Cedar Cycling is introducing a women’s jersey, designed by women, for women. There is a teaser site where you can sign up for updates. I like how many companies are beginning to manufacture products specifically geared towards women. I also like the resurgence of manufacturing in the United States, and that this trend seems to be growing daily. Sign up for the Cedar Cycling mailing list here. The jersey pictured above is the Standard Jersey.
The Rapha Women’s 100 takes place this coming Sunday, the 7th of July. There are 108 rides listed on the Rapha rides page. Wherever you might be, there is more than likely a ride for you to join. Happy cycling!
Recon Instruments are taking pre-orders for the new Recon Jet Glasses. These glasses provide data such as speed, cadence, heart rate, and elevation. The stats are shown through a display built into the lens. The glasses can connect to other devices via WiFi, ANT+, and Bluetooth. There is smart phone connectivity allowing call information to be seen as well. The Recon Jet glasses are upping the tech factor in the cycling world.
Taylor Stitch released the Independence Plaid California Shirt yesterday. As is the case with most products from Taylor Stitch, it is a limited run, and will sell out quickly. The TS shirts have become a favorite of mine as the fit is always perfect, the quality top notch, the fabrics wonderfully smart, and as always, they are made in San Francisco.
The Brooks Cambium saddle is making its debut, and judging from the intense media coverage, it is sure to sell out quickly. I think it is a beautiful saddle, and would be happy to try one in the future. I’m hoping to have a look at Interbike this coming September.
Tate Labs recently released the updated Bar Fly 2.0. The new mount has been improved from the previous version with a couple of small changes. First, the position of the mount has been adjusted so the Garmin computer sits flush with the stem and handlebars. This is a small and welcome change that improves both the look and usefulness of the Bar Fly. There are now two mounting positions to adjust for the different computers from Garmin, allowing the user to have the computer sit close to the stem no matter the size. My favorite new feature is the positive engagement with a click. The previous version did not make a sound when the computer was installed, whereas version 2.0 makes a solid clicking sound, letting you know it is safely and securely installed. The changes are subtle, but the new Bar Fly 2.0 really improves on an already great product. And, best of all, the Bar Fly 2.0 is made in the USA, and comes with a lifetime warranty. The Bar Fly 2.0 is now available at Above Category Cycling, as well as other fine retailers.
CicLAvia takes place this Sunday, the 23rd, from 9am to 4pm. The route is Wilshire Boulevard from downtown LA to the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax. There will be pedestrian hubs at either end with entertainment and activities set up for all to enjoy. This is the perfect way to spend a Sunday in LA.
June is a vexing time in Los Angeles. We have a weather condition that is commonly referred to as June gloom. This translates to morning high fog turning to hazy sunshine in the afternoon. It is not a particularly cold fog, but it is a bit gloomy, and the light can be challenging for sensitive eyes. On my ride on Sunday, I was able to try the Assos Zegho glasses for the first time. The conditions were perfect for a test of these high quality glasses with their Carl Zeiss lenses. My initial reaction when putting on the glasses was the feeling of weightlessness. I wear prescription glasses daily, and strive to find the lightest glasses possible. The Assos Zegho glasses put everything else to shame when it comes to weight and comfort. These glasses are like air, and really do not have any significant weight to them. The arms are incredibly comfortable on the ears, and the nose piece is perfectly designed. Instead of feeling like a pair of glasses, they feel like a shield for your eyes that has been suspended in front of your face. High praise indeed, but they really do feel that comfortable. Aside from comfort, the lens is what sets these apart from other glasses. Manufactured by Carl Zeiss Vision, the Assos designed Tunnel Vision lens is clear in the lower third, and transitions sharply to a dark lens in the upper two thirds. The reasoning behind this is to give the rider the ability to see clearly when going through a tunnel or a suddenly shady section of pavement. A simple lift of the head, and everything is clearly visible. A simple innovation to be sure, but one that changes the way you ride. When going through the tunnel in Griffith Park, I came to appreciate the brilliance of this lens technology. One other highlight of wearing these glasses is the fact that they never once fogged up on me. When putting in effort on a climb with other glasses, I constantly have to deal with fogging. The Zeghos do not fog up and remain consistently clear throughout the ride. The Assos Zegho glasses are clearly the product of a tremendously successful design effort, and live up to the quality Assos is known for.
Yesterday I celebrated Father’s Day with a ride. This may not sound like an unusual occurrence for a Sunday morning, but it has been quite some time since I got a proper ride in. I commute almost every day to work on a bicycle, but that’s not real riding. It’s too short, I have a heavy backpack with a computer in tow, and the ability to explore is stymied by having to get to work. My precious weekend rides have been far and few between due to travel, work, and in all honesty, probably a bit of laziness. That changed yesterday. At 7:30am, I was out the door, equipped for whatever the ride might bring. I rode my usual course, up Nichols, down and over to Barham, Forest Lawn, and ultimately the Observatory. This is my favorite ride, and I admit my legs suffered a bit today. Nevertheless, when I reached the Observatory, I decided a bit of exploring was in order. I wanted to head east to see the newly reopened Echo Park. I meandered through Los Feliz, then Silver Lake, and ultimately Echo Park. Cycling through a city exploring is still one of my all time favorite things to do. It reminds me of being a kid and the unlimited freedom a bicycle brought into my life. It is an invigorating experience to see the city this way, and it allows you to discover new and different places. This little side trip only added about 7 miles to the ride, but the enjoyment of those 7 miles will likely last me through the week until next weekend’s ride. Until then, the backpack comes back on, and I’ll wave to all the other cyclists on their way to work.
The Giro Air Attack is a strange helmet. I realize this is an odd statement to preface a review, but the Air Attack is decidedly different from the top offerings of the other players in this game. Upon first glance, the helmet looks as if designed for the city rider, or maybe even a skater. This isn’t to say it is unattractive, just not the norm for a top end road helmet. However, once you get to know the Air Attack, it starts to look quite sharp when stacked up against the competition. It was created with aerodynamics in mind, and the design follows the function. Looks aside, the real question I had was whether the ventilation was adequate. There are a total of six vents on this helmet, two at the front, two on top, and two at the back. They are not tremendously big, which is why the question of ventilation came up. I’ve now used the helmet for commuting, as well as one or two road rides, and the Air Attack surprised me. My head stayed perfectly cool and comfortable. There is quite a bit of technology that works behind the scenes to achieve this, and the final outcome is excellent airflow. The helmet works so well that it is used by the pros at Garmin Barracuda. The Air Attack is easy to set up, and uses the Roc Loc Air fit system. The small wheel at the back is all that needs to be adjusted for a perfect fit. The medium I have weighs 288 grams and accommodates anyone within the 55-59cm range. It is available in four color combinations that work well for those who are smitten with either black or white. The Air Attack was designed to be the most aerodynamic helmet available while keeping the weight to a minimum and providing excellent ventilation. Giro succeeded on all fronts.
