Civilian Bikes

by | Apr 11, 2012 | Uncategorized

Civilian Bikes are a brand born from the mind and hands of Tyson Hart. The first bike was forged by hand in 2005, and now the marque has a sales channel through Competitive Cyclist. There are seven models to choose from, all with unique features and graphics that set them apart. I’ve been looking at the website for a few days now, and the model that intrigues me most is the Vive Le Roi, with it’s 1 x 10 gearing, and Avid disc brakes. It’s a really beautiful bike, and most importantly, it really makes me want to ride.



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Rapha Grand Tour Shoes

by | Apr 11, 2012 | Uncategorized

The Rapha Grand Tour Shoes went on sale yesterday, and today many sizes are out of stock. Looking at the inventory specs, black seems to be the color of choice. Maybe on the next run I’ll be able to grab a pair for review on Velospeak. The shoes certainly look good and are a great addition to the Rapha range.



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Nau & BioMega

by | Apr 9, 2012 | Uncategorized

Nau and BioMega have launched a contest with the grand prize of a head to toe outfit of your choice from Nau, and a BioMega BOS bike. I’d be quite keen on having the BOS, as it is a BMX sized, disc brake equipped, Shimano 8 speed internal geared, folding bike with integrated locking system. Quite cool. The Nau apparel package is the icing on the cake, and best of all, you get to choose which pieces you’d like. Nau certainly knows how to put on a good contest. The winner will be announced on May 9th. The link to enter is here, and while visiting the Nau site, have fun dreaming up your outfit of choice.



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IRC Formula Pro Tubeless Light

by | Apr 9, 2012 | Uncategorized

I received a sample set of the new IRC Formula Pro Tubeless Light tires last week. I put them on the Cervelo last night and got a short ride in this morning. My first impressions are very favorable. It is definitely a race tire, and has a recommended PSI of between 90 and 115. They are very light, weighing in at 240 grams per tire. The combination of low weight and tubeless design make this as close as you can get to tubular, with the benefit being very low rolling resistance. The advantage is not having to glue tires to your rims. I currently have them inflated to 100 PSI, and the handling is excellent. I have not had the opportunity to try them in the hills as of yet, but I have a feeling they are going to be excellent. I will report back with more impressions once I have more miles on them. As an aside, I am happy to be back on IRC tires. Back in my mountain biking days, the IRC Mythos was always my go to tire, so I have an affinity for IRC.



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SF

by | Apr 6, 2012 | Uncategorized

I have lots to tell about my trip to San Francisco. It’s been great touring and I’ve managed to get in stops to many shops in both San Francisco and Mill Valley. The photo above is, of course, from Rapha, and the Rapha Cycle Club was one of my first visits. The club lived up to my expectations and fulfilled what I envisioned. It was great seeing some of the new product such as the Rapha City Trousers and the new jerseys. I had hoped to get a sneak preview of the Grand Tour shoes, but I’ll have to wait until April 10th. The club has an incredibly laid back atmosphere with an exceptionally friendly staff. It was interesting to see the combination of bike nerds such as myself, mixing with people there just for a coffee and chat. I was glad to be able to see it, and hope it inspires a Rapha Cycle Club in Los Angeles in the future.



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Midget Bushtrekka

by | Apr 6, 2012 | Uncategorized

Every time I see a VW Camper, I feel a sense of adventure coming over me. Just the prospect of going out on the road is enough to make me want one. Now comes along the Midget Bushtrekka, a bicycle trailer with a built in one person tent. Definitely an item that opens up the possibilities of a grand adventure.



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Freitag F48 Hazzard

by | Apr 2, 2012 | Uncategorized

I must preface this post by saying I am predisposed to liking almost anything Freitag does. And by everything, I mean their product, their stores (Zurich in particular), their website, and most importantly, the fact that each product is unique due to their manufacture using recycled truck tarps. With that out of the way, I present the F48 Hazzard, one of two backpacks offered by Freitag. The F48 is the larger of the two, but one would never guess this is a large backpack. Its design is so pure and simple, it seems rather compact in a good way. It has incredibly clean lines that belie how incredibly usable the pack is. It has one large compartment that has a dedicated laptop sleeve. The sleeve keeps your computer safe from other essential commuting items such as shoes and a U-lock, all of which fit well. There is an outer pocket for storing an iPhone and other smaller items. The straps are very comfortable, and in a neat trick, stow away, converting the backpack into a briefcase. All in all, an excellent bag backed by the best customer service in the business. If ever there is a problem with any of their product, just deliver it to Freitag, and they will take care of it. The price of admission is indeed steep, but this backpack will last a lifetime, and its uniqueness will forever set it apart.



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E Bike Week

by | Mar 29, 2012 | Uncategorized


 


This week has been the week of E-Bikes announcements. First the RAD e Concept by Opel, and then the Specialized Turbo. Both are making inroads in making the e-bike look palatable to people like me, who may be a tad more traditional about the way a bike should look. There is not much info on either as of yet, but the Specialized claims to be the fastest e-bike to date, hitting speeds of 28mph. The mini site is up with all the relevant information.



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