Once you start paying attention to your ankle wear it’s hard to go back to basics. Suddenly that plain black pair of team socks you’ve been wearing overtime looks a bit boring when you head out for a ride. Take a tip from the world of cyclocross racing and show some individual style with a stylish pair of socks.
While you may be able to pick up a bright pair from your LBS—and we encourage you to do so—when you want a truly special pair you may have to search a little harder. We’re making it easy for you with our favorite picks from The Athletic, Ten Speed Hero, Sock Guy, injinji, and Stance below the jump. [click to continue…]
Like many cyclists we carry our phone, a couple Alexander Hamilton’s, and an expired ID in a faded, greasy ziplock baggie. Sure, this makes it easy to flash our ID while cycling onto tightly secured military installations, and keeps our phone mostly dry from sweat, but on the class front it is sadly lacking. It looks more like something a meth-head would carry, not svelte, clean cycling machines like all of us. Well, Bellroy has a solution for all of us. It’s called the Elements Phone Pocket. And it works a little like this:
All-weather leather and a water-resistant zip mean your valuables will remain protected from any sudden downpours, or other elemental surprises. Internal organization helps segment your iPhone, cash, cards, a key and more, avoiding the awkward rummaging around that comes with other all-in-one wallets.
It’s organized protection, in a single pocket.
All that for $99. It is likely just the ride wallet you’ve been looking for. For more info click the link.
Before running out and grabbing a new kit with your favorite sponsors’ logos plastered all over it, please take a minute to cruise the newest offerings from the Chicago based Ten Speed Hero crew.
Aside from the full line of cycling equipment Louis Garneau’s company creates, he is also a remarkable fine artist. Garneau recently put his talents to work to raise money for Team Rwanda.
Painting in a necessary outlet for me,” Garneau says. “It lets me express feeling and share life experiences. It is also a way for me to give back. Thus, faced with the sheer size of the help necessary to make a difference, I decided to paint the HOPE series, a collection of 12 paintings of which 4 have already been sold at the price of $20,000 each.”
Garneau then donated the money, $80,000 to the Rwanda National Cycling Team to help them “grow through their sport and continue the work of hope for the Rwandas who follow their feats and are able to dream.”
Yeah, it seems a little like overkill, but just think how many bikes would be spared the humiliation of being stolen if they’d install one of these on every block in Manhattan.
Australia may be best known for its unique animals and the Great Barrier Reef, but North American cyclists may be surprised to learn that it’s home to a multitude of small scale, fashion-driven bike apparel brands as well.
Maybe it’s the constant sunshine, temperate climate, and striking scenery, but Australian cyclists seem hellbent on wearing kits that stand out both on the road and while sipping an espresso.
Next time you find yourself bemoaning another day in your standby team kit, think about a refresh with a new kit from Pedal Mafia, Road And Dirt Apparel, Cream Cycling, STëLF Cycling, and Black Sheep Cycling. Follow the jump to see our favorites…
It’s been called “a cyclocross bike deserving of the Santa Cruz name,” but we’re just kind of giddy that Santa Cruz has resurrected the drop bars with a carbon framed, disc brake loaded all-around, all new Stigmata. Here’s how Santa Cruz is playing it:
We started the development of the new Stigmata a couple years ago, because we missed the old Stigmata, and felt that there was a lot we could do with carbon that we were unable to do with aluminum. At the same time, hydraulic disc brakes for road bikes were becoming a reality, meaning that we wouldn’t have to put up with ancient braking technology to get our drop bar on. . . The new Stigmata is versatile. It’ll fit 41mm-wide tires with room for mud, but handles nicely with skinny road tires for base miles. It’s also home to our first PressFit 30 bottom bracket. We didn’t make this decision lightly, but not only is PF30 capable of accommodating all road bike cranks, it allowed us to make the bike lighter while maintaining the strength and durability you expect from Santa Cruz.
Sounds like it might be our perfect N+1 bike: epic for cross, great for gravel, and just fine for road. Click the link for all the specs.
The logic makes sense: if you’re just going to squeeze some goo into your mouth, why not squeeze some 100 percent pure Vermont Maple Syrup in? It’s got all the goods, tastes great, and grows in trees. And Ted King backs it, too. Untapped packages just that product. Click the link for more info.
It’s nice to see that the Biggest Liar Of All Time is keeping busy. This time he’s showed up in a video by Future User (Rage Against The Machine Bassist Tim Commerford’s project), according to a story in MySanAntonio.com.
The video itself depicts a young man mixing prescription medications into a smoothie to prep him for his rad ride across town via skateboard. When he’s not flipping ollies and grinding guardrails, he’s doing more drugs in public places and injecting himself with what are implied to be steroids in a grungy bathroom stall.
Then the BLOAT shows up leaving a nasty phone message in a Mellow Johnny’s kit. Nice work, BLOAT.
