2008 Reviews
Bootleg Sessions V.2 DVD December 7, 2008Planet Bike Blaze One Watt November 27, 2008
A Dog in a Hat October 29, 2008
Banjo Brothers Commuter Backpack October 29, 2008
MER Flap Backpack September 1, 2008
Peace Coffee July 31, 2008
Bagaboo Workhorse Messenger Bag July 4, 2008
Reelight June 28, 2008
Banjo Brothers Messenger Bag June 24, 2008
Rainlegs June 19, 2008
Splaff May 25, 2008
Harlot May 10, 2008
Zero Per Gallon May 6, 2008
SOS Socks April 19, 2008
Schwalbe Stelvio HS 376 Tires March 22, 2008
Alien Bikes Wheel Set March 15, 2008
Check out our 2007 reviews!!!
Bootleg Sessions V.2 DVD
Now if you're looking for a video that gives you tricks that you can learn and feed off of, the ideas in this video are endless. The guys and girls in this video use the bike like a playground. The bike in all its form is an apparatus that they use like a Picasso painting, abstract and entertaining, that will leave you watching these tricks over and over again while still leaving you with an open mouth and scratching your head. I could not believe what I was seeing for most of it, absolutely fantastic and cutting edge tricks. The video has quite a home-made feel to it which gives a nice connection to the viewer, this is not a Hollywood-type film nor should it be, for it's for the riders by the riders. The music for most of the video goes well with the riding and although music is personal preference I didn't mind the music all that much. I quite enjoyed that they showed different cities all around the world showcasing the talent from different continents, I wish they showed more from the different cities but then again if I was the director I would make it 2 hours long. The raw style from most of the riders in the film does give a great connection with the viewer who most likely watches this video to gain some ideas about their own tricks they may be trying. I admired that they filmed many of the shots in skate parks because many people feel that skate parks are just for skateboarders which is not the case, this video brings to light that any one mucking about in a skate park is there for a common reason to have fun with their toy.
As for the flatland tricks, they were unbelievably cool to watch. This video will not disappoint you for its depth in talent. The moves they pull look like they defy the laws of balance, symmetry, and gravity I think they should come out with a textbook on how to do these tricks and give the flatlanders professional teaching jobs. I really liked that they had some females in it to show that's not just boys but boys and girls, perhaps this will give women a look-see into fixie riding, I know there are a lot of women fixie riders out there and having them in this video was not only nice it was needed because it shows the true demographic.
"Bootleg Sessions v.2" Fixed Gear DVD Trailer from Ride/Relax Productions on Vimeo.
Have you ever seen anyone skip rope on a bike with no hands? I think I actually choked on my pizza when I watched Tom Mosher jump off his bike run beside it and then jump over the bike and then jump back on it. Its stuff like this that makes this video totally worth the buy, this video is a must for any collector.
Things that could of been better I thought was the choice of music and more showcasing of international talent, I know there is more than just one fixie rider in Canada and more than a few in England, the international bits were awesome although having more than just a few from other countries would have been an awesome thing to see. This video is full of technical riding and not such a video on riding for pure riding, there are some very nice looking bikes that seem to have been assembled with aesthetics in mind although most seem to have just been assembled for the various thrashings of freestyle tricks. If you are looking for a video with flow and riding through busy city streets then this is not the one, however if you come from a background of flatland and bmx this movie will undoubtedly serve your mind well because it is packed with technical riding that is for surely the most entertaining.
Price: $15 USD
Details: Get your fixie on. A DVD to inspire
Pros: Level of skill, creativity, international exposure, backwards ride-off in outtakes
Cons: Music,, maturity of some riders, too few international riders
Overall Rating: 4.5 bar spins out of a possible 5 bar spins
Bootleg Sessions
Reviewed by: Aaron
Planet Bike Blaze One Watt
Lights are one accessory on a bicycle that should almost be mandatory. I find in the city I never need it for lighting up my path, but it is a great tool for being seen. The Planet Bike Blaze 1W is a sleek light that has three different modes to shine light on the road. High and low modes are pretty standard as far as lights go, but the SuperFlash is what sets this light apart from others in a similar price range.
The SuperFlash mode is basically a strobe light. While commuting over the last 2 months with this light I was amazed at how much more room cars allowed me on the road when I had the SuperFlash on. It makes night commuting a whole lot safer. Planet Bike says that this light is for commuting and is not going to light any dark single track trails up for you, and they are basically right. I took it out for a few night trail rides, and while it provided a decent amount of light, it still left a whole lot of dark out there. It would work in a pinch, but is best left for the road.
The light it self takes 2 AA bateries and so far I am still on the first set. Bases on their claims or 7/14/20 hours for high/low/strobe I should probably have run out of battery life a little while ago. Not bad performance for a high powered one watt LED. The construction is typical Planet Bike. It is strong. The light itself has a reinforced alloy mid section, and the QuickCam bracket is built tough.
The light itself is on the average/large size for a lot of lights these days. It does however provide the most light for anything that I have seen in a similar price range. Planet Bike has also forgone the typical black, that seems so pervasive in bicycle accesories, and opted for white, which is a nice change. The only down side I have found is turning it on and off while wearing gloves, it is still doable, but a lot more difficult. This has become a nice light that is easy to change from bike to bike and is now my go to at night.
Price: $45 USD
Details: A bright light at night
Pros: SuperFlash mode, bright, affordable,
Cons: Button difficult to use with gloves
Overall Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Planet Bike
A Dog in a Hat
I have never raced a day in my life. Never felt the pain of climbing long mountain passes, or the craziness that is a pro kermis race. I feel one step closer now. The life that Joe Parkin lived, starting as an 18 year old boy in Belgium, is enthralling. A Dog in a Hat takes you onto his world of friends, enemies, drugs, pain, sickness, payoffs, and a bit of glory that goes along with it. Joe's vivid accounts of his life both on and off the bike bring the reader one step closer to understanding what it takes to be a professional racer.
A Dog in a Hat takes you on a fast-paced bumpy ride through the world of professional cycling. The tales that are told in no way glamorize pro racing. In fact, they do the exact opposite. Recounting the crowded buses and vans, shared hotel rooms, drugs, cheating, and betrayal make you think it would be hell. But somehow his account left me wanting it. The pain that one can go through for that little glimpse of glory is somewhat inspiring.
In a world like this the payoffs seem small. Negotiating with the rest of the breakaway for who was going to win seems absurd to me, but that is how it works. Days of calling it quits early just to watch the rest of the race from a nearby cafe. The world that Joe Parkins reveals was an eye opener. A first hand look into a world I knew nothing about.
A Dog In A Hat at times seems far too short. It leaves me wanting so many more details. What were Parkin's race results for his career? Did he really mainly avoid the drugs? Was all the pain and years away worth it? These are all unanswered. In a way I know it is on purpose, but I still want to know. It is strange how a book that seems sad at times can truly inspire. The pages of Joe's life are fast and dirty, I wanted more though. A Dog in a Hat left me with just a glimpse of what is truly a fascinating life.
Price: $21.95 USD
Details: A fast paced account of the life of Joe Parkin as a professional racer
Pros: Fast paced, raw, honest
Cons: Too many details ommited
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Velo Press
Banjo Brothers Commuter Backpack
Last year we tested out the Commuter Backpack from Banjo Brothers. This year they have come out with a new larger version with an improved waterproof liner. The original got a 5 star rating, it was seemingly indestructable, and the new 2000 cubic inch version picks up where the origianl left off.
Once again the exterior ballistic nylon can take a beating. You can drag this along the ground and take a spill or two on your bike and it still hold up. I have taken it down numerous single track trails with tree branches slapping either side of it and it still looks like new, the same cannot be said of my arms.
The water proof liner has changed, and for the better. It is now made of a new material that is much stronger and not as bulky as the previous. This allows full use of the space inside the bag. The 2000 cubic in size is great. at first I was thinking it would be a little too big for a backpack but it is just right. It can hold a whole lot of stuff, more then I should probably carry.
The exterior organizational pockets are great for small things like pens, keys, bottle opener, etc... There is a place for everything on this bag. A small exterior side pocket is great for a chainlock or a small U-lock. It can be reached without removing the bag which is nice. The only down side that I found was that when the bag is basically empty, but you are still carrying your lock it can shift the bag to the one side on your back. It is not the worst thing in the world, but it is noticable when riding.
The back and shoulders are padded for comfort. There is a great chest strap for stabilization. It also comes with a waist strap, and cell phone holder. I remover the waist strap as it reall serves no purpose and at times used the cell phone holder to hold my camera, providing a easy access location for quick pics. Once again Banjo Bros. have a winner on there hands. They produce some of the strongest and definetly the best priced bags around. It is not much on style and only available in black, but this utiltarian work horse will never let you down.
Price: $89 USD
Details: Simple and durable backpack for carrying all your stuff
Pros: Strong, comfortable, cheap
Cons: Side pocket can shift weight when carrying lock
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Banjo Brothers
Mer Flap Backpack
Fashion and function are sometimes a damn hard thing to pull off, especially with some of todays trends. MER Bags seems to have succeded. Based out of Brooklyn New York, MER is a small operation. They have managed to combine great design and colours and made a robust yet stylish backpack.
Their Flap Backpack combines robust cordura with nicely padded shoulder straps and back. This makes for a comfortable bag even when fully loaded. They have also gone for nice colour combinations, the one we got was maroon with neon orange trim. Open the flap and the inside is covered in waterproof vinyl. There is one large main compartment as well as a smaller, expandable exterior pocket.
This backpack is not as deep as most of the stuff you find on the market these days, in the largest size they make it is still only 9 inches deep. This is nice because it keeps the weight closer to your body. They have made of for this lack of depth be making it a little wider. In testing it I managed to fit 24 cans of beer in it as well as my chain lock and still had room to spare.
The only downside to the bag was the shoulder straps. Although they are nicely padded, I found that they are almost too close together. When wearing the bag I could feel them rubbing the back of my neck, not the nicest feeling. I eventually got used to it, but still a little annoying. Overall this is one cool bag. It is one of those items that people are always asking me about and it stands out in a crowd of messenger bags.
Details: Stylish and durable cycling backpack
Price: $205 USD
Pros: Fashion and Function
Cons: Shoulder straps are too close together
Rating: 4 out of 5
MER Bags
Peace Coffee
Coffee....Hmm well isn't this site all about bicycles? So here is the thing. I think almost every cyclist I know lives for 2 things. 1. Cycling. 2. Coffee. The cool thing is that Peace Coffee has actually combined these two things, which is how I stumbled upon them in the first place. Peace Coffee started up in 1995, long before it was cool to be drinking organic anything, let alone fair trade. They are not some super mega corporation either, it took them until 1999 to add a second employee!!! But again, besides the fact that cyclists like coffee, how does this all tie together? Well here it is. Peace Coffee actually delivers it's coffee with in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area by bicycle. Yep year round.
I ended up getting three different brews to try out from them. A Guatemalan Light Roast, Columbian Heavy Pedal Roast, and Ethiopian. All of which are Organic and Fair Trade. I had all ground for a french press, even though I do not technically a French Press, but I do have some sort of coffee machine. I have to admit that for about the last five years I do not think I have had an ounce of coffee to drink, so I was in for a rebirth of my coffee love. I used to love coffee back in the day, but eventually grew to dislike something about it, and eventually gave up. But now that I had all these Organic, Fair Trade grounds in front of me, I knew I would have to give it a go once again.
The first thing that I noticed is how good coffee actually smells, like real good. Just the roasted grounds after opening bag made me want it. I am a morning person, usually pretty awake from the start, but I started to experiment with different water to bean ratios, and eventually found the perfect blend for myself, which worked out to be around 2 tablespoons for every 7 ounces of water. It was a nice boost in the morning, that kept me up for the work day.
I passed this coffee on to a bunch of friends, most of whom are far more addicted to coffee than myself. Here is what Emily
had to say:
"Coffee is an addiction of mine, and thus I have sampled many different coffees over the years, of varying derivation,
and I have discovered that all coffee is not created equally, or, at least, it sure doesn’t taste like it.
Peace Coffee’s Fair Trade, Organic, and delicious beans, however, have won my coffee-loving heart. To begin with the bad
news, the Ethiopian was my least favorite of the three. Although it is a quality coffee, it was less spectacular than the
other two, with less gusto and a slightly bitter aftertaste. The other two roasts were excellent.
The Guatemalan Light Roast has a fresh, mellow flavor that is really pleasant without being too hardcore.
It is also the best-smelling coffee I've encountered, which adds so much to the whole experience.
On the other end of the caffeinated-delightfulness spectrum, the Colombian Heavy Pedal is darker and more kicky –
very satisfying without being bitter or overpowering or gross. Depending on your preferences, a steaming mug of
either the Guatemalan or the Colombian will give you a reason to get your ass out of bed in the morning, secure
in the knowledge that your brew not only makes you happy, but that Peace Coffee’s trade and environmental
practices are making the world happier, too."
Some of the others were less vocal, but let still gave some opinions on taste.
Columbian Heavy Pedal:
"I really like this one, and I’m kind of a coffee snob" Anna
"Good wake-up call with a mellow character" Nick
Ethiopian:
"Strong flavor without being bitter or overwhelming, slight aftertaste" Linda
"Bitter, not as lot of taste to it, not as good as the Heavy Pedal" Nick
Guatemalan Light Roast:
"Refreshing" Anna
"Fresh, tasty, delicious - what I want coffee to be. No aftertaste or bitterness at all. Yummy" Linda
“Good". Nick
All in all my favorite was the Columbian Heavy Pedal. A nice wake up call for me, especially on those busy days when I
did not feel motivated at all. But in the end coffee is all about flavour, which this definitely has. We all have our own
tastes but rest assured that Peace Cofee has a brew for you. Taking a look at their website, they have a huge list of options
that you can get, so you are sure to find one for your tastes. The best part is their ethics; Organic, Fair Trade and Bicycle Delivered.
Seriously, what else could you ask for?
They have a much more detail description of their operation on their website so you should check it out and see what they are all
about.
Details: Organic, Fair Trade Coffee, Bicycle delivered in Minneapolis
Price: $10.95 USD per pound
Pros: Tastes great, organic and bicycle delivery in Minneapolis!
Cons: None
Rating: 5 out of 5
Bagaboo Workhorse Messenger Bag
It seems like there is an unlimited number of messenger bags to choose from these days. Some are no more then a shoulder bag that has been marketed for a trend, others are the real deal. The Workhorse Messenger Bag is the real deal. Big, comfortable, stable while riding, it seems as though Tamas has created the perfect bag.
The bag is loaded with features. The main flap is held down with 2 buckle straps as well as velcro. When this is opened you have three small pockets, one zippered and two with velcro. This provides lots of storage for small things you may be carrying. The main compartment is huge and can hold lots of stuff, like 18 beer with lots of room to spare. There is once again another small internal pocket, great for keeping the small stuff seperate. The main compartment is completely lined with truck tarp, so water is going to have a hard time getting in.
On the outside the bag has the standard cross strap with stabilizer for your regular loads. When the loads get heavier though you can buckle up an extra shoulder strap, this divides the weight up. A nice back pad keeps items with pointy edges from taking their toll on your back. The bottom of the bag has a full reflective stripe, when riding on the bike this becomes visible from behind.
Alright, so enough of all the boring descriptives. I have been using this bag as my everyday bag for over a month. I have used it with light and heavy loads. The bag is easily adjusted. The loads are always kept close to my body and the bag never slides around on my back. For the heavier loads I used the extra shoulder strap and it does exactly like it should, helps support all the weight. Although this bag is huge it never actually feels that way, it all seems to fit just like I would want.
Maybe I am totally enamored with this bag, but is that so wrong? Tamas at Bagaboo has created a great bag. The nice thing about this is that he really focuses on custom stuff. Want and extra pocket, he will do it. Want a cool design on the bag, again he can do it. The list goes on and on. If you are wanting a bag that will hold up in the toughest of element, the Workhorse will do the trick
Price: 108-120 EURO
Details: A professional messenger bag that does it all
Pros: Comfortable, big, stylish, durable, waterproof....the list goes on and on
Cons: Nada, zip, zilch
Rating: 5 out of 5
Reelight
In Europe it seems as though everyone has lights on their bikes. So it is not surprising that Reelight is from Denmark. Their lights are surprisingly different from standard lights on the market for a few reasons. First off, they use no batteries. Secondly the lights are always turned on as long as you are pedalling. And last but not least they are bolted on to a solid axle, thus harder to steal.
I was sent 2 different sets of lights. The SL100 Flash (Compact) which only flashes when riding, and the SL120 Power Back Up (Compact) which continues to flash for two minutes after you have stopped your bike. The genius of these lights is that they use no batteries. There are two magnets that get mounted on the spokes of each wheel. The light and bracket are then mounted to hub axle. With every rotation of the wheel the magnets are generating electricity as they pass the light.
As soon as I got these in the mail I went to mount them on my folding bike. They did not want to mount easy. Part of the problem was the closer spoke pattern on the wheel made it difficult to get the magnets as close to the hub as I needed them to be. The other problem was the rack and fender stays got in the way of mounting the light on the back of the bike. So, initially there was a lot of disappointment.
There seems to be at least 6 or 7 bikes in my apartment right now, so I then chose a better bike for mounting them. Emily rides a cruiser bike with 26" wheels and no fenders, so this was the easy choice. The lights went on relatively easy on this one. The rear light went on with ease, but once again there was difficulty in getting them completely set. This time it came with the front, although eventually it was sorted out. The nice thing about them is that they are not as noticable as most lights mounted on a bike. A cruiser bike is all about style and the Reelight fits so perfect on the bike that it does not stand out like a sore thumb.
The lights are basic, and by no means are they lighting the road for you, but they provide minimal light in order to be noticed by others while you ride on the street or a bicycle path. They are always on while you ride, which is nice, no need to turn them on or off. But it really comes down to cost. Is the convenience of "daytime running lights" worth the cost? It is actually a really good question. Do I like these lights? Yes. Do I like the cost? No. They really do cost too much, especially in the day and age when a flashing light set cost less then $15 complete with batteries, and the battery life is over 200 hours.
Price: SL100 Flash (Compact) $39.95 USD, Sl120 Power Back Up (Compact) $55 USD
Details: Strong, compact, battery free lights that fit on most but not all bikes
Pros: Lights are always on when riding, no batteries, durable construction
Cons: Not easy to install on all bicycles, more expensive then standard flashing lights
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Banjo Brothers Messenger Bag
Banjo Brothers is a small company out of Minneapolis that specializes in bike bags. On their website it says the owners used to work as designers of tool belts. They take the same no-nonsense practical approach to their cycling gear. For the past several weeks I have been able to test out their excellent messenger bag.
First of all, I'd like to start off by saying I've never really been much of a fan of messenger style bags. I've never really seen any advantages to them over my trusty backpack; however, this bag has made me a partial convert. I really enjoyed the overall feel of this bag when riding around.
It's big, comfortable, and has some clever features. It has a plush shoulder strap for comfort with a quick release for easy on-the fly length adjustments. At 18L, this bag is plenty big. I fit everything I wanted into it with room to spare. I did, however, find that carrying heavy loads for longer periods got a bit tiring on the shoulder. The bag comes with lots of pockets, pouches, and compartments, including a removable padded laptop sleeve and a cell phone holder on the strap. Everything stayed dry during rainstorms except for the cell phone pouch, which for some strange reason isn't waterproof (luckily I don't own a cell phone).
The Banjo Brothers bag seems to be very well built. I tend to be pretty rough on bags and after a month it still looks and functions like new. Overall I really enjoyed this stylish comfortable and practical bag. I think it is ideal as a daily commuter bag.
Price: $79.99 USD
Details: 18L, designed for left shoulder wear, removable laptop sleeve, lots of pouches, adjustable padded shoulder strap.
Pros: Comfortable, big, waterproof, nice looking, well-built
Cons: Uncomfortable when carrying heavy items, cell phone pouch not waterproof
Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Rainlegs
Dealing with the weather is one of the realities of cycling, from extreme heat to extreme cold and everything in between. You can outfit your bicycle with fenders to stop the water spraying up, but when it is falling from the sky, you need actual rain gear. I have been waiting for the last few months for a good rain to test these Rainlegs out, the big down poor never came but I was able to put them through the paces.
The first thing that you notice when you see the Rainlegs is that there is not much too them. This is good in the sense that they are ultra compact, but they are also minimalist in the coverage that they provide they actually roll up into a small pack that you wear around your waste; when the rain comes you unroll them to keep the water off. The top of my thighs is one of the places that I get noticeably wet when it is raining, so the coverage they provide is good.
The first issue I encountered was trying to figure out the Rainlegs. They have 2 crotch straps that stabilize them well on the body but in total you must do up 5 straps including the 2 crotch straps, one on the waste and 2 at the knees. Once I wore them a few time I figured out exactly how to use them. They actually function extremely well. They are well ventilated at the waist with a mesh piece for breath ability. There are a few sizes available and they fit extremely well. They do however get no style points, none at all. These are the ultimate in utilitarian rain gear. They do there job but unfortunately make it look like you are wearing butt less chaps.
All in all they provide great rain protection from light rain and are small and easy to take with you. In a big downpour you would be best with actual rain pants, but in a pinch these will take care of you.
Price: 24 GBP
Details: Compact rain gear that will do in an emergency
Pros: The actually work
Cons: They look absolutely silly
Stars: 3 stars out of 5
Splaff Wallet, Belt and Wrist Band
Splaff has a good little thing going on, they make some pretty cool stuff out of recycled bicycle tubes. Cliff and Craig started Splaff out of a garage in 1997, and have since moved production to Baja California, but all their stuff is still handmade. I was lucky enough to test out the El Presidente Wallet, Splaff Belt, and Wrist Band. All made from recycled bicycle inner tubes.
The wallet is nice and simple. Externally it is made with bicycle tubes but internally it has a more robust fabric that is used a divider as well as on some of the trim. Usually I find that the seams on anything made with bicycle tubes tears away pretty easily, but this is not the case with this wallet. I have used it daily for a month and it has no signs of wear at all. It holds my bills and cards great, but is lacks a change compartment, which I am not used to. It is a simple straight foreward design that garners some attention due to it's materials.
Emily tested out the belt. She liked the fact that it was inconspicous enough to look like a regualr fashionable belt, but unique enough that on second glance it would elicit a few "hey cool belt" comments. She found that the height of the belt was a little too hight to fit through the belt loops on many of her pants, so that kinda sucked as it limited the belts use. She also found that is buldged a bit in the front, at the buckle. Over all it is a great belt and as Emily says " I would rather wear a used inner tube than a dead cow, anyday".
I am not much into wearing wrist bands, so I passed this one off to a friend of mine. Again, inner tube outside and a cordura material against the skin. It has two sets of buttons for attaching it. I tried it out on it's largest size, a little too snug on me, but I think it would fit most people fine. It really looks pretty cool and is a nice accent piece for any cyclist.
Splaff if making some pretty cool stuff. I like the fact that it is original, you do not see many people using this stuff.
Price: Wallet $24 USD, Belt $28 USD, Wrist Band $10 USD
Details: Unigue and enviromentally friendly stuff
Pro's: Uses used inner tubes, quality construction
Con's: Wallet has no change compartment, Belt is a little too tall to fit in all belt loops
Overall Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Harlot's Scarlet-X Shorts and Einstein Socks
I had the pleasure of testing Harlot's Scarlet-X Shorts and Einstein Socks. As much as I liked both products, the thing I like most about Harlot is the name of the company and the logic behind it. Their catalogue / website explains that when women began to ride bicycles in the late 19th century, they were equated with harlots or women of loose morals. Harlot cheekily celebrates female cyclists then and now with products that are designed to further promote the liberation and enjoyment that those women must have felt when first they hopped on their bikes.
The most exciting feature of the Scarlet-X shorts is the fact that they are, well, cushy. I preface my next comments with the note that I have never worn a chamois before, nor did I really think them necessary. The Scarlet short comes equipped with Harlot's patented BCZ (that's beaver comfort zone, a name that says it all) padding, which they describe as a "thin alternative to a traditional chamois" designed to provide cushioning comfort for commuting or shorter mountain bike / road rides. While I felt a little strange simply standing or walking in the shorts, once on the bike the BCZ was everything it claimed to be, convincing me that a little cushioning goes a long way. And if you're shy about these things, no-one need ever know about the BCZ, because while you can feel the cushiness, it's pretty subtlety integrated looks-wise. I stood in front of my mirror and tested, from as many angles as I could manage, and it's pretty hard to tell it's even there. It's like an invisible pillow for the parts that need it.
The shorts are 85% nylon, 15 % polyester, and water-resistant. The lining has anti-odor, anti-static, and thermodynamic properties. Pretty high-tech for an unassuming-looking pair of shorts. The stretchy side panels add style as well as function to the shorts, and the little back pockets, as well as the subtle-yet-sassy red Harlot logo on the bum, make the shorts more "bike cool" than straight-up "bike geek." A little caution about size, though: I requested a pair of medium shorts as my measurements fall on the cusp between small and medium on Harlot’s sizing chart, and my general philosophy is that bigger is better. These shorts are generously sized, however, and the lining / BCZ feature would, I think, be even more effective in a slightly snugger fit.
The Einstein Socks are the perfect addition to the shorts. They are warm, wool-blend knee-highs with badass red stars on the calves, perfect to warm-up and punk-up your bike-riding wardrobe. Snuggly without being itchy, they compliment the Scarlet-X shorts, but would work just as well with a skirt. Or, wear them with your pant leg rolled up when you bike around town, and be both warm and cool. No-matter what, the Einstein socks will make your outfit that much smarter.
Price: Shorts $70 USD, Socks $18 USD
Pros (shorts): Stylish, Subtle-yet-effective cushiness where it counts
Cons (shorts): While the BCZ makes biking in the shorts lovely, it does feel a little odd off the bike, which affects the versatility of the shorts. Sizing might be a little big.
Pros (socks): Very cool looking, warm for coolish mornings / evenings, clever name
Cons (socks): I got none
Overall Rating (shorts): 4 out 0f 5 stars
Overall Rating (socks): 5 out 0f 5 stars
Zero Per Gallon
Zero Per Gallon is as much about one mans hate for goats as it is for his love of bicycles. In fact his slogan is "No Goats, No Exceptions". This may sound strange, and it is, but you do not have to look around www.zeropergallon.com long to realize that Jonny5 is a complex dude, what with his founding of the FGCA (Future Goatless Crusaders of America) 15 years ago. It was all a pleasant surprise then, when in my mailbox turned up a selection of ZPG products to take a look at. A belt made from a bicycle tire, a necklace made from down tube shifters, and his famous ZPG patch and stickers.
The belt was not only goat free, but also recycled, talk about environmental dedication (have you seen what goats are doing to America?). I was sent out a 36 inch belt, which is 36 inches long and not made for a 36 inch waist like mine. I have some how managed to drop some pounds and squeeze into this belt and I really like it. First thing is that is made of a coloured road tire, which is pretty cool. Second is that is does up with Velcro, once again pretty cool. After a few months of wearing the only downside I have found is that at times the edge of the belt will ride above my pants and kind of dig into my skin, but all in all it only happens on occasion.
Jonny5 and ZPG got famous off of his ZPG stickers, now available in zero Euros per liter for the European counterparts. Now I live in Canada where we use the dollar and use liters, Jonny5 has not yet printed this beast up, but then again he may know of my past encounters with goats. He also has great stickers like 53 MPB (miles per burrito) and one that pays tribute to the tracks of the San Francisco street cars.
ZPG wraps things up with a cool necklace. Made from an vintage down tube shifter, and polished up, these actually are pretty cool for those into cycling. A different look at jewelry and a good use for old parts.
Price: Belt $20 USD, Stickers $2 USD, Necklace $35 USD
Details: Great cycling stuff with a twist, 100% goat free
Pro's: Cool use of old bicycle stuff, No goats!
Con's: Belt can be slightly abrasive
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
SOS Socks
Over the last few years I have developed a love/hate relationship with technical fabric, performance socks. They have great graphics, and are made with breathable materials and everything, but in the end the fall apart really fast. I was happy to try out some new SOS Socks. I was thinking these may just be the ones that are the full deal.
I usually test out things for 2 weeks before I put my initial review up on the web, but I happened to get these socks right before I was heading on a 2 month journey down to Mexico. I thought this would be the ultimate test. So it was off to Mexico with one pair of Colorado Wool socks and one pair of Proud Mary socks.
The nice thing about the wool socks is that they are warm when it is cold out, yet they breathe so well that in the heat they are great too. I wore them the day I left Canada and it was -24 and I wore them in +34 temperatures in Oaxaca. The designs on these socks are great. And the choices are endless they have almost 200 designs to choose from on their website.
The ultimate test with these socks came with time though. They lasted longer then most similar socks do, but again they started to wear thin in the sole and the cuff on the wool socks started to separate after 2 months. This was after repeated wear, but I really hate when a product falls apart so quickly. Are they any worse then any other technical fabric sock I have owned? No. In fact the lasted longer, but still not long enough.
Price: $9.95-$14-95 depending on socks
Details: Dupont CoolMax CoreSpun Fibers, moisture wicking
Pro's: Comfortable, breathe well, keep their fit
Con's: Wear out too fast
Overall Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars
Schwalbe Stelvio Tires HS 376 Tires
For the last year I have been riding on some really basic cheap tires that although they got me from point A to point B, it often involved flats and rather poor traction. I then received the Schwalbe Stelvio HS 376. I had always heard about how Schwalbe made good tires, but never had the chance to ride them. Now the Stelvio HS 376 is what they classify as a race tire. So basically it is a super low rolling resistant tire. The first thing that I liked about these tires is that you can get them in 9 colours. Although it is not that important, it is nice to have the choice.
I first received these tires in the middle of winter. Since they are a 700 x 23c tire, I had to wait until about a month ago to actually get them on the roads to check out. They are a nice fast tire, but this is true of basically all skinny high pressure tires. I do love the traction that they provide though. I have actually had the chance to ride them in almost all weather conditions except extreme heat. I have had them in water, snow, ice and bare pavement. I was completely shocked at the traction that they provided on the ice. I expected to go down real fast but it did not happen. They are obviously not a winter tire, but nice to know they can handle some slippery sections.
Since the tire is a 23c it provides a bit of a harsh ride, with the high pressure you can feel a lot of the road. It is available in a 25c and 28c, but only in a wire bead and only in black.
After around a hundred kilometers on the tires they are looking good. They are holding up well to skidding and have had no flats. The Raceguard puncture protection belt, actually works on these things. And it does not make the tires heavy. They actually weigh in at only 235 grams each!
Price: $53.95 USD each
Details: Kevlar bead, Raceguard, neon orange, 23c, 6.0 – 10.0 bar
Pro's: nice colour, fast rolling, durable
Con's: harsh ride, 25c and higher not available in coloured Kevlar bead
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Alien Bikes Wheel Set
Once again I have another product to test out from Alien Bikes. This time it is there track wheels. First thing I will say about these things is that they are an amazing price, like all the stuff at Alien Bikes. When I got them the first thing that I noticed is that they came in a sturdy box, which is a good thing, because I have gotten things online before that were in crappy boxes and the product did not survive well.
The wheels are fixed gear, no flip flop, no free wheel. 36 spokes front, 36 spokes rear, in a nice black finish. They have hollow axles which is nice, and I was not expecting that for the price. These are a deep V rim and seem super solid, and they actually arrived trued, which is pretty rare these days.
Fixed gear wheels in this price range are usually the lowest quality thing out there. I rode on such a pair for all of 2007. These wheels are much stronger though. There is a notable amount less lateral flex with these. So much so that I can now notice the flex in my frame of my bike a lot!
I like that they are just a fixed wheel. The last set of wheels that I had where a fixed/free flip-flop. At the time I thought that was a great idea but in the end I never used the free wheel side, not even once. Now I know nothing about actual track cycling on a velodrome, so I will avoid any hype for that, but on the street these can take the abuse. I weigh in the neighbourhood of 200lbs, and even though it is freezing cold and winter here, I managed to find some clear pavement to ride these around on, as well as trackstand repeatedly in my apartment. THESE WHEELS ARE STRONG!
I have now had a few months to ride these wheels and they are great. No problems at all as of yet. From what I have also heard from other people with these wheels they are loving them as well. Make yourself happy and get in touch with Joseph at Alien Bikes and get yourself these wheels.
Price: $169.00 USD
Details: 32mm deep V, fixed only, brass nipples, non-machined sidewalls, no braking surface
Pro's: Deep V, look nice, perform great
Con's: Nothing so far
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars