by Velospeak | Aug 27, 2013 | Uncategorized
On Sunday, I had the opportunity to do a ride I’ve been wanting to do since returning from Switzerland. I wanted to take advantage of all the climbing I had done to tackle one of the classic Southern California climbs before losing all the conditioning I had gained while traveling. Mount Wilson was the goal. The meet up point was the Shell station in La Cañada Flintridge at 8am. It took a bit of motivation to get out of the house so early after a late night, but I managed. Once there, I met up with the group I was to ride with. I knew one person, the rest were new meets. A bit of early morning introductions, and we were off. The pace was moderate, and the temperatures high. At select turnouts, we would re-group, making sure no one was left behind. I felt good on the climb, and by noon, we were atop Mount Wilson. The unusual part of the ride for me was the company. I tend to ride by myself or with one friend, as my schedule makes it difficult to join group rides. On this occasion, I was able to commit the time, and was rewarded for it. I made new friends, and it’s interesting that the part I remember most from the day is the conversations I had on the climb. It was so much fun speaking with people from all different walks of life who share a common passion. It also confirmed what I’ve always believed: that cyclists are a friendly and smart bunch of people. I hope I’m able to do group rides more often as the camaraderie is worth every moment of the suffering going up the mountain. My Sunday was incredibly enjoyable, and the company more than made up for the horrible new paving on Angeles Crest Highway. Here’s to riding with friends and strangers.
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by Velospeak | Aug 22, 2013 | Made in the USA, Product Reviews, Uncategorized
The Solite 250EX from Light & Motion is an exceptionally versatile light designed to be a bike light, a headlamp, a flashlight, a helmet light and even a freestanding light. This may seem like a lot of functions, but after using the Solite, I’ve discovered it handles all its intended purposes quite well. The light comes with different mounts for its different uses. To function as a headlamp, the light and battery attach to a snug headband. The mount is intuitive, and the headband quite comfortable. As a stand-alone light and flashlight, all that is needed is to attach the light to the battery, and presto, you have a light on a stand or a flashlight. These three purposes alone make this a very attractive package. For my next camping trip, the Solite will be indispensable. For those wanting to use this as a bike light, there is a wonderfully simple attachment that cradles both the battery and light, and then straps to the stem of the bicycle. It’s a simple and neat system, and still allows the beam to be adjusted any which way you desire. Lastly, there is a mount for your helmet that is also quite simple to use. Best of all, the light can easily be swapped to function in any of its intended uses. The light has a run time of 4 hours at its brightest setting, and 30 hours at its lowest setting. There is also a “read” setting that allows the light to run for 150 hours at 7 lumens. The way I see it, the Solite will get you through an entire weekend of camping. For those worried about weight in a backpack, the Solite with battery comes in at a mere 104 grams according to my scale. The Solite is a great solution for those looking for one light to serve many functions. It is available directly from Light & Motion as well as other fine retailers. One last point to make: all Light & Motion products are designed and assembled in California.
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by Velospeak | Aug 21, 2013 | Made in the USA, Uncategorized
Today I’m daydreaming about a Parlee Z-Zero.
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by Velospeak | Aug 21, 2013 | Uncategorized
Aether Apparel continues to update its product line with one amazing piece after another. The dust is still settling from the release of the Canyon and Skyline motorcycle jackets. Those two jackets set a new standard for functional and stylish gear for the motor bike. Now Aether is set to reach new heights with the introduction of the Nimbus 3-in-1 jacket. This piece is made from a waterproof 3-layer woven wool Schoeller® fabric with a tricot backer. The jacket is fully seam-sealed to keep squalls at bay, and the sleeves are articulated for freedom of movement. The vest is a stand-alone piece that is attachable to the outer shell via a hidden snap system. The magic here is the hidden connectors that do not give away the dual purpose of both pieces. The vest is made from Schoeller® microfiber shell with a mini ripstop liner. The insulation consists of 60 grams of Primaloft® that should keep you warm on the coldest of days. There are plenty of pockets in both pieces making this jacket a highly functional piece. Aether Apparel is upping the standards of outerwear design, and the Nimbus looks to be the new benchmark.
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by Velospeak | Aug 21, 2013 | Made in the USA, Product Reviews, Uncategorized
I wrote about the release of the Allen Edmonds Voyager shoes a few weeks back, and in that time I’ve had the opportunity to put these shoes through their paces. The rugged soles beg for them to be used at work on a daily basis, and that is just what I’ve done. Because of the quirky nature of my job, I am at my desk very little; more often than not, I’m actively moving around. The Voyager shoes are perfect for this. They have incredible support, making them ideal all day shoes. “Walkability” is their strong point, and I must say they have really been one of the most comfortable pairs of walking shoes I have ever owned. A one and a half mile hike to lunch is a walk in the park for these shoes. They make me feel as if I could go on forever without any worries of sore feet. The other strong point is their build quality. Allen Edmonds makes some of the finest footwear available, and the Voyager shoes are no exception. They are made in the US, are incredibly well built, and I expect they will last for many years to come. If you are looking for a stylish do-everything pair of shoes, look no further than the Allen Edmonds Voyager.
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by Velospeak | Aug 19, 2013 | Uncategorized
Last week, Mission Workshop released the Indian Summer Riding Kit. The kit consists of the Stahl short, the District henley and the Linear crew. The henley and crew are made from a mix of 190g/sm Merino wool and filament nylon. The shorts are constructed with military-spec 4-way stretch fabric from the USA and YKK zippers. All three garments are made in California. Mission Workshop continues to design and manufacture simple and stunning clothing that works incredibly well on the bike, and also looks good off the bike. Indian summer is on its way, and Mission Workshop has you covered.
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by Velospeak | Aug 13, 2013 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
My latest cycling obsession comes in the form of the Assos NS.skinFoil_hotsummer base layer. I’ve had this base layer for over two months now, and I find it difficult to contemplate a ride without it. The new skinFoil product line replaces the previous interactive series. There are seven models ranging from spring (1) to winter plus (7). The hot summer model is number 3 in the range, and as its name suggests, it is truly designed for summer temperatures. This is a sleeveless base layer meant to be worn next to the skin, under the straps of bib shorts. It is made from a polypropylene fiber blend that is incredibly light and efficient in its ability to absorb, and evaporate moisture quickly and efficiently. It uses seamless and tubular construction with different thicknesses for different parts of the torso. There is slight compression in all the right places, providing additional support on my bike ride. The fabric is comfortable against the skin, antistatic, antibacterial, and has been dermatologically tested and approved. The Assos skinFoil has the added effect of making me feel like a better rider. Whether this is true or not, I will not ride without it. This is the best base layer I have ever worn, and I would feel naked without it.
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by Velospeak | Aug 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
I have featured Allen Edmonds often on Velospeak, but today I thought I would feature Colin Hall, CMO/GM of International Business at Allen Edmonds. I approached Allen Edmonds last year because I wanted to feature companies that manufacture in the United States. Almost immediately upon making the connection, I discovered that many of the folks behind the scenes at Allen Edmonds are cyclists. Colin Hall is one of them, and he’s not just any cyclist, but one who raced throughout the ’80s. Colin started his athletic resumé in 1980 at the age of 15, competing in a half Iron Man, and finishing in 8th place. This was remarkable, as he was the only entrant under the age of 18. In 1981, he was the Michigan State Jr Road Champion and took 2nd in the Michigan State Jr Time Trial. In 1982, at the National Sports Festival, he made the winning break with Davis Phinney, Andrew Weaver and Andy Hampsten. On a side note, Andy Hampsten was Colin’s roommate at the time. In 1986, Colin went to Europe to race for the French amateur squad, “Deska.” During this period, he raced in the amateur Paris-Roubaix as seen in the photograph above. At the end of the ’80s, Colin returned to Dartmouth to finish his studies, and soon after leaving school, he entered the workforce. He still cycles today, while simultaneously helping to maintain Allen Edmond’s position as a high quality shoe manufacturer. After my many years in the cycling world, I’ve come to appreciate how the cycling community is a group of incredibly friendly and high achieving people, and Colin Hall is no exception. I should have guessed that behind such a great company is a group of committed cyclists.
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by Velospeak | Aug 12, 2013 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
The Sprint work stand from Feedback Sports is designed to accommodate carbon fiber bicycles. A standard work stand uses a clamping system that attaches to the seatpost or frame. On a carbon bicycle, this is not a recommended practice, as damage could occur to the carbon tubes. The Sprint bypasses this by using a rail system similar to that of a fork mount bike carrier. The one difference is that the bicycle rests on a soft rubber pad that makes contact with the bottom bracket. This enables you to spin the cranks and rear wheel for adjustments to the derailleurs and brakes. The Sprint is easy to set up, and even easier to use. Once the bicycle is mounted on the stand, height and direction can easily be adjusted. It is an ingenious design that makes working on a carbon fiber bike a breeze. The stand also comes with a fitted carrier, making the Sprint a viable travel work stand. The Sprint work stand from Feedback Sports is an excellent option for working on your beloved carbon bicycle.
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by Velospeak | Aug 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
Spurcycle, based in San Francisco, currently has a Kickstarter project to make a better bicycle bell. The project has been funded, but there is still time to get on board. Also, check out their website for other interesting products. The Zurich print is something I’d like to have in addition to the bell.
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