It’s no accident I write often about Nau, as I find their product line appealing and their company practices responsible. The Vice Blazer is still one of my favorite items, and it’s since been joined by the M1 Striped Polo. This is a simple polo made from 18 micron merino wool. It is a summer weight shirt perfect for the climate in LA. During the day you stay cool, but at night when the temperatures drop, the merino wool keeps you comfortable. It is not by chance that my favorite clothing is made from merino, as it really is the perfect material. It regulates temperatures perfectly, rarely suffers from odor, is machine washable, and lasts a long time if taken care of properly. I like the styling of this polo as it has lapped seams at the shoulders, setting it apart from other polos. Nau is quite good at differentiating their product, and that in turn makes me appreciate it even more.
Today I ran into a friend in Mill Valley who is running the Keywin Carbon Pedals. I was impressed, and will get the back story on these in the future. I am also hoping to get a pair for testing and review on Velospeak.
Garmin Barracuda has achieved their first Grand Tour win with Ryder Hesjedal at the Giro d’Italia. It was an incredibly close race, with 16 seconds separating the winner from the second place spot. Yesterdays climb up the Stelvio Pass was an amazing stage, though not the deciding one. It all came down to todays individual time trial. Very exciting indeed.
Those who know me are aware I like having my bikes in full view in the dining room. Well, here’s a solution for giving a bike an even more prominent place in your home. This is the Shoes Book and a Bike stand from POSTFOSSIL. They are a Swiss collective of designers creating and producing objects for the home. Their studio is in Zurich, and they currently have about a dozen different objects for sale on their website. I hope to be able to check out their studio this July.
I’ve had the opportunity to test the Incase Range Large backpack for the last three weeks, and in that time, it has gained a spot on my list of favorite backpacks. The reasons are many, but first up is its size. For my daily commute I typically carry my laptop, a pair of shoes or boots, food, my daily planner, and a bunch of bike tools. This bag handles all this perfectly. As a bonus, I discovered that even fully loaded, I can still put my Catlike helmet in at the very top, and still zip the bag closed. The compartments are really well thought out on the Range. The laptop loads in from the side into a dedicated sleeve lined with plush faux-fur. At the front is a velcro flap covering the U-Lock compartment, and at the lower corners are two small zippered compartments perfect for stowing away all the tools needed for on-the-fly bike repair. At the top there is a large zippered opening to access the main compartment. This is the place for the shoes, the daily planner, the jacket, and anything else you can think of. It also has a storm flap to help protect the contents from the rain. At the top of the large opening, there is a small compartment for business cards, keys, gum, etc. As I said, the size is perfect, but even better is the fact that the bag does not look massive, but instead looks quite small. It’s a welcome optical illusion that may be due in part to its incredibly clean design. There are no straps fluttering around, just a simple clean shape. There are small reflective details as well as the obligatory blinky light attachment point. Yesterday on my commute home, I loaded an additional two coffee table books in the bag, upping the total weight to 32 lbs. This is not something I recommend, but in a pinch, the bag handled the weight well, and felt pretty good on my shoulders and back. This is a great bag, and at $149.95, the bag is also competitively priced. I highly recommend this bag to those who enjoy simple and functional design.
This is a video taken by Marcelo Gutierrez as he rides the Red Bull Downhill time trial in Monserrate, Colombia. I rarely post videos, but these athletes have earned a place next to big wave surfers in terms of sheer madness.
Chrome Industries have launched four new shoe models. From top to bottom, we have the Lower Southside, the Dolores (Chrome’s first shoe for women only), the Kursk Natural, and not pictured, the Kursk Natural Pro. I am a fan of Chrome shoes, and have been wearing the Southside for well over a year now. The shoes hold up well, are very comfortable, and in my opinion, look really good.
