19-20 WINTER GEAR GUIDE - GEAR
Topeak Prepbox- $320
I got hired to give mechanical support for a team building and fundraising ride by a major pharmaceutical company this fall. It meant both a three-week trip to Europe (which sounded pretty amazing) and having to bring my own tools. Luckily, I had this Topeak Prep Box at the ready, waiting for exactly this kind of adventure. The hard case, integrated pad and mesh covers to protect the tools, and foam inserts that held the tools in place made me ultra-confident that the tools I brought would be protected and arrive in Munich safe and sound-- as well as easily checked as baggage at the airport. When I arrived and met my team, there were a few ooh’s and ahhs of admiration from my fellow mechanics and bike geeks for my set-up. It’s always good to start with tool envy.
I found all the tools worked incredibly well and were well manufactured, and I especially appreciated the ComboTorque Wrench and Bit set that came included as a reliable way to check torque when we were changing stems and seat heights daily. The 36, professional quality tools made me feel ready for anything that was going to be thrown my way. I also appreciated that there was a spot for each tool, so at the end of 12- 14 work days I could easily put everything in its place before I had to get up the next morning and do it all again. There were a few small things I wish had been included: a small scissors (or scissors/pliers combo) would have been nice. There was definitely enough room in the surrounding foam bits to fit a pokey tool (something between an awl and a dental pick that mechanics are reaching for regularly). It would also be great if there were an attachable, small tool roll for any extras you might want to bring along, but these are small quibbles for the amount of confidence having this tool set gave me to dive head-first into an adventure and show up looking like the pro that I am.
Bontrager Aeolus Pro3V - $1300 & Paradigm Comp 25 wheelset - $500
We recently got a cool and unique opportunity to test two wheelsets back to back, one being the Aeolus Pro3V and the Paradigm Comp 25. Both are the disc-based high-volume road/gravel wheelsets from Bontrager. They have the same basic internal width dimensions of 25mm and are both outfitted with Bontranger’s outstanding new R3 32c tubeless tires. Aside from those similarities, they’re pretty different wheelsets. The first major difference is of course price. The Aeolus Pro3V’s are made of OCLV Pro Carbon and cost $800 more than the aluminum Paradigm Comp 25s. The Aeolus Pro 3V use Bontrager’s Rapid Drive 108 hub, and the Paradigm uses their Rapid drive 54 hub, so 108 and 54 points of engagement respectively. There are many surprises here with both wheelsets. The first is how good the Aeolus Pro3V’s are for the money. They’re light, stiff, and comfortable. The second is how comfortable the Paradigm Comp 25 wheels are. The third surprise is how good both are as a system with the R3 tire. Bontrager is rightfully very proud of these tires. They’re a noticeable upgrade. They boast 120 tpi casing, rubber which is claimed to be 7% faster, puncture protection that claims 22% fewer flats and better traction. No numbers on the traction, but I can say they feel grippy and are excellent on wet pavement. If you haven’t already stepped up to wider road tires that you can also run gravel tires on, check your bank account and then pop for one one of these two wheelsets and don’t forget the R3 tubeless tires. It’s all about the system. My only complaint with both wheelsets is the stock rimstrip - you have to be careful not to ding it on installation, and the tubeless valve was new for me in that it’s entirely alloy, without any rubber that usually seals things up on the inside of the rim. I was eventually able to seat it properly, but I still seem to be losing a fair amount of air on the rear tire. It could totally be my fault, but I’m not a tubeless newb and have had good success on other systems. Those are minor quibbles, because at these prices you can easily afford whatever tubeless tape you prefer and you can splurge on some other upmarket tubeless valve stems. Both are really excellent wheelsets. We’re going to keep ride testing these and report back with a more in-depth review. Up next: mounting some gravel tires and doing some longer rides. We might have to go to Arizona for that. No snow rides on the docket.
Wolftooth Encase Tool System - Bar Kit One $120
In the past, Wolftooth was content to make components better - a better dropper lever, better chain rings, but now they’re really innovating. They’ve figured out a way to make sure that you’re never without the tools that could save your ride. You know how it goes- when you remember to bring all of your tools, nothing goes wrong. The one time you forget to put your saddle bag on your bike, or you remember that you put your multitool in your mountain biking stuff. The point is that the tools fit in the ends of your handlebars, and brilliantly fold in a way that they still fit well in curved road (or gravel) handlebars. One tool takes care of all your hex bit needs as well as a smart bit that has both a spoke wrench and a presta valve tool. The other tool is both a chainbreaker and a tubeless tire plug tool. Part of me wishes they would team up with Dynaplug to offer that style of metal tipped plug, but I know these bacon strips will work fine for small tubeless repairs. I think it’s brilliant to have all of these functions in a miniature tool kit that hides inside your bars. Perhaps the most impressive feat of engineering, aside from making both tools fit in handlebars, is the tooling to fit all the bits in the handle of the hex bit tool. All the bits are held in place with a strong magnet and rubber O-rings. My single complaint is that the hex bits aren’t magnetic when you put them in the 8mm master driver part. That seems like an oversight. I realize that me torquing on them will keep them in place, but it seems like an easy way to lose hex bits. Still, this is a brilliant system that should make a ton of sense for bikepackers, gravel riders, and mountain bikers alike. There is even extra room in the rubber sleeves to stash a quick link and a spare presta valve. Well done, Wolf Tooth. We can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
Garmin Edge 530 - $260
I had taken my trusty Garmin 500 as far as it would go. It was time for an upgrade. The first thing that you notice with the 530 aside from it’s sleek good looks, is start up time. It wakes up in half the time of the 500. Next thing you’ll notice is color maps. Navigating with this unit is a treat. Truth be told, I wanted to train with Trainer Road outside using a power meter and I couldn’t do it with the 500, so this was the best option. I’ll get into more detail about this and the Shimano R9100 power meter in the full review to follow. The simplest way to put it is that the workouts are much simplified for outdoor riding and it loses a bit of the finesse of the indoor workouts, but it works! I’ll be looking for much more refinement from Trainer Road and Garmin, but we’re in the door, so to speak. Supposedly there is Trail Forks connectivity, but I have yet to try that. Loading my own tracks to follow is a snap. Speaking of connectivity, I forgot to mention how cool it is to not have to plug the unit in to download a ride to Strava. Hit save, and it goes direct via Bluetooth. Same goes uploading Trainer Road workouts. That’s not even mentioning iphone connectivity. I’ve had moments in rides where a text came in that needed an immediate response and it was great to be able to see directly on the unit. Another bonus is battery life, which Garmin claims to be 20 hours. So far, I’d say Garmin took 10 steps forward with this unit, but with competition from The Wahoos of the world, I think they had to. Without comparing it to others in the market, I’d say this is an excellent unit and I’m very impressed with the improvements over the 500.
Modern Medicinals - CBD Oil $60 human $30 pets
There are so many CBD products, so how do we choose? I ran into Jeff Hilber at the Cully Farmer’s Market and I’ve since tried his oil and I know that it works. It’s made here in NE Portland and the quality is excellent. Jeff starts with organic Oregon flower and his extraction process is chemical-free! I had rotator cuff surgery in March and have been working hard since in the gym and Modern Medicinals has come to the rescue on many occasions.
I can’t tell you how much Memphis loves the doggie CBD. She’s eleven now and after long hikes or rough play with her neighbor dogs, she get CBD and it helps her with her pain and helps her chill out. She truly loves it!
Skratch Labs Horchata Recovery Drink Mix - $32.50
Mmmmmm…horchata…vanilla, cinnamon. There are so many protein recovery drinks on the market, how to choose? Well, if you let your tastebuds decide this would definitely be the winner. But does it work? What exactly are we after in a recovery drink? As Skratch says on their site: “our Sport Recovery Drink Mix is a 4 to 1 ratio of carbohydrate to protein, that’s designed to bring your blood sugar up fast. This causes the hormone insulin to spike, which is key to getting the sugar, electrolytes, fat, and protein in our Sport Recovery Drink Mix back into muscle fast.” I can feel my legs perk up and thank me when I drink this after a hard ride. We’re grateful to Skratch for bringing some much-needed creativity and flavor to the sports nutrition world.
Heart Roasters Ethiopia Abana Sulladjah & Guatemala Rosma - $20
We just dropped in on Heart’s roastery to swoop these two. They’re both exceptional beans that are brewing up great right now. The Rosma has been around at Heart for awhile - they’re proud of their long term relationships with their growers. The Abana Sulladjah is brand new and awesome. From their site: “Abana is an Estate in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. The estate is located in and around an old growth forest in southwestern Ethiopia, which promotes biodiversity and natural shade for the coffee plants. Along with naturally ideal surroundings, the farm also features a water recycling mill and a coffee waste disposal lagoon that allows the cherries to turn into mulch and breakdown away from other plant life. This paired with a creek and natural spring on the farm make this a perfect place to produce quality coffee.” Heart has a new roaster (machine, not human) - they got rid of the Probat in favor of a unit that uses heated air to roast the beans in a way where the roast actually goes deeper, and now there’s no hot metal coming in direct contact with the beans. They said this new method sort of “idiot proofs” the beans (my words, not theirs) where your average person that doesn’t have all the most high end brew gear can still make an excellent cup of coffee at home. Translation: Heart coffee 2.0 is better than ever. And they want you to know about their transparency report - it lets you know they’re paying the farmers a more than fair price for their beans. We like companies that take care of their supply chain, and share info freely.
Elevator Coffee - Cordillera del Fuego - $21.50 & Nansebo Worka 17 - $19
There are so so many coffee shops in Portland and many of them do great beans, but we like to support our friends ventures. Our friends Jay Sycip and Greg Watson of Chris King started the cafe and Andrew Coe is their head roaster. We asked Andrew what was roasting up nicely at the moment and he pointed us to these two lovely coffees. They’re extremely smooth and not overly fruity. Just really nice coffees that brew up consistently good. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the Nansebo Worka 17 was my favorite of the bunch. Andrew’s notes on the Worka:
“For me, the first impression of this coffee is it’s floral aromatics. Jasmine and some honeysuckle notes are evident. Really nice layered sweetness with some raw honey characteristics. The cooling cup brings out really beautiful peach and nectarine notes, so sweet it tends towards the stewed version of these fruits.” And I enjoyed learning about the processing of the Cordillera del Fuego: “This is perhaps one of the most distinct cups of coffee we have purchased. The processing method has been developed recently and imparts distinct flavors to the coffee. Typically, during the washing process, coffee is depulped and then soaked in a tank with water to remove any coffee fruit residual, before being dried. Anaerobic processing changes this by soaking the coffee in a tank that is completely sealed from oxygen, resulting in an amazing final product.” It’s eye-opening to learn how much work goes into each bag of coffee! Ponder that while you sip. You can order Elevator’s excellent beans right on their site! They roast every Monday and drop ship the same day.
Leatherman Squirt PS4 - $35
We asked our friend, the legendary Nick Sande, who has more bikepacking experience than most of us, what was the most essential multitool and he pointed us to the Squirt PS4. Don’t let the tiny size fool you, the most important thing are those functional pliers. Those are what you’re going to use to thread that fisherman’s hook through your sidewall as you repair it on the side of the road. They’re what you’re going to use to pull cactus thorns out. It’s small enough that you’ll always have it with you and won’t add much weight to your pack. I’m blown away that Leatherman is able to pack so much utility into such a miniature tool. If you ever have a problem with your tools, take it to the store near the airport and they’ll probably just swap it out for a new one. An essential item!
Topeak Mini 9 Pro multi tool - $25
After trying all the swiss army style multi tools over the years, I’ve come back to the simplicity of the Topeak Mini 9 Pro. I really just want allen keys and T25 Torx wrench. The mini tire lever has you covered in case you forgot levers. I wouldn’t use this little tire lever as my one and only, but it would work in a pinch. Looking for the bare minimum in a nice compact kit? Look no further, the Mini 9 is the one. Get one for all of your saddle bags. Sometimes less is more.
Topeak Redlite Aero USB Rear light - $35
Don’t be mad at me for reviewing a blinky light. We’re daily riders and blinky lights are on our must have list and we’re constantly looking for upgrades. The Redlite Aero is in fact an upgrade in that it’s USB-chargeable and should run for 40 hours on blinking mode! 40 hours! The light is plenty bright and it makes me feel seen on the road. The other plus is that they considered all the ways that you might want to use the light, like clipping it on your bag (removable clip included). Though, I wish the clip were somehow integrated - same for the rubber band attachment. The band works, but not without some fight, and I’ve lost it among my bag’s contents, This is the design challenge with bike lights - they have to fit on a wide variety of seatpost widths, so how to securely attach to the bike? I’ll keep using this light because it’s bright and rechargeable, but I worry about the future. How will I attach it when I lose the rubber band?
Lifeproof FRE phone case- $90
Recently I had a brief period of experimentation with my iPhone, which was inspired by riding the trainer indoors.
I wanted a case that I could mount to my bike’s handlebars. That was fine indoors, but as soon as I took the devices outside, road vibrations knocked everything loose. Frankly I’m over it. I’m a firm believer that Garmins go on the bike and phones stay in the pocket. I’m also a phone dropper, not like constantly, but with the amount of things we try to do in a day and we juggle our phones, it’s bound to drop. That being said, the FRE is the only case I trust. Still, I have two major complaints with this case. The first is the door, which keeps the junk out of my charging port, but gets in the way of the microphone. So, to be heard clearly just flip the door open during calls or use headphones with a mic. Second, the camera lens collects crud, so for clear photos, I have to constantly wipe the lens clear of debris or my photos look like they came from a flip phone. Who wants that? Still, for an active life and riding bikes with a phone I keep coming back to the security of the FRE.
Vasque Coldspark Ultradry - $140
In the past, I’ve just tried to use my summer boots in the winter with mixed results. You know, just add another layer of leather sealant and go, right? Well, that works, but if you’re in the market for some lightweight winter kicks that will keep your feet warm and dry as you tromp around town or head out for a snowshoe, these are well worth a look. I used to think winter boots had to be big and bulky to work, but the Coldsparks prove that wrong. Ultradry technology is proven to stay dry and the insulation truly works!
Vasque Breeze LT Low - $140
For those paying attention to these gear guides, you’ll know we loved the high top version of these, the Breeze LT GTX for their light weight, comfort, and the excellent traction of the megagrip sole. We were keen to try a low top version for running around town. These have been good and not great. First, I expected the same shoe size to fit exactly the same and they don’t. These feel a half size longer. Second, the round laces are a bit too long and they’re slippy. I find myself working up a sweat trying to get them tight enough so the heel doesn’t slip. I love the color combo, but I’m more inclined to point you all to the GoreTex (GTX) version of this shoe for only $9 more. I’m guessing the fit is more true to high top version. Tori loves the women’s version of that GTX low top. Her review below:
Vasque Breeze LT Low GTX - $149
If you’re looking for a shoe that’s great for hiking, camping, mountain biking and more, look no further than the Women’s Breeze LT Low GTX. I’ve been wearing these consistently since August, and they feel as good as they first day I put them on. The big test for me was working 12- 14 hours straight for twelve days straight, mostly standing or walking on concrete. At the end of the day my feet were tired, but in no way sore. I chalk that up to the high rebound insole that fits my foot like a dream. If you’re someone with high arches or extremely flat feet, you might find this too much but I loved the support.
They are also some of the lightest shoes Vasque offers which makes it easier to put the miles on. The upper is extremely breathable and tear resistant, with a nice wrap-around toe cap to keep toes from being stubbed, but they can heat up a bit at warmer temps so I generally stick to wearing these in weather less than 70 degrees(F). In the worst storms and deepest, muddiest puddles and slush piles my feet have stayed dry thanks to the Gore-Tex membrane in the upper. The weight is cut using Vibram’s Ground Control Litebase, but the durability and traction are the best I’ve ever had due to the Megagrip Compund they use on the outsole. This stuff is actually sticky-- so much so that if I walk in from the wet onto dry floors, my feet stick like they have tiny suction cup grips built in-- and almost sounds like I’ve stepped in maple syrup. In the bigger picture, this means I can hike up and down the sloppy sidehills of the Pacific Northwest with confidence, even on wet rocks and roots. All in all if you’re looking for a great, all-round hiking shoe that can keep you on solid footing through the city as well as the wilds, this is it.
Support your local bike service provider or take a class
You all know it’s 2019 and we’re all becoming better versions of ourselves. What does that even mean? Why not treat your favorite person to a service or a class? We’re talking about giving experiences and not things. Let me give you three great examples in Portland. One would be getting in touch with Jeff Menown at Cascade Suspension Works. Jeff is a suspension wizard and you’ll be surprised how his work can transform how your bike rides. Beyond that, Jeff provides awareness. Many of us just love to ride bikes, but Jeff is also an educator and with every tune, you’re going to learn a heck of a lot about your suspension, your numbers and how to keep it all dialed. For the month of December, Jeff is offering 25% off labor for single item 30% off labor for combined items 10% off parts (special orders not included) - product must be in the shop before Dec 31st. Another amazing service is Tori Bortman at Gracie’s Wrench. Tori has been teaching folks how to work on their own bikes for twenty years. She has a knack for explaining difficult concepts with ease and also empowering people to do the work. It’s also an investment in the bike that you love and ride all the time and it will pay you back, because you’ll blow through parts less frequently and you’ll learn to diagnose your own bike’s noises, and you’ll then know if it’s a repair you can handle on your own or if you need to see help at your LBS. Tori does offer gift cerrtificates. Lastly, let me mention our friends at Sugar Wheelworks. I can’t overstate the value of a hand built wheelset. They will last longer and be more dependable. It’s hard to quantify, but I can feel the quality in their builds. Want to learn to build your own wheels? Well, they offer a class called Wheel Building Foundations and also Private Classes. Support your local small business today and ask if they do gift certificates.