Product Review: Oyama CX16D

Rare is the opportunity for me to review a whole entire bicycle. Normally, I just get to review bits of one at a time, but thanks to Oyama, I have a complete bicycle at my disposal.

Oyama has been in the bicycle business for 50 years, providing the technology behind some of the biggest bicycle brands in the world. In 1998, they started to produce folding bicycles under their own name. later this year, they will introduce their folding bicycles to the USA.

I was introduced to Oyama at Interbike last fall, and they were gracious enough to send me their CX16D model for testing.

Waiting at the train station for the ride into work.

The CX16D has 20 inch wheels, so its folded size isn't the smallest out there, but it is small enough to fit under my desk at work.

It weighs in at about 28 pounds, light enough to carry without being too awkward. Stopping power is provided via mechanical disk brakes front and rear, and propulsion is provided by a 52/42 chainring and 8 speed 11-32 cassette.  

The most asked question, right after how do you fold it - which I will get to in a moment - was how does it ride? The handling would best be described as "nimble" the short wheelbase and steep head tube angle give it a quick response. the gear range is more than adequate to tackle any hills along your commute. The upright position is comfortable, and doesn't feel cramped. 

Speaking of commutes, most people look at a folding bike as a means to get to and from other means of transportation, such as riding to the train station or bus stop - which I have done several times, But I also have ridden it all the way to and from work, plus to other locations a fair distance away. There occasionally is a need for my wife to pick me up after work and, its much easier to toss a folded bike in the back of her Honda than a full-sized bike - especially if we have kids with us. 

On the train. If it isn't crowded, it is still easier to keep it unfolded for the commute.

Folding... It is easy to fold, but there is an almost origami-like aspect to folding it correctly. You need to rotate the bars to the correct position and have the pedals oriented in a certain way to successfully fold the bike, but the learning curve is small and you easily learn how to fold and unfold it quickly.

My opinion? It's a great bike! easy to ride and easy to fold. 

The MSRP for the Oyama CX16D is going to be around $990. More information can be found at www.oyama.com

Product Review: Outdoor Tech Buckshot Pro

It's winter.

I'm telling you this because some people live in warmer climates and they may have missed the google calendar notification.

Up here, winter means dark, cold, and... well, that about sums it up.

because of the fact it is winter, the majority of product reviews that will be forthcoming will be of use in either dark or cold. Sometimes both.

Today's product review won't do much to keep you warm - unless you break out some bike-dance moves.

The Outdoor Tech Buckshot Pro is truly a jack of all trades, a veritable Swiss Army knife of bike lights. Not only is it a light for your bike, but it is also a powerbank - to recharge your phone, etc... a lantern for off-bike lighting needs, and last but not least, a speaker.

The flashlight - which plugs into the powerbank output USB port - has three settings, torch, strobe, and lamp (high and low lamp, so technically four settings),

Speaking of the powerbank, it has a 2600 mAh rechargable battery in it, so you'll be able to easily recharge your phone, GPS, or whatever electronic device you have with you.

Finally the speaker. On one end is the light, which obviously you want pointing at the road. The other end is the bluetooth speaker, conviently pointing back at you so you can listen to your music, make calls, what have you while riding.

How does it work? Pretty dang well! The light is bright, almost annoyingly so. I've used the high lamp while camping and it does a good job of illuminating the surrounding area, while the low lamp is dim enough not to wake your sleeping significant other while you fumble around. The speaker, while not excessively loud is loud enough to hear while riding in all but the noisiest environments.

Battery life is good. you can expect 10+ hours from the speaker on a full charge. Adding the light will drop that number, of course. I've had the light and speaker running for several hours before I've needed to recharge.

The Buckshot Pro retails for $79.95, and is available in 5 colors. More information can be found here.

Product Review: Cycloc Wrap

Today's commute was cold. Not the coldest that I've experienced during my time commuting in winter, but still cold.

Not wanting to roll up my pant legs to expose my bare skin to the bitter wind, I grabbed a product I received at Interbike for just such a purpose.

The Cycloc Wrap is a surprisingly simple device. One of those things that make you think "Why didn't I think of this."

Basically, It is a wide rubber strap with a hole at one end, and a plastic button at the other. There are some other holes so you can adjust the size of the wrap. 

What can you do with it? What do you need to do? It can be used to cuff your pant leg to keep it out of the sprocket, which is what I used it for this morning. 

It can be used to secure a load to your rack, You can use it to secure the front tire to the frame while your bike is in a workstand or on a rack, If it is not long enough, you can hook multiple Wraps together, etc... 

To further the functionality to their form, the holes are large enough to fit a U-lock, so if you don't want to stuff them in a pocket when you arrive at your destination (not like they are bulky or anything), you can lock them up. 

They retail for $14.99. More information can be found at www.cycloc.com

Product Review: Elevenpine Crankitup Shorts and Liberator Liner

Ah, fall. The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting cooler, and the layers are getting... layered?

Perfect time to talk about shorts.

Since commuting has become my almost exclusive venue for riding, I haven't donned the stretchy pants in over a year - well, except for those dark days of rehab where I was stuck in the basement on my trainer. My commute is only 10 miles each way, and for such a short distance, I don't see the need or logic in kitting up in full Lycra.

Still, having some functionality in my clothing choices is desireable.

In my search for cycling-related products at Outdoor Retailer this past August, I stumbled upon the guys at Elevenpine, they offered some shorts that blurred the line between functionality and practicality.

Their Crankitup shorts offer a casual, relaxed appearance that doesn't look out of place off the bike at the office - well, at least my office. I am fortunate to have a day job where shorts and t-shirts are considered acceptable office attire - or meeting friends.

When you are ready to ride, the zipper on the legs convert the shorts into a more form-fitting cycling short.

This of course has the benefit of reducing excess material from flapping in the wind, but it also more securely holds your belongings in the two deep front pockets (one of them is zippered for more security). It also makes them more comfortable while on the saddle. When you arrive at your location, simply unzip the legs and you are back to wearing a casual pair of shorts. 

The Crankitup shorts feature the afore mentioned front pockets to hold your belongings, they also have belt loops to further the casual appearance of the shorts.

For rides where you feel that some additional padding would be needed, Elevenpine also offers the Liberator liner. The liner has a lightweight pad, and ventilated panels on the sides of the liner and works well under their shorts. As my commute is short,  I usually save padded shorts for longer rides. I did use the liner while I was down in Vegas for the Interbike Outdoor Demo, and was appreciative of the comfort and padding. 

The Crankitup shorts retail for $99, and the Liberator liner goes for $69.

More information can be found at www.elevenpine.com

Product Review - Coros Linx Smart Cycling Helmet

Music makes everything better. It is the ambiance to our lives.

Except cycling. Riding with earbuds or earphones is not better*. It blocks your ability to hear oncoming death in the form of that truck barreling down upon you.

At Outdoor Retailer back in August, I talked to the fine folks at Coros, who were kind enough to send me their LINX Smart Cycling helmet for review.

Aside from protecting your head from impacting other hard objects such as the road like all good helmets do, the Coros Linx helmet allows you to listen to your favorite tunes, and get navigation assistance while still hearing everything around you.

The Coros Linx system is made up of three parts, the helmet, Smart Remote, and app.

The helmet uses bone-conduction technology to transmit sound in the form of vibrations into your upper cheekbones, keeping your ears unblocked so you can hear your surroundings while still listening to your music. The helmet also has a wind-resistant microphone mounted at the front of the helmet so you can make and receive calls.

The Smart Remote mounts to your handlebars or stem, and allows you to control via bluetooth your music volume and selection.

The app, which is available for both iPhone and Android, allows you save rides and routes, gives you audio feedback on your speed and distance, and also will notify your emergency contact (saved on the app) if the helmet receives an impact, such as when there is a collision.

How does it work? Well, I have to say that I was impressed. It is still on Kickstarter (where they have surpassed their goal by over 300%), and there are still some minor bugs that need to be resolved - which when I stopped by their booth last week at Interbike, they assured me that they were aware of and were working on a resolution.

The sound quality from the bone conducting transducers located on the front straps is good. It isn't audiophile quality, but you aren't sitting in your den, in front of the fire listening to your vintage record collection on a vacuum tube amplified turntable. It is loud enough that I can hear it clearly unless I'm riding right next to heavy traffic. The microphone is well protected from the wind, when talking to Mrs. Bike-junkie and the little bike-junkies, they were surprised to know that I was still riding. They only noise that they could hear was my wheezing and panting as I was climbing. I tried the emergency contact notification (by dropping the helmet on the ground, not by getting hit by a car) to see if it would notify my wife. **One note on it, you have to be running the app in order for that feature to work, which it did. My wife was sent a text saying that there was a collision at such and such GPS coordinates. It would be handy, except for the fact that I've "cried wolf" enough times by testing out other such systems that I think all of my family just now figure that I'm simply dropping my helmet and not in any real danger.

Battery life. All of the data I found said battery life on the helmet was 10+ hours. I wore the helmet for my commutes to and from work listening to music and running Strava. My commute is about 45 minutes each way, and the battery held up for over 5 1/2 weeks. By my admittedly poor math skills, that means that I was able to get 40+ hours out of the battery. That is pretty impressive.

I mentioned minor bugs. My biggest complaint is that there is no Siri or "Hey Google" connectivity. Receiving calls is easy, you simply tap the middle button on the Smart Remote to answer an incoming call, but short of pulling out your phone and dialing, there is no way of placing a call from the remote or helmet. I have been assured that they are working on getting the licensing so they can incorporate that feature into future updates. There is a walkie talkie button on the remote and on the app it says that the walkie talkie is disconnected. I don't know if that is a future planned upgrade, or if that is how Siri will connect, but  there is room to improve the product. Another upgrade - that they have said both on their website and in person is in the works - that would be nice is cross-pollination with other popular apps such as Strava and Map My Ride. I would also like to be able to repeat or skip backwards on my playlist. Sometimes you have that power song that you want to listen to again,

On the whole, I am very impressed with the helmet. Riding with music and navigation, at the same time still being able to hear the world around you makes for an enjoyable commute. My complaints are minor, and easily fixable via a software upgrade.

The MSRP for the Coros Linx Smart Helmet system is $199.99, but if you back them through their kickstarter, you can get the helmet until October 24th for 40% off, or $120.00


*All opinions expressed here are mine. You may disagree, and that is your right to do so. 

Product Review - Swrve Jeans

As a commuter, I feel that the best articles of clothing are ones that provide functionality and comfort on the bike, but don't elicit stares at work or other functions where Lycra shorts would not be the most practical choice.

Swrve sent me a pair of jeans for review earlier this year, and finally the temperature dropped low enough that riding in jeans wouldn't cause heatstroke. 

Swrve makes their jeans using  CORDURA® denim to give them some serious durability and stretch while maintaining a comfortable feel against the skin. Other cycling friendly features include a gusseted crotch, low front waist to avoid digging into your stomach, and a high back so everybody doesn't see that tramp stamp you got back in the 90's on a drunken dare they also have a reflective strip on the inside of the legs (both legs on the slim fit, right leg only on the skinny and  regular jeans) that is exposed when you roll up the cuff. The back pockets are large enough to fit a mini u-lock, and feature an accessory pocket as well. 

How do they fit? Swrve sent me a pair of the slim fit jeans. I normally stay away from anything labeled "skinny" or "slim" because of the way they strangle my thighs, The Swrve jeans, however, were very comfortable. Another problem I have encountered with CORDURA® denim is the back pockets tend to be saggy when you put your wallet there, to the point that it feels like it will fall out when riding. The rear pockets on the Swrve jeans are deep, and they snugly held my wallet without fear of it falling out on the road. The slim jeans also did not have articulated knees (the skinny and regular fit jeans do), but the stretch of the fabric did not restrict movement. 

If you don't like looking like you are out on a training ride every time you swing your leg over the top tube, and want a pair of jeans that work for the commute and look stylish enough for a night out on the town with the wife or significant other, Swrve has you covered. 

Product Update: Bolle The One

Back in October I posted about Bolle's new helmet-shaped offering, The One.

I also mentioned in that post that I would follow up once I had recieved a helmet. 

Is he ever going to write that review?

Well, I received a helmet, and promptly forgot to write that follow-up post. Until today.

Not only did I receive one helmet, I recieved two. The first one was too small -as Goldilocks would say if her head was above average in size as mine is - that helmet was given to my willing co-conspirator, Mrs. Bike-Junkie for her usage. The next one was just right. 

Mrs. Bike-Junkie and I at this years Bike Prom (think fancy dress party on bikes), along with our co co-conspirators, Steve and Miss Piggy (James). 

Blurry no-lookie selfie. Nothing but the best for this blog!

Seeing as I have been using the helmet non-stop for the past few months, I think that I can say that I definitely like this helmet. As well as being on the largish side, my head is also a bit oblong front to rear. Some helmets tend to not fit in the fore and aft positions, The One gave me no such trouble. The vents provide ample airflow when not covered up by the aero shells.

The only negative that I can think of is the optional LED capsule on the rear of the helmet. Since I primarily use my bicycle to commute these days, I installed the LED capsule, and have used it on my commutes where the sun isn't quite up. The capsule is powered by a button-cell battery, and has ran out of juice. If it was possible to change that to a USB rechargeable light, the helmet would be flawless. 

The One, Jack of all trades, master of all. 

"Oi", Can You Hear Me? (Kickstarter Product Review)

Bells.

Some municipalities require them on your bike. Aside from that, they are usually better than yelling "get the $&@;#);%* outta my way" at cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists. If you commute, it just makes sense to have a bell.

I received an email the other day for a Kickstarter project from Knog. I love Knog, and I'm not ashamed to say it. I've been using their lights on my commuter bike for a couple of years now, so when they said that they were coming out with a bell, my interest was piqued. 

Most bells look like, well, bells. By that I mean the same dome shape that has been the standard for countless years. Not exactly sleek or sexy. Those two adjectives would, however, do a good job at describing the Knog Oi.

The first thing you notice, is that it doesn't look like a bicycle bell. And, that is the idea. It is meant to blend in on your handlebars, and not look out of place, no matter what bike you are putting it on. 

They also come in 5 different finishes: brushed aluminium; brass-plated; copper-plated; and black. The top of the range, "treat yourself” model is made from titanium. 

And two different sizes: small for 22.2 mm diameter bars, and large for bars up to 31.8 mm.

The mount has been designed to not interfere with your brake and shifter cables. 

Interested, like I am? Go to their Kickstarter page here, to learn more. I'll be ordering one. 

Update:  Their Kickstarter went live only a day or so ago, and they have already blown away their $14,000 goal. 

You Need a New Bike Poster

Happy Freakin' New Year!!!

Yeah, I'm faking the excitement. Sorry. I know you expect more from me, but I can't help but phoning it in right now. Still recovering. Trying to find the motivation to ride indoors. Wanting to commute, but scared of breaking myself more due to ice, inattentive drivers, etc...

I could go on, but reading about me whining is not why all four of you read my blog.

The real reason you are reading this has to do with an email I recieved earlier today.

My Outdoor Alphabet has a poster available on their site which will answer that age-old question, do you need a new bike? This poster would be invaluable for convincing that stubborn significant other (love you, babe! I'm not talking about you, I'm referring to other peoples stubborn significant others) that you really do need a new bike.

Not my desk, It would never be that clean.

This poster by Bozeman, MT based illustrator Seth Neilson humorously explains that no matter how many bikes you have, or the condition of said bicycles, you ultimately do need a new bike. 

Aside from making your workshop look a bit sharper, this poster also helps others. All of the proceeds from this poster go to support the Afghan Women's Cycling Team.

So, for a measly $20, you get a quality poster, and the knowledge that you are helping a group of hard-core women.

Product Review: Bolle The One

Yes, I did make it to Interbike this year. Yes, I did slowly limp around the show floor for two days, and yes, I did see some friends and some cool things at the show.

And yes, this is an actual product review post!

One of the friends I saw was Jim Katz with Bolle. Jim told me that he had something really cool - and unexpected - to show me. I was assuming it was a new sunglass line.

Instead he showed me Bolle's entry into the performance cycling helmet field - The One.

 

What sets this helmet apart from all the rest is how modular they have made it. The One is an apt name for the helmet because Bolle has created it to be "the one" helmet for every situation.

 

 

The One comes with detachable air foils to block its 31 vent holes if a more aerodynamic profile is needed, a visor for those days where you want to venture off the asphalt on a knobby tired bike, a detatchable integrated rear LED light for commuting when the sun is not in an optimal position, and interchangeable liners for all season riding.

 

It also has a "sunglass garage" to securely hold your sunglasses when you don't want them on your face.

 

Has anyone seen my sunglasses?

  

The One, and its scaled-down sibling, the Messenger, will be available to the public in Early 2016, I will post another review once I am able to get a model for a hands-on test. The price for The One will range from $129.99 to $169.99 depending on if you choose the standard or premium trim.

 

I have to say that Jim's email telling me about something unexpected and cool turned out to be correct. It is a good looking helmet with tons of functionality. Right now, I switch between 3 helmets depending on the season, and type of riding that I am doing. I can see this helmet taking the place of all of them.

Look for The One on the noggins of the SmartStop Pro Cycling team this year and next.

Product Review: Cushe Footwear

Let's face it, you can't wear your cycling shoes all the time. Sooner or later you'll need to walk, and fashion, common sense, or the wife will dictate that you need to put something else on your feet.

Enter Cushe Footwear.

Cushe (pronounced "cushy") is a UK-born footwear company. They started in 2004 wanting to create something a bit different.

I have been long-term testing a pair of their slippers since early last year. They quickly became - and have remained my go-to footwear when I am off the bike.

They are light, easily packable, comfortable, duarable (they survived traipsing across Europe last march), and casually fashionable. They are easy to slip on after ditching your cleats (Cushe was the official casual footwear sponsor in 2013 of the 5-Hour ENERGY presented by Kenda racing team).

They even come in fun patterns, such as this tropical-themed print from Hoffman California fabrics.

Cushe slippers retail for $50.

Cushe also has your feet covered during the colder months.

When I was a kid, I laughed that my dad had a pair of boots that had a zipper up the side. After wearing the Matthias Waterproof boots, I am totally sold.

The Matthias WP boots are comfortable, warm, and as the "WP" in the name suggests, perfect when it is slushy and wet outside.  They retail for $125

More information can be found at www.cushe.com

Product Review: Pinhead Locks

One of the main concerns - at least for me - about commuting by bike is making sure that you have a ride home at the end of the day. 

To assure that, you want to either keep your bike somewhere where you can keep an eye on it at all times, such as next to your desk (which my work does not allow), or securely lock it to something immovable. But, locking it to something secure isn't always going to guarantee your bike will be rideable when you leave the office...

I'm sure the only reason there are still crank, pedals, and a seatpost is the theives did not have a crank puller or the right size of hex wrench with them.

To make sure your bike remains intact, you could use multiple locks and chains...

 

Or, you could invest in a system that secures the individual components on your bicycle. Pinhead Locks is one such system.

 

I met with the folks from Pinhead Locks at Interbike, and they sent me their Total Bike Protection package, as well as a saddle lock for review. The Total Bike Protection package comes with front and rear locking skewers, headset lock, seatpost collar lock, their frame lock, and two keys.

 

Unlike some other locks, the Pinhead system replaces your skewers, headset bolt, seatpost collar, etc... with their uniquely keyed bolts. The design of the bolt heads make it extremely difficult to remove except with the correct key.

 

Installing the new locks is as easy as performing any regular maintenance on your bike (be sure to note your saddle height). Replace your existing hardware with the Pinhead locks, tighten them down with the key, and you're good to go!

 

Headset lock.

 

Wheel skewer locks.

 

 Seatpost clamp lock.

 

 

This carbon post is the only one I have that has a single, downward-facing bolt - which is needed for the saddle lock to be effective, as it restricts access to the hex bolt.

 

 

Frame lock.

 

 

The shackle shape on their gold-rated bubble frame lock is designed to be more resistant to jacks and crowbars. It is made from hardended steel and has a double bolted shackle. It also has a hidden key entry for additional security.

 

The keys have a unique serial number in case you need to replace them, or order additional locks and have them match your existing set.

 

And an added bonus, the key works as a bottle opener!

I haven't tested out the effectiveness of the locks as I don't feel like putting my bike up as "bait", but I won't be as paraniod with leaving my bike out of sight when I'm downtown with my bike now. 

The only suggestion I would have is if Pinhead could include a mounting bracket for their frame lock. I found the bag it came with bulky, and as for now, the lock resides in my backpack when it isn't securing the bike - which means I have to bring my bag, or use another lock for quick trips.

The Pinhead locks start at $39.99 for the seatpost or saddle lock, and go up to $149.99 for the Total Bike Protection package. Check out www.pinheadlocks.com for additional information.