ALL POSTS
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Lake Cycling has taken all their experience in shoe design and material science to develop the CX 242 shoes. With a split upper design and unique pressure relief zones, the CX 242 shoes are the perfect shoes for riders with special fit issues or non-standard shapes. The Lake CX 242 are an evolution of the CX 241 shoes with the major changes being the updated closure system, Carbitex carbon fiber support panels and wider toe box shape. The shoes retail for $389.99 and are offered in a few monotone color options as well as the reflective finish shown in this…
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Julbo’s Density sunglasses are a modern take on the oversized performance sunglasses. These are semi-frameless sunglasses that are designed to be lightweight yet stable enough for high intensity activities like cycling or running. Retail price on the Density sunglasses varies from $169.95 for the standard Spectron lenses and goes up to $249.95 with the photochromic REACTIV lens option. Regardless of which lens you choose, the Density sunglasses have an ultra modern style with a thin frame and semi-frameless design for a wide field of view. The sunglasses also feature Julbo’s CustomFIT temples which have Grip Tech material and can easily…
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When it comes to cycling panniers most people picture bulky bags stuffed with food and gear for multi-day trips. The North St. Commuter Micro Pannier that we have in this review sheds that image with a compact 14L capacity and easy attachment design. Retail price on the bag is $100 with an optional $15 shoulder strap that allows you to wear the bag. For easy attachment and removal, the Micro Pannier bag uses a hook and bungee system with multiple hook sizes available from 9-19mm rail sizes. There is also an Adventure Pannier variation that uses a Velcro setup for…
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If you’re looking for lightweight and breathable cycling shoes, it’s hard to beat a knit cycling shoe. In this review, we’ll be looking at the latest version of Fizik’s Vento Infinito Knit Carbon 2 shoes which combine a knitted upper with the high performance features of the Infinito cycling shoes. With a retail price of $379.99 the shoes offer a breathable knit upper with heat fused TPU and a stiff R2 carbon outsole. The shoes also feature a dual BOA Li2 dial system to customize the fit as a part of their Volume Control System. Fizik also offers the shoes…
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While Velocio is well known for their premium cycling clothes which have modern designs and form fitting constructions they also have a full lifestyle clothing collection. That means you can enjoy the same high tech fabrics and form-fitting designs of Velocio clothing on and off the bike. In this review we’ll specifically be looking at two items in the lifestyle collection: the Recon Hoodie and Stealth Pants. The Recon Hoodie retails for $249 and is a Merino wool blend that elevates the ubiquitous hoodie. Velocio has incorporated bike-specific features such as reflective detailing and three zippered pockets. We’ve paired the…
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When it comes to clipless road cycling shoes it’s hard to beat the performance of carbon fiber shoes with dual dial closure systems. The combination of a stiff carbon fiber sole and dual dials provides the best fit and performance on the bike. Decathlon’s Van Rysel RoadR 900 carbon shoes give you that performance at an affordable price point. At only $199.99, the RoadR 900 shoes combine a full carbon outsole with exposed weave and dual ATOP dials to adjust the fit. The shoes use a perforated synthetic upper material for durability and flexibility. These are designed for 3-bolt cleats…
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Cannondale’s SmartSense system is an innovative and controversial approach to combining headlights, taillights and radars into a single seamless package. Rather than recharging three separate batteries and powering them on individually, the SmartSense system features integrated cable routing with a central SmartSense battery on the downtube of Cannondale’s bikes. This system is currently only available on the Synapse and Topstone bikes but we wouldn’t be surprised if it was extended to other model lines. A speed sensor on the front wheel allows all the devices to turn on automatically when the bike moves and shutdown if no motion is detected…
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Electric cargo bikes are arguably one of the most useful types of e-bikes as they offer versatility and functionality. Xtracycle is one of the founding companies in the cargo bike market and have helped advocate and expand the market for them. Thanks to advances in electric motors and battery technology, Xtracycle now offers multiple electric bike options for carrying children or gear quickly and safely. In this review, we’ll specifically be looking at the RFA (“Ready For Anything”) model which is one of their more compact designs. The bike retails for $4999 and features an attractive chromoly steel frame with…
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Inspired by the Italian word for light, the LUCE collection offers new additions to the KOO Demos and Spectro line. These combine the cycling-specific designs of the Demos and Spectro with transparent frames and bright lens colors. In this review, we’ll specifically be looking at KOO Demos in the LUCE Capsule collection. Retail price on the sunglasses is $190 and they are available in three different frame and lens combinations. The KOO Demos have a full frame construction with a lens-over-frame design that gives them a sporty semi-frameless appearance. They utilize an oversized single Zeiss polycarbonate lens with vents cut…