When the new iPhone was finally released after a long wait, I finally pulled the trigger and upgraded from my 3g model. Other than a small crack in the plastic backing, it has held up well. Much of its longevity can be attributed to the number of different protective cases on it during its 3+ year life span. With a significant investment in a fancy new smart phone, investing in a case can be a good idea. Provided they can do the job.

The different cases I ran on my iPhone 3g helped keep my phone functional, but when it came to the cosmetic side of things, they didn’t do as well.   While they protected the phone during the inevitable drops to the ground, every model I’ve used collects dirt and dust. In addition, when removing the cases I found the plastic backing covered in scratches. Eventually just stopped using a case altogether, preferring to run it bare in my pocket. The irony is that it didn’t get any more beat up, provided I kept keys and change away from it. The dirt didn’t build up either, since I wiped it down regularly.

My 3G held up so well, that I was unable to justify the expense of upgrading to a newer model until recently. The 4S was too much of a temptation though, and so I finally succumbed. Having a new phone, I of course wanted to protect it from the eventual “oh shit” moment. But I wasn’t about to run any old case on my favorite piece of hardware. You can imagine I was beyond stoked when Rob from Echos Communications shot over a sample case from Element Case. The model we received, the Vapor Pro isn’t just any old case – I’m almost hesitant to say it, but as someone that appreciates craftsmanship, it is a piece of art. Like many of our favorite bike parts, the protective frame is CNC machined from a solid block of aluminum.  This alone wouldn’t prevent scratches and dirt, but it is just one component of the case. A lot of thought clearly has gone into every detail of this product, from the stick-on suede backing to the polymer segment of the case that prevents signal loss.

the Vapor Pro Black Ops Element Case

This isn’t a typical phone protector. Clearly, a lot of thought has gone into every detail of this product- from the alloy casing itself, to the comfortable suede backing. Also included:

• Clear screen protector (2x)
• Padded zipper case
• Sunglass-style wipe
• Custom tool for the case hardware that includes extra hardware

Installation

Installation was easy enough. I started with the clear plastic screen cover. Having added these to my previous phones, I took extra care installing it. Although two are included, experience with similar protectors meant rushing and doing a sloppy job would leave me with air bubbles that I’d have to stare at for each time I used the phone. The thin membrane is noticeable in the light when using the phone during the day, but knowing the screen is a bit more protected is not just reassuring, but in limited light isn’t noticeable at all. I prefer using the phone with the uncovered screen, but when I do end up using the phone to watch Netflix or other similar apps, it tends to be in lower light anyway. The black suede backing also has an adesive backing, and I took equal care in applying it to the phone. It has a nice tactile feel to it, and in contrast to the alloy case, really adds to the experience of using the phone. As a bonus, because it sticks on, I’m unconcerned about dirt getting underneath it and causing scratches like other phone protectors I’ve used.

Adding the alloy case itself is unlike installing any other iPhone case I’ve owned to date. It bolts together using small allen keyed bits, and a cool little allen tool.  (included with the case) As with everything else, care was taken at this step to avoid stripping the heads or the case in the installation.

Installing the Vapor Pro iPhone case

In addition to the alloy case and the stick on protectors, a zip up padded case was included for traveling with the phone on more rough and tumble adventures. I haven’t used it much due to the additional size and space it takes up in my pocket, but for trail building, motorcycling, snowboarding or other endevors where I’d want a bit of extra protection it seems like a great addition. The only drawback for me is that since I use it rarely, I have been finding myself misplacing it. While it would provide quite a bit of shock protection for the phone when the phone was inside, it doesn’t appear to be water resistant in any way, so for my uses it has limited value, since it takes a bit to put the phone in and take it out. It is a nice bonus add-on though, that I wouldn’t have expected. I have yet to test how much it damps the phone signal. Since I’ve become fond of documenting my rides via GPS and the Stave app, it could come in very handy. While I haven’t used this way yet, if one wanted to travel light, there is room for stashing an id, credit card and a bit of cash if you wanted to leave the bulk of a wallet behind during an adventure.

Protection

I’ll be straight forward here; I have yet to drop my phone with the case on it. Dropping phones, especially the first time is one of those events I’m planning to avoid as much as I can. I’ve dropped previous models of the iPhone a number of times, and unlike my girlfriend’s phone, mine keep going afterward, with the addition of a ding or scratch or two, thanks to the solid state drive and the lack of moving parts. While this case is all about keeping things classy, I have no doubt it adds to the drop-ability factor of my phone. I imagine the case won’t look as sleek after a solid impact with concrete, so I’ll update this post after the first time this inevitable event occurs.

At $150, this case isn’t cheap, but it is a nicely produced product, and adds a stylish, industrial look and protection for your number one electronic gadget. Many cases don’t compliment the design of the iPhone- the Vapor Pro does. The craftsmanship on it is top notch, and it has a solid feel in the hand. While it took a minute to get used to it, it adds a bit of heft that feels reassuring. In addition, I haven’t felt that the phone’s signal strength has been compromised in anyway.

The Vapor Pro iPhone Case by Element Case

Pluses

• Craftsmanship, design and incredible attention to detail
• Shape easy to hold onto with gloved hands
• Reliable feel
• Includes padded zipper case (I’d even take this motorcycling/ dirt biking/ dirt jumping)

Minuses:

• Some headphones may not fit though the machined holes
• Recessed buttons slightly difficult to press
• Unlikely to be compatible with iPhone docks without disassembly
• Price- quality and good design isn’t cheap, but you get what you pay for. The Vapor Pro will set you back $150.00

Details go all the way to the final presentation and packaging

For more info, check out Element Case.

Related posts:

1. Reviewed: Kuat NV 2 Bike Rack
2. Reviewed: Chrome Roll-top Pack

We didn’t make it to Interbike this year, although we had been looking into going until the last minute. My favorite part about the bicycle industry’s biggest trade show is looking at cool new product I haven’t seen before and geeking out on it. With the SF Bike Expo you were able to experience much of this, as the floor was filled with a good number of bike industry vendors. Although there is a big emphasis on urban lifestyle, there was a nice mix of product from other product categories as well.

VP Components VP-69 Pedal

I’ve been in the market for a new set of platforms, so when I saw the VP-69 pedal, it caught my eye. These babies are optimized for sticky rubber shoes with a minimal number of pins- six, if you’re counting. They look pretty solid, but I’ve been looking for something a bit more on the slim side. VP Components had their new slim pedal (to be released in 2012) hiding in someone’s pocket somewhere, and teased us with it in their marketing pamphlets. It looks to have a similar concept and execution to the new Tioga slim pedal, though the rep I spoke with claimed theirs would be much stronger. Called the Pilot, it’s 6.5mm thin. They also had their version of the adjustable headset on display, called the Varial. Check them out: VP Components

Five Ten Cool Hwip Clipless Shoes with sticky rubber

Speaking of sticky rubber, Five Ten was on the scene and had a few of their new models on display. This new clip-in compatible shoe is titled the “Cool Hwip” after one of the best Family Guy clips ever. It is a bit lighter than their previous release the Minnar, which was a bit on the portly side.

SPD+Sticky? Make it light enough for all day, and I want a pair.

They also had a Karver model in blue which looked pretty nice.

Five Ten Karver in Blue

I’m tempted to get one just to match the blue kit I’m putting together to match the site’s colors. They also had their new skate shoe on display, the Dirt Bag. Check them out: Five Ten

Black Market Roam

Carter Holland of Black Market Bikes is that much closers to getting his new all mountain machine, the Roam into production. The build on this thing is much like the current build on my Nomad C, which means it will likely be a sweet all around shredder for the gravity inclined that also likes to pedal all day. Check them out: Black Market Bikes

Wolfhound Cycles

Our buddy Fred Cuthbert from Wolfhound Cycles surprised us by showing up at the Expo Pre-Party at Marin Bikes HQ. He brought a few of his latest all mountain 29er creations with him. His bikes are built one at a time, and they have amazing detail work. They aren’t the lightest out there, but as an owner of a Wolfhound, they are solid, and fun to ride. He also boasts one of the shortest chainstays of a wagon-wheeled bike due to his interrupted seat-tube design.  Check him out: Wolfhound Cycles

Renovo Wood Hardtail

Bamboo has pretty much established itself as an alternative material for bicycle frames. Portland, Oregon woodworkers Renovo want you to consider wood as an option as well. Claiming a fatigue life that rivals carbon, and longer than aluminum or steel, these are certainly gorgeous looking frames. They still use baseball bats made of wood, so it seems logical that you could ride one. Ranging from $2k-$3800, it is unlikely you’ll be seeing one at the local coffee shop. Unless you’re in Mill Valley or down the street in their SE neighborhood. Check them out: Renovo Bicycles

Nemesis Project - although that guy from Wolfhound managed to sneak into the photo...

Next stop on our hand built bike tour was Nemesis Project out of Sacramento. Brad has been building dirt jump frames, bars and stems, and catering to the freestyle crowd for a while, so when fixed gear freestyle came around he was already in the mix. Regardless of whether you think FGFS is awesome or just don’t get it, these builds are burly as get all. Check them out here, and don’t forget to give Brad a bad time about the lack of a proper website already: Nemesis Project

Related posts:

1. In the Bay Area? The SF Bike Expo is this weekend
2. SF Bike Expo Scene: Part 2
3. SF Bike Expo: AT’s Showdown

It used to be that if you were planning to ride around town on the bike, you were  limited to your regular clothes or mountain biking clothing. Or maybe you’re one of those people: dressed in spandex (when you probably shouldn’t be dressed in skin tight clothing) with horrible neon windbreakers that were extremely noticeable, but visually offensive. Wearing your regular clothing around town meant arriving at your destination sweaty, and wearing the right gear meant bring a change of clothing with you. Fortunately, today there are a growing number of options for those that want functional clothing that work for a lifestyle on the bike, while looking sharp all at the same bike.

Gwen Lutz put together 35 different looks for men and women for this years SF Bike Expo Pedal Savvy Fashion show. I’m not sure what to say about some of the women’s outfits, but there were a lot of great options to choose from for guy, whether you wanted to roll business casual or full bike guy.

I’m not quite sure what to think of women’s cycling wear – like the typical “performance” options you see in your typical bike shops, there were a few garish colors and styles. I don’t know any women that would or could rock these looks to work very often here in SF. I’m surprised that women’s lines haven’t presented more classic pieces that could be mixed and matched more. Compare that to the men’s options that focused a bit more on the staples: pants, shoes, jackets and bags. Makes sense to me; I have four pairs of bike specific jeans now that I rotate though. Black riding jeans look a bit dressier and can hang with sneakers or dress shoes. I own a few different blue jeans (I’m rotating between Betabrand, Levi’s and Swrve jeans) that go with everything, and a pair of khakis (Levi’s) and chinos (Betabrand) for days I’m going for more of an office look. Shirts are definitely a harder choice- high performance fabrics are available, but a nice fitting shirt made from these materials are on the pricey side, which is tough to justify for something you can only get away with wearing once or twice a week.

My camera was offering me technical issues all weekend, so we weren’t able to document all the looks, (said camera is now at Canon getting rebuilt)  but there are lots of great options presenting themselves these days for riding gear, both casual and performance. Our favorites marry functionality with style — the best part is that we have a lot of great options presenting themselves for active wear clothing that doesn’t have to always look the part.

Looking to change out your “meh” clothing for some bike friendly duds? Check out a few choice links:

Betabrand Bike to Work Pants and Jeans
Chrome Knickers and Bags
DZR Shoes
Levi’s Commuter Jeans and Jacket
LuluLemon Work to Play Pants
Rickshaw Bags
Swrve Jeans and Jackets

Related posts:

1. 2010 Portland Bike Show highlights – with video
2. SF Bike Expo Scene: Part 2
3. Review – Levi’s 511 Commuter Jeans

I’ve been a fan of SDG saddles since way back when. I had a red kevlar covered saddle they made back in the day on my dirt jump/ slalom bike for years, and I’ve owned almost one of every i-beam model they’ve made. Since I’ve changed from my i-beam Gravity Dropper post to a Rockshox Reverb, I’ve been a bit bummed that I can’t run my saddle of choice, the i-Beam Formula MT.

While hanging out shooting pics at AT’s Showdown last weekend at the SF Bike Expo, we ran into Tyler from SDG at the Decline booth where he showed off some of the latest 2012 offerings. On the mountain side of things, SDG has pared back their line a bit to focus on their core products: saddles (railed and i-Beam) and seat posts. In addition to their solid staples, they are also releasing a set of bolt on grips in conjunction with ODI.

SDG Duster Ti-Railed Saddle and co-branded ODI bolt-on Grips

I’m a huge fan of ODI’s bolt-on grips. They pretty much set the standard these days, and the SDG lock-ons might be my favorite of their offerings to date. The grip pattern is essentially made up of the SDG logo, which covers about 3/4 of the grip surface. The circular pattern isn’t all set at one level though. The inside of the logo, which looks like a saddle has a slightly lower profile. According to their marketing copy, it effectively damps shock and spreads pressure across your palm, while providing traction. That sounds good, and when grabbing a handful of grip, I’m inclined to agree. It feels really good. What I really like about it though, is that the diameter has a nice mix between the feel of one of ODI’s bigger diameter grips, and their smaller grips. On the other side of the grip, the pattern ditches the circle altogether, and just has the saddle forms.

The grips also feature new snap-in end plugs, and these are my faves to date from ODI.

SDG/ ODI Lock-on grips. New grips instantly make your bike feel more awesome than before, and these grips: +1

I haven’t had a chance to do a ride with the new Duster saddle, but it looks pretty sweet and ticks off the boxes. Ti-rails, a light bit of padding, and a complete lack of heft. The logo is embossed on the surface to provide a bit of traction where you need it. The best part about the Duster is that it keeps much of the shape that made me so fond of the Formula models, in a very slopestyle friendly XC-trail package.

SDG Duster Ti Saddle

UPDATE

Just finished up a weekend of riding on the grips, and these suckers have a great feel, and grip really well. Just like that, I’ve got a new favorite set of grips.

SDG/ ODI Lock-on grips installed

Related posts:

1. Fresh Gear: SDG Formula MT and Carbon iBeam Seatpost
2. Fresh Gear: Teva Links MTB Freeride Shoes
3. Fresh Gear: Rockshox Reverb Seatpost

Packed with features, Levi’s initial foray into the cycling market packs a ton of value into a jean that only a corporate behemoth like Levi’s can at an incredible price point. A cycling friendly cut, reinforced crotch, zippered back pocket and u-lock holder show that someone at Levi’s definitely rides, or they had one hell of a focus group putting this thing together. What is really amazing about these jeans though is the NanoSphere treatment. Designed to repel both water and dirt, it’s common to see Nanosphere tech in clothing that costs upwards of $200 or more. Only a big name like Levi’s would have the capacity to offer this sort of tech in a pair of riding jeans that retail for under $100.

Reading up on NanoSphere, it is clear it is pretty amazing stuff. Not only does the treatment offer water and stain resistance, but it supposedly has self-cleaning properties and adds abrasion resistance.  On top of that, they’ve added a antimicrobial tech to keep your drawers from stinking, even when you’ve been sweating in them, and passing out on the floor near pools of vomit and stale beer. Perfect for the dirtbag on a budget. (although to be honest, we didn’t go that far in our testing this time around)

Using the u-lock holder with a belt is a bit redundant, but my lock didn't move, and my pants stayed up.

One feature I wasn’t sure I was going to use much was the u-lock holder. The back pocket of the jeans works just as well for stashing a mini u-lock just fine. However, on longer trips around town I found the u-lock holder to not just work really well, but I found myself sitting quite a bit with the lock holstered, and it was a lot more comfortable to have the lock out of my pocket. Although I tend to wear a belt most of the time, (I needed to loosen it a bit to fit the lock) I was psyched on how well the holster worked. If you own a longer lock that can accommodate a wheel or two in addition to your frame, even better. The only drawback was it takes a bit longer to fit the lock into the waistband; if I was only rolling a block or two to my next stop, I’ll still use the pocket. However, for a night out on the town with the bike as transport, I found that I was super down with this feature.

Another feature unique to the Commuter jean is the hidden phone slot in the right pocket. A kangaroo style flap keeps your phone away from spoke wrenches or anything else that is just dying to scratch up your new phone. Why don’t all pants have this? And there is yet another feature they’ve added to the pants — the inner reinforced belt loops. I want these in every pair of pants I own. With slimmer fitting jeans, a big stack of keys tends to get really uncomfortable. Because of this, I run my key rings on a carabiner and hang them from my belt loop. Then I ride around and worry that said belt loop will fail and I’ll have a hell of a time unlocking my bike and getting back into my apartment. The reinforced loops are like insurance for my keys and offer piece of mind. And if you’re into shoe strings as belts, (what? I know, right?) they’ll accommodate that as well.

3M™ Scotchlite™ reflective tape on interior cuffs

If you roll up your pants to avoid entanglements with your chain or derailleurs, there is a bit of 3m tape sewn in to the cuff for a bit of added visibility at night. However, since the jeans have a slim fit, I found I never had to roll them up, as I’ve banned front derailleurs from my current fleet of bikes.

Fit

The fit of these jeans is dialed- if you wear slim fitting jeans. Read up on these jeans online and you’ll find that the skinny fit is the main point of contention. I will add my feedback to that as well- I could easily move up to a size 34 waist. Doing this would give me a bit more comfort. (I wear a 32-32) And like others, I’d love to see the classic 501 cut get the Commuter treatment as well from Levi’s. However, my girlfriend loves the look of these jeans on me, and that is enough for me. If you posses gargantuan thighs designed for sprinting, you’ll definitely want a size up, if you can pull the jeans off at all. The 511 skinny cut isn’t for everyone, and not every guy should run a slim fitting jean. However, the best part of the indigo wash is that these jeans can easily be dressed up or down. I’d pick these over a designer pair of jeans any day.

That really is the only drawback about these pants, along with the limited availability. They’re available direct from Levi’s, at Urban Outfitters, and a few select bike shops. Fortunately, since the fit is based on the 511 Skinny Jeans series, (and as the name says, they are quite fitted) you should be good trying a regular 511 jean on for size. If you already are a fan of the 511 series, you probably ordered a pair the day these became available.

Since I ride DH bikes as well as BMX, dirt jump hardtails, fixed gears and city bikes, it was only logical we’d try the jeans out dirt jumping and on DH shuttles with pads underneath. I’ll just jump to the chase- pads are a tight fit. If you are going to pad up with these, it might be worth picking up a second pair a size larger. That way you’ll have a pair for the nights on the town astride your urban rig, and one for padding up and getting rad on the freestyle setup.

Levi's Commuter 511 Jeans with Fox Launch Pads - not the best combination. It was a very tight fit.

As you can see from the above photo, running Fox Launch Knee Pads under the jeans wasn’t a very good combo. Although the jeans stretch, it was tight enough to be uncomfortable. None of the knee pads with hardshells I typically run would comfortably fit underneath.

Flight testing the 511 Commuter jeans at Carlmont.

The best pad combo with the jeans was a soft, knee gasket type pad. The same goes with wearing lycra under the jeans, a smaller pad is better. I normally wouldn’t combine a padded undershort with jeans for around town use, but we’ve done a few all day pedals around the Bay Area, starting with breakfast, and then all over Berkeley and back to Oakland, and I’ve found that wearing a light padded short made my ass much happier at the end of the day.

After wearing stretch denim, I’m not sure I ever want to go back to regular denim. You lose a bit of durability with the light weight fabric, but I’ll take the comfort any day.

Related posts:

1. Fresh Gear: Levi’s 511 Skinny Commuter
2. SF Bike Expo: Pedal Savvy Fashion Show
3. Review: DZR Ovis SPD compatible cycling shoes

The Cane Creek Angleset has arrived, and is now in place on the Carbon Nomad. How does it ride? In a word, it’s glorious. Yep- that’s what I said.

Installing the Angleset was fairly straight forward, although special care was taken in lining up the top cup with the center of the bike. I started by pressing the lower cup in first, followed by the top one. I was a bit concerned about how easily the top cup went it as it took a minimal amount of force. (I probably could have pushed it in by hand) As top cups don’t take anywhere near the beating of the lower cups, and taking into consideration I have a slick plastic bike (read: carbon) I’ve taken a wait and see attitude as opposed to being massively concerned. I’m a few rides in and I’ve had no issues to date.

Top cup of the Angleset on a Carbon Nomad

Why slack out the head angle?

My reasoning for installing the Angleset was two fold, but obviously came down to wanting to customize the handling of my Carbon Santa Cruz Nomad. I wanted to lower the bottom bracket on the bike, and I wanted to slack out the headtube angle to give my ride more of a park bike feel, or to create the ideal XC/AM bike for downhillers.

There are a number of bikes available that I had previously looked at and tried out; most notably, the Intense Slopestyle. Highlights include slack angles and coil suspension, with a mini-DH bike feel. While everyone I know who has thrown a leg over one loves them, that bike also features a very slack seat angle, making it horrible for actually pedaling up hills. (it’s no trail bike)

Lower gimbal and bearing

The Nomad in its stock carbon form is a sweet all around and extremely capable all mountain machine that can do it all. I wanted mine to lean towards the downhill side of the spectrum and spec’d coil suspension.

Profile of the lower cups

Anyone that loves to rip corners enjoys a lower bottom bracket height, and while the height of the Carbon Nomad is listed on the Santa Cruz website at 14″, mine in its static state measured in significantly lower with 2.35″ trail tires. This number is pretty abstract though- because Nomads are mostly sold as frames, every build comes out slightly differently, and this figure isn’t a constant. It’s almost as if it was just a random number picked from a hat. This is apparently a common topic of conversation even amongst the engineers at Santa Cruz, and not limited to the forums. The type of headset, axle to crown length of the fork spec’d, tire volume and additional factors all have an effect on the final static bottom bracket height.

With my initial build, my Nomad’s BB height was more like 13.7″ or 13.8″ , and this matches comparable bikes- the current Enduro from Specialized is listed at 350mm, or 13.79″ . Being the bike geek that I am, I’ve been researching options for getting it a bit lower.

Bottom Bracket height measurement

Option 1. Install an after market link, like the PushLink. The PushLink isn’t designed to actually lower the static bb height, but instead changes up the shock rate, and gives the bike more of a rising rate. (like the original Nomad, which was known for its DH performance) It also sits lower into its travel, and because of this has the feel of a lower bottom bracket. (and therefore corners better.) Since I don’t run a small ring, I likely wouldn’t lose much in the climbing way of things, which is one of the reasons Santa Cruz listed for updating the rate of the V2 Nomads. However, I like the way my bike climbs, as well as how it pedals. I haven’t spent much time on the original Nomads, so I wasn’t sure this was a fix I actually wanted.

Option #2 for getting the feel of a lower bottom bracket: changing to a extremely slim platform pedal. Slim pedals are less likely to strike the ground, but even more importantly, your center of gravity gets lower. This would also effectively emulate the feel of a lower bottom bracket height.

Close up of the tape measure

Option #3. A zero stack lower cup on the headset. By running an Angleset with the 1 1/8″ steerer and a zero stack (ok, not quite zero) lower cup, I was able to lower the headtube, as well as the bottom bracket. By choosing the 1.5º option, I’ve slacked out the fork, slightly lengthened my wheelbase, and I believe my bb height came down a bit more. (I’m also still looking into pedals to implement option #2, but that won’t effect my riding on days I’m running spds)

How does it ride?

I’m still getting used to my set up, but so far I’m super stoked on it. The bike still climbs awesome, and but now it descends even better. Having ridden DH bikes for years, climbing on a slack front end doesn’t really present a challenge to me, and I regularly out-climb riders on more XC-oriented bikes in the rough stuff, even with my 1×9 drivetrain. (running clip-in pedals makes all the difference on tough grinds) On long sustained climbs on steep grades I’ll usually just walk, but if I can walk just as fast as my buddy next to me grinding away in his lowest gear, I’m not missing out.

One of the benefits of lowering the front end is that my effective seat tube angle is a bit steeper as well,  helping the effort during the up sections. While I run a 50mm stem for DH handling, my 29.5″ handlebar also creates a wider grip, and it makes it easier to keep the front end down on climbs. I’m currently running 30mm in spacers, which is slightly lower than my initial setup, and almost 5mm less than my previous bar height on my Trek Remedy. (the Nomad has a shorter head tube the the Trek) I could go lower, (which is apparently in vogue right now looking at everyone else’s builds,) but I can climb just fine with my current bar height, and I wouldn’t be able to charge down steep technical trails the same way, and that functionality is at the root of this entire build.

The lower bb height is awesome. Yes, I clip my pedals on rocks occasionally on rocky technical ascents— even with 170mm cranks. It doesn’t bother me though, it’s just part of the game.

A swap to DH tires and wheels: Park Bike/ Mini-DH mode

The downside

Although my headset doesn’t have play, there is some occaisional noise coming from the headtube area, so I’ll be disassembling the headset and reinstalling it with even more grease to be on the safe side. Apparently this is fairly common with the Angleset, and there’s even a term for it that has been going around- it is becoming known as “gimbal knock.” After discussing it with a few other riders running a similar setup, it appears the best tip for eliminating this is to pre-align the gimbals on installation, then tighten the crap out of it. I haven’t totally wrenched mine down, as I was concerned about killing the bearings prematurely-do this with a King headset and it will develop a notchy feeling early in its life. (there is also a good amount of documentation on the forums, and there is a huge thread on RideMonkey) Since we’re about to embark on our last (hopefully next to last) roadtrip of the summer this week, I have a bit of wrenching to go to make sure my ride is free of issues during our mission to Moab/ Grand Junction.

Related posts:

1. Bike Check: Evan’s Carbon Nomad
2. Fresh gear: Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon
3. Cane Creek Announces the AngleSet Headset

Disc brake rotors are one of those parts in the tool box you can never have to many of. Especially when if you like riding extremely technical trails littered with rocks, roots and stumps that all there trying to take a bite out of your derailleur or rotors. Sometimes it only takes one bad line to put them out of wack, resulting with the dreaded and annoying rubbing noise we’re all too familiar with. So when a fresh set of rotors from Dirty Dog MTB showed at our door I was rather pleased. Even more so when I opened them up and took a much closer look at them.

Skull (185mm) and Spider (160mm) disc brake rotors from Dirty Dog MTB

These designer rotors from Bay Area Company Dirty Dog look fantastic and get a lot of attention with their unique lines. Of the two, the spider pattern is by far my favorite. The subtle lines of a web not only remind me of components a Spider-Man would run on a mountain bike, but are the most subdued. The other rotor features a skull and cross bones, and had a strong pirate theme.

The differences between the two didn’t end there. The construction of the 6″ rotors offered differ from the rest of their offerings. The smaller spider web design is stamped as opposed to laser cut. The larger rotors feature more intricate designs that take significantly longer to produce, and this additional labor is included in the price. We happy to report that not only do these unique pieces look good, but they perform as well.

While they are a few grams heavier than a stock rotor, they add a nice touch to any ride. They bolt on just like any other six bolt rotor, and didn’t have any issues lining up the caliper. Break in time was minimal.

Spider Rotor from Dirty Dog MTB

When I was offered the option of rotor sizes, I elected to choose a 7″ and 6″ rotor. My plan was to pair them with Saint calipers for my all mountain set up. How did they work? Unfortunately I ran into a hiccup with my plan off the bat. Dirty Dog offers their 7″ rotor in a 185mm configuration. Having been away from the bike shop trenches  for some time now, I forgot about the disparity between rotor sizes available on the market today. Avid brakes utilize a 185″ rotor while Shimano’s 7″ rotor comes in a 180mm. It’s a serious pain in the ass, so if you don’t already run Avid brakes, consider going with the larger 8″ rotor. Ordering up an Avid adapter (and adding to my huge stack of rotor adapters in my tool box) resolved my issue. In the meantime, I stuck the Spider 6″ rotor on my rear wheel and I was off riding.

The 6″ rotor combined with 2.35 tires on all mountain wheels and the Saint brake was awesome. The grabby, on-off feel of the Saints wasn’t there, or an issue with the smaller rotor, and it was a dialed setup. Stopping performance of the Dirty Dog Rotor was excellent, and as with any component that just works, enabled me to focus on the ride. During pit stops and rest stops along the way, it invites compliments.

When the 185mm rotor adapter finally arrived though, I ran into an issue. Because I’m currently running a carbon Nomad in a quiver killer setup, I use a set of DH wheels on this bike as well. Turns out the 6″ rotor paired with DH wheels doesn’t have the stopping power I’m accustomed to, so I swapped out the Spider rotor with the skulls.

Skull Rotor by Dirty Dog MTB

I’m still mucking around with the set up of my all mountain ride though, and this in no way reflects on the performance of these rotors. Swapping to the 185mm rotor in the back added plenty of power, even when I’m swapped out to my heavier DH wheels and tires. With my all mountain wheels I’m feeling dialed in. (I’m running a 180mm rotor in the front as well for a 7″ & 7″ set up)

If you currently run 185mm rotors with Avid Calipers, the 7″ rotor will bolt right on. If you are tied into the 180s, with a non-Avid setup you’ll need to add an adapter to the mix as well to fit it correctly.

Which one is the Dirty Dog Rotor? Here's a hint. It's the one that stands out from the rest.

Thanks to Echos Communications for setting us up with Dirty Dog MTB and sending out a pair for me to sample. For more info on Dirty Dog MTB, click away.

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Like many others that have posted critiques of their adjustable height seat posts, I too have a love/hate relationship with the models I’ve run. However, although mechanical issues have ruined a few rides and seriously pissed me off from time to time, I can’t give up on them. Even with their occasional snafus, they’ve enhanced my trail riding experiences enough that I take the bad with the good — because when its good, it’s really, really good. During the last several years running the classic descender and Turbo models from Gravity Dropper, I’ve plenty of ups and downs (pun intended) but now the market is filled with a number of options, and I’m ready to move on. After researching and trying a number of options, (including owning a Joplin for several days) I’ve upgraded to the polished and sleek Rockshox Reverb post. The new adjustable post from Rockshox isn’t cheap, but it’s badass. 5″ of infinite seat adjustability, clean looks and sharp lines make the newest height adjustable post on the market quite a desirable upgrade.

The Reverb offers 125mm of infinite seat height adjustment with the push of the remote

I haven’t ditched my old post yet though — the industry hasn’t quite nailed the adjustable height post. Reliability is still an major issue; additional moving parts equals more maintenance on your ride, and more stuff that can break. I’m hoping mine holds up with a minimal amount of issues, but since this is my fourth adjustable height post, I’m keeping a backup plan in place. On my bike, if something can break easily, it likely will. Take traditional seat rails – one of the final upgrades I did to my Gravity Dropper Turbo was the change to an iBeam format for the post and saddle. Now that I’m back on a traditional railed post, I also have the possibility that the rails on my saddle will fail, so all of my road trips and major rides include a spare saddle and post in the car. (in addition to the spare chain and derailleur hanger.) As one could probably guess, I’m a bit of a skeptic. This is something I’ve learned from experience with these posts. And yet, I’m extremely pleased with this purchase. My biggest reason for making the switch was to gain the extra inch of height adjustability. In addition to that, the post itself will also drop lower in the frame, making it possible to ride larger scale dirt jumps without having to remove the post for a traditional post I can slam all the way down.

 Reverb mounted on the carbon Nomad, mid-ride on the North Umpqua Trail near Roseburg, Oregon.

My current steed for the 2011 season is a Carbon Nomad frame from Santa Cruz bikes, and at the moment it is my only suspension bike. On any given day it is pressed into use as a single track slayer or a mini-DH/ slopestyle steed with the change of a wheel set. Since it’s my only ride, all my components will likely wear at an accelerated rate, since my riding time is no longer split between other bikes in my quiver. All the components on my ride have been carefully chosen based on durability, reliability, and performance. Bottom line, the choice to go with the Reverb was well pondered.

I won’t go into technical details of the post as this ground has already been covered pretty extensively by other sites, instead focusing on my own personal experience with the post. (see this initial PinkBike post if you want to get tech) Like many other seat post owners, I’ve looked long and hard at the 5″ options on the market. Just about every model has its evangelists, as well as reports of failures. In the end, for me it came down to the aesthetics of the Reverb, as well as the greater availability of replacement parts, and that it can be serviced by the end user. When service requirements are a looming need, I’ll always go with the product that has the best support, then hope I don’t need it. In fact, Sram has a YouTube channel with instructional videos, which is good, since you’ll probably need to use them at some point. (see Link: How to Bleed the Reverb Remote)

For those just starting their research and shopping for an adjustable post, here are a few highlights of the Reverb:

Specs: (via SRAM)

Ups

• 125mm/ 5″ of adjustment; the post can be set at any point between fully extended and fully slammed
• The action of the post is actuated via a handlebar mounted remote lever via a hydraulic line that comes in a long length so you can fit it to any bike.
• The remote switch looks pretty sweet, and is adjustable; you can tailor the speed of the post’s extension to suit your tastes
• Minimal amount of side to side play
• Adding the correct size post to my carbon frame resolved all my slippage issues
• Light for an adjustable height post
• Nicest post we’ve tried to date
• The Avid Matchmaker mounting makes the cockpit area look super clean
• Bleed kit included, as well as torx wrench and fittings
• You can lift the bike by the seat; post does not extend when lifting the bike by its saddle
• dual-bolt micro-adjust saddle clamp is quality stuff
• Hose guide does a decent job routing the cable, which comes down with the seat
• Smooth action

Downs

• Lever placement: positioning means you can’t flip the bike upside down to service it in the field
• The remote on top is exposed and can break if crashed. If placed on the bottom you can smack it with your knee; I’ve crashed once so far, and the remote took a hit. Fortunately, it is just scratched, and still functions fine.
• You’ll need that bleed kit. My post was coming up when lifting the bike by the seat needing after two rides. This wasn’t an issue, but the seat was also slowly lowering on climbs.
• Cable is super long — you will likely want to shorten it
• Stories of the cable and remote breaking seem common

The Reverb remote lever mounted using the Avid Matchmaker Clamp makes for a clean looking cockpit; especially on a 9-speed setup.

Tech tips gathered from the web

• Check the air spring pressure. Mine was at 170psi and it should be 250psi. Once I added air the return rate improved, as it felt slow after a few rides.
• Be extremely careful clamping the post in a shop stand. It is very easy to damage the hose and/or barb. Do not clamp on the upper section of the post and do not clamp the hose.
• Some good tips from the NSMB Forums

We’ll be reporting back on the good and the bad in follow up posts. Got any tips? Please share them below.

Related posts:

1. Fresh Gear: SDG Formula MT and Carbon iBeam Seatpost
2. Fresh Gear: SDG Duster Saddle and Grips
3. Fresh gear: Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon

I remember the first time I received a boom box for my birthday as a kid. It had a AM/FM radio, and a dual tape deck – and I was stoked. It meant I could head out to the lake with my friends, talk smack, drink wine coolers, and listen to the mix tapes we made. The only problem was that it took 8 D-cell batteries to power it, and those suckers ran out of juice in no time.  It was also the size of a typical Craftsman toolbox. (ie, not small.)

I may have just dated myself with the cassette reference, but the fact remains that kids today don’t need a stereo the size of a footstool to bring their tunes with them. At this point, most of us probably own several types of MP3 players already, and at least one of them travel with us constantly in the form of a phone.

We tried a few portable speakers out in the past when we were traveling, mostly for watching movies and TV on our laptops. They were kind of a pain in the ass. We even bought a padded case to keep the cables, wires and speakers together, but the ones we had kind of sucked. They were a bit louder than the stock laptop speakers, but now that we live in an apartment again like normal people, I haven’t watched utilized the laptop as much for viewing online programming. (instead I’ll watch Netflix on my iPhone using the headphones, although that is a solo viewing experience) That is, until the BoomBotix showed up at the door.

The SkullyBoom SB1 portable speaker

Formerly known as the SkullyBoom, this micro-sized boom box by BoomBotix is pretty rad. Completely self-contained, it is powered by a lithium-ion battery that is easily recharged by a USB cable. We’ve been impress by how long the batteries last as well. Operation is simplified and basic: there is a single button and two jacks on the rear. An LED lights up to let you know when the speaker is on, with different colors to signify whether the unit is charging or low on power. On the back there is one jack for the audio, and one for the USB cable to recharge the batteries. The speakers are encased on a sturdy housing with a street art-toy-style form factor in a shape of a skull. They come in four different colors, with our test model coming in a lavendar color. (that just happens to match my new fixed ride.) The speakers are designed to take with you, and the back of the speaker features a belt clip that makes it easy to carry around. In fact, we rode all over town with our tunes playing and bunny hopped everything in sight, and it didn’t budge a bit. While I haven’t tried it dirt jumping or shuttling yet, I don’t think it would have an issue staying put whatsoever.

The SkullyBoom SB1 Speaker attached via the belt clip.

The cable that runs from the speaker to your music source is a basic two sided headphone style cable, with a retractable cord wrap. I’ve never used one of these before, but it’s brilliant. If my phone came with one of these, I’d probably still be on my original headphones as opposed to on set #2 or 3. With the retractable cord, I was able to play tunes while riding around, and keep the cord neatly tucked away. In fact, the only thing I felt the cable was lacking was a pause or fast forward feature, should a sappy metal ballad or showtune accidentally make its way into your playlist. (um yeah, street cred: -1 but I happen to like that Meatloaf song!)

We’ve been pretty stoked on how much volume these little speakers put out. Audiophiles might complain that they would like more bass, but that would be asking quite a bit more from this little device that is much smaller than most speakers, much less any sub-woofers. The volume is controlled via the music source, which keeps the speaker simple, and having fewer parts is a good thing with less stuff that could break. Inga loves the unit so much it has been hard to get it back from her, especially if she’s in the middle of a reality TV show watching marathon on her crappy PC laptop. (her speakers barely put out any sound, so she is loving the SB1). My brother’s family were equally impressed when they tried it out paired with a portable DVD player- the kids could actually hear the movie as the SkullyBoom puts out quite a bit more volume than the stock speakers.

Rolling through Berkeley with the SB1 attached at the hip.

The only gripe I can think of is that there’s no way to easily fast forward tracks when my phone is in my pocket. If you have a sappy rock ballad or show tune that somehow made it onto your playlist “accidentally”, you are sharing that with your peers whether you like it or not. Heaven forbid your playlist goes from something rad like Iron Maiden to Britney Spears.

I’m not the type to roll around town with broadcasting music blaring all the time, but we’ve found ourselves really pleased with the BoomBotix. If you are into or don’t mind the art toy look, definitely look into this tiny boom box that can.

The SkullyBoom SB1 by BoomBotix retails for about $50. For more info, check them out here.

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Fixed-gear bikes have been around for years, and remain one of the most easily accessible cycling experiences to new urban cyclists due to their low cost of entry. Like single speed mountain bikes, purists love them for their simplicity, if not the hipster stigma that comes with it. Like them or not, they are practical, inexpensive, and fun to ride. With so many single speed road bikes rolling on the streets, it was only a matter of time before larger companies took notice and began creating products that serve this niche. With the arrival of Levi’s new 511 Commuter line of trousers, Levi’s appears poised to take the cycling market by storm. Or at least the cyclists that can pull off the skinny fit look.

Based off their popular skinny fit jeans, the pants utilize a stretch fabric in both denim and khaki iterations. A number of bike-centric features including a u-lock holder, a cell phone pocket, and reinforced seat area add credibility to the effort, complete with  reflective tape on the inner cuffs to add visibility after dark. However,  the big sell of these trousers is the NanoSphere technology found in pants price at twice the price. The light tan nanotechnology fabric utilized in our test sample is known for its water repellant qualities and is treated with a antimicrobial coating to boot.

Rolling the streets of Oakland wearing the 511 Skinny Commuter Jeans by Levi's.

Thankfully we haven’t had to test out how effective the water resistance is yet, but our highly technical and scientific squirt-gun tests show that water beads up and runs off without saturating the material.  Having experienced many wet rides home in the rain, this feature looks to be huge.

The pants are also extremely comfortable to wear and ride in, even when we pedaled across San Francisco twice in a day. In fact, now I’ve been exposed to stretchy denim, my regular denim jeans have been left behind. Comfort wise, they nailed it.

We’re also fans of the interior cell phone pocket that fits an iPhone perfectly. It is nice to know that additional scratches on my screen will be avoided, although my current phone is beyond hope. One feature that didn’t get a bullet point in the Levi’s marketing assault that really deserves it is the inner loop hidden under the left side belt loop. After closer inspection, it appears that every belt loop has it. Whether it was intended or not, I’m super into it, and with the snug fit, having my keys out of my pocket is huge.

The inner loop holds a carbiner with keys perfectly. Which is good, because the pants are a snug fit.

It’s as if someone that actually wears pants to ride bikes had input into the design and features of the pants! This little detail is one of many that really make these trousers stand out. While they are snug initially, the pants are comfortable on longer urban rides. Even after an all day pedal through the wildlands of West Oakland on a bike centric garden tour, they were dry.

The khaki test sample we have has a stain resistant coating, but after several weeks of riding and hours of saddle time, they are starting to look a bit dirty. That said, it is khaki, and I have yet to wash them. The denim sample we recently received is nice and dark, and the same stains wouldn’t be visible due to the color. I’ve been wearing both pants for weeks, and I have yet to wash them. The pants have a anti-funk coating, and something is clearly working…

Levi’s has raised the bar in the cycling trousers market; or is it that their entry had officially announced the presence of a cycling jeans market? The second sample of the denim 511 jeans doesn’t have as much saddle time yet, and we’ll be following up shortly with how they work for off road applications (on the trails and at the dirt jumps) with pads in the dirt.

The only problem with these pants is the lack of different fits. I can pull off the skinny fit, but I’d rather prefer a slim. That said, this is a sweet pair of pants, especially at the price. Check them out at Levi’s.com

Related posts:

1. Review – Levi’s 511 Commuter Jeans
2. Fresh Gear: Shimano M530 Trail Pedals
3. Fresh gear: Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon