Currently, it seems like the virtual world is changing as fast as the real world. There’s been a lot of upheaval in the space recently as 2024 Cycling Esport World Championship was awarded to MyWhoosh, replacing Zwift. Perhaps related, just this week Zwift announced another round of layoffs which coincided with the resignation of Co-CEO Kurt Beidler.

Now, we get news that giants of the virtual world Zwift & Wahoo are joining forces. Well, maybe forced to join forces is a better description.

Why the Collaboration? 

This seems to be a direct result of the Zwift/Wahoo lawsuit, which was amicably settled in 2023. Wahoo initially filed a lawsuit claiming that the Zwift Hub’s design violated several patents owned by Wahoo, specifically those associated with their KICKR trainers. Additionally, Wahoo sought a court order to prohibit Zwift from selling the Zwift Hub trainer, but the request for the injunction was rejected.

The lawsuit concluded with a statement from Zwift, reported by Zwift-Insider.com. “Zwift and Wahoo Fitness today confirm the amicable settlement of all pending litigation. The agreement will see both parties embark on a renewed approach to collaboration, with a view to growing the indoor fitness category and delivering continual, ongoing improvements to customers – through increased innovation, ease of use and better value.

“Wahoo has granted Zwift a limited license to use its patents. Zwift will continue to sell its Zwift Hub smart trainer in existing e-commerce markets – US, UK and Europe. In addition to selling Zwift Hub, Zwift will return to selling a selection of Wahoo smart trainers, bikes, and accessories on Zwift.com from mid-September.” 

New KICKR CORE Zwift One Trainer

The Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One is a mouthful but a simple unit to comprehend. It’s the KICKR CORE with the addition of the Zwift Cog, and Zwift’s Click virtual shifting.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Zwift Cog or Click, you can check out our piece about it here. 

The new Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One will deliver the same ‘near-universal’ compatibility with 8 to 12-speed bikes. The unit includes a preinstalled Zwift Cog and offers Virtual Shifting via the included Zwift Click controller. We’ve tested this, and it’s a fantastic update, especially if you have a house with many bikes and very few trainers – though the shifting ergonomics are much better with the optional Zwift Play controllers.

Are there any changes to the existing Wahoo KICKR CORE? No — The Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One will be sold alongside the non-Zwift/Wahoo KICKR CORE with a choice of 8/9/10/11/12 speed cassette. The unit also now has a one-year Zwift subscription via zwift.com and wahoofitness.com.

Current KICKR CORE Owners Get Virtual Shifting Update

Rolling out today and tomorrow, all existing owners of Wahoo KICKR CORE trainers can upgrade to virtual shifting using Zwift Play. We’re assuming this will be done through a firmware update on exisitng trainers, but the details are thin, so we’ve asked for more and will update this when we hear back.

Update:

Zwift has confirmed that the update will be available for all CORE users via firmware update by tomorrow afternoon. However, the only way to unlock the firmware upgrade will be to purchase the Zwift Play controllers (or update both the trainer and controllers if you already own both).

Existing CORE users will also have to simply leave the chain in one of the gears on the cassette, rather than use a single cog like the Zwift Hub. We’ve been told that the freehub is not the same for the Hub and the CORE, which means that the Zwift Cog kit is not compatible with the existing CORE trainers. We’re guessing there will be an upgrade kit for the trainers in the future, though.

How is the Performance of the Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One?

I was happy to check out the Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One. I’m a fan of both trainers, the Zwift Cog and Virtual Shifting.

Out of the box, the unit is nearly identical to the KICKR CORE. The Zwift colors or logo are nowhere to be seen on the trainer unit other than the instructional packaging. The package arrives with the Zwift Cog preinstalled, and the Click shifter tucked nicely in the packing. 

Like the other Zwift products, the Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One has an easy setup sheet and a detailed setup guide. The other unit pieces (power cable, end caps, etc.) are pure Wahoo and are easy to set up. 

How About Pairing?

I had zero issues pairing the unit with my Zwift account. The shifting was as clear as I recall with the Zwift One I reviewed last year. 

The legs of the trainer are slightly different than the Zwift One and are of the Wahoo KICKR CORE build. They are sturdy to sprint against but have no side-to-side adjustment (you’ll need a KICKR or KICKR MOVE for that). As for the Cog and single rear ring setup, it’s as I remember from the Zwift One build. The rider shifts into a gear near the Cog to set up and then dials it in while on the bike. 

There is a sweet spot with the slightest noise from the unit, and it’s easy to find. I’ve only used the Cog unit on my 9, 11 and12 speed bikes but have had no issues getting it to work. The 8-speed would be the same, but some jumps in shifting could be different with more ambient chain noise. 

Performance-wise, the unit feels nearly identical to the Zwift One — solid. I liked both the Wahoo KICKR CORE and the Zwift One as stand-alone units, and this collaboration works. 

Stay tuned for more updates and a long-term review. 

Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One – Pricing and Availability

The Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One is now available in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union for $599/£549/€599, the price includes one year of Zwift membership. Australia and Canada will have to wait until March for availability. 

Wahoofitness.com, Zwift.com

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The post New KICKR CORE Zwift One Trainer Adds Virtual Shifting, Existing Trainers Get Upgrade Too appeared first on Bikerumor.

It’s been almost 20 years since my first trip to Moab, UT, and a lot has changed. Sure, the Slickrock is still just as impressive and awe-inspiring, but the town itself is hard to recognize. Thanks to an explosion of outdoor recreation for everything from trail running to side by sides, Moab has seen huge growth in tourism – and with that, the need for more hotel rooms.

While many of the hotels you’ll find in Moab are the typical uninspired chain hotels you could find in any city, there are a few new options in town that specifically cater to adventurers. Field Station Moab is exactly that. A base of operations for red rock adventures, Field Station is uniquely equipped to help you make the most out of your visit to Moab.

Walk in the front door, and instead of a boring lobby, you’re greeted by an impressively complete gear shop full of last-minute necessities. Forgot ride food or hydration? An extra layer? First aid kit? They have all that and more. If you’re in need of bigger items like, you know, a bike, the rental counter probably has you covered there too.

Inside you’ll also find the Little Station Coffee + Kitchen that serves breakfast, lunch & dinner with plenty of drink options. It opens out to a spacious back patio with plenty of outdoor seating and a fire pit next to the pool (and hot tub). Our trip got kind of sideways and the weather didn’t allow us to spend much time pool or fireside, but it looked inviting when we arrived.

No need to search for water

One of the best amenities on offer? The free water bottle (or hydration pack) filler in the lobby. Seriously, why is this not a thing in every hotel? No need to wander around hoping to find a water jug in the gym on the sixth floor. Just stop by the filler on your way out for an adventure – Moab is quite dry after all, so drink up.

Guest Room Details

When it comes to the rooms themselves, here you’ll also find outdoor inspiration indoors. We ended up in a Double Queen + Bunk room, which is listed at 6 people max. Inside the room, there are signs of the building’s former life as a tired Super 8 in the desert like windows that don’t quite seal and overworked air conditioners, but the experience was for the majority a positive one.

Realistically, this room would be great for four friends who each want their own bed, or 8 if you don’t mind going two people to a queen bed. For bigger groups of riding buddies that would probably be crashing in the same room anyway, this is a pretty luxe way to go about it.

Inside the cleanly decorated room, there was a Dometic cooler, camp chairs, and camp blankets to provide an outdoorsy feel while being perfectly functional indoors. More importantly, there was a bike stand showing that Field Station expects you to bring your bike inside. Just realize that there is no elevator for the two-floor hotel, so you’ll have to carry your bike and gear up the relatively short steps (along the same lines, if stairs are an issue, make sure to request a room on the first floor). Also, since we stayed there, they’ve updated the website to mention checking at the front desk for a bike cover prior to bringing your bike into the room – likely to try and keep things as clean as possible inside.

Moab Vanlife Parking Options

Those who don’t need a hotel because they have a sweet van will also find a spot at Field Station. Literally. Vanlifers can rent spots just outside of the pool which include power hookups, shower & pool access, wifi, and the all-important bike wash station for just $29 per day, year ’round. We spoke to a couple who had just stayed at Field Station in one of the Van Life Posts and said they would definitely stay there again.

Bike Cleaning Station

During our stay, I put the bike wash station to use during a thunderstorm which meant a very quick wash. Under normal conditions, there are also tools available so you can work on your bike if needed (while not dodging lightning).

Located just up the road from Arches National Park, Field Station’s location means you don’t have to deal with downtown Moab traffic unless you want to check out the restaurants and shops. Love Muffin is a must, though they’re not open Wednesday and Thursday, so plan ahead. Moab Garage Co. is another great spot for breakfast or lunch, and I had some amazing sushi at Sabaku.

Learn your knots, and where to go

If you find yourself in Moab and not sure what to do, Field Station also offers curated Experiences which include guided mountain bike tours, climbing, canyoneering, and rockaneering trips, and even complimentary Mappy Morning trip planning sessions.

Whether it’s your first trip to Moab, or you’re a seasoned red rock adventurer, Field Station Moab seems to have something for everyone. It’s one of those rare hotels which can actually enhance your adventures, rather than simply providing a place to stay. You get that too, but you seem to get a whole lot more – which is worth the price of admission.

fieldstation.com

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You read that headline right. The Western Rattler Bar Tape by Camp and Go Slow… Is. The. Best. Bar. Tape. Ever.* And if I had my way, that would be the end of the review. But I should probably tell you more about this wonder tape, and make my case for it being the best tape out there. I just recently gave the tape an Editor’s Choice award for 2023 and we even added it to our list of the best handlebar tapes.

Let’s go over a little history about Camp and Go Slow to begin our journey to the pot o’ gold that is the Western Rattler Bar tape.

Camp and Go Slow

Camp and Go Slow was started by two people on different ends of the US, Jarrod Bunk on the East Coast, and Casey Clark on the West Coast. It is now solely owned and operated by Casey. Originally they started with just stickers that were a wonderful bite on the Campagnolo logo.

The Camp and Go Slow take on the Campy logo sends an alternative message that is a juxtaposition of what the legendary Italian brand has historically meant in the cycling world. The message could be that the components that you use on your bicycle, shouldn’t define you as a cyclist. Or, at the very least, we should all try to “camp and go slow” occasionally.

When you look through the products that are offered on their site, you’ll see stuff that embodies the Camp and Go Slow ethos, like camp mugs, handlebar bags, a very handsome wool Henley, as well as patches, stickers, pins, and soft goods.

Western Rattler Bar Tape

Why do I think this tape is amazing? Is it because it’s the cheapest tape out there? No. Does it come with extra goodies? Well, yes and no. Is it super handsome? You betcha. But, let’s go ahead and dive in, and I’ll tell ya why.

Not the Cheapest, But Worth Every Penny

The Western Rattler bar tape is made in Taiwan and retails for $44. That price gets you two super long, 3300mm rolls. Those rolls come packaged in a handmade ripstop bag that’s made in Pennsylvania. Plus, you’re supporting a small business, so you can concentrate on making your bike look good and not wrestling with your conscience.

No Extra Stuff, But Do We Need Extras?

When you buy the tape, there is no finishing tape or bar end plugs included. But the USA-made bag that the tape comes in is of nice quality and can be used for many different things. Plus, who needs cheap finishing tape or cheap plastic bar end plugs? No one, that’s who. I would recommend using electrical tape and getting some of the Cardiff Silicone Rubber Handlebar Plugs to finish the job.

Handsome, Put a Value on That

The way I see it, most people like aesthetically pleasing things. I know I do. But, let’s touch on bicycles specifically. When my bike looks good, I feel good riding it. I think we all do. So, when I first saw this tape back in 2020, I wanted it for my Masi Randonneur as I thought it would look amazing. And it did. The Western Rattler Tape has “upped” the aesthetic game on every bike it’s been on… that’s worth something.

Specs:

• Includes 2x 3300mm rolls
• 28mm width
• 61g per roll
• Made from durable nylon blend
• 1.5mm foam backing
• Available in Western (brown) or Eastern (green) Rattler colors
• Bartape made in Taiwan
• Bag made in Pennsylvania

This Tape Could, Quite Possibly Last Forever

All of the above reasons to buy this tape are valid. But the real highlight of owning this bar tape is that it is comfortable, washable, and reusable. This means that it will, more than likely, last longer than any other tape you’ve had.

When I saw the tape on the internet, I honestly just bought it because I thought the colors on the bar would “pop” on the bike, accentuating the bike’s honey-colored leather saddle. After I received the tape and installed it, I had no idea that it would wear as long as it did.

Extra Tape and Keepin’ it Clean

When I first wrapped my bars, I rode the tape glove-free for the initial several hundred miles. I noticed that it was getting dark at the curve of the bars behind the hoods… most likely from my hand sweat and grime. I was pleased to find that it washed right off with simple soap and water when washing my bike.

I’ve unwrapped that first roll of Western Rattler tape many times. For example, to swap brake/shift levers a few times as well as a few bar swaps. It unwraps clean because it uses minimal adhesive, so it releases from the bar without tearing chunks of the tape’s backing.

The 3300mm length of the tape is a lot, I’ve wrapped a lit of different width bars up to 51cm, even some with really wide flats, and have always had extra tape. Just recently I used some of the extra to wrap the drive side chainstay on my Gus Boots Willsen, and it looks fantastic.

I find it holds its form because it’s not super stretchy, resulting in bar tape that can easily be reinstalled and reused. The “woven” texture feels great in the hands and extra grippy with gloves on. I find myself riding the Western Rattler mostly gloved nowadays.

In Closing

The Camp and Go Slow Western Rattler Bar tape is unique, as I haven’t seen anything out there that’s comparable. This tape, by far, is one of my favorite pieces of bike gear, ever. It needs zero attention once it’s installed, and looks amazing (on just about any bicycle). It supports a small business. It’s a high-quality product that seems to have a very, very long life span.

Would I recommend this bar tape to someone? You bet, without hesitation.

Do yourself a favor and go the the Camp and Go Slow website, and pick some up. Plus, check out all of the cool gear they offer… most of it would make for great stocking stuffers.

CampAndGoSlow.com

*According to Ron’s Opinion

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I know. I know that a few weeks ago I just did a review of a rooftop tent. But, I thought we could talk about the differences between the two different types of rooftop tents. The fold-out type that I already reviewed and the TopOak Overland Galaxy 1.0 which is a wedge type.

As I mentioned in the review of the Yakima SkyRise rooftop tent, we’ve had that same type of fold-out style tent on our previous Jeep. We had it for a long time and wanted to try something different. Specifically, we wanted to try a wedge-style tent on our new Jeep, but they’ve always been so cost-prohibitive. Until now.

TopOak Overland Galaxy 1.0 Rooftop Tent

I love a good bargain and let me tell you, the TopOak Overland Galaxy 1.0 rooftop tent that I’m reviewing is a total bargain. So I got one. I was a little weary of grabbing one because sometimes a price can be “too good to be true” and quality can be questionable. But, for this style tent with this type of price tag, I thought I would take the chance on it. So, far I’m glad I did.

It seems very close to being the same tent as a RoofNest Falcon Pro rooftop tent, but the TopOak Galaxy 1.0 retails for only $1,299, not $3,995. You could buy three Galaxy 1.0 tents for the price of one of the Falcon Pro tents.

The Galaxy 1.0 is a wedge-style rooftop tent, with a hard aluminum shell. It uses externally mounted, self-opening struts, and has three different mounting spots for the included telescoping ladder.

It also comes with an adjustable built-in LED light, a shoe bag that hangs outside the tent, and a boatload of inside storage pockets.

I like the storage that is on the inside of the roof. It has six suspended pockets that you can use, or you can pull it away from the ceiling and store clothes or something behind it.

It has two locking clamps at the opening. The locks are a little bit wonky and don’t seem super secure and it came with weird, large keys. It’s not the highest security, but it does the job.

The tent also has a unique feature where the front of the tent expands out to give you much more room inside the tent than a standard wedge-style tent. That “kick-out” section also has a removable rainfly and a built-in skylight, so you can stargaze while lying in the tent.

Shipping the Galaxy 1.0

Shipping the tent anywhere in the contiguous US will cost $299, and is said to arrive within 7 days. TopOak has a warehouse in Los Angeles, allowing for pick-up if you are local. I opted to get mine shipped, and it arrived in 2 days, through a freight company.

The freight company called me the day before it would arrive and gave me a 2-hour window for when I could expect it… and actually showed up at the front end of that window. That was nice.

When the tent is packed to ship, it’s big, and weighs roughly 220lbs, according to the freight guy. I was by myself the day it came, and he was kind enough to drop it in my driveway.

After inspecting the box, it didn’t have any sign of being handled roughly. TopOak says that every tent is insured, and to feel free to contact them if your tent shows up damaged. That was nice to know.

I started the unpacking and was pleased to see the tent sandwiched between two pieces of plywood, with dense foam placed between the wood and the aluminum hard shell. It was packed very well and arrived without a single scratch.

Installation

I needed to ask for help to lift this bad boy onto the Yakima Load Bars on our Jeep. The tent, by itself, with nothing in it, weighs 172lbs. Not crazy heavy when it comes to rooftop tents, but not light either. In comparison, the Yakima SkyRise HD Medium rooftop tent that I reviewed weighed 114lbs.

Make sure that the load bar/roof rack system on your vehicle has a dynamic weight capacity of at least 172lbs before you install this tent on your vehicle. The Yakima Rib Cage Rack System for the Jeep JL has a dynamic weight rating of 330 pounds, so that is plenty.

Once the tent was on the load bars, I easily slid it around to find the right spot to start installing it with the provided hardware. I will note that the tent only came with knobs to fasten the metal straps around the load bars. I opted to go to the hardware store and swap them for some good Nylock nuts.

Also, the steel straps seemed a little thin for my liking, so I will be swapping those at a later date for a thicker stainless steel version. But, for the most part, I am very pleased with how easy the tent was to attach to our loadbars.

Galaxy 1.0 First Impressions

After getting the tent mounted on our Jeep, I did some opening and closing practice runs. It is incredibly easy to set up and close down. I’m storing some sleeping bags (laid out flat), the included shoe bag and ladder, as well as some small pillows up in the tent when not in use.

With that stuff stored in it, the tent was a little bit harder to close, but still closed up just fine. This convenience is much easier to deal with when closing the wedge-type tent when compared to the fold-out type tent tent.

We’ve done around 600 miles with the Galaxy 1.0 on the roof, as well as a few offroad trails, and so far it’s felt solid and has been quiet. I didn’t notice the extra 60lbs on the roof while driving around with the tent. I didn’t think that would happen, I thought it would be noticeable.

Better MPGs

One of the most noticeable differences between the fold-out and the wedge-type of tents is road noise. The TopOak Galaxy 1.0 has a hard aluminum exterior shell that seems to glide through the wind. This makes it much quieter than the soft cover of the SkyRise HD Medium tent.

The Galaxy 1.0 sits much lower on top of the Jeep than the SkyRise did. At only 8″ tall when closed, the Galaxy 1.0 has a full 9″ lower profile than the SkyRise. Not only is the Galaxy 1.0 much quieter, but it’s also allowed me to gain back between 2 and 3 miles per gallon putting me very close to the factory gas mileage for the Jeep. That was surprising.

I’ve got a bunch of small desert trips planned for the tent in the next few months, along with a big multi-day Death Valley run and a huge run through North East Nevada and Virginia City.

These trips will put this tent to the test. I’m curious how well a $1300 tent will do while running some rough trails through an unforgiving desert landscape. Stay tuned here for the full review of the TopOak Galaxy 1.0.

TopOakOverland.com

The post First Look: The Galaxy 1.0 is an Affordable Aluminum Hardshell Rooftop Tent appeared first on Bikerumor.

If you read my pieces on the regular, you know that I’ve mentioned, more than once, that I prefer my cycling stuff to be subtly branded. San Francisco, California’s Ornot has the same preference when it comes to subtle branding. I mean, it’s in their slogan: “You could be a rolling billboard, Ornot”. I can get on board with that.

So, back in September, I wrote a news piece on Ornot’s new large handlebar bag. While writing the piece I read that the subtle branding isn’t just a catchy slogan, it’s part of the company’s overall goal: “to change the landscape by offering well-designed cycling clothing, with minimal branding, made right here in California, that doesn’t break your wallet”

The bags were handsome and had some cool features. I decided to call and get one of these bags in for review. They sent me two, a Black one for my Masi Incanto gravel bike, and one in the color Coyote, for my Rivendell Gus Boots Willsen.

Ornot Large Handlebar Bag

The Large Handlebar bag is a barrel-type handlebar bag that uses a stiff “frame sheet” that helps with structure and keeps the bag shape. It measures 13cm x 22cm, has a 3.1-liter capacity, and weighs in at 260 grams.

It has a couple of unique features that I dig, like the way it attaches to the h-bar, the three stretchy outside cargo pockets, the easy-to-get-to dedicated phone pocket, the easy-to-attach rear tether cord, and the internal zipper pocket with a stretchy cord that dawns a key clip at the end. I like that it is a good-sized bag, but doesn’t look “clunky” when it’s attached to the bike.

Using the Ornot Large Handlebar Bag

I wanted to do something a little different for this review. Being that I am reviewing a handlebar bag, I’ll talk about the bag’s unique features and how they’ve suited me personally for the last few months.

These features are identical on both of the bags that I have, so there’s no need to talk about how they performed on which bike… it’s a handlebar bag, it did great, no matter what bike I was using it on.

So, I’ll just just be touching on the bitchen features of the bag, like…

The Way It Attaches

The large handlebar bag uses two, 6-inch, included Voile Straps to attach it to the handlebars. The bag offers different strap slots allowing for width adjustment when attaching to the bars.

The spacing can allow the straps to be 4″ apart, up to 6″ apart. This enables you to find the right spot to fit your particular handlebar configuration. I find the Voile Straps much easier to deal with than long velcro straps. The straps have a much cleaner look as well.

The Stretchy Outside Cargo Pockets

There are three external, see-through cargo pockets on the Large Handlebar Bag. These pockets are easy to get to and are not tight against the body of the bag. This allows you to actually use them to hold things.

There are two pockets located side-by-side at the back of the bag. These are perfect for goodies you want quick access to frequently while riding. The rear pockets even slant down towards the outside of the bag, allowing for easier access with minimal handlebar interference.

There is also one large, side-loading pocket at the front of the bag. This one is great for less frequent, quick access, like storing your sunglasses or a larger snack for enjoyment off the bike.

Ornot Large Handlebar Bag’s Dedicated Phone Pocket

Probably my favorite feature of this bag is the dedicated side phone pocket. It is specifically a purpose-built pocket for your phone. It’s really easy to use and puts your phone right at your fingertips. Thus making it ready to be grabbed and used to capture the moment while on the fly. You don’t have to unzip anything or fiddle through a semi-full bag. You don’t even have to stop if you don’t want to.

It has an elastic cord that can be pulled over the top of the phone and hooked to the available hook while stored in the pocket. This will keep your phone in place when the going get’s rough. Keep the cord off for more of a quick-draw use of the phone, for those rides where the views just keep coming.

The Wrap-Around YKK Zipper

The wrap-around zipper that’s on this bag is so easy to zip and unzip. Plus it dips down on the left side of the top of the bag, offering a unique way to get easier access when the bag is fully zipped open. The zipper itself, has little to no resistance when zipping it open, allowing for easy one-handed operation while riding.

With the zipper open, it provides a big opening allowing you to squeeze just about anything you want in there. It was easy to slip my Sony a6000 in the bag for a recent photo shoot, even with my bigger lens on it.

The Rear Tether

The rear tether is very intuitive and easy to attach. It keeps the bag stable and in one spot, allowing for the easy use of the main zipper. The way it is designed aids with the ease of adjustment when attaching the bag to your bike. It also allows for really easy removal, making it perfect to remove and swap between bikes.

The Internal Pocket w/ Key Clip

Who doesn’t like to stay organized? Or better yet, who wants to be fishing through a full handlebar bag in search of your keys? The internal pocket is the ideal size for a small wallet, tools, a tire repair/plug kit, a few emergency Fig Newtons, as well as a place to put your tethered keys, making them easy to find when the bag is stuffed full.

Retail and My Final Thoughts

Retail: $86

Colors: EcoPak Black, EcoPak Coyote, and EcoPak White

Over the past few months, I’ve used these two bags for everything from holding my camera for photo shoots to carrying extra layers, like an extra flannel, and a jacket. I’ve used it a lot on night rides where I’ll start with normal gloves while keeping a pair of warm gloves for the ride back when it gets cold. I’ve used it for carrying my beer for our “beers at the dam” night rides.

I find the Ornot large Handlebar Bag to be large without looking bulky and cumbersome. It is light and can easily be kept on the bike even when not being utilized. That’s what I do, I keep them on my bike even when they are empty, You just never know when you may need to stop somewhere on the way to pick up a taco or two, hit the store, or find some cool road/trailside treasure… so yeah, they’re mounted 24/7.

In Conclusion with a Lil’ Water Stain

The build quality is top-notch and should last for quite some time. I did notice that after my first “beers at the dam” ride with the bag on my Gus, a water stain could be seen from the outside. I ran a 16oz Modelo wrapped in foil, and stuffed in a Ziplock with some ice in it. As a result, the bag got wet on the inside from the condensation on the Ziplock bag.

If the water stain on the outside of the bag would bother you if you owned one, you probably shouldn’t do the beer with the water and ice thing. I don’t mind it, it gives the bag a nice patina look.

I expect this bag to last a long time, and I would suggest it to anyone. The quality is top-notch, the company sports a branding ethos I can get behind, and the price is right. In fact, it even topped our list of the best handlebar bags on the market.

Check out their other items at the link below.

OrnotBike.com

The post Review: The Best Handlebar Bag Out There, Ornot appeared first on Bikerumor.

This is always one of my favorite posts to write because I get to gush over the things that really impressed me each year. No need to sound impartial here, these are the things I love.

A quick primer on me to put my choices into perspective. I’ve been riding most of my life, as a “cyclist” for 30 years, and enjoy all the things, from road biking to gravel to enduro, with most of my time leaning more toward the XC/trail side of MTB. Not because of a preference, that’s just what we’ve got locally.

I also really enjoy e-bikes, particularly for city commuting, cargo bikes, and long-travel mountain bikes. I’ve noticed that the only people who don’t like them are the people who haven’t tried them. I know at least one guy who doesn’t want to try them for exactly that reason. I love to travel, and did quite a bit of it this year, which is almost always an opportunity to ride new bikes in new places with new people, and it’s awesome. Highly recommend it.

On that note, here are my picks for the best products of 2023…

Experience

An overland, MTB & gravel road trip with my son

This trip’s itinerary kept changing almost until the day we left, and I don’t think it could have been better. Out of 16 days on the road, more than half had some sort of adventure. We mountain biked Mt. Nebo (AR), Bentonville (AR), Palo Duro (TX), and South Mountain (AZ). We rode gravel in Organ Pipe National Monument (AZ), after offroading for two days from Yuma to Ajo on El Camino del Diablo (check out that story here). And we hiked the North Rim and Guadalupe Mtn.

We saw friends and family in numerous states, ate amazing Mexican food (perhaps the best we’ve ever had), and boondocked among lava rocks and alpine forests. I got to upgrade the van with a GMRS radio, water tank, and fuel can and play with new apps for route planning. We even got to (finally!) use my recovery gear to get out of soft sand. If you know me, you know I love gadgets and tech, but none of these were the highlight.

The best part of the trip was spending time adventuring with my son. He constantly surprised me on the trail with an uncanny (and typical 18yo fearless) ability to stay on my wheel no matter what the terrain, even pushing ahead and leading through some seriously rocky, techy sections with a lot of exposure. I taught him to drive through soft sand and negotiate rough terrain in the Vandoit, and we both learned how to tow it out (thanks Ron!).

I have a lot of friends, but there are only a handful I could hang with 24/7 for more than a few days. So the absolute best part of this trip is knowing that my son is one of them.

Pisgah Monstercross gravel race

The Pisgah Monstercross barely registers as Type 2 fun. It’s that hard. The 73-mile course has almost 9,000 feet of climbing, but not just any climbing. It’s chunky, rough Pisgah Forest “road” climbing. Some of it’s quite steep. Or loose. Or both. And there’s a lot of it, with most of the mileage found far off the paved roads.

I thought I was prepared. My bike was, and the new Shimano GRX 12-speed group and wheels performed flawlessly (bike shown further below). But it was a stark reminder that I am not a climber and that such courses are meant to make me suffer. The reason I include it here is because I think we all need a reminder that we can do hard things and appreciate them for what they reveal about us. Eric and his crew put on an excellent event. It’s not as highly polished as some, but it’s well-run with great feed stations and burritos and beer at the finish. The campground across the street is fantastic (and convenient!), making this a low-key sufferfest that’s perfect to do with friends.

Bikes

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Lauf Úthald Road Bike

One of the (many) things I love about Lauf is that they aren’t afraid to do weird things if they believe in them. Their leaf spring gravel suspension forks are highly visible proof of that. Less obvious is the new Úthald road bike, which certainly has a unique look thanks to the curved and bent seat tube and deep-drop seatstays. But those are only a tiny part of what makes it special.

The geometry is more akin to XC mountain bikes than road, with a slack head angle and long fork trail, that makes it unbelievably stable at speed. Lauf’s goal was to actually make riders faster rather than just make a bike that “felt” fast, and they succeeded beyond measure. Normally I get sketched out over 42mph. On my first test ride, we hit easily 50mph and I was wishing I had more gear so I could go faster. I’ve never in my life felt so stable, confident, and safe on a road bike at speed, and I don’t think I’ve found my limit on this one.

It’s easy to adhere to tradition and simply meet expectations. Lauf gets my Editor’s Choice not only for making an amazing bike, but also for showing that there are still ways to surprise and delight riders. If you’re in the market for a new road bike, you owe it to yourself to try this one.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Ride1Up Prodigy V2 Commuter e-Bike

I’m as surprised as you are. I’ll have a full review up soon, but suffice it to say this budget e-bike delivers way more quality than should be possible for its price. The Ride1UP Prodigy V2 comes with Gates Belt Drive, Brose mid-mount motor, Enviolo CVT (continuously variable stepless gearing) rear hub, Maxxis Rekon Race tubeless-ready tires, and Tektro 4-piston hydraulic brakes. That’s a lot of high quality, brand name parts for a $2,400 e-bike.

It even comes with a decent-if-unbranded air suspension fork, broad-coverage aluminum fenders, front and rear lights, and a metal rear rack. It’s a Class 3 bike that gets up to 28mph (feels like more, actually), with smooth power delivery and a great torque curve that matches output with effort in a way that feels on par with bikes costing much more. It’s not just me, either, my whole family loves this bike, and all we have to do is adjust the seat height to fit everyone in our house. At 6’2″, I could use another inch of seatpost, but that’s literally my only complaint, and it’s an easy fix.

HONORABLE MENTION: Santa Cruz Heckler SL eMTB

I rode one of Santa Cruz’s earlier e-mountain bikes and was nonplussed, I think mainly because the coil shock never felt right for me, but who knows. I just didn’t feel dialed riding it. So I wanted to give them another shot with the new Heckler SL, and I’m glad I did. It gets an Honorable Mention because I’m still figuring a few things out and need to get more miles on it, but first impressions are very good.

The Heckler SL is reasonably light, weighing 43.1lbs for an XL with Reserve carbon wheels and SRAM Transmission. And it’s reasonably powerful, with the Fazua Ride 60 system getting me up the hills much faster, but still requiring some work on my end, so it feels like I’m really mountain biking. What impressed me is how nimble it is. Climbing a rapid succession of very tight, steep, technical switchbacks at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Texas, I fought the urge to dab and the Heckler SL rewarded my trust with perfect traction and just the right amount of assist. If you’re a fan of the brand, this one feels very much like a Santa Cruz, just faster.

Drivetrains

EDITOR’S CHOICE: SRAM Transmission

SRAM’s Transmission drivetrain shifts exactly as well as they promised, which is perfectly. It’s pretty easy to set up, seems bombproof, and perfectly leverages their long march toward a universal mounting interface, which benefits every rider whether or not you ever ride this group. Even the shifter pods are growing on me, with a design that’s clearly made for a future full of electronically controlled devices.

That they could bring it to market in the height of everyone else’s supply chain woes is impressive, too. And then they trickled it all the way down to GX group ($1,099 at Backcountry) just a few months after launching the top levels. Additional Kudos for seeing the move to internal stealth brake routing and being first to market with levers that send the hoses parallel to the bar. Even if your frame uses standard cable ports, they make for a very clean cockpit! Well done, SRAM.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: TRP EVO 12 mechanical group

If you’re squarely in the mechanical camp, the new TRP EVO 12 group is worth a look, too. It’s hard enough dancing around Shimano and SRAM patents, but they did that and introduced clever new features (Hall Lock) that keep the derailleur rock solid and completely quiet, even on the roughest trails. Shifter feel is good, with a satisfying mechanical clink and the ability to customize paddle position and the number of gears per push. There’s a lot to like about this group, and it’s refreshing to see competition coming back to the high-end mechanical drivetrain category. Read my full review here for all the details.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: MicroSHIFT Sword 1×10 gravel group

Another mechanical group that really impressed me is MicroSHIFT’s Sword drivetrain. It’s fully mechanical, has 10 speeds, and works like a champ. The best part? The complete 1×10 group, including cranks, chainring, cassette, derailleur and shifter/brake levers is as little as $400 with options to add a higher-end cassette, left-hand dropper remote brake lever, or make it a 2×10 group with a double chainring and front derailleur.

Not only does it work great, I never really found myself missing the extra two cogs. The 11-48 cassette has plenty of range, the clutch keeps the chain onboard and quiet, and the hood and lever ergonomics are fantastic. I paired it with TRP’s HyRD disc brakes and a KMC chain and it’s been flawless. The bike aficionado shop folks that have tried all love it, too. If you wanna gravel without grinding away your savings, this is a great option.

HONORABLE MENTION: Shimano GRX 12-speed

Shimano’s latest GRX 12-speed group wasn’t a groundbreaking change from the 11-speed version, but it is an important update worth recognizing. It brings all of their top-level drop bar groups to 12 speeds. The hood ergonomics are even better than they already were. They get dedicated gravel derailleurs for all cassette sizes, with the ability to swap pulley cages to go between 1x and 2x rather than replace the entire part.

And they stuck with a mechanical option to keep it affordable (don’t worry, Di2 is coming in 2024). I appreciate that you don’t always need to be dramatic with your improvements (or your marketing) to offer something new and better, and this is proof.

Their updated RX880 carbon gravel wheels are also worth a shoutout. They’re as light as most other top-end gravel wheels (1394g), have Shimano’s smooth-as-butter cup and cone bearings with their first-ever swappable freehub body, and are wide enough to handle 50mm tires. And they’re a very reasonable $1,549. I raced the complete group in the Pisgah Monster Cross and it finished stronger than I did.

Components

EDITOR’S CHOICE: OneUp Alloy Handlebar

I avoid alloy handlebars as much as possible. Compared to carbon, they’re harsher and stiffer, transmitting more bumps and vibrations to my hands. OneUp’s carbon handlebar is one of my favorites thanks to an ovalized profile on either side of the stem, creating a flex point that allows just enough compliance to soften any blow. So I was intrigued when they launched an alloy version of it…how could it possibly compare?

Turns out, pretty darn good. It’s immediately my favorite aluminum mountain bike handlebar ever. I swapped it for another handlebar on my Fezzari La Sal Peak with a Rockshox Zeb. Even with 170mm of travel, vibrations and bumps still get through, but it was a noticeable improvement as soon as I installed the OneUp bar. It shares the ovalized tube shaping, and it works almost as well as their carbon bar, but for $70 less. If you have carbon dreams on an alloy budget, the Oneup Alloy Handlebar is the way to go.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Prologo Scratch NDR XC saddle

I’ve generally liked Prologo’s NDR saddle line, but the new Scratch NDR XC race saddle is the best thing they’ve ever made. The various foam densities are perfectly placed, with a softer center over a cutout to relieve pressure points and a flat, wide nose that’s easy to perch upon on the steepest climbs.

The padding on the back is supportive, with a good shape for powerful pedaling but flat enough to easily get behind it. Not sure what the extended carbon tail is for, but it makes a nice little mud flap. It comes with Tirox (hollow steel) or Nack (carbon) rails, and the latter creates a wonderfully light 166g saddle. MSRP is $200 as tested, and the Tirox version is $127.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Granite Designs Aux Bottle Cage

Granite’s carbon-and-thermoplastic Aux Bottle Cage is a side loader that’s compact to easily fit in tight spaces, particularly on smaller and full suspension frames. I love the stealthy matte finish, but the best part is that it’s incredibly easy to get the bottle in and out, yet it holds it super secure. I have it on my trail bike and have never lost a bottle, even a larger 24oz bottle, over any terrain. And it’s only $21.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Industry Nine iRiX headset

Headsets seem like the hardest spot to bring innovation to, but Industry Nine did it with two cool features on the iRiX. Dual lip seals top and bottom keep crud from reaching the bearings, and tiny spacer rings let you adjust the gap between the upper cap and the frame.

That’s a small thing that makes a big difference. Where a standard top cap would need to maintain a larger gap to accommodate different frame tolerances, now you can get an extremely flush appearance without having it rub your frame. Combine that with the brand’s signature good looks, style, and color options and it’s a winner. (Read my review and launch coverage for more)

Wheels

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Hunt Proven Race XC UD Carbon

Hunt’s top-of-the-line Proven Race XC UD Carbon wheels get a very wide 30mm (internal) but shallow (22mm deep) ultralight rims with front- and rear-specific layups, laced with UD carbon spokes, to come in at just 1,271g on my scale (Micro Spline, rim tape, but no valve stems). That’s exceptionally light for a 29er mountain bike wheelset, and they accelerate exactly as good as you’d expect. They’re also very laterally stiff but also comfortably compliant.

I rip corners so fast with these wheels, and climbing feels effortless (as much as it ever will for me). I’ve ridden other ultralight MTB wheels, but these are something special because they give nothing up to achieve their low weight. And they’re only $1,699.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Scribe Elan Carbon 32D

Weighing just 1,345g on my scale (with rim tape but no valve stems), and retailing for just $1,499, the Scribe Élan Carbon wheels are a helluva good deal for a lightweight set. But it’s their performance that makes them a top pick. Wide carbon rims (21mm internal) are paired with ultralight carbon spokes (2.6g each), ceramic bearings, and a 54-tooth single-sided ratchet (6.6º engagement).

That combination of lightweight, stiff-but-not-too-stiff construction, quick engagement, and smooth rolling makes them a potent partner in chasing speed. I tested the 32mm deep model, they also come in 42, 50, and 60-millimeter depths. They also offer options for race bearings with lighter seals and grease, and even 15mm front and QR axle options on top of the standard 12mm thru axle. I want to get more miles on them before writing a long-term review, but I’ve got enough good rides on them to know I like them. A lot.

HONORABLE MENTION: Astral Luna Carbon Approach

The Astral Luna Carbon Approach wheelset is handbuilt in the USA with their Approach hubs, which are made by sister brand White Industries. So you’re basically getting White Industry hub internals, but with a steel freehub body rather than titanium. And they have the same frictionless, effortless spin as White’s hubs, too, with Enduro bearings inside.

Their carbon rim design uses mini bead hooks to make tubeless setup easy and secure, but with a modernly wide 25mm (internal) rim that gives 28-30mm tires a great shape. Or throw gravel tires on them and head off road. They’re reasonably light at 1,538g (on my scale, well under the 1,600g claimed weight, and the included valve stems only add 16g). They’re also reasonably priced at $1,899. If you’re looking for an all-road, all-purpose wheelset that’ll do it job all year round, year after year, this is it.

Tires & Inserts

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Vittoria Air-Liner Light

If I had to name a “Product of the Year”, this would be it. I’ve always understood the benefits of tire inserts, but never wanted to pay the weight penalty. But, the Vittoria Air-Liner Light inserts ($70 at Backcountry) are only 50g each, and they elevate the tire’s performance to a new level. Here’s why: Their semi-permeable closed-cell design will slowly absorb air, meaning that it’ll initially compress when you inflate your tire, but then expand back to normal size over ~8 hours. Then if you puncture, it’ll expand to fill your tire so you can keep riding. Freakin’ magic.

It’s enough to finish a race, or at least get back to the trailhead, without destroying your rim or tire. Not only that, but it supports the tire so well that I can run 3-5psi less than normal, which gives me monstrous amounts of traction and comfort. These are amazing and I want them on all of my mountain bikes. Now they just need to make a gravel version.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Maxxis MaxxSpeed XC tires

Years ago, I got to ride a set of team tires from Maxxis with a ridiculously high TPI casing. They were amazingly supple and felt like they literally melted around every bump and imperfection in the trail. But they weren’t for consumers, sadly, and they would’ve been prohibitively expensive.

Fast forward to 2023 and the new MaxxSpeed lineup gets us pretty close. They’re “only” 120tpi, not the 180-200tpi I recall riding, but the new MaxxSpeed rubber compound makes the most of it, especially since it’s only available on the widest 2.35-2.4″ sizes. That extra volume allows for lower pressures and a supple ride, even with the EXO sidewall layer, and the ultra-grippy MaxxSpeed rubber keeps them planted. I feel faster than ever on these tires. I paired a Rekon Race (front) with an Aspen (rear), but the compound is also available on Ikon and Severe XC tires. If you’re looking for an edge, this is it.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Vittoria Corsa Pro cotton casing road tires

The Vittoria Corsa Pro is their top racing tire, with a ridiculously soft 320tpi cotton casing, grippy Silica & Graphene infused rubber, and tubeless-ready design. They come in 24/26/28/30/32 millimeter widths. I’ve been riding the 700×32 and they’re glorious. They weighed 306g & 309g on my scale, less than the 320g claimed weight.

Many of my road rides include stints on gravel connectors or dirt country roads, and I’ve been able to bring them down to 52psi, at which point they make small gravel and chip seal disappear. Like, totally disappear. It’s uncanny. And that’s with a double ply of Aramid for puncture protection, so they’re tough on the inside. I was worried that the lightly coated sidewall exteriors wouldn’t hold up to those gravel sections, but so far there’s no signs of wear. The only downside? They’re $105 each.

Clothing & Gear

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Velocio MTB clothing

Velocio got into mountain bike clothing this year, and they nailed it. I’ve been wearing their Mesh Bib Liner, Trail Ultralight Short & Micromodal Trail Jersey (pictured above) along with their Merino Tee, and they’re all fantastic. The shorts come with an Arcade belt, which is super low-profile and works way better than velcro straps for keeping the waist comfortably snug. They also dry quickly, making a fine swimsuit in a pinch.

On cooler days, I really like their Ultralight Trail Hooded Jacket and Anorak, the former easily stuffing into a pocket. The Trail Access Hardshell is a heartier jacket, good for the really wet days, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite raincoats for daily use, too. It fits great on the bike, but also off of it, helping to justify the $389 price. Some road brands struggle to do MTB well, but Velocio’s collection is dialed for everything from downcountry to enduro.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Rab Cinder bike clothing

Outdoor clothing and gear brand Rab’s debut Cinder cycling collection is an impressive freshman effort, showing that they paid attention to what cyclists (and particularly gravel cyclists) need rather than just slapping their label on something. The short-sleeve jersey (center image, on my buddy Greg from Pedal Vision) has hidden reinforcements down the back to prevent it from sagging with loaded pockets, and a large center zip pocket makes it easy to stash cash and cards.

The Cinder Cargo Bibs have mesh pockets that’ll just fit a (non “plus”) iPhone with case, but the top edge is flipped inward to create a lip that prevents contents from slipping out. The windbreaker rolls up and its integrated stretch loop and hook lets you wrap it around a top tube, saddle rails (both shown on right), or handlebar. It’s hood has a bendable plastic strip that magically holds its shape even after you smash it into a ball for storage.

The rest of the collection, from a long sleeve tee to insulated jacket and baggie shell shorts are all great, too. I owe them a full review, and there are a couple of things I’d like to tweak, but overall it’s a great bit of kit that I’ve been wearing quite a bit. Also available in women’s versions.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Trek Velocis helmet

The Trek Velocis MIPS road bike helmet is possibly the most comfortable helmet I’ve ever worn. It’s also really light, has huge vents, and is feature rich. Rubber docking ports hold your shades, and a BOA dial wraps its retention system evenly around your head. The cradle folds forward into the helmet when you’re not wearing it, making it easier to pack or rest on a table at the cafe.

MIPS Air adds a bit of rotational safety without adding weight, and OCLV carbon overlays add a bit of strength while actually saving 6g over the prior version. A beveled front edge not only keeps it out of view when you’re biting the stem on a tough climb, and it sits high enough on the forehead to work with the most ridiculously oversized cycling sunglasses. It even has a 5-Star rating from Virginia Tech.

Tools & Such

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Park Tool Flat Snip

The Park Tool Flush Cut Pliers are my new favorite tool. They have a flat side that cuts zip ties perfectly flat, no more pointy remnants to scrape my calves or snag my shorts. They’re the perfect finishing tool, giving your bike a clean, professional look. They’re $25 and worth every penny.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Chap-Snap lip balm holster

I thought the Chap-Snap was silly when I first saw it, and then I went riding in the desert and had to keep fishing my lip balm out of my pocket every 10 minutes. Now I get it. The silicone housing straps to your stem (or wherever), then you remove the cap from your favorite Chap Stick flavor and stick it in there. It keeps it at the ready, and you don’t have to fiddle with a cap while you’re riding, either. That also makes it perfect for riding in winter, making it easy to use even with thick winter gloves, too, and it’s only $10.

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Bluetti AC60 Portable Power Station

It took me using the Bluetti AC60 side by side with several other brands of portable battery power stations to appreciate what makes it unique. There’s no charging brick or special adapter, you just plug it into the wall to recharge it. That’s a small thing, but it’s a big deal if you ever lose those proprietary charging cables. The built-in light (on the back) is bigger than others, too, and it can recharge in as little as 60 minutes.

The AC60 is compact and light, but stores 403Wh of power and outputs up to 600W, enough for most little outings and portable devices. All outlets are covered against moisture, dust and dirt, too, and it works with their (or any) 200W solar panels for off-grid recharging using standard MC4 connector cables. It’ll power a smart trainer for pre-race warmups, and I use it in my car to charge my laptop more efficiently (and more quietly!) than a plug-in DC/AC converter. If your goal is simply to work remote or have an affordable backup for the fridge at home, this is a great little unit.

Many more great products have passed through our hands this year, but this collection highlights the best I’ve seen or ridden. Full disclosure: Each of these products has been chosen purely on their performance and/or technological merits for the reasons described above. Under no circumstances were any of our selections paid for by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to advertisers or brands who invite us on trips. Our selections are limited to products that we’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person. So, a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide product samples, does make it more likely that we will have considered their products simply because we’ve had a chance to try them firsthand.

The post BikeRumor Editor’s Choice 2023 – Tyler’s Top Picks appeared first on Bikerumor.

It’s that time of year again. As the year winds down, I end up thinking back and looking over my pieces for 2023 and awarding my picks for Editor’s Choice. I noticed while doing so, that I didn’t review a whole lot this year… at least not as much as I would’ve liked. And I didn’t do a lot of travel this year.

What travel I did do for the two shows I attended, I could drive to… I didn’t have to get on a plane, which was nice.

I am in a temporary workspace, so I didn’t have a lot of space to store stuff to review… like bicycles. As a result, I only reviewed one full bicycle this year.

I’m not complaining at all. I had a great year, and I know I have a dream job. And, I feel lucky every day to have the opportunity to share bike stuff with you guys. I appreciate you guys. You are a huge part of the success of Bikerumor. I love sharing my thoughts and opinions with you, and I enjoy reading yours.

So, let’s start this year-end Editor’s Choice Awards ritual with a big one for the readers….all of you, even the snarky ones. I do appreciate the crap outta you guys. And, I appreciate the time you take to geek out with us every day, it’s pretty awesome!

You guys butter my biscuits!

Let’s get to the other awards for the year.

Best Bike Experience

Editor’s Choice: MADE Bike Show

As I mentioned earlier, I did attend two shows this year. One was the always fun and crazy Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA. The other was the MADE Show which was held in Portland, Oregon. 2023 was the inaugural run of this particular show. MADE is the brainchild of Billy “Souphorse” Sinkford of ECHOS Communication. Billy has an unmatched and contagious passion for the bicycle and all of the culture that surrounds it.

The show was put together to showcase the wonders of the handmade bicycle frame fabricators and the small cottage industry of artisans, parts makers, inventors, and tinkerers that support the handmade bike world. The show wasn’t held in a sterile, boring convention hall, it was held at a cool venue called Zidell Yards. A huge open-air, 100-year-old barge manufacturing building, Zidell Yards matched the feel and aesthetics of the show perfectly. When all was said and done, it was the perfect venue for this show.

Billy’s scope of the show – to turn the world’s attention to the small independent bicycle frame makers, came to fruition with attendance hitting an impressive 5000+ mark for the three days. And to help all of the brands, even international brands take part in the magic, the exhibitor’s booths were very reasonably priced. This was great, as so many of these small brands are true cottage industries with only a single owner/operator.

It was a fun and magical few days in the PNW.

The best bike show of 2023 goes hands down, to MADE 2023. And I’m looking forward to attending in 2024!

Best Drop Bar ATB

Editor’s Choice: Sklar Super Something

The Sklar Super Something was the only bicycle I had the opportunity to review in 2023. And let me tell you, I’ve ridden a lot of bicycles in my day, and the Super Something is pretty amazing. It’s a wonderfully designed bicycle.

It’s also one of the easiest and best-handling bikes I have ever ridden. The geometry isn’t anything trendy, or groundbreaking it’s just a rock-solid blend of perfect angles that lead to a superb handling bicycle. The tire clearance on the Super Something is fantastic, lending to the bike being able to be set up in so many different ways, like a true ATB.

The Super Something I reviewed was the top-tier model of the five Radavist versions made available last year. The new Super Something framesets are designed by Adam Sklar in Boseman, Montana, and manufactured in Taiwan. They retail for $1500 and for a bike that rides like the Super Something, that price is a steal.

My choice for the best bicycle for 2023 is the Sklar Super Something… I will own one very soon.

Best Place for Your Tush

Editor’s Choice: Brooks B17 Special Ti Saddle

Those who know, know. And those that don’t know, don’t care to know. But, that’s OK… here are the facts, Brooks England makes a great bicycle saddle. The most comfortable one. And their B17 model is the only saddle I’ve used for the last 10 years. Sure, I know it’s not for everyone, but it’s the cat’s meow for me.

The Brooks B17 Ti saddle is in no way, light… even with all titanium rails and frame. It is, though, a lot lighter than a traditional B17 Special. A traditional B17 Special (retail: $200) weighs in at 540g, while the B17 Special Ti (retail: $300) version comes in at 444g. It’s not a saddle that you would use while racing a road bike, or racing any bike for that matter. But, if comfort is what you want while getting in those “smiles per hour”, or you hate riding with a pillow between your legs (a chamois), then the Brooks B17, B17 Special, or B17 Special Ti saddle could be your jam.

I have been riding blissfully lycra-free for approx 10 years, and the Brooks B17 has been a big part of the equation when it comes to my comfort while doing so. It does take approx. a hundred miles or so, in my experience, to truly break the B17 in. But man, when it’s broken in and molds to your sit bone anatomy like a butt-glove, it’s magic.

The B17 Ti ramps saddle comfort up a few notches by the added compliance in the titanium rails and saddle frame. This Ti version of this saddle rides like no other B17 I own. It’s the epitome of gluteus maximus comfort.

For my behind, the best saddle for comfort in 2023 is the Brooks B17 Special Ti… butts down.

Best Bar Tape… Ever

Editor’s Choice: Camp and Go Slow Western Rattler Bar Tape

No hyperbole, the Camp and Go Slow Eastern and Western Rattler bar tape is the greatest bar tape available to mankind. I’ve been using the Western Rattler bar tape exclusively for a little over 3 years now. I am in the process of finally getting a formal review of this tape.

But all kidding aside, it’s no joke… this tape is pretty remarkable. Not only is it super-duper handsome, adding a wonderful aesthetic to just about any bike, but it’s also washable and reusable. The colors of either “coast” match leather saddles perfectly…so, you got that going for ya. I’ve used the same tape on three different bar swaps, it still wrapped beautifully and feels great. The tape also comes in a nice little reusable nylon rip-stop bag, that’s made in Pennsylvania.

Coming in two rolls of 3300mm in length, the woven tape can wrap the widest of bars. It’s made of a long-wearing, durable nylon blend. It’s only slightly padded (1.5mm), and the weave of the tape lends to riding gloveless quite nicely as it is very comfortable. It retails for $44 and comes packaged in a USA-made rip-stop bag. No plugs or finishing tape is included.

So, yeah… my pick of the best bar tape in 2023 (and forever….shhhh).

‘Nuff said.

Best Roof Rack

Editor’s Choice: Yakima Rib Cage for Jeep JL

When we got our “new” 2021 Jeep JL back in July of 2023 I immediately started researching racks that could accommodate a rooftop tent. I was shocked by the sheer amount that was available. They were all very expensive and other than one of the methods, all of them required drilling the top of the Jeep.

The top of Jeep Wranglers are fiberglass and removable. So, the rack systems that can hold the occupants of a rooftop tent need to incorporate the inside structure of the Jeep. Drilling through the top, like in this case, is done to use the roll bar for its weight bearing.

While scrolling YouTube, I found an installation video, by Yakima, on their Rib Cage rack system for a Jeep JL 4-door. It looked like a simple-ish install. So, I looked on the Yakima site and was shocked that their rack system was, literally half the cost ($600) of the others I was considering and had almost double the dynamic weight capacity (330lbs). Dynamic weight capacity is, in my opinion, the most important of the weight ratings for a vehicle like a Jeep.

One of the most attractive things about the Rib Cage is that, without load bars on it, it virtually disappears while on the vehicle. Also, the Rib Cage, after being installed, still allows you to take the roof off your Jeep if you so desire.

I installed it almost immediately after receiving it. I watched the video 3-4 times, and other than the daunting task of drilling the roof, the installation went fairly easily. I’ve driven close to 6000 miles, and have done a dozen off-road trips with the SkyRise Rooftop Tent on it, and the rack remains silent with not a single creak to be heard. Impressive.

Best roof rack system for Jeep JLs with 4-doors, the Yakima Rib Cage gets the award!

Best Top Tube Bag

Editor’s Choice: Orucase Top Tube Bag

Magnetic zippers…who’d a thunk? That’s the feature that drove me to review the Orucase Top Tube Bag in the first place. I mean, I think top tube bags are useful and, in some cases, essential gear, but there usually isn’t a lot to “review” about them

Not the case with the Orucase. What makes the Orucase unique is the magnetic zippers. They were a shocking game changer for me when accessing my snacks or phone for photos while riding. In a true one-step/one-handed operation I just dipped my hand into the bag and pulled out my phone… boom, the bag closed right back up, and Bob’s yer Uncle, all in less than a second.

The Orucase Top Tube bag fits my large phone (Google Pixel 6 Pro) too, with no problem. It has a cool cable port which is great for earphones or charging your light or phone. But for me, it’s great for running a charging cord from my phone in the bag down to my dynamo light to charge my phone while riding. It holds my phone, a bandana, a fig bar, sunglasses, and even a banana if you Tetris it in there. It retails for only $50.

It’s a great lil’ bag and my pick for the best Top Tube Bag of 2023.

Best Cycling Shoe

Editor’s Choice: Stomp Lox Slack

I’ve reviewed three different cycling shoes in 2023, One was great, one was close to if not as great, and one was very far from great (for me).

The great pair of shoes is the Stomp Lox Slack – a unique, handsome, sturdy, well-made, comfy cycling shoe that has a nostalgic aesthetic. I’ve got a few hundred miles on them and they are holding up very well. Being that they are closed, suede leather shoes, you pair them with a pair of Pinebury wool socks, and your feet will be toasty warm on cold night rides to drink beer or an early morning #coffeeoutside session.

They’re head-turners and conversation starters as well, as they are reminiscent of 1960s hiking boots. You could even say that they look like the shoes that the MTB pioneers were wearing while flying down Repack.

They are effortless when it comes to clipping in and out of my XT Trail pedals. They are also nice for regular walking during those “off-the-bike” moments. They are great while hike-a-biking too.

Look, they’re a great cycling shoe. The supple soft interior leather, especially in the heel cup, comfortably keeps you from suffering “heel slip”.

Coming from riding, mostly exclusively in Bedrock Sandals, the wide-toe box of the Slacks looked appealing to me. The toe box is wide, but not gratuitously so. It’s perfect for my feet.

The best bike shoe for 2023 goes to Stomp Lox for the unique and versatile Slack cycling shoe.

Parting Thoughts

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed the list. I had a great time testing the gear out and loved sharing my thoughts about them with you guys.

Until next year!

Each of these products was entirely chosen purely on their technical merits, by me personally, and for the reasons described above. More great products passed through my hands in 2023. Under no circumstances were any of my picks, paid for by their producers. Nor was any preference or favor given to brand or advertiser. My selections are exclusively limited to products I’ve actually spent time riding/testing in person. So a brand’s willingness to invite Bikerumor to join a launch event, or to provide product samples can make it more likely that we will have considered their products, if only because we can share our real, firsthand experiences.

The post BikeRumor Editor’s Choice 2023 – Frazelle’s Fun Faves for the Year appeared first on Bikerumor.

Yakima has been a household name in the bike world since 1979. The rack giants were also among the first popular brands to produce car-roof-mounted bike-carrying solutions. Nowadays, they do much more than that, like the SkyRise rooftop tent series.

Lately, Yakima has focused on the many different aspects of adventure, while providing cargo and gear management solutions to help get you there. But, what we’ll be focusing on in this post is their SkyRise HD Medium rooftop tent.

Maybe you’re thinking “Wait, a rooftop tent review on a bike site”? Absolutely. Why not? I enjoy, nay, love taking my Jeep out camping and I love doing it with or without riding my bikes… and I know a lot of you do too. The two activities shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. So, read on.

Yakima SkyRise HD Medium

There are a lot of different configurations of rooftop tents these days. And the Yakima SkyRise is what I would call a “fold-out” rooftop tent. With this type of tent, the ladder is an integral part of its structure when opened for use, as it supports the overhanging part of the tent.

We owned the first generation of the Tuff Stuff Overland Ranger rooftop tent, which is also a “fold-out” type rooftop tent. We had it installed on “Ol’ Blue”, our ’95 Jeep Cherokee for almost 5 years. I didn’t mind it… but I didn’t love it either. That tent had some annoying aspects to it that are the same annoying things about the SkyRise…which we’ll touch on later.

The SkyRise HD (heavy duty) is rated as a 4 season tent. This comes in handy when we disperse camp in the deserts surrounding Southern California. In the winter the nighttime temps in the desert can drop to the high 20s – low 30s F, and even colder if you get up into some elevation.

Having the “HD” version of this tent with its 600D ripstop polyester fabric and 3000mm waterproof PU coating helps keep us warm on those cold desert evenings. Rain’s not a big issue where I live, but the SkyRise HD does have a removable rainfly.

There are 4 large windows to get the full scope of your surroundings while in the tent, plus two “skylights” to star gaze while falling asleep. These top windows are on the rainfly as well, so your view of the sky is always available if you see fit.

The geometry of the frame of the tent did seem to allow for more usable space inside. The sleeping area is 56″ wide by 96″ long. Plenty adequate for two adults and a decent amount of gear, or two adults and a child/dog and a little bit of gear. The height of the tent’s interior while opened is 48″ high.

SkyRise HD Medium Details

• Two size options provide room for two or three campers (small and medium)
• Frame geometry offers more usable space
• Large doors, windows, and skylights open up the vistas
• 4-season weather protection: 600D Ripstop Polyester fabric with a 3000mm waterproof PU coating
• Rainfly with 210D Ripstop Polyester, 3000mm PU waterproof coating
• Guy lines and D-rings on the tent floor to hang gear or tie down the tent in windy conditions
• Abrasion-resistant tent floor with a textured finish for added durability
• Ladder has mid-height adjustment points for easy set-up
• Ladder auto-close function that makes it a snap to close up
• Tool-free and lockable vehicle mounts—easy to put on, quick to take off
• Easy-to-deploy design means less work and more play—great when it’s dark or raining
• 2.5″ thick foam mattress
• The foam sleeping pad includes a removable cover for easy cleaning
• Mesh panel improves ventilation and lets you view the starry skies
• The aluminum tent frame is light, strong, and pre-set to make pitching a breeze
• Open Dimensions: 56″ x 96″ x 48″ High

SkyRise HD Medium Specs and Retail

Retail: $2499

• Weight: 114.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: L 58.00 in x W 48.00 in x H 17.00 in
• Minimum Crossbar Spread 26.00in
• Maximum Crossbar Spread 40.50in
• Limited 2-year warranty

SkyRise HD What I Liked, What I Didn’t

What I liked:

The Yakima SkyRise HD is a quality built tent, using high-quality materials. The heavy-duty 600D ripstop material was very nice. It had a quality feel and a great fit and finish to it. Being a four-season tent, it kept us warm on a very cold night during a recent multi-day trip through the Sonoran desert.

I loved the mattress. The 2.5″ high-density foam mattress is very comfortable. It’s not only comfortable, but it seems to insulate us from the cold floor underneath the mattress.

When Yakima sent out the tent they sent some of their optional accessories with it as well. Of all the accessories, the SkyRise BedSheets fitted sheets were my favorite. they are specifically tailored to fit the SkyRise mattress. After washing them first, they were soft and comfortable.

They’re made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. When you opt for the fitted sheets, you get two pillowcases, a fitted bottom sheet and a top sheet with a pocketed end, keeping it tucked in for the cold nights.

There were a plethora of lil’ storage pockets inside the tent, which was a nice touch. We used one for a permanent spot for the charger to use for your phone or an LED light strip.

Speaking of light strips, Yakima also included the SunBelt flexible LED interior light strip when they sent the tent. That’s a nice touch as it can stay in the tent when you close it up. It uses Velcro straps and can be attached anywhere in the tent. Nice touch. They sent the SideKick shoe bag and SkyHooks with the tent as well.

The SideKick shoe bag is big enough for two pairs of shoes or one pair of hiking boots. It has a clever mounting method using a soft plastic tube that slides into the side rail of the tent.

I liked the size of the inside of the tent. It felt roomy and comfortable. Watching movies and sleeping with two adults and gear was no problem. The 48″ high ceiling was less desirable. I could’ve used a higher ceiling as kneeling to turn around or grab something from the other side of the tent, was not great. I also found it odd that the tent doesn’t come with a condensation pad under the mattress. Most tents that I’ve researched do.

The SkyRise HD Medium’s overall weight of 114 lbs was a highlight as well. Although the Yakima Rib Cage rack system that I installed on our Jeep JL has a 300+ pound dynamic weight limit, keeping the weight down when loading a vehicle’s roof is very important. Especially if the vehicle does any off-roading.

This tent comes with an oversized cover that was a relief to use. On our other tent, the cover was zippered to the base. It was tight and fitted, making it very hard to get the tent material “just right” to get the cover on. But this tent was relatively easy to slip the cover over, leaving it not baggy.

When folding the SkyRise up for the first time, the rainfly and tent material bellowed out the sides. I was so relieved to find out that the cover was oversized, leaving room to easily slip the cover over the folded tent. It uses velcro to attach to the base, which also adds some wiggle room to get the cover on. It buckles down in six different places to keep the flapping under control while driving.

I love that it allows you to keep your bedding (a reasonable amount) in the tent when closing it up. For us, the sheets, two pillows, a thin Kelty comforter, and a medium-loft down comforter. This is a game changer for us, as there is limited storage in the Jeep itself.

What I Didn’t like:

One of the highlights of owning a rooftop tent is the quick, easy deployment and breakdown of the tent. I found that that highlight goes away with the SkyRise on a vehicle with a higher-than-normal stance… like a Jeep Rubicon. This isn’t really a knock on the tent itself, but more on the choice of vehicle.

The “fold-out” style tent, like the SkyRise, would be fine on vehicles that have a lower stance. This would put the mounted tent closer to the ground, making it easier to fiddle with. For example on our Jeep Cherokee, this wasn’t a real issue, as it was not as tall as our current Jeep.

With our current Jeep, I ended up finding this style of tent undesirable. The Rubicon allowed the tent to sit too high, making it difficult to navigate when deploying and closing the tent. Bringing a step stool helped with this, to a degree, but overall, it’s a less desirable solution.

Also, I didn’t care for the rainfly design. It’s cumbersome and bellows out much more than it should when folding the tent up. This makes the tent even more difficult to close and slide the cover over it. In addition, If you have an awning mounted next to the tent, as we do, you won’t be able to use the rainfly poles to prop the rainfly up on the side with the awning. The Skyrise’s rainfly is easily removable, which we did, which solved these problems.

This might be something of a small criticism, there are ill-fitting flaps that cover the hinges of the tent, one thick one outside, and a thinner one on the inside. These work “ok”, but leave a lot to be desired. They don’t stay closed well and let not only cold air in, but potential bugs (mosquitos) as well.

I should note that this is not something that is only an issue on the SkyRise, it’s the same with all “fold-out” style tents. Not sure there’s even a solution for it, as I’m pretty sure it needs to be there for the tent to operate. Just something to be aware of.

When mounted to our Jeep with the supplied quick-mount mounting brackets, the tent ended up sitting very high on the roof. Some wind noise is to be expected when running a rooftop tent, but with the extra height, it was a lot of wind noise. I would opt to not have the quick-mount mounting brackets if possible.

In Conclusion

Overall I would say that the Yakima SkyRise HD Medium is a good tent. It’s well built using quality products, it was very easy to mount on the Jeep. It is very comfortable with a quality mattress. I believe it will last a very long time.

However, I don’t think it’s the right tent for my particular application. While having it mounted on the Jeep, and using it quite a bit in the last few months, it provided a mostly positive experience. In contrast, the little things that rubbed me the wrong way were often very frustrating.

The cost of the tent seems on par, if not a little on the high side for tents of this style. But, that being said, it is a tent of very high quality with some attention to important details.

If you have a vehicle that doesn’t have a ride height that is on the higher side, or an adventure trailer…something that allows you to essentially move around the vehicle to close the tent up, I would recommend this tent.

The Yakima SkyRise HD Medium is a solid investment for the camper who doesn’t want to have to find the perfect ground to pitch a tent and wants to sleep up off the ground to help them get their “glamp” on, this is the tent for you.

Yakima.com

The post Yakima SkyRise HD Medium Review: Sleeping Off the Ground appeared first on Bikerumor.

Last year, we announced the launch of the then-new 1Up Recon 5 and Recon 6 vertical hanging hitch bike racks. After acquiring Recon Racks in 2021, it didn’t take long for 1Up to develop the new Recon models based on the original but with some notable changes. While functionally about the same, they look slightly different with beefy steel wheel baskets and a revised lower crossbar and rear wheel attachment system. 1Up also moved the production of the Recon racks in-house to their facility in Wisconsin, and they are made entirely in the USA. 

The 1UP Recon racks have been on the market for over a year now, and I’m slowly but surely seeing more of them in the wild near my home in the mountains just north of Lake Tahoe, CA. Having personally used or tested nearly every mid to high-end bike rack on the market over the years, I was eager to try out the Recon to see how it compares to similar options and if it lives up to 1Up’s reputation for making some of the best and most durable racks in the business.

I’ve been using a 1Up Recon 5 for the past six months for extended road trips, weekend campouts, shuttle runs, and daily trips to and from the trailhead. I’m well past first impressions and I feel I’ve got enough experience with the Recon to say that it’s the most durable and best vertical carry hitch rack that I’ve ever used so far.

Getting started

1Up USA only sells their racks direct to the consumer, so you’ll need to jump on their website to order one. The first decision you’ll need to make is whether to get the Recon 5 or Recon 6, which carry 5 or 6 bikes and cost $1,200 or $1,400, respectively. While ordering, you’re also given the option to choose between standard, fat bike, and kids wheel baskets, so you can mix and match to get the setup you want. The baskets are also sold individually for $149 should your needs change. A handful of accessories are also available, but more on that later.

The assembled weight of the Recon 5 is a whopping 92 lbs (add about 10 for the Recon 6), so the shipped weight is right around 100 lbs. Fortunately, it comes in two boxes, and ground shipping is included in the purchase price. Unboxing the Recon reveals a relatively involved assembly process, as it comes completely disassembled, even the wheel baskets are in two pieces. Unfortunately, I neglected to take any pictures at this stage, but you’re essentially bolting the entire thing together from the hitch bar up.

1Up includes detailed printed instructions, which can also be found on their website, that go through the process step by step. It isn’t necessarily difficult, but it does take a bit of time to get the whole thing together. By following the directions carefully, however, it goes smoothly and ensures you don’t mess up and have to do anything over again. I won’t bore you with the details but just know that you’ll want to set aside a couple of hours if you’re putting one of these together yourself. The good news is that all of the holes line up perfectly and a socket wrench will help make quick(er) work of all the bolts that need to be tightened, there’s quite a few. Of note: there are three holes in the bottom of the wheel baskets, two of which are on the same side and allow you to mount the baskets straight or at a slight angle. I chose the slight angle for whatever reason, and I’m sticking with it.

Once the rack is together, you have the option to make some adjustments to dial it in for both vehicle and ground clearance. The vertical mast of the rack can be moved up or down to add or decrease ground clearance to suit your specific vehicle or maintain a departure angle for off-road use. The hitch bar also has multiple holes drilled in it so you can adjust the position of the rack in relation to the back of the vehicle if needed. I used the Recon on my ’09 Toyota Tacoma that had either a camper shell or my Six-Pac cab over camper on the back (I had just taken the camper off before these photos), and I found the middle-height position and the farthest out hitch position worked best for my needs.

Installation

One of the primary challenges with the 1Up Recon, and all racks of this style, is that it can be a bear to install and remove. At 92 lbs, just picking it up is no simple task, and when you factor in its unwieldy shape, it is pretty awkward to carry from wherever you’re storing it to your vehicle. This is not the type of rack you want to put on and take off regularly, instead, we’d recommend leaving it on for extended periods whenever possible.

Once you slide the hitch bar into the receiver and line up the holes, a beefy threaded hitch pin needs to be cranked down tight. During the assembly, an anti-wobble insert was placed inside the hitch bar, and the hitch pin threads through it to pull the hitch bar tight against the side of the receiver to remove side-to-side wobble. While this honestly works fairly well, we found that an affordable U-bolt style anti-wobble hitch cam that I already had (like this one on Amazon for $10) was a nice addition to completely stop it from wobbling, both side to side and up and down. 

To help keep your expensive rack secure, the Recon also comes with a hitch pin lock. The lock pod is made of metal and has a rubber dust cover to keep road debris and moisture from jamming up the works. Unlike most hitch pin locks, this one threads onto the end of the hitch pin as you turn the key, and it has a very robust and secure feel.

Loading

Loading bikes onto the Recon is quite simple with large, open-wheel baskets that cradle the front wheel and only make contact with the tire. Of course, you need to lift the front end of the bike high enough to get the front wheel into the basket, but they easily slot right in there, and unlike similar racks that hold bikes by the fork crown, there’s no lining up the crown into narrow slots, and the basket design accommodates bikes with rigid forks (gravel, road, etc.) without the need for adaptors. 

Like other vertical racks, there’s a very short learning curve to loading them if you’ve never done it before but it quickly becomes second nature. It helps to have one hand on the fork and the other on the seat tube as you lift the front end and place the front wheel in the basket. It also helps to load the bikes from left to right (and unload right to left) to avoid handlebar interference during the loading and unloading process. Depending on the number of bikes you’re carrying, you’ll also need to consider their position on the rack. If, for example, you’re only carrying two bikes, it’s best to position them in the cradles closest to the vertical mast.

Where the Recon differs from most other vertical racks on the market is the rear wheel attachment system. Most other brands have a bungee, rubber strap, or short length of rope that holds the rear wheel tight against the lower crossbar, but the Recon uses a webbing cam strap that captures both the wheel and the pedal. The strap loops over the drive side pedal (it also works just fine on the non-drive side in our experience) and down to the rear wheel “cradle” where it passes over the rear rim to connection points on both sides before cinching it tight. After some initial skepticism, I grew to appreciate this system, but it has benefits and drawbacks, which I’ll explain.

The primary benefit of the Recon’s unique rear wheel attachment is the impressive security and stability of the bikes in transit. It holds the rear wheel firmly against the rear wheel cradle while simultaneously keeping downward tension on the bikes. This essentially eliminates the possibility of the bikes getting bounced off the rack if you hit a speed bump going too fast or you’re clambering up some rough dirt road. It also ensures that your cranks and pedals don’t move and interfere with each other, or worse, scratch up your buddy’s frame. Cam straps like these are also easy to find at hardware or sporting goods stores, so they’re easily replaced if they wear out or you happen to lose one.

Now for the drawbacks. Looping the strap around the pedal and rear wheel cradle takes a little more time than simply stretching a bungee over the wheel. Realistically, it’s only a few extra seconds once you get your system down, but it isn’t nearly as quick and easy. There’s a “right way” to do it that 1Up details in this short instructional video, but it still takes a little getting used to before you’ve got it totally dialed. Plus, your friends will be super confused when they try to do it the first few times. The other, and perhaps more glaring, drawback to this system is that the straps are not attached to the rack in any way and there’s no obvious way to store them on the rack itself. This means you’ve got 5 or 6 straps to stash somewhere in your vehicle, keep track of, and fish out every time you use the rack.

On the Road

In use, the 1Up Recon 5 is impressively stable and inspires confidence in its ability to hold the bikes securely no matter where you decide to go. It is a vertical rack, of course, so there is a tiny bit of side-to-side movement visible but less than I’m used to seeing with other models. Additionally, the bikes are held onto the rack better as the rear wheel strap system really locks them down. The bikes themselves hardly move side to side and they don’t bounce vertically whatsoever. 

The 1Up Recon racks are rated for off-road use, and while I haven’t done any proper rock crawling with mine, I’ve taken it down some dirt and gravel roads ranging from washboard to moderately rough. It has handled that very well, and, again, the rack and the bikes appear to be more stable than other vertical racks I’ve used. As mentioned previously, the vertical mast can be adjusted for additional clearance should you need it, although this does require tools and a little bit of time. And if you’re driving off-road with any regularity, you’ll probably want to check your bolts a little more frequently.

Security

Other than the locking hitch pin, the Recon racks don’t come with any other locks. There is a large steel lock loop welded to the vertical mast where you can attach any other aftermarket lock you like. 1Up sells a Recon-specific cable lock ($52) that integrates relatively nicely with the rack. If you purchase the cable lock with your rack, then the hitch pin and the cable lock pods will come keyed alike, which is nice.

The lock is a nine-foot-long, 12mm diameter (including the coating) cable with a stopper on one end and the lock pod on the other, and it feeds through holes on both ends of the upper crossbar. Slide the cable all the way through one of these holes, pass it through the bike frames, and slide the lock pod end (with the lock pod off, obviously) through the hole on the other end. Attach the lock pod, a metal thread-on lock the same as the hitch pin, to the end of the cable and you’re done. Of course, no lock is infallible, but this thick cable will do wonders to deter opportunistic thieves from an easy grab-and-run. I found the best way to store the lock when not in use was to just leave it locked on the rack. By passing it through the lock loop, it stays out of the way even if it doesn’t have the cleanest look.

Tilt

1Up kept the Smooth Pivot Operation of the original Recon racks and the oversized pivot point that forms the junction between the hitch bar and the vertical mast. And, given the 6mm thick steel plates on either side of this pivot, it is super sturdy and one of the reasons this rack is so stable. Pulling up on the small black knob at the top of the pivot releases a thick metal bar from the steel side plates and allows the rack to tilt away from the vehicle at approximately a 40-degree angle. This allows access to the rear of the vehicle whether you need to open your tailgate or trunk, or in my case, open the rear door on my old camper. 

The pivoting action of the Smooth Pivot is, in fact, very smooth. You can tilt it down with bikes on the rack, just be ready to support the weight when you do so, and be sure you have adequate clearance for the rear tires. I personally only used this feature without any bikes loaded as the long enduro bike I’ve been riding most frequently would make contact with the ground when tilted. Regardless, the tilt feature works quite well and provides plenty of space for rifling around in your trunk while looking for the gloves you accidentally left at home.

Versatility

The design of the Recon racks, and the wheel baskets in particular, make it very versatile in terms of bike fit. The standard baskets fit wheel sizes between 24 and 29 inches and tires up to 3 inches wide. This means you can carry not just mountain bikes, but gravel or road bikes too, something the fork-hold models can’t typically do. As mentioned previously, you also have the option to mix and match between standard (tires up to 5.1 inches wide) and Kids (wheel sizes 20 to 24 inches up to 3 inches wide) baskets when checking out, or you can purchase them separately if your carrying needs change seasonally or over time. 

The Recon Racks have a 45 lbs per bike weight limit and a total weight capacity of 225 or 270 lbs for the Recon 5 and Recon 6, respectively. That’s easily enough to handle virtually all non-electric bikes and lightweight eMTBs, although most full-power eMTBs will be slightly over that limit. That said, it certainly feels more than capable of handling heavier bikes, though we’d recommend staying within its claimed limits. 

Given the weight of the rack itself and the leverage exerted on the hitch bar, the Recon racks only come in the 2-inch receiver size.

Storage

An issue that plagues most hitch bike racks but especially vertical carry models is their size and storability. Off the vehicle, the Recon 5 is 62 inches tall, 58 inches wide, and 34 inches deep. It doesn’t stand up on its own and it takes up a lot of space wherever you choose to store it. A wall-mounted rack dock or something like 1Up’s Rack Stand is pretty critical to keep the Recon out of the way and your storage space tidy. 

I had the chance to use the 1Up Rack Stand ($310) which provides a stable base to hold the rack upright, while also serving as a system to roll the rack across smooth surfaces to get it closer to the vehicle or reposition it in your garage. Although 1Up doesn’t specifically say it can do it, I found you can also use the rack in the Rack Stand to hold a bike or two, maybe three depending on their weight, but I found it could get a little tippy with three 30+ lb mountain bikes loaded. Either way, it’s an awesome accessory to have, albeit a little expensive.

Accessories

I mentioned several of the accessories available for the Recon racks already, but here’s a little recap, plus a few more. All of the wheel baskets, standard, fat bike, and kids, can be purchased separately for $149. The nine-foot-long Recon cable lock sells for $52 and integrates relatively well with the rack. The Rack Stand will set you back $310, but it’s a great way to store the rack when not in use and it makes moving the rack around a heck of a lot easier. They also sell a Bottle Holder for $22 that mounts to the back of the lower crossbar and has a bottle opener for those post-ride beverages. 

1Up also says that the Recon racks can be used with their hitch extenders, hitch bar stop, and the RakAttach swing-away attachment.

Durability

1Up bike racks are renowned for their durability and that continues with the Recon racks. The entire thing is made from steel and it feels absolutely bomb-proof. The steel side plates at the pivot junction are 6mm thick and held together with beefy hardware. Even the wheel baskets are cut from 3mm thick steel plates. All of the metal is also covered with a durable, black powder-coat finish to protect it from corrosion and the hardware is all standard sizes that should be easy to find at your local hardware should you ever need to replace it. 

If you’re driving off-road regularly, you will be subjecting the rack to additional stress, but given the materials used in its construction, I don’t see it being a problem at all. With the additional bouncing and jostling of rough roads, however, you’ll want to check the bolts a little more often to make sure everything stays nice and tight.

Price

There’s no looking past the price of the 1Up Recon racks. At $1,200 for the Recon 5 and $1,400 for the Recon 6 (prices include ground shipping), there’s no denying that they are quite expensive. But when you consider the price of tray racks plus the add-ons needed to carry 4 bikes, it starts to seem more reasonable. Take, for example, the Thule T2 Pro XTR ($800) and the 2-bike add-on ($550), and you’re looking at $1,350 and you’re maxed out at 4 bikes. The prices of other tray rack models that can use add-ons are quite similar to the Thule, except for the Kuat Piston Pro X which is significantly more expensive.

Perhaps a better price comparison is against the VelociRAX vertical hitch racks. The VelociRAX come in 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 bike versions, with retail prices ranging between $799 and $985. Looking at the 5-bike version specifically, it goes for $885, and standard shipping is another $120, give or take, bringing the price before tax up to just over $1,000. So, you can definitely save a little money by going with the VelociRAX, the hydraulic tilt assist function is a pretty cool feature, and the 55 lbs per bike weight limit can handle full-power e-bikes. I personally don’t own any electric bikes, don’t particularly care for the red color, and the lack of mast height adjustability may be a limiting factor for some people. Regardless, the VelociRAX work very well, are super versatile, and are arguably the best value for this style of rack.

Final Thoughts

The Recon Racks bring 1Up’s legendary durability to the vertical carry design. With a sturdy steel construction and front-wheel baskets with a versatile bike fit, you can load up the whole family’s bikes for weekend getaways or rally the crew up janky dirt roads for shuttle laps. Assuming you don’t need to transport full-power electric bikes, the Recon is super stable, holds bikes very securely, and the off-road rating means you can take it on any adventure you choose. Yes, it’s expensive, but the Recon’s durable construction and lifetime warranty make it a solid investment that’ll be paying dividends for years to come.

The Recon Racks come with 1Up’s 100% lifetime warranty protection.

1Up Recon Rack Specs

• Fits 2” receiver
• Black powder coat finish
• Standard Wheel Baskets hold 24”-29” wheels, up to 3” wide tires
• Fat Bike Wheel Baskets hold 24”-29” wheels, up to 5.1” wide tires
• Kids Bike Wheel Baskets hold 20”-24” wheels, up to 3” wide tires
• Recon 5 carrying capacity of 225 lbs (45 lbs per bike spot)
• Recon 6 carrying Capacity of 270 lbs (45 lbs per bike spot)
• Road rating: Pavement, Gravel, and Off-road
• Vehicle rating: Passenger Vehicle
• Wheel Basket Design holds tires safely and securely with no bike frame contact
• Compatible with suspension and rigid forks
• Integrated adjustability for easy reach and ground clearance tuning
• Smooth Pivot Operation for easy access to rear of vehicle
• RakAttach, Hitch Extenders and Hitch Bar Stops are acceptable
• Shipping Dimensions: Tubing Box 64″ x 13″ x 4.5″ / Basket and Pivot Box 30.5″ x 18″ x 8″
• Recon 5 Shipping Weight: Tubing Box 39 lbs / Basket and Pivot Box: 55 lbs
• Recon 6 Shipping Weight: Tubing Box 43 lbs / Basket and Pivot Box: 61 lbs

1up-usa.com

The post 1Up Recon Rack Review: Legendary Durability Now in 5 / 6-Bike Vertical Carry Rack appeared first on Bikerumor.

As the Hammerhead Karoo 2 computer gets more popular, more riders are searching for the right mount. Good news: if you already have a K-EDGE mount, you’re probably in luck.

After partnering with Hammerhead, K-EDGE has introduced the HMS or Hammerhead Mounting System. The HMS is an insert kit that will adapt almost 50 different K-EDGE mounts to use with the Karoo 2’s unique connection. With the HMS insert, the computer attaches in the same was as the stock Hammerhead mount – slide it back onto the mount to lock in place, twist and then slide forward to release.

The HMS Insert Kit is made in the USA and will sell for just $12.99, including a selection of different hardware and spacers to work with various mounts. K-EDGE fortunately offers this handy guide to let you know which combination of spacers you’ll need along with the compatible mounts.

Actual Weight

In addition to the Insert Kit, three different mounts will be sold directly from Hammerhead with HMS including the Max XL ($57.99), Max XL Combo ($72.99), and Boost Stem Mount ($52.99). Other mount options will be available from K-EDGE and from select retailers. Addtionatlly, the HMS system will be available to license, suggesting other computer mount manufacturers could use it to create their own Hammerhead-compatible options.

• K-EDGE Max XL, $57.99 – CNC machined aluminum provides unrivaled strength to those looking for added security on the roughest of rides, while achieving pro positioning of your computer out-front, on center, and flush with the top of your handlebars. Optional adapter for camera, lights and more is available direct from K-EDGE. The Max XL mount has a 31.8mm handlebar size for universal compatibility.
• K-EDGE Max XL Combo, $72.99 – The workhorse MAX XL Combo is fully kitted out for those who want the full setup in a clean, on-center, out-front, aero look with a secure feel. The MAX XL Combo includes an accessory mount for clean integration of lights, cameras and more.
• K-EDGE Boost Stem Mount, $52.99 – Made specifically for those running short and steep stem setups and looking for a clean cockpit with 1 cm rise in the base. This setup provides a secure position for your Karoo 2 above the stem, without interference. Ideal for MTBs & gravel bikes setup with short stems.
• HMS Insert Kit, $12.99 – Use any compatible K-EDGE mount and easily convert to the sleek and secure Hammerhead Mounting System Insert Kit. Multiple spacers and hardware are included to dial in the correct fit for your model of K-EDGE Mount.

Hammerhead x K-EDGE HMS Review

We already know that K-EDGE makes some of the finest computer mounts on the planet. They’re beautiful, incredibly robust, and will likely outlast your bike. So it’s a good thing when you can adapt them to new computer systems. Compared to the mount that came with the Karoo 2, the K-EDGE mounts are easier to operate, and of course made from machined aluminum rather than plastic. There’s also no ‘shelf’ underneath the computer to catch sweat like I found with the stock mount.

When used with a wide stem, the Max XL places the computer a little off-center, so you’d be better off using the Boost Stem mount if you want it perfectly aligned. Overall, if you own a Hammerhead Karoo 2, these are the mounts to get.

k-edge.com

The post Adapt Existing K-EDGE Mounts for Karoo 2 w/ New Hammerhead Mounting System appeared first on Bikerumor.