MIchael Johansson
Michael Johansson may be one of today’s most brilliant artists. I realize there are no bicycles in this, but the tractor and caravan more than make up for this.
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Traut 1
Los Angeles OpenStreetMap Poster by Traut1 available through Redbubble.
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Bicycle Parking in Florence
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Cervo Rosso Strada Doppio 2.0
The Cervo Rosso Strada Doppio 2.0 is a truly amazing piece of clothing. First, the jacket is completely waterproof and windproof, made from a micro polyester. Second, the jacket turns into a vest with one single zipper. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around an explanation for how this works, but am at a loss. Suffice it to say, one zipper, and one single movement with that zipper, and you have a vest. It’s a really neat trick, and incredibly useful for changing conditions. Once you unzip the sleeves, there is a handy pocket at the back of the vest for storage. I find this jacket to be really useful, especially for early morning rides that start cool, but warm up as the sun begins to heat things. It’s also great for long warmer climbs as a vest, with the option of reattaching the sleeves for the cooler descent. I used the jacket for a long ride in Switzerland and came away impressed. It performed as advertised, and the fit was exceptional. There was no flapping of material on the descent, a sure way of telling the design is well executed. Cervo Rosso has done an excellent job with the Strada Doppio, and I recommend it to those looking for a two in one solution for fighting rain and wind.
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Chrome Delta
The Chrome Delta is a new offering designed by Ed Wonka. It is typical of Chrome in that it has a changing volume, in this case, 16 liters to 24 liters. It is the perfect size for a “do everything” commuter bag. It holds the daily essentials, but can transform to carry home the groceries as well. It has a built-in laptop sleeve that will accommodate a 15″ MacBook as well as organizational pockets meant for a smartphone, pens, binders, etc. To top it all off, the backpack is also weatherproof. The bag is available in three colors, black, Woodland, and Berlin Blue. I must admit I really like the Berlin Blue that I’ve pictured above. There is something about that blue, and best of all, it stands out from the majority of black bags plying the streets. The bag is available for $110.00 directly from Chrome, either in store or online.
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Freitag, Zurich
While in Zurich, I made my usual pilgrimage to the Freitag shop to have a look at all their amazing product in one place. The shop is stunning, built out of shipping containers. The view from the top is spectacular, though a bit unsettling, as the shipping containers do sway a bit in the wind. The climb to the top is not for the faint of heart. The store is full of amazing things, but one product that stands out is the F46 Clark. It is designed as a high volume sports bag, but I found myself using it for long weekend trips. It has a padded shoulder strap as well as handles, and most importantly, there are two compartments within to separate sweaty cloths from dry. In my case, this was perfect for separating cycling shoes from my clothing and electronics. The bag works really well, and benefits from simple but elegant design. Also in the shop is the Reference Line, an upscale line of handbags and accessories. It’s a very good looking line, worthy of a prominent place in the shop. Freitag is a favorite of mine, and most everything they do is extraordinary.
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Fabian Cancellara
From Fabian Cancellara’s Twitter feed after his fall in todays Olympic Road Race.
“Have no words left. The tears are stronger then the pain.
Now we are waiting in the policlinic in the athletvillage (sic)
for the X-ray,”
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Castelli Leggero Jacket
The Castelli Leggero is a lightweight jacket that is windproof and water resistant. It is made from Forcefield fabric that weighs 35 grams per square meter. This makes the Leggero one of the lightest jackets on the market. It comes with a stuff sack that is the size of a very small pancake, making this jacket the perfect accessory to bring along when you are unsure of the weather. On one such ride in Switzerland, the weather was incredibly warm at the start, but turned nasty a couple of hours into the ride. I reached into my jersey pocket looking for the jacket, but had to take a minute to find it. If not for the slight bump in the jersey, I wouldn’t have even noticed it. It really weighs very little, but definitely makes a big impact on cold descents. I put it on, and suddenly the ride was a whole lot warmer. I think an item like this can be a true life saver in rough situations, and I appreciate how easy it is to carry unnoticed. Castelli is looking out for us.
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Faraday Bikes
Faraday Bikes put up a Kickstarter Project to get the Faraday Porteur electric propelled utility bike off the ground with a goal of $100,000. As of 7:18 PM PST, the project has reached $104,733, a bit over the goal with 17 days still left for pledging to the project. It seems many other people are as intrigued by this bike as I am. I rode my first electric bicycle while in Switzerland, and was pleasantly surprised by how cool it was. The Faraday has the added bonus of being a very appealing looking machine. I look forward to seeing the finished product.
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Snow Peak Camping Lantern
The Snow Peak GL 100A is a camping lantern meant for anyone seeking a small, yet very powerful light. The lantern is under 4″ tall, and weighs 4.5 ounces. It comes in a plastic carrying case for protection when thrown into a backpack or pannier. The lantern attaches to any standard fuel canister and can be set up in very little time. It has brightness control as well as automatic ignition. The lantern is a smart design and as is the case with all Snow Peak product, very well made. This is a perfect product for those gearing up for a cycling adventure.
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