. “What’s in my Roll?”
2. “Let’s put this Tool in my Roll!”
3. “Rollio, Pollio”
4. “This is How I Roll”
5. “Roll, Roll, Roll your Roll”

The Computer Mount

K-Edge products are CNC’d, American-made (by them), well-designed products that add a little bling to your steed where you didn’t know you needed it. So, naturally, they were the company I chose to hold my Wahoo Elemnt ROAM on this dream build. So simple, strong, classy, and elegant. I love good bike parts!

The K-Edge Wahoo Aero ROAM Mount is the perfect piece of kit that puts the Incanto’s cockpit at the next level.

The Bell

What can I say about The Spurcycle Original Bell? It’s pretty much a simple, superbly engineered, beautiful, and functional piece of art for your bicycle. It is an essential part of your cockpit, especially if you ride multi-user trails. It’s better than yelling “LEFT” at everyone. It’s not obnoxious, but instead, pleasant to the ears and loud enough to penetrate most headphones. I don’t ride my bike without one, I have one on every single one of my bikes.

It’s made in the USA and has a guarantee for life.

The Handle Bar Bag

The handlebar bag is the Burrito Supreme Handlebar Bag by Road Runner Bags. I have yet to use it, but it sure looks nice on the bike, plus it is matchy-matchy with the Tool Saddle Roll.

The Tires

I will be reviewing and comparing two sets of tires on this bike. The Ultradynamico Rosé Race in the 700×42?? will be the first one up and mounted. So far it rides pretty well. The second is the Rene Herse Hurricane Ridge Endurance casing in 700×42. I will be swapping these in after putting a few hundy on the Ultras.

The Bottle Cages

When it came time to pick what cages I wanted to use, I chose the King Cage Titanium Cages. I requested three cages, as I will be using two mounted in the front triangle and one mounted under the down tube. These are hand-bent and welded in Durango, Colorado by Ron Anderson in his basement shop, with USA-sourced titanium tubing. They weigh in at a scant 25 grams each.

The Saddle

The Brooks B17 has been in production since 1866. It’s the only saddle I use… on all of my bikes. The B17 Special has the same leather construction as the regular B17, but comes with hand-hammered copper rivets, a distinctive side stamp, and hand-skived lower flaps. I chose the B17 Special Titanium version which has all of the other features as the B17 Special but comes with titanium rails and frame assembly… perfect for a dream build.

The Detail Bits and Finishing Touches

Both Wolf Tooth and Velo Orange, along with their bigger contributions, sent me some great little parts to handle the details and finishing touches of the build. Wolf Tooth sent over their Titanium Bottle Cage Bolts in the oil slick color, Seatpost Clamp in blue, with the upgraded gold Titanium Bolt Upgrade. They also sent their Alloy Bar End Plugs in blue anodized.

And for the finishing touch, Velo Orange sent me some of the Cable Cherries by Forrager Cycles, some really cool Brass Housing End Caps for both brake housing, and shift housing.

Well, I am stoked that the build is finished, and I’ve achieved all of my goals on this build. Thank you to Masi Bicycles and all of the brands that participated in this build.

Remember it’s OK to ride what you want, how you want. That’s it.

I’ve already started putting some miles on the bike and I am looking forward to getting back here and writing my reviews. Stay tuned!

Disclaimer: Ron is a Brand Ambassador for Masi Bicycles, which provided the frameset for Ron’s Dream Build Project. 

MasiBicycles.com

The post Dream Build: Masi Incanto Ti Allroad/Gravel appeared first on Bikerumor.

Snēk Cycling (as in sneak) is a company that flies under the radar yet has some coolest cycling accessories. They offer cycling accessories like handlebar bags, caps, arm/leg warmers, and, most recently, performance tees. All of the clothing and accessories from Snēk are crafted in the USA. We put their new bags, vitals case, and merino wool tee through the paces, and we’re pleasantly satisfied with the results — let’s start with the riding gear.

Snēk Merino Performance Tee:

It’s a T-shirt, right — How complicated can it be? You understand if you’ve ever tried to do a long ride or workout in a standard tee. After the heat kicks in, the feeling is like being smothered in a wet blanket with a wind blocker front. The Snēk Merino Performance Tee is a mix of tech and classic (wool), ending in a shirt that you can exercise in and not look like you’re going to invade Mars at the coffee shop afterward.

I found myself wearing the Snēk Merino Performance Tee more as a casual shirt than as riding gear, but that’s because it’s very comfy. The fit is somewhere in between casual and fitted, enough to not bulk around on the bike or be slouchy when wet. The merino wool fabric is soft and very forgiving for smelly mountain bikers. I enjoy the dark and earth-tone approach to the color pallet; it doesn’t scream athletic gear, and I like that.

Price: Snēk has a Kickstarter for its Snēk Merino Performance Tee HERE

Snēk Dry Creek Summer Cap

During the summer, I’m a cap guy; I like the extra bit of sweat absorption and the cooling effect when in the wind. The Snēk Dry Creek Summer Cap merges Polartech Delta fabric with a cool, micro-fiber sweatband. The combo is breathable, lightweight, and easy to fit under a helmet. The brim is short, broad, and crafted of non-plastic flexible material that doesn’t deform in the washer. The brim has enough elasticity that it doesn’t look like bacon after a few stashes in a jersey pocket — because that’s the worst.

It is highly recommended for those looking to keep a cool head on hot days and enjoy a classic cycling lid.

Price: $50

Snēk Stache and Stache Plus HandleBar bag

I’m a fan of a good handlebar bag, and the Snēk Stache and Stache Plus have ample room to carry your goods. To quote the Snēk site, “Just like a mustache is an accessory to the face, so is a handlebar bag to a bike.”

The Stache bags are made from 500D Cordura fabric paired with lightweight closed-cell foam keeping the water out and your goods dry. It attaches with velcro straps and is safe for carbon and bar tape.

The inside of the Stache bags has a padded slot for your phone, internal pockets for tools, and external pockets for nutrition or other gear. The 9″ length is long enough to carry a pocket pump, and the Plus has additional netting on the inside for divided storage.

The YKK waterproof zipper is a nice touch and hasn’t failed me yet, even when I’ve drastically overstuffed both bags.

I like the volume of the Plus but found myself using the original 1.4L version the most. Both are great options for those looking for a handlebar bag, plus the Cordura fabric is easy to wash and doesn’t hold onto strains from road grit.

The velcro is sturdy enough to take offroad and works excellent as extra mountain bike storage. It’s a mix of packing the essentials and extra for a long ride.

• Stache Bag Plus size: 9″x 4.5″x 4.5″Capacity: 2.3L
• Stache Bag size: 9″x 3.5″x 3.5″Capacity: 1.4L

Stache Original Bag Price: $50

Stache Plus Bag Price: $70

Snēk Vitals Case

The Snēk Vitals Case isn’t flashy, but it’s efficient. It’s crafted from thick nylon webbing, rugged and versatile. The 15.5 “x 3” size is small enough for a quick stash in the jersey pocket but large enough to strap to our bike when fully stuffed.

Snēk’ Vitals Case can stash a multi-tool, tire levers, Co2 inflator, tube, tire plug, and more. The foldable case is held together with a silicone band for easy over-packing and gives some extra grip when strapped to the bike.

Price: $40

For more information about Snēk check out https: Snekcycling.com

The post Snēk Cycling Offers Made in the USA Clothing & Accessories That Perform Beyond the Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

When it comes to riding bikes and bringing stuff along for the ride, it’s kinda my jam. I typically use both baskets and bags to bring stuff along for the ride. But sometimes, I need a strap instead of a bag to say, pick up or deliver a box to the post office that is too big for my assortment of bags. So, when I was asked to review the Austere Manufacturing Cam Straps, it seemed like a no-brainer. An olive-colored strap choice, with beautifully constructed CNC machined cam buckles that come in a plethora of color combinations… duh, send them over!

Austere Manufacturing is a small Pacific Northwest company that was founded by Uriel Eisen in 2020 with the only purpose being to produce high-performance buckles. A bag and backpack maker for years, Uriel was tired of bad plastic hardware that always either performed poorly or just didn’t last long.

While designing spacesuits for NASA (yeah, you read that right) Uriel said he noticed the large number of buckles that are needed in space exploration. This inspired him to go back to his old design sketches for the many years of softgoods design and get to work.

They launched with their CNC’d aluminum cam buckles for assorted straps. The aluminum cam buckles are CNC machined from solid billet aluminum. Their construction is simple, utilitarian, lightweight, and elegant. On top of being aesthetically pleasing, they are strong and work flawlessly.

A few months ago, when Uriel first reached out to me via my Instagram account to see if I was interested in finding out how good his straps were. I was a little hesitant, I mean sure, they looked amazing, but how do you review a strap and buckle? But my interest was piqued, so I agreed to give them a review.

As a side note: Cory also planned to give a few a test, for some more mountain bike-focused use cases over in Europe, as well! Read on for his thoughts & impressions, too.

The straps themselves come in 1″ and 3/4″ widths that are made of nylon webbing. The nylon webbing offers great abrasion resistance and strength. You can get the straps in 18″, 36″, and 48″ lengths. The colors available for the straps are Black, Coyote, and Ranger Green.

Sure, the cam buckles are really nice looking. But, underneath the good looks are real specs that not only show excellent attention to detail but that quality materials and real thought were put into their construction.

The pin that the stainless steel spring wraps around is actually titanium, for the ultimate in lightweight, strength, and corrosion resistance. This makes the weight of the cam buckle only 8.2 grams. Lightweight and strong, the cam buckle itself measures out at .98″ wide x 1.14″ long (24.9mmx29mm). Using aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium means that, unlike plastic, these buckles won’t slip, break or get brittle in the cold.

How Did They Perform?

My family is down to one car, so I take my bicycle to most places around town. Sometimes I need to pick up or send a parcel to the post office and oftentimes the boxes are too big for my bag. In the past, I would just use the basket (Wald 137) with a few bungee cords to get by.

But often, the box(s) won’t fit in either the bag or basket and bungees aren’t stable in these instances. The Cam Straps were more than sufficient and worked perfectly in these cases.

My wife and I go camping and work remotely in our Outback quite often. I use a small propane tank for all of my propane needs out on the trail and camping, but we also use it for the day trips to work remotely because we bring the stove to have a hot lunch right out of the back of our Subbie. It’s a nice kit.

Anywho, I like to transport the propane tank, for such excursions, up in my storage basket on the roof. I would normally use a solid rubber bungee cord, but it’s not ideal.

I found that using the Cam Straps instead, I could actually adjust how tight I can get it against the side walls of the basket, allowing it to be more stout and secure for transport. I felt better about it, as well.

The actual cams are very easy to use while not feeling cheap. The cam only rocks enough to get the strap through and over the past month has not developed any slop or feelings of it getting loose through continued use.

Insert Cory’s Notes:

For a slightly different perspective, I’ve been using the 3/4″ Austere Cam Straps mostly while moving mountain bikes around. Sure, I’ve also been strapping things down on a townie front rack like Ron, for securing odd packages inside the box of my cargo bike, and occasionally attaching stuff over a bikepacking bag. I even cantilevered a gravel bike off the rear rack of a commuter ebike, and rode it 4 hours on & off-road, with only the Austere straps & a fork mount holding it in place. It wasn’t pretty but it worked.

But my most common use is lashing the family mountain bikes inside of our low-budget Ford Transit adventure van.

A quick loop around a fork leg to the wheel well. Around the back of the seattube down to the floor. The straps are crazy strong & secure, keeping our whole family of mountain bikes from moving around, no matter what gravel or dirt roads we bounce down.

They make loading & unloading easier than ever, which translates to more time out on the trail.

OK, back to Ron now…

Details in Use

The burly teeth offer total engagement when biting down on the nylon strap. No matter how hard I pulled, I just couldn’t get it to slide. The way it is designed is that the more tension on the strap, the tighter the cam grabs the strap.

Just this morning, I had to help my wife take some stuff back to her office. There were 4 of the same-sized boxes that needed to go in the car. Instead of making four separate trips, I grabbed a Cam Strap and cinched them together, and blammo, I only had to make one trip…allowing me to work smarter, not harder.

In Conclusion

The Austere Manufacturing Cam Straps are a fantastic, solid, and well-made product. They are super strong without being oversized, over-engineered, or overly complex. It’s a simple design that just works and works very well. The cams themselves are easy to press but feel firm and unyielding, which left me feeling confident in the buckle’s ability to hold strong.

You can tell that a lot of thought and care went into the product throughout the process, from initial design to manufacturing. They are obviously super easy on the eyes, as well.

Although developed specifically for bikepacking, they aren’t just for cycling, these Cam Straps are good for everywhere you would need an adjustable strap with an incredibly strong, and light cam buckle that looks to be made for a lifetime of extreme usage.

Pricing and Options

Retail Pricing:

• 3/4″ Cam Straps: $24.92 ($22.50 for just the buckle)
• 1″ Cam Straps: $25.24 ($22.82 for just the buckle)

They have different Collections of colors for the buckles:

• 3/4″ Everyday Collection comes with black straps only, but the buckle colors are: Black, Slate Blue, Stealth Grey, Deep Blue, Coyote, Ranger Green/Orange, Orange, Sandstone/Robin’s Egg
• 1″ Everyday Collection comes with black straps only, but the buckle colors are: Black, Slate Blue, Stealth Grey, Deep Blue, Coyote
• 3/4″ Tactical Collection comes with Coyote or Ranger Green straps, and the buckle colors are: Ranger Green, Coyote, Stealth Grey, Coyote, Sandstone, Ranger Green/Coyote, Coyote/Ranger Green, and Ranger Green/Orange
• 3/4″ Pastel Color Collection comes with black straps only, and the buckle colors are: Powder blue, Purple, Powder blue/Purple, Powder Blue/Bright Green, Bright Green/Powder Blue, Bright Green/Purple, Purple/Powder Blue, Purple Bright Green,

For more info and to order your own Cam Strap, see the link below.

AustereManufacturing.com

The post These Austere Manufacturing Cam Straps Have Buckles Fit For NASA! appeared first on Bikerumor.

Vista, California’s Masi Bicycles probably isn’t the first brand that comes to mind when you think of titanium. But last year, they somewhat quietly released a new titanium all-road/gravel bike called the Incanto. Masi has a few other gravel bikes available in their lineup, but the Incanto is their first run at doing an all-road/gravel bike with a titanium frame. The Incanto has slowly been released throughout 2022 and sits alongside their other titanium offering and pure road machine, the Masi Titanio frameset.

The Incanto was actually set to launch back in 2020, but because of pandemic complications, the launch had numerous delays. Like other bicycle brands, Masi has done away with releasing bikes under designated “model years”, but the official launch year for the Incanto is 2022.

The Frameset

For full disclosure, I’m a brand ambassador for Masi Bicycles. So when I needed a starting point for my upcoming dream build project, I requested the Incanto frameset in 58cm. The frameset retails for $3299 and comes with Masi’s Brunello full carbon fork, a Masi branded Token cartridge bearing headset, a seat collar, and a house-branded Brev M titanium seat post. The complete Incanto Ti sells for $6499 with full Campy EKAR and Fulcrum Rapid Red DB 300 wheels.

The frame weighs in at 1842.7g (4lbs), without the fork, seat collar, water bottle bolts, or headset. The fork weighs 445g (15.7oz).

Frame Details

The Incanto Ti allroad, gravel frame is constructed from tig-welded butted 3al 2.5v titanium. It has a 41mm semi-integrated headtube. It uses a BB86 bottom bracket shell, a flat mount rear disc brake, a replaceable rear derailleur hanger, and is internal dropper post compatible. The rear is spaced at 12×142 using the included thru-axle.

The frame comes with subtle branding that Masi says is laser etched. The fork comes with low-key branding as well.

All of the frame’s laser-etched logos were a color called Blue Laser, making them look almost anodized.

The fork’s branding is also subtle. Masi’s Brunello Carbon gravel fork has flat black fork legs with gloss-black logos.

The Brunello carbon fork has internal brake routing, fender mounts, it uses flat disc brake mounts, and a 100 x 12mm included thru-axle.

The Brunello fork also has a full carbon 1.125-1.5″ tapered steer tube.

The seat post is the Masi house-branded Brev M. It’s titanium and measures 31.6 x 350mm long. Masi offers this post in two different offsets. For bike sizes 47cm to 51cm it comes in a 0mm offset. For bike sizes 54cm to 60cm it comes in a 10mm offset. This frame is 58cm, so the post shown is the 10mm offset.

Frame Geo Chart

On the Masi Bicycles website, it states that the Incanto frame has “semi-internal cable routing with custom configurations for 1x, 2x, or dropper post routing. The complete Campy EKAR group that is spec’d on the complete bike runs a single 40t front chainring. But it is equipped to run a front double if needed. Masi says that the frame is intended to run a 46t/30t, with the max being 50t/30t.

The complete Incanto comes with 40mm tires, and according to the website, the Incanto frame can fit a 700c x 45mm tire max. It looked like it could fit a bigger tire, so I spoke with the Product Manager for the Incanto, and he said there is actually room for a bigger tire… he didn’t say how much bigger, he just said “room for more”. How much tire and mud clearance will likely vary based on tire construction and inner rim width.

The Incanto frame comes with bottle bosses on both the down tube and the seat tube with additional bosses under the down tube and on the top tube as shown in the above photo.

Disclaimer: Ron is a Brand Ambassador for Masi Bicycles, which provided the frameset for Ron’s upcoming Dream Build Project. 

MasiBicycles.com

The post The Masi Incanto Puts Their Titanium Spin on Gravel & All-road Frame Construction appeared first on Bikerumor.

Back in early August, I wrote about my first impressions of the Rocky Mounts GuideRail 2″. It’s now been two months, a boatload of bike hauling and a 1900-mile round trip from Southern California to Bend Oregon and back with my Masi in the Guide Rail. 

In case you didn’t read my last piece on this rack, the Rocky Mounts Guide Rail replaced my personal 1Up HD Double. As I mentioned in that post, I love the aesthetic of a tray-type hitch rack, like the Guide Rail and my old 1Up HD Double.

There were some glaring issues that I just didn’t care for on my 1Up rack and thought it would be a good idea to review the Guide Rail, using my experience with the 1Up to compare and contrast along the way.

Let’s get started.

A Tiny Bit o’ History

Rocky Mounts was founded in 1993, by Bobby Noyes in Boulder Colorado. With both Yakima and Thule well established back in those days, his goal with Rocky Mounts was to make a rack system that would work with either Yakima’s round bars or Thules’ square load bars.

The first RockyMounts racks were made with material sourced from within the US; plastic from Boulder, trays from Indiana, paint from Lyons and packaging from Denver, all assembled in a local garage by hand. It wasn’t until 2005 that they started moving production overseas due to efficiency issues with USA vendors, claiming that now only roughly 2% of their products are still made in the USA.

Rocky Mounts is still owned by Bobby, they are a small, private company of approximately 14 employees, and as of 2019, they are now operating out of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Outta the Box

The rack came broken down into a pretty small package and was really simple to install, coming with very few small parts to deal with, clear instructions, and even the tools to get the installation done. I gave step-by-step assembly instructions in the other post.

How it performed

The Guide Rail has been extremely good and I have no complaints to date. I keep it on my car 98% of the time, as my one-car garage is pretty tight, and it’s not a compact rack to store. Having it on my car all of the time means that I have loaded and unloaded it as well as lowered and raised the rack countless times. I don’t see the brass-clad pivot points wearing out any time soon.

When the rack is tilted down 30 degrees, in the “access” position, there is no “click” or notch that it goes into, which is nice, and means you don’t have to reach down under the rack to release the spine handle to move it back up. You simply lift and it pops back into the “carry” or “storage” position.

Easy To Use

The Guide Rail’s ratchet release levers are so convenient. When they’re flat and in the “normal” mode, they ratchet and hold as they’re supposed to, but when pulled open 90 degrees, they release completely allowing total one-handed loading and removal of your bike. This is easily one of my favorite features.

When compared to my 1Up’s release levers, it’s a game changer. On the 1Up, there was no “one-handed” operation to move the load arms down off the bike. When you release the bike from the 1Up load arms, you have to use both hands to 1.) press the release lever, and 2.) move the load arm off of your bike’s wheel… wasn’t so bad for the first wheel.

I ride alone a lot, so trying to move the second load bar by myself led to the possibility of the bike toppling and hitting my car. In my case, could mean a locking grip tapping my rear window just right, and then blammo, I would need a new rear window.

The Guide Rail eliminates that worry by making removal of the both of the uprights from your wheels a one-handed operation – leaving your other hand free to support the bike.

Adjusting for Different Wheel Sizes

Each of the load arms has an adjustable bridge. The aluminum bridge can be adjusted to better suit wheel sizes from 20″ up to 700c wheels (note that many kids’ bikes will not fit since it bottoms out at 20″). It’s actually not totally necessary to adjust the bars every time you switch between riding a 29er and a 27.5″ bike, as each spot can accommodate two different wheel sizes each.

For example, the top spot can hold either a 29er (700c) or 27.5″ (650b), the second spot down can hold a 27.5″ (650b) or a 26″, and the third spot down, can hold a 24″ or 26″…and so on. That’s super convenient, as I am swapping what I ride almost every other day…one day the 29er MTB, the next day my 650b all-road bike.

To adjust the wheel bridge, it just takes a 6mm Allen wrench and a 13mm box wrench – which are included with the rack.

Attaching it to the Reciever

I really liked the way the Guide Rail attached to the actual hitch in all regards. First off, it fits into my receiver without any modifications, unlike the 1Up as mentioned in my other piece, where I needed to mod my receiver to fit the 1Up rack for my needs.

The Guide Rail although a smidge heavier, (49lbs compared to 1Up’s claimed 46), for some reason the Guide Rail felt lighter, so it seemed easier to attach and remove from the receiver.

The Guide Rail, when fully installed into my receiver, was still really close to the Outback’s bumper. But the Guide Rail still had enough room to close the rack into the storage position, and no modification was needed (unlike my 1Up). Obviously, this is an issue specific to my vehicle and hitch setup, but it is something that others may run into.

Once the Guide Rail’s hitch bar is slid into the receiver, it is held in the receiver and tightened in place by the proprietary hitch pin with the included 19mm tool. If the Guide Rails tool is misplaced, don’t fret… a good ol’, every day, 19mm wrench will do as well. There’s also a keyed lock on the end of the hitch pin to keep the hitch pin from unwanted removal.

As you can see in the photo above the Guide Rail’s trays are like stadium seating (not unlike the 1Up), allowing for asymmetric bike loading to avoid handlebar interference. Also, the trays are wide, accommodating a wheelbase as small as 36″ and up to 55″. This means, in most cases, you would have enough room to shift the bike and load arms left or right, further aiding in eliminating handlebar interference.

The Guide Rail carries two bikes and has a weight capacity of 60lbs per tray (120lbs total). The 2″ hitch version of the Guide Rail is expandable to three bikes with an add-on, moving the weight limit to 45lbs per tray.

The rack can accommodate 19mm road tires up to 3″ mountain bike tires with wheels sizes from 20″ up to 29″.

Locking the Bike to the Rack

Another benefit of the Guide Rail over my 1Up is the fact that the Guide Rail came with a lock. Not a typical small, integrated cable lock like most other racks, no. The Guide Rail came with a lock that reminded me of Kryptonite Locks’ New York Fahgettaboudit Chain… you know the one I’m talking about. The Guide Rail lock is a 10mm square link chain that Rocky Mounts says offers “best in class security”.

I have had many, many racks of all kinds in my day, and the ones that had integrated locks were, in my opinion, theft deterrents at best. When stopping for a post-ride lunch or frosty beverage, I would lock my bike to the rack with the provided cable, but would still park in a spot where I could eyeball my bike.

I don’t feel this way with the way Rocky Mounts designed their locking system, I feel that the Guide Rail’s locking system is not only a massive deterrent but is a real lock that really protects my bike from being stolen. The actual chain itself is separate from the rack, but the locking mechanism itself is integrated into the rack, in a discreet way.

The chain is relatively short, so you’ll have to make a lasso around one bike frame and possibly rear wheel, then thread it through the frame of the second bike and into the rack. It won’t protect all of the wheels, but it should keep someone from quickly swiping the bikes off the rack.

The key for the integrated lock is the same key that locks the hitch pin, so that’s nice…. expected sure, but nice. Another thing that’s nice, and really adds to the high-end aesthetics of the Guide Rail is the signature light blue anodized touch points. I really like the way it “pops” against the all-black color of the rack.

The low-key branding is really pleasant as well, again adding to the high-end aesthetics of the Guide Rail

The Release Mechanism

The Guide Rail’s spine handle is easy to access and really easy to pull to adjust the rack into its three different positions. There isn’t much else to say about this feature, because it is really just a no-brainer. It’s smooth and works perfectly because it’s designed well, making accessing the rear hatch of the Subaru pleasant and easy, whether loaded or unloaded with bikes.

I have no issues with keeping the Guide Rail on my car all of the time.

I talked about the 1Up’s rack release mechanism a little in the first post. This was my biggest pet peeve about my 1Up rack. This issue has been addressed on the new Equip-D models, but any of the non-Equip-D models still suffer from a tilt mechanism that can be difficult to operate.

I can spend a lot of time talking about this, but I will just say that when I first bought the 1Up, I was a little shocked that to release the rack and move it into any of the three positions, you had to reach down and manually disengage what they call the “Black Bar”. It sounds easy enough, but in my opinion and experience, it was more difficult than I would like it to be… even with the additional purchase of their EZ-Pull handle.

Perhaps the reason the release mechanism is so burley and hard to deal with, is that the 1Up HD Double is rated for off-road use. Regardless, the Guide Rail is much easier to use and I kept the 1Up rack OFF of my car as much as I could.

The additional “EZ-Pul” was added to make moving the 1Up rack easier.

In Conclusion

The Guide Rail, quite frankly, addresses every one of my perceived design shortcomings of the 1Up HD Double.

I find the Rocky Mounts Guide Rail to be an awesome rack system. I have used it for many miles and have put it through many cycles of the ol’ “up and down” finding that all of the joints and pivot points remain tight and still feel new showing no signs of wear yet.

It is aesthetically pleasing, as well as a very high-quality rack while not looking bulky behind the Outback. It’s easy to use, and perfect to carry and protect our precious steeds. Speaking of precious steeds… with the cost of bicycles these days, you want a well-made rack to carry them to the trailhead or the meeting spot for your Saturday club ride.

And with that said, the $850 price tag of the Guide Rail, although competitive, is not inexpensive. It’s tough to make an apples to apples comparison since the Guide Rail includes features that the 1Up HD does not, but if you were to add the EZ Pull and Chain Lock to a black 1Up HD Double, you’re looking at $947 before shipping. A better comparison would be the newer 1Up Equip-D Double which starts at $805 without a lock for the bikes. 1Up’s (much longer) chain lock would add another $165 to that for the 2-bike version.

For those looking for a tray-style rack that’s easy to use, I’d recommend the Rocky Mounts Guide Rail. It is a well-thought-out rack, with conscientious design features.

The Guide Rail comes with Rocky Mounts Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Rocky Mounts Guide Rail Features:

• Carries 2 bikes, up to 60 lbs per tray (120 lbs total). Expandable to 3 bikes up to 45 lbs per tray, with Add-On (2″ Only)
• Bike can be loaded asymmetrically to eliminate handlebar interference
• No contact with frame or fork, secures bicycle by contact with tires only
• Carries 19mm road tires up to 3.0” wide mountain bike tires, and diameters from 20” to 29”
• Compatible with bicycle wheelbases from 36” to 55”
• Folds flat against the vehicle, and tilts down 30 degrees to allow for hatch access
• Available for 1.25” and 2” Class II or higher hitch receivers
• Utilizes RockyMounts premium 3-axis anti-wobble system
• Included 10mm square link chain provides “best in class” security
• Not for use with fender-equipped bicycles
• Rack weight 49 lbs (shipping weight 61 lbs)
• Fit Memo- For cargo vans a fit check is required. Depending on hitch manufacturer, handlebar width, vehicle wheelbase, and accessories an 8″ Hitch Extension may be required for handlebars to clear the door.

RockyMounts.com

The post Rocky Mounts GuideRail review: smart details make for a better tray-style hitch rack appeared first on Bikerumor.

Bike lights have progressed leaps and bounds over the years. What you can get now from an all-in-one unit is everything you need to ride the road or romp around the dark single track. The Ravemen PR2400 is a prime example of such progress

The Ravemen PR2400 boasts a max of 2,400 lumens, powered by an 8,000mAh battery, with a screen that gives real-time battery life in different beam configurations. The light comes standard with a wireless auxiliary bar-mounted remote to control settings and switch on/off as needed – all for under $180.

The Ravemen PR2400 is the top offering in the Ravemen PR front-mounted series of lights. The PR2400 is jam-packed with lumens, but it also has some practical features that make it more than an on/off bike-mounted laser beam.

Features: Ravemen PR2400

• Anti-glare optical lens for road mode to reduce glare
• HiLo beam system for mountain bike mode, designed to mimic an automotive light with a far-reaching high beam and wide low beam for all-terrain riding.
• OLED real-time display shows the lights’ run time in various light configurations
• Wireless remote switch with easy adjustments on the handlebar
• Extended run time with an external battery source
• Type-C input and USB output to charge other devices
• The intelligent memory circuit will remember the last setting/brightness level mode when powered on
• Intelligent thermal management circuit to prevent overheating of the LED
• Quick release design for easy on/off
• Compatible with 31.8m and 35mm round handlebars

The Ravemen PR2400 boasts a fair amount of features, most standard with a light in the same space, though the execution of the fine details separates the PR2400 from the rest of the pack.

Specifications: Ravemen PR2400

• LED: 5 high-efficiency white LEDs
• Battery: 8000mAh/3.6V rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
• Dimensions: 105mm (L) x 51mm (W) x 36mm (H)
• Weight: 288g *light w/o mounts
• Construction: Front and main body are aluminum with Mil Type III Hard Coat
• Anodizing, the rear near the charging ports, and the handlebar mount are plastic.
• Price: $179.95

The construction of the Ravemen PR2400 is reasonably robust; the outer alloy shell and under-body cooling fins can take a beating whether you’re commuting or riding in the woods. The charging ports in the rear of the light have a light covering of rubber. Though the plug to protect the internals could be better and more profound, mainly because they don’t look replaceable.

The Ravemen has a built-in 8000mAh/3.6V rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, meaning it can charge additional devices using the rear USB port.

Install and pairing

The light mounts and handlebar-mounted control are very well designed and easy to install. The light mount is sturdy and handles the weight of the light well, mainly off-road.

Truthfully, the wireless hand control is effortless to pair and set up; I only need to install the battery, hit the pairing button (lower) once, and it is all systems go. The buttons are easy to reach while riding, and the rubber-band-style mount allows for dialing-in movement if needed.

Ride impressions: Ravemen PR2400

After a smooth install, I was ready to hit the trails after dark, something I used to do often but less now. On my first couple of rides, it took a bit to get used to the weight of the PR2400 on my bars; though the unit isn’t heavy, it is noticeable if you don’t often ride with a light.

On the ride to the trails, I could dive into the modes a bit more and explore the uses for each. There are eight modes, three of which are designed for mountain bike and off-road use.

I found myself on the road using the rapid-flashing mode as the daylight started to fade; on a full charge, this mode would last around 20 hours. Since I was unfamiliar with the light, I wanted to conserve as much power as possible.

On the rail trail to the forest, I switched to the road 300 mode, the others felt excessive, and I still planned on conserving battery. How did I know each mode, you ask? Well, they are very quickly noted on the LED screen. The two buttons on the light and the wireless controller toggle between road and Mountain bike modes.

The difference is on the road modes; only the center LED is illuminated, giving a direct beam with little flood lighting. All five LEDs are employed for the mountain bike modes, and the landscape is easier to see peripherally.

Approaching the single track, I switched to the mid-1200 mode, where I spent most of the ride. Ravemen claims in this mode, the light can run for 2.5 hours, which I found to be valid near the end of my ride. It’s nice to have the timer easy to see on the unit, giving you a real-time update of when you’re running low or should switch modes.

I spent some time riding in the High 2400 mode but mostly didn’t need it. I can see this mode being an asset in trails with less light pollution, but it seemed a bit too spot-heavy for my riding. It felt like an automotive light in the forest and had a blueish tint. I found myself favoring the mid mode for most riding, as it felt the most natural without a helmet-mounted light as a companion.

As the night rides went on, either on the commuter bike or mountain, I felt confident with the PR2400. I never found myself wanting more light on the trails, and on the ride, I would frequently get angry HighBeam flashes from oncoming drivers, but at the very least, they saw me coming.

Is the Ravemen PR2400 one of the best self-contained lights under $200?

I enjoyed my time on the PR2400; though I don’t find myself riding too much at night anymore, any ride would be happy to have this in their gear just in case. The price is minimal compared to the performance though there are some spots where I found myself wanting.

Though the mount is sturdy, I would like it more if it was balanced over the stem instead of on the side. Yes — this could interfere with head units, but I find lights with more mass and don’t require a battery feel more stable on the bike.

Bottom line, I was very impressed with the Ravemen PR2400, not only with the output (which seems more than 2400 lumens, IMO) but the ease of use. It’s easy to install/uninstall at the drop of a hat or in the parking lot before a ride, and the charging time is minimal.

I highly recommend the Ravemen PR2400 if you want a lot of light and aren’t ready to invest in a full-on trail helmet/bar combo. The Ravemen will get you rolling on the trails after dark and long after the other lights have run out of charge.

For more information check out: Ravemen.com

The post Ravemen PR2400 light review: self-contained headlight lets you charge the single track & your phone appeared first on Bikerumor.

Hey kids! Do you like bikes and bags? Yeah? Well, today is your lucky day, ’cause I would like to share my review of Tunitas Carryall’s Basket Tote 137 with you! I’m not sure if you saw it, but it was lurking in the background of my #coffeeoutside post… if you recall.

So, first, let me start by telling you that I love bikes and bags. I love everything they represent, like the freedom to carry just about whatever you want on your bike – like stuff for #coffeeoutside, groceries, your laptop and snacks for a mobile office session, or even some gear to camp on a quick S24O (sub-24-hour overnighter).

To me, bike bags can also represent shopping small. Patronizing the smaller companies that really think out of the box on design and ideology. I like the way they look, the materials and colors they use, and the inventive designs.

A lot of the bags I’ve bought in the past, I buy from some small cottage industry brands. Cottage industry brands are tiny brands that are generally operated solely by a single person. Some of these talented individuals would include Laura at Soul Run, Ely at Ruth Works SF, and Randi Jo at Randi Jo Fabrications, just to name a few.

It doesn’t hurt that all of the bag companies mentioned here are run by cyclists making stuff for cyclists… it’s like a cherry on an already delicious sundae.

Most recently, I’ve been fortunate to come across Tunitas Carryall. Another small company, individually owned and operated by cyclist Jessica Chan. Jessica has a degree in Industrial Design and worked as a designer for other companies for several years prior to starting her own gig. She says she loves cycling, nature, and designing and making quality goods. She also individually designs and sews everything herself in San Francisco, California.

Jessica says on the Tunitas Carryall website, that “Whether doing long rides, multi-day excursions, shredding trails, or simply cruising around town, I’ve got you covered for your everyday adventure.”

I discovered Tunitas Carryall in a print ad while reading a great little independent cycling magazine called Calling In Sick. The ad was for the Tunitas Carryall Basket Bag. I thought it looked really nice and was reasonably priced, so I bought it for my Rivendell Clem Smith Jr.

I think it is one of the best basket bags out there. But, there was one feature I thought it lacked; it wasn’t great for use off of the bike, to carry with you in the store.

I run a lot of errands to the grocery store on my Clem and there are many occasions when I can’t carry all of the individual items I just bought, out to my bike. So, I end up using a grocery bag to carry it all out there, only to empty the contents of the bag into my bike bag or place the grocery bag directly into my bike bag. Both of these options waste the grocery bag, adding another unnecessary item to the trash or landfill.

But then Jessica announced a new bag…

In comes the Tunitas Basket Tote 137!

The Basket Tote 137 is a classic zippered tote, made to fit perfectly in the Wald 137 size basket. It uses a snap hook at one end of the included handles. To easily attach and remove the Basket Tote 137 from your basket, simply unlatch the snap hook, allowing you to fish the adjustable handle through the basket. This kept the bag in place for me whether it was fully loaded or just had a few light things in it. Simple.

The bag has two large side pockets for the other items you’d like to stuff inside. These side pockets are deep enough to hold a Mini U-lock, which I always keep on one side.

I also carry in these side pockets, the occasional bandana for hotter rides, my North St. Ankle Strap for commutes in long pants, and the occasional water bottle for times that I will be away from the bike for a while, or when I bring the bag on a road trip in the car.

It’s a super versatile bag that isn’t limited to being used only on a bicycle.

The inside of the bag also sports some more pockets for additional organization. I usually keep my phone, laptop charger, and any other little thing I want to keep either out of sight or could be at risk of falling out.

In the picture above you see my Macbook Air “kind of” fitting in the Basket Tote. It doesn’t fit flat to the bottom, but instead with one side lifted and resting on the side of the basket. This isn’t the fault of the bag, it’s the tapered design of the Wald baskets that causes this. If there were items under my laptop, lifting it a little, it would fit flat, but in an empty-ish bag, it sits higher on one end. Not a big deal for me, I bring my laptop on my bike quite often for remote work sessions.

Let’s take it Shopping

You can see in the picture above that the Tote 137 doesn’t really look like a bike bag while walking around the store.

The way this bag is designed makes for a seamless on/off bike scenario. The straps are adjustable enough to be able to sling it up on your shoulder if that works better for you. Remember, I said it was versatile?

Here’s a quick view of the features of the Tunitas Basket Tote 137

-Made to fit in the classic Wald 137 basket
-Double zippered on the main compartment
-Side pockets
-Exterior zippered pocket
-Interior organization pockets
-Adjustable length handles
-Padded foam bottom
– D-rings for a shoulder strap (shoulder strap sold separately)

In Conclusion

The Tunitas Basket Tote 137 is a great little bag that I would recommend to anyone, like me, that likes to ride their bike to run errands and needs a bag to shop with while off the bike. I like the fact that it can be used for all kinds of applications that call for a well-built, quality tote to carry your goods or sundries. It is not just for the bike either. My wife used it to go work remotely by the pool, carrying everything she needed. That’s the kind of versatility that rocks my world.

I’ve used this tote countless times in the time that I’ve had it, and it’s worth mentioning that it now stays on my Clem 24/7. Cheers and congrats to Jessica for designing, and building such great, high-quality products like the Basket Tote 137.  They are reasonably priced and look to be built with a quality that will last for a very long time.

I’ll be coming back for more!

Retail: $125

-Dimensions: 13”w x 8.5”d x 14”h, 18.5” for the main zipper opening.
-1000D Cordura exterior, with 420d packcloth liner, and YKK zippers.

Check out all of Jessica’s creations by hitting the link below!

TunitasCarryAll.com

The post Need a grab & go bike bag? The Tunitas Carryall Basket Tote 137 hauls it all appeared first on Bikerumor.

I’m sure most of you know Stanley. Founded in 1913 by inventor William Stanley Jr, they invented the steel, vacuum insulated bottle that we all still use in some configuration to this day.

They’ve also been a staple of our childhood, finding them everywhere in our memories, from watching dad or gramps go to work with that iconic vacuum-insulated thermos under his arm, to steel ice chests at picnics and camping trips.

I’m a big fan of Stanley and have many of their products that I use all of the time. Including a Stanley product that I bought a few years ago that I really enjoy and use it to have a stellar #coffeeoutside experience, the Stanley Adventure All-in-One Coffee System 17oz.

I mostly use this when I’m camping as it’s perfect for my wife and me, but occasionally I’ll use it on the bike when my wife joins me. My normal coffee outside kit, which I like to use when going solo, is a small kit made by Cafflano. They have two different kits that I really like and use a lot… but with those, you have to bring a separate vessel to heat the water in. I will review those at a different time. You’ll like ’em, they’re pretty cool and I’ve never seen anyone else use ’em.

But, on with this review!

The Adventure All-In-One Coffee System

The “stand-out” feature of this kit is that it is truly all-in-one. You have everything you need (sans the heat source) in a relatively small package. The unit, as it’s pictured above is 4.1″ wide by 11.2″ tall and made of 18/8 stainless steel,  and is PBA-free.

You can carry the water that you’ll use to make the coffee in the included double-wall, vacuum-insulated bottle. With the bottle being insulated, that means that you can use it to pack out any leftover coffee as well. I often bring a separate Klean Kanteen bottle for extra water.

Boom….convenience.

Too bad the whole kit is just a smidge too big to fit in standard a water bottle cage–though something like a Salsa EXP Anything cage with some straps would do the trick.

The kit has the pot to boil the water and the French press. The lid of the kit splits into two cups, and the screw-on bottle stopper is the small dry storage vessel for the storage of the fresh coffee grounds of your liking.

The only other thing you need to bring with this kit is the heat source. Which I carry in style, with my Ruth Works handmade waxed canvas bag.

How it performs

The pot is pretty large and will boil enough water to fill the two included cups, two times each.

I will say that the handle needs to be in the “out” position before heating the pot….which you would think was pretty obvious, but some of the reviews of the item say otherwise.

I’ve had the kit for almost three years, I’ve used it countless times and the plastic buttons that release the handle are as good as they were when the item was new.

The French press has a fine stainless steel screen, but not super fine. So a medium, to medium/course grind I find works best when using it.

I did try it with an espresso grind once (because I was desperate), and a lot of the grinds slipped through the screen making for a pretty gnarly, grind-filled, “cowboy” type cup o’ joe… gooood mornin’!

The pot also has a nice spout to help keep the pours mess-free. There is just a lot of nice, attention to detail in this kit.

I’ve really enjoyed my Stanley Adventure All-In-One System. It has served me very well, countless times over the last few years.

I would recommend it to anyone that takes part in bicycle-supported coffee outside adventures, or anyone who is “out and about” quite often and would benefit from a do-it-all kit that can make a really good cup o’ joe.

This kit, Stanley says, will keep your stuff hot for 15 hours, cold for 13 hours, or iced for whopping 48 hours!

Retail and Detail

Retail: $50

Weight: 1.7 lb.

Dimensions: 4.1L x 4W x 11.2H in

17-ounce capacity

This kit and all of Stanley’s products come with their Built For Life, lifetime warranty.

Check out all of the cool items at the Stanley link below.

Stanley1913.com

The post Review: Stanley’s Adventure All-In-One Coffee System gives you better #coffeeoutside! appeared first on Bikerumor.

A few weeks ago, I was offered the opportunity to review the new Rocky Mounts GuideRail 2″ but was reluctant to do so. The reason being, I already owned a 1Up Super Duty Double that I bought about a year ago, and they were, what seemed to be, very similar racks.

I loved the simple aesthetic of both the GuideRail and the 1Up SD Double… I mean, that’s what attracted me to the 1Up originally.

But, how they look and how they hold the bikes, are where the similarities between the two end…

I don’t feel like I’ve had the GuideRail long enough to do a review yet, but I did want to give you guys my first thoughts on the install and some of the glaring initial differences between the 1Up and the GuideRail.

Unboxing

My first thought when it arrived and I grabbed it from the UPS Driver, was that it was surprisingly light. The box was small, so I thought there were going to be a lot of actual rack parts to assemble.

And I was right, there were quite a few actual rack pieces that needed to go together, but taking the rack down to smaller parts is what kept the box small and easy to ship. So kudos, Rocky Mounts.

When I opened the small parts box, I was pleasantly surprised at the small number of parts that were in the box. The assembly directions were really good. To be frank, the design and assembly of the rack were so intuitive that I didn’t really need the directions to assemble anything… it seemed really obvious how it was going to go together. But I followed the directions regardless.

Upon removing parts from the box, I found myself inspecting for any plastic parts. For me, being a 1Up bike rack owner, “no plastic” was always a big deal. But as I looked at everything that I was unpacking, I noticed that very, very few of the parts Rocky Mounts used in the design of this rack, were plastic. There is a lot of attention to detail, all the way down to the brass washers used on all of the pivot areas.

Installation

The rack came in basically 5 main pieces (not including small parts), the hitch/tray base or “spine”, and four “half trays”. The installation was so simple and intuitive. I slid the spine into the 2″ receiver and used the blue spine handle to lower the rack into the “use” position. Real quick… all of the “touch points” on the rack are anodized blue, that’s a nice touch and I think really adds to the overall aesthetics of the rack.

You slide the trays onto the spine from both ends, having them meet in the middle and line up with the mounting holes. Once they are lined up, you take the “wheel tray bar” and line that up with the holes in the wheel tray.

After mounting the wheel tray bar, secure the two half-wheel trays to the spine. I am just showing the outer wheels tray here, but you would repeat this process twice for the inner and outer wheel trays of the rack.

My Initial Thoughts

Remember, this isn’t the review of this rack, I just wanted to give you the skinny on how I received it and the installation of the rack. But I also have some initial thoughts, below.

I drive a 2008 Subaru Outback named Shiela. The way the actual tow hitch/receiver is mounted to my Subaru is horrible. It sits really low, and very far under the rear bumper. That being said, the 1Up Super Duty Double would not fit and fold all the way up without modification.

It would, however, fit in the factory hole of my receiver with the rack folded down to the first slot, which 1Up calls the “extra clearance” position.

In their defense, they say that this “extra clearance” position is for larger bumpers or spare tires that get in the way of folding it to the “storage” position.

On the Subaru, the “extra clearance” position put the rack too far out and was aesthetically unpleasing for me. So, I opted to modify my receiver and drill an extra hole. When it’s closed in the “storage” position and pulled all the way out in the slot on the rack… it’s still really close.

The Rocky Mounts GuideRail is still a really close fit… but, I didn’t have to modify anything and the receiver lock is in the proper factory hole on the receiver.

I’ll get into way more detail on the review, obvi, but still need some real time with the GuideRail. I will say that one of the glaring differences between the Rocky Mounts GuideRail and my 1Up Super Douty Double is the ratcheted load arm releases.

Being able to release and move the load arms up or down with one hand is, not to be dramatic, kind of a game changer and one thing that you can’t do with the 1Up rack.

You can see in the picture above that the release levers can be pulled out to a 90-degree position keeping the ratcheting mechanism disengaged allowing for free “up” or “down” movement of the load arms.

When the release levers are closed they ratchet again. You can also easily just push in the levers to do fine adjustments to the load arms. When engaged the ratcheting feels positive and strong.

The last thing I will touch on is the GuideRails spine handle. The absolute ease of using the spine handle to raise into the “storage” position and lower the rack for access to the rear of the Outback or load the bikes is a real treat.

And honestly, a real welcome after dealing with 1Up’s mechanism… but we’ll touch on that and other big differences between the two racks that, upon first glance, look very, very similar.

I don’t want to spoil it…so, stay tuned!

RockyMounts.com

The post First impressions: New Rocky Mounts GuideRail tray-style hitch rack appeared first on Bikerumor.

No matter what kind of cyclist you are—roadie, mountain biker, cyclocross superstar, gravel grinder, city commuter, or completely new rider—you’re going to need a bike pump. It’s a non-negotiable. And while it seems like a simple piece of equipment, a pump can make or break your ride.

Before you head out the door for a ride, you’re going to want to ensure that your tires are pumped to the right pressure -PSI- for the type of ride that you’re doing. There are thousands of options when it comes to buying a bike pump, from mini-pumps with digital gauges to high-pressure bike pumps with extra chambers for mounting a tubeless tire to the rim on the first try.

Here, we’re simplifying the list to bring you the options for the best bicycle floor pump to suit your riding needs:

 Best Overall: Silca Pista Plus 

When it comes to bike pumps, longtime cyclists generally agree that the Silca Pista Plus Floor Pump is almost impossible to beat. While Silca has some other products in their lineup, the company is really all about the perfect bike pump and has been for more than a century. Silca is also committed to not making major changes to their products, meaning that replacement parts will continue to work on your decades-old pump. That’s part of the reason for the hefty price tag: Buy one, and you have a pump for life.

Originally designed in 1962, the Silca Pista Plus is made with steel for the barrel, and ash wood for the highly polished handle. The plunger is leather, which actually works better over time rather than wearing out like the rubber ones used on every other brand. The gauge is accurate to two percent (meaning it may read one or two PSI high or low, but is incredibly close to the mark), and the hose has an integrated Schrader chuck with an easy-to-install Presta adapter. The rubber hose itself is just the right length for getting to any awkwardly positioned valve, but not so much extra that it feels cumbersome.

Bonus: The Silca Pista Plus is essentially a work of art, thanks to its steel finish and wooden handle, so even if you live in a small space and your bike gear is on display, it will add to your ambiance rather than take away from it.

PROS: Will last for decades, looks great in your garage
CONS: Steep price tag for a basic pump
MSRP: $165

Best Pump with Digital Gauge: Topeak Joe Blow Pro Digital Floor Pump

Let’s face it. Some bike pump gauges are just hard to read. Small dials packed with numbers at the bottom of the pump don’t exactly make it easy. That’s why pumps like the Topeak JoeBlow Pro Digital put the gauge up top, where it’s closer to your eyes, and easier to see while pumping. Better still, this one includes an easy-to-read digital readout with accuraccy of +/- 1 psi.

Featuring the legendary JoeBlow durability, the Pro Digital will inflate up to 200 psi, and includes their SmartHead DX3 with an air release button and extra long hose.

If you’re looking for a floor pump with a digital gauge built in, it’s hard to go wrong here. Want to add a digital gauge to a pump you already have? Then check out the Topeak Shuttle Gauge!

PROS: Easy to read, accurate pressures, durable, rebuildable.
CONS: Digital guage makes it more expensive, better suited to higher pressure/lower volume tires.
MSRP: $134.95

 Best Budget: AerGun X-1000 Bike Pump 

If you’re a new cyclist just looking for the most basic pump around, you can’t beat the price and simplicity of the AerGun X-1000 Bike Pump. With more than 2,230 positive reviews on Amazon, it’s easily one of the most popular pumps on the market, and it’s been available for years with no changes to the design whatsoever—including, sadly, that neon green color.

Surprisingly, where this pump gets the highest marks is its ease of use. Compared to some of the higher-end models, the valve attachment (stick it onto your tube’s valve and flip the tab into the upright position to lock it on) is the easiest to snap on and take off. It even comes with an attachment for inflating soccer balls and volleyballs, so if you have an active family, this is a great tool to have on hand.

If you just need the occasional top off before a commute or want something simple for your kids to use, the AerGun X-1000’s proven itself around one of our tester’s garage. The only downside is that if it does break (for instance, if you have a puppy who loves the hose on pumps), it’s not easy to replace any of the parts.

PROS: Perfect beginner pump, low price
CONS: Parts not replaceable, short-ish hose
MSRP: $28

 Best Family Pump: Topeak Joe Blow Sport 3 

While it’s not quite as cheap as the AerGun or as stylized as the Silca, the Joe Blow Sport 3 will never let you down. It’s the third iteration of the classic Joe Blow Sport pump, and Bikerumor staffers are still using versions one and two of the pump with no problems. It’s basic, but it’ll work for years and withstand any amount of abuse you can hurl at it.

This pump excels when it comes to rider-focused, thoughtful design. The pressure gauge is easy to read, since it’s a full three inches in diameter, making it ideal for those cyclists who need reading glasses (but prefer to not bring them into the garage just to pump tires pre-ride).

The handle on the Joe Blow Sport 3 pump is lightly padded and wider for a more comfortable grip. If you’re pumping up tires for the whole family, this one will be the easiest on your hands. The simplicity of the pump head -the TwinHead DX- makes swapping between inflating Schrader or Presta valves a literal snap. These little details add up to one deluxe pump.

Because it’s made by Topeak, the Joe Blow 3 is covered under warranty for two years, plus there are parts kits available if you need to replace a gasket at some point. (And like the AerGun, it also has the sports ball inflation attachment.)

PROS: Ergonomic design, easy to read gauge, great price
CONS: Occasional reports of difficulty connecting to valve or gauge not reading, short-ish hose length
MSRP: $50

 Best for Seating Tubeless Tires: Bontrager TLR Flash Charger 

The Bontrager TLR Flash Charger is designed to help mountain bikers and gravel riders who’ve made the switch to tubeless tires – tires that don’t have tubes, just tape and sealant inside to create a self-sealing setup that’s less likely to puncture mid-ride.

Tubeless tires require a large amount of air pressure to “seat” onto the rim, and that pressure is hard to create with a regular floor pump. The Bontrager TLR Flash Charger allows the user to pressurize a second chamber to 160psi, then release it all at once to instantly seat tires. And it works smooth as silk, whether you have your wheel sitting on the ground or up in the stand, thanks to an extra-long rubber hose.

The Bontrager TLR Flash Charger got an update in 2020 to make it easier to use for seating tubeless tires and even for pumping up your kid’s soccer ball. It upgraded to a digital one so you know exactly what pressure you’re pumping to – and it’s incredibly easy to read thanks to big numbers placed at the top of the barrel. Ultra-wide handles not only make pumping easier, they also hold a ball inflation needle so you’re not searching for it 10 minutes before soccer practice!

So far, it’s handily seated road, gravel, cyclocross, and mountain bike tires for the Bikerumor crew and hasn’t failed once. And when you’re not using the pump for tubeless tires, there’s a switch you can flip from Charge to Inflate so it stops filling the chamber and just pumps up your tire like every other floor pump on this list.

PROS: Easily seats tubeless tires, easy-to-read digital gauge, extra-long hose
CONS: High price tag, overkill if not seating tubeless tires
MSRP: $129

 Best MTB / Gravel / Cyclocross Pump: SKS Twenty-Niner Floor Pump 

It looks simple -and utterly nineties- but the SKS TwentyNiner pump is actually one of the best pumps for filling big tires quickly and to a very specific PSI. The larger barrel blasts more air into your tubes and tires with each pump. (It can even help seat tubeless tires with relative ease, though not quite as easily as Bontrager’s booster-style pump.)

Because it’s designed primarily for mountain bike tires that will run lower tire pressures, the gauge only goes up to 73 PSI (versus road pumps that typically go to 160 PSI or more…we’ll explain why in the FAQ at bottom). That makes it easier to see exactly what pressure you’re at, and the narrow range makes it more accurate.

The PSI readings below 30 are some of the most accurate we’ve seen on a regular pump, which is why the SKS TwentyNiner pump is also our pick for gravel bikes and cyclocross, where many riders are running 22-37 PSI. At those ranges, even 0.5 PSI can make a big difference, so having a pump that works well in that range is key.

PROS: Fast fill up on tires, easy to adjust to specific lower pressures
CONS: Floor-level gauge makes it harder to read, won’t work for road bikes
MSRP: $50

 Best Travel Pump: Lezyne CNC Travel Floor Drive 

Lezyne’s CNC Travel Floor Drive is a compact yet fully featured floor pump. The alloy construction is lightweight, but super tough…and small enough to stuff in a carry-on, duffel bag, or large backpack. We keep ours in our van so it’s always on hand at the trailhead.

The CNC Travel Floor Drive uses their inline threaded valve attachment that reverses to work with Shrader or Presta valves, and has a pressure release button to make it easier to remove without also pulling out your tubeless valve core. (Pro Tip: Make sure your valve cores are tightened really well before using a thread-on pump head like this) Or just pop on the included Speed Chuck and simply press it onto any Presta valve stem, then pull it off to release…no screwing around (pun intended) with the threaded attachment.

We also like the steel version, which is only $65 and has a more comfortable wood handle, but it’s been discontinued. You can still find it online for now…

PROS: Tiny size, high-quality build, 160psi max
CONS: Taller riders really have to lean down to use it, thread-on valve chuck can sometimes pull valve cores out when you unthread it
MSRP: $99

 Best Fat Bike / MTB Plus Pump: Birzman Maha Fatty 

If you think cyclocrossers are specific about their tire pressure, Fat Bike riders make them look downright flippant. With tires up to 5″ wide, many riders are running tire pressures under 8psi, sometimes dramatically lower.

At that level, even 0.25psi changes can make a big difference in ride quality, traction, and performance. So you need a pump that has a narrow-band gauge that’s designed to give you way more accurate control over the air pressure. The Birzman Maha Fatty is that pump.

With a max 25psi pressure gauge and big numbers, it makes it easy to get it just right, and the wider barrel moves more air to help you inflate those massive tires more quickly. It works great for “Plus” sized mountain bike tires, too, which typically run PSI in the teens.

Two additional features set the Birzman Maha Fatty apart: An angled barrel makes pumping more ergonomic, and their patented Snap-It Apogee valve head securely attaches with a quick twist, then pulls right off for F1-level pit stop speeds.

PROS: Angled design, low-pressure specific gauge perfect for many mountain bikers, quick-attach pump head
CONS: Might not go high enough for every MTB rider
MSRP: $65

How to choose the best bike pump

Secure Attachment and Ease of Use: These are the most important features of a bike pump. A pump that’s hard to attach to a valve isn’t just a hassle, it can also damage your valve. If you need to maneuver your valve around and are pushing and pulling it in all directions, that can potentially weaken the seal between the valve and the rest of the tube and cause a leak…or break it altogether. And if the attachment isn’t secure, you’ll get halfway through pumping a tire only to have the inflator pop off.

Speed of Inflation: Most pumps should take under a minute to fully inflate a tire, and topping off a tube that’s just a little soft should only take a few pumps. Still, you don’t generally want a pump that could inflate a tire to 100 PSI in just three pumps, because most riders will prefer to dial in their tire pressure to a specific PSI.

Stability & Comfort (how comfortable is it to use): The most important part of the pump when it comes to comfort is the handle. The wider it is, the easier it will be to use, though it becomes more cumbersome to store. And funny enough, height matters. Some pumps will be optimal for taller people, while some are better designed for short riders. (This generally won’t be a major issue, and most pumps are very similar in height, just something to be aware of.)

Durability: Typically, pumps made with metal bodies –both floor and mini-pump models- will be more durable than their plastic counterparts. They’ll also be easier to fix if a small part does break. Even handle material can play a role in a pump’s longevity: The cheaper models with lightweight plastic handlebars are prone to feeling as though they’re bending as you pump and can even break, which can be dangerous if it happens mid-pump. All of the pumps we’ve recommended here have handles that have lasted through thousands of pumps (often in a hurry) and have proven to be solid.

Value/Price: Opt for brands you’ve heard of, and don’t get the cheapest option out there. There are thousands of cheap knockoffs available online, but often, they have small pieces that will break or become detached at a critical moment—or the description won’t be clear and you’ll end up with a pump that only inflates Schrader valves when you’re running Presta tubes. Established brands like Silca, Lezyne, Birzman, Topeak, Bontrager, Specialized and Blackburn will generally have replacement parts and good warranties in place if something goes wrong. That’s also why they tend to be a bit pricier than no-name brands, but often, it’s worth paying more for a pump that can last a long time.

Frequently Asked Questions about floor pumps

Why do some gauges go so high? Does anyone pump to 220psi???

Well, some track racers do pump their tires to 160psi or more, but that’s only because they are riding on a perfectly smooth surface in a controlled environment. Regular riding outdoors, on real roads and trails, needs far less tire pressure.

Recently, and especially with tubeless tires becoming the norm, it’s been proven that lower tire pressures yield more comfort, better traction, and improved efficiency. Yep, lower really is better. Brands like Silca have even made guides to help you find your best tire pressure.

So, why do floor pump gauges read so high? Because they need to account for the pressure spikes that occur when pumping. Next time you’re inflating your tire, notice how the needle spikes really high on each stroke. The gauge needs to have room for those spikes or it can be damaged, which means it will no longer be accurate. Specifically, they need 20-30% extra in order to safely cover the higher pressures generated during your pump stroke.

Using the Birzman Fatty as an example, if you’re regularly pumping your mountain bike tires to 22psi, then you need to upgrade to a pump whose gauge has a higher maximum pressure. That’s why we recommend the SKS pump for mountain bikes and gravel bikes even though you’re (hopefully) never going to pump either anywhere near 70psi!

Do you need a floor pump and a mini pump?

When you’re out on your ride, if you do end up with a flat tire you’re going to want a mini-bike pump on hand to fix your flat. But while a mini-pump can inflate your tires in a pinch, they generally require around 300 pumps just to get your tire to the point where it can roll you home safely. You wouldn’t want to use one of those every day, and you would never achieve optimal tire pressure using a mini-pump to inflate a tire. That’s why you also need a floor pump, which can top off your tires with just a few pumps.

What tire pressure should I run?

It depends on the type of bike and tire you’re running. All bike tires will have a recommended PSI range listed on their sidewalls, so try to stay within that range. For most road riders, pumping tires to between 80 and 90 PSI is a good starting point, while mountain bikers will run anywhere from 18 to 35 PSI depending on the rider’s weight and the terrain.

How often do you need to pump up tires?

Don’t wait for your tire to be flat before you add air to it. This reporter made that mistake early in her cycling career and ended up crashing in a road race because her tire was so low on air that it collapsed in a corner and the whole bike followed. Before you head out on any ride, do a quick test of your tires by pressing your thumb down on the center of the tire. If you’re riding a road bike, they should feel hard, like an apple. If you’re riding a mountain bike, you’re looking for a bit more give, similar to what you would feel if you pressed on an orange. You may only need to add air every few days, but check each time you ride to save yourself from an untimely flat.

Will these bike pumps work on all bikes?

Assuming the bike’s tube has a Schrader or Presta valve and your pump has the Presta or Schrader attachment (most have both), you’re in luck. Schrader valves tend to be found on most inexpensive bike models—the kind you get at department stores—and are also found on car tires. Presta valves are found on most higher-end bike models and road bikes. Schrader valves are the wider of the two, while Presta valves are thinner and have a small nut at the top that needs to be unscrewed before you can inflate the tube.

How long does a bike pump last?

This depends a lot on the bike pump that you buy: Some are made with cheap plastic and you’ll be lucky to get a season of use out of them, while others—typically made with aluminum or steel—can last for decades. But assuming you buy one from this list of bike pump reviews and nothing untoward happens to it (like a puppy gnawing on the hose), a pump should last for a long time.

What features should you look for in a floor pump?

If you’re looking for a pump at a bike shop and can’t find one from our list above, keep an eye out for these key features that make up a solid floor pump:

• Sturdy handle
• Metal body
• Gauge that’s easy to read
• Long enough hose (should go over handle and at least halfway down the side of the pump)
• Wide enough base for your feet to hold it in place
• Pump head that’s easy to use for the type of valve that you have on your tubes (Presta or Schrader, or a combination pump head if you regularly inflate both) and that locks onto the valve (either by screwing on or snapping on)
• Replaceable parts in case of breaks (or a warranty)

It’s OK to ask the store if you can test the pump before you buy, just to see how the pump head works and how the actual pumping motion feels. They should have plenty of bikes there for you to test it on!

What’s the difference between a High Pressure pump and High Volume bike pump?

High-Pressure pumps are designed to inflate tires to higher pressures, usually road bike tires. They move less air per stroke, but they remain easy to pump even at really high pressures.

High Volume pumps move more air to fill high volume tires. They remain easy to pump up to about 30-35psi, but then become exponentially harder with each additional push. So, they’ll fill big tires fast, but you’d get a serious workout trying to inflate a road bike tire.

This, along with getting a gauge that’s as narrowly ranged as appropriate for the intended use, is why we recommend different pumps for different types of bikes. Yes, you could just buy one of the budget or mid-range items, but more advanced riders will want to eke out every marginal gain they can by having finer control over their tire pressure.

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For all of the benefits consumer-direct sales offer, there are still some drawbacks. Namely, not being able to see the bikes in person and relying on a virtual sales experience may leave riders hesitant to hit ‘buy’. Are you getting the right size? The right bike for your riding style? Will you be able to dial in the suspension properly? Those are a few of the reasons Alchemy is introducing their DARE: Golden Package. Did we mention it includes free beer and burritos?

Welcome to AREC

Offered with the purchase of any new Alchemy bike, the DARE: Golden Package is a way to experience their new home of Golden, Colorado while getting your new bike dialed in perfectly–by the same folks that designed & built it. In this case, DARE stands for Discover Alchemy’s Ride Experience.

The news of Alchemy’s new Rider-Direct sales experience comes on the heels of the opening of their brand new facility in Golden, Colorado. The AREC, or Alchemy Ride Experience Center is not only the hub for the DARE: Golden program, but it also is Alchemy’s new home including both titanium and carbon frame manufacturing.

Ride straight from Alchemy HQ

Previously located in Southeast Denver, part of Alchemy’s relocation to Golden was to be closer to some of the area’s best mountain bike trails. Now located just outside of downtown Golden, you can ride directly from AREC to multiple trails including the Apex trail system–which goes hand in hand with their new sales concept.

All-new manufacturing facility

After 12 years in their previous location, Alchemy wanted a purpose-built facility that was more efficient for their production process. In spite of the fact that the new building is 4,000 sq ft. less than their previous spot, Alchemy tells us that they were able to design their new space as it was being built. That resulted in a more efficient layout tailor-made for their unique needs including a bigger showroom.

A bicycle-themed hangout spot

That new showroom is particularly important to the new sales concept. As Alchemy owner and founder Ryan Cannizzaro told us, “This is a dream of ours. We really wanted to create this experience center. It was meant to be a place where cyclists can just hang out.”

By all accounts, they have succeeded in making it a great place to hang out. Whether pre- or post-ride, I found myself lounging in the airy showroom, gazing out of the floor-to-ceiling windows or the open garage doors at the surrounding foothills. The showroom is stocked with options for coffee and other hydration options. Yes, there’s plenty of beer as well–even on tap. In fact, Alchemy is working with one of their local partners, Over Yonder Brewing Company, to possibly create Alchemy’s own beer to keep on tap.

World-class hotel

In order to make the DARE program a true experience, Alchemy has partnered with other local companies as well. Just down the road (literally), you’ll find the Origin Red Rocks Hotel. Included with the DARE: Golden package is one night’s stay in the casual, rock & roll, and MTB-themed hotel. In case you’re wondering just what kind of place the Origin is–it has its own taqueria/beer garden called Nomad, and offers free loaner yoga kits or Alchemy mountain bikes to guests wanting to check out the nearby trails (there’s also bike storage and a repair station). I stay in a lot of hotels, and the Origin Red Rocks ranks among my favorites, worldwide.

Exceptional food & beverage

A highlight of the trip was a very special dinner prepared for us by Nomad’s Chef Pablo Aya. This is not your typical boring restaurant inside a hotel. I can also confirm that this was the first time I’ve ever eaten crickets, and they were delicious. If they’re in season (Chef mentioned they are imported from a market in Oaxaca), you can try them for yourself in the taco de chapulines. The food straight off the Nomad menu was excellent as well – just know that they’re not joking with the “big M.F. nachos.” Bring a friend.

For breakfast, Launch Coffee Company is stepping up with a free breakfast burrito and amazing coffee. Located directly across the street from the Origin Hotel, Launch is a very short walk from AREC, where breakfast was delivered.

When the rides are done for the day, you can head across the street from the Origin again, but this time to Over Yonder Brewing. The DARE Package includes a $20 gift card to OYB, which should buy a few rounds. Based on reviews from others at the event, their beers were excellent. For the gluten-challenged among us, they also had a GF beer on tap from another local brewery, Holidaily. Honestly, it was one of the best GF beers I’ve had, and I’m kicking myself for not buying some to take home.

Getting the right bike through DARE: Golden

It’s easy to get lost in the accommodations and delicious food & beverage options, but the real reason for the DARE: Golden experience is the bike, right? That much is clear with the way the package is laid out. Alchemy will now offer a 30-day no-questions-asked refund for anyone who buys any new Alchemy bike, regardless if you take advantage DARE: Golden package or not. But for those that do travel to Golden (on your own dime), you’ll receive an on-site bike demo, a basic or complete bike fit, and an Alchemy gift bag to get you started.

It’s probably important to note that while we had the chance to ride the Arktos full suspension MTB while out in Golden, this program is open to any of Alchemy’s bikes – which includes road, gravel, and even a US-made carbon e-gravel bike!

The idea is that the Alchemy team can make sure you’re on the right size bike, the right build in the case of bikes like the Arktos which includes three different travel options and multiple configurations, and that the bike is properly set up. Once you’re fit to your new bike, you can head out directly from AREC to the trails either by yourself, or on a lunch ride with the Alchemy staff. Bottom line is that Alchemy really wants you to be happy with your new bike, and they’re offering an unprecedented level of service to make sure that’s the case.

Perhaps more importantly, you’re getting a chance to interact and meet the team responsible for your new bike. As a result, you’ll be welcomed into the Alchemy family, and leave with a smile on your face and miles in your legs.

Getting your new bike home

You will also be able to leave with your new bike if you choose. If you’d rather have Alchemy take care of the logistics, you’ll have the option of them shipping the bike with the usual carriers or having the bike hand-delivered via Kitzuma or Beeline bikes. If you choose the latter, the bike will show up fully assembled at your place, which preserves any adjustments made at AREC. All of these shipping options are included in the price of the bike.

At this point, it seems that we should reiterate that the DARE: Golden Package is free. There is no extra charge for Alchemy to put you up in the Origin, feed you breakfast, and pour some beers post-ride. You’ll need to get yourself to Golden, and you’ll likely need to cover some meals yourself, and you might even want to extend your stay (did I mention they have a shuttle service to the Red Rocks Amphitheater?). Still, it seems like Alchemy is really doing something special with their DARE: Golden Package, which you’ll have to experience to believe.

DARE: Golden Package Details/process:

• The program begins in July. The exact date is TBD, but hopefully by the 15th
• Bike must be paid in full upon purchase online, phone, or in-store
• DARE: Golden webpage will be completed soon, at which point a popup at purchase will give the option to include and/or visit the landing page for more info
• Hotel rooms will be booked directly (either on the web or the hotel will reach out directly; details TBD) for a two-day period on or after the scheduled date that the bike will be ready (subject to availability)
• Buyers of in-stock bikes can schedule pickup immediately or any time after, based on hotel availability
• If the bike is not taken home by the buyer, the chosen shipping process will begin immediately after visit

alchemybikes.com

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I wasn’t going to do this review.

I didn’t feel I needed to. I wasn’t asked to. I mean, the Wolf Tooth 6-Bit Hex Wrench is a great little tool, and I’ve had it on my keychain since I got it, but I haven’t had to use it yet while on the bike, and I work for a bicycle publication, so I just chalked it up that I wasn’t going to review it. At the same time, after having it for a few months, the tool has become one of those things that I felt I would need the second I didn’t have it. So, I always have it.

After a few emergency needs, while moving over the last three weeks, I’ve decided that maybe a review of this little tool was in order. So here ya go!

The Review

I received the 6-Bit Hex Wrench from Dan and Kurt of Wolf Tooth Components while visiting them at the Sea Otter Classic last April. It was a slim, compact, well-thought-out, and high-quality tool, as you would expect from Wolf Tooth. I thought it would be a good addition to my keychain.

As mentioned above, while moving to a new place, this tool legit saved my butt no less than 3 times…. not from dying or anything super serious, just from wasting time and energy. Trust me, it felt like a big deal when it happened.

Save #1

On the first day of moving, I found myself stuck at the bottom of my new stairway with a huge, heavy refrigerator. I had three additional people taking time out of their day to help me take this beast up the stairs. It ends up being a very tight fit only 1″ away from the wall on each side. We were going to need to remove the handles from the fridge and the banisters from the stairway wall to make this work. I didn’t have my tools moved over yet…so, I used this little tool’s T10 Torx bit to remove and replace the refrigerator handles. Then I used the #2 Phillips head from the tool to remove and replace the banisters. Boom, problem solved!

When the tool was in the “L” configuration (as in the photo above), it had plenty of leverage to tighten the banisters back onto the wall… I didn’t need to go back later with a full-sized screwdriver to tighten the screws further.

In this particular situation, if I didn’t have that tool, I would’ve had to have all of the people helping with the refrigerator, wait at the new house, while I drove back to the old house to pick up a screwdriver and Torx driver, wasting precious time.

Save #2

This time, I needed to pull a set screw from an item so I could take it with me to the new house. Again, I was sans tools (you’d think I’d learned by now) as they were at the new house while I was at the old. The set screw was a tiny hex head. I pulled the multitool off of the optional keychain attachment and pulled the smallest hex bit that was in there out…voila, it fit! Again, a small crisis was averted.

Save #3

This next butt saver didn’t feel quite as urgent as the fridge moment but was still a time saver. This time, I was at the old house (now my tools are at the new house) and needed to remove some candle holders and the drywall anchors from the wall. I used the Phillips #2 bit again and in the “L” configuration had plenty of leverage to get the job done.

Again, not as dire of a situation as the fridge, but still saved me a fair amount of time and kept me from driving back and forth.

Some More Details

This tool is a slim, and seemingly very strong multi-tool. It has 11 functions (2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8mm hex; flat head #3.5 and Phillips #2 screwdrivers; and T10 and T25 Torx-compatible bits). These functions are perfect for the common bike repair as well as some everyday uses away from the bike as sampled in this review.

It has six hex bits that are stored inside the handle. These hex bits fit into the end of a swivel head that uses a ball detent. Wolf Tooth claims that the ball detent swivel head was tested to over 40Nm of torque. Also, according to Wolf Tooth, the bits are ED-coated and corrosion-resistant. This tool is pretty small, making it easy to fit into a tool wrap, jersey pocket, or in your regular ol’ trouser pocket if you don’t want it danglin’ from your waist area.

As mentioned above, the tool has an optional keyring attachment to fit on any keychain for use away from the bike. The 6-Bit Hex Bit Wrench is locked shut while the keyring is attached. According to Wolf Tooth, this prevents it from opening while you’re on the go. So far that has worked… it’s been on my hip since early April with no issues.

You just press the end of the keyring attachment separating it from the keyring. When I finished with it, the handle cover rotates closed with a satisfying, solid magnetized feel to it. Then you can just click it back onto the keyring attachment to lock it shut while dangling from your keys.

Conclusion

The Wolf tooth 6-bit Multi-Tool has been a bit of a life saver for me as of late. I find it essential, along with my pocket knife, as an everyday-carry item. It has been at my side every day since April. It looks to be durable and has a lot of “bang-for-your-buck” value. It’s got the quality and well-thought design I have come to expect from the peeps at Wolf Tooth Components.

If you are looking for an EDC multi-tool that is well designed, well constructed, that’s light, and has just the essentials with no fluff or gimmicks, then I’d for sure recommend picking one up.

Not to mention it’s made in the US of A.

Weight: 53g | 62g with Keychain

Material: 7075-T6 aluminum

Retail: $47.95 (with keychain), $39.95 (without keychain)

Check out more from Wolf Tooth here.

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The Oxford dictionary defines the word Honcho as: “a leader; the person in charge”. This tire fits that description to a “T”. The Teravail Honcho really does “take charge” of just about every trail type and trail condition, lending itself to be a very versatile tire.

For my uses, specifically on the trails in and around Southern California, the Honcho did rule the roost… handling a myriad of trail conditions very well, proving itself an awesome, all-rounder-type tire. I know, I know…I used the word “versatile”. Sue me. For me, I like my bikes to do many things well, ya know, be versatile. Try to remember, for most of the John Q. Bike Public, versatility is our friend.

But, I get that sometimes we need ultra-specific components for our bikes, especially if you are competing at a high level. But that isn’t all of us, is it? Nay, that isn’t most of us.

What You Get and What it Costs:

The Honcho comes in 27.5″ and 29″ wheel sizes and 2.4″ and 2.6″ widths in both wheel sizes. You can also get the tire in either a black wall or a tan wall with either a “durable” or “light and supple” sidewall casing in both colors. On their website, the retail pricing is $70 for the “light and supple” casing and $80 for the “durable” casing.

Teravail went ahead and sent us a pair of the Honchos in the 29 x 2.6″ flavor with the tan walls (duh!) and the “light and supple” casing.

Both tires weighed in at 961 grams each… which I consider to be a moderate weight for this type/size of tire.

How’d They Mount up?

I installed them on my 2021 Surly Krampus which is, as you see, fully rigid *gasp*. And, I’ll tell ya what, these are some handsome tires in the tan wall!

The installation was tight but easy enough without tools, to mount to my pair of Spank wheels. A little Windex on the bead and some compressed air, and BLAMO…beads seated. I have a custom set of wheels, with the Spank Oozy Trail 345 in the front and the Spank Vibracore in the rear, both have an internal width of 30mm, and at 34psi, the Honcho measured out true to size at 2.6! I’m a Clydesdale and after a few little rides, I found my preferred psi on this particular tire is 34psi (rear), and 30psi (front).

How’d they Ride?

Luckily, some of the trails I ride are close enough to my house that I can ride to the ride. When I do that, it includes a decent chunk of paved roads. While on the pavement, I noticed that the tires rolled extremely well with very little noise. The same goes for hardpack, these tires are lightning-fast, super grippy, and roll extremely well on all of the hardpack trails around my area.

I didn’t have the chance to ride the tires in wet, muddy conditions, or over any wet, muddy roots while shredding loamy singletrack in the forest. Those conditions are very hard to find where I live and ride… and I have to drive quite a distance to find a damn loamy forest of any kind. I did, however, want to highlight a ride on one of my favorite trails. I purposely chose this trail for its loose, shallow, ball-bearing type surface over the hard-packed foundation. This trail can feel like riding over little marbles if you are on the wrong tires. The trail is actually a forest service road, not too technical, although severely rutted in some sections. It is an out-and-back, with a 4-mile climb followed by going back down that climb. It’s not a long ride but a good place to get an idea of what a tire can or can’t do.

I know this trail well. I also knew that this trail, in particular, would push the Honcho to its breaking point. These extreme conditions do that to every tire I’ve ridden on this trail in the last 20+ years…some way worse than others and some were downright scary, never to be used here again. And to be fair…I did find the Honchos washing out a smidge, but it was gradual and controllable-ish. At slower speeds it would’ve been fine…but I was pushing the tires a little to find that sweet spot, without killing myself.

It wasn’t a complete failure of traction, not even close. I do feel like the results would be worse where the loose over the hard was deeper and would fill the space between the lugs, packing up the tread a bit, causing the tires to completely wash out.

I had a lot more traction with the Honchos on this trail than would’ve imagined I’d have. It was like the loose was shallow enough for the tall side lugs (4mm) to break through and grab the hardpack underneath to hold on. I was pleasantly surprised when I reached the bottom and didn’t have to give any blood to the trail gods.

I’ve put close to 500 miles on the Honchos in a variety of different scenarios, conditions, and terrains. I’ve found that they are an excellent all-around tire. I found that they climbed technical, rutted climbs well – the Honchos really owned a particular climb on a 12-mile loop trail that I do multiple times a month, over and over again. That climb has about 50 (or so) feet of a root section where the roots are so exposed that, if you aren’t careful to pick your line well, you can bottom out your 30t chainring.

But, every time I charged it, it just wasn’t an issue with these tires. There is another little, brutal climb on this loop that is called “Little Wicked”. It’s about 80 feet long, loose moon dust over a severely rutted 22% grade. The Honchos never once lost traction or surefootedness. I just picked my line and charged it… with only my legs slowing me down on that mother of a climb.

In Conclusion

I would classify the Teravail Honcho as a tire that has a moderately aggressive tread that lends itself to being a great all-around tire that can do just about everything you ask of it. In my experience, it excelled at the soft, the not-so-soft, the hardpack, the rocky, the rooty, and even most (not all) of the loose over hardpack in my area. And look, I prayed pretty hard to the trail gods for some rain so I could try it in some of our post-rain-hero-dirt… but, alas, I was denied. Sorry about that. I wanted to say that I really loved these tires, I will ride these until they wear out and put another set of Honchos on the Krampus.

Check out more tire offerings at Teravail!

The post Review: Teravail Honcho…the Head Tire in Charge! appeared first on Bikerumor.

This might be the easiest review I’ve ever had to write: Just go buy a set of Pocket Pedals’ platform adapters, thank me later.

Pocket Pedals slip over your road or mountain bike SPD pedals and turn them into grippy platform pedals in about 5 seconds. They work brilliantly, they’re affordable, and they solve a problem…what’s not to like?

At the moment, they’re only offered for Shimano’s SPD pedals, but that includes the SPD mountain bike pedals and SPD-SL road bike pedals. They work on either, with different cutouts on either side, you only need one set of Pocket Pedals platforms to work for either road or mountain bikes.

The notches fit perfectly on the pedals’ clips, keeping them from rotating or sliding off. This makes them very secure, enough so to stand and hammer to catch a light or just nab that city limits sprint away from your kids.

I’ve been testing them for a couple months on both road and MTB pedals, and I love them. I leave them on one of my bikes that fit my daughter, and she loves it, too. Then when I need that bike, I just pop them off and clip in like normal.

And this is one of the big benefits – one bike, multiple uses or riders. Need to run to the store and not clickety clack down the aisles in cycling shoes? Just pop these on and wear your regular kicks.

If I add anything else here, I’m wasting words. Just buy them. They’re only €30 and come in black or red. They’ll have other versions soon, and they’re working on U.S. distribution. For now, they ship from Europe, where they’re made.

PocketPedals.com

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A few years ago, Saris launched a new tray-style rack to go head-to-head with the likes of 1up. The Saris MTR was a great start, but there were a few details that kept it from being a 1up-killer. 

Now, Saris is back with a new take on the tray-Style rack called the MHS, or Modular Hitch System. As you’d imagine from the name, the rack is modular and there are future additions in the works. But for now, how is it at just hauling bikes? 

We loaded up some gravel and mountain bikes and hit the road to find out.  

Choose your Base (and how many bikes)

For now, the modularity of the MHS is limited to bike hauling, but there are still some options to consider. There are three different bases – the 1+1, the 2+1, and the 3+1 Base Hitches. Note that the 1+1 is the only Base that is compatible with 1 1/4″ hitches – the other two are 2″ only. 

As the names would imply, there are options when it comes to the amount of bikes each one can carry. Since you buy the Receiver and each tray separately, you could just buy the 2+1 and run a single tray to carry only one bike. Similarly, you could buy the 3+1 Base and run only two trays to space them out for maximum room between bikes. Conversely, the 3+1 Base can actually run up to four bike trays with the addition of the +1 add-on tray. 

+1 Add-On Tray

That +1 in the name is for the MHS Duo 1-bike Add-on Tray which is compatible with all three bases. This tray is different from the rest and has a riser that places it at a near 45º angle to the base. This lifts the outer bike and allows for two bikes to be spaced closer together without extending the rack out super far. 

Hatch Access

Having tried both the 2+1 and the 3+1, there are pluses and minuses to each setup. According to Saris only the 1+1 and 2+1 Bases with up to two bike trays are compatible with a swing-away adapter. The 2+1 is also short enough that it will clear the upper hatch on my Honda Element when the rack is in the fully upright position. 

Truthfully, this isn’t as big a deal as it sounds since the MHS tilt mechanism has an intermediate step between up and down which angles the rack at about 45° and allows the longer Three Bike Receiver to also clear the upper hatch. 

The rack can also tilt down to the ground to allow access to full-size trunk hatches, even with the bikes on the rack. 

Rack Weight

The 2+1 is also lighter, and the 1+1 lighter still. so if you only plan on carrying 1-3 bikes and want the lightest rack, it’s worth considering. Saris doesn’t give the weight of each Base, but the 3+1 Base weighs in at 30lbs, and the trays themselves also weigh 30lbs 24lbs each. So a three-bike rack with the 3+1 Base would be about 102lbs total. 

The weight of the rack is an interesting consideration though. It’s heavy when fully assembled. But the trays also quickly come off with a single security bolt, so if you’re removing the rack to store in your garage, it’s actually easier to move around and store than almost any other rack. Instead of moving and storing the whole assembly, you’re working with single pieces which can be stashed in different places if storage is an issue. If you don’t leave your rack on your vehicle year-round, this seems like a very intriguing feature. 

Modular means more options in the future

That modularity also makes it surprisingly quick to add or remove bike trays. This is probably less important for most people in terms of carrying bikes, but with the additional accessories Saris is teasing, it could be very quick and easy to swap out a bike tray for a cargo platform or some other accessory depending on the trip. 

Changes from the MTR

When it comes to the MHS Duo bike trays themselves, most of what we loved from the MTR is still here with a few improvements. Compared to a 1up, both the tilt and ratchet mechanisms on the Saris are just simply easier to use. The large silver latch allows you to open and operate each cradle with one hand while you balance a bike with the other. Also, thanks to the front wheel block, you start by loading the bike in the tray and clamping down the front wheel. At that point, the bike is captured and you don’t have to worry about stabilizing it while you move to the back. This is an especially useful feature when loading heavy bikes when parked on an incline. 

Saris also went and added tool-free adjustment of the wheel support arches. This makes it a lot easier to quickly change the rack for different-sized bike wheels – important if you ride with your kids as often as you do with friends. Rear wheel straps add extra insurance against losing a bike just in case a tire blows out while driving (I’ve seen it happen – the tire blowout part, not losing a bike on this style rack). 

Bike Transport

Each MHS Duo tray is capable of carrying bikes with 20-29″ wheels, and with tires up to a full 5″ wide. Also, the trays will fit bikes with wheelbases up to 53″ long. Each tray is rated to carry bikes up to 60lbs, though the actual weight capacity of the system will depend on what base you choose and how many bikes you’re running. One and two-bike racks can use the full 60lb rating of each tray. But on the 3+1 base, only the first two positions can hold up to 60lbs–the third and add-on positions are then limited to 35lbs for a total of 190lbs.

Loading each bike is very easy, with the uprights able to pivot all the way to the ground if needed. You may have to play around with different wheel size options on the uprights to dial it in, but once you get it right, the bikes seem quite secure.

However, one thing the MHS lost from the MTR is the “stadium tiered” bike trays. That means there’s more of a chance for interference between wide handlebars of similar-sized mountain bikes. So far, we’ve had no issue running gravel bikes of different sizes with very wide handlebars, but it is possible to get wide mountain bike handlebars to touch.

Because of the front wheel block, it’s harder to simply reposition the bike in the tray so the bars clear, but it can be done. Just loosen the front support of one of the bikes slightly, and tighten the rear. That pushes the bike forward enough that the bars clear. It’s not as secure as if you were using the front wheel block, but it’s just as secure as other racks of this type – more so when you add in the rear wheel strap. 

It seems that a tiered bike position would have a positive effect on the mountain bike positioning and the departure angle of the rack, but Saris says the non-tiered design was done to allow for future accessories like a cargo platform.

How does the MHS perform off-road?

For most driving, this will be a non-issue as it’s plenty high to clear any curbs on a normal vehicle. But if you plan to do any off-roading, you may find yourself putting the durability of the handle protector to the test. 

That was the case for us as we tackled some off-road trails in Alabama in my friend’s new Subaru Outback Wilderness. To be fair, we were driving through some deep holes while fully flexing the suspension. And despite getting completely packed with mud, the handle protector did its job. After knocking out the mud and rinsing it off, the tilt handle still works perfectly.

Hit the protector enough though and you’ll probably have to replace the skid plate–which is fine since it’s been designed to be replaced. That skid plate also serves as a resting point when you lower the rack to the ground. 

The other big change to the trays other than the hinged attachment clamp is the loss of the pivoting feature. The MTR allowed you to essentially split the trays in half, pivoting them upwards. This allowed for a bit easier storage and possibly improved fuel economy when traveling without bikes. But it also resulted in trays that would move underneath a bike at highway speeds. I was still using my MTR to this point without issue, but the play was a little unnerving. 

Now the trays are one solid piece, with the massive clamp underneath. That’s what makes the whole modularity work so well. As mentioned, the MHS is actually easier to store now thanks to this feature since you can quickly split the rack up into pieces and store them in different spots. 

Much Better Locks (though not perfect)

Also improved for the MHS are the locks for the bikes themselves. Now featuring much longer cables that exit from the center of the trays, it’s now possible to lock up the frame and front wheel of each bike. 

My only complaint with this lock setup is that the lock housings are all offset to the same side of the tray regardless of which direction the bike faces. That means that it’s harder to reach in and remove the lock from its housing on any trays where the lock housing is offset towards the rear of the bike. This is really only an issue on bikes with short wheelbases, but if they were all offset towards the front of the bike, it would be easier all around. 

Pricing

You can either purchase the MHS as a pre-configured package, or as individual pieces.

Pre-Configured Packages:

• MHS 1-Bike Package – $549.98
• MHS 2-Bike Package – $889.97
• MHS 3-Bike Package – $1,299.96

Individual Components:

• MHS 1+1 Base 1 1/4″ or 2″ –$199.99
• MHS 2+1 Base 2″ – $199.99
• MHS 3+1 Base 2″ – $249.99
• MHS Duo 1-Bike Tray – $349.99
• MHS Duo 1-Bike Add-On Tray – $349.99

Final Thoughts

Overall, the MHS has been an interesting rack that is great at what it does with a few little quirks. Most of those quirks will probably make more sense as accessories for the system are added. If ease of use and the ability to easily break down the rack and store it are top priorities, the MHS makes a strong case for itself as your next rack. But if you’re planning on doing a lot of off-roading where departure angle is more important than optional accessories, there are other racks to consider. 

We’re excited to see what Saris has in store for optional accessories for the MHS, and there are so many options with rack to begin with,  it’s easy to build one to fit your needs.

saris.com

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