ALL POSTS
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Fashion is cyclical which means what was once uncool tends to find its way back to popularity given enough time. In this review we’ll be looking at the CamelBak Flow Belt 21oz which is a modernized waist pack solution – aka the fanny pack. With an integrated 21oz bottle holder and 2L of storage capacity the Podium Flow Belt 21oz is a great lightweight solution to carry gear and hydration. Included with the belt is a Podium Dirt Series 21oz bottle, the latest generation of CamelBak’s most popular water bottles. The Dirt Series bottle has specific graphics, and a rubber…
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With the number of bicycle accessories on the market from cycling computers, lights, to action cameras, it’s easy to end up with a cluttered handlebar. To reduce the clutter, one bicycle accessory that has become increasingly popular are out-in-front mounts which move your bike computer or lights off your handlebars and ahead of your stem. This frees up space so you have additional hand positions and gives your bike a cleaner appearance. Many of these mounts are dual sided to allow for a GoPro mount on the underside to accommodate a light or camera and a computer mount on the…
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The Spok USB lights are the latest generation of Planet Bike’s popular Spok lights. Designed to be small and easy to mount, the lights have been modified to feature USB rechargeability to make them easier use. In this review we’ll be looking at the $40 light set which includes a headlight and taillight. This saves you a few bucks of the individual prices of $22 for each light and makes a good set of secondary lights to ensure you remain visible at night. Each light has a 270mAh Lithium Polymer battery and offers upto 20 hours of run-time or more…
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The flagship Shimano S-PHYRE RC901 shoes feature the latest construction and technology. With a retail price of $400 these shoes also carry a premium price tag to match the features. Underneath the distinctive exterior design which features a number of eye catching colors, the RC901s have a unibody carbon fiber construction to maximize power transfer between your feet and the pedals. Although these aren’t the lightest shoes on the market, the seamless upper and stiff outsole ensure you maximize your performance on the road. The Shimano S-PHYRE RC901 is a flagship shoe that ticks all the right boxes: Gorgeous finish,…
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Just as you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, you also shouldn’t judge a bike light by it’s lumen output. Even if a bike light has a high lumen output that is FL-1 certified, the beam optics are vital on how well those lumens are translated to the road. Beware of cheap lights that make big claims without testing! A majority of bike lights use simple lens designs that project a cone of light. This means much of the light is wasted on the trees or buildings above you instead of the road and can also blind oncoming traffic.…
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Cycling computers have evolved from simple wired speed displays to touch screen GPS devices that not only can track your ride but also sync with your phone and give you turn-by-turn directions. As cycling computers have become increasingly complicated, they often come with retail prices that are expensive enough to require payment plans. This has left a void between cyclists who want affordable computers that offer real-time power data, heart rate and cadence without the need for GPS or additional features. The Bontrager RIDEtime Elite is a unique offering that fills that void, with a retail price of $69.99 and…
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CamelBak’s Podium series of water bottles have been a favorite of many cyclists and one of their most popular bottles. What sets the Podium bottles apart from other water bottles on the market is Camebak’s patented jet valve nozzle. The self sealing, and high flow nozzle makes them easy to drink from and eliminates accidental spills. With the latest Podium 3.0 bottles, CamelBak has addressed the two major flaws the Podium bottles have had – bottle cage fit and clean-ability. The best gets better? The Podium 3.0 bottles promise a more optimized bottle cage fit and easier to clean design.…
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Lupine is a German company that is best known for their impressive build quality and high output mountain bike lights. With the Rotlicht Max, they’ve created a unique bike taillight that combines durability, serviceability, and many features in a single package. The replaceable Lithium polymer battery ensures you can continue to use the light instead of having to replace the entire taillight. With 160 lumens (2W) output, the taillight is also bright enough to ensure you remain visible during both the day or night. The CNC machine housing and polycarbonate front cover combine to give the Rotlicht Max an impressive…
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With advancements in technology and batteries, bike lights have transformed from being low powered and bulky to lightweight and compact units. The Bontrager Ion RT and Flare RT light set are a great example of this transformation. With diminutive sizes, the Ion RT headlight and Flare RT taillight offer daytime visibility with decent run-time and USB rechargeable batteries. Aside from the standard multiple output modes, the lights also boast Bluetooth connectivity to compatible Bontrager and Garmin computers allowing you to remotely control the lights. The Bontrager Ion RT and Flare RT are compact and high tech lights that pack a…