At this point we’ve only received a few but boy are they cool. Road, triathlon and urban commuter bikes that have style and great technology. The Felt has a history of making light, fast bikes that are a good value.  They also do freaky high end like the $13,000 DA1 triathlon bike shown below. What ever your taste is Felt has you covered.

Come check out the Felt bikes and stay tuned as we get the 2012 models in.

One way to beat the early onset winter blahs is to check out the cool new bikes for 2012 and get excited for next season. To help this along we’ve gotten in a number of awesome bikes that are drool worthy and as good as Vitamin D in battling the effects of seasonal affected disorder.

Eye candy that can be your road candy for Canadian

Here is a list of the hotrods we’ve just gotten in.

• Guru Photon Road Frameset
• Argon 18 Gallium with Ultegra DI2 (that’s electronic shifting)
• Guru Evolo R Road Frameset
• Argon 18 E-112 Triathlon Bike
• Guru Cr.901 Triathlon Frameset
• Argon 18 Krypton with Shimano 105
• Guru Cr.701 Triathlon Frameset
• Argon 18 Radon

Drop by the Kitchener and Cambridge stores to see the newest gear in the flesh. Get a jump on next season and say good bye to the blahs.

The Time Atac design has been around for a while now and while they keep upgrading them with new materials, the basic design has stayed the same because it works. Durable, easy to engage and very good in all weather conditions, the Atac pedals are a great option for mountain bikes, commuters and touring riders who want to be able walk when off the bike.  While there are many variations of the pedals including the Roc and Z-control downhill pedal, the mechanism functions the same for all of them.

Time has an Atac style pedal that will fit most budgets.  The least expensive, the Aluim, happens to also one of the most durable.  The pedal body is aluminum rather than a composite plastic so they stand up to getting banged off rocks and crashes better.  The Time mechanism uses two spring loaded bars to capture the cleat.  Like most clipless pedals, a simple heal twist will release your foot when you want dismount.  By swapping the cleats from shoe to shoe you can vary the release angle but most people do best with the cleats in the standard configuration.  The cleats are adjustable fore and aft but not side to side. The pedal mechanism has 5 mm of side to side float so this tends not to be a problem as your foot will find where it needs to be.

The pedal has a very open architecture which means they clear mud and snow really well.  Unlike the Shimano SPD style pedals there aren’t areas for mud to clog them up.  The only time I’ve ever had a problem clipping in is after walking in wet snow that gets packed up around the cleat.  A couple of kicks clears out the cleat allowing easy engagement.

In the line up of Time Atac pedals the Z-control stands apart for all-mountain and downhill use.  It has the same engagement mechanism but has a much larger platform to support the foot. I like the Z-control for use on my single speed mountain bike as the foot is supported better for long climbs out of the saddle. The platform is big enough that a quick spin in regular shoes is manageable.

As all the Time Atac pedals work the same it’s hard to recommend going to the high end carbon fiber / titanium options unless you are racing at a very high level.  The weight savings for the more expensive models isn’t a good value for the cost.

For any use where you need a clipless pedal but want to be able to walk normally when off the bike, the Time Atac pedals are my favourite option.  Easy to use, well priced and very tough.

Happy Spring,

Why should we have to make sacrifices for convenience?  Does that not negate something actually being convenient?

So what changes with bikes?  More often than not, I see a lot of our customers come into the shop with preconceived notions of what a bike has to be.  The biggest is probably comfort and that’s unfortunate but yet a reality of what bikes used to be.  The other large feature of a bicycle that I think attracts a lot of new cyclists is convenience and ease of use.  Bikes should be something that you can get on, ride and, smile.

Montague folding bikes offer up a few solutions to make your cycling adventures easy and convenient without any sacrifices and may change your mind about riding a bicycle.  What sets Montague apart from many other folding bike companies is that they make full size folding bikes, not the small 16 or 20″ wheels you may have seen in the past.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Montague Bikes was started by David Montague, a MIT graduate student, while in school.  The company mantra has always been convenience, ease of use and foldable, in fact I couldn’t have put it any better than the guys at Montague themselves in this website quote about the companies history:

“A company focused on designing and producing full-size, high-performance bicycles that fold — bicycles that sacrifice nothing in performance and still provide the folding benefit for space saving convenience.”

How many times have you found yourself giving up the bike for an alternate pass time or mode of transportation due to lack of space?  Montague may entice you to think twice with one of their great folding bike options.

The advantage of having a full size folder is that you have the very familiar feel and predictable handling of a regular bicycle.  A full size folder removes any concern of  where you need to store it.   It is easy to get to work or put it on a bus or train, the bicycle folds in seconds.

Montague offers a variety of folding models to choose from.  Perhaps one of the more interesting bike is the original Montague – the Paratrooper.

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The result of a two year grant from the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to design an electric bike for the Marine Corps!  Talk about tough!  The basic design on the paratrooper has gone on to inspire several different models from Montague such as the Swissbike series.

Recent other additions to the Montague line up have included the more urbanized Boston and Boston 8 (Boston pictured below), perhaps THE perfect commuter bike.  The Boston comes in a very pure and simple single speed, where it’s bigger brother comes in a Shimano Nexus 1 x 8 speed configuration-weather proof and low maintenance.  Both bikes have 700 c wheels rather than the 26 ” found on the paratrooper and swiss bikes.

If you enjoy traveling, why not bring your bike along with you?  Montague offers carrying cases in hard shell or soft shell variants to make travel, especially by air, a lot easier.  Again, the list of convenience features for your favorite outings go on, camping or for the RV?  What about boating?  What a great way to visit a few ports enjoy our great Canadian landscape or tour around the cottage.

Montague offers you an alternative to the traditional bicycle without any inconvenience or hassle that you may have been previously trying to contend with.  Go forth ride and be happy!  Simply,  your problems may have just been solved.

Till next time.

P,

If you have been following us on Twitter or our Blog posts than you know how giddy we get when new stuff shows up, yes, maybe even overtly so but we usually chalk that up to the exceptionally strong pot of shop coffee.

So of course it’s been like fireworks here for the past week as we have been receiving our 2011 Argon18 shipments.  Never heard of them ? You should have by now!

Argon18 is a Canadian road bike manufacturer started by former Canadian national champion and Olympic cyclist Gervais Rioux in 1989 out of his bike shop in Montreal.  What started as a bicycle shop house brand has now picked up an incredible amount of momentum wining the company many international design and industry awards.

Argon18  is also the first bike sponsor of team SpiderTech, the first Canadian team to achieve UCI Continental Pro team license (effectively that means that we could now have a Canadian road race team in the Tour De France).   That’s massive news for the sport of cycling in Canada and its great news for a progressive company like Argon18.

A detailed look at the bike line up can be seen here but here”s a few things to note.

As I mentioned before the break, Argon18 is a Canadian road bike company.  Which means they concentrate a lot of effort into a particular segment of their bike line up.  This is very evident in models like the E-112 and E-114, with an incredible amount of unique performance features, for which, the company has been recognized .

Yet, Argon18 is not strictly about the super high end market.  Bikes like the Radon and Krypton offer massive amounts of performance at a more entry level price point!  But, you would never know that, by looking at the bikes.

The Radon is your classic aluminum/carbon mix with geometry that closely resembles that of its higher end counterpart, the Gallium.  If your ready to get into your first full carbon frame or upgrading from an aluminum bike, the Krypton is where it’s at.

The Krypton is a full 5650 high modulus carbon fiber frame with a host of wheel and component options.

As I get into the above, perhaps the one thing I like the most about Argon18 is the ability for the customer to custom build their bike as they desire.  Argon18 offers several component kits which allow you to choose everything from the wheels to the gearing  to the groups, to even the size of your handlebar and stem.  You’re not stuck loving a rear derailleur but indifferent on your crank set.  Better yet, your “stock” frameset can be partially custom “fitted” to your needs all at no extra cost.  Argon18 makes it easy to have the custom spec’d bike of your dreams without breaking the budget.

See ya out there.

P

Countering the Winter Blues

To help counter act the “winter blues” this time of year, I find that I am constantly pressing my face up against the window of the  bay door of our shipping department, waiting for that magic delivery truck.  Yes friends, I am anticipating  the delivery of all the shiny, trendy, technologically advanced new bike products for 2011!

It’s  the most wonderful time  (even after Christmas) of the year and it’s great to get the store filled back up with new products and talking about that new product with our customers really charges us up.  We love to share the excitement and passion of cycling.

So the latest delivery that was made by the magical bicycle stork contained our first  shipment of 2011 carbon Litespeeds.

And…the first question that comes to mind is…

“Litespeed does carbon” ? In a simple answer: Yes.  Litespeed is famously known for their amazing frame design and tube extrusion using titanium (Ti is also found on high end sports cars, space shuttles and airplanes) so it should come as a surprise to most.  Fact is, Litespeed has been experimenting with carbon since 2002.  Why the branch out ?

Well for one, producing a frame out of carbon allows a lot more leeway into the manipulation of the shape of the frame.  The use of carbon fiber in bicycle frames has made leaps and bounds in the last 10 years.  Check out this review from Bicycling magazine on the Litespeed Archon C3, should help to explain things further.

So lets talk about the bikes.  Litespeed has a great line up of carbon bikes for 2011 and the pricing might suprise you.  As this isn’t a review, here’s a quick run through the 2011 line up.

First up  is the Litespeed M1 equipped with the new Sram Apex component group.  The Litespeed M1 is an awesome, full carbon bike with an entry level price point.  The M1 would be a great bike if your looking to upgrade to a carbon frame bike from perhaps an aluminum frame or your just looking to enter the road market and want to do so with a very high level of comfort and performance.

On the higher end is the Archon series of bikes starting with the Archon C3, C2 and, C1 and ending with the top end, “get out of my way, I’m fast” – looking Archon C1R.  The Archon series varies a litle bit in geometry and type of carbon or weave used and, components.  Check out the spec’s here or some pics here

And if you want to up the ante, dont forget Litespeeds beautiful craftmanship in their Titanium road and mountain bike collection, NASA technology into your ride.

So come down to the shop and get some face time in with our new batch of pedal lusts from litespeed but don’t wait to long, they’re to fast to keep in one spot.

Lot’s more new stuff coming your way soon.  Till next time.

P

Happy New Year,

If you’re interested in continuing to spin through the winter months from the warmth of your own home than you need to get set up with an indoor bicycle trainer.

For those that have never heard of such a thing, a trainer is a stand that props up the rear wheel of your bike and provides resistance to instantly turn your  bike into a stationary exercise bike.  It’s a great way to keep those cycling legs going through the winter months without the un-needed bulk of additional exercise equipment.

Of particular note when looking at indoor trainers is a company called CycleOps.  CycleOps has specialized in bicycle training specific products for over 15 years and their products are found in professional gyms, spin classes and, homes all over the world.

One of CycleOps mainstay models over the last several years has been the CycleOps Fluid2  (seen above).   The Fluid2 is classed as a “fluid” bike trainer which means that it uses a viscous silicone based fluid sealed in the drive unit to provide your resistance rather than a set of magnets generally found on simpler, lower cost trainers.  Its important to note that the Fluid2 will work on mountain bikes AND road bikes (for a mountain bike, you will need to trade your agressive rear studded tire for a trainer tire – see below).

The difference is all in the ride.  CycleOps designed the Fluid2 to encompase a very realistic road feel by utilizing a 2.75 pound flywheel.  This will feel like your actually going somewhere as it has a very similiar sensation to the “road feel” while cycling.  The large flywheel also provides a very smooth coast down from a hard cadence and you don’t get the pedal mashing that you feel from lower end magnetic models.  The Fluid2 is also whisper quiet, the only noise is going to be from your tire on the roller.  Upgrade to a trainer tire to save wear and tear on your ride tires and quiet it down even more. 

Because the Fluid2 provides a progressive resistance type feel there is no need to get off the trainer to adjust the resistance or use a handlebar mounted module to adjust, as you would on a variety of magnetic trainers.  Simply using the gears on the bike provides a very versatile workout.

The progressive resistance feel is actually the result of a lot of research between CycleOps, professional cyclists and renowned sports scientist Allen Lim.  What was created was, what CycleOps calls, “Power Tuned technology” which consists of a near infinite resistance curve and ensures that your power output (watts) increases as you increase speed.

One other accessory that you will want to consider to get fully set up is a riser block for the front wheel.  This keeps your saddle level while on the bike and keeps the front end stable when you’re really dropping the hammer with some hard pedaling.

 More reasons that make the Fluid2 an awesome training tool:  How about a lifetime warranty and training DVD in every box.  the DVD is a great motivator that structures your work out and is like a spin class in your own home!

Don’t be stuck on uncomfortable exercise bike.  Stay fit and motivated for 2011 and  ride your OWN bike inside on a CycleOps Fluid2. 

P

A very common question I get asked at the shop is “What can I do to alleviate wrist pain or numb hands when riding?”  Although the answer is sometimes not simple and could be a host of issues with both bike set up, type of rider and size of bike, something that will never hinder your comfort is a good set of cycling gloves.

Our friends at Louis Garneau have always had a solid glove line up in addition to their performance apparel and gear and this year they have a new model called the Vent Flex.

Before we get started  talking about how awesome the addition of the L/G Vent Flex can be to your ride, let’s briefly discuss the differences between various types of gloves themselves so we’re all on the same page.  Generally you have two types:  half finger and full finger.  Usually a full finger gloved is used by off road cyclists as it gives a more aggressive grip and offers further hand and knuckle protection against tree branches and other obstacles.  Full finger gloves usually have less padding in the palm area because off road cyclists demand a solid grip and ride with hands that are constantly moving and adjusting the weight of the body based on terrain.

Half finger gloves typically suit the more recreational cyclist or those that enjoy road riding  as these cyclists tend to adopt a more static hand posture for  longer periods of time thus increased padding in the palm with a light and breathable back.

When temperatures change, some of the qualities of both gloves can be transferable i.e some off road cyclists prefer half finger gloves in really hot temperatures and road riders will source long finger gloves when riding early or late in the season etc.  Essentially, there aren’t any hard and fast rules for gloves in a general sense. Use what is comfortable and  works for you.

Now with the background complete on to the product!

The L/G Vent Flex, available in men’s or women’s, came to mind when discussing gloves because they have really made a big comfort difference to my ride this season.  My former gloves were a bit worn out and the padding was compressed and worn…great excuse for an upgrade!

Referring to my previous statements, L/G Vent Flex would be classified as mostly a road riding glove.  It’s construction and padding placement leans more towards the rider that is going to be using a drop handlebar style.  That is what they are designed for.  They will, of course, work for other cyclists.

The Vent Flex is a very light weight glove that features 5 mm thick gel foam palm padding and L/G’s “air zone” construction,  meaning the glove is very breathable.  The upper thumb is made of a really nice microfiber cloth for wicking away sweat, bug guts and all that nice stuff from the face.

One clever feature that I like is the rubberized pull tabs on the fingers.  These are designed so that it is a lot easier to get the glove off, rather than pulling them inside out all the time.  The material that the gloves are made of is fully washable too but they should be air dried rather than piling them in a dryer.

So if you’re a roadie and you are  tired of numb hands or you’re a cyclist that just wants a better, super comfortable glove then stop by one of our locations and try a pair of Louis Garneau Vent Flex glove.  Your hands will thank you!

In an effort to provide an environmentally friendly and free source of electricity for mobile phones, Nokia has introduced the Bicycle Charger Kit.  This kit is made up of a charger, dynamo (small electrical generator) and a holder to secure the unit.

The generator uses the motion of the wheels to charge the unit through the same charging jack used for most Nokia mobile phones.  The kit will be available before the end of the year at selected retailers.

Effortless to control – even with wiggly children.

Storage Pockets – take food, drinks, clothing, and camera with you
-Pannier bags – tons of storage space over the rear wheel
-Quick-Adjust Seat – quickly accommodates different size children
-Weld Free Hitch – nothing stronger
-Double fail-safes engineered throughout
-Adjustable 3-Point Safety Harness with chest buckle
-Enclosed Sprocket and Chain – keeps little fingers out of harms way
-Foot Straps – holds feet by the heel and forefoot
-Removable Push Bar -easily detaches for travel and storage
-Reflectors, Reflective Tape, and Flag – increases visibility
-Cranks for kids to pedal

-Minimum User Height 38″ to take full advantage of pedaling
-Maximum User Height 52″
-Maximum User Weight 75 lbs

 Features:

-Double pannier storage system – up to 15 lbs
-Rear zip mesh storage pocket
-High visibility reflective pocket
-Safety flag and reflectors
-35 lbs with 20 inch wheels
-Hitch is weld free – no cast parts
-75 lb maximum weight
-Lower and narrower center of gravity for safer and easier operation
-Works with 25.4-26.8-27.2-30.9-31.6 seat post diameters

1

-Enclosed Drive Train
-Built-in Fender System
-42 x 16 ratio (13+MPH at 80rpm)
-Toes and heel straps for small feet
-Crank Arms designed for children

2

-Fully adjustable 3 Point Safety Harness
-Bull Horn grips for control and comfort
-Breathable see-through mesh side pockets
-Padded back and saddle
-”Hammock” Suspension
-Narrower rider profile for better driver control
-Hands free cockpit for: napping, drinking, munching, gaming

3

-Quick release, with pre-sets
-Double backbone design for security, strength and safety
-Easily adjusts for 39″-52″
-Solid weld design
-Rust protective finish

If you are looking for a bike that has “Performance and Portability” then this product may be of interest to you.   Road bike or Mountain bike,  1 speed to 27 speeds, assorted sizes and priced from $599.98 to $2499.98.  The unique feature of these bicycles is that they fold.  That’s right….they fold. 

These bikes fold or unfold in under 20 seconds and no tools are required.  Simply remove the front wheel, unlock one frame quick release and fold or unfold.   The frames are made of 7005 series aircraft grade aluminum so they are strong, yet light.  Choose from Pavement or Mountain Bikes.  Full information and specs are available on our website, www.brauns.com .

Some Montague bike basics unique to this brand of bike:

CLIX quick release lever allows the bike to be folded in less than 20 seconds.

F.I.T. (Folding Integrated Technology) is a patented folding system which is based on frame construction and eliminates “breaking” the frame in order to make this the strongest folding bike frame on the market. 

PAVEMENT BIKES

CROSSTOWN:   Just fold and go. The ever classic do-it-all bike. Whether you are riding for health and fitness, or just using it as a means to get around town, the Crosstown’s the perfect ride.

• Speeds: 7
• Wheel Size: 700c
• Folding Time: 20 sec.
• Folded Size: 36″x28″x12″
• Approx Weight: 27lbs

BOSTON:  The BOSTON brings back the basics as the first available 700c single speed folding bike. Stripping away the complexities of urban life, this folding bike leaves you face-to-face with the open streets.

The Essentials

 The Essentials

• Speeds: 27
• Wheel Size: 700c
• Folding Time: 20 sec.
• Folded Size: 36″x28″x12″
• Weight: 27.5lbs

  FIT:  With the speed of a road bike, the versatility of a hybrid, and Montague’s legendary folding bike frame design, the FIT was created in order to provide the highest performance road ride of any foldable bike available, bar none

• Speeds: 27
• Wheel Size: 700c
• Folding Time: 20 sec.
• Folded Size: 36″x28″x12″
• Approx Weight: 26lbs

MOUNTAIN:

SWISS BIKE X50:  Like all Montagues, the SwissBike X50 is designed to fold and fit anywhere. With front suspension and all terrain tires, the X50 folding bike makes for the perfect light trail bike or rugged commuter.

• Speeds: 18
• Wheel Size: 26″
• Folding Time: 20 sec.
• Folded Size: 36″x28″x12″
• Approx Weight: 32lbs

• Speeds: 24
• Wheel Size:26″
• Folding Time: 20 sec.
• Folded Size: 36″x28″x12″
• Approx Weight: 29lbs

SWISS BIKE X70:  The SwissBike X70 is a rugged 27-speed folding mountain bike. Sharing the same solid frame design as the X90, the X70 is built for after-work rides on your favorite trails and full-on weekend excursions up in the mountains

• Speeds: 27
• Wheel Size: 26″
• Folding Time: 20 sec.
• Folded Size: 36″x28″x12″
• Approx Weight: 29lbs

SWISS BIKE XO:  The SwissBike XO is an aggressive 27-speed folding hardtail that can rail rugged single track with the best of them. With a stiff frame and a snappy ride, the XO folding bike beckons to the avid rider who demands both performance and portability.

• Speeds: 27
• Wheel Size: 26″
• Folding Time: 20 sec.
• Folded Size: 36″x28″x12″
• Approx Weight: 27lbs

Soft Carrying Case

Folding Pedals

Check out these new bags by Louis Garneau – a pannier that looks like a briefcase or how about a pannier for your bike that “looks” nice enough to carry as a purse. 

Louis Garneau Beverly 2 Bag/Pannier:   A single pannier that doubles as a purse with an adjustable shoulder strap. 

Louis Garneau Santa Cruz Bag/Pannier:  A stylish bag/pannier.

3-mm and 2-mm inner plastic

Adjustable flap opening with adjustable buckles

Louis Garneau Oxford Handlebar Bag:  A small handlebar bag.

Handlebar bracket: Circumference from 25.4 mm to 31.8 mm

Louis Garneau Cambridge Bag/Pannier:  A pannier that looks like a briefcase with an adjustable shoulder strap for ease of carrying.

Fabric 600 deniers

Quick clips B-2

Great new product for cyclists…..practical and stylish!

Alright, ever wondered how the customer service machine that is Braun’s…is BICYCLES gets their vigor ? I mean, after 85 years in this industry even WE can get bogged down from time to time…

When we get tired of the 10 cup of coffee/day routine or need some further pep in our days -we go for a WANT energy beverage.

Never heard of it you say?  That’s not surprising.  WANT is an up and coming CANADIAN action sports beverage company that we have had in our retail locations for a few months now.  Now when I say up and coming that doesn’t mean small.   These guys sponsor a myriad of athletes in multiple disciplines including Olympic Ski Cross Gold medallist, Ashleigh McIvor.

So what is the difference between WANT and the other million energy beverage companies?  Honestly put, it’s the taste!  WANT doesn’t taste like a super sweet cough syrup beverage, it’s actually refreshing.  They have 2 flavors, lime and berry and both of those come in a lite version.  The other really nice thing is WANT comes in a plastic recyclable, resealable bottle so you don’t have to toss it all back at once.

Five cents of every bottle of WANT  that is sold is donated to various agencies that are involved in the development of action sports facilities (skate parks, bike parks, bike trails) around the country…that’s cool!

So even though Braun’s IS Bicycles and not typically Beverages, we like this WANT stuff.    We like what they are about and we like that they ARE Canadian.  Drop by the shop(s) and try one out.

P

Alright, so it seems now, we are firmly seated in the nice weather.  Other than some weird “Canada” days, it’s getting hot out.  As the temperature and humidity rise, staying properly hydrated becomes more and more important.

Now, it should be obviously noted, that hydration is always important, whatever the temperature or ride.  The difference is the rate at which you perspire in the summer which equates to faster fluid loss, you get the gist.

So this post isn’t about sweating more in the summer but it IS about keeping your water or sport drink cold and refreshing.

The folks at Camelbak have come out with some pretty awesome bottles as of  the late, everything from stainless steel to tasteless plastic.  Now I know what you are thinking… it’s really hard to get excited about a water bottle, it does such a simple job.  But this may change your mind and outlook.  It’s called the Podium Chill from Camelbak and…yep, it’s insulated!

OK specifically,  it’s not just insulated but it’s actually pretty light…AND insulated, a feat in my experience, that has escaped other insulated bottle companies in the past.

What is probably going to grab your attention first though is the funky looking valve that the Podium features on top of the lid.  Riders familiar with the brand would immediately associate the look as hydration pack inspired-uniquely Camelbak.  The company hails the spill proof valve as “always open, always closed”.

Other cool stuff ?  How about BPA free and like their bags, features a taste free polypropylene construction with anti microbial hydro guard.

No longer is the water bottle the most over looked piece of equipment.  Camelbak advertises it’s bottles as the “better bottle”.  You can be the judge.  One thing for sure is the Podium bottle is light years ahead of everything else.

P

Usually, one of the last things on a cyclist mind is food.  No really!  As you’re prepping for that big Sun. ride, making sure the bike is working silky smooth, tools, bottles, camlebak, spare tubes and the list goes on.  By the time you get out the door what you have eaten prior to or, what you’re going to consume during your ride may be an after thought.

The fitness nutrition industry has come a long way in the last few years and Braun’s is BICYCLES is excited to carry some great products from Hammer Nutrition

Specifically, I am gonna take you through some of Hammer’s energy gel line up.  For those that have never used an energy gel, think of it as a snack in a small package with tasty pudding like consistency.

As we’re all pretty aware cycling burns carbohydrates and calories.  And depending on the ride and duration, body type, rider weight etc. you could be burning more gas than you have!  That’s where Hammer Nutrition’s Hammer Gel comes in.  It’s a boost of energy that you can consume while riding that is water soluble and actually DOESN’T taste like bath tub cleaner (got the two confused once…it wasn’t good….JOKES!).  In all seriousness, Hammer Gel actually tastes really awesome and comes in 9 different flavors! including orange, raspberry, banana and chocolate among others.  Your bound to find your own favorite but since this is my blog….banana, apple cinnamon and raspberry…the way to go.

The nutritional content of each gel varies but typically your looking at 23-25 grams of carbs per pack and a very small amount of sugar.  Some Hammer gels will also pack some caffeine for that short burst during a high intensity ride.  It’s important to note that these gels offer sustainable energy during rides and is not to be confused with nutrition to be consumed for recovery or post ride – that’s another blog post.

So make sure you have enough fuel in your system for and during your bike ride.   Use Hammer and avoid the dreaded BONK!

See ya out there..

P

Most of us are familiar with the bell brand name.  Be it motocross, race cars or of course bicycles, Bell has been making protection for your melon since 1954.

For 2010 Bell has a lot of cool new helmet designs, but one that stood out right away for me, was the Bell Sequence.

The Bell Sequence tops up Bell’s Mountain Bike category this year further narrowing the gap between the mountain race helmet and the trail bike helmet.  Bell touts the sequence as “somewhere between full-on XC racing and just riding for the huck of it” and I think that’s a pretty accurate tag line.

Being a Bell Variant and Influx owner myself, I could see a little bit of inspiration from both helmets in the Sequence with a few higher end features.

Without even putting the helmet on your head you can’t help but notice how well ventilated the  construction is, in fact, the Sequence boasts no less than 24 flow tuned vents.  This is gonna be the Cat’s meow in the summer months because the venting system will channel air around your noggen at climbing or descent speeds.

Hello internet

Well, I must admit, I am a little bummed now that the Olympics are done.  Two weeks of high’s and low’s and the adrenaline rush associated with Olympic glory brought the icing on the cake: the Men’s Hockey final which, which seemed to unite a nation.

So although their is less exciting stuff on TV now to keep me entertained while I’m on the trainer, on the plus side, one look outside has me back to my over energetic self!  The weather is great and the official start to cycling season is upon us.

As I mentioned in my previous review of the Lezyne Alloy Drive pump, i promised that further pump reviews would be coming for the road bike enthusiaste crowd.  Today we’ll be looking at the Blackburn Airstik LongNeck, which is a new model for 2010.

Blackburn has been around around for over 30 years designing innovative cycling specific products.  Starting off with producing racks and pannier bags designed for rigurous bicycle touring, Blackburn quickly expanded their product line to include a lot of industry firsts such as first use of a dual stroke mini pump and, the first use of aircraft aluminum in construction of pannier racks to list a few.

The Airstik LongNeck continues on that innovative design trend with a lot of well thought out features.  The first thing you will find that stands out from any other pump you have used in the past is the detachable pump head.  By being able to pump up your tube independently of the main body of the pump you will be dramatically reducing the stress that is being put on your valve stem.  This is especially true of lighter weight road bike tubes which, in some cases, will use a thiner rubber to reduce tube weight and somtimes (depending on the rim), a longer valve stem, forcing you to to be a little more careful when inflating or changing a tube.

The detachable head incorporates a thumb lock which seats the pump head nicely around both schraeder and presta valves.   To switch between the two valves you simply have to uncrew the end cap and reverse your rubber gasket and adapator as Blackburn has done with all their pumps in the past.  If this sounds a little tricky have no fear, a great set of instructions are included with the pump.

Pump measures up pretty small so it can easily be stowed in your jersey pocket, Camelbak or used the included frame bracket and attach it right to the bike via the water bottle bolts.

The other important thing in any pump suitable for road bikes is the amount of PSI that pump is able to put out.  Most road tires 0f 18-25c range will run at about 110-120 nominal pressure but other brands will run higher pressures up to about 160 PSI.  The Airstik LongNeck has you covered because it will pump to  max of 160 PSI (it may take a lot of pumping to get their but..you’ll get their).  No although im reviewing this pump because i think it’s a great pump for roadies, it doesn’t have to be just your road bike pump.  Blackburn gives you the ability to switch between two modes on the pump, LOW for low pressures, high volume and HIGH for high pressures, low volume.  That means, say for example your mountain bike, would be pumped up on the LOW setting typically running 40-60 PSI while your road bike would benefit using the HIGH setting with a pressure of 110-120 PSI or more.

A few more things top off this sweet piece of cycling gear:  An all aluminum construction, Rebuildable internals (that means you can get parts down the road if needed) and a Lifetime Warranty.

Blackburn has been getting it right for over 30 years and it looks like they’re not stopping anytime soon intuitive products like the AirStik LongNeck.

A new helmet from Bell is on the horizon for my next post so stay in the loop.

P

How’s it goin EH ?  First off, let me just get this off my chest GO CANADA GO!!  Today was a great day to be Canadian.  Canada and Canadian Olympic athletes had a smashing day taking home 3 Gold and 1 Bronze Medal.  This, after an incredible win in Ladies Hockey yesterday and the list just goes on.  This brings Canada to 14 Gold medals total, which is the most of any competing country right now!

Well to say the least, I was inspired to share my jubilance with everyone and tie it into my first product post.  I looked around the shop today for something to fit the bill and one thing stood out in all it’s circa 1990′s anodized glory! The Lezyne Alloy Drive Pump in four catchy colors.  Of course, the two that stood out the most was, you guessed it… Red and Gold!!!!!!

For those not familiar with Lezyne, they are a relatively new company in name but certainly not in design experience.  The company was founded by Micki Kozuscheck who was the founder and  point man for Truvativ before it was sold to SRAM.

As I mentioned, the Alloy Drive boasts 4 silky anodized color options which just scream PICK ME UP!  to any cyclist but it’s when you actually touch the pump that you notice it’s seemingly bomb proof construction.  The pump is entirely, 100 % CNC machined aluminum construction.  For us mountain bikers that means you can shove it in a jersey or camelbak and not have to worry about it being banged up from a few stray branches, or day I say an  all inclusive vacation over your handlebars.

The Alloy Drive is wider barrel, lower volume pump and will get you to a max pressure of 90 PSI which means it’s mainly directed towards the mountain bike, hybrid, comfort bike crowd or really any tire running less than 80 PSI.  Don’t worry my skinny tire, road warrior brethren, you’ll have your pump reviews too!

Lezyne was also very clever in the way in which the hose attaches to your tire valve.  The hose itself is stored inside the pump and threads on the end of the pump when in use.  It’s soft rubber, flexible design makes pumping simple and quick with a lot less stress on your valve stem.  Lezyne claims a 30% reduction in pump strokes than any other pump.  Presta valve? Schrader? no problem.  Simply reverse the end of the hose and thread on whatever end you need.  Like most pumps it also comes with a plastic bracket so that you may mount the pump to your seat tube or down tube of your bike via the water bottle screws on your bike frame.

Although a newer company, Lezyne has been attracting a lot of attention with this pump, winning multiple bike industry awards.

So who knows, maybe all that talk of CNC machined aluminum and sweet anodized colors reminiscent of mountain bike culture of old will talk you into an upgrade or maybe just an addition to the gear chest… if JUST for the eye candy.

back to Canada vs USA Men’s Hockey count down…

P

Hey World Wide Web  – I’m Pat.  Although we probably don’t know one another I bet you we still have a few things in common… say like… the love for shiny new bike stuff ? ya thought so.

So welcome to “Hot Off The Truck” where I’m going to be talking about gear, tons of glorious new, mouth watering gear! and other things that come across my desk that will make your ride even better.  Everything from performance cycling apparel to bicycle trainers to cool new accessories, hear about the latest from yours truly.

Stay glued.

P