Friday News And Views

I'm wearing the Century CC Jacket on the left. (Image by R. Versteegh)

Rain Jacket Review:

 I just posted my Showers Pass Century CC rain jacket review this week on RidingGravel.com. (Standard Disclaimer) It's probably the most comfortable rain jacket I've yet tried, and I've been sent many to check out over the years. 

Showers Pass was the rain jacket to have back in the early days of Trans Iowa. This was in the time before 'gravel' was a thing, and racing in rain jackets was thought to be done only in one of those mimimalist 'rain capes' which were pretty much clear plastic bags with a hole for the neck, two plastic tubes for sleeves, and a Velcro closure instead of a zipper. Gotta be able to read the sponsor's names emblazoned on yer jersey now! 

But touring cyclists were all about the effective, versatile rain gear for cycling. That's kind of where Showers Pass made its hay early on in its history. And subsequently when Trans Iowa riders were looking for that good rain jacket, the Showers Pass jackets were discovered. I remember talking with some of the early T.I. riders about what they were using, and the Showers Pass stuff came up often and got good comments from the folks using them. 

I had aims to buy one of their Century jackets for quite some time, but I had never gotten around to it, mostly because I was getting sent all these other jackets to try out. But recently Showers Pass came out with a budget priced version of the Century Jacket dubbed the Century CC, and I am now finding out what all the fuss was about. Showers Pass says a new version of that stalwart Century is going to be coming out. It might just be another great one for poor weather gravel riding. 

Continental Introduces A New Bike Packing Tire:

Continental, the German based tire company, have announced a new tire called the Terra Hardpack..It is a 50mm wide tire with a unique, low tread pattern for gravel, smooth dirt, and rougher roads. 

Offered in a 700 X 50mm width, the tire features Continental's Shieldwall puncture protection belt, a tubeless ready bead, and the new PureGrip compound which features excellent grip but long wearing properties, according to Continental. 

According to reports, Continental is also offering this in a 650B X 50mm size, but there are no other sizes available at this time. No pricing was found at this time either. 

Comments: Continental has always been a conservative company when it comes to stepping into new markets, so this late entry into the bike packing/wide gravel realm is not surprising. The Terra Hardpack has an interesting, almost scaly looking tread. My experiences with Continental have been that their tires often do not come out to be as wide as stated, so if that still is the case, this may fit into more bikes than you might think. 

Growtac brand "Equal" flat mount brake calipers. Image courtesy of Velo Orange

 Thems The Brakes:

In a world of parts shortages it is always interesting to find a new option that is actually in stock. Such is the case with a new flat mount disc brake option from Velo Orange called Growtac Equal Flat Mount Disc Brakes. 

These single-side actuated, mechanical disc brakes calipers come complete with hardware, adapters for the front, cables, housings, ferrules, and come in several anodized colors. The calipers weigh in at a claimed 135 grams each and do not come with rotors. Price is listed at $350.00/both wheels.

Comments: I was looking for flat mount disc brakes the other day and there were not many choices out there. This adds another interesting choice. The price might seem high, but you get everything you need minus rotors. (And good luck finding those!) But still.... You can get hybrid cable/hydraulic Juin Tech brakes for less. Those do come with rotors (six bolt though) and no cables or housings, but even with that you'd be well under $350.00 for both wheels. I mention these Juin Tech's as they are identical to the highly touted Yokozuna hybrid calipers and they work really well. 

TIME Bicycles' ADHX gravel bike. Image courtesy of TIME Bicycles USA.

TIME Bicycles Introduces Complete Bikes In USA:

A news announcement came out this week saying TIME Bicycles were again available in the USA. TIME has a new gravel bike they are excited about that uses a new lay-up of carbon mixed with Dyneema fabric for more strength and vibration reduction. 

Comments: This is a great example of some pretty cool ideas with a couple of fatal misses in design and geometry. First off, TIME specifies that the ADHX is good for tires from 38mm-40mm. What? Have these designers not seen what has been going on around them for the past five to seven years? A 'new' design that can only handle a 40mm tire is pretty much 2012 technology. 

Secondly, they have a great bottom bracket drop, but the head angle at 72.5° for a Large is waaay too steep! Again- it smacks of a geometry chart dredged up for a gravel bike made in the early twenty-teens. I fail to see how this bike would be really great at anything other than rough paved roads and very smooth dirt. But yeah.....racing bikes. I hear ya. 

Again with the wrong bike for the wrong reasons.

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! I hope that you all can get out for a ride or two this weekend!

Friday News And Views

I'm wearing the Century CC Jacket on the left. (Image by R. Versteegh)

Rain Jacket Review:

 I just posted my Showers Pass Century CC rain jacket review this week on RidingGravel.com. (Standard Disclaimer) It's probably the most comfortable rain jacket I've yet tried, and I've been sent many to check out over the years. 

Showers Pass was the rain jacket to have back in the early days of Trans Iowa. This was in the time before 'gravel' was a thing, and racing in rain jackets was thought to be done only in one of those mimimalist 'rain capes' which were pretty much clear plastic bags with a hole for the neck, two plastic tubes for sleeves, and a Velcro closure instead of a zipper. Gotta be able to read the sponsor's names emblazoned on yer jersey now! 

But touring cyclists were all about the effective, versatile rain gear for cycling. That's kind of where Showers Pass made its hay early on in its history. And subsequently when Trans Iowa riders were looking for that good rain jacket, the Showers Pass jackets were discovered. I remember talking with some of the early T.I. riders about what they were using, and the Showers Pass stuff came up often and got good comments from the folks using them. 

I had aims to buy one of their Century jackets for quite some time, but I had never gotten around to it, mostly because I was getting sent all these other jackets to try out. But recently Showers Pass came out with a budget priced version of the Century Jacket dubbed the Century CC, and I am now finding out what all the fuss was about. Showers Pass says a new version of that stalwart Century is going to be coming out. It might just be another great one for poor weather gravel riding. 

Continental Introduces A New Bike Packing Tire:

Continental, the German based tire company, have announced a new tire called the Terra Hardpack..It is a 50mm wide tire with a unique, low tread pattern for gravel, smooth dirt, and rougher roads. 

Offered in a 700 X 50mm width, the tire features Continental's Shieldwall puncture protection belt, a tubeless ready bead, and the new PureGrip compound which features excellent grip but long wearing properties, according to Continental. 

According to reports, Continental is also offering this in a 650B X 50mm size, but there are no other sizes available at this time. No pricing was found at this time either. 

Comments: Continental has always been a conservative company when it comes to stepping into new markets, so this late entry into the bike packing/wide gravel realm is not surprising. The Terra Hardpack has an interesting, almost scaly looking tread. My experiences with Continental have been that their tires often do not come out to be as wide as stated, so if that still is the case, this may fit into more bikes than you might think. 

Growtac brand "Equal" flat mount brake calipers. Image courtesy of Velo Orange

 Thems The Brakes:

In a world of parts shortages it is always interesting to find a new option that is actually in stock. Such is the case with a new flat mount disc brake option from Velo Orange called Growtac Equal Flat Mount Disc Brakes. 

These single-side actuated, mechanical disc brakes calipers come complete with hardware, adapters for the front, cables, housings, ferrules, and come in several anodized colors. The calipers weigh in at a claimed 135 grams each and do not come with rotors. Price is listed at $350.00/both wheels.

Comments: I was looking for flat mount disc brakes the other day and there were not many choices out there. This adds another interesting choice. The price might seem high, but you get everything you need minus rotors. (And good luck finding those!) But still.... You can get hybrid cable/hydraulic Juin Tech brakes for less. Those do come with rotors (six bolt though) and no cables or housings, but even with that you'd be well under $350.00 for both wheels. I mention these Juin Tech's as they are identical to the highly touted Yokozuna hybrid calipers and they work really well. 

TIME Bicycles' ADHX gravel bike. Image courtesy of TIME Bicycles USA.

TIME Bicycles Introduces Complete Bikes In USA:

A news announcement came out this week saying TIME Bicycles were again available in the USA. TIME has a new gravel bike they are excited about that uses a new lay-up of carbon mixed with Dyneema fabric for more strength and vibration reduction. 

Comments: This is a great example of some pretty cool ideas with a couple of fatal misses in design and geometry. First off, TIME specifies that the ADHX is good for tires from 38mm-40mm. What? Have these designers not seen what has been going on around them for the past five to seven years? A 'new' design that can only handle a 40mm tire is pretty much 2012 technology. 

Secondly, they have a great bottom bracket drop, but the head angle at 72.5° for a Large is waaay too steep! Again- it smacks of a geometry chart dredged up for a gravel bike made in the early twenty-teens. I fail to see how this bike would be really great at anything other than rough paved roads and very smooth dirt. But yeah.....racing bikes. I hear ya. 

Again with the wrong bike for the wrong reasons.

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! I hope that you all can get out for a ride or two this weekend!

Friday News And Views

Showers Pass Debuts Elements Rain Jacket:

The news cycle has kicked back into high gear again. Today I have a few newsy bits to share. First up is the new review on the just announced Showers Pass Elements Jacket which went live yesterday. I got this jacket back in August when it was 90° every day and it wasn't raining. So, I had to really pay attention when it did rain and try to get out in it to test the thing.  

This made it kind of tough on the ol' review since wearing almost anything against rain here in Summer is a fifty/fifty situation wherein you are warding off rain but perspiring so much due to the heat and effort of riding that you get wet anyway. Kind of defeats the point. Kind of like when we say "Six of one, half a dozen of another". You pick yer poison and end up wet no matter. So, they say there are real "breathable" rain jackets out there, but yeah..... I'm guessing these jackets are not tested in Iowa, or Houston, Texas, or anywhere it is humid when it rains. Rain jackets are good when it is cold and raining, and that is about it. So, any rain jacket is up against that here. The Showers Pass one at least feel good against the skin and is made of a light enough fabric that it seems nicer to wear than other rain jackets I've tried. 

The Showers Pass folks wanted this to be packable, and it is to an extent. For this reason they left off pit zips. That is a mistake in my estimation. It makes for a really sweaty arm area since it is almost impossible to vent your arms without pit zips. Oh well, you give up that for pack-ability. They (Showers Pass) also said pit zips are almost never waterproof. Hmm...... I will have to defer to their superior knowledge of rain gear there. 

But it is a nice jacket. Go read the review. (NOTE- Showers Pass sent this jacket for test/review at Riding Gravel. I was not paid, nor bribed, for this mention.)

Niner Bikes RLT e9 RDO. Image courtesy of Niner Bikes.

Niner Bikes Debuts RLT e9 RDO:

Electrified gravel rigs are a thing. Not a big thing, like eMTB is, but they are out there roaming around the countryside now. Niner Bikes bit on the HPC trend and introduced a new electrified gravel rig with a Bosch motor. It's an interesting bike when you look at the details. 

First of all, it is boost spaced in the rear. This bike is also flat bar compatible, and suspension corrected for a "gravel suspension fork". Ever heard of trekking bikes? It'd take Niner about three spec changes to swap this over to a flat bar trekking bike ready for European sales. Or dealers could sell this as a commuter rig with a few key swaps. This isn't so much a gravel rig as it is a hits all the marks rig. 

One more thing- this bike costs $5695.00 USD. Hmm..... I wondered.... "What can you get for a motorcycle for less than 6G?". Ever Google that? You know, there are a LOT of capable rigs in the motorcycle arena and some even adept at doing gravel travel. I know....I know... These people on HPC's are getting a "work out", or whatever you want to say about their efforts. Fine. I'm not going there except to say that if you pedal an HPC, you aren't using the most efficient form of either a bicycle or a motorcycle. This seems .........odd. But carry on....  

Either way, these are here and besides costing an arm and a leg for what you get, I suppose they are appealing to certain folks. They are complex machines, for sure, and servicing these things is causing quite the stir in the bicycle industry and with consumers. For example, you know how frustrating it is that cars all have these proprietary electronic servicing tools? Well, the situation with HPC's is fairly analogous to that experience. Be prepared to have some hassles with service if you need it on an HPC unless you happen upon a good dealer for the brand you own. And be prepared to open up the bank account when it comes time to pay. Right now it's the "Wild West" when it comes to service costs, but once things get streamlined on that end, you can bet the prices will be .......not cheap. 

Riding Gravel Video Ranch?

Andy and I, (well......mostly Andy, to be honest), did a thing the other day. We started a, some may say long overdue, You Tube channel for Riding Gravel. And maybe you could give a rip. I don't know. I just know that some people are visual and that they like seeing what we are reviewing and not so much reading about it all. 

I don't know exactly how this is all going to go yet, but I can give y'all a few hints on what to expect. We aren't going to have anything fancy. No sets, no crazy video production. We might get a drone.....maybe. I am working on doing our own music for this. But simplicity is the main theme. So, it's going to be kind of different than many of the established You Tuber's channels out there that are in the cycling space. 

It's going to stretch me a bit, for sure, (thus another reason to ditch the calendar thing), but I like this challenge more than I do dredging up calendar dates, so I am okay with that. The thing will be coming up with good content, and going into 2021, that may be hard to do. That's because there may not be a whole lot "new" to talk about. This will be detailed in my next segment.....

Pandemic Driven Shortages To Reach Well Into 2021:

As if 2020 weren't weird enough, it won't stop affecting things well into 2021. That's because the disruption in the supply chain has been so damaging that manufacturers, in some cases, are not even giving future ETA's for important components and accessories needed to build bicycles. Think I'm nuts? Here's an excerpt from a manufacturer's letter to suppliers and dealers that's been circulated on social media:

"Component lead times are stretching way out into the future for new orders:

Fox will no longer quote a lead time
Rock Shox quote 250 days
Suntour and Tektro quote 210 days
Shimano stating July to October ‘21 with many dates already in calendar year ‘22
With this level of uncertainty there is no clear indication when MY22 will arrive."

Comments further indicate that these lead times are being modified out further since this letter was publicized. The authority of this info seems to be verified as well, since its source is one of the major factories supplying one of the "Big Four" bike brands. Another of the "Big Four" (Cannondale, Trek, Giant, Specialized) is telling its dealers not to expect MY2021 bikes until April at the earliest. This isn't just concerning mountain bikes, or high end, expensive bikes, but all price levels. 

What does that all mean: Look after your drive trains, baby those bikes, and don't throw out those half-used up tires. Shortages are certainly going to roll through the retail sector for well over a year from now. New bikes? Some, maybe. Mostly hardly anything, at least in terms of wide selections. If you want a bicycle, it will be hard to find a certain model. It will be hard to get the spec you thought you wanted. You'll pretty much be having to take what is offered or go without. 

Used bikes will be hot! The used market will become a seller's market with top-dollar asking prices getting paid since no good supplies of new bikes will be available. It also will mean an uptick in thefts of bicycles is a distinct possibility since supplies of new bikes will be so scarce. Repair parts will also be scarce as those old jalopies will continue to be brought in to be resurrected since new and used bikes will be harder to come by. 

Perhaps this will all be wrong, but indications I'm seeing are that these unprecedented shortages are not going away over the Winter, nor by next Spring, and probably not until 2022. 

That's enough 'fun' for one week. have a great weekend, stay safe, and get out and ride!

Friday News And Views

Showers Pass Debuts Elements Rain Jacket:

The news cycle has kicked back into high gear again. Today I have a few newsy bits to share. First up is the new review on the just announced Showers Pass Elements Jacket which went live yesterday. I got this jacket back in August when it was 90° every day and it wasn't raining. So, I had to really pay attention when it did rain and try to get out in it to test the thing.  

This made it kind of tough on the ol' review since wearing almost anything against rain here in Summer is a fifty/fifty situation wherein you are warding off rain but perspiring so much due to the heat and effort of riding that you get wet anyway. Kind of defeats the point. Kind of like when we say "Six of one, half a dozen of another". You pick yer poison and end up wet no matter. So, they say there are real "breathable" rain jackets out there, but yeah..... I'm guessing these jackets are not tested in Iowa, or Houston, Texas, or anywhere it is humid when it rains. Rain jackets are good when it is cold and raining, and that is about it. So, any rain jacket is up against that here. The Showers Pass one at least feel good against the skin and is made of a light enough fabric that it seems nicer to wear than other rain jackets I've tried. 

The Showers Pass folks wanted this to be packable, and it is to an extent. For this reason they left off pit zips. That is a mistake in my estimation. It makes for a really sweaty arm area since it is almost impossible to vent your arms without pit zips. Oh well, you give up that for pack-ability. They (Showers Pass) also said pit zips are almost never waterproof. Hmm...... I will have to defer to their superior knowledge of rain gear there. 

But it is a nice jacket. Go read the review. (NOTE- Showers Pass sent this jacket for test/review at Riding Gravel. I was not paid, nor bribed, for this mention.)

Niner Bikes RLT e9 RDO. Image courtesy of Niner Bikes.

Niner Bikes Debuts RLT e9 RDO:

Electrified gravel rigs are a thing. Not a big thing, like eMTB is, but they are out there roaming around the countryside now. Niner Bikes bit on the HPC trend and introduced a new electrified gravel rig with a Bosch motor. It's an interesting bike when you look at the details. 

First of all, it is boost spaced in the rear. This bike is also flat bar compatible, and suspension corrected for a "gravel suspension fork". Ever heard of trekking bikes? It'd take Niner about three spec changes to swap this over to a flat bar trekking bike ready for European sales. Or dealers could sell this as a commuter rig with a few key swaps. This isn't so much a gravel rig as it is a hits all the marks rig. 

One more thing- this bike costs $5695.00 USD. Hmm..... I wondered.... "What can you get for a motorcycle for less than 6G?". Ever Google that? You know, there are a LOT of capable rigs in the motorcycle arena and some even adept at doing gravel travel. I know....I know... These people on HPC's are getting a "work out", or whatever you want to say about their efforts. Fine. I'm not going there except to say that if you pedal an HPC, you aren't using the most efficient form of either a bicycle or a motorcycle. This seems .........odd. But carry on....  

Either way, these are here and besides costing an arm and a leg for what you get, I suppose they are appealing to certain folks. They are complex machines, for sure, and servicing these things is causing quite the stir in the bicycle industry and with consumers. For example, you know how frustrating it is that cars all have these proprietary electronic servicing tools? Well, the situation with HPC's is fairly analogous to that experience. Be prepared to have some hassles with service if you need it on an HPC unless you happen upon a good dealer for the brand you own. And be prepared to open up the bank account when it comes time to pay. Right now it's the "Wild West" when it comes to service costs, but once things get streamlined on that end, you can bet the prices will be .......not cheap. 

Riding Gravel Video Ranch?

Andy and I, (well......mostly Andy, to be honest), did a thing the other day. We started a, some may say long overdue, You Tube channel for Riding Gravel. And maybe you could give a rip. I don't know. I just know that some people are visual and that they like seeing what we are reviewing and not so much reading about it all. 

I don't know exactly how this is all going to go yet, but I can give y'all a few hints on what to expect. We aren't going to have anything fancy. No sets, no crazy video production. We might get a drone.....maybe. I am working on doing our own music for this. But simplicity is the main theme. So, it's going to be kind of different than many of the established You Tuber's channels out there that are in the cycling space. 

It's going to stretch me a bit, for sure, (thus another reason to ditch the calendar thing), but I like this challenge more than I do dredging up calendar dates, so I am okay with that. The thing will be coming up with good content, and going into 2021, that may be hard to do. That's because there may not be a whole lot "new" to talk about. This will be detailed in my next segment.....

Pandemic Driven Shortages To Reach Well Into 2021:

As if 2020 weren't weird enough, it won't stop affecting things well into 2021. That's because the disruption in the supply chain has been so damaging that manufacturers, in some cases, are not even giving future ETA's for important components and accessories needed to build bicycles. Think I'm nuts? Here's an excerpt from a manufacturer's letter to suppliers and dealers that's been circulated on social media:

"Component lead times are stretching way out into the future for new orders:

Fox will no longer quote a lead time
Rock Shox quote 250 days
Suntour and Tektro quote 210 days
Shimano stating July to October ‘21 with many dates already in calendar year ‘22
With this level of uncertainty there is no clear indication when MY22 will arrive."

Comments further indicate that these lead times are being modified out further since this letter was publicized. The authority of this info seems to be verified as well, since its source is one of the major factories supplying one of the "Big Four" bike brands. Another of the "Big Four" (Cannondale, Trek, Giant, Specialized) is telling its dealers not to expect MY2021 bikes until April at the earliest. This isn't just concerning mountain bikes, or high end, expensive bikes, but all price levels. 

What does that all mean: Look after your drive trains, baby those bikes, and don't throw out those half-used up tires. Shortages are certainly going to roll through the retail sector for well over a year from now. New bikes? Some, maybe. Mostly hardly anything, at least in terms of wide selections. If you want a bicycle, it will be hard to find a certain model. It will be hard to get the spec you thought you wanted. You'll pretty much be having to take what is offered or go without. 

Used bikes will be hot! The used market will become a seller's market with top-dollar asking prices getting paid since no good supplies of new bikes will be available. It also will mean an uptick in thefts of bicycles is a distinct possibility since supplies of new bikes will be so scarce. Repair parts will also be scarce as those old jalopies will continue to be brought in to be resurrected since new and used bikes will be harder to come by. 

Perhaps this will all be wrong, but indications I'm seeing are that these unprecedented shortages are not going away over the Winter, nor by next Spring, and probably not until 2022. 

That's enough 'fun' for one week. have a great weekend, stay safe, and get out and ride!

Ghost Rider Gear

"Vizikability" is super important

You know that as a cyclist on roads that being safe means being visible. To many cyclists, this has become an important thing to achieve. For many companies, their marketing focuses entirely on visibility for cyclists. So, you've got your blinkies, your flashing head lights, your day-glo wear, and even lasers for your rearguard. There is a bewildering array of products focused on keeping cyclists visible.

Of course, none of that really matters if the distracted driver is looking at their "device", whatever that may be. That's an entirely different deal.

When/if drivers are actually paying attention, you can do a lot of things to help yourself be more visible anytime of the day or night. I just got something which is oriented toward being visible at night. Typically, if we're focusing on garments, that means bright, "safety green" or "Day-Glo" yellow stuff with lots of ScotchBrite or other reflective panels.  Great stuff for the nighttime, but maybe you are not into looking like a DOT road worker when you are at the local watering hole, shopping at the grocery store, or when you ride in the daytime. Yeah.....some folks are "safety yellow 24-7" freaks. But I, for one, think that's just plain silly. Color of garment, in the daytime at least, isn't going to reach eyeballs like a LED flashing light will. Anywho......

This Refleckt 360° jacket I just got in on test for RidingGravel.com from ProViz is unique in that they have five "normal' colors available, but the minute light hits the fabric in the dark, it glows and you look like your are some ethereal spirit of the netherworld.

Possible para-normal activity in front of Guitar Ted Laboratories. Image by Jacob Stevenson

I think my flashy blue ghost-like visage scooting down the road might attract a bit of attention.

Maybe.

Anyway, it can't hurt, and as long as the jacket actually works, (not "garbage-bag-like, doesn't fall apart, wards off the precip), then I think it is a worthwhile idea. It is made well, as far as I can tell at this point. It has weather-proof zippers, a nice, high, fleece lined collar which has proven to be "beard friendly" so far. No snagging on a zipper or scratchy feelings to report there. The jacket has a "cycling cut", which is to say that it feels best when you are riding. Short front/long tail sort of cut to the hem. No hood, so there may be a negative for some of you.

The jacket was packed up with another garment, which I requested for testing. Bib tights. Man......I hate regular tights. They just do not work well, or feel comfortable to me. I gotta have me some bib tights! So, ProViz sent out the "Pixelite" bib tights with a bunch of "reflectomatic" panel construction for more high-viz action at night. Note- those are some high tech terms there from my own cranium. You may or may not be on board with that. Officially, the Pixelite bibs have a performance fit, are windproof, water-repellent, and.....highly breathable. (You knew that last one was coming, right?) Oh.....and they really do have reflective performance fabric at strategic places. That's true right there.

So, we'll see how it goes. I'll wear this stuff at night, maybe in the rain if the forecast holds up for Friday, and in the colder weather if what they say is correct for Saturday. Then we'll know what's up with this stuff.

Stay tuned.....

NOTE: ProViz sent out these garments at no charge for test/review. I am not being paid nor bribed for these thoughts and opinions.

Ghost Rider Gear

"Vizikability" is super important

You know that as a cyclist on roads that being safe means being visible. To many cyclists, this has become an important thing to achieve. For many companies, their marketing focuses entirely on visibility for cyclists. So, you've got your blinkies, your flashing head lights, your day-glo wear, and even lasers for your rearguard. There is a bewildering array of products focused on keeping cyclists visible.

Of course, none of that really matters if the distracted driver is looking at their "device", whatever that may be. That's an entirely different deal.

When/if drivers are actually paying attention, you can do a lot of things to help yourself be more visible anytime of the day or night. I just got something which is oriented toward being visible at night. Typically, if we're focusing on garments, that means bright, "safety green" or "Day-Glo" yellow stuff with lots of ScotchBrite or other reflective panels.  Great stuff for the nighttime, but maybe you are not into looking like a DOT road worker when you are at the local watering hole, shopping at the grocery store, or when you ride in the daytime. Yeah.....some folks are "safety yellow 24-7" freaks. But I, for one, think that's just plain silly. Color of garment, in the daytime at least, isn't going to reach eyeballs like a LED flashing light will. Anywho......

This Refleckt 360° jacket I just got in on test for RidingGravel.com from ProViz is unique in that they have five "normal' colors available, but the minute light hits the fabric in the dark, it glows and you look like your are some ethereal spirit of the netherworld.

Possible para-normal activity in front of Guitar Ted Laboratories. Image by Jacob Stevenson

I think my flashy blue ghost-like visage scooting down the road might attract a bit of attention.

Maybe.

Anyway, it can't hurt, and as long as the jacket actually works, (not "garbage-bag-like, doesn't fall apart, wards off the precip), then I think it is a worthwhile idea. It is made well, as far as I can tell at this point. It has weather-proof zippers, a nice, high, fleece lined collar which has proven to be "beard friendly" so far. No snagging on a zipper or scratchy feelings to report there. The jacket has a "cycling cut", which is to say that it feels best when you are riding. Short front/long tail sort of cut to the hem. No hood, so there may be a negative for some of you.

The jacket was packed up with another garment, which I requested for testing. Bib tights. Man......I hate regular tights. They just do not work well, or feel comfortable to me. I gotta have me some bib tights! So, ProViz sent out the "Pixelite" bib tights with a bunch of "reflectomatic" panel construction for more high-viz action at night. Note- those are some high tech terms there from my own cranium. You may or may not be on board with that. Officially, the Pixelite bibs have a performance fit, are windproof, water-repellent, and.....highly breathable. (You knew that last one was coming, right?) Oh.....and they really do have reflective performance fabric at strategic places. That's true right there.

So, we'll see how it goes. I'll wear this stuff at night, maybe in the rain if the forecast holds up for Friday, and in the colder weather if what they say is correct for Saturday. Then we'll know what's up with this stuff.

Stay tuned.....

NOTE: ProViz sent out these garments at no charge for test/review. I am not being paid nor bribed for these thoughts and opinions.

Bontrager Lithos Stormshell Jacket

Just standing around in the rain. Nuthin' unusual!

A while back I told ya all that I picked up a Bontrager Lithos Stormshell Jacket and that my initial impressions were good. Well, after using it everyday since, here are my further impressions on this technical outer shell.

Visibility: First off, I got the "Firebrand" color which is pretty close to DOT Orange/Hunter Orange for those who need reference. I have been told by other cyclists that have seen me with it on during riding that I was immediately noticeable from a far distance. I have also noted that I have been getting a wider berth from motorists of late. So, if you are buying this jacket and want high visibility too, I feel this jacket delivers on that.

Rain-Proof: Now, I haven't been in a deluge with this jacket yet, but I have been in a few drizzles and one decent shower with this jacket. There was no question at all that it was keeping me dry. The hood is generous and nicely covered my Bell Super helmet, as seen in the image here, so you can keep your head dry. The draw strings on the hood really help to seal out the weather, by the way.

Breathability: The ever famous last words for any rain gear- breathable! Well, I can say that the Lithos isn't the most breathable jacket ever, but for a rainproof one, I have never been in a more comfortable jacket in terms of not getting overheated. That said, I haven't ridden in anything over 50°F, so Summer or Spring warm showery weather still may not fit this jacket's range of use, but then again, I don't think this strikes me as anything but a cooler weather jacket. You'll have to decide when/where you'll use it and make your decision based on that. All I can say is that in cooler weather it works really well in terms of keeping the perspiration at bay.

Deer hunter? Nope. FATBIKER!

Venting: A separate word on venting. In my initial impressions I stated that I wished this jacket had pit-zips. Yep.......still do. It would really make the jacket climate easier to manage, but give that two way zipper a workout and you can still do a decent job keeping your temperature in the zone where you won't sweat out. Wearing a hydration pack kind of makes things worse, what with something laying right on your back, which cuts off the air circulation. The chest vents work and I would add in that the pockets are really two more vents which happen to hold stuff. I've decided they aren't robust enough to be "real" pockets and will treat them in that manner.

Windproof: The jacket is excellent as a cold weather wind shell. This week our temperatures dumped and winds were pretty stiff, which tested this jacket out well. I found that I could keep warm with everything zipped up and use the pockets, chest vents, and two way zipper to manage temperature during cooler weather rides really well. Without a helmet on, it is tough to work around how enormous that hood is. You just cannot draw it down tight enough without it blinding your peripheral vision.

Fit: Finally, I want to add my two cents on the fit. I can use this jacket with layers and it isn't tight or restrictive. The arms are plenty long, even in a stretched out, cycling position for my 35" wingspan. I have the XL sized jacket, and it has a length that seems just right for me. Not too far down the butt to cause issues and it doesn't crawl up my backside when pedaling. I'm pretty happy with the, what I would term as, the semi-loose fit. Make no mistake- this ain't no skin suit! You will have a bit of flapping in the wind in the arms and lower torso at times. I'm okay with that. 

Impressions Overall: This is a spendy jacket designed for mountain biking. It was meant for folks who carry stuff in their hydration pack more so than in their jacket. I am a bit disappointed then that there are few good places to stuff things and that the two huge slash pockets aren't really anything more than two more venting options. Or.....maybe I am glad that they are two more venting options. There are no pit-zips, so those faux-pockets that are really vents are a good thing then.

Otherwise this is a great jacket so far. If it lasts longer than six months performing at the level it has so far I would be mildly satisfied. But for $300.00 retail, (I did pay less because I got the shop deal), you'd hope that the jacket had the weather-proof capabilities, the breathability it has, and some creature features. Like pockets and pit-zips. But I'm good with it so far. More on this Lithos jacket in a few months.......

Bontrager Lithos Stormshell Jacket

Just standing around in the rain. Nuthin' unusual!

A while back I told ya all that I picked up a Bontrager Lithos Stormshell Jacket and that my initial impressions were good. Well, after using it everyday since, here are my further impressions on this technical outer shell.

Visibility: First off, I got the "Firebrand" color which is pretty close to DOT Orange/Hunter Orange for those who need reference. I have been told by other cyclists that have seen me with it on during riding that I was immediately noticeable from a far distance. I have also noted that I have been getting a wider berth from motorists of late. So, if you are buying this jacket and want high visibility too, I feel this jacket delivers on that.

Rain-Proof: Now, I haven't been in a deluge with this jacket yet, but I have been in a few drizzles and one decent shower with this jacket. There was no question at all that it was keeping me dry. The hood is generous and nicely covered my Bell Super helmet, as seen in the image here, so you can keep your head dry. The draw strings on the hood really help to seal out the weather, by the way.

Breathability: The ever famous last words for any rain gear- breathable! Well, I can say that the Lithos isn't the most breathable jacket ever, but for a rainproof one, I have never been in a more comfortable jacket in terms of not getting overheated. That said, I haven't ridden in anything over 50°F, so Summer or Spring warm showery weather still may not fit this jacket's range of use, but then again, I don't think this strikes me as anything but a cooler weather jacket. You'll have to decide when/where you'll use it and make your decision based on that. All I can say is that in cooler weather it works really well in terms of keeping the perspiration at bay.

Deer hunter? Nope. FATBIKER!

Venting: A separate word on venting. In my initial impressions I stated that I wished this jacket had pit-zips. Yep.......still do. It would really make the jacket climate easier to manage, but give that two way zipper a workout and you can still do a decent job keeping your temperature in the zone where you won't sweat out. Wearing a hydration pack kind of makes things worse, what with something laying right on your back, which cuts off the air circulation. The chest vents work and I would add in that the pockets are really two more vents which happen to hold stuff. I've decided they aren't robust enough to be "real" pockets and will treat them in that manner.

Windproof: The jacket is excellent as a cold weather wind shell. This week our temperatures dumped and winds were pretty stiff, which tested this jacket out well. I found that I could keep warm with everything zipped up and use the pockets, chest vents, and two way zipper to manage temperature during cooler weather rides really well. Without a helmet on, it is tough to work around how enormous that hood is. You just cannot draw it down tight enough without it blinding your peripheral vision.

Fit: Finally, I want to add my two cents on the fit. I can use this jacket with layers and it isn't tight or restrictive. The arms are plenty long, even in a stretched out, cycling position for my 35" wingspan. I have the XL sized jacket, and it has a length that seems just right for me. Not too far down the butt to cause issues and it doesn't crawl up my backside when pedaling. I'm pretty happy with the, what I would term as, the semi-loose fit. Make no mistake- this ain't no skin suit! You will have a bit of flapping in the wind in the arms and lower torso at times. I'm okay with that. 

Impressions Overall: This is a spendy jacket designed for mountain biking. It was meant for folks who carry stuff in their hydration pack more so than in their jacket. I am a bit disappointed then that there are few good places to stuff things and that the two huge slash pockets aren't really anything more than two more venting options. Or.....maybe I am glad that they are two more venting options. There are no pit-zips, so those faux-pockets that are really vents are a good thing then.

Otherwise this is a great jacket so far. If it lasts longer than six months performing at the level it has so far I would be mildly satisfied. But for $300.00 retail, (I did pay less because I got the shop deal), you'd hope that the jacket had the weather-proof capabilities, the breathability it has, and some creature features. Like pockets and pit-zips. But I'm good with it so far. More on this Lithos jacket in a few months.......

Friday News And Views

Braces!

These Things Rule:

Once in a while you get a hold of something and use it, then you decide it is awesome. It may be a small thing, but it is so good that you decide it "rules". There are a few things I have come up with of late that I feel this way about, and I figured I would share here.

First of all, if you have an issue with shorts or winter tights rolling down, not staying up, or if you have to cinch down the tie or use a belt on your knickers, well, here is something I am using that you should as well. This is old, old, old school. They are suspenders, or as they are called in some parts of the world, "braces". They turn anything that isn't a bib style cycling garment into virtual bib type garments. No more belts, no tight rope strung around your gut. No more tugging at your waistline to get your tights in place.

I think suspenders rule. They are comfortable and cheap to buy. Mine came from a surplus store and cost ten measly bucks. You can wear your outer shell over them and no one will know you have them on. (If you even care about that sort of thing.) Found in a multitude of colors and patterns to suit your taste. Get some!

Bontrager Lithos jacket

Another item I have just purchased is this Bontrager Lithos jacket. It is a hard shell jacket that is wind and water proof and is.......here it comes.......breathable. Yeah, everyone says that about rain gear, and then you wear it and, yep! You may as well be in a garbage bag you are so soaked in sweat. Well, this jacket actually does have a modicum of breathability. I know, because I have been wearing it on these upper 40 to lower 50 degree days. Cycling back and forth to work, I have noticed little of the "garbage bag" effect. The Lithos has two enormous vents running diagonally from the chest down to the lower sides. What is more, the huge slash pockets have mesh liners to the inside.   So, they are, in effect, two more vents. There are no pit zips, but if you don't cinch down the wrists, you get some air flow through the arms. This is, actually, my only nit with the jacket so far. Had they put pit zips in this it would be really breathable. But as it sits, I think it is really good.

Besides the breathability, The Lithos has a helmet sized hood, an inner chest pocket, well sized for the largest phones, and that has a zippered closure. That pocket also has a media port. There is this little pocket on the upper left arm as well. Not really sure what you'd put in there, but it is there! The main zipper is a two way zip, so you can zip it up from the bottom for more venting options. Finally, it features a treatment dubbed 37.5 which is why the  Lithos works when you are exercising.

I haven't been in a rain with the thing yet, but if it passes that test, (and for a $300.00 jacket, it darn well better!), I'll say it rules as well. The main thing is that it fits true to size, breathes okay, and vents pretty well. It is a mountain biking piece, so it is meant for hydration pack wear, thus no rear pocket/venting. And about the price- in rain wear, you get what you pay for, generally speaking. I've had a lot of rain jackets that cost less, and all of them were deficient. We'll see how this plays out, but so far........

The much maligned Fasterkatt

Finally, I want to nominate the 45NRTH Fasterkatt as a boot that rules. I know, I know.........lots of folks hated on these. And to be sure, they have their deficiencies. You had to learn how to dance with them, the zippers in particular are fussy, but the alternative is what?

The alternative, which lots of folks forget about, is cycling shoes and booties, or"shoe covers" if you prefer. Whatever you want to call them, Fasterkatt boots beat the heck out of the old way. Yeah, go ahead and slag the boot, call me stupid for liking them, but I am not going back to those booties. No how, no way. That sucked, and in the worst way possible. These boots protect from wind, rain, snow, mud, and keep my feet warm. They fit me great, and I have zero discomforts when cycling with them.

45NRTH now has a Japanther model which has supplanted the Fasterkatt boots and is supposedly a better deal. Get those then. Whatever you do, get something like the Japanther, or the Garneau boot which is similar. Just get a boot for cycling that rules.

My boot? The Fasterkatt, and I have learned just exactly how to make the zippers live and I get along with them just fine. So for my uses, this rules, and it is waaaaay better than booties!

Okay, how long can this totally awesome weather hold out in December? (Maybe not long with the coming storm, but.....) Anyway, get outside and enjoy what you can of what is left of it. Thanks for reading, as always, and have a great weekend!

Friday News And Views

Braces!

These Things Rule:

Once in a while you get a hold of something and use it, then you decide it is awesome. It may be a small thing, but it is so good that you decide it "rules". There are a few things I have come up with of late that I feel this way about, and I figured I would share here.

First of all, if you have an issue with shorts or winter tights rolling down, not staying up, or if you have to cinch down the tie or use a belt on your knickers, well, here is something I am using that you should as well. This is old, old, old school. They are suspenders, or as they are called in some parts of the world, "braces". They turn anything that isn't a bib style cycling garment into virtual bib type garments. No more belts, no tight rope strung around your gut. No more tugging at your waistline to get your tights in place.

I think suspenders rule. They are comfortable and cheap to buy. Mine came from a surplus store and cost ten measly bucks. You can wear your outer shell over them and no one will know you have them on. (If you even care about that sort of thing.) Found in a multitude of colors and patterns to suit your taste. Get some!

Bontrager Lithos jacket

Another item I have just purchased is this Bontrager Lithos jacket. It is a hard shell jacket that is wind and water proof and is.......here it comes.......breathable. Yeah, everyone says that about rain gear, and then you wear it and, yep! You may as well be in a garbage bag you are so soaked in sweat. Well, this jacket actually does have a modicum of breathability. I know, because I have been wearing it on these upper 40 to lower 50 degree days. Cycling back and forth to work, I have noticed little of the "garbage bag" effect. The Lithos has two enormous vents running diagonally from the chest down to the lower sides. What is more, the huge slash pockets have mesh liners to the inside.   So, they are, in effect, two more vents. There are no pit zips, but if you don't cinch down the wrists, you get some air flow through the arms. This is, actually, my only nit with the jacket so far. Had they put pit zips in this it would be really breathable. But as it sits, I think it is really good.

Besides the breathability, The Lithos has a helmet sized hood, an inner chest pocket, well sized for the largest phones, and that has a zippered closure. That pocket also has a media port. There is this little pocket on the upper left arm as well. Not really sure what you'd put in there, but it is there! The main zipper is a two way zip, so you can zip it up from the bottom for more venting options. Finally, it features a treatment dubbed 37.5 which is why the  Lithos works when you are exercising.

I haven't been in a rain with the thing yet, but if it passes that test, (and for a $300.00 jacket, it darn well better!), I'll say it rules as well. The main thing is that it fits true to size, breathes okay, and vents pretty well. It is a mountain biking piece, so it is meant for hydration pack wear, thus no rear pocket/venting. And about the price- in rain wear, you get what you pay for, generally speaking. I've had a lot of rain jackets that cost less, and all of them were deficient. We'll see how this plays out, but so far........

The much maligned Fasterkatt

Finally, I want to nominate the 45NRTH Fasterkatt as a boot that rules. I know, I know.........lots of folks hated on these. And to be sure, they have their deficiencies. You had to learn how to dance with them, the zippers in particular are fussy, but the alternative is what?

The alternative, which lots of folks forget about, is cycling shoes and booties, or"shoe covers" if you prefer. Whatever you want to call them, Fasterkatt boots beat the heck out of the old way. Yeah, go ahead and slag the boot, call me stupid for liking them, but I am not going back to those booties. No how, no way. That sucked, and in the worst way possible. These boots protect from wind, rain, snow, mud, and keep my feet warm. They fit me great, and I have zero discomforts when cycling with them.

45NRTH now has a Japanther model which has supplanted the Fasterkatt boots and is supposedly a better deal. Get those then. Whatever you do, get something like the Japanther, or the Garneau boot which is similar. Just get a boot for cycling that rules.

My boot? The Fasterkatt, and I have learned just exactly how to make the zippers live and I get along with them just fine. So for my uses, this rules, and it is waaaaay better than booties!

Okay, how long can this totally awesome weather hold out in December? (Maybe not long with the coming storm, but.....) Anyway, get outside and enjoy what you can of what is left of it. Thanks for reading, as always, and have a great weekend!