ALL POSTS
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One of the most controversial topics in cycling is the debate over round vs oval chain rings. While round chain rings are still the most common and popular design, oval chain rings have rapidly gained and lost popularity over the years. absoluteBLACK claims to have a proven solution with their oval rings and studies to prove their effectiveness in improving pedal efficiency and smoothness rather than claiming power gain. For SRAM 110/5 cranks, the retail price is $125.95 for 50 / 52 T outer rings and $59.95 34 / 36 T which is actually lower than the price of OEM…
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3D printing has been a game changing technology that lets you quickly prototype and create unique designs. Trek’s new Aeolus AirLoom saddles embrace the 3D printing technology with their AirLoom 3D printed lattice structure that replaces traditional saddle covers and foam. Trek offers the saddle in multiple variations from the $174.99 Elite AirLoom, a mid-level $274.99 Pro and the top-of-the-line $424.99 RSL version we have for this review. As the top model, the RSL features a OCLV carbon shell and oversized 7x10mm OCLV carbon rails. The saddle is available in 135, 145 and 155mm widths to accommodate different bike fits…
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Aero Tech Designs is an affordable cycling apparel brand offering fun prints and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. All their apparel is designed, printed, cut, sewn, and shipped in-house. They’re a size inclusive company offering up to 5XL on some products. This review is for the Aero Tech Designs Women’s Cat jersey and All Day Padded cycling shorts. In a sea of solid colors, Aero Tech Designs stands out in its fun print offerings.
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There are a variety of bike storage bag options from standard top tube bags to full on frame bags that fill the entire triangular region to make it easier to carry gear on a bike. One of the often overlooked areas is the area in front of the seatpost on the top tube. Tailfin’s Rear Top Tube Bag is a lightweight bag that was specifically designed to wedge into that spot for both road and mountain bikes. Tailfin offers two versions of the bag: a 0.8L designed for mountain bikes and a slightly larger 0.9L version for road and gravel…
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Trek’s Ion and Flare lights have been a popular choice with road cyclists thanks to their compact form factor and focused single LEDs. While they aren’t bright enough to light up the road they are perfect for daytime riding and are easy to mount on city or road bikes. After being on the market for years, Trek has finally updated the lights with the big highlight being fast USB-C charging and a battery gauge. Retail price on the individual lights is $44.99 while the combination lightset comes at a slightly discounted $84.99. The Ion R has 100 lumen output while…
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The Bontrager Girona RSL TLR gravel tire is marketed as the Bontrager’s fastest gravel tire to date. Inspired by Girona, Spain, the tires feature a lightly-treaded fast-rolling design with dual-compounds to optimize speed on hardpacked gravel roads. The retail price of the tires is $76.99 and they are offered in three widths currently: 35, 38 and 42mm as well as black and tan sidewall colors. Bontrager also has a PRO variation of the tires for $54.99 but it lacks the 220 TPI casing of the RSL version. The tires have a dual tread design with a smooth center section and…
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Whether you are doing a short ride around the neighborhood or a century, it is important to bring tools with you. The Trek Pro BITS multi-tool is Trek’s go-to multi-tool that includes 18 functions to cover everything from tubeless repairs to simple handlebar angle adjustments. Retail price for the Trek Pro BITS is $76.99 which includes a removable multi-tool and holder which includes chain tools. Trek actually sells the 15 function multi-tool on its own as the Trek Elite BITS multi-tool for $43.99. With the PRO version Trek includes tire plugs, a quick-link storage and a chain tool integrated into…
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Developed with the Lidl-Trek athletes, the Trek RSL is a lightweight saddle designed for comfort even in the toughest races. This is part of Trek’s Race Shop Limited lineup which makes this the top performance saddle Trek currently offers. Retail price for the saddle is a premium $324.99 and includes a Blendr mount for attaching Trek taillights or radars directly to the saddle. As an RSL product, the saddle is constructed with a OCLV carbon fiber shell and features Trek’s oversized 7x10mm carbon rails. The saddle features a full center cutout and minimally bonded padding for comfort and performance. The…
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The Knog Oi bells made a big splash back when they were introduced in 2016 with their sleek compact designs and premium details. For 2025, Knog has introduced the 80+ dB Oi Prima bike bell which incorporates some subtle updates to improve the sounds and durability of the bell. The retail price of the bell is $32.99 which slots between the popular $21.99 Oi Classic and the more premium $44.99 Oil Luxe bells. The Oi Prima features Knog’s new WAVETEK technology which uses a sleeker and more robust hammer design. It’s a lower profile design that hides the spring and…