STELLAAA! I always wanted to say that. Last fall I did a write-up on the top model Seca 900 Ultra from Light & Motion. If you read the review you know the Seca is a seriously powerful light unit. I’m sure that review left more than one person wishing they had one but the price is admittedly not for everyone. Not to worry, the folks at Light & Motion make a unit which is just as good in terms of quality and craftsmanship but at a price most can afford.

The Light & Motion Stella 200L ($249.99 MSRP) sports a single 200 lumen LED with a custom designed reflector to maximize light output. Everything you need is included in the box: the lithium-ion 3-cell 11.1V battery, smart charger, low profile helmet mount, and battery strap. The light includes just the right amount of cord so you can comfortably mount the unit on your helmet or on the bike.

The construction of the Stella is second to none. The light unit is compact and lightweight (72 grams) and features an integrated heat sink. It has a fresh bronze anodizing treatment which will keep the light looking pretty for a long time, even in the dark. The simple on/off button is integrated into the head unit with a sealed membrane to keep water out. A single touch of the button adjusts the light output:  the high setting tosses 200 lumens for 5 hours; medium gives you 100 lumens for 10 hours; and low eeks out 50 lumens for 20 hours (most spots south of Alaska don’t have that much darkness in a single day!). There’s also a flash setting which will burn for 100 hours, perfect for commuting or emergencies. Placing the light in “race mode” allows you to quickly toggle between just high and low settings.

The Stella is powered by a 3 cell Li-Ion battery which is both lightweight (180 grams) and small - perfect for mounting on your toptube, the back of your helmet, or even in a pocket of your hydration pack. The battery pack features waterproof seals good for submersion up to 20 feet and an internal circuit to protect the battery from overcharging or rapid discharges.

Mounting up the Stella takes only minutes. In fact it will probably take more time to decide if you’re wearing it on your helmet or mounting it up on your handlebars. If you’re using the Stella as a standalone light, I recommend placing it on your helmet since a helmet mount shines the light wherever you’re looking. The beam pattern on the Stella 200 is ideal for a single LED, producing a focused beam with a feathered fill light on the periphery of the pattern. The Stella beam pattern gives you decent distance with enough light on the edges to make out what’s around you.

In the photos below I have set up a test area so you can see the amount of light the Stella 200 produces at night. For comparison I also show the Seca 900 Ultra placed in exactly the same position aimed the same way. The photo markers are placed for scale: the first is 10 feet, the second triple marker is 20 feet, third single 30 feet, fourth single 40 feet, and finally fifth triple 50 feet away. The second and fifth triple markers indicate an average trail width.

The Left **Stella 200L                          The Right **Seca 900 Ultra

Hitting the trails in and around Toronto at night was awesome. Although I took my Seca 900 Ultra, I found that unless I was really going really fast I didn’t have to turn it on. Riding without moon light was really fun as well. The Stella 200 produced a perfectly white light everywhere I turned my head and the beam gave me about a 45° arc of light. At about 50 feet ahead of the bike I got about 15 feet of the spot light and another 25 feet or so of fill lighting. This is really more than enough light for most people but perhaps not enough if you’re racing and going really fast. But for the discriminating casual rider this light will light up your life.

The photo above has been colorized so you can see the spot and the fill along with the feathering.

I also found I could use the Stella for many of my lighting needs in and around my house. Seeing that I am renovating the house, this small unit comes in super handy in tight spots due to its small size. But don’t let the size of this unit fool you - it will burn super bright for a very long time.

Overall I have to say this is by far one of the best lights out there for the money. It’s compact, tough, reliable, and good looking plus it produces a tremendous amount of usable light thanks to a single beam pattern that’s second to none. Get one for 24 Hour racing and keep using it on night rides next fall!

Specs from Light & Motion

A quick thanks to the folks at Light & Motion for providing the Stella 200L for review.

Introducing the 2010 THE Flow, a lightweight all-mountain/freeride saddle comfortable and tough enough for daily duty.

The Flow saddle retails for around $60 which is about average for a chromoly-railed seatpost. At 227 grams this saddle is as light as many titanium railed saddles, but much cheaper. The embossed graphics ensure the saddle still looks good after extended use while the kevlar side and back panels keep the leather from tearing. The Flow measures 257mm in length and 127mm in width, pretty standard dimensions for an all-mountain saddle.

The Ride

Overall I’m quite satisfied with THE’s Flow saddle. Although THE uses less padding than most companies, the shape and flex of the Flow make it comfortable. The chromoly rails are still straight after numerous days at Joyride150, my local bike park, and the graphics haven’t worn off or faded at all. This saddle is also narrow enough that it doesn’t snag your leg as you maneuver the bike yet it doesn’t feel like riding a broomstick.

As an added bonus, installing a lightweight saddle like the THE Flow is an easy, inexpensive way to make your bike lighter. My bike lost over ½ lb after I installed this saddle. Plus the Flow has a unique design that will add individuality and style to your bike.

The Verdict

If you’re an all-mountain or freerider looking for a lightweight, good looking, comfortable saddle that won’t easily bend, break or fade, THE’s Flow saddle is a good choice.

Thanks to THE Industries for providing the Flow saddle for testing.

I recently had the chance to review two cool-looking platform pedals from Xpedo: the Face Off XMX17AC and the Utmost XMX16AC. Both are sub-400g pedals and feature chromoly spindles and DU/cartridge combination bearings. At this point you may be wondering - who is Xpedo? Well, you may be more familiar with the name Wellgo which is basically Xpedo’s racing division / product development team. Think of Xpedo as Wellgo’s skunk works team.

The Face Off XMX17AC ($100 MSRP) was introduced in 2008 and quickly won the TBEA Creative Parts and Accessory award. These pedals come in at 380g for the pair and are constructed from CNC-machined 6061 aluminum. The foot plates come in six anodized colors (black, grey, red, gold, light blue and navy blue) and can be removed and changed to another color later down the road. The center body is black and is machined out to reduce weight. The bearing and DU bushing arrangement allows a greater load (where pedal meets crank) to be carried by the wide DU bushing while the lighter load is carried by the bearing. The result: a smooth running pedal, even after countless big hits.

The Utmost XMX16AC ($60 MSRP) weighs in at 350g and is constructed out of 6061 aluminum which is forged rather than cast, making it structurally stronger. Just like its bigger brother, the Utmost features the same chromoly axle and bearing set-up. The center structure on this pedal is rubber sealed at the spindle to keep the crud out and comes in six colors (black, grey, red, gold, light blue and painted white).

You can also customize each of these pedals with Xpedo’s replacement pin kit. The kit comes complete with the wrench needed to change out the pins and you have your choice of three different styles of pins (spike, straight or twin).

On the trail I found both pedals grip well with flat shoes. Even when the pedals got wet, slimy, and partially covered in mud, they still offered decent grip. Of the two pedals the Face Off has a larger surface area which makes it easier on footing and offers more grip (the Utmost also features just 8 pins vs. the Face Off’s 15).

Based on our tests, shoe choice seems to make a big difference in grip. Bob_the_Builder tried out both pedals as well and we found a big difference based on the shoe/pedal combos we rode. For example, my shoes gripped great with the Face Off and good with the Utmost pedal. BTB found a larger difference between the two pedals and rated the Utmost grip just so-so based on his FiveTen shoes.

So far I’ve only encountered one issue with the XMX17AC Faceoff. Due to its open design I found that one of the bearings began to run a bit rough and needed some attention. I’m also curious to see how these pedals hold up to a direct hit from a rock while racing down a rock garden (haven’t done that yet).

Xpedo does make heavier-duty pedals with an extra DU or needle bearing in the middle of the pedal and beefier body constructions in their MX-Force series (more on those later this year). But for someone who is looking to ride flats on their 4 - 6 inch trail / AM bike, these pedals fit the bill nicely. The Face Off and Utmost pedals combine style, weight, and performance into a single package - what more can you ask for?

Specs from Xpedo

Thanks to the folks at Xpedo for the flat pedals for review.

Here’s a bit of bike pedal history for you: back in 1983, Jean Bernard & Michel Mercier patented the Look  clipless pedal, the first commercially successful pedal of its type. Three years later, in 1986, the pedals were actually introduced to the consumer market (Hinnault won the TDF on a set of prototype pedals in 1985). Look continues to produce cutting edge designs and for the MTB market, they offer the Quartz pedal in three different configurations. I recently had a chance to test the entry level Quartz pedal that features a chromoly axle and fiberglass reinforced polyamide body.

The Look Quartz pedals weigh 280 grams for the pair which, when compared to similarly priced pedals ($95-$150), are fairly lightweight.  The shape of the impact resistant polyamide body has been honed to eliminate unnecessary material while maximizing mud shedding capabilities. One of the hallmarks of great design is simplicity and clearly Look has been refining and perfecting their pedal designs over many years. Case in point: the 2009 model Quartz pedal sports an improved spring wire design that makes entry and release even smoother that the previous year’s model. Each set of Quartz pedals comes with 15º and 20º cleats and all the necessary hardware.

Installing the pedals was a snap. You can use an 8mm allen wrench or even better, a torque wrench set to 40Nm to get the pedals set in the crank arms perfectly. Remember, bike pedals are threaded LH (counter clockwise) and RH handed threads (clockwise).

When installing the Quartz pedal cleats you’ll need to set the correct cleat height using the included shims. It too me about half an hour to set the cleats properly and I had to take the cleats off more than once to get things right (follow the printed or online installation instructions).  After finding the right height for my Shimano shoes (about a 1.5mm shim stack) I added a touch of grease to the bolts and torqued them to 5 Nm. By following the instructions I got perfect engagement and a clean, crisp, and quick click in. I also found the Quartz pedals produced the right amount of float and zero drag on the feet when trying to engage or disengage.

On the trails the Look Quartz worked really well and I can honestly say these were some of the best clipless pedals I have tested so far. You know a set of pedals is pretty amazing when you don’t have to look down during an entire ride; the Quartz proved to be just that type of pedal. Placing my foot on the pedal greeted me with a positive click every time and I never once worried if I was indeed clipped in or not. On or off the saddle I felt very comfortable and the little bit of angular float (3ºdegrees) kept my legs feeling fine without any knee strain. When I wanted out it was a simple twist and they instantly released without any hang up. Even with the nasty Canadian weather this time of year, these pedals didn’t clog with frozen slushy mud or the tacky underlay.

Overall I am very satisfied with these pedals. The only draw back I can find is that you can’t increase the spring tension. Although my feet never popped out during testing, I could also see the need to re-shim the cleats as the soles of my shoes wear down a bit. I’ll continue using these pedals over the next few more months and will give you all a heads up if I run into any issues. But for now, all is good.

Look Quartz pedals are available in two additional configurations, each featuring an injection molded carbon body. The Quartz Carbon Ti ($420 MSRP) features a titanium axle and a single pedal weighs just 120g.

The Look Quartz pedals a great set of lightweight pedals for the money. I would not hesitate to recommend these since they definitely give some of the other brands a run for their money. As with any high quality bike gear, make sure you follow the installation instructions to get the best experience possible.

Specs from Look

Polyamide and fiberglass  body
Steel axle
1 Cartridge / 1 Needle bearing
1 Lip seal / 1 Bearing seal
± 3º Degree Angular play
± 1,5mm Lateral play
318 grams with cleats and bolts
1 Pair of 15º play , 1 Pair of 20º play cleats, along with shims.

Thanks to the folks at Look for providing the Quartz pedals for review.

The Sportourer Touch Beat is a watch that neatly conceals a heart rate monitor into the face of the watch which means you don’t have to use a chest strap sensor to measure your heart rate. Although the Sportourer Touch Beat won’t hit the stores until late February or early March, I was fortunate to receive one for testing not too long ago.

True to is origins, the Touch Beat oozes Italian style and blends form and function seamlessly. The watch cover doubles as the heart rate sensor and is made of brushed, finished stainless steel and a durable high grade polycarbonate case designed to withstand the vibrations that come from riding or running. The dial face consists of a scratch-resistant mineral lens while the band is hypoallergenic-quality polyurethane with a brushed finish to match the stainless steel. You also get an adjustable chest transmitter (5kHz) for continuous heart rate monitoring that has an easily accessible battery.

The Touch Beat not only tells the time and your heart rate - it also includes a date feature, an alarm, a countdown timer, calorie counter, and a stop watch. The great thing about this is that all these features can run independently of each other and switching between them will not effect the function of the others (great when you’re timing yourself while doing a lap on a XC circuit all the while monitoring your heart rate and calculating calories). In heart rate mode, the Touch Beat will calculate your average heart rate, calories burned, and max/min rates. Super athletes like Lance Armstrong swear by heart rate monitoring and you can plug in your post workout data into training tools like the singletracks ride log to map your progress.

Looking at the face of the watch you can see graduated numbers along the edge ranging from 30 - 240 bpm and a quarter of the numbers are green. This green range is ideal for fitness training (115- 175bpm). The digital display illuminates a bar graph making it easy to see your heart rate at a glance (plus there’s also an exact digital HR reading in the center). When the lighting is low you can also illuminate the watch display by touching the reset and start/stop buttons. The watch hands and hour markers are also fluorescent which allows you to get the time at a glance in the dark. Between the hours of 4pm and 6pm the digital HR readout is partially obscured by the watch hand but I found this wasn’t a huge issue.

Although the Touch Beat is water resistant to 50 meters, Sportourer doesn’t recommend pushing the buttons while the watch is submerged. Not to worry, this watch is good to go in sweaty or wet conditions.

Using the Touch Beat

After using the Touch Beat for several weeks now, I have to say it’s been a great addition to my training. Once I learned the menus (keep the operation guide handy for a week or two), the Touch Beat seems to encourage me to train with it all the time and it’s super easy to use. Even without looking at the watch, I can tell if I’m in my cardio range: there’s a single beep when I hit 115 BPM and a double beep indicating my max heart rate (calculated using my age).

Now to get data like the calorie count, you’ll need to use the included chest strap. The strap is actually very convenient considering the alternative: bringing your hand across the handlebars to touch the watch face to get a heart rate (plus the touch measurement isn’t continuous). For running or flat riding the touch surface is fine but on the bike I prefer to use the strap. Fortunately the chest sensor is so slim that it hasn’t bothered me or caught on my clothing, even when wearing a tight jersey.

For $179.99 MSRP this is a nice tool to help you keep track of  your calorie burn and heart rate on the bike or on the run. Just as important, it looks like a million bucks so you can wear it all day long. Look for the Touch Beat in your local bike shop this spring!

Specs

Dimensions: 51mm x 47mm
Weight: 68 gr.
Accuracy: ± 15 sec/month
Case: Steel/Resin
Wrist Band: Rubber
Battery: CR 2032
HR Range: 30 – 240
Accuracy: ± 1 bpm
Water Resistant: 50mt. (5atm)

Thanks to the folks at Sportourer for the Touch Beat watch for a review.

New for 2010 is the WTB Aviator, a saddle so tough it flies through the air wearing Carhartts! WTB built this saddle to withstand the abuses of a downhiller or freerider, meaning it will be able to handle multiple crashes, heavy riders, and jarring impacts.

The WTB Aviator saddle is covered by the same material that Carhartt uses for their jeans so naturally the material resists tearing and stains. The circumference of the saddle is covered by a rubber strip, offering more grip and abrasion resistant corners. The over-sized 8mm chromoly rails are designed to resist bending while the comfort zone cut-out, soft padding, and flex-tuned shell make it suitable for long days in the saddle. The Aviator weighs 315 grams which is about average for a normal saddle and fairly lightweight for a DH saddle.

The Ride

The WTB Aviator is a very impressive freeride/downhill saddle. One of the best things about this saddle is its shape: at 137mm wide and 272mm long, the Aviator is a bit wider than a typical XC saddle. Despite its width, you can easily maneuver your bike side to side and front to back without the Aviator snagging your legs or armor. Maneuverability is an important feature for DH saddles because you are constantly moving the bike around. The wider profile also makes the Aviator is a very comfortable saddle, offering support in the right places with ample padding. The “comfort zone” cut-out provides noticeable flex and comfort where you need it most.

WTB claims that the rubber siding on the Aviator helps the rider change direction on the trail or in the air and I definitely noticed the extra grip when I pinched the saddle with my knees during braking and jumping. For me the extra grip was tougher to notice during cornering since I only knock the seat when initiating a drift. The canvas cover is also grippy which lets you put power to the pedals more effectively when seated. All of this adds up to increased confidence on the bike.

I’ve ridden this saddle on numerous shuttle days, race tracks, and bike parks and it has virtually zero wear on it. The Aviator is so tough that even though I crashed hard enough to break my seatpost during testing, the saddle remained unscathed! I have noticed some discoloration in the canvas (it’s now a few shades darker) after riding in conditions ranging from very muddy to dry and dusty. The discoloration is purely a cosmetic thing but it’s something to keep in mind if you like keeping your bike looking brand new.

The Verdict

The WTB Aviator ($80 MSRP) is an excellent choice for any downhiller, freerider, or Clydesdale who is looking for a durable, relatively lightweight saddle. It’s shaped well, comfortable, looks great, it’s grippy and will last longer than most saddles out there. If you’re in the market for a new DH saddle and you need it to last you a good long while, the WTB Aviator is a great choice.

Thanks to WTB for providing the Aviator saddle for testing.

A mountain bike helmet is the type of thing that you expect to do its job but really don’t want to think about too much. In the case of a helmet, its “job” is to protect your head and a poor fit or uncomfortable design can limit its effectiveness (as in, if you don’t wear it because you don’t like it, it won’t work). Fortunately I found a helmet almost any competitive mountain biker can love in the Giro Athlon.

Design and technology

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you know I’m into lightweight bike gear and up until now I’ve been wearing an expensive road-specific helmet on the trails because it was the lightest lid I could find. The Athlon (without visor) is a scant 8 grams heavier than my fancy road helmet and would probably weigh the same if my old helmet still had all its padding. At 330 grams with visor, I barely notice the Athlon is even on my head.

The Athlon features something Giro calls “In-Mold Technology” which means the outer shell is fused with the liner. This exo-skeleton design makes the helmet more durable than helmets with similar weight and ventilation characteristics. There are 3 sizes to choose from which makes it easy to find the right fit (some manufacturers only offer 2 adult sizes).

Speaking of ventilation, the Athlon has 23 vents and internal channels to route air flow. If you look closely at the inside of the helmet you can see the internal channels that route hot, stale air away from the head and out the back of the helmet. Even riding in the hot desert outside Las Vegas I found the ventilation to be more than adequate and my head and hair were virtually sweat free after taking off my helmet.

The Athlon sports a removable “low profile” visor that can be adjusted 15° up or down to adjust for changing lighting conditions. Giro uses a unique mechanism that limits rattle no matter what position the visor is in and in my experience the visor stayed put even through rough terrain. I’m still not completely sold on the utility of a helmet visor but the good thing is that it’s easy to pop on and off.

Performance on the trail

I’ve been wearing this helmet for a couple months now and I have to say it’s the best fit I’ve probably ever had. The Roc Loc 4 fit system can be adjusted with one hand and felt super comfy even on long rides. My old helmet felt like it fit well but after reviewing helmet cam footage I could clearly see the difference in stability between the two helmets (more on that later).

Padding inside the Athlon is strategically placed and did a decent job at sweat management. Fortunately the pads attach with velcro and are removable making them easy to rinse out after a particularly hot ride.

In addition to protection and comfort, mountain bike helmets these days need to serve as a mounting point for various electronics like lights, cameras, and for some, MP3 players. Although I don’t think the Athlon was designed with this in mind, I found that mounting my Stella 120 light & battery on top was a breeze. Mounting the VHoldr Contour helmet camera was not quite as smooth since the included mount is designed for helmets with flat surfaces. I’m hoping helmet designers will keep these types of uses in mind for future revisions - perhaps a simple flat mounting surface could be added to one side?

Appearance and replacement

On the surface it might seem like a helmet’s appearance shouldn’t matter but if you think your helmet is ugly, you’re less likely to wear it. The Athlon is offered in 6 color schemes including “lime green flames” and “gloss titanium” so there’s really no excuse for not finding a style you like.

Helmet manufacturers like Giro recommend replacing cycling helmets every 3 years, even if they’re not involved in a crash since the protective properties of the helmet can break down over time. And just so you know this recommendation isn’t some clever marketing ploy to get us to buy new helmets, Giro offers a free helmet inspection for your old lid (for details contact Giro at 800-456-2355 or Feedback@giro.com).

Overall impressions

The Giro Athlon is a solid choice for anyone who likes to ride light and fast. I found the Athlon to be stable and comfortable in a variety of conditions and give it high marks for aesthetics. Although I didn’t crash test this one (yet), I rest assured knowing this helmet is durable and meets or exceeds US CPSC Safety Standards. A helmet you don’t even notice wearing is the most effective helmet of all!

Thanks to Giro for providing this helmet for review.

Here are two pieces of outerwear that are perfect for this time of year when the temperature starts to dip and the weather becomes a little less predictable. The Gore Bike Wear Tool Windstopper Jacket (MSRP $199) and the Fusion SO Windstopper Pant (MSRP $199) are two great products to hit the trails in. Both are made from Gore’s Windstopper material which is both wind and water resistant.

Before diving into specifics, a quick note on Gore Windstopper fabric. If you’re familiar with Gore-Tex you know it’s waterproof and breathable and the Windstopper membrane is actually made from similar materials. The biggest difference between Windstopper and Gore-Tex is that Gore-Tex is guaranteed to keep you dry; Windstopper is not. Depending on the garment, this could be due to differences in seam taping, enclosures, etc. Bottom line: Gore-Tex is waterproof, Windstopper is water-resistant.

Gore Bike Wear Tool Jacket

The Tool jacket comes with a fleece liner on the inside which feels great. Along the underside of the arms there are a set of vents which open with a zipper to help regulate comfort once you get the blood flowing. Gore basically thought of everything when they designed this jacket like the slight curve on the arms for a zero pull feeling when bending your arms. Love it.

I was equally impressed with the attention to detail on this jacket. One of the very first things I noticed was the intelligent use of integrated reflective piping instead of obvious, single purpose strips of reflective material. The seam taping inside the jacket is impeccable and does a good job keeping the wind out of the jacket while riding.

Last spring I tested out the Countdown jacket which was and still is a great jacket; the Tool is every bit as comfortable but different. For one thing the Tool has a front pocket which is big enough to hold your cell phone or wallet. For those who don’t wear a hydration pack, the jacket also has three deep pockets in the back much like a jersey, deep enough to hold 24oz water bottles and/or emergency tools comfortably.

Wearing the Tool jacket in fall conditions was a pleasure. Clearly the product designers at Gore spent lots of time in the saddle getting the materials and fit just right for biking. I never once felt the jacket snag under my arms or experienced any restriction of movement, even through technical twisty sections.

Specs for the Tool Jacket:

• WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shell
• Fleece lining
• Slim fit
• “Fleece-lined high collar, close fit”
• Adjustable collar with easy-to-operate cord stopper for one-handed use
• Zip with semi-lock slider
• Zip tags for easy handling
• Zip-underflap
• Pre-shaped elbows
• Napoleon pocket with zip
• 3-compartment patch pockets on back
• Long back
• Abrasion resistant elastic binding on hem
• Additional zip pocket on back
• Zip underarm vents
• Reflective piping on back and sleeves
• Reflective logo

Gore Bike Wear Fusion SO Pants

The Fusion SO pants are really two pairs of pants in one since they can be worn in both long and short configuration. These pants do not have a liner so you may want to get a comfy pair of bike shorts if you plan on using these for extended periods on the bike.

I really love the feel and look of these pants. Starting at the bottom, Gore added an anti abrasion pad to prevent the chain ring from ripping the cuffs. You can also adjust the fit of the leg bottoms from close to loose - it’s your choice. When you get hot you can ventilate the lower leg with a zip and allow even more air in the pant. Up top you have an adjustable elastic waist for a perfect fit.

The Fusion pants gets the same treatment that the Tool jacket and other Gore products get with the reflective logo and velcro tabs. The breathable liner material up top near the waist prevents discomfort from the elastic waist band and also keeps air circulating which should keep you dry. On the trails the Fusion SO pants felt as comfortable as my favorite freeride shorts which also happen to be from Gore.

Overall I think the Windstopper Fusion SO pants and Tool jacket are a great investment since they effectively extend the riding season into the cold and windy months. Just like the rest of Gore’s product line up, these two items look great both on and off the bike. Now you can go for your ride and grab a beer afterward without screaming to everyone that you’re a rider (not that there’s anything wrong with that ).

Specs for the Fusion SO Pant:

• WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shell
• Loose fit
• High-cut back
• “Elastic, width-adjustable waistband with Velcro “
• 2 side pockets
• Zip pocket on back
• Zip-off pant legs above knee
• Concealed zip at trouser bottom (wedge-shaped insert behind)
• Pre-shaped knees
• Lasercut pouched pocket with zipper
• Reflective print on back of trouser legs
• Reflective logo

Thanks to the folks at Gore for providing these products for review.

I’ve been riding my 29er for almost a year now and one of the things that was frustrating initially was the lack of component variety available. It was kinda like being a Mac guy in a PC world but thankfully it’s getting easier every day to find 29er versions of most MTB components and accessories.

The WTB Vulpine has been around since 2007 but the 29er version I tested didn’t come out until the next year in 2008. WTB claims to have produced the world’s first 29er tire in 1999 and the Vulpine is said to be the first semi-slick 29er tire. I’m not sure why it took 9 years to produce a semi-slick 29er tire but I’m glad the Vulpine is available now - I’ve always been a big fan of low rolling resistance tires like this one!

Tire Usage

If you’re not familiar with the concept of a semi-slick bike tire, the idea is that you can remove the deeper knobs at the center of the tread pattern to cut down on resistance while leaving the side knobs to grip in the corners. Semi-slick tires aren’t ideal for all trail conditions, especially wet situations where you need increased traction. But for those who like to ride fast over hardpack, a semi-slick tire like the Vulpine really makes sense. WTB also positions the 26-inch version of the Vulpine as a good choice for the pump track.

Tire Characteristics

The diagram below from WTB shows the anatomy of a tire and is helpful in understanding some of the terms used to describe mountain bike tires. The Vulpine 29er tire features an Aramid bead which is lighter than a conventional wire bead and super durable (point of fact: Kevlar is a para-aramid compound that can stop bullets). Since this is a racing tire (as opposed to a “weekend warrior” or “enthusiast” tire), it uses WTB’s lightweight casing and DNA rubber compound to keep the weight as low as possible (just 650g).

The Vulpine 29er is a 50/52 tire on the GMS scale and to be honest I wasn’t too familiar with this measurement before writing this review. Sheldon Brown’s website has a good explanation of WTB’s tire sizing system but it basically goes like this: the top number is the width (in mm) of the casing while the bottom number is the width of the tread at a specific tire pressure (see diagram above). At 50/52, the Vulpine tread is pretty narrow - just barely wider than the casing itself. All other things being equal, a narrower tire will be faster but may tend to cut into muddy sections rather than floating on top, for example.

The Vulpine 29er is not front/rear specific so you can run the tires front, back, or both. These tires feature a directional tread pattern so be sure to mount them facing forward. Installation was completely standard and I got a nice tight fit on my Easton XC One wheels.

Trail Performance

I’ve actually been riding these tires exclusively for a couple months now and I’m surprised at how versatile they are, even in conditions not traditionally recommended for semi-slick tires. Many riders may prefer to run a Vulpine up front and a grippier tire in back (like the WTB Wolverine or Prowler SL) for climbing. I found the Vulpines to be fairly capable climbers front and back but it’s really all about technique. Over slick roots the Vulpines spun out occasionally but no more than usual for me.

The Vulpines are designed for speed and on fast, flowy trails these are the best 29er tires I’ve ever used thanks to in part to aggressive, low profile knobs. One of the biggest complaints you’ll hear about 29ers is that the big wheels take more power starting from a stop so it’s important to select a lightweight tire like the Vulpine. The improvement over my previous tires was actually pretty noticeable when transitioning from braking to mashing the pedals, even though we’re only talking about a few dozen grams weight reduction.

Despite the elongated outside knobs I found the Vulpines weren’t great at cornering on trails with moderate leaf coverage or loose dirt over hardpack. On a recent group ride I found myself leaving other riders behind in the straights, only to have them right on my tail coming out of sharp turns where I nearly lost it. If I were to improve this tire I’d try elongating the side knobs a bit to more deeply penetrate leaves and loose soil. Of course that would add weight to the tire which is clearly a trade-off - glad I’m not a bike tire designer.

For those who ride fast, XC-style trails, the WTB Vulpine 29ers are an awesome choice. They’re lightweight and versatile enough to bring out some of the best a 29er mountain bike has to offer. Get one or two for your machine and you’ll see what I mean!

Thanks to WTB for providing these mountain bike tires for review.

With spring fast approaching I was looking for a lightweight, long sleeved jersey and Sugoi’s new Crossroads Henley fit the bill perfectly.  This women’s top has full length, black and white striped sleeves that look like arm warmers but are sewn into a light blue raglan cut henley.  The henley has a casual, loose fit and is made using a unique Toasted Bamboo fabric which is an environmentally sustainable material.  The sporty polyester fabric is also infused with carbonized bamboo to enhance UV protection and anti-bacterial properties against the skin. I’m pretty sure this jersey has more technology built in than my iPod.

I was excited to get out and test the Sugoi Crossroads Henley but the day it arrived the trails were wet so I wore it road running instead. The jersey was super soft and loose fitting to allow my arms to move around freely and running proved to be a good test of the Crossroad’s extreme wickability.  The Finomesh fabric definitely kept me cool and dry while the jersey itself was so light and airy I found myself leaping over puddles instead of running around them.

That same breathability worked wonders on the mountain bike trails too.  Though the Crossroads Henley is a long sleeve jersey, it’s not a winter jersey - it’s definitely more of an “early spring” or summer morning jersey.  The fabric allows for a lot of ventilation and air flow and zipping down the trails I could feel the cool breeze go down the v-neck and pass through the front of the jersey.  The Crossroads really gives you the best of both worlds - long-sleeve warmth at the trailhead and ventillation on the trail after you’ve had a chance to warm up.

The jailhouse stripes are probably my favorite feature of the Crossroads Henley. When my front suspension engaged on the trail the stripes on my arms would shake a little I had a momentary whirling feeling, like I was being sucked into… “the zone.” The jailhouse stripes also give me a feeling of busting loose on a run or mountain bike ride.  After being a prisoner of winter, I can’t wait to rock this jersey into the spring!

The cold, wet winter days in Ontario could not keep me from testing out the Intense Micro Knobby tires.  The intended use for these tires are for riding trails, skate parks, cross country trails, soft dirt hard packed dirt or on the street.   I found the Micro Knobbies worked best on paved surfaces as I’ll detail in a moment.

First, the folks at Intense are not kidding about “micro”.  With 7500 knobs these tires look very unique with a staggering 25 knobs across the tread and arranged in a directional arrow pattern with no definite side ridge knobs.

The tires weigh an average of 655g which is decent for a 26 x 2.25 tire of that size and much lower than the advertised weight of 710g.  Fitting these tires onto a non UST rim was a snap and hardly required the use of tire irons. Figuring out the mounting direction was also easy since it was molded in the side of the tire.  Inflating the Micro Knobbies was a breeze since the beads seated nicely without much manipulation.  I inflated the tires to 45PSI and went for a ride.

The first thing I noticed with these tires is that they are fast - very fast. When I hit the streets I could pedal around in two gears higher than normal. Not only are the Micro Knobbies fast, these tires really grip the pavement and concrete. For fun I tried to lock up the front wheel, and I was almost tossed over my handle bars!

These tires have no side ridge - instead they have a near perfect circular profile. This means that if you lean into a corner on pavement they’re smooth as butter - no wobble or uneasiness - and cornering on these tires feel like your on rails. These tires run nearly silent since the knobs are so close together that there is no vibration like most fat MTB tires give off.

The tire packaging stated that these tires are suitable for use on the trails.  Unless the trail is bone dry with no soft or muddy sections, I would steer away from riding these tires on the trails.  Though the Intense Micro knobby worked well in wet (paved) conditions, these tires quickly filled up with mud on the trails.

So I will keep using the Micro Knobbies for riding on the streets and at parks.  Since the trails stay mostly wet in the winter here anyway, I now have a good excuse for riding down staircases and seeking out other urban jungle type obstacles!

For those who like to ride fast down a steep downhill or if you live life on the edge waiting to hit your brakes at the last possible minute, Hayes Stroker Ace brakes may be perfect for you. Hayes has upped the ante once again with the Stroker Ace brakes; these babies have a slightly larger and thicker brake lever than the otherwise identical master cylinder of the original Hayes Strokers and an all new mono-bloc forged 4 piston caliper (like a F1 brake caliper). I just finished testing the Hayes Stroker Ace brakes and these new features plus the larger brake pads have delivered an eye popping experience.

The Stroker Aces advertised brake system weights of 440g (6” rotors) and 520g (8″ rotors) are slightly less than my measurements of 452g (for my 6” rear rotor) and 552g (for my 8” front rotor). Installing the new brakes was pretty straight forward and there was even enough hose for long travel bikes. I have tried riding with a 7” rear disc and found the braking was too powerful back there for my riding style. The 6” rear disc works well for me and it even saves some weight!

Now on to how well the Stroker Aces actually performed on the trails. It took a few runs to break in the pads and two caliper adjustments to finally get the Aces set up just right.  During my testing, I evaluated several aspects of the brakes performance including noise level, rotor and pad durability, brake modulation and release, biting force, torque, and fade.  The following chart is a summary of my observations.

I was really impressed with the modulation of these brakes and gave it a high rating of 9 out of 10.  The Stroker Aces really had a lot of control despite the large pad size and four pistons.  There was moderate braking torque when first applying the brakes.  After subsequent applications of the brake, the forces built up and I gradually had to back off the amount of braking required.  Usually when you keep applying brakes they tend to fade or need more force, but these do the opposite.  After changing the brake fluid to DOT 5.1, I found the brake actuation to be a little better.

I rated the silence of these brakes a six out of ten. It was a very wet day when I noticed the rotors and pads generating some noise that was difficult to remove.  The noise was at slow speeds and did not occur at high speed application of the brakes.  Last, the rotors and pads held up well to my testing, there was hardly any sign of wear on either part.  I’ll be keeping the Stroker Aces on my rig to see how they do in the long run though.

Overall, these brakes work extremely well and if you have a long legged all mountain, black diamond or DH mountain bike, get yourself a set of Hayes Stroker Aces and you won’t be disappointed!