CamelBak Relay Review

It's no secret, I a fan of quite a few of CamelBak's products. Not all, but quite a few. A little while ago I was lucky enough to receive a CamelBak Relay to test out. The Relay is Camelbak's first venture into the home water filtration market and it's about time. I only have my Brita to compare it to and there isn't much of a fight here. The Relay is a vast improvement over my Brita.

The first improvement I noticed is the speed. With the Brita, you fill the reservoir and wait for 7 minutes for the water to filter. This doesn't seem like a big deal but if you have to do it over and over those 7 minutes add up. The Relay filters the water as fast as you can fill it. It also filters the water again when you pour it into your glass which can't be bad.

Perhaps the best improvement over the Brita is there's no black shit in my glass! The only downside I've seen so far is the filters are more expensive but the last twice as long so it evens out.

In closing, this image pretty much sums up my first impressions of the Camelbak Relay.

Bottom line: Highly Recommended. 
Buy It If you use any another pitcher water filter product.
Don't Buy Them If you already have one.

Product Review: Snow Tires and LHTs -or- The LHT On Ice!

Last Wednesday morning I installed some Innova Tundra Wolf studded snow tires on the LHT(yeah you know me). I did this just in time as Wednesday night became one of the worst DC traffic snarls in recent history. Most everyone I know had stories of anywhere from 5 to 11 hour commutes home. I on the other hand was delighted to be one of the very few people in the DC area who was moving, partly due to my new studded snow tires.

So far they have performed admirably. The studs offer quite a grip and allow for a quick recovery when my tires slide out. Besides the expected noise they do just fine on the 2 miles of pavement I ride each way. I know this will wear them out prematurely but it is what it is. They aren't the top of the line but they perform well and are half the price of most competitors.

I took a video this morning of the Innovas in action.



This is hard packed ices frozen in the shape of thousands of footsteps. The steel frame of the LHT was getting a good rogering as was my skeletal system. It took almost twice as long to get to work but I got there dammit.

Funny thing is, last night I dropped my hat on the trail. I didn't realize it was missing until I rode past it this morning. You can see it come up on the right at the very end of the video. The Great Trail Cycle continues.

Bottom line: Highly Recommended. In DC, might not need them all the time but for at least several weeks a year they're a life saver.
Buy Them If you brag about commuting all year long and you live above the Mason-Dixon Line.
Don't Buy Them If You need an excuse not to ride in the snow.

Review: My First Week In Merino Wool

Last month I swore off synthetic jerseys for good and made the switch to merino wool. Now the act of swearing something off seems to imply that the line has been drawn in the sand, the switch has been made, and said behavior would end the very moment the swearing took place. The problem with this particular swearing off is that merino wool is kind of expensive.

It's taken me a month but I finally purchased a couple of wool jerseys and so far I am very happy. Both jerseys were purchased on eBay where I avoided the sometimes ridiculous cost of super fancy wool. The first is a short sleeved retro jersey by Sombrio which includes a shifty looking dirtbag with every purchase.

The second is the Bodyfit260 by Icebreaker; a company well known for their quality wool performance wear and a penchant for creepy pseudo-bestiality in their marketing campaigns.

"Our fine clothing is made from the pubic hair of freaky man/sheep centaur things we find wandering around middle earth, I mean New Zealand"

It's been too warm to really give them the proper going over. I did wear the long sleeve Icebreaker all last week where the temperature ranged form 45° to 70°. In the mornings I had to wear my vest to block the wind as that seems to be the only thing merino wool can't do. The wool regulates temperature extremely well. I was warm at 45° and warm, not roasting at 70°.

The 260 weight wool is not ideal at 70° but it's doable and I can't say that for a thicker synthetic. For additional versatility I got the short sleeved lighter weight Sombrio jersey. On warmer fall days I can wear it combined with my wool arm warmers if they're needed.

As a bike commuter this flexibility is priceless, (almost). This time of year I usually have to stuff my bag with additional jerseys and arm/knee warmers to combat the temperature fluctuation. With the wool at least I can leave the extra jersey and arm warmers at home.

The best part is, after a week of commuting in the same jersey it didn't smell... really. Merino wool has broken The Great Stink Cycle! This makes me, my co-workers and most importantly my wife very happy.

I am pretty pleased with merino wool and excited about adding it to my commuting arsenal. 

he he...  arse...

Beer Review: Dogfish Head Punkin Ale (My Wife's New Favorite)

Last weekend the family stopped into the Dogfish Head Brewpub in Rehoboth, Delaware. The place was packed, the food was decent, and the beer list was extensive.  I had the DFH Ale which was strong and hoppy as promised. My wife wanted to try something seasonal and was presented with the Punkin Ale of which she was instantly a fan; so much so I thought I had better pick up a four pack for further analysis.

Punkin Ale pours a beautiful orange color that is kind of well... pumpkiny. The spices: nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and brown sugar are all present but not overpowering. Some pumpkin ales seem to force the pumpkin flavor making the beer too sweet but not this one. This is also true of a lot of flavored beers. The actual pumpkin flavor is subtle and balances out the spices well giving the Punkin Ale a very smooth finish.

I can see why this is on the top of my wife's list. It is full-bodied (as the label states) but not gimmicky like some of the competition.

Bottom line: Highly Spouse Recommended.
Buy It if you love the flavor of beer in your flavored seasonal beer.
Don't Buy It if your looking for hints candy corn in your pumpkin ale.

Beer Review: Get Yourself A Little Sumpin' Sumpin'

As a birthday treat my wife stopped by the Whole Foods in Fairfax, which has a hefty beer selection, to pick me up a sixer. She told the ever capable beerman what I liked and he sent her home with a six pack of Lagunitas' "a Little Sumpin' Sumpin' ale" . Happy birthday indeed! God I love this beer...

This is a very hoppy wheat bear that pours out golden and lovely. With 50% wheat and tons of hops comes a very complex taste of citrus, pine, and apricots that is truly sumpin' sumpin'. What's even better is given the popularity of the seasonal release the brainiacs over at Lagunitas are moving it over to their regular offering.

Bottom line: Highly Recommended.
Buy It if you love flavor in your beer and hops without the bitter.
Don't Buy It if your looking for the "born on" date on the label.

Tuesday Bouillabaisse

Blog post Bouillabaisse! When I see something cool that I think might be blog worthy I drop the link in a folder fro safe keeping or until I have nothing to say then need to post about something. for some reason I just need to post sometimes. So here are a few items and thoughts that I have been sitting on over the past week. 

I'll start with a piece of gear I thought was worth passing on. The BrentBasket by Faris Elmasu. At first glance it looks like another piece of Swedish mod garbage but then I saw how well it held a six pack. It seems pretty versatile and stylish, but those are two things that probably don't add up to longevity, but who knows.

Speaking of beer, I was at The Royal Mile in Wheaton on Saturday to watch soccer when I happened upon Loose Cannon. A hoppy beer with hoppy flavor what has a hoppy finish that leaves you feeling hoppy, but not too hoppy. Seriously though, this beer tastes great and has a citrusy herby flavor going that is quite good. 

"wonderfully  drinkable" indeed

Next up is Camp Bacon. I read about this in USA TODAY and was stunned...  and hungry.

Camp Bacon is located in Ann Arbor Michigan and boasts tons of bacon related activities and games for today's bacon lover, and yes, there's a video.

Thinking about camp always takes me back to those warm summer days, not a care in the world, sitting in my house watching Meatballs over and over again. Ah...  the good ole days.



Just to make this blog bouillabaisse complete, here's a video that I can't stop watching.

via stevil

mmm... that's does smell good.

Pub Review: In Philly Gettin' Silly

I was in Philadelphia on Saturday and happen to wander into The Standard Tap. An unflattering name for a pub in my opinion but none the less a very cool spot. The beer list was not huge but where it lacked in abundance it made up for in quality.  I didn't get a picture of the interior but just look at the photo above and imagine what you would expect the inside to look like and that's probably a pretty accurate picture. Lot's of worn in wood and brick, tattoos, beards, and the occasional chalk board adorned with food and beer lists. It's also pretty huge inside with two levels and a rooftop patio.

The food was good and the fact that most of it was local made it even better.

The folks inside seemed nice and the bar tenders were friendly. Let there be no doubt you'll be knee deep in hipsterland if you make it The Standard Tap. The tell tale signs were everywhere...

If the streets lined with fixed gears don't clue you in, the bike parking laced with a  freshly knitted cozy should be a dead giveaway.

Scratching your bike every time you lock it up does suck. I thought this was a very thoughtful gesture on the part of the neighborhood.

Bottom line: Highly Recommended.
Go there if you like good beer, good food, good people, and you give a damn about local food.
Don't Go there if there was too long of a wait at the Applebee's and you've got a hankerin' for a Wedge Salad.

Product Review: The Wisecracker

One of the many souvenirs I picked up for myself at NAHBS this year was a Wisecracker for the Rocky. It's a bottle opener which stealthily replaces a headset spacer. It weighs next to nothing, it has a fancy logo which nobody will ever see, and it comes in black and silver. That's pretty much it for the specs.

pardon the poor focus

The only thing I can say about the product itself is that the bottle opening action is superb. I thought it would be awkward to get the bottle under the stem at the right angle but it works smoothly.

I paid $10 for it which is silly but I thought it would be funny and I could write it off as a blogging expense. I would like to get one for the LHT (yeah you know me) but it would get in the way to the iBert.

Bottom line: Highly Recommended.
Buy it if you like bikes and beer and you like crackin' wise.
Don't buy it if none of the above apply to you.


Also, while posting this on the Youtubes I saw this and then this. I think maybe every video on Youtube is one related video away from some kind of pom pom girl.

At A Glance: The Camelbak M.U.L.E. vs. The Camelbak M.U.L.E.

There are few items in a cyclist's ensemble that last as long or are more important than their hydration pack. I have had two in my life, both Camelbaks, both M.U.L.E.s. The first one lasted five years and the second lasted nine. Below is a photo of the newly purchased M.U.L.E. adorned by yours truly at the 2001 24 Hours of Snowshoe with the rest of Team Iron Lung.

My current M.U.L.E. is starting to show some wear and has a few design flaws that aren't noticeable while riding so I live with them. What I like about the old design is that it has two zippered pockets to separate small items from large ones.

An extra secure pocket helps me keep the smaller items separate from the bigger ones. I don't like to fish past my cell phone and a multi too to get too the pile of assorted extra chain links and drop outs I carry (of which have saved me many times). With the old design, I have the 'oh shit' pocket which I only go to when it's something serious.

Here is a pic of what I have in the Camelback on any given ride. Yes those are two different dropouts, you never know when you might end up on your other bike. The wrench and bolt are to compensate for a design flaw with the Rocky where the bolt holding the rear shock breaks every few years. It's a little heavy but it beats walking.

So on the new M.U.L.E., Camelbak replaced one of the zippered compartments for an open storage space where you can secure a larger object with straps. Even though they already have a larger overflow space that would serve the same purpose.

Another thing I don't understand about the new M.U.L.E. is that like an automobile, every new model seems to get larger. This pack is meant for the day ride, I don't need carry a change of clothes. Are they making everything bigger because we as a nation are getting fatter (because they keep making everything bigger)?

Ok rant over, this is just an initial impression, I can't truly pass judgment on the new M.U.L.E. until I ride with it. Then I'll be able to tell you how the wider straps with the pivoting hinges and the fancy ventilation works out.

It's freakin' freezing outside, go ride your bike.

UPDATE:

I just returned the new M.U.L.E. in hopes to have enough to get one of these. With my old Camelbak still showing some fight in it I think I'll keep it in the ring for another season or two.

Tektro Oryx Vs. Avid Shorties: A No Brainer

The stock brakes on my 2009 Surly LHT (yeah you know me) are Oryx cantilevers by Tektro. They have performed ok, nothing to write home about, but they stopped the bike when I need them to. After about 2300 miles of commuting and touring, the pads are starting to wear down a bit. Before I bought new pads, I thought I might throw on an old pair of Avid shorties I had laying around and do a little comparison. I've always thought that cantilever brakes for the most part, were the same. These two brake sets weigh roughly the same and have a similar shape. The Avid brakes are 6 grams lighter that the Tektros, (not that is matters on an LHT) but the main difference between the two is that the Avids use v-style brake pads. Like the Tektros, the Avid pads were pretty well worn so I figured it would be an even match.

I was in for a surprise. For the first time on the LHT, I felt I might go over the bars after braking hard. The Avid shorties felt a lot more powerful than the Tektros. I'm not sure if it's due to the brake pads or maybe a different alloy, but the difference is night and day. These are the old model shorties which are still available, but the new design looks to be around $25 and that's lot of bang for your buck.

The Avid brand seems to be full of inexpensive "no brainer" products. I am running the Avid BB7 cable actuated disc brakes on my mountain bike and like the shorties, they are simple, reliable, and inexpensive. Well played Avid.

On a separate note, I'd like to do a little bragging. I picked up this t-shirt from Bikage and I will be wearing it with pride. RIP Sheldon Brown.

Listen to Sheldon this weekend... RIDE.

Spandex Vs. Wool: This Is Gonna Get Crazy

While still in the after glow of the DC Tweed Ride, I thought it would be appropriate to put the two materials that seem to have polarized the cycling community up against each other. Those being spandex and wool.

There is only one proper way to scientifically prove which material is more suited for cyclists, and that's to throw a spandex clad cyclist and a sheep into the Cycle Jerk Particle Accelerator and smash them into each other at mind bending speeds. I know I know, this might create a spandex/wool (Spoondex™) super nova that will destroy the planet in a violent moisture wicking flash of textiles, but I've got to get this settled once and for all.

Before I get going on all that, I thought I would ride into work today wearing one spandex arm warmer and one wool arm warmer to see the difference for myself.

Let me just say that this is in no way scientific. There are a ton of variables which I'm not accounting for and am just using the arm warmers I happen to have.

For this test I am using my tried and true, seven year old spandex arm warmer from Bikes USA which have a soft fleece-like liner on one arm, and a brand new Pearl Izumi Merino wool seamless arm warmer on the other. The weather is still a little warm but that just creates a better environment for testing wickability.

The first difference I notice between the two is the feeling. The spandex is a lot tighter giving that compression/aero feel, where the wool fits well but not nearly as tight. I guess it depends on the ride weather this is a plus or a minus. The wool also does have a slight itchiness to it. Everyone says Merino wool is sans itchy but there is a little there, not enough to bother me but it's there. Initially I found the wool to be warmer than the spandex, but I was still in my kitchen at that point.

Once I started riding they both provided about the same degree of warmth but the wool was letting more air through than the spandex. When my arms started to sweat, that extra air was welcome. I would say that at speed the spandex did a better job of moisture management than the wool, but not by much. Both arms were sweaty when I got to work.

Two places where the wool excels over spandex are odor and warmth when wet. Wool doesn't hold onto odor like spandex does and can go a lot longer without washing. For the a bike commuter that is a pretty big plus. Also when wool is wet it still provides warmth where spandex doesn't.

The bottom line for arm warmers is the wool ultimately feels better. There is something cozy about the wool feel that you don't get with the spandex. That said it's not like I'm running out to buy merino bib tights. Wool and spandex both have uses where they excel, but for fall and winter commuting I'm going to opt for cozy when I can get it.

It's hump day... so get humping dammit!

Product Review: The Incredibell

This has been sitting on my blog post back burner for a while now. Thanks to Fergie on the LHTCC owners group for bringing up the topic.

I was originally in the market for a big brass headset spacer bell from Velo Orange; however the placement of a bell on the headset would mean I couldn't use my IBert child seat which attaches around the headset spacers. This left the Incredibell. I got it a few months ago from my LBS mainly because it was so much cheaper than the other bells. Also, for such a little bell it was pretty loud.

I was happy to learn that because of it's size I had more placement options I hadn't considered in the past. After some experimentation I found the perfect place for the bell. Right above my hand position when in the drops. This way the bell was out of the way while easily accessible from most hand positions. Also, if I just used my index finger to break I could ring the bell with my middle finger at the same time. It took a little practice but is now second nature.

The only con I have is that I didn't know there was a brass version when I bought it.

Bottom line: Highly Recommended.
Buy it if you want a relatively loud bell without compromising space.
Don't buy it if you want the big brass retro look.

Friday Beer Review: Anchor Porter

A few days ago a good friend reminded me that it's braising season. Time to get out the dutch oven and slow cook some goodness. I started off with a recipe from Cooking Light for beer braised beef stew since it covered the two major food groups in the title. It called for root veggies; carrots, onions, garlic, and turnips, some beef broth and 1 dark beer. I headed off to my LBS (local beer store) and was delighted to find Anchor's Porter. I hadn't tried their porter but I am a big fan of their seasonal Christmas Ale so I grabbed a sixer.

Let me say that I love a good dark beer. To make it creamy, rich, and thick while going down light and smooth is an art form. A good porter has that mix of hoppy bitter and chocolaty sweetness that makes you want to poor it on ice cream. I was not disappointed by the Anchor Porter, not overly sweet with just the right amount of hops made this a perfect beer for braising, and drinking for that matter.

As the weather turns cold grab some and drink it slowly, you won't regret it. It's even good at room temperature.

Bottom line: Highly Recommended.

Buy it if you like good beer with complexity and you have a bowl of stew in front of you.
Don't buy it if you don't like porter.

Monday Product Review: Clubman Mustache Wax

All my talk about tweed rides have got me anticipating the eventual invite to a newly formed DC Tweed Ride. When this happens I will be ready. I recently procured a tube of Clubman's Moustache Wax from the interwebs.

The directions say to use the brush that come with the tube to apply the wax. I found it easier to soften it up between my thumb and index finger and apply it directly to the mustache. Being my first time it took me about 10 minutes of twirling and reapplying to get a good curl. I couldn't tell if it made a difference which direction I curled the hair so I went counter clockwise, I will need to do some research on this. I also used the wax on my mustache when not curling and it made a big difference. It was very well behaved and no wild hairs going every direction. Had this been an actual Tweed Ride I would have shaved my chin to get the full effect.

Now all I need is a monocle and a Hendricks gin and tonic in a flask.

Bottom line: Recommended.
Buy it if you have a flavor savor or are an old Russian woman.
Don't buy it neither of the above apply to you.

Friday Product Review: Camelbak Podium ChillJacket

I am not a big proponent of reinventing the wheel. That's why I didn't get sucked into the hype about Camelbak's fancy new water bottle, especially with the gimmicky insulation layer. It's just another water bottle and I seem to have dozens floating around the house. I was however in the market for a nice stainless steel bottle for the LHT (yeah you know me) but I couldn't find one that performed well and wasn't insultingly expensive. Before I went on my trip, my wife got me a Podium ChillJacket for my birthday. So there I was, hype and gimmick in hand, and I freakin' loved it!

The trick is that inside the nozzle there is a nipple that looks very similar to the hydration pack nipples. That dark blue chewy thing on the end of the hose with a slit in it. The nipple in the Podium has an "X" instead of a slit. I think this makes a tighter seal so water can only get out under pressure. This means it doesn't leak like most standard water bottles, even if you shake it upside down.

The water flows out with ease. It's nice not to have to use an extra breath to pull water out of the bottle especially when you're sucking wind to begin with. Like when using their hydration packs, I find I am drinking more water when I ride.

The other nice thing is that the Chilljacket works pretty well for such a thin membrane. If you put ice water in the bottle it will keep it cool for at least an hour or so on a hot day and that's better than nothing.

The main problem I have with the Podium Chilljacket other than it being plastic, is that it only holds 21 oz compared to the usual 24 oz. This isn't a deal breaker for me but If I had to say a con that would be it. I guess the price is more than I would usually spend on a water bottle at $12 but I think it's worth it.

Bottom line: Highly Recommended.
Buy it if your sick of opening and closing the valve on your bottle every time you drink only to get dripped on.
Don't buy it if you must have steel no matter what the cost.

2nd Place Prize From BSNYC

Last month I submitted a peice in the BSNYC/RTMS Fat Cyclist Knuckle Tattoo Tribute Contest. Thanks to you and 324 like minded individuals who voted for my Larry King submission putting me squarely in 2nd place (actually 3rd).

Second place is a set of knog Beetle lights which BSNYC describes a cousin to the "hipster cyst". So for my efforts I received a possibly carcinogenic product which I gladly put on the LHT (yeah you know me).

They are a step up from the knog frogs with 2 LEDs and multiple light settings which just make it more annoying to turn them off. Besides being free, they require no tools or adapters to attach to the bike which is a plus.

Thanks be to Snob for the lights and the blog. Fortunately, I am not a hipster so these cysts will remain benign.

Ibert, YouBert... WeallBert

My latest addition to the LHT (yeah you know me) is the Ibert front mounting child seat. I grabbed it off a dude on Craigslist last night and took it for a test ride this morning. Installation took 3 minutes and it fits very well. I had to move some steerer tube spacers around to make room for the bracket but it seems to work out. I don't have a helmet yet for the girl so I just took a spin sans child this morning before riding to work. There is plenty of arm and handle bar clearance however being 6 ft my knees to rub slightly against the seat. Not enough to make it uncomfortable to open my legs a little more. We'll have to see if it gets annoying on longer rides.

The other benefit to the Ibert is something they must not have realized when designing it. When the seat is removed, the bracket becomes something wonderful I dubbed "The CharlieHorser".

It's great, every time you want to make a tight turn or get out of the saddle or just space out for a bit, you get a wicked painful charlie horse from the bracket. At first this made me angry, then humbled, as I realized the what was happening. I knew I liked biking, I just never knew how much. Whenever my mind would wander to something non bike related like work, or family, or beer, The CharlieHorser would snap me right back to reality saying "Malarkey! Forget all that garbage, you're on a bike, isn't it great!" So here's a Chuck Norris sized thumbs up to you, the folks over at Ibert for forcing me to "Be Here Now" this morning. Drop me a line about marketing "The CharlieHorser".

Finally, a little something for all you douche bags out there who forgot your name...

Now get out there and give this weekend a wicked painful charlie horse...