by Velospeak | Nov 16, 2018 | Bicycles
Schindelhauer has added two new bicycles to their already stellar line-up. Introduced to the world today, the Karl and the Heinrich are both electric bikes, powered by the latest generation Bosch Active Line Plus motors. The Karl is a single speed belt-driven bike, and the Heinrich is an eight speed belt-driven bike. The combination of this latest motor from Bosch, and the belt drive system, is sure to make these two some of the quietest e-bikes available. The design is thoughtful, with the battery incorporated into the downtube. These bikes do not scream electric; instead they radiate an image of cool design. My Schindelhauer Ludwig is the best city bike I’ve ridden, so these two stand to rank high amongst the electric bike offerings. Sporty, fast, and comfortable are the qualities that immediately come to mind, and I’ll bet the Karl and Heinrich possess all three. The only downside to these two releases is having to wait until 2019 for delivery. Schindelhauer is definitely testing my patience.
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by Velospeak | Oct 19, 2018 | Bicycles
British racing green isn’t only for MGs and Jaguars. New from 3T is the limited Exploro with a complete build in racing green. The total package is $4500.00, and is available now directly from 3T.
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by Velospeak | Oct 16, 2018 | Uncategorized
Science in Sport recently released an addition to their already excellent line-up of nutritional products. The new Beta Fuel is a liquid nutrition mix of 80 grams of carbohydrates delivered in an isotonic and ph neutral solution. This translates to a liquid fuel that doesn’t upset the stomach and is easy to consume. I have found the Beta Fuel to be extremely useful on rides where I am trying to put in a little extra effort. Mixing and drinking the fuel before a ride also helps to stave off any dehydration because it is recommended to mix one packet with 500ml of water. This helped me in Switzerland over the summer, as my rides took place in hot and humid conditions, something I am not used to at home on the West Coast. There are currently two flavors available – orange, and lemon & lime. Both are quite subtle, but my favorite is lemon & lime. For the days you’d like to try to come up with something special on the bike, one packet of Beta Fuel might be the added boost needed to unlock a fresh PR.
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by Velospeak | Oct 8, 2018 | Accessories, Bicycles, Made in the USA
The Cane Creek eeWings All-Road crank has arrived. Craig Edwards has been at work on this for quite some time, and it has definitely been worth the wait. More to follow, but for now, follow the link to learn more.
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by Velospeak | Aug 30, 2018 | Accessories, Product Reviews
I tend to spend far too much time poring over websites such as those from Fairwheel Bikes or R2 Bike, looking for small parts such as seat collars and stem caps. The small details make a difference on a build, and I enjoy the challenge of finding extremely lightweight parts that function exceptionally well. Following that guiding ethos, I have found what I consider to be one of the finest bottle cages on the market. The Wasserträger 2.0 from Tune is an impressive piece of engineering. It is made of carbon, with a matte UD finish. The Tune logo is in glossy black, subtle, but apparent. The attachment screws are 7075 aluminum, and the weight of the bottle cage is a claimed 9 grams. On my scale, the bottle cage came in just shy of 10 grams, and the screws add a hair to that. Overall, this is one of the lightest cages available, which leads to the most important question: do they keep the bottle securely in place? I run bottles from Abloc, a small San Francisco start up, so my impressions are based on those bottles, and I can say with absolute certainty, these cages have never ejected a bottle. Even with incredibly rough riding on fire roads or just plain old rough pavement, the bottles remain securely in place. I’ve used these cages on several different bikes over the last few years, and I’ve never had a problem. They are rock solid, and they have a pleasing design that complements any bicycle. It may seem like high praise, but I’ve gone through quite a few cages from other manufacturers that do not do their job. The Tune Wasserträger cages are a premium piece of kit that functions as well as it looks.
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by Velospeak | Jul 20, 2018 | Accessories, Bicycles, Events, Uncategorized
The grass is always greener on the other side, or so they say. My first trip to Eurobike, after many years of attending Interbike in Las Vegas, seemed to affirm that old saying. The date change to the beginning of July coincided perfectly with my yearly trek across the pond to visit with family in Switzerland, so with no expectations whatsoever, off I went to Friedrichshafen, Germany, to attend my first Eurobike. (more…)
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by Velospeak | Jun 5, 2018 | Uncategorized
Rapha is experimenting with color on the newly released iridescent Crit Collection. Consisting of an aerosuit, jersey, Flyweight jersey, Pro Team bib shorts, and women’s Flyweight jersey, the pattern and colors are meant to resemble an oil slick. I admit to being drawn in by the print, and find it visually soothing. Rapha continues to push into new territory with each and every release. This particular collection is bound to draw a response from the cycling crowds, and is available today directly from Rapha.
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by Velospeak | Jun 4, 2018 | Uncategorized
Pictured above and below is one of two new wheel sets released by Stan’s NoTubes. This particular wheelset is dubbed the Grail CB7 Pro, and is aimed squarely at the gravel/adventure market. Designed to accommodate tires ranging in size from 25 – 40mm, these wheels will turn heads with their well designed graphics, and their incredibly light weight. The pair comes in at a meager 1277 grams, putting them in the company of a tubular wheelset. The Grail wheels are designed to be run tubeless, a given considering Stan’s long history innovating in the tubeless realm. These wheels would be perfect on an Open, and I hope to provide some real world testing in the future. For now, hit up the Stan’s website to read more.
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by Velospeak | May 1, 2018 | Accessories, Product Reviews
I first became aware of Bialetti espresso makers on a trip to Europe in the 80s. I happily purchased my first Bialetti, and then lovingly transported it home, where it served me well for many years. Then, with income from a new-found job, I graduated to powered espresso machines, and set Bialetti aside for some time. This was a mistake. Recently, I was in the position to try a Bialetti Musa for a camping trip, and was reminded of how good these machines are for creating the perfect espresso. At the campsite, the machine kept us happily caffeinated. Each use brewed a barista-worthy espresso, so good, that I’ve found myself using the machine back at home. It’s a very simple brewing process, and the machine can withstand plenty of abuse. It can be thrown into a backpack, used on a campfire, and then slip easily into daily life in the kitchen. Bialetti offers a product that hasn’t changed much over the years, and there is a reason for that. The machine has been perfected, and when something is perfect, there is no need to try and make changes.
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by Velospeak | Apr 18, 2018 | Accessories
Today Garmin announced a slew of new products, one of which is an update to the Varia rearview radar. The new version, dubbed the RTL510, has vertical orientation. This means it runs along the seat post, giving it a more integrated look. I’m hoping to catch this, among many other exciting new releases, at Sea Otter. Follow my Velospeak Instagram for a stream of Sea Otter coverage.
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