The LapelEau is a magnetic tether reel system, which holds the tube of a hydration pack in place, but it allows to be freely pulled or retracted as desired, and retails for $12.00. The US made reels come from the originators of the classic badge reel, which have been used for many years to secure employee badges. I can’t count how many times I have played around with my company badge, zinging it up and down like a yo-yo. The reel uses a military spec 3-strand nylon parachute thread, that has been cycled over 180,000 times, so it should have great durability.

I have used similar tube tethering systems from other hydration companies, such as Hydrapak’s Quantum Clip, but I quickly became enamored with the LapelEau due to it’s excellent functionality.

The LapelEau connects onto the shoulder harness of a hydration pack a couple of inches below the sternum strap or on the sternum strap itself, using a simple Velcro loop. The loop keeps it snugly in place, without any undue movement or creeping. There is a small clip at the reel end that clasps onto the tube, which might take some effort to install depending on the tube’s thickness. To prevent the hydration tube from flopping around when your riding and bouncing along on the trail, they use a set of Neodymium ring magnets at the tube clip, which provides just enough force to keep the tube in place, but still makes it easy to pull it when desired. Neodymium magnets (Nd₂Fe₁₄B) are the most powerful permanent magnets on the market, and a few grams can lift a thousand times its own weight. Neodymium magnets are used in microphones, loudspeakers, headphones, guitar and bass guitar pick-ups, computer hard disks and electric motor for hybrid vehicles, like the Toyota Prius. Due to the strength of the magnets, they even warn you to keep cell phones, credit cards and electronics away from them, else some bad mojo might happen (not tested).

Whenever you want a drink, grab the bite valve and gently pull it towards your mouth, with the reel offering just a subtle amount of resistance. When you’re done, let the bite valve go, and the cord retracts it back into the reel, and the magnets snap things down. On occasion, the magnets didn’t completely lock together, but everything stayed close enough not to cause any issues. I really liked the system, as it was a breeze to use, and keep the tube out of the way, and prevented it from flopping around, which was especially nice on rugged terrain. Anytime, you wanted a drink, you knew exactly where the bite valve was located, so you never had to hunt around for it. Do you know where you hose is located? I never had any issues with bushes or branches grabbing onto the cord, so I can’t comment much on that hazard.

Bottom Line
It’s a great system, that is cheap, and offers excellent functionality, keeping the hose in place, and the bite valve in the same exact location with superb extension and retraction for it from the reel

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Easy to use and install
• Prevents hose from flopping around
• Always know where the bite valve is located
• The reels extension and retraction work flawlessly

Cons

• Cord might catch on things (never had it happen)
• Sometimes the magnets don’t completely close (very minor)

Overall Rating: 5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

The Go Long is an excellent long sleeved jersey, with a generous cut, which is full featured, comfortable and offers exceptional sun protection, while the Days 2 Short are a nice set of shorts, which are simple, durable and have an effective waist adjustment system. All of their products use technical performance materials, that have great wicking and odor properties, and use stretchy material for the utmost in comfort, and movability. It’s interesting bike apparel, that encompass men’s and women’s jerseys and shorts, that are functional, and have enough fashion to allow you to wear it in a normal environment, with a sort of bowling shirt meets western flair, combined together in a nifty package.

Go Long
The Go Long is made from a lightweight 4-way stretch polyester, that has excellent wicking properties, and the material is thick enough that it’s durable, and provides a nice balance of warmth and cooling. It has a straight cut, giving it a loose hanging feel, making it comfortable, with lots of freedom and movement accommodation. The upper section has an angled plaid section of material, which gives it a slight western look to the jersey. There is a long mesh section that starts at the wrist, and extends under the arms and down the sides, which provides superb ventilation and moisture control, and stretch. The Go Long has a full length front zipper which has a flap that closes over it with a set of snaps, adding a nice fashion touch and providing additional functionality, since venting, warmth and cooling can be subtly controlled and tuned by a manipulation of the snaps and zipper. Since the collar sits up high and surrounds the neck, it serves as a sun and wind shield, adding protection for the back and sides of the neck. The Go Long has a snapped front left breast pocket, and a nice zippered lower back pocket with a media port. It’s available in Raven, Bone (as tested) and Powder colors, in Small, Medium, Large, or X-Large, and retails for $99.99.

One would think that a long sleeved and full-length jersey would be overtly hot in the middle of the summer, but the benefits of sun protection, breathable and wickable materials, and a well-designed ventilation system, work in synergy to provide pretty amazing comfort. The Go Long’s open mesh material extends along the sides and under the arms, which offers exceptional ventilation, and really gets some air and circulation where it’s needed most. The jersey wicks the perspiration well, and it dries quickly, so you never feel like you are damp. The full front zipper with the snap flap, was extremely useful, and it was easy to tune the amount of air entry, which assisted in both cold and hot weather. You could open the flap and lower the zipper while climbing, and shut the flap and raise the zipper when descending, which help level out extreme swings of heating and cooling. I can’t overstate enough the superb sun protection the Go Long provided, and the full arm and body coverage, and high collar, help keep the body cooler and the skin safer. After some bouts with skin cancer, I try to keep things well covered. On a couple of rare occasions, when doing some really steep drops and rollers, the length of the front would catch on the saddle’s nose, making for an awkward moment. I did have one snap on the cuff of the sleeve come apart, but it was simple to repair with some pliers.

I had some interesting encounters with equestrians and horses, in which the shirt seemed to invoke a calmer atmosphere and sense of being, which I can only attribute to the subdued pattern, western flair and loose fit of the jersey, but I could be imagining things?

Bottom Line
The Club Ride Go Long jersey is comfortable, and feature laden, with nice fashion sense, with a slight western flair. The full-length zipper, front flap and buttons make a functional system, for either ventilation or warmth, and the collar adds great protection for the neck from the wind and sun. The long cut is nice and loose, and with the stretchy material, and properly placed arm and side mesh panels, makes a highly maneuverable and well ventilated jersey. The material is durable, and thick enough for some warmth, yet highly breathable for cooling, and has excellent moisture management properties.

The Go Long is a comfortable and functional bike jersey, that is also contemporary and casual enough for normal attire, and the superb sun protection and ventilation mesh panels, along with the synergistic front zipper and flap, combine for an excellent package.

Pros

• Comfortable and stretchy
• Durable
• Nice long and baggy cut
• Ventilation tuning with front buttons and full-length zipper
• Sun protection
• Under arm and side mesh panels
• Wickability

Cons

• Snap durability?
• Long front cut can occasionally catch on the saddle nose during uber steep maneuvers

Overall Rating: 4.5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

Go Long Specs:

• MSRP: $99.99
• Visit the Club Ride Go Long website
• Light weight “RideDryWear” wicking polyester
• Full side and arm venting system
• Rear zippered storage pocket with media port
• Quick dry for moisture control
• Front vent system for air flow control
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Colors: Raven, Bone, Powder

Days 2 Short
The two-piece Days 2 Short are comprised of an outer short made from 2-way stretch nylon, and a removable inner Coolmax chamois liner made from a polyester and spandex blend. They have two-hand pockets with a front drop in cell phone slot in the right hand one, and one zippered thigh and back pocket.  It’s available in Raven and Ale (as tested) colors, in Small, Medium, Large, or X-Large, and retails for $99.99. The shorts have a 12″ inseam (mine measured at 11″), which is about the minimum for good coverage while mountain biking, although I prefer mine a tad longer. The front closure uses a simple single snap, and a nice long zipper for natures calls. The shorts have an excellent waist size alerting system, that uses adjustable cams, located at the hip, which allow several inches of play, making for easy changes that don’t slip. The outer short which uses a polyester and spandex blend, has been very durable and the fabric stretches and undulates in the proper directions for maximum comfort. The crotch is gusseted, meaning it has a rhomboid section of fabric sewn in, so that it remains seamless under the naughty bits, for more comfort and roominess. The Coolmax chamois liner had a very open and light mesh, which breathed and ventilated well, and the leg’s cuffs had a nice silicone gripper band for adhesion. I found the liner slightly flimsy, and didn’t fit tight enough for my tastes, as a small amount of compression is athletically beneficial. Although the padding was thick, it was too soft, and needs to be firmer to provide more comfort and protection.

Bottom Line
The Club Ride Days 2 Short are simple and look like a normal set of shorts, and are durable, comfortable, with a decent length and enough useful pockets. They’re baggies without being baggy, and will appeal to a broad spectrum of riders who might not want the Freeride look? The Chamois liners are comfortable and breathe well, but they need a tighter fit and firmer padding. Sans liner, they are a great everyday pair of shorts.

Pros

• Comfortable
• Excellent waist adjustment system
• 2-way stretch material

Cons

• Chamois liner – loose and needs firmer padding
• Inseam seem shorter than 12″

Overall Rating: 3.5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

Days 2 Short Specs:

• MSRP: $99.99
• Visit the Club Ride Days 2 Short website
• Abrasion resistant stretch nylon fabric
• Seamless crotch gusset
• Slip in cell pocket
• Side adjustment cams
• 12 inch inseam
• Colors: Raven , Ale
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL

LifeProof recently released a bike and bar mount for their iPhone LifeProof case, which is a waterproof, snowproof, dustproof and shockproof case. The new mount fits a wide range of bike and motorsport bars, so you can take your iPhone on and off road, and into adverse conditions and environments. The synchronicity of the case and mount, allow you to use cycling GPS apps and normal mobile usage while riding a bike, extending the usefulness of your iPhone.

LifeProof Bike & Bar Mount
The mount is made from a tough high-impact resistant plastic, and it snugly cradles the iPhone case on its back, corners and top edge, without any undue movement. It clamps down with an easy to use handlebar clamp that has three rubber size adapters for varying bar thickness. The thinnest adapter will allow it clamp to fit onto most stems, though I was unable to use it on any of my oversize or irregular shaped stems, as it was too narrow for them. It pivots and locks down using a ball and socket gimbal system, much like a RAM mount, so the angle can easily be adjusted for personal preferences.

It was simple to pop the iPhone in and out of the unit using the top clip-in clasp, as well as the handlebar clamp, making for easy swap outs. It also didn’t need to be over tightened to keep it from moving, but the mount and iPhone aren’t that heavy, so nothing was really torquing things around much. I banged it around on some ugly heinous terrain, through teeth jarring rock gardens, in which the unit was subjected to some severe oscillations, and the iPhone remained rock solid and stable in the mount. Although the mount is designed specifically for their case, other rugged and durable iPhone case types might also fit, but I didn’t test them for sizing constraints nor fit.

Measured Specs:

• Bar mount – 69.6 grams + 10.2 grams or 8.4 grams or 3.7 grams for each adapter band

Conclusions
The unit is robust, easy to use and adjust, and held their iPhone case in a secure and stable manner, though it would be nice to have a way to attach it to oversize mountain-bike stems. I liked how simple it was to pop the case out of the unit, and that it went right back in and remained sturdy and immobile. I crashed a number of times and hit the mount pretty hard, and although it tweaked it out of position, it didn’t cause any damage. I was truly amazed how freakin’ secure and bombproof this held the case, even on the most rugged and gnarly trails, and it never seemed to waver out of place and remained stable, and it retails for a decent $39.95.

Strengths

• Durable and rugged
• Easy to use – bar clamp and case
• Adaptable to multiple bar sizes
• Secure and stable

Weaknesses

• It won’t fit irregular and oversize stems
• Designed for their iPhone case – not tested with other cases?

Overall Rating: 5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

LifeProof Bike and Bar Mount Specs:

• MSRP: $39.95
• Website: http://www.lifeproof.com/lifeproof-store/apple-accessories/bike-mount
• Light weight honeycomb construction with premium high-impact materials for optimal strength to weight ration
• Accepts LifeProof iPhone 4 + iPhone 4S case
• Use your performance and navigation apps in real-time
• All buttons and features accessible in mount, including speaker and microphone.
• Fits wide range of bars and bar-stems
• Adjustable for portrait or landscape orientation
• One-handed release latch for fast insertion and removal of LifeProof case
• Integrated lock switch to prevent unwanted removal of iPhone.
• Rear camera compatible – can be adjusted to vertical angle suitable for video recording activities
• Accepts phone facing in or out
• Compatible with Bluetooth headsets
• Gimbal ball-head allows for the fine adjustment of viewing angle
• Suitable for any use in any weather, seawater, dirt, and snow, including high vibration environments

LifeProof iPhone Case
The LifeProof iPhone 4/4S case is waterproof, snowproof, dustproof and shockproof, and protects the iPhone from abusive encounters with the environment and anything else you can toss at it. The case is around 1/16 inch thick, so it adds a tad more thickness than most other brands, but offers far more robustness and durability. The iPhone inserts tightly into the case, and then gets squeezed in snugly when the halves are closed together, and it takes some decent compression to get all the edges snapped completely shut and seal the waterproof gasket. Once everything is closed up tight, the case is immune to the average hazards tossed at it. To reopen the case, use a quarter or nickel to pry it open, and then it can be peeled apart, and the phone can be popped out. I opened and closed the case quite a few times, and it’s a pretty simple affair to do, just make sure the gasket is clean for complete waterproofness.

Using the touchscreen works pretty well, though on occasion, it takes additional effort to get the icons to work, as they can be less responsive. My kids could still play games on the phone, so I know that the interface was working decently enough for them to be entertained. It’s supposed to work with another screen protector underneath it, but I found the two protectors would stick together and cause clarity issues. In really bright light conditions, out in the full sunshine, the screen is a bit too glossy, and can make it more difficult to view things. The speaker and microphone covers utilize a Gore-Tex membrane, and they work surprisingly well, while still retaining their water and dirt protection qualities. While listening to music the back of the case works as a bass reinforcement device, and you can feel it slamming along like a mini subwoofer, and I thought that was a pretty trick feature. The buttons for volume work well, and the silence switch does its job, though it felt slightly stiff when used. To interface to the headphone jack, there is a watertight screw port, and a special adapter to run accessories, such as waterproof headphones. To use the power or docking port, you just flip the bottom closure flap down, and it’s accessed, although when inserting the plug, the flap gets in the way and there isn’t much maneuvering room due to the tolerances. I ran into an issue when trying to use my car power plugs to charge up the phone, as none of them would fit into the case’s tight recess, so I had to take the case apart to charge the iPhone. It was mildly annoying, but only took a few moments to take the case apart, as long as you had a large coin handy. I finally got a simple USB car charger that just allowed me to use the default iPhone plug, which fortunately doesn’t have any connection issues into the case.

I dropped the phone from 3 feet in the air, and it certainly seemed to offer considerable protection, but I didn’t test the extreme waterproofness (take it under water), so I’ll take their word on it. I got the unit into some hefty rain and snow storms, and plenty of dirt and mud have been thrown up on it, and it has been none the worse from the abuse.

Measured Specs:

• iPhone Case – 31.7 grams

Conclusions
The slim case is rugged and abuse proof, and can offer some serious protection from drops, dirt and water, while still offering full access to the buttons, touchscreen, camera and phone. The touchscreen is too glossy, making it somewhat difficult to view in bright light conditions, and it can be tougher to engage icons and text, but the additional protection is worth the compromises, especially if you use the phone in adverse environments. It’s not cheap at $79.99, but I liked the case, and really appreciated that I don’t have to worry about babying my precious iPhone, as I know it’s well protected.

Pros:

• Durable and rugged
• Back of case offers sound reinforcement
• Slim and light
• Waterproof, snowproof, dustproof and shockproof

Cons:

• Glossy screen can be difficult to view in bright light
• Touchscreen can be less responsive
• Power port recess is tight and might not fit all plugs – especially car chargers
• Expensive

Overall Rating: 4.5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

LifeProof iPhone 4/4S Case Specs:

• MSRP: $79.99
• Website: http://www.lifeproof.com/lifeproof-store/apple-cases/iphone-4-g2
  
• Colors: black, pink, purple, white
• Case Dimensions: 2.6″ (W) x 5.08″ (L) x 0.42″ (D) inner, 0.52″(D) outer edge (66mm (W) x 129mm (L) x 10.8mm (D), 13.3mm (D) outer edge)
• Case Weight: 0.98 oz. (28g)
• Operational Depth: 6.6 feet (2 meters) underwater maximum
• Drop Height: 6.6 feet (2 meters) maximum
  
• Protection
  • Protects against every-day hazards—full IP-68 rating against water and dust, and designed to Military Specifications
  • High degree of shock and impact protection—tested to Military Specifications MIL-STD-810F-516.5 (2 meters/6.6ft drop on all surfaces and edges. 26 tests)
  • Fully sealed protection against minute dust particles
• Freedom
  • Ability to swim and take underwater (2 meters/6.6ft depth). Optional adapter allows use of waterproof headphones underwater
  • Mil-Spec protection that allows you to go anywhere, anytime, and do anything with carefree freedom
• Beauty
  • Ultra-slim and adds only 1/16” (1.5mm) when measured from the center of the phone
• Convenience
  • Weighs less than an ounce (28g).
  • Unique combination of materials that will not stick to your pocket
  • Compatible with all iPhone 4′s and 4S’s (International, AT&T and Verizon).
• Full Functionality
  • Double AR-coated optical glass lenses provide unprecedented crystal-clear photo and video quality
  • All phone features are operational while maintaining a high level of protection
  • Improves the bass and mid-frequency speaker response by utilizing the back of the case as a sub-woofer for a richer, fuller sound.

Syntace had a few new tidbits they announced at the 2011 Interbike and Eurobike shows, and I’ve been testing them over the last couple of months. The two new trick components are the Syntace P6 Carbon HiFlex seatpost and Megaforce 2 stem. The carbon post has an interesting layup which provides some fore-and-aft flex, but side to side stiffness, while the lightweight yet stiff DH/AM stem has a rectangular shape and low stack height, and is offered in 30mm to 80mm lengths. Syntace backs up their excellent products with an outstanding 10 year warranty on all material and manufacturing defects, as long as their installed and used per their owner’s manual.

P6 Carbon HiFlex
The Syntace P6 Carbon HiFlex seatpost uses a full carbon tube that is bonded to a 7075 aluminum cold forged 3D alloy head, which has a two-bolt micro adjustment system for the clamp. The carbon tube layup orients its flex longitudinally along the bike frame axis, instead of out towards the sides, by their specific combination of uni-directional and load-orientated fibers, and offers a sturdy yet resilient ride, with excellent damping. The innovative adjustment system utilizes a short 30mm upper clamp, and a long 53mm bottom one, allowing for a great deal of saddles rearward positioning, and the extended lower length supports fragile titanium and carbon rails. The two-bolt’s are pivoted and are situated symmetrical in the direction of force, and give infinite micro-adjustability. The bolts are easy to access and adjust, and can be cranked down with a stout 8 Nm of force, and the system allows a useful 30° pivot range. The post is available in diameters of 34.9mm, 31.6mm, 30.9mm, and 27.2mm and 300mm and 400mm lengths, and an optional 480mm for 34.9mm. It comes in black, and retails for $274, and weighs in around 220 grams.

Impressions
The P6 Carbon HiFlex is a gorgeous post, with the atypical Germanic industrial ascetics, that has a solid feel in the hands. I squirted a bit of my trusty LPS-1 greaseless lube onto the shaft to make insertion easier and to prevent any sticking issues, and placed the post into my Ibis Mojo HD and clamped it down. I loosened the head bolts about halfway out, and jammed the fat SMP saddle rails into the clamp, without much effort, which is usually not the case with most systems. I alternated tightening the bolts until I got the horizontal angle close to my personal requirements, and gave the saddle some taps to move it rearward, and then tightened everything up to the correct torque specifications. I really liked how simple it was to get the saddle tilted, and that the bolts were located in a spot in which a hex wrench didn’t interfere with the post’s tube. The system was bombproof, stout and very stable, and the beefy bolts could easily be cranked down to a massive 8 Nm, and I never had anything slip, loosen or squeak on me. Even after multiple months of use, it has remained quiet, and my regular adjustment of its height has barely shown any scratches or wear marks on the tube’s surface, which is a great testament to the post’s toughness.

The post offered a very interesting ride, and depending on which way the post was loaded it offered a plush or stiff response. When seated in the saddle jamming down through rough terrain, the post gave a resilient and softened feel, with superb damping, and while pushed off axis for steering and control, the ride was stable and stiff. The characteristics were easily perceived on a 6-inch suspension bike, and it removed the harsh edge off things, and give the impression of the silkiness that titanium can provide. When you cranked the saddle hard on its side, and wanted precision and control, for technical maneuvers and railing through turns, the seatpost provided an ample amount of stoutness and stiffness. Depending on how you worked the saddle, the seatpost connected you to the bike with excellent damping and micro-suspension and ride feel, or precise laser-like control. The post went through extensive FEM (finite-element method) and brutal testing, including being subjected to their torturous VR-3 machine, highlighting its toughness and strength and high-quality standards.

Measured spec (31.6mm x 400mm):

• weight – 210.8 grams
• length (rail to bottom) – 401mm

The excellent two-bolt micro adjustment system, its silky or stiff ride depending on load direction, along with its extensive testing, make the Syntace P6 Carbon HiFlex a superb and rugged seatpost.

Pros:

• Excellent two-bolt micro adjustment system
• Superb damping and micro absorption when loaded longitudinally
• Stiff and precise when loaded on the side
• Tough and strong
• Long lower support and short upper – stable, great for fragile rails and gives maximum fore and aft tuning

Cons:

• Expensive

Overall Rating: 4.5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

Specs:

• MSRP – $274
• Visit the Syntace P6 Carbon seatpost website
• Weights – Ø 34.9 mm – 232 g (480 mm),  Ø 34.9 mm – 219 g (400 mm), Ø 31.6 mm – 214 g (400 mm), Ø 30.9 mm – 213 g (400 mm), Ø 27.2 mm – 226 g (400 mm)
• Diameter – Ø 27.2 mm, Ø 30.9 mm, Ø 31.6 mm and Ø 34.9 mm
• Available Length – 300 mm, 400 mm and 480 mm
• Minimum insert tube – 90 mm (120 mm at Ø 34.9)
• Material – Carbon fiber/ Aluminum
• Color – Carbon/ Raceblack

Syntace Megaforce 2
The new Megaforce 2 stems are designed for 31.8mm bars and 1 1/8 inch steerer diameters, have a 36mm stack height and flip-flop 6° rise. The stem has a rectangular shape for increased torsional stiffness and lower weight, and has a wide front clamp, all of which help with running uber wide 800mm bars. It is available in 30mm, 40mm, 50mm, 60mm, 70mm, and 80mm lengths, with weights between 107 to 149 grams (respectively), and retails for $150, and comes in black only with a flush mounting steerer cap.

Impressions
The Megaforce 2 stems are well built, and are stout and burly beasts. The rectangular cross profile of the stem and the front clamp’s width, make for a very stiff and minimally flex-free bar and stem interface, even when using bars of 740mm and greater. I never felt any sort of movement even when really torquing the bars hard, so the new design works extremely well. I used the stem predominately with their 740mm Vector bars, and not a hint of sloppiness pulsed back to the steering.  The bolts screwed in with precision, and the clamps all fit snugly when torqued down, showing the tightly engineered tolerances. I think the shorter length versions, and especially the 30mm will be greatly appreciated by a lot of riders. As always, the stems were subjected to their torturous VR-3 machine, highlighting its toughness and strength and high-quality standards.

Measured Spec (80mm length):

• Weight – 158.2 grams
• Length – 83mm
• Stack height – 36mm
• Front plate width – 48mm

Not much to say about this beast. It’s a plainly adorned stem, that does the job well, and performs its simple activity in the background, and is never noticed. Simple  is, as simple does!

Strengths

• Stiff and burly
• Excellent length coverage from uber short 30mm to longer 80mm
• Clamping system – no slippage
• Precise bolt interaction

Weaknesses

• Expensive

Overall Rating: 4 Flamin’ Chili Peppers
Specs:

• MSRP – $150
• Visit the Syntace Megaforce 2 stem website
• Lengths & Weights -30 mm: 107 g, 40 mm: 116 g, 50 mm: 122 g, 60 mm: 127 g, 70 mm: 138 g and 80 mm: 149 g
• Steerer Ø – 28.6 mm (1 1/8″)
• Steerer Height – 36 mm
• Minimum Insert (steerer) – 30 mm
• Handlebar Clamp Ø – 31.8 mm
• Angle – 6° FlipFlop
• Color -Raceblack

Vector 31.8 Carbon Bars
The Syntace Vector 31.8 Carbon handlebars have a 10mm rise, 31.8mm clamp, 680mm or 740mm width and a 9° or 12° sweep. The stem clamp area has an ‘in-molded titanium lattice’, which helps protect the handlebar from any crushing loads, and acts as an anti-slip zone. There is an increased wall thickness under the area where the shift and brake clamps reside for additional protection in those sections. Syntace utilizes a complex arrangement of the individual fiber layers, combined with loading them in an optimized cross section to give a resilient, strong and stiff bar. It comes in black, weighs from 190 -220 grams, and retails for $185.

Impressions
The Vector 31.8 Carbon is not only strong, but they have the excellent absorption and damping qualities that are common to the carbon fiber material. Even with the damping attributes, the bars still have a great stiffness to them, and the two properties together give incredible steering abilities, giving rise to laser-like qualities even while bashing them through the roughest terrain. The titanium lattice kept the bars from moving and slipping at the stem interface, even when using less than the recommended torque specifications. I liked the 740mm width (as tested), which I find optimal, and it gave great power and control, especially in ugly gnarly terrain, allowing me to apply maximum torque when required. I also enjoyed the extreme sweep of the 12° version, as they provided a comfortable and ergonomic platform, giving me less fatigue and better grip. I took some great diggers and crashes, and the bars are none the worse for that wear and tear. Like all of their cockpit components, the bars spent some up close and personal time on their killer VR-3 machine, meaning they can take a monstrous amount of realistic abuse, and once again highlighting the amazing toughness and longevity of their product.

Measured Spec (12° x 740mm) :

• Weight – 215.6 grams
• Length – mm

The wide Vector 31.8 Carbon are an excellent handlebar, as they’re strong, stiff when needed, yet provided a small degree of damping for a superlative ride, and the comfortable sweep was a welcome change.

Pros:

• Anti-slip titanium lattice
• Just the perfect combination of damping and control and stiffness
• Excellent ergonomic 12°  sweep
• Tough and strong

Cons:

• Expensive

Overall Rating: 4.5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

 Specs:

• MSRP – $185
• Visit the Syntace Vector 31.8 Carbon handlebar website
• Weight – 680 mm: 189 g, 740 mm (8°): 208 g and 740 mm (12°): 219 g
• Width -  680 mm can be shortened up to 640 mm, 740 mm can be shortened up to 700 mm
• Rise – 10 mm
• Clamp Ø – 31.8 mm
• Sweep – 8° or 12°
• Color – Carbon

Syntace and their Testing
Syntace is located in Tacherting, Germany, just north of Salsberg near the Austrian border, and has been around a long time. They manufacture excellent products, including handlebars, stems and tools, in the usual highly engineered German fashion. What sets Syntace apart is their extensive testing of their products. They literally abuse their products to death, doing intensive corrosion, impact and hardness testing, along with a lot of detailed hand measurements to keep everything to their exacting standards. They test their products with the VR-3, which is a spiffy computerized tester, that can simulate pushing and pulling loads, alternate those loads on either side of the bars, stems and posts to simulate light to hard impacts, and do those simulations in an iterative process over long periods of time. What that means is they can reproduce, in a short period of time, all the punishment that we would replicate over many years of use. Very real-world testing!

The G-Form company makes protection gear for consumer electronics and extreme athletic endeavors, that makes use of PORON XRD, which is a density changing and impact rate-dependent material. The basis of their product is RPT, which is Reactive Protection Technology, and is a combination of the PORON XRD material and their proprietary G-Form technology. What the product does is stiffens instantly on an impact, and it absorbs over 90% of the energy, providing excellent protection in a lightweight and flexible format. They had a small demonstration at Interbike this year, in which they dropped a bowling ball on some M&Ms that were in cased inside the product, and they survived with very little damage, showing how much energy was dissipated, and protection was provided. The change in durometer of the material during impact is easy to test, and if you slowly poke the material it’s soft, squishy and pliable and leaves an obvious dent, while if you slam it fast and hard, it stiffens up substantially with less penetration.

The G-Form exoskeleton armor comes in three different versions currently, the Knee Pad, the Shin Pad and the Elbow Pad, with each retailing for $49.95. They should hopefully be releasing a compressive shirt and crash shorts; shown above; some time this year?  The slip-on armor utilizes an elastic fabric tube, made from a nylon and spandex blend, in which the molded RPT padding is flat stitched onto the material. The top cuff of the tube has a silicone gripper band, which offers adhesion, to prevent the armor from creeping and moving downwards during use. The design mimics a set of arm or knee warmers, and the fabric fits snugly to assist in keeping things in place, and also provides compressive qualities. They come in eight sizes, 2XS, XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL and 3 XL, so they’ll cover the gamut of body shapes and girths. Their website has detailed sizing charts for each of the versions to make sure you get the appropriate fitting set of armor.

They all share the same sort of segmented pattern for the pads, in the shape of a cross or diamond, with a circular section in the middle, which then radiates outwards with smaller sections and segments, with cutouts and depressions to facilitate flexing, movement and articulation. The knee pad covers a larger surface area, and has a protuberance that extends around the edge of the knee to protect the joint, while the shin and elbow share the exact same shape and size. The knee padding is slightly thicker than the shin and elbow versions, approximately 8mm vs 6mm, respectively. The fabric tube is black, while the padding comes in either basic black or a bright neon yellow color.

Measured Specs:

	Size	Pad Size	Pad Thickness	Weight
Shin Pad	11" x 5"	8.5" x 6.5"	6mm	99 grams
Elbow Pad	13" x 5"	8.5" x 6.5"	6mm	103 grams
Knee Pad	12" x 5.5"	9" x 8.5"	8mm	141 grams

Impressions
The ridges, shape and hinges of the gear, which look very skeletal, help the padding flex and bend when in use, to prevent any binding and to aid in better conformability, for comfort and proper impact absorption. The entire scheme of things takes on a Spiderman or Super Hero look, albeit in a geeky manner, but I happened to like the way they looked, although it might not be everyone’s cup of tea?  Plus, you can try out for a part on the new Tron sequel if the armor doesn’t pan out?

The product is lightweight, very flexible, breathes well, isn’t bulky and can be tossed into the washer when needed. The way the pad is shaped and molded, and that it’s attached to a compressive and stretchy fabric, helps keep the padding close to the body, in a very form fitting matter, so that it won’t move out of place during usage, enhancing its functionality and protection properties. The design does mean you have to take your shoes off to put on the knee and shin guard, but that can be a common issue with many armor systems.

What really sets the armor apart from the rest of the crowd is its incredible comfort. You can put any of the versions on, and ride around for 4-6 hours, and hardly notice you are wearing anything, and it almost feels like your just wearing a set of Lycra warm ups. The elbow and shin guards were especially invisible, while the knee was pretty close, but it would be occasional binding on the back of the knee during long spin sessions, due to the bunching of the material. With all the hinges and cut out design, the pads were highly flexible and offered little resistance, offering a great amount of freedom of movement, so spinning, body contortions and technical maneuvers were never constraining. The slim fit, and lack of bulk meant that they can be worn under clothing, without any bind issues. In warm weather, the armor got slightly warm, but it was never obtrusively hot, and the material wicked and breathed well, keeping the moisture level to a minimum.

I found the knee pads stuck like glue on my legs, and didn’t creep on me, and I greatly appreciated rarely having to yank them back into place. The elbow pads unfortunately liked to creep down, and would require some periodic rearrangement, which was a pain if you were wearing them under a long-sleeved shirt. Getting a smaller size helped somewhat, but it was still a problem. As far as sizing goes, I found that it was best to go up one size on the knees, else they were too constrictive, and stay with their recommended size for the shin and elbows that are listed on their website.

Surprisingly, the armor has been incredibly durable, and no stitching has pulled, and none of the armor plates have been degraded nor abraded, and the only thing that shows wear, was their small decals are peeling off. I am not a nice person to gear, and my substantial abuse, including multiple crashing, trail maintenance work, along with hard usage and multiple washings have done nothing to them, and they have proven to be undeniably rugged. The yellow colored pads showed a few dirt spots, but it was very minimal, and I liked the yellow contrast against the black fabric, and thought it looked cooler than the black padding.

I took some decent crashes in rock gardens, rolls and sliders in the dirt, and impalement into bushes and trees, and the armor did a great job in absorbing the impact and protecting my body, and the only thing I came up with was an underlying scratch or two. Even with some prodigious encounters with terra firma, I was well protected and the armor did not abrade nor did the fabric get torn, again emphasizing the durability of the product. I used the armor in some pretty ferocious All Mountain terrain, and I felt more than comfortable and safe using the product, and consider it well suited to anything outside of full blown downhill adventures. One odd thing, is that in really cold weather, the padding gets stiffer, so it has a bit less flexibility, albeit the impact properties remain the same, offering the normal crash and safety protection. The product isn’t going to offer the prodigious amount of protection that a heavy duty set of armor can provide, but it is obviously not where this set of gear is meant to compete. It offers pretty great protection in the conditions and terrain that most of us will ride in, and I can vouch for the safety and protection it provided me in some fairly heinous that I ventured into, and it adds the benefit of being extremely comfortable and flexible.

I do wish the knee had some additional padding on the sides of the knees, and that the shin had something that wrapped around the ankle, both of which would offer some protection to vulnerable areas.

I am also testing one of their computer G-Form Extreme Sleeve units, but I doubt I will try to purposely drop my laptop to see if it survives? They have a wicked video on their website in which they drop an iPad in one of their sleeves from 60 feet in the air, to show the amount of protections the product provides. I will try and obtain a case to test out my new iPad that I received for the holidays.

Bottom Line
The G-Form body armor, which includes the Knee, Elbow and Shin guards are supremely comfortable, lightweight and very flexible. The Reactive Protection Technology (RPT), which is a composite blends of the PORON XRD material and their proprietary G-Form technology, offers a slim form fitting set of armor, and the synchronicity of the exoskeletal pads with all its segmentation, and the elastic and compressive fabric provides an ideal combination of safety, comfort and protection. This armor can withstand multiple crashes and significant abuse and hasn’t shown any signs of wear and tear, outside of the decals peeling off. It is pretty impressive how durable the armor has been, while still offering great protection and excellent freedom of movement.

I only had a few minor nitpicks with the armor: The back of the knee can bind sometimes on long rides, and I wish it had additional protection on the sides, and the elbow creeps downwards, and the shin can be tough to pull on.

This product suite is the most comfortable set of body armor I’ve ever worn, and the knee pads are the highlight. They are comfy, stick like glue while wearing, and offer great safety and protection in moderately heinous terrain at respectable speeds.

Strengths

• Incredible comfort
• Exceptional durability
• Good price point
• Lightweight, breathable and flexible

Weaknesses

• Knee Pad – material can bind on the back of the knee on long rides
• Knee Pad – needs additional padding along the sides
• Elbow Pad – they can creep downwards
• Shin Pad – they’re hard to pull on

MSRP: $49.95

Knee Guard – Overall Rating: 5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers
Elbow and Shin Guard – Overall Rating: 4.5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

G-Form Armor Specs:

• Visit the G-Form website, Knee, Elbow and Shin
• MSRP – $49.95
• Flexible • Lightweight • Breathable • Wicking fabric
• Utilizing RPT – Reactive Protection Technology
• Composite blend of PORON XRD material and proprietary G-Form materials and technology
• Stretchy and compressive fabric – nylon and spandex blend
• Sizes – 2XS to 3XL
• Colors – Black and Yellow
• Lifetime warranty

These mountain-bike fenders from the German SKS company, are part of their oversized line, and are meant for big fat meaty tires in mud and rain. The fenders are easy and quick to install and remove, have ultra wide coverage, and are made from a high quality dual compound plastic. I have used them throughout the Summer, Fall and part of the Winter, and they have been outstanding, and have kept me from getting the brunt of water, slush, snow, dirt, and mud during inclement and atrocious weather conditions. I was most appreciative of the fenders during high speed runs, when you weren’t constantly bombarded by flung up dirt and mud.

GRAND D.A.D.
The GRAND D.A.D. or Dual Adjustible Dirtboard, is their fork based fender, and is designed for 26-inch tires. The fender is 24 inches long and 4 inches wide, and use’s a dual-compound plastic, with a softer and flexible gray section at the rear. It clamps on by inserting a wedge system into the bottom of the fork’s crown, and the included hardware kit has adapters for 1 inch to 1.5 inch diameter steerer tubes. The insertion system has a quick-release connection, and has front and rear horizontal adjustment, and front vertical adjustments to fit a variety of forks and frames. It comes in basic Black, and retails for $35.

GRAND D.A.D.
The GRAND D.A.D. or Dual Adjustible Dirtboard, is their fork based fender, and is designed for 26-inch tires. The fender is 24 inches long and 4 inches wide, and use’s a dual-compound plastic, with a softer and flexible gray section at the rear. It clamps on by inserting a wedge system into the bottom of the fork’s crown, and the included hardware kit has adapters for 1 inch to 1.5 inch diameter steerer tubes. The insertion system has a quick-release connection, and has front and rear horizontal adjustment, and front vertical adjustments to fit a variety of forks and frames. It comes in basic Black, and retails for $35.

 Impressions
This fat tire beast is easy to install once the proper adapter is chosen, and the installation is understood, but the included multiple language instruction manual is a bit cryptic and too concise, so it takes some additional time to decipher the fender’s idiosyncrasies. You choose the largest wedge that fits into the fork’s crown tube, and screw in the quick-release bolt until the wedge expands, and tightly holds the fender in situ.  Lastly, you slide on a bright orange cover to keep everything protected and in place. Unfortunately, the cover is easy to misplace and lose, so it didn’t take me too long to accomplish that brain-dead maneuver. If any fine tuning is required for fitting things to the frame or fork, the front half of the fender has a simple three notch vertical height adjuster. The horizontal adjustment is a bit more involved and requires taking the wedge system apart, and then the front and rear sections can independently be moved fore and aft as required.

It’s nice to have a fender that is this wide, since a majority of the fenders on the market don’t have enough coverage for 2.35 inch to 4 inch tires. I found that it gave more than adequate protection from crud being flung up, and it kept me drier and cleaner. It didn’t provide much coverage for the feet, but the rear doesn’t swing down enough to provide the additional spray pattern. Even with 7 inches of suspension, the fender did an admirable job, which is pretty amazing considering the large distance it needs to cover. I never had any rubbing issues with the frame or fork once I did some fine tuning, and the only thing that ever rubbed was the front brake cable, which was exacerbated by my moto style setup.

Measured Specs:

• Length – 24 inches
• Width – 4 inches
• Weight – 150 to 157 grams (depending on adapter used)

The GRAND D.A.D is an excellent wide front fender, and is meant for uber wide tires. It’s easy to take on and off, is secure and stable, and can fit a wide variety of forks and frames.

Pros:

• Good coverage
• It fits fat and wide tires
• Easy on and off – excellent wedge system
• It fits multiple fork sizes with simple adapter change
• Soft and flexible rear section
• Secure and stable
• Rugged and durable

Cons:

• Cryptic and confusing install manual
• Horizontal adjustment is cumbersome
• Easy to loose bottom orange protection cover (I did)

Overall Rating: 4.5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

Grand D.A.D. Specs:

• Visit the SKS GRAND D.A.D website
• Grand D.A.D. offers optimal dirt protection due to its extra-wide size and high-quality, dual-compound plastic
• Rear board consists of a softer component so wheel contact is not a problem in extreme conditions
• Mounts easily to fork crown;  Includes fork mounting hardware and built in quick release
• 2-point angle adjustment ensures an optimal frame fit
• D.A.D. – ‘Dual Adjust Dirtboard’
• Color – Black
• Tire Size – 26″
• Coverage – Handles tires up to 4.0″ wide

GRAND M.O.M
The GRAND M.O.M or MTB Oversize Mudguard is their rear fender, and is 20 inches long and 4 inches wide, and is constructed with a dual-compound plastic, with a softer and flexible gray section at the rear. It clamps onto the seatpost with their SKS Power strip, which utilizes an adjustable length of nylon webbing that wraps around the post, and clamps shut with a rocker clasp. The angle of the fender can be adjusted, with a small hex bolt located aft of the strap system. The Power strip system and angle adjustment allow the fender to fit a wide variety of frames and suspension travel. It comes in basic Black, and retails for $30.

 Impressions
Initially installing the fender was simple, and you just adjust the strap’s length until the clasp clamps down snugly onto the seatpost without any unnecessary movement from the fender. You’ll need to adjust the angle of the fender depending on the requirements of the frame geometry and suspension travel constraints, which requires the loosening of the bolts on both sides of the unit, and tilting the fender to its desired pitch. Taking the fender on and off was a simple task, and only took a few moments to install.

Unfortunately, the seemingly simple strap system frequently loosened, and would require minor re-adjustments to get the proper amount of tightness so that it wouldn’t move. When riding in rough terrain or if the fender was even slightly hit, the strap would sometimes loosen, making for an annoying experience. If it was raining really hard, the strap got wet and tended to stretch, and would require a re-tightening, but at least I expected that to happen. On extremely rough and bumpy terrain, the fender flopped around too much, and it could be felt bouncing around on the rear of the bike. I also found that when I tossed a leg over the bike, I tended to hit the fender, and the strap would loosen, or it would get knocked out of place, so I had to train myself with more agility when mounting my steed, or perhaps I need to do more yoga?

“Hey Yoga Girl… I just wanna know your world…
When you do your chattaranga do your toes curl? Hey Yoga Girl”

If you could get the strap set properly, and it didn’t loosen, it worked admirably, and the width of the fender gave good coverage, and prevented unwanted debris from flinging up, even on long travel bikes. I enjoyed not having mud tossed up onto my back, and it worked nicely with my fat 2.4 inch tires and 6 inches of suspension. Perhaps their ratchet lock-down system where the webbing is adjusted needs to clamp with more force to keep the strap from sliding?

Measured Specs:

• Length – 20 inches
• Width – 4 inches
• Weight – 185 grams

The GRAND M.O.M is a good wide rear fender, and is meant for uber wide tires, and it’s simple to install, and easy to take on and off. Although it offers great coverage, it tends to flop around on rugged terrain, and the strap system likes to loosen, and requires occasional adjustment of the tightness.

Pros:

• Good coverage
• It fits fat and wide tires
• Easy on and off
• Simple install
• Soft and flexible rear section

Cons:

• Attachment strap would loosen too frequently and require adjustment
• Attachment strap would stretch in rain storms
• Floppy on rugged terrain

Overall Rating: 3.5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

GRAND M.O.M Specs:

• MSRP: $30
• Visit the SKS GRAND M.O.M website
• M.O.M. (MTB Oversize Mudguard)
• Color – Black
• Quick-release power strap secures tightly to nearly any size seat tube
• 2-point angle adjustment ensures an optimal frame fit
• Heavy-duty, dual-compound plastic is long-lasting

LifeProof recently released a bike, and bar mount for their iPhone LifeProof case, which is a waterproof, snowproof, dustproof and shockproof case. The new mount fits a wide range of bike and motorsport bars, so you can take your iPhone on and off road, and into adverse conditions and environments. The mount is made from a tough high-impact resistant plastic, and it snugly cradles the iPhone case on its back, corners and top edge, without any undue movement. It clamps down with an easy to use handlebar clamp that has three rubber size adapters for varying bar thickness, though I was unable to use it on any of my stems as it was much too narrow for the typical mountain sizes. It pivots and locks down using a ball and socket gimbal system, much like a RAM mount, so the angle can easily be adjusted for personal preferences. It was simple to pop the iPhone in and out of the unit using the top clip-in clasp, as was the handlebar clamp, making for easy swap outs. I banged it around a bit on a ride, and it kept the iPhone from outlandishly bouncing around, but due to weight and girth of the iPhone it wasn’t smooth as glass, but it’s not like I am staring at the screen as I ride along?

Update: I used it on a ride with extensive rough terrain, and the unit remained rock solid.

The unit is robust, easy to use and adjust, and held the iPhone in a secure stable manner, though it would be nice to have a way to attach it to the average mountain-bike stem.

LifeProof iPhone Case
The LifeProof iPhone 4/4S case is waterproof, snowproof, dustproof and shockproof, and protects the iPhone from abusive encounters with the environment and anything else you can toss at it. The case is around 1/16 inch thick, so it adds a tad more thickness than most other brands, but offers far more robustness and durability. The iPhone inserts tightly into the case, and then gets squeezed snugly when the halves are closed together, and it takes some decent compression to get all the edges snapped completely shut and seal the waterproof gasket. Once everything is closed up tight, the case is immune to the average hazards tossed at it.

Using the touchscreen works pretty well, though on occasion, it takes additional effort to get the icons to work, as they can be less responsive. It’s supposed to work with another screen protector underneath it, but I found the two protector would stick together and cause clarity issues. The speaker and microphone covers utilize a Gore-Tex membrane, so they surprisingly work quite well, while still retaining their water and dirt protection qualities. The back of the case actually works as a bass reinforcement device when listening to music. The buttons for volume work well, and the silence switch does its job, though it felt slightly stiff. To interface to the headphone jack, there is a screw port, and a special adapter to run accessories, such as waterproof headphones. To use the power or docking port, you just flip the bottom closure flap down, and it’s easily accessed. I dropped the phone from 3 feet in the air, and it certainly seemed to offer considerable protection, but I didn’t test the waterproofness, so I’ll take their word on it.

The slim case is rugged and abuse proof, and can offer some serious protection from drop, dirt and water, while still offering full access to the buttons, touchscreen, camera and phone. The touchscreen is too glossy, making it difficult to view in bright conditions, and it can be tougher to engage icons and text, but the additional protection is worth the compromise, especially if you use the phone in adverse environments.

Update: I ran into an issue when trying to use my car power plug to charge up the phone, as none of them would fit into the phone’s recess, so I had to take the case apart to charge the iPhone. It was mildly annoying, but only took a few moments to take using a large coin to start the opening process.

LifeProof iPhone 4/4S Case Specs:

• MSRP:  $79.99
• Website:  http://www.lifeproof.com/lifeproof-store/apple-cases/iphone-4-g2
  
• Colors:  black, pink, purple, white
• Case Dimensions: 2.6″ (W) x 5.08″ (L) x 0.42″ (D) inner, 0.52″(D) outer edge (66mm (W) x 129mm (L) x 10.8mm (D), 13.3mm (D) outer edge)
• Case Weight: 0.98 oz. (28g)
• Operational Depth:  6.6 feet (2 meters) underwater maximum
• Drop Height:  6.6 feet (2 meters) maximum
  
• Protection
  • Protects against every-day hazards—full IP-68 rating against water and dust, and designed to Military Specifications
  • High degree of shock and impact protection—tested to Military Specifications MIL-STD-810F-516.5 (2 meters/6.6ft drop on all surfaces and edges. 26 tests)
  • Fully sealed protection against minute dust particles
• Freedom
  • Ability to swim and take underwater (2 meters/6.6ft depth). Optional adapter allows use of waterproof headphones underwater
  • Mil-Spec protection that allows you to go anywhere, anytime, and do anything with carefree freedom
• Beauty
  • Ultra-slim and adds only 1/16” (1.5mm) when measured from the center of the phone
• Convenience
  • Weighs less than an ounce (28g).
  • Unique combination of materials that will not stick to your pocket
  • Compatible with all iPhone 4′s and 4S’s (International, AT&T and Verizon).
• Full Functionality
  • Double AR-coated optical glass lenses provide unprecedented crystal-clear photo and video quality
  • All phone features are operational while maintaining a high level of protection
  • Improves the bass and mid-frequency speaker response by utilizing the back of the case as a sub-woofer for a richer, fuller sound.

LifeProof Bike and Bar Mount Specs:

• MSRP: $39.95
• Website:  http://www.lifeproof.com/lifeproof-store/apple-accessories/bike-mount
• Light weight honeycomb construction with premium high-impact materials for optimal strength to weight ration
• Accepts LifeProof iPhone 4 + iPhone 4S case
• Use your performance and navigation apps in real-time
• All buttons and features accessible in mount, including speaker and microphone.
• Fits wide range of bars and bar-stems
• Adjustable for portrait or landscape orientation
• One-handed release latch for fast insertion and removal of LifeProof case
• Integrated lock switch to prevent unwanted removal of iPhone.
• Rear camera compatible – can be adjusted to vertical angle suitable for video recording activities
• Accepts phone facing in or out
• Compatible with Bluetooth headsets
• Gimbal ball-head allows for the fine adjustment of viewing angle
• Suitable for any use in any weather, seawater, dirt, and snow, including high vibration environments

The GoPro plastic mounts work decently, but the knobs are difficult to tighten by hand, and they usually require a large screwdriver to torque them down enough to prevent the housing from creeping. Even when they are tightened down properly, the housing can still move if you accidentally hit it too hard while riding. There are some tricks you can do to prevent unwanted movement, such as roughing up the smooth plastic pivots with some sandpaper, but it can still move on occasion, which can ruin your recorded video footage.

Enter the K-EDGE GO-BIG camera mounts, made from 6061 T6 aluminum alloy, which are well made, burly and come with a lifetime guarantee. The CNC mounts come in four versions, the Pro Handlebar, Handlebar, Pro Saddle Rail and GoPro Adapter. They currently come in three colors, gunmetal gray, red and black. All the mounts use 3mm hex head bolts, and the camera to mount connection is the default 3 into 2 toothed GoPro set up.

Once these suckers are clamped down, neither the mount nor the camera is going to move, making for a rock-solid camera connection to their respective attachment points. Removing some of the inherent slop from GoPro mounts creates video footage with better clarity, less jello-vision and motion artifacts, all of which offer a better-quality end product.

K-EDGE GO BIG Pro Handlebar Mount for GoPro Hero
The three-piece GO BIG Pro Handlebar mounts use a two bolt 31.8mm clamp, weighs 45 grams, and can be mounted upside down (as shown) or right-side up, and retails for $59.99. I really like this design, since it places the camera out in front of the handlebars.

Company Fodder:
K-EDGE GO BIG Pro Handlebar Mount is designed to lock your GoPro camera securely in front of your handlebar; out of the way of your vision and out of the way of your hands – like a cantilevered movie camera boom with rock solid reliability. Two bolt clamp system attaches to the oversized 31.8mm diameter portions of the handlebar near the stem. No more vibration in your videos, no more camera falling off your bike, and most importantly no more lost memories. This is an elite level cycling camera mount by the makers of the K-EDGE Chain Catcher, chosen by the world’s best cyclists to ensure success in the Tour de France or your next ride. Go big or go home but don’t go without a bomb-proof K-EDGE GO BIG Mount for your GoPro camera!

• Part #: K13-420
• Made in the USA. CNC Machined 6061 T6 Aluminum
• Weight – 46 grams, super light, super strong, Compatibility – fits 31.8mm diameter bars, all mounting hardware included
• Two position design – in front and below or in front and above handlebar
• Lifetime Guarantee – if you break it, we will replace it

K-EDGE GO BIG Pro Saddle Rail Mount for GoPro(TM) Hero
The three-piece Go-Big Pro Saddle Rail mount uses a two bolt clamp that connects to the rails of a saddle, weighs 42 grams, and holds camera facing backwards and upside down, and retails for $49.99. I suppose you could also place the mount in front of the seatpost for a unique viewpoint, but I presume it would get in the way while pedaling? I like how it holds the camera out away from the seatpost, and its simplicity, since the GoPro usually requires additional mounting arms.

Company Fodder:
K-EDGE GO BIG Pro Saddle Rail Mount is designed to lock your GoPro camera securely under your bicycle saddle with rock solid reliability. Quick and easy attachment to standard bicycle saddle rails with camera angle adjustability to dial in your video and photos. Make your buddies jealous while making them look like heroes (albeit while riding your wheel) with this no shake, no break, and no worry’s camera mounts. This is an elite level cycling camera mount by the makers of the K-EDGE Chain Catcher, chosen by the world’s best cyclists to ensure success in the Tour de France or your next ride. Go big or go home but don’t go without a bomb-proof K-EDGE GO BIG Mount for your GoPro camera!

• Part #: K13-430
• Made in the USA. CNC Machined 6061 T6 Aluminum
• Weight – 45 grams, super light, super strong
• Compatibility – clamp design fits all standard 2-rail saddles including oversized carbon rails; all mounting hardware included
• Lifetime Guarantee – if you break it, we will replace it

K-EDGE GO BIG Handlebar Mount for GoPro Hero
The two-piece GO BIG Handlebar mounts use a 31.8mm two bolt clamp, weigh 25 grams, and can be mounted upside down or right-side up (as shown), and retails for $34.99. This mount is more like a normal handlebar mount, attaching directly to the bar.

Company Fodder:
K-EDGE GO BIG Handlebar Mount is designed to lock your GoPro camera securely on your handlebars with rock solid reliability. Same secure two-bolt clamp attachment system as our Pro Handlebar Mount and a wide range of camera angle choices. Easy adjustment, whether you choose the view ahead or the view of you. No more vibration in your videos, no more cameras falling off your bike, and most important no more lost memories. This is an elite level cycling camera mount by the makers of the K-EDGE Chain Catcher, chosen by the world’s best cyclists to ensure success in the Tour de France or your next ride. Go big or go home but don’t go without a bomb-proof K-EDGE GO BIG Mount for your GoPro camera!

• Part#: K13-410
• Made in the USA. CNC Machined 6061 T6 Aluminum
• Weight – 24 grams, super light, super strong
• Compatibility – fits 31.8mm diameter bars, all mounting hardware included
• Clamp design allows for a multitude of mounting positions and angles
• Lifetime Guarantee – if you break it, we will replace it

K-EDGE GO BIG GoPro Adapter
Last but not least is the one piece direct mount GoPro Adapter, which weighs 10 grams, and can be bolted to any flat surface, and retails for $24.99. Most likely, this mount is meant for motor and water sports, though I am sure, you can bolt it onto a helmet or something else that you don’t mind drilling hole into? I might try bolting it onto one of the GoPro vented helmet mounts to see if it might help with some sloppiness in their quick connect system.

Company Fodder:
K-EDGE GO BIG Adapter Mount is a universal mount designed to lock your GoPro camera securely to whatever you’d like. This is the same secure GoPro attachment system that our handlebar and saddle rail mounts use. Screw, bolt, or rivet you’ve got a rock solid mount to attach your GoPro camera. Buy 3 or 4 and turn your car, skis, moto, kiteboard, helmet, sled, etc. into the ultimate video rocket ship. This is an elite level cycling camera mount by the makers of the K-EDGE Chain Catcher, chosen by the world’s best cyclists to ensure success in the Tour de France or your next ride. Go big or go home but don’t go without a bomb-proof K-EDGE GO BIG Mount for your GoPro camera!

The pack is an excellent lightweight entity, that makes use of  light materials and a minimalist design, for a pack that seamlessly conforms to your back, for superb comfort and conformability. It’s meant for everyday adventures, with enough capacity, features and pockets for long forays into the backcountry. The feathery light pack all but disappears while being worn, and it uses nylon fabric, a softly padded and flexible back, and comes with their excellent Antidote Reservoir.

CamelBak Charge 450
The Charge 450 is made with 70D ripstop and 210D nylon that has been coated with Polyurethane for water resistance, and utilizes their Lightweight Exoskeleton (LE) back panel and Ultra-light 3D mesh Independent Suspension system with a 25 mm wide 840D lightweight tape hip belt with cargo pockets. The main compartment is accompanied by a front pocket, an upper padded media pocket, a XC helmet pouch, a rear hydration compartment, and two pouches on the hip belt. The main compartment is roomy, and the useful clamshell opening makes it easy to access items. The main zipper is long enough that you can grab things that are stashed part way down, without having to open and unclip everything. The front pocket has space for multiple items, and the media pocket is perfect for an iPhone or a small point-and-shoot camera. I liked having the separate rear hydration compartment, as it keeps things isolated, and makes it easier to take the reservoir in and out while the pack is still fully loaded. It has two lower compression straps, and another set with a quick-release buckle that pulls down from the helmet pouch.  The pack has a 12.5 liter capacity, and includes their 100 oz (3 L) Antidote reservoir with the Quick Link hose connection system. The pack comes in three colors, Lime Punch/Graphite (tested), Formula One/Frost Grey and Moroccan Blue/Frost Grey, weighs in at 450 grams and retails for $99.

Impressions
The Charge 450 and its smaller brethren the Charge 250, are part of their LE series, which uses the LE or Lightweight Exoskeleton back panel, and lighter materials and designs for the ultimate in weight savings. The LE panel has a skeleton like set of padded strips on the back, which help soften the load and keep it comfortable on the back. The shoulder harness system is thinly padded and slightly stretchy, and has an inner soft mesh material, a center honeycomb substructure and an outer blend of nylon and a mesh fabirc. Although the shoulders were comfortable and worked well, the slider adjustment for the sternum strap seemed to bind on its webbing, and during usage, it bunched up the harness material where it pulls from.

 The pack is really comfortable, since it wraps around and conforms to your body, and sort of pops into every nook and cranny of your back. The lightweight makes it enjoyable to wear on a ride, as the pack; minus its contents; pretty much weighs nothing. When loaded, the pack carries the weight well, and it stays centered into your back, with the load tucked in tightly. Like all CamelBak packs, it has an excellent set of pockets, and the helmet slot was quite handy to carry jackets and apparel items. The pockets were all useful, and the main compartment had a functional shape for easy stowage of gear, and the front pocket had plenty of room for lots of items. The little pouches on the hip belt were perfect for gel packs and small energy bars, which was handy so the pack didn’t need to be removed to grab the munchies. The compression straps worked well, and helped pull the load into the pack and keep things from jostling around. The pack does have some mild hip lift on uber steep and bumpy terrain, and it was most notable when going over drop-offs and big ledges.

The way the pack carries its weight is through the synergy of the shoulder system and hip belt with the extremely flexible and conformable LE back panel. If the pack is overstuffed, it starts to lose some of the useful wrap around characteristics, and bows out slightly along the panel edges, so it works best not to max out its capacity. The helmet slot or pouch works excellently to carry any extra gear, and helps keep the pack from getting bloated, although it makes folding over the clamshell opening more cumbersome.

One odd thing is that the pack gets a layer of moisture that gets trapped between the hydration reservoir and LE back panel material, and it happens in both warm and cold conditions. It doesn’t make the pack uncomfortable or damp; it just looks sort of strange? The pack doesn’t really have any major ventilation system due to the thickness of the LE skeleton strips, and since the coated material doesn’t absorb much sweat or water, and the strip’s sizes are minor, the moisture dissipates or stays on the apparel side of things, so you don’t get a clammy back from the pack. So far, the material has been durable, which is amazing since it seems fragile, and the addition of the polyurethane coating helps with both water resistance and toughness.

Antidote Reservoir
The new Antidote reservoir (70 and 100oz) is pretty amazing, and Camelbak has done a full redesign of the unit, adding many features and functionality, and has caught up to the competition’s innovations. The 90 degree bite valve worked quite nicely, and was easy to draw, and didn’t leak, although the shutoff lever was sometimes tough to turn on and off while wearing gloves. The screw cap for the fill port takes only a quarter turn to open or close, and it does not get stuck and require brute force to open, and the fill port has a wider diameter hole for easier filling and cleaning. The baffle helps lessen the stack height or thickness, to keep the reservoir from bowing out when it’s full. They added an auto shutoff quick disconnect, named the Quick Link, which allow you to disconnect the reservoir from the drink hose, which facilitates cleaning, filling and drying.

The fill port has a handle which hooks into the drop slot of the packs zippered rearward hydration pouch, helping to keep it stable and secure. Hidden on the fill port’s sides are two plastic drying arms, which pop out and hold the reservoir open for drying, which is done with it hung upside down.

Measured Specs:

• Pack weight – 463.7 grams
• Antidote weight -199.9 grams
• Size – 17″ x 9″ x 6″

Bottom Line
The Camelbak Charge 450 is an excellent lightweight and comfortable pack, which has enough capacity and pockets for a multi-hour ride. The LE back panel and the 3D shoulder strap system worked in synergy to create a pack that is extremely flexible and conforms to the back like its vacuum packed against it. For its small size and plethora of lightweight materials in its construction, the pack carries a load quite nicely, without feeling like a burden on the back. It has some hip lift on some terrain, isn’t at its best if overstuffed and the sternum strap pulls poorly from the sliders on shoulder strap’s webbing.

The Charge 450 is comfy, highly flexible and conformable, and its feathery lightness and design make it seemingly disappear on your back.

Strengths

• Lightweight
• Comfortable
• Flexible and conformable
• Helmet pouch
• Antidote reservoir: quick connect, dryer arms, 1/4 turn cap, reduced stack height

Weaknesses

• Sternum strap pulling off shoulder harness
• Mild hip lift on some terrain
• Shouldn’t be overstuffed

MSRP: $99

Overall Rating: 4 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

Charge 450 Specs

• Visit the CamelBak Charge 450 website
• Material: Mini Ripstop with DWR + 1000mm PU coating, 210D Nylon with DWR + 400mm PU coating
• Hydration Capacity: 100 oz (3 L)
• Total Capacity: 763 cu in (12.5 L)
• Pack Weight: 16 oz (450 g)
• Torso Length: 16 in (40 cm)
• Antidote features: Quick Link System, quick-seal cap, lightweight fillport, dryer arms, center baffling and low-profile design, Big Bite Valve, HydroGuard technology, PureFlow tube, easy-to-clean wide-mouth opening
• Back Panel: L.E.™ (Lightweight Exoskeleton)
• Harness: Ultra-light 3D mesh Independent Suspension
• Belt: Fixed 1 in / 25 mm 840D lightweight tape with cargo pockets
• Additional Features: XC helmet carry, Media pocket
• Colors: Lime Punch/Graphite, Formula One/Frost Grey and Moroccan Blue/Frost Grey

The Royal Racing Mercury gloves are an excellent cross seasonal product, and are in their prime in cooler, windier, and more inclement weather conditions. They’re durable, comfortable, well-made and are featured loaded, which all combine for a good all-around, all-season and all-weather glove.

They are constructed with a 0.8mm Rema synthetic leather palm, with a double layering between the palm and finger, and in the nook of the thumb and a ‘V’ shaped portion at wrist intersection. The overall light padding helps immensely with the tactile feel on the grips, brakes and shifting, and increases control and responsiveness, while the moderate doubling at key spot’s aides with durability. The backside uses a windproof  and water resistant stretchy material, and has a reflective screen print for safety on night rides. The outside of the thumb has a soft microfiber section, which was extremely functional for wiping up sweat, and other bodily fluids.

“A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly, without any choice. That’s the way your hard-core Commie works.”

The fingers, thumb and palm  have small lines of a sticky silicon material to help adhere to the brakes and grips, and in fact; the entire backside of the glove has the same sort of design feature. The wrist cuff uses the stretchy Aeropreen material, and the extended design ensures no gaps at the interface to your jacket or long sleeved jersey. You pull the gloves on with their extremely useful and robust tab, and the wrist closure uses a burly Velcro strap to tighten them down, which is easy to use with gloved fingers. When taking the gloves off, that same stiff strap, which is pre-bent, likes to ping back and close itself, which can be slightly annoying when it happens.

I am a destroyer of gloves, especially on the finger tips, but so far the gloves have been pretty tough, and I have yet to tear them. I do wish the sticky silicon adhesion pattern was more durable, since it’s wearing prematurely. I think splotches of the silicon, like their Blast gloves use, would wear better than the line pattern? I haven’t been nice to the gloves, and have used them to stack rocks, clean off snow, and other activities more appropriate for construction gloves, and their elementary toughness and longevity has shown through. I have taken a few good tumbles, and landed directly on the gloves, and it did nothing to them, so I can vouch for their crash worthiness.

Once the days and temperatures cool off during the late Fall, Winter and early Spring seasons, the Mercury gloves provide ample warmth on moderate to chilly days. They are out of their realm on bitter cold days, but they were never designed for the extremes at either end of the temperature spectrum. I wore them in light snow and light to moderate rain storms, and their water resistance worked adequately. When brushing up against damp bushes and trees while riding, which always seems to get you the wettest during rainy and dewy conditions, my hands stayed comfortable. In a monstrous downpour, the gloves got soaked, and eventually my hands got chilled, and although it wasn’t pleasant, it was tolerable. The cuff extension helped keep moisture from creeping into the gloves and my jacket, and was another small design feature that I liked when conditions were at their worst.

The Royal Racing glove is warm and water resistant, and shines in conditions of moderate temperatures and weather, and it’s durable, comfortable, and has excellent tactile feel and ease of use.  It’s my go-to glove during the off season, and I bring them along as backups if rain might be encountered.

Pros

• Durable
• Warm
• Water resistant
• Pull on tab
• Burly Velcro closure

Cons

• Velcro closure pops back on itself when removing gloves
• Sticky silicon finger patterns wear prematurely

MSRP: $44.95

Overall Rating: 4 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

Royal Racing Mercury Specs:

• Visit Royal Racing Mercury website
• 0.8mm Rema synthetic leather palm
• Wind and showerproof back of hand
• Micro fiber thumb wipe
• Sticky silicon print finger tips
• Low profile logos
• Low profile cuff with TPR tab
• Direct inject pull tab on palm
• Sizes: X Small, Small, Medium, Large, X Large, XX Large
• Colors: Black