ALL POSTS
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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…
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Whether you have a 200 or a 2000 lumen bike light, cars and other traffic may still not see you at night. To stand out from the crowd you’ll need to be creative. Planet Bike’s Bottle Blinky, a bicycle side light, is a great way to get people to notice you. Designed to sandwich between your frame and bottle cage mounts, the Bottle Blinky has 6 bright amber LEDs to improve your side visibility. Combined with a traditional headlight, tail light and reflectors, the Bottle Blinky can ensure you are visible from any angle. The Bottle Blinky is a surprisingly…
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Deciding between cycling helmets typically has come down to budget, design and comfort. More recently, many helmet manufacturers have incorporated additional safety features beyond the simple EPS foam and head cradle systems. Bontrager has made a big splash with their debut of WaveCel liner technology. Marketed with the slogan “You only get one Brain,” WaveCel is an exclusive technology that Bontrager has developed to protect against cycling related head injuries. In this review, we’ll be taking a close look at the Bontrager Specter WaveCel helmet in an eye catching radioactive yellow gloss finish. The Bontrager Specter WaveCel is a unique…
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The Planet Bike Blaze headlights have been a mainstay of their bike light product line. Throughout the years, they’ve been continuously updated to improve their output and usability. In this review we’ll be looking at three models in the latest Blaze SLX line: the Blaze 400, 600 and 800 SLX headlights. These three headlights feature integrated rechargeable Li-ion batteries, excellent 275° side visibility as well as Planet Bike’s exclusive “Courtesy” and “Superflash” output modes. With the latest iteration, the SLX lights have been upgraded with higher lumen output, an improved Quick Twist handlebar mounting, and a Clean Beam design. The…
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Shopping for cycling helmets these days can be confusing, as every helmet seems to be designed for a specific cycling subset. That’s why we were excited to get our hands on the new Lazer Cameleon MIPS helmet that doesn’t limit itself to any single discipline. Visually the Cameleon combines design cues of traditional road cycling, mountain biking and commuting helmets. The helmet is available in both a standard version for $69.95 and the $89.95 MIPS version (which we are reviewing today). We chose the matte dark blue finish due to its sleek yet subtle design, although Lazer offers three other…