I’m in Germany for work, so I’ll be unable to attend this Giro event. I’m hoping someone I know will go and report back. My curiosity is piqued, and I am all for more competition in the world of cycling clothing.
Rizoma, an Italian motorcycle accessory company, has branched out and created the Metropolitan Bike. An obvious design exercise, the Metropolitan has one feature I like over other bikes without seat tubes, the lack of seat post coming out from the bottom. An interesting sidebar to a project only the very affluent will be able to justify. The bike comes in at just shy of $5000.00 dollars with a two year warranty. Still, it would be fun to have a test ride on one.
Here is part 2 in the Rapha City Riding Rogues series. This combination looks great, and the jacket and pants look perfect for riding in chilly weather.
Velo Love, aka Swrve, are hosting a swap meet and race tomorrow. The swap meet starts at noon, with the race starting at about 4pm. This should be a really fun event, and I encourage everyone in LA to come down for the festivities.
Thomson has long been a favorite company of mine. I have had Thomson seatposts and stems for many years on many different bicycles. When I first heard they were going to start producing handlebars, I was very excited. I was even more excited to discover that the cross and road versions would be carbon fiber. This, of course, opens up loads of questions. Where would they be made and would they be a Thomson design top the list. They are indeed a Thomson design, and the molds are owned by Thomson. The carbon fiber is manufactured by Toray, a Taiwanese company that is the main supplier to Airbus and Boeing. They are made in one piece, and are molded over an EPS mandrel to avoid wrinkles inside the layup during molding. I have the road version, and it is beautiful to look at. It has a great shape, and is really comfortable in the drops and on the hoods. The weight on the 42mm road bar is 195 grams with a retail price of $249.95. I think Thomson has done an incredible job leaping into a new product segment, and the quality is in line with all their previous product. I suspect these bars will live on bike after bike after bike. On a side note, Thomson have updated their website providing a clean and simple place to view all their product.
I feel a bit guilty for posting this so long after its release, but it’s too good a product to not write about, and there are plenty of other offerings from Taylor Stitch. The Mechanic’s Shirt was released earlier this year, and it sat for a bit, as the weather here in LA was far too warm for it. Now, the weather has finally turned, and the mechanic’s shirt has become a regular staple in my wardrobe. It is incredibly comfortable, well tailored, and really well made. All of Taylor Stitch’s shirts are handmade in San Francisco, and the quality is supreme. The line now includes over fifty shirts, jeans, belts and ties, as well as women’s shirts. I’ve also been using the Black Oval Buckle Belt, and since it arrived, it is the only belt I’ve used. The belts are also made in San Francisco. This is a company well worth watching, and I look forward to seeing the brick and mortar shop in San Francisco.
The Southside has long been my favorite shoe in the Chrome line-up. I started with the first Southside, and have tried all the variations since. Now, Chrome have released a Pro version of the shoe, meaning it is clip-in compatible. The sole of the shoe has a cutout that is removed with two screws, allowing the attachment of a cleat. Most mountain bike cleats should work with the shoe, making the Southside an all day affair. Gone are the days of having to carry a pair of shoes in your bag. The styling of the shoe has changed ever so slightly, with breathable polyester quarters added. There is full-length nylon shank plate for rigidity and a built-in foot rocker for comfort. The shoe looks great, and as is the case with Chrome products in general, the quality is top notch. The Southside still reigns supreme in the Chrome line-up.
The Lezyne Carbon Cage SL takes a slightly different approach to cage design. It is meant to be side loaded, making for an easier time removing and installing your bottles. It also makes it possible to carry larger bottles on compact frames. I was worried that the design would mean ejected bottles on harsh bumps, but this is not the case. The cage is incredibly strong, and the incredibly shoddy roads of LA, with all their bumps and potholes, failed to dislodge the bottles on any occasion. They stay secure and snug in the carbon fiber cage. I’ve long thought the roads here might be the worst in the country, so this is a perfect testing ground for bottle cages. Another benefit of the Cage SL is it’s weight. At 34 grams, this cage competes for a place on any weight weenies bike. The Lezyne Carbon Cage SL is a well designed product that will work well over any terrain.
Rapha has a new feature on their site called City Riding Rogues. Great photography showcasing some of the fall Rapha products.
