Holiday Gift Ideas for Cyclists-Part 1

Now that the holidays are almost here, I have put together a list of some cycling products that are sure to please the cyclist on your list.  Some of these items are new while others have been around for a while.  I will have more gift ideas coming up in part 2 of this post.

Banjo Brothers Large Frame Pack

$40

Banjo Brothers came out with their Large Frame Pack last Summer which gave gravel riders, commuters and bikepackers even more storage space than their small and medium frame packs.  This 200 cubic inch (5.75 H x 19 L x 2 W) frame pack gives the rider plenty of space for food and gear on those long rides.  It will also accommodate up to a 100 oz hydration bladder for those that prefer to carry water on the bike instead of their back.  Available from Banjo Brothers, Penn Cycle and other fine bike shops.  

Wolf Tooth Singletrack Pogies

$125

Wolf Tooth Components introduced its new Singletrack Pogies at Interbike and they are now available just in time for Winter.  These pogies are made from waterproof and durable rip-stop nylon and have three warmth settings (Warmest:  Cuff up, zipper closed, Warmer: Cuff up, zipper open, Warm (singletrack mode): Cuff folded down) to adapt to changing weather conditions.  Wolf Tooth's proprietary quarter-turn bar plug mounting system makes for easy attachment and removal.  Compatible with most flat bars with an inner diameter between 17.4mm and 20mm.  Additional sets of bar plugs are available to make switching them between bikes a breeze.  Available from Wolf Tooth Components and some fine bike shops.

Race Face Aeffect Pedals

$120

Race Face introduces their new Aeffect platform pedals which are perfect for the fatbiker, mountain biker or downhill enthusiast.  These lightweight, thin concave pedals have a 6061 T-6 aluminum body and chromoly steel axle with cartridge bearings and DU bushings.  The large platform (101x100mm) contains 20 SHCS hex traction pins per pedal for extra bite to keep feet positioned without slipping.  Weighs only 375gr and comes in Black, Blue or Red.  Available at Penn Cycle and other fine bike shops.

Sticky Pod

$15/$18

 

From MilesWide Industries, maker of cycling products designed by cyclists, comes the Sticky Pod.  This utility pack was first introduced in 2009 as a lightweight and water resistant pod for cyclists to store essential items like CO2 cartridges, tubes, tools, etc.  The Sticky Pod fits easily in a jersey pocket or hydration pack and the grippy surface on the back keeps it in place.  It even has a touchscreen pocket for your smartphone.  Large and Small Sticky Pods in Black and Camo are available from the MilesWide Industries website.

Saris Freedom SuperClamp

$430/$800

Saris has long been a leading manufacturer of all types of vehicle bike racks and with the introduction of the Freedom SuperClamp, they have one of the best tray racks on the market.  Available in 2-bike and 4-bike models, the SuperClamp holds bikes of any type and with the addition of Fat Tire Wheel Holders, can accommodate fatbikes with 5" tires.  This is by far the best rack I have ever owned and the most stable.  With its ratcheting arms, tire trays and no frame contact clamp design it is quick and easy to load and unload bikes.  Comes with a hitch pin lock to lock the rack securely to your vehicle.  Fits 1¼" and 2" receiver hitches.  Available from the Saris website, Penn Cycle and other fine bike shops.

Inspired to Ride Movie

$13-$25

Inspired To Ride is a documentary by Mike Dion about the inaugural year of the Trans Am Bike Race which takes a small group of unsupported cyclists from coast to coast across 10 states and 4233 miles.  This road trip along the TransAmerica Trail comes with many hardships, stories and beautiful scenery.  Available on DVD/BluRay + Digital Download and Digital Download with or without Extra Paks.  Also available on iTunes and Amazon.com.

Interbike 2015 Cool Bike Gear-Part 1

After spending five days in Las Vegas for Interbike and the Outdoor Demo, I came across a lot of cool new bike stuff that I wanted to share with my readers.  These are products that are now available or in the case of some of them, will be available soon from your local bike shop.  This is part one of a three part series where I will highlight some of the items that caught my attention.

Sticky Fingers

Sticky Fingers are rubber brake lever covers that add extra grip and confidence while braking.  In chilly conditions, especially Winter riding, they provide some protection from that cold metal brake lever so your fingers can stay warmer longer and also make it easier to grab onto when wearing gloves.  Installation is easy and they can be placed in a horizontal position to increase the surface area of the brake lever for an easier grip or in a vertical position (shown above) that increases the thickness of the brake lever and provides more cushion.

Sticky Fingers come in Black, Grey and Neon Green for $10.99/pair direct from the company.  Visit Sticky-Finger.com for more information.

Crank Brothers Double Shot

Crank Brothers' new pedal, the Double Shot is a hybrid pedal design that allows riders to clip in or use it as a flat.  One half of this new pedal features "moulded traction ribs & pins and a diamond plate traction area" while the other half allows for clipping in like on it's Candy and Eggbeater models.  This dual design makes it a perfect choice for Winter commuters and fatbikers that don't want to switch out pedals from flats to clipless depending on the riding conditions.

This pedal features an  igus LL-glide inner bearing and an enduro cartridge outer bearing just like the new Candy 7 that was also introduced at the show.  While the Double Shot is not available yet, look for it coming this Winter at your local bike shop or supply your email on the Double Shot page under the "notify me" section of the page to be alerted when it is available.  The Double Shot retails for $89.

Wolf Tooth BarBag

Wolf Tooth Components introduced their new BarBag after several years of prototype development.  This bag which comes in left and right mounting options for nutrition refueling during races but also is ideal for commuters that want easy access to keys, wallet or cell phone.  This flat bar only bag installs securely to the bar/stem and clears the top tube in the event of a crash so it won't be torn off.  A magnet/velcro fastener makes for one handed opening/closing of the bag allowing the other hand to be kept on the bars.  

The BarBag also comes with a bumper for spacing the bag away from the stem to use with a gps device or bike computer.  Bars must have 30cm of bar space available between the stem and grip.  Comes in Black with a clear top and has .6 Liters of capacity and only weighs 98 grams.  While not available yet, pre-sales will be opening in a few weeks and it is expected to be in stock in November for a list price of $39 each.

Pickle Juice

Muscle cramping has long been a problem of cyclists and now the Pickle Juice Company has come out with Extra Strength Pickle Juice Shots and Pickle Juice Sport to stop muscle cramps.  Containing 10 times more electrolytes than other sports drinks and with a scientific study that reveals that "pickle brine might be more effective than sports drinks at treating muscle cramps, confirming a longstanding assumption in the sports world" this may be the cramp buster you have been looking for.  Available direct from the Pickle Juice Company online shop.

Surly My Other Brother Darryl

Surly showed off their new My Other Brother Darryl 80 mm wide tubeless-ready rims in three options.  They are 170 grams lighter than the Rolling Darryl putting them at the same weight as the 65 mm Marge Lites.  These rims will accommodate 3.8 to 4.8 tires and come in Black or Polished Silver.  MSRP is $150 and they are expected to be available in late October or Early November.