Cervelo Áspero Gravel bikes come in a number of flavors. The flavor of this one is fast. While the origin of the modern gravel bike has a relationship to Cyclo-Cross bikes, both have evolved. More stability, more tire clearance, more places to attach accessories has been the direction for gravel. Bikepacking capability and ruggedness for… Continue reading One Bike to Rule?
Category: Reviews
Tasty Energy
Like mom’s? Food and bicycles. Nah, we’re not talking about the post ride tacos and beer. We’re talking about healthy fueling (not that we have anything against tacos). We’ve been consuming bars and blocks and gels since they were introduced to cycling. The convenience of ready to eat with the correct caloric density is essential… Continue reading Tasty Energy
Zizzo Liberté
We’ve been wanting to explore a folding bike for some time. It’s common to see compact folding bicycles on train platforms throughout Belgium and the Netherlands, ready to board. In urban areas in both countries you’ll see folks pedaling and parking them as a daily drivers. In the Midwest of the United States? Not so… Continue reading Zizzo Liberté
Work Saver
There are a whole lot of reasons to have this tool. If you’re part of a household with multiple bicycles and frequent use, you inflate (or you should) plenty of tires. Our home service course contains road, time trial, cyclocross, mountain, and track bikes at the ready….for two people (and sometimes neighbors and friends). A… Continue reading Work Saver
Vittoria Corsa N.EXT
Man, I love cotton casing tires. This is not one. That said, this is a fresh (and awesome) tire from the folks at Vittoria. If you scroll through our review archive, you’ll see we reviewed a couple of generations of Vittoria’s Corsa tires. Classic high thread count cotton tires, designed for maximum performance with sublime… Continue reading Vittoria Corsa N.EXT
A Tire for Two Trails
The Kansas City metro has lots and lots of great singletrack. A good resource for local trail conditions and maps can be found here, at Urban Trail Co. Over the years I’ve ridden most of our area trails (yes, there are some newer pieces I still need to sample). But because of time and nearness,… Continue reading A Tire for Two Trails
USWE Outlander
Hydration packs are an essential for mountain bike riding. Many gravel riders, particularly for longer events find a hydration pack critical as well. The ability to drink hands free on rough roads as well as carry more fluid than a pair of bottles, plus extra storage capacity makes lots of sense. These kind of packs… Continue reading USWE Outlander
Neck Gaiters
A simple essential. Like Kleenex for tissue and Google for search, a lot of people refer to neck gaiters as ‘buffs’. Buff is a trademarked brand of this basic piece of cycling gear. Tube shaped and stretchy enough to fit over your head, a gaiter has multiple uses. Like a traditional scarf, the most common… Continue reading Neck Gaiters
Barrier Socks
A niche piece of cycling clothing that has been around in some variation for many years, the barrier sock (sometimes described as a wind sock or liner) is an essential item for my comfort. Made from windproof and breathable fabrics such as WindTex or WindStopper, barrier socks can extend the comfort range about 10 degrees… Continue reading Barrier Socks
Worx Portable Power Washer
We originally purchased a Worx Hydroshot portable power washer for use in the Material Post at cyclo-cross events without a close water supply. The ability to pull water from a bucket (rather than a pressured source) was a critical feature. What we have found it is also a handy tool for home use as well.… Continue reading Worx Portable Power Washer