bikefix Exclusive Review: Injinji Performance Tetrasoks

Because we can. I imagine that this simple statement goes a long way toward answering the resounding "why?" that comes when people see these Injinji foot gloves. Erm, toe socks. Injinji compare standard socks to "foot mittens" claiming that they reduce toe dexterity, increase heat and moisture buildup and skin-on-skin friction (all of which are considered Bad Things). So, with the goal of combating these evils, the company has taken advantage of modern knitting technology to build a technical version of the novelty socks that swept the country's junior high schools several years back.

The Performance Terasoks I've been using on and off for almost a year were a gift for someone who knows about my love of all things weird and different. I've worn them casually, for running, for hiking and while riding and have to admit- I think that they're cool. Not because of any real performance benefit, but mostly because of how they look padding around the house without shoes on. Because we're a bike site, though, I'll focus on how they work on the bike.

Because most riding shoes at this point are pretty darn stiff, the Injinji's don't really allow the rider to make much use of their toe dexterity (though I imagine monkeys would love them). While it can take a while (for socks) to pull them on and get the toes in the right spots, they have a nice cozy feel. Inside snug cycling shoes, though, the extra 8 fabric thicknesses can be a bit much, though my Shimanos have enough space in the toe box that things don't get uncomfortable. Contrary to Injinji's claims and despite a fabric that is 70% Coolmax, I feel that the Tetrasok's actually run a bit warmer than normal cycling socks. I have the feeling that this might be the result of having less volume available for air circulation and while it's good to pull moisture from between the toes, it really doesn't have anywhere to go from there. For warm rides with lots of stream crossings, though, they can be nice, without the heat of a full-on wool sock. They're certainly a bit thin for winter use, though. One big advantage, from my perspective, is the complete lack of any toe seams, which can be annoying in any sock (Sock Guy's seem to bug me the most)- if you're particularly irritable in that respect, they might be worth seeking out.

Regardless of their claimed technical merits or my comments above, I bet that most folks will have decided if they would want a pair after seeing the first photo. Me, I think that they're neat and different. They're neither at the top or the bottom of the sock drawer and do see regular use. After probably 20 wearings and washings, they're in fine shape, with no unexpected wear, despite their complexity. They're available at REI (among other places) for $12, which seems to be the going rate for cycling socks these days.

marc

www.injinji.com

btw: “Injinji“ is pronounced (In-gin-ji) and is an African term which describes when a drumming circle reaches a climax, the peak in the performance, when all of the participants are at one with the rhythm, when everyone hits a stride and there is unison among all. Quasi-science meets quasi-spiritualism. Somehow, I still like 'em.

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bikefix Initial Review: Fox Unabomber gloves

About a month ago, I posted an initial review of Fox's carbon fiber-knuckled Bomber gloves. To rehash, they were cool (looking) but hot (feeling) and I felt that I should probably sell them and buy something a bit more desert-appropriate. Thanks to eBay, I was able to send the Bombers on their way to Israel, where some MX kid is no doubt enjoying them right now. To replace them, I had the local bike shop order a pair of the company's lighter Unabombers.

Where the Bombers are really a motocross glove, the Unabombers are a pared-down bike-specific version. Like their big brothers, they have carbon fiber on the knuckles and top couple of finger segments- but here only for the outer two fingers. Rather than large expanses of perforated leather(ette), the Unabombers have far more fabric and large mesh sections on the palm. There is also a woven Kevlar patch at the outside of the palm, apparently a high-wear area. The color scheme is a subdued black/gray, which suits me well. A terry thumb is a nice touch for the sweaty (and snotty) among us and the printed grippy bombs on the first two fingertips make them extra grippy, even when wet.

The Unabombers certainly feel more like cycling gloves than the Bombers. Dexterity and bar feel is slightly better to boot. In use, they are cooler than the Bombers, though not by as much as I would have hoped. The effectivity of the mesh palm is reduced by the grip that usually covers the area and the gray fabric at the back of the hand is actually really warm- it doesn't seem to move moisture well and it's not uncommon for me to look down and see it soaked with sweat (and that's not a particularly sweaty area). Most annoying, though, is the carbon knuckle placement. On most rides so far, the glove seems to be slipping such that the knuckle guard slides down to cover the first finger segment rather than the knuckle. It's not a big deal to readjust (even while riding) but annoying nonetheless. Also, the loosely woven Kevlar palm patch seems to be loosening already (after three weeks), which is a bit worrying this early in the game. Aside from these annoyances, the gloves are generally comfortable- not particularly well padded, but with decent grips, they provide good bar feel and comfort.

I'll carry on using the Unabombers on & off through the summer and well into the fall and let you know what happens. I'm a bit worried about the Kevlar bit, the fabric at the back could be improved and the knuckle placement needs tweaking, but I have a feeling that (with a generation or two of development) these could be a winner. If you can't wait that long, you can find them in shops and online for $43 or so.

marc

www.foxracing.com

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bikefix Review Update: fi'zi:k Saddle Pa:k bag

Update, 23 June 2008:

After our review of fi'zi:k's Saddle Pa:k (below), we got an e-mail from the company's US Marketing Manager Suzette. It turns out that they were one step ahead of us and, while not all saddle pa:k zippers fail, some do. So, revised Saddle Pa:ks (those with a ":k" on the side) have higher-quality YKK brand zippers. Within a few days, the brown & tan Santa man had left one in our front garden. The zipper is clearly different, as are some of the other fabrics and their cut, though the nice low-profile shape remains the same. The dual reflective patches that we liked so much are gone, though the new ":k" logos on the bag sides are reflective, so it's probably a visibility wash. Suzette also mentioned that the company encourages any customer who feels that their fi'zi:k product hasn't lived up to the brand's high quality image return it to the place where purchased for warranty. It's now loaded and mounted- we'll let you know how it goes!

Do the folks at fi'zi:k all have creatively named children? I mean, why be difficult? I could easily hate Selle Royal's high-end saddle brand for this alone if their quality saddles didn't force me to forgive their habit of taking liberties with the Roman alphabet. The company's Arione and Aliante saddles have found many fans (myself included) over the past several years, from the peleton on down. The company also makes a handful of accessories, including some bar tape (look for a review some time in the next few months) and this rather nice looking saddle bag.

The XS-sized Saddle Pa:k (come on guys) is just the right size to hold a road tube, small CO2 inflator, small mini tool and maybe a tire lever. In other words, this unobtrusive little guy is just the right size to carry all the things that I want to have along on every ride. Keys, phone, wallet and food? Not a chance- they'll have to go in jersey pockets. Which is how I like it. With a similar bag on both of my road/commuter bikes, it's nice not to have to have to think before heading out- everything that I need is already there in a compact, non-floppy package. The bag is made of water-resistant fabric, has a water-resistant zipper, a blinky tab and two reflective patches to ensure visibility regardless of mounting angle. All this for $14.00 Pretty cool, eh?

Well it was pretty cool for about 6 months, when I noticed that the zipper was becoming increasingly stubborn. Not a big deal- all I needed to do to access the contents was to undo the rail straps and swing the bag away from the seatpost. Sort of a pain, but the non-jangly zipper pull (good) seemed to be pulling the zipper head at a funny angle and causing it to bind a bit. Swinging the bag out from under the saddle allowed easier access and the ability to finesse the zipper open. Now, I don't particularly like flats. Nor do I like my stuff bouncing down the road after falling out of my saddle bag. So, you can imagine my delight when, after a repairing a flat and zipping up the Saddle Pa:k, I heard the jangle of tools hitting pavement. Stopping, I collected my things and chastised myself for being careless. It turns out that the 8 month old zipper on my had gone from open-close mode to open-open and would no longer secure the bag's contents. Luckily, I had eaten my snacks so the tools went into a jersey pocket, the tube was wedged deeper into the bag and I was sad (and annoyed by pocket tool jangle).

It's a shame, really- the rest of the bag was holding up great. The fabric seems to be plenty abrasion resistant and the hook & loop fastener and reflective patches of high quality. It seemed very well thought out and constructed but was ultimately let down by its weakest link. Does the zipper even need to be water resistant? Not many other bags seem to have them, and I'll probably be avoiding them for a while. With a durable (and maybe simpler) zipper, the bag would be worth, say, $17 and easily be a bikefix Pick. Oh so close...

marc

www.fizik.com

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bikefix Exclusive Review: Origin8 Propulsion handlebar tape

A regular reader might be forgiven for thinking that we had some sort of connection with J&B Importers for our reviews of their Origin8 stuff. Sadly, we don't. It just tuns out that the company is selling some stuff at the moment that works very well and is reasonably priced. After good luck with some of their finishing kit and hearing good things about their frames from bike shop guys, I've been taking a closer look at stuff from the brand when I come across it.

This winter, when I rebuilt my cyclocross bike as a fixed gear, I decided to replace the awful FSA faux-carbon bar tape. At the bike shop, I was balking at $18 for Cinelli cork tape and noticed a box of Origin8 bar tape hanging down near the floor. Popping the box open, I found a nice, spongy foam tape that seemed both cushiony and stretchy. The box claimed that it got tacky when wet, which would be a pleasant change from the FSA tape I had been using. At $10, it was worth a shot.

Six months later, the Origin8 has become my favorite bar tape. Ever. It went on easily (the stretchiness helps there) and has stayed exactly where I put it. No slipping in the bends, no peeling at the edges. The material, which I doubt is natural cork, is holding up very well. It is spongier than cork tape and has proven more comfortable in the same amount of space- no double wrapping or gel pads needed (or desired) here. It certainly isn't as slippery when wet as the Fi'zi:k Microtex tape on my road bike, which I appreciate more the hotter it gets. Since buying the first box, I've only noticed it in one local shop, but if you have the time, it may be worth putting in a special request.

marc

www.origin-8.com
www.jbimporters.com

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bikefix Exclusive Review: Castelli Lowboy sock

Mmm... Socks. Every cyclist I know has loads. Warm socks, cool socks, comfy socks and awful socks. Still, we find it hard to resist just one more pair. As temperatures have climbed into the 90s here, my warm wooly and trendy tall socks have made their way to the bottom of the sock basket. At the top? Cool socks.

The coolest of them all, I happen to think, are these Castelli Lowboy socks. Cool not only for their antibacterial Meryl fabric and their fancy Italian logos, but also for their in-the-shoe fit. The cooling gained by exposing my pasty white ankles to the summer air is hard to quantify but certainly noticeable- and much appreciated. The cut is just tall enough keep my cycling shoes from rubbing on my exposed ankles- but not one bit taller. From a few feet away, they're all but invisible.

The pictures here were taken sitting on the patio after a recent 60mi, 90° road ride. During this and other long rides, the Lowboys have done a good job at removing moisture from the foot itself, and the white band around the forefoot feels supportive (though my heat-moldable insoles are arguably doing much more of the work). On the mountain bike, they seem to be a bit too low- the low cuff seems to take in sand and dirt as soon as I start walking- they're really a road-only kind of thing. At $13, their price is on par with other cycling socks'. They're not cute or witty, but on a hot summer day, there's nothing else that I'd feel cooler wearing.

marc

www.castelli-us.com

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bikefix Exclusive Review: Fox Flux helmet

The Flux seems to be Fox’s answer to the popular Giro Xen helmet. Like the Xen, it has more protection than a standard XC helmet, a sloped “urban” style back, and models with “tough” looking graphics. These helmets are aimed directly at the "all-mountain" and "trail" bike markets. Since all helmets in the USA are certified by the same test, we don’t really know how much more protective helmets with thicker EPS foam are, but these helmets also tend to have a deeper rear profile- and most certainly offer more protection in the lower head/neck region than a standard XC or road helmets. They also tend to be heavier than typical XC helmets. The Fox is no exception at 390g, which is slightly beefier than a Giro Xen.

The Flux only comes in 2 sizes (a bit annoying): either small/medium or large/extra large. For my big round head, I ordered the latter. The first thing I noticed was it wasn’t as comfortable as either my Xen or my Uvex XP 100. I think it is the shape of the interior of the helmet more than the retention system. The Flux is not uncomfortable but has some pressure points that can be annoying. I have tried different size pads to help remedy this but I can’t get it to feel better. It may just be my head shape. Of course, everybody's head is a bit different and the straps were easy to adjust.

The retention system looks very similar to the Giro and it works reasonably well too. It is a bit more stubborn to adjust than the Giro system, but on the other hand it doesn’t seem to loosen over time like the Giro's can. Despite some serious use and rough handling, none of the plastic retention parts have broken. That is cool because this has been a problem with some helmet brands in the past.

The Flux comes with both a visor and a spoiler (see stock photo below). They are both removable and I immediately took off the “spoiler” because it looks dumb and I can’t believe there could possibly be a reason for it other than (questionable) aesthetics.

Although the helmet has 20 vents, it seems hotter than any of my other helmets. That may be because of the dark “urban camo” color scheme (not my first choice)-, but almost all the color choices available are darkish. The Fox Flux is a pretty good helmet and I would like it a lot more if it fit me better. Try it on and if it fits you well- put it on your list of contenders. It retails for $99.95.

Charlie

www.foxhead.com

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bikefix Initial Review: Fox Bomber gloves

Bad Ass. After my trusty Fox Digits finally bit the dust, I set out for the local shop looking to replace them. There, these shiny black, carbon fiber-knuckled Fox Bomber gloves were just too cool to resist. They have the well-evolved Fox fit that seems to work well for many people and appeared pretty reasonably priced at $40.

It turns out that the Bombers are classified by Fox as a Motocross glove. As such, there are very few concessions to light weight or breathability. On the trail, they certainly feel protective, but get pretty warm pretty darn quick. The cuffs come further up the outside of the wrist than I'm used to, but its not a bad feeling- just different. The carbon fiber knuckle protection is a bit uncomfortable at first, but the padding underneath broke in within a couple of rides and they're now hardly more noticeable than other gloves' knuckles. Despite the numerous seams on these pretty complex little guys, I haven't felt any chafing at all on 3-6 hour rides.

Its early yet, but I've been impressed by the Bombers so far. For more gravity-oriented riders, the added protection will be appreciated and the extra warmth more than acceptable. For those who are looking for something a bit more cycling-specific, the company's Unabomber model has similar carbon fiber knuckle protection for the ring and pinkie fingers, a terry thumb and lighter index and middle fingers.

The lack of a terry thumb is a shame, and now that temperatures are closing in on the 90s here, they're being left home in favor of lighter (though less protective) gloves. At this point, they'll probably be out of service until September or October, which is a shame. I'm considering seeing if anyone on eBay wanted them and ordering up some of the three-season Unabombers. If you suffer from cold hands or tend to hit the ground a lot, though, the Bombers are comfortable, protective and most of all pretty freakin' badass- which is why most folks will buy them in the first place.

marc

www.foxracing.com

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bikefix Exclusive Review: fi'zi:k Saddle Pa:k bag

Update, 22 June 2008:

After our review of fi'zi:k's Saddle Pa:k (below), we got an e-mail from the company's US Marketing Manager Suzette. It turns out that they were one step ahead of us and, while not all saddle pa:k zippers fail, some do. So, revised Saddle Pa:ks (those with a ":k" on the side) have higher-quality YKK brand zippers. Within a few days, the brown & tan Santa man had left one in our front garden. The zipper is clearly different, as are some of the other fabrics and their cut, though the nice low-profile shape remains the same. The dual reflective patches that we liked so much are gone, though the new ":k" logos on the bag sides are reflective, so it's probably a visibility wash. Suzette also mentioned that the company encourages any customer who feels that their fi'zi:k product hasn't lived up to the brand's high quality image return it to the place where purchased for warranty. It's now loaded and mounted- we'll let you know how it goes!

Do the folks at fi'zi:k all have creatively named children? I mean, why be difficult? I could easily hate Selle Royal's high-end saddle brand for this alone if their quality saddles didn't force me to forgive their habit of taking liberties with the Roman alphabet. The company's Arione and Aliante saddles have found many fans (myself included) over the past several years, from the peleton on down. The company also makes a handful of accessories, including some bar tape (look for a review some time in the next few months) and this rather nice looking saddle bag.

The XS-sized Saddle Pa:k (come on guys) is just the right size to hold a road tube, small CO2 inflator, small mini tool and maybe a tire lever. In other words, this unobtrusive little guy is just the right size to carry all the things that I want to have along on every ride. Keys, phone, wallet and food? Not a chance- they'll have to go in jersey pockets. Which is how I like it. With a similar bag on both of my road/commuter bikes, it's nice not to have to have to think before heading out- everything that I need is already there in a compact, non-floppy package. The bag is made of water-resistant fabric, has a water-resistant zipper, a blinky tab and two reflective patches to ensure visibility regardless of mounting angle. All this for $14.00 Pretty cool, eh?

Well it was pretty cool for about 6 months, when I noticed that the zipper was becoming increasingly stubborn. Not a big deal- all I needed to do to access the contents was to undo the rail straps and swing the bag away from the seatpost. Sort of a pain, but the non-jangly zipper pull (good) seemed to be pulling the zipper head at a funny angle and causing it to bind a bit. Swinging the bag out from under the saddle allowed easier access and the ability to finesse the zipper open. Now, I don't particularly like flats. Nor do I like my stuff bouncing down the road after falling out of my saddle bag. So, you can imagine my delight when, after a repairing a flat and zipping up the Saddle Pa:k, I heard the jangle of tools hitting pavement. Stopping, I collected my things and chastised myself for being careless. It turns out that the 8 month old zipper on my had gone from open-close mode to open-open and would no longer secure the bag's contents. Luckily, I had eaten my snacks so the tools went into a jersey pocket, the tube was wedged deeper into the bag and I was sad (and annoyed by pocket tool jangle).

It's a shame, really- the rest of the bag was holding up great. The fabric seems to be plenty abrasion resistant and the hook & loop fastener and reflective patches of high quality. It seemed very well thought out and constructed but was ultimately let down by its weakest link. Does the zipper even need to be water resistant? Not many other bags seem to have them, and I'll probably be avoiding them for a while. With a durable (and maybe simpler) zipper, the bag would be worth, say, $17 and easily be a bikefix Pick. Oh so close...

marc

www.fizik.com

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bikefix Exclusive Review: Selle Italia Yutaak saddle

The Yutaak is Selle Italia’s new off-road saddle. It is being billed as a all-mountain/DH saddle, but seeing as its not particularly porky (260g), I thought I would try it out on my long-travel trail bike.

The first thing you notice is the orange back and “wingtips,” and you probably think “ugly” too. I also think this saddle is ugly but really don’t care anymore because it's proving to be a fantastic saddle. The orange tabs are Vibram rubber that are cushioned in the rear and add extra grip for the sides. You can’t see from the pictures that there is also Vibram underneath the nose- presumably to help carry the bike, or to toughen the saddle for the inevitable nose hanging and crashing.

The whole seat is covered in a non-slip a Cordura/Kevlar fabric which combined with the Vibram side tabs, is great for controlling the bike with your thighs on the descents. The fabric is intended to be tougher than leather and probably is- I haven’t managed to rip it yet. [while I found the saddle largely comfortable when I borrowed it for a recent ride, the fabric is a bit rough for those of us who prefer Lycra shorts. Long descents can actually cause some rather unpleasant inner-thigh chafing. That said, if you're buying this saddle, you're probably not in the habit of sporting tighties anyways. -marc] The seat is very well cushioned for outstanding all-day comfort. The nose is also better padded than any saddle I’ve tried recently, which anybody who climbs super-steep hills on long-travel bikes will certainly appreciate.

The 140mm wide stance is perfect for my largish ass but is the only width the seat comes in. Selle Italia uses tubular Titanium 316 rails to keep weight down and comfort up. If you look closely, you can see the rails are not round but shaped. This is to make the saddle rails more resistant to bending without adding much weight or requiring a non-standard seatpost (not all posts' clamps will work, though, so make sure to buy from a local shop with an exchange policy).

The Yutaak may not be the lightest saddle but it’s not much heavier than many more cross-country oriented saddles. It is tough, comfortable, and absolutely deserves a shot at your wallet. As far as the looks go- either you'll like it or you won't. The Yutaak retails for around $125.00. There is also a Gel Flow version, which I haven’t tried and is more expensive.

Charlie

www.selleitalia.com

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bikefix Exclusive Review: Ritchey Snap-On Rim Tape

It's not a bad idea to have a quick look at a wheel's rim strip whenever a tire is replaced. Rim strips that have cracked, moved or gone AWOL can be the cause of persistent mystery flats that have the capability to drive most home mechanics crazy. For years, there have been basically two options for rim strips. The first (and widely preferred) is a dense adhesive-backed cloth tape. The second has been the plain rubber strip that's protected Huffy tubes since time began. On a modern double-walled rim, the rim strip's function is to prevent the tube from pushing into and getting cut on the hole in which the spoke nipple sits or on the spoke or nipple itself. The rubber rim strips are wholly unsuited to decent quality rims (appropriate only for single-walled rims), making cloth tape the only choice for quite some time. However, the adhesive on the cloth tape can dry out or its life shortened by moisture, allowing the tape to shift and expose holes. If looked after, though, the standard Velox rim tape can work quite well.

About 5 (maybe 10) years ago a third option started popping up. Snap-in rim strips are loops of hard plastic or densely woven nylon that literally snap into the rim bed. They span the entire width of the rim and stay in place quite well. However, the molded plastic ones were a pain in the ass to mount or remove, and folks often forgot about the valve hole (which needs to be aligned during installation. Traditionalists (myself included) scoffed and went back to their Velox. At some point, I built a wheel and needed rim tape. The local shop was out of Velox and (very much wanting to ride my new wheel) I reluctantly took a $4.00 gamble and went home with a set of Ritchey Snap-On Rim Tape. The Ritchey tape is made of a densely woven nylon material. The 700c size fills the entire width of an Open Pro, Sun ME14A, Mavic Cosmic or similar road rim, so can't shift and expose the holes. Drop an allen key or philips screwdriver through the tape and rim's valve hole (to maintain orientation) and snap it on. It's reassuringly snug but stretches enough that installation isn't a battle: probably a 30 second operation altogether.

How's it work? On several bikes over several years and thousands of on- and off-road miles, I've never had one fail. They're probably a shade lighter than the Velox, but the ease of installation and greater longevity are more valuable. At $4 for a bike's worth, they're half the price. They're also re-usable, particularly important for those fancy (aggravating) road wheels with hidden nipples. Ultimately, it's a product that does its job better than the competition at a lower price. What's not to like?

marc

www.ritcheylogic.com

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bikefix Exclusive Review: eBay chainring bolts

There's no justification for my buying these, but I happen to think that my bike looks good with a few well-placed blue accents to bring out the color in the decals. Late nights + eBay access can lead to some interesting impulse buys and these anodized blue chainring bolts are one example. I knew when I recieved them that they weren't of particularly high quality- the threads were sloppy and the blue pretty pale, but they looked pretty neat on the bike (shades of 1995), so I kept them. The bike that they were on lives on the upper hooks of a Topeak Dual Touch stand, and it just so happens that the chainrings are at just about eye level. Walking by one day, something in those cool blue bolts caught my eye. On two out of the four bolts, the bolt heads were about 3/4 sheared from the body. This was something that I'd never seen in 20 years of mountain biking. Now, I do typically hit a lot of stuff with my big ring, but it's not bent and compared to the Northeast, there aren't that many logs to claw over in New Mexico. As the sheared bolts were next to one another with the sheared portion facing out, I can only assume that I hit a log or rock just right with the big ring and it started to pop the heads off. The chainring was fine, so I slapped the original Shimano bolts back on and have been riding them since. So, if you're going to go with cheap blue bolts, be sure to keep an eye on them. Otherwise, it could be a long ride out of the woods in the granny ring. It's almost certainly not a good idea to use them on a brakeless fixie.

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bikefix Initial Review: Uvex Rebel sunglasses

Anyone who has spent time in a laboratory or factory setting has probably worn Uvex eyewear. In the US at least, the company almost certainly sells more ANSI Z87.1 compliant eye protection than anything else. The sports side of the business, which is based in Germany makes some very good helmets (reviews here and here) and sunglasses. This spring, we received a set of the company's Rebel sunglasses run through the wringer. The Rebels' are a smaller frame, interchangeable lensed with several cool features. They come with both dark gray and a high-contrast orange lenses and black, blue and silver frames for a very reasonable $60.

A unique feature of the Rebel is the lens mounting. The lenses attach at the nose bridge and essentially float next to the frame as it runs from there to the arms. Because the lenses aren't a rigid part of the frame, the entire frame flexes to gently hold the rider's head- several riders have tired the rebels and they are comfortable for a very wide range of face widths. Because the 'spring' flex takes place over a large part of the frame, they can hold snugly without getting pinchy. There are rubber arm and nose pads and thanks to their very light weight the rebels stay put without squeezing the head. Uvex is particularly proud of these frames' sturdiness- and they should be. Rather than resisting bending and ultimately breaking, the Rebel frames have a remarkable amount of give (see picture), and its possible to twist the arms until they're over 100 degrees apart. Let go and they bounce right back into shape. This probably isn't something you'd want to do regularly, but it shows that the Uvex's are anything but fragile.

As a company known for protective eyewear used in pretty nasty environments, we have no doubts about the Uvex lenses' ability to keep out the odd tree branch or flying stone. While the Rebel's lenses don't have the striking clarity of more expenses glasses', they are perfectly clear and the lack of a lower frame makes for a very wide field of vision. The gray lenses block quite a bit of light and as such are great for bright, treeless rides. In the woods, though, a higher-contrast (and maybe slightly lighter) rose or brown lens would have been nice. As a result, I found myself wearing these on the road bike more than anywhere else. Here in the desert, the orange lenses were too light, but would be great for riding through a gray British winter, as they have very high contrast in flatter Northern light. The glasses' normal-length arms can interfere with Giro helmet retention systems, but so can pretty much every other pair we've tried. Unsurprisingly, Uvex's helmets pose no such problems.

The fact that the lenses aren't attached to the Rebel's frames along their top edge is a mixed blessing. For riders whose glasses are constantly fogging, the added ventilation is fantastic and they'll be some of the most fog-resistant glasses out there. The flip side of this is that a bit of wind tended to sneak by on my face and I my typically watery eyes were even more so than usual. Also, in a road tuck, I sometimes had a distracting line of bright light between the frames and lens at the top of my field of view. I have a feeling that both of these issues will be head-specific and certainly aren't deal breakers. Nobody else who's tried the Rebels has mentioned the issue.

For absent-minded or clumsy riders who've put off buying decent riding glasses for fear of sitting on or otherwise breaking them, the Rebels are ideal. The don't scream "bike dork" when worn casually and look particularly good on narrower faces and the price is very reasonable. Trying them on at a local dealer would be ideal, but they are also available in the US directly from Uvex's website. I've handed them off to our resident off-road triathlete, so look for a run/ride review in a few months.

marc

www.uvexsports.com

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bikefix Initial Review: Ergon GE1 grips

Let me start this review off by saying thatI really don’t have big problems with my wrists while riding and that I don’t have strong preferences about grips (many people do), so (to put it simply) I wasn’t all that excited to try these grips. I decided to put them on my single-speed mountain bike because I really wrench on those bars when riding. After three months' use, I am actually impressed.

The German company Ergon takes their name from ergonomics, which is the science of human-machine interface efficiency. After riding a fair number of miles on the company's most traditional-looking grip other models have a large wing under the rider's palm), I think they are great. First of all, they definitely reduce hand fatigue. I find that I haven't been gripping the bars as tightly as I usually do (which you shouldn’t be doing anyway) and as a result, my hands feel fresher after riding. Ergon's literature talks about the design allowing frequent change of hand positions, but in practice, I found that the opposite was true. Sure I could move my hand around a couple of millimeters in each direction but any further than that that and my hands wanted to go back to where they started. Not a big deal, but I thought it was odd that they mention something that never occurred to me was that important on a mountain bike and when my experience was more or less opposite what was suggested.

I rode an XC mountain bike race recently with these grips and I really liked how evenly they distribute pressure over my hands. My hands felt surprisingly happy while being jostled all over the (very bumpy) racecourse and even fairly fresh at the finish line.

My one complaint with the grips is that they do tend to feel a bit vague- as if you aren’t sure exactly where your hands are and exactly what they are doing. It’s probably something one can get used to, and who knows, maybe its just a result of my hands being in a more comfortable/neutral position, but I definitely felt slightly “detached” from the steering compared to other grips I have used.

Ergon also mentions that the GE1 can help with Ulnar Nerve comfort. I don’t seem to have an Ulnar nerve problem on mountain bikes, so I can’t make a judgment on this but I do tend to believe that these grips will offer some relief for people whose hands fall asleep while riding.

The GE1’s look pretty good, and the locking clamps also serve as stops to keep your hand from shooting off the end of the bar (another problem that I never had), but it is not a bad idea and maybe it’s the thought that counts. The palm rubber is firm but not too hard and a bit softer than the rest of the grip to provide cushion where you probably need it most.

I like these grips. They come in two sizes: Small (134mm) and Large (140mm) and they weigh about 182g (which is probably more than your stem, but I'll take comfort over light weight, thank you). I’ll change them over to my geared full-suspension bike soon and give an update after a few more months and (hopefully many) summer epics. They retail for around $35.00.

charlie

www.ergon-bike.com

see our Ergon BD-2 Pack review here

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bikefix Exclusive Review: Selle Italia XO Trans Am saddle

Why pay more? Every once in a while I stumble across a product that far exceeds the expectations generated by its modest price tag. Sometimes, corners have been cut but they're corners you don't really need. Sometimes, though, no corners appear to have been cut and one can't help but assume that the price was a mistake. This here saddle is an example of the latter.

Several years ago, a girlfriend picked up a Giant Cypress SX sporty hybrid. It was a cool bike for sure, and it came with a cheap OEM version of Selle Italia's XO Trans Am saddle. An avid mountain biker, she loved it and we ordered another for her mountain bike. The $40 aftermarket version of the saddle has steel rails, medium padding, a medium width, a 'taint-saving chasm down the center and is made of a nice durable synthetic cover. Doesn't sound particularly performance-oriented, does it? Somehow, I ended up riding the saddle a few times and was blown away. The multi-density foam is comfortable without being squidgy with an unobtrusive shape and no sharp corners anywhere. Oh, and it weighs came in at 270g. And is made in Italy.

Now, you can spend a lot of money on a saddle that is a lot less comfortable that weighs just as much. For reference, the $200 Aliante Carbon comes in at 259g. Nor the Aliante is a very good saddle. I have the "Gamma" version on a couple of bikes. If I'm going to spend all day on the bike, though, they don't come close to the XO in comfort. The saddle pictured here has been on several bikes and survived several 24 hour races- so its holding up just fine. What's not to like? Nothing comes to mind. Just be sure to spend the extra $10 or so to get the aftermarket version- the OEM has a vinyl cover that doesn't hold up nearly as well. Everybody's body is different, so trying before you buy isn't a bad idea. Of course, at $40, giving it a go isn't a huge risk.

marc

www.selleitalia.com

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bikefix Initial Review: Giro Semi sunglasses

As I have said in the past, I am a sucker for sunglasses. I will try almost anything new and potentially better than what I'm wearing at the moment. When I read that the new Giro sunglasses were going to have Zeiss-certified lenses, I became very interested. Carl Zeiss is a legend in the optics industry, making and certifying some of the best camera lenses, binoculars, and scopes available. When the glasses came out, though, only the grey polarized lens for the Semi model was Zeiss certified. Because I don’t like polarized lenses for riding, I opted for the Rose-Silver- but all of the lenses are claimed to be manufactured with to the highest quality. I picked the Semi because it fit my face the better than the other “active” model (the Havik). The Havik and all its lenses are Zeiss certified, but the fit was too narrow for my face. The Havik features the only interchangeable lenses in the Giro line, which includes two "Active" models and two more casual (as in wearable off the bike) models.

One of the big selling points of the new Giro line is that the glasses are designed to fit well while wearing cycling helmets (only Giro helmets?). Giro calls this "Super Fit Engineering," which basically translates to "Short Arms." In the past I have had glasses that hit my helmet's retention system and it is a real problem (especially if they interact too much, which can cause crippling headaches). While it’s true that the Semi’s didn’t bump or rub on any of my helmets, I have a number of sunglasses that don’t get interfere with the helmet either. It has also been years since I had that problem, so it may not be a very unique feature, but it is a helpful one. Separately of the helmet issue, the Semi fit is snug at first but does loosen over the first few rides. They now fit me perfectly, even on my big round head. The Giro rep for our region said you can expect all the models to loosen after the first few rides, something to be aware of when trying them on. They don’t move or jostle around on my face when the trail gets rough, but they don’t give me a headache like some overly-snug frames have in the past. The nose and arm pads are made of a material whose grip increases when you sweat.

Another feature that took some effort on Giro’s part is what they call True Sight technology. One problem with the curved lenses that are so useful for keeping wind, sticks and rocks out of your eyes is that they tend to have more distortion than a more planar lens. The sharper the curve of the lens, the more distortion you get. However the more curved a lens is (to a point), the better it protects the eye from debris, wind, and UV rays. What to do? Giro claims you can have your cake and it too! The company doesn't go into a lot of technical detail, but they say they have vastly increased the distortion-free field of vision when compared to other sunglasses on the market. I have to agree that they are superbly clear and distortion free, but I don’t know if it is better than some of the other leading glasses out there.

Despite my dislike of polarized lenses, I plan on reviewing a pair of Giro’s with the Zeiss certification in the future. The Semi is definitely one of the nicest sunglasses I have worn. It’s easy to forget you are wearing them, and that is truly high praise for anything that goes on your face. I would like a bit more detail from Giro on their website about their glasses and the technology that goes into them, as what is there is a bit vague. I personally would like to see a red tinted lens that lets in more visible light than my Rose/Silver (23% light transmission) do, or perhaps a photo-chromatic lens option. The rose/silver, like many red-tinted lenses is designed to provide good contrast in the varying light conditions that most road and mountain bikers encounter on every ride. Giro does offer a number of different frame/lens color options for each style, but as I mention above, the lenses are only interchangeable on the Haviks. Considering their competition they are well priced between $90.00 and $170.00 depending on the model and lens.

Charlie

www.giro.com

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bikefix Exclusive Review: Saris CycleOn Pro bike rack

I haven’t owned a bike rack since about 1992 and it was such a piece of crap that I haven't owned another since. Times have changed and my need for more bike-carrying capacity has grown. I talked to a number of friends about their recommendations and Saris' CycleOn Pro came out the winner. I ordered the rack, and had a 2in receiver hitch installed on my truck.

When the rack arrives it requires some assembly. I hate any kind of assembly, but it wasn’t too bad and I had it done and installed on the truck in less than 30 minutes. The rack is sold with a locking hitch-pin (to lock it to the vehicle) and a cable style lock for the bikes (to lock them to the rack and/or vehicle). While the base CycleOn and CycleOn Pro will hold two bikes, I had ordered the additional 2 bike add-on so I could now fit a total of 4 bikes behind the truck. Crap. I forgot about the spare tire. I was down to 3 bikes and now the rack didn’t fold up and out of the way when not in use as it's supposed to. A quick search around town talking to the “experts” lead me to believe that there was no way to extend the receiver out; or that the shortest extender I could buy was 18 inches long- far longer than the 5 or 6 inches I needed. After being generally annoyed for a bit, a friend recommended an Internet search. 1.38674 seconds later I found a 7 inch receiver extension and ordered it about 2 minutes after that. I believe in supporting your local shops but our local U-Haul and trailer shops had no clue. Sometimes the Internet is the better way.

The Saris allows one to put the entire bike on the rack without taking either tire off. A simple but strong arm swings up and ratchets down on the front tire. Saris claims that it touches no part of the bike other than the tire so there is no rubbing or scuffing between rack and bike, or between bike and bike. Overall it works as advertised, but (and it is a BIG butt), the rack does not like SRAM derailleurs. This is upsetting to me because I like SRAM XO derailleurs and most of my bikes and my friends’ bikes have them. The arm that holds the bikes in place protrudes into the space that the XO derailleur would like to have. So you either turn the bike backwards in the rack (which is probably not recommended and creating new problems) or you tilt the bike a bit to get the arm lock into place, and then let the pressure of the locking arm push the derailleur against the previous bike’s locking arm- so much for no scuffing (not to mention the possibility of breaking a rear mech). Even more frustrating is the fact that it's such a simple fix. The lock arms are unnecessarily thick where the plastic lock mechanisms are and the SRAM XO only needs about 4-6 mm of extra room- Hell, I may well just Dremmel away at the plastic until it fits.

Since I am on a rant, I might as well mention that the bike trays that the tires fit in are perfectly parallel. This means that the handlebars of every other bike are in exactly the same spot. Why couldn’t they make the add-on trays slightly angled in the opposite direction- then the bars would be staggered slightly. Sometimes saddles get in the way of the bike next to them but that was expected and is easily fixed too by removing the seat post or rotating it 180 degrees in the seat tube).

The Saris is well-built however, and will work for a lot of bikes, but the add-on creates some issues and the SRAM thing is annoying in the extreme. The moral of this story and my advice to you is: try before you buy. Of course, you now know whether this rack will work for you. The CycleOn is available for either 1 ¼ inch or 2 inch receivers. It retails for around $440 for the base rack and another $270 for the add-on.

charlie

~~~

Now, I was one of the ones who recommended the CycleOn Pro to Charlie and feel like I should weigh in. After seeing how poorly my existing roof racks fit my new Saabaru and buying a home with a garage, I decided that it was time to rethink pushing multiple bikes through the air at 80mph for hours on end. After looking around, I decided to go with the Saris for its well thought-out design, American construction and lifetime guarantee. Unlike similar offerings from Thule, the Saris' locking arm doesn't contact the front of the bikes' forks- it locks at a preset angle. Because I'm not a SRAM guy, I haven't had problems with deraileurs rubbing, but bars often conflict with nearby saddles. After hearing about Charlie's problems, I did some experimenting. Whether or not your rear dérailleur hits the arm or not seems to have more to do with the bike's wheelbase than anything else. Charlie and my Mavericks have long-ish wheelbases and my XTR mech has the same problem in the outer position. Other (shorter or longer wheelbase) bikes, including 29ers and road bikes are fine. As Charlie says, try before your buy. Bar conflicts can be addressed to some extent by winding down adjustable-travel forks.

In use over the past three years, the CycleOn Pro has been generally good. The Pro model, over the base $380 CycleOn, adds a locking cable and expanding tongue. The cable is nice enough and keyed to match the hitch pin lock, which is handy. While the expanding tongue (the square tube that goes into the receiver) is nice, it won't keep the rack from bouncing around without a stout receiver. The 1 1/4in receiver that U-Haul sells for Subaru Imprezas isn't particularly stout. On another, with a better receiver, there is almost no rack movement, even without the using expanding tongue. If you have a fairly solid receiver hitch (like those that come on many SUVs) and aren't planning on carrying more than two bikes, I'd recommend saving the $50. If you have a suspect aftermarket receiver, you'll need all the help you can get.

Because the rack is removed so easily, I tend to leave it in the garage when not in use. When on the car but not in use, it does fold upright very easily, though this can restrict trunk/hatch access. After opening my trunk into the arms a couple of times, I stretched old tubes over them to keep prevent scratches. On the road, you can keep an eye on your babies. The roof rack wind noise that can render sunroofs useless is gone and fuel economy is much improved. The likelihood of hosing your bike/rack/roof by plowing into a garage or basketball hoop is greatly reduced as well. Obstructing your license plate with bicycles will attract the unwanted attention of Utah's Finest, but if you're nice and not drunk or high they may let you off with a verbal warning.

On cars with low exit angles (lots of rear overhang), the rack will hit the pavement (or dirt) from time to time. My knob for the expanding tongue is broken and the bottom of the rack pretty chewed up but still performing admirably. The rear wheel holders aren't designed to accommodate deep section aero rims, but 29ers fit fine. Overall, I have to say that the CycleOn is one of the better thought out and built racks that I've seen. Not cheap, but start adding up the cost of roof rack components and you'll get there pretty quickly. For $270, the Saris Thelma looks awesome but isn't 29er friendly.

marc

www.saris.com

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bikefix Initial Review: Ergon BD2 pack

One of my favorite phrases is "so wrong, it must be right. " What does that mean, exactly? As a product developer, to me it means that you've got to have a damn good reason to stray from the tried and tested. One good example is Metabo's P'7911 hammer drill. It looks weird, but the logic is sound and the ergonomics are improved over what folks are used to. Another good example is Ergon's BD2 hydration pack. Ergon is the German company who came to the US market several years ago with some unusual ergonomic grips that have since become favorites of disto-freaks everywhere (we have some of their Enduro grips on test). New this year is their line of bike packs. Two things set Ergon's packs apart from what's become quite a crowded hydration pack market: First is a frame that transfers virtually all of the bag and its contents' weight off of the rider's shoulders and onto the hips. Second is the flexible link (Flink)- a ball joint that allows the shoulder harness to move independently of the rest of the pack.

When I first received the pack, it felt weird- but in a good way. With the waistbelt properly cinched around the hipbones, the feeling of shoulder freedom unusual, especially with the bag fully loaded. Everyone who tries it on spends a few minutes sashaying (strutting or flouncing in a showy manner) around, getting used to the fact that their shoulders can move naturally despite the massive pack on their back. There is an ovoid nylon frame around the back of the pack with arms at the bottom providing a solid mounting point for the waistbelt. At the top is what could best be described as a shoulder harness and the two are connected by a lime green half-sphere the size of a ping-pong ball and pierced by a long socket cap screw. This is the Flink, and it has three attachment points to accommodate different torso lengths. The waistbelt is well padded and features a cool rubberized mesh (which I'd never seen before) to keep from moving about. The 15L capacity bag is bisected by a waterproof zipper down its center and has several narrow, deep pockets on the inside and out. A floating compression system/helmet holder/pocket attaches at two points near the top of the bag and to a quick release buckle near its bottom. All of the zippers are of the rubberized water-resistant type and a raincover deploys from its own bottom pocket. Inside, a bladder pocket (which holds a 3L CamelBak bladder just fine) is secured by zigzag of elastic cord. There is a small loop at the top from which the bladder can hang and the combination of the two does a fantastic job keeping the bladder's contents from shifting, whether empty o