New Products: SRAM Type 2 - Clutch Equipped Derailleur
Improving the Riding Experience is Exactly Why Drivetrain Technology continues to Move Forward. Creating a Quieter, Smoother Drivetrain that Will Remain Consistent even over the Most Demanding Terrain is the Goal.
SRAMs new Type 2 clutch equipped rear derailleur provides one way tension that keeps chain slap to a minimum while improving on the fly shift quality. But does this technology improve the riding experience or is it just marketing hype?
Tested: Smartwool Midweight Zip T Baselayer
Smartwools Midweight Zip T Base Layer adds Comfort to Your Recreational Pursuits with the Simple Elegance of Merino Wool.
Smartwools base layers are a great addition to any arsenal of cycling gear, or any active sport for that matter. With Merinos natural wicking and anti-stink properties, along with a soft comfortable feel, they offer a great return on your investment.
Tested: Specialized Fate 29er
My, What Big Wheels You Have
by Jen See
The Fate is new for 2012 from Specialized Women. It’s the first carbon 29er designed specifically for women riders from Specialized.
I’ve been riding the Fate since November on the trails around Santa Barbara, California. The bike handles best on smooth, fast trails, and I had the most fun with the Fate on the rolling terrain of our local coastal bluffs.
Tested: Road Holland Arnhem Jersey
“Serious and stylish cycling wear”
Focused as functional cycling clothing that can go directly from a ride to a night on-the-town. Blending 39% wool and 61% synthetic fibers creates a silky, comfortable feel with a simple yet upscale look.
Sram Leaks New Clutch Equipped Derailleur
With the release of Shimanos Shadow Plus derailleur this past season, Sram has been hard at work to create some significant updates to current derailleur offerings.
Shimano's Shadow Plus derailleur features a roller clutch mechanism that greatly decreases unwanted chain movement by allowing the derailleur to only move in the direction of the shift. This system has shown great potential and it is obvious why Sram would adopt a similar technology for their derailleur updates.
Tested: Continental Top Contact Winter Tires
Mounting up a set of winter tires can make all the difference in the world on your daily bike commute. Continental offers a great studless, winter specific option with the Top Contact Winter tires.
The day after I mounted the Continental Contact Winter II on my Electra cruiser, it began to snow and didn't stop for many days and has been below freezing on and off for the past few months. So I have been able to ride the tires on dry pavement, 6"+ powder, soft and hard packed snow, -10*f Styrofoam-squeaky super hard packed snow, slush and of course ice.
Tested: FATBACK Ti
Fatback Titanium - Stopped by Nothing
Price: $4,500 (as tested)
Weight: 30.75 lbs.
www.FatbackBikes.com
At first glance, it resembles a bike that may be aboard the next mission to Mars. With its 4.7-inch tires and 90-mm-wide rims, Fatback’s well-refined contribution to the fat bike movement is sure to turn a few heads out on the snow-packed trails.
Tested: TREK SLASH 9
Trek Slash 9 - Don’t Just Enjoy the Descents, Slay Them
Price: $5,780 Weight: 30.5 lbs. www.TrekBikes.com
Purpose-built as a descent-hungry, speed-dialed workhorse with 160 mm of travel, Trek’s new Slash 9 shows how the company has made some impressive refinements over its previous enduro-oriented bikes.
Tested: Cateye Inou GPS POV Camera
An Easy to use GPS Camera offers Quality Features but Video Quality Falls Short
Pairing GPS capability with a helmet POV camera allows riders to share a wealth of detailed ride information with other riders across the interwebs. Cateye’s latest creation, the Inou, features both video and still capabilities along with GPS tracking. A lightweight, user friendly design makes using the camera a breeze, but for the technically saavy, the Inou may be lacking.
Tested: Giro Feature Helmet
Keep your Dome Safe with Giro's New Trail Oriented Offering
With the popularity of trail oriented products flooding the mountain bike market, helmets are no exception. Featuring more rounded profiles, greater cranium coverage, and a truly unique style make these brain buckets perfect for riders looking for added protection without compromising on style.
Clearer Vision: An Easy Way to Store Eyeware
I have some bad habits when it comes to taking care of gear. I don’t religiously clean my bike and lube my chain. I have been known to machine dry my chamois. And I regularly store my sunglasses in a backpack or throw them in a pile of old mail on my kitchen counter.
Tested: Tifosi Mast Fototec Sunglasses
Stylish, Comfortable, and Reasonably priced. Tifosi hits them all with the Mast.
Finding a versatile pair of shades functional enough for the trail but stylish enough for that after ride beer can be a task, especially on a budget. But sunglass manufacturer Tifosi, has continued to impress with their well priced line of sport specific glasses. But these budget specs pack the punch of many higher priced glasses on the market, while doing so for well under $100.
Tested: Boo Bicycles Bamboo 29
Technology Sustained
Boo Bicycles was founded in 2009 when professional road racer and mechanical engineer Nick Frey contacted James Wolf, an industrial designer who specializes in bamboo fabrication, about building bicycles from bamboo. The two set out to craft high-performance bicycles using a combination of natural bamboo and synthetic carbon fiber to provide riders with a comfortable, durable and unique frame option.
Tested: Calfee Bamboo Adventure
Elegance in Motion
Bamboo, hemp fiber and plant-based epoxy: These may sound like items on a list of OG materials your iconoclastic hippie buddy is using to construct a greenhouse for his new medical-marijuana grow operation rather than the ingredients of a high-end bicycle frame. But master framebuilder Craig Calfee is showing high-performance bicycle enthusiasts that sustainable materials are a viable option in a world of toxic compounds and conspicuous disposability.
