Tools of the Trade

8 Pins
·
2y
Night riding with NiteRider
Winter riding means short days and long, dark nights. A good headlight not only makes it easier to see, but it also makes riders more visible and safer when encountering cars and other bikes. The NiteRider Lumina Micro 650 is a compact light that packs a big punch with a max output of 650 lumens, five light modes, and ample run time.
Are Tubeless Road Bike Tires Worth It?
After decades riding clincher tires and tubular tires, road cyclists are switching to tubeless bike tires. What are the pros and cons of tubeless road bike tires?
Zwift Addiction in 30 days
Zwift will never completely simulate the feeling of balance, speed, and motion. It will never take you to a new place (at least a physical place). And you sure can’t Zwift ride to the grocery store or the office. But Zwift is wonderful because it is welcoming, social, interactive, challenging, and downright convenient, especially if you live somewhere with real winter weather or have a busy schedule.
Smart Trainers
Virtual riding has turned me from an indoor riding skeptic to a hardcore user. Smart trainers help me balance training and fitness goals with work and family life. In recent weeks of social distancing and isolation, trainer rides have been my only reliable escape.
Saris Indoor H3 Trainer set up
The H3 is extremely quiet. Without a fan on, I don’t have to touch the volume on the TV. My fans are way louder than the trainer, which is great when you have a sleeping baby in the next room. It is not affected by wheel speed like a wheel-on trainer, so I can run my chain in the straightest position to further reduce noise and improve chain and chainring wear.
ENVE Handlebar Tape
Handlebar tape is more than a fashion accessory. It gives riders more control and comfort on the bike. ENVE’s durable, silicone-based handlebar tape is 3mm thick with a vibration-damping backer strip to strike a balance between comfort and road feel. It’s water-repellant and grippy when wet, so it can handle all weather conditions.
Color-coded allen keys
Every aspiring bike mechanic needs a good set of metric hex wrenches. Bondhus makes professional-quality tools that all carry a lifetime warranty, and they actually invented the ball-end hex wrench that allows mechanics to turn bolts in tight spaces and at awkward angles. This colored wrench set makes it easy for mechanics to quickly identify different wrench sizes at a glance.
Bike Maintenance
Sometimes riders just don't have time or willpower to clean their chain after every wet or dirty ride. But there's no reason not to when the Muc-Off X-3 Dirty Chain Machine easily cleans a chain in seconds. The kit includes 75ml of Muc-Off Drivetrain Cleaner that can be sprayed over the drivetrain or poured directly into the top reservoir of the machine and released by a control button.