It doesn’t take a cyclist to know that the first two things that typically get cold are the hands and the feet. Based out of Minnesota, 45Nrth is a brand dedicated to creating products for cold weather cyclists who brave the rough elements. With the introduction of their Wolvhammer winter boot also came the introduction of the Jaztronaut insole. During the design process of the Wolvhammer boot, 45Nrth developed an insole solely for the purpose of keeping your feet warm. Once they realized just how well the new insole worked, it was released as a unique product in addition to the boot, packaged for all to enjoy.
After having ridden these in all sorts of temperatures, they have become a welcome addition to my winter gear. (more…)
The 100 Proof glove is the warmest offering for Giro. It’s a split finger glove (also called “lobster claw”) that pairs your fingers together to better trap body warmth. Included with the glove is a light weight glove liner made from a moisture wicking fabric to help keep your hands dry. All in all, these gloves are designed to keep you warm and dry in the most frigid of temperatures.
The split finger design is meant to help keep your fingers warmer, similar to a mitten but with some added dexterity. The increased range of motion is important for gripping on handlebars and operating a bike’s controls. (more…)
The other night I found myself commuting on the Border to Border Trail from Tree Fort over to the west side of Ann Arbor to meet up with a friend. I’ve traversed the route more times than I can count in the years I’ve lived in the area, and commuters seemed sparse at best. On this ride, I was struck by the number of bike commuters that I encountered. Despite the cold January weather, dozens of riders were out making their way to any imaginable destinations. From single riders to a large group of eight or more, we all were out for the same purpose, utilizing a great path system. (more…)
The Urban 550 clamps securely to the bars with a simply, tool free system.
The Urban 550 is an incredibly versatile light, serving well beyond its suggested use in urban settings. At 550 lumens, it puts out more than enough to cover most typical riding situations. With its compact and rechargeable Li-ion battery, tool free handlebar mount and multiple settings, it’s proven itself to be a reliable addition to my everyday cycling gear.
I purchased this light back in October when summer light started to dwindle and the prospect of night riding became inevitable. Since then, my Urban 550 remained mounted on my handlebar for nearly 900 miles. It’s seen nearly every condition, temperature and terrain that I could find to throw at it. And so far, it’s proven to be a sturdy piece of gear with virtually no problems.
When I set out to review the Salsa Warbird, we asked for your suggestions on gravel routes. We received a pretty decent helping of suggestions from all over the country — a huge variety that varied in length and difficulty. Here, we’ve picked four that showcased that range, offering something for everyone. (more…)
Winter riding isn’t for everyone. It takes a special breed to really, truly enjoy a good winter ride. That’s where 45Nrth comes into the picture. Products for those who understand the demands and pleasures of a good cold weather ride. And that’s exactly who their gear is designed for. (more…)
Küat has gained a lot of momentum over the last two years with their widely popular NV rack. In fact, in 2011 it was given a “Gear of the Year” award from Men’s Journal. Next up is the Rüfee. Right out of the box, this rack can do just about all of it. It’s adaptable for 9, 15 or 20mm forks, features special security bolts to keep it on your car, disc compatible and has a built in lock. Oh, and they are currently working with Salsa Cycles to carry fat bikes. I don’t think you could ask for anything else from a roof rack. (more…)
Our good friends, The Steel Wheels, recently posted up a video retrospective of their bike tour that we were proud to help support last year. For most of us, riding 600 miles in 11 days is enough. But for these gents, it was only the start, they also played 10 shows in that time span while also carrying all their gear. More than your typical bike touring gear mind you, we’re talking guitars, fiddles and even an upright bass along with all their personal things.
This tour started in nearby Ann Arbor, made it’s way to the west side of Michigan, onto Chicago before finishing up in Indiana. Since the release of their current album, they’ve been making their way up the Americana Airplay chart. They are currently charting in the Top 20!
Check out the video, we particularly like the team work in getting the upright bass trailer up onto the sidewalk.
Let’s face it – sometimes, in their crusade to share their love of bicycles with the rest of the world, espousing cyclists tend to exaggerate the ability of bikes to solve all the world’s problems. Fortunately, I often also see examples of cyclists doing things simply for the sake of cycling that positively impact our community in very real ways, ways that serve as a reminder that the über-advocates are in it for all the right reasons.
Take, for example, the recent efforts of one Michael Babcock to give the Lansing cyclocross scene a much needed shot to the heart. Before this season it’d been over a half decade since the capital area had played host to a ‘cross race, and clearly the Lansing cycling community hadn’t been capitalizing (get it?) on the rapid growth in the discipline to promote the sport locally. This year, however, that would change. (more…)
We just got a bunch of these new rear lights in from Serfas, the TL-200 and the Seat Stay Tail Light. These are killer, especially for us commuters who need ultra bright lights so we can’t be missed.
They’re super bright - there’s a lot of great lights out there, but these ones really pack in a HUGE punch. The TL-200 uses TWO half wat LED lights, the Seat Stay light is a half watt – you can’t even look at the thing directly while its on for an extended period.
They look awesome - both models use a stretchy rubber band that fits easily around the narrowest or biggest tubes for easy seatpost or stay applications. Put it on quickly at night, take it off during the day. No hassle.
Under $30?!? – Yep!
Serfas has always made good stuff. Nothing too flashy, just simple, affordable, and great quality. I know I’ll be using the TL-200 for all my night riding this Spring!
It doesn’t take a cyclist to know that the first two things that typically get cold are the hands and the feet. Based out of Minnesota, 45Nrth is a brand dedicated to creating products for cold weather cyclists who brave the rough elements. With the introduction of their Wolvhammer winter boot also came the introduction of the Jaztronaut insole. During the design process of the Wolvhammer boot, 45Nrth developed an insole solely for the purpose of keeping your feet warm. Once they realized just how well the new insole worked, it was released as a unique product in addition to the boot, packaged for all to enjoy.
