From Hood River, Oregon, Decide 2 Ride and KoKi Bags deliver commuter bags that have flare and are wonderfully user friendly, with important features you will wonder how you lived without.

It all starts at the bottom…

One of the most unique and important features of Koki bags are their rubber bases.

The material used in the base is similar to that which we see in “Crocs”. It is extremely durable, lightweight and weather resistant. The best part, in my opinion, is that this rubber base gives the rest of the bag the ability to be completely freestanding! I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have a commuter pannier that I can take off my bike and just set on the ground while I fill it up, take things out of it, or have it out of the way while I lock up my bike. This freestanding ability virtually eliminates the hassle of trying to find something to lean the bag on while you prep yourself and your bike for the ride to or from work or the store. And because the base is waterproof you don’t need to worry about the bag or its contents getting wet. Genius!

Bring a KoKi along for the ride!

The KoKi bags are equipped with sturdy clips that can attach to just about any back rack, without difficulty. And these two little clips are all you need, over speed bumps, through pot holes and along bumpy roads, this bag won’t rattle or even come close to falling off! You will be able to safely transport all your goods no matter the road condition or your riding style.

Once you’re at your destination your KoKi bag converts into a shoulder bag with the simple ‘click’ of a strap. Both sides of the bag have strap attachments that give this bag more versatility than just your standard pannier.

With the rubber sole, freestanding design, clips and detachable straps, you might thing that KoKi has thought of it all, but there is one more thing this Oregon based company has considered in its design of bags… Rain… So when the elements start coming down simply slip on your KoKi’s rain fly and concentrate on getting home safe. Phew, it looks like KoKi really DID think of everything! 

 KoKi Giveaway!

Here is your chance to win your very own sweet treat of a commuter bag! The KoKi Bagaboo (as pictured throughout this article) and its handlebar counterpart, the Budgie are up for grabs. The Bagaboo is big enough to carry groceries, school books and work necessities, while still being sleek and well fitting on the your bike. The Budgie is a nice  handlebar complement to the Bagaboo. It is smaller, with some internal pockets to organize your phone, wallet and other personal items. It includes the hardware to install it on your bike, and like all the KoKi products, it has a rubber sole and is totally free standing.  These two bags have all the wonderful KoKi features, but also include panels of woven, recycled material. As you can see in the picture above, the front panel is actually composed of scrap paper that is treated and then woven to create this awesome, unique look! Reuse and Recycle, Thanks KoKi! Check out KoKi’s other recycled produces.

These two bags are valued at over $125.

ALSO! How about TWO giveaways? KoKi has also provided a Mogi. Accurately described as a ‘skinny smartphone pocket’ this little bag can easily be added to your commuter bike, or even your bike that you lead your group ride with. Your phone slides into the see-through sleeve from the back, or inside. The top lid is welded making it is completely waterproof, so your phone is safe. The bag itself can hold a gel or two and your keys: the necessities. Compact and sleek is what the Mogi is aiming to achieve!

 Giveaway Rules: We need YOUR help getting more exposure! Please ‘like’ us (Cycle and Style) on Facebook, and if you already do, recommend us to your friends. We are a site designed to help women feel more empowered on their bikes, we hope that we are making a difference! Please comment on this post by Monday, January 16th with the names of some of your friends/family members that now ‘like us on Facebook! The more the merrier! First place will win the two KoKi bags (Bagaboo and Budgie) and second place will win the KoKi Smartphone sleeve, the Mogi!

 The Christmas tree is decorated and the stocking are hung … and we await the big day!!  Is your shopping complete?  Have you gotten everything you need to for the cyclist or future cyclist on your list?  Cycle & Style hopes that our 2011 “Buying Guide” articles have helped to introduce or reintroduce you to some of our favorite cycling items that we have come across this past year.  To finish up our series of articles for this season, we are introducing you to gifts for under the tree.  And … to help Santa out … some gifts for the stockings. 

Merry Christmas to all of our C&S Readers!!  May it be a Wonderful Holiday Season for You and Yours!!

Now before you go for the things to be wrapped and put under the tree, let’s talk about the ornaments on the tree.  Well … I (Beth) love a “theme” & when I wrap my Christmas presents I love to find an ornament to go with “my theme” and add it to my package.  In this case – BIKES … BICYCLES!!!  I found this cute pink girly ornament & lots of others on this really great website – Cafe Press (bike ornaments).  Go and check them out!!

Let’s move from hanging those ornaments to “displaying” your awards!!  How many of you have a tangle of medals hanging around the house on a bedroom door or off of an old trophy and you aren’t quite sure what to do with them.  Allied Steel Fabricators, the parent company of Allied Medal Displays, is a small fabrication business based in Redmond, WA and they have the “Medal Display” for you. The fabrication that the company is built on is high end retail displays but they also do some structural work as well as high end handrail.  A few years back, they purchased a laser to assist in operations and their CAD designer came up with the original prototype for the medal displays.  Since that time, the design changed a bit and the popularity kept growing. Now the displays are not just made for their family and friends, but are on the company’s website and in several small running store locations.

These “Medal Displays” are very unique!!  They would be great in a wrapped gift &/or cute coming out of a stocking!!  Allied Medal Displays has many to choose from or you can have one customized.  Of course C&S was looking for the “Cycling” &/or “”Triathlon” one for our readers … and we found it (them)!!!  Along with many others – Running, Marathon, Sports, Customize, Female & Male.  The BEST thing about Christmas, C&S and our new friends @ Allied Medal Displays is that one lucky reader will be getting the “Triathlon Medal Display” (that’s pictured) in their stocking this year!!  MORE DETAILS TO COME AT THE BOTTOM ON THIS ARTICLE!!  

Tribute Sport Gifts

A trip to Southern Utah this summer introduced me to a very cool shop on Main Street in Moab, UT named – Earth Studio. Once inside, I was so excited to see all of the “bike” stuff  … all in one store!!  Tribute Sport sells all of their items in the Earth Studio store and on their website.  Not only did they have jewelry, but they had bike ornaments, wall art, bike wind chains, bike clocks, business card holders, bike frames, keychains, key  hooks, bookends and purses.  WoW … very unique things!!  As an avid mountain biker, I loved these items because they had “mountain bike” stuff – not just road bike stuff. (Don’t get me wrong … I like road bike items, but I tend to find more of these items as a choice over mountain bike items.) Tribute Sport artisans make all of their pieces in their workshop in Moab. (Made in the USA)  Go check our new friends out on their website (www.tributesport.com) and check them out on Facebook.  HO HO HO … THANKS Tribute Sport… THEY SENT US GIVEAWAYS FOR OUR READERS!! HO HO HO … MORE DETAILS TO COME!! 

WHOOHA (Women Having Optimistic Objectives and Healthy Attitudes) Gear

We just love the Whooha Gear, which is inspiring athletic gear made by women for women. It’s a great thing to have some clothing that inspires you to reach your New Year’s goals for 2012 whether you’re resolving to ride more, take on a marathon or triathlon, get into the yoga studio more often or just share your love of cycling! A healthy lifestyle can be contagiously inspiring!

The Whooha Shirt shown here is the I Ride…Heathered Tee shirt, which gives you so many wonderful reasons to ride! Let it motivate you in 2012! It’s a GIVEAWAY (See details below!)

Signed … Sealed … Delivered to YOU!!!!!!! 

It’s time for your “Thank You Cards” and if you remember last year, C&S featured Jeff  and his alternative photography.  Check out “Cycles” @ J BROOK PHOTOGRAPHY for a great variety of cool bicycle cards.  If you get a chance, tell Jeff that the Ladies from Cycle & Style sent you!!  Check out the new coasters that he is doing now too!!

TOYS!!!

Playmobil Bike Stand w/ shopper ($12.74 Amazon)

Playmobil 4743 Special:Woman w/Dirt Bike ($5.63 Amazon)

Playmobil Tricycle and Bicycle w/ Trailer ($10.99 Amazon)

We came upon some pretty cute toys for little girls (or boys) by Playmobil.  How fun would these be to pretend with or as an adult/kid, I could see a set of these sitting up on one of my shelves in my office!!  Hint … Hint SANTA!!!  Go check out Amazon … they might be the perfect gift/gifts for the future cyclist in the family.

A Little Something for the Jewelry Box

We found two chic pendant necklaces featured by our friends at Flower Pedal ~ The Place to “Buy-Cycle” Gifts.  Every cyclist needs a little something new for their jewelry box … a chic look for the chic cyclist!!  The first one that they would like to show our readers is made of a nice earthy wood pendant bead with the sterling charm mounted on that a leather cord.  This Wood & Sterling Silver Road Bike Pendant is perfect for everyone on your Christmas list  The other necklace (The Fused Glass Bicycle Pendant Necklace) is a little different twist with fused glass and a permanent inked image.  Love – Love – LOVE the fun colors!!  This one will brighten up anyone’s cycling season!!  Both are definitely approved by the ladies at C&S – MUST HAVES!!!  Over the Holiday Break go and check out Flower Pedal.

We’re Ringing in the New Year with some Wonderful Giveaways

for Cycle & Style readers!

Thanks to Tribute Sport, Allied Medal Displays by Allied Steel Fabricators and Whooha Gear, we have some AWESOME giveaways!  We will be giving away the Tri Medal Display shown in this article.  The “i ride” shirt will belong to one of our lucky winners. And … Tribute Sport has given us several items to give away: The Road Bike + Winged Ride bicycle ornament set , the Mountain Bike + Love 2 Ride bicycle ornament set … plus the “RIDE” & “Mtn Bike” Wall Art also shown in this article.  YES … it will be a HAPPY NEW YEAR for some readers here at Cycle & Style!!  We are going to give our readers until January 10th.  So maybe this time, the shopping is done & this one is for you!  Treat yourself to something special!!

Simply comment below and we randomly choose among the best comments. Please give us a good e-mail address to get in touch with you and know that we can mail only within the US & Canada only.

Happy Holidays from Cycle & Style!

So how does it work?

I thought the same thing when I looked at the packaging, but as soon as I took out the instructions and examined the pieces, I put it on my bike with little to no effort.

The whole concept behind the Monkey Light Mini is a piece of hardware that attaches to the end of your spokes (closest to the rim of the wheel). This piece is then attached to a battery pack that zip-ties to your hub. Make sure everything is securely fastened to either the spokes or the hub in order to prevent uneven weight distribution. Once the everything is in place you simply turn on the hardware and get the wheel spinning! Not only does the light put off a bright color, you can choose one of the 8 themes to light up the night. Hearts, rainbows, block patters, etc… If you can’t pick on theme you can have the light cycle through all of them as you cruse around!

The Monkey Light Mini did not make my wheel feel unbalanced or off centered at all. It was nothing but smooth sailing! Not to mention the extra bit of light I had, brightening the road right at my wheel. After making a few commutes, I found myself just riding around, excited about both the light and the looks from curious people. I was even stopped at a stop light to explain the crazy colors coming from my wheel!

What an awesome gift idea for those you know who commute at night or just love to find exciting new things for their bike! MonkeyLectric makes other cool products too, like the Monkey Light M133 which is the original, full-spokes light kit!

Article by Stephanie T.

GIVEAWAY!

MonkeyLectric has generously agreed to provide at Monkey Light Mini to a Cycle and Style reader (the same light pictured above and that I reviewed). Comment on this article by Dec. 9th, including something about how Monkey Lectric could help night up the night for you! Please include your name and a valid email address. The winner will be chosen at random and notified via email! Have fun lighting up the NIGHT with MonkeyLectric!

When people think of being safe while riding on their bicycle, they think first and foremost of wearing helmets. But wearing a helmet is not going to help you very much if you are not riding in a safe manner and are unaware of your surroundings. Riding your bike in dark or low light conditions can be even more dangerous, but having the right equipment will help you to see and be seen. Last week’s change back to Standard Time has resulted in a suddenly dark evening commute. Just after tonight’s sunset, I watched cyclists commuting home on a major street that leads to and from both a university and a college. I quickly lost count of the young adult cyclists riding without any lights or reflective gear. Some dark-clothing clad coeds were nearly invisible in the darkness. I’d bet they wouldn’t drive a car around at night without turning on the car’s lights, so why do they think it’s okay to ride a bike without a light?

SIX WAYS TO CYCLE SAFE & AWARE:

Learn the rules of the road: Generally, cyclists need to follow the same rules as motorists and ride on the same side of the street (the right hand side.) In one sad study that the state of Washington released, 11% of cyclist fatalities were of bicyclists who were riding against traffic on the wrong side of the road. It’s important to know how to ride safely in traffic. I really like the quick overview of safe cyclng tips that pro cyclist Dave Zabriskie gives on his Yield to Life page.

High quality reflective gear makes you visible in cloudy, dull days as well as in the deepening dusk or at night. If you are wearing a reflective jacket or safety vest, straighten up when you hear a motorist coming so they can see you better. Have reflective touches which can be seen from the side as well (Such as reflective ankle cuffs or some reflective tape on your sleeves).

Get a rear light—Reflectors are just a part of being seen at night, but they can’t do the full job. You need an active light to be seen.  According to the Washington Area Bicyclists Association, over half of all cyclists killed are hit while riding at night without lights, even though only 3 percent of bike riding is done at night.  There are many inexpensive ($20 or less) rear lights on the market.  You may also have to pay a few dollars for fresh batteries. But ask yourself: is that $25 worth it if it keeps you safer?  (Note that lights will glow dimly for awhile before they go out.  Ideally, you need to recharge or refresh the batteries before they get too dim and ineffective, well before they run out.)

Get a mirror and use it while riding.  You not only will feel safer when you can see the cars, you can avoid trouble because you can see it coming and be defensive.  Get a mirror and try it out for a month of good riding. Then take the mirror away for the next several rides and you’ll find yourself looking down to where it once was and then psycho-analyze yourself. Do you feel less safe without that mirror now?

Ride where you are visible: Don’t play hide and seek by darting in and out of the parked cars on the side of the road. You also don’t want to hug the curb. Both actions make it hard for cars to see you well. Hugging the curb may put you just out of the periphery of their sight and it leaves you nowhere to go if you see a car approaching from behind (through your rear-view mirror) which is coming too close.

Finally, learn the safest routes to ride. Some roads with little shoulder and high speeds are just too dangerous to ride on. Taking the wrong turn in a sketchy inner city area is also not ideal. You might also be missing out on some great places to ride just because you aren’t familiar with the area. Many cities/towns offer bike maps (some are online) and Google Maps now gives a route options for biking or walking. There are also some great apps for your smart phone such as Map My Ride which can get you safely from Point A to Point B. Some cities or states have great bike advocacy groups which offer personalized commuter mentoring and will not only map out your bike-to-work route but will ride with you the first few times or pair you up with a commuting buddy with the same route.

 CYCLEAWARE (& GIVEAWAY)

CycleAware is a company that makes products for cyclists to help them be aware of their surroundings and helps them to be highly visible to others. They make a wide variety of rearview mirrors so you can see what’s behind you and great reflective products so you can be seen. As they say themselves, “ When you’re visible and know who’s coming up on you, you can actively acknowledge them with a five finger salute and a smile.  It really works and it makes your roads safer and more inviting for all.”

CycleAware's SlapWrap protects pant legs and adds reflectivity.

CycleAware has a great goodie bag for a lucky Cycle & Style reader: featuring: the Slap & Wrap, the Beamer saddle bag, a mirror all neatly packaged in a StowAway mesh backpack.

Slap & Wrap: This highly reflective and water-resistant wrap does double duty: protecting your pant leg from the bike chain and providing great nighttime visibility. It has a non-constricting design with a felt backing for extra comfort!

Beamer: CycleAware has made a fully-reflective saddle bag that adds that extra reflectivity while being fully functional as a saddle bag. It has a wide mouth zipper top for easy access, but essentials won’t be lost as there is an interior ID holder and key hook for extra safety. The Beamer saddle bag measures 6 x 3 1/4 x 2 1/2-inches and the strap is closed with a snap instead of Velcro, so it can’t snag those Lycra shorts!

Cycleaware's saddle bag is wonderfully reflective AND functional!

Mirror: CycleAware has a wide variety of rear-view mirrors to choose from from helmet mirrors to those that attach to the handlebar. The most discreet is a tiny mirror that attaches inside your sunglasses lense which gives you a rear view with a quick glance. The newest mirror is the Urbie,  made just for bikes with flat handlebars.

Stow-Away backpack: This lightweight and reflective mesh backpack can be folded into its own pouch, so it’s ready when you need it. It’s handy for those times when you want to shed an extra layer or carry a few items home from the store. (It comes in four colors: bright green, pink, black and silver.)

Rules of the CycleAware/Cycle & Style GIVEAWAY: To enter our giveaway for CycleAware Goodie Bag, comment below and use your real (first) name and a valid e-mail. You can make a comment about the article or share your own safety tips for cycling!

We’ll make a random choice from among the best quality comments to select the winner.  The winner will be chosen on December 5th and they will be notified via e-mail on December 6th. If we have trouble getting a hold of you, we may have to choose another, so please use a valid email. We can mail to addresses within the US or Canada only.

The Roadie Bar-end mirror is a sleek and aerodynamic mirror made for the road cyclist.

CycleAware Stow-Away Backpack is a lightweight, reflective mesh backpack that folds into its own pocket and stows easily in a jacket or cycling jersey.

Isn’t technology great?  What would we do without our iPhones, iPods, Smartphones and MP3 Players?  These devices have become a big part of our rides these days.  But what I found on my ride was how could I successfully use and enjoy my iPhone with its Apps on the trail?  Most of the time my mobile device stays in my hydration pack or my pocket and only comes out at each of my stops.

Here are things I began to think about …

•  I am a mom – what if someone – one of my kiddos – needed to get ahold of me on the phone?
•  I am a music lover – I could be listening to some tunes on the trail that I have down loaded onto my iPhone.
•  I am a adventurer/rider – what about all the great  Apps available to help me keep track of my ride or show me maps.

So I was excited to try out the Bracketron, Inc. All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount which just hit the launch onto the market in July 2011.  Well, I thought to myself  … could this be too good to be true??  I was excited to test out the product.  What a great 2011 mountain biking season I was going to have.

However a shoulder mishap lead to a season off the mountain bike, which was very disappointing because this product was staring me in the face and I knew it wanted to go out for a ride!  But, I am happy to say I found two very eager participants and here are their product reviews.

Features of the All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount:

• Monitor your speed and trip data with your device’s GPS or other bike apps
• Weather-resistant housing
• Height and angle adjustable
• Detachable case for security
• Quick lock & release
• Sets up in just seconds without tools
• Case includes 4 protective foam inserts that provide a snug fit for your device when inside

Tom’s Review of the All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount: 

• Simple Setup - Took less than two minutes to install; Installed on two different bikes.
• Extremely Sturdy – Was surprised how well it held up on a full suspension mountain bike – on very rugged single track terrain; very well designed.
• Practical – It’s easy to type on the phone while it’s installed on the bike.  It’s cool to be able to text a friend, or post on facebook without having to grab it out of your pocket.  As crazy as it may sound, I sent a text while I was riding, which was pretty cool.  The iPhone is also very easy to take out of the case (you do not need to un-install it) – which is very handy to take a hone call or snap a few pictures along the way.  Also if you stop for lunch you can pop your iPhone out in seconds.
• Highly Recommended -  Overall, I would rate this product 5 stars out of 5.  If you’re looking to carry your phone with you on any bike (road, mountain, etc) – this is an easy, low cost option.  Coming from a rider of both road bikes and mountain bikes this product is easily a no brainer and best buy.

Doug’s Review of the All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount:

• I’ve looked at 7 or 8 iPhone holders online.  All had horror stories of the phone falling off the clamp.  I LOVED this unit as it was completely enclosed.  No chance it could fall out.
• Touch capable front screen was wonderful.  I had complete access to my phone’s features.
• I’d happily pay $40 – $50 for it.  Peace of mind knowing your phone is safe and accessible.
• The knob to tighten the clamp on the bike was on the small size.  A larger knob would have been easier.
• The downside to the unit being totally enclosed is that it muted my music volume a bit.  I could still hear the music but I found myself wishing it were louder.

It sounds like what C&S is hearing from Tom & Doug is a big “Thumbs Up” for this product!!  We would recommend it for next season.  While the All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount can be found at Bracketron, Inc., you can also find this bike mount on Amazon.com, Best Buy, Target, Meijer, Sears, Kmart, Staples and many other distributers.  Check on their site … in the “Where to Buy” section.  THANKS TOM & DOUG!!

Unique” - an adjective – being the only one of it’s kind; unlike any thing else – particularly remarkable, special or unusual …

Cycle and Style likes to share with the readers what’s new and unique out there. Something that tells a story or sparks a conversation between two people. Something that is special, unusual, one of a kind and particularly remarkable … different!! How about “Unique”? How about Tireless Hearts?

So in pedals Bronwen Mauch of Tireless Hearts this month with a heart-warming story that touched my heart in a special way. Bronwen started creating and making these unique hearts in 2008 while she was teaching in New York City. She worked in a very unique school in Brooklyn which allowed her to run a bike shop, similar to wood shop or metal shop.  Obliging bike shops sent in  regular donations and when Bronwen noticed pink tubes showing up in the donation bags from bike shops and it gave her a great idea: “I started an informal  jewelry making  class as a way of keeping way of keeping the girls invested in the shop during seventh and eight grade”, said Mauch.

It was then that the first hearts were born: small, heart-shaped charms made from reclaimed inner tube rubber and bicycle hardware. The heart charms became the core of the Tireless Hearts line. Mauch harvests the unusual pinks, oranges, and reds of the inner tubes and selects the small hardware with care from her local bike shops. Each piece is cut, embellished, and hand stitched individually, and there is no pattern or mass-production of any kind. It is as green and sustainable as you can get. Each of these pieces is a tiny, wearable piece of art.

What is the inspiration for making her pieces?  “I am an artist, but like many artists I had a demanding full-time job that left me little time for big, time-intensive art making. I found, however, that I could make a couple of hearts during my subway trip to and from work. At the time my father was coming to the end of a long battle with heart disease, and sewing together that was more intuitive, and dare I say, poetic; the heart, after all, is invested with such powerful meaning in so may cultures. Making them has provided me a way of refilling my reserves and nourishing my spirit, too.Teaching junior high takes a LOT out of you!”

Mauch,  who lives “car-free”  in the Bay Area, commutes, runs her errands, and enjoys living the two-wheeled life. She adds, “I love all sorts of bikes; at one point I had six and I loved riding each and every one of them.” In fact when she goes to set up for a craft show, she rides her bike. Everything collapses down and fits into two panniers and a backpack!

As if to underline my point about uniqueness, Bronwen told us that she loves to collaborate with customers to make custom pieces.  What’s also unique about these pieces and this line is that its worlds away from the more frequently seen “bike part jewelry.” It’s subtle. Mauch says she doesn’t want to be a bicycle habit, but rather have it as a piece that draws someone in  with this unique piece and awakens their curiosity. As she says, “This gives the wearer an opportunity to tell a story and start a conversation – or remain enigmatically silent!”

Another Great Giveaway!

What will your story be? Bronwen Mauch of Tireless Hearts will be sending one of our readers the “black and red chain-plate heart”. This specially packaged piece will arrive at your address … but first you must be chosen. Enter by Tuesday, September 27th for your chance to have a unique piece of jewelry/art by simply making a comment below!

A year ago Beth did a review of five great water bottles and one of the stand-out bottles for road cyclists was the Polar Bottle. This summer rides in 80-90 temperatures gave us another chance to contrast our regular plastic bottles with the Polar Bottles, observing how quickly the ice melted and the water became tepid in the plastic water bottle. At that rate, I could have made sun tea in the clear plastic water bottle. At the time, I had one Polar bottle which I depended on to stay cold in the first 60-90 minutes of the ride while I finished off the first bottle. It was so refreshing to drink water that was still icy-cold at that point. It’s due to the design of the Polar bottles: it has an insulating layer between two walls of plastic which keeps liquids cool twice as long as regular water bottles

We knew that we liked the way Polar Bottles kept our water cold and how neatly it fit into a standard water bottle cage on the bike, but it was when we stopped by their booth at this summer”s Outdoor Retailer Show that we had a chance to check out the great designs and colors of their bottles. It makes it easy to find one to match your style and look great on your bike. (We bought several!)

Polar Bottle just announced they wanted to make a small tribute as our country recognizes the tenth anniversary of 9/11 this week and so they have designed a bottle with a star-spangled flag graphic.  “We are always coming up with new limited edition bottle graphics,” said Judy Amabile, president of Product Architects. “Given the significance of 9/11, we thought our customers would like a patriotic bottle choice right now. And the back-to-school bottles are perfect for fall.” (Judy Amabile, an avid cyclist who lives in Boulder, Colorado, is the owner of Product Architects, Inc. which invented Polar Bottle.)

GIVE-AWAY!

Polar Bottle is offering a nice give-away to TWO Cycle & Style readers with a pair of Polar Bottles in the 20 oz and 24 oz sizes, one pair of the star-spangled flag graphic and one pair of the great-looking falling leaves design. To enter the Polar Bottle give-away, tell us about your perfect ride to see the best of autumn’s beauty in the comment section below. The TWO winners will be chosen on the last day of summer (Sept. 21) and we’ll send it off to them on the first day of fall (Sept. 22, 2011)!

This article will give you more confidence walking into your local bike shop to look at and compare road bikes and you’ll be more confident that you are getting the right components for your style of riding.

Many of us may be confused about all the different component groups on road bikes as we shop for new bikes. Considering the full range of prices on new road bikes these days, why would you prefer one over another? Are the more expensive component groups worth it? How do you know the one the salesman is talking you into is right for you? And what is a component group?

I’ll answer the last question first: Component groups (sometimes called “gruppos,” which is Italian for groupset) include not only the shifters, but also the crank set and bottom bracket, chain, front and rear derailleurs, rear cassette, cables and brakes. Stay with me as I am going to break down a lot of this mystery.

Shimano's Dura-Ace Hollowtech II Crankset has a unique look. Due to its hollow design, it is stronger and lighter than it looks.

An Introduction to the Big Three

There are three main manufacturers of road cycling components: Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo. Each one seems to have their fan base among cyclists. Having 3 strong manufacturers is one of the best things to happen to cyclists in the last decade: three strong competitors racing each other to introduce the latest technologies and advancements to the market. Within a few years, most features trickle down from the higher end components to improve the mid-grade components groups as well.

The elegant-looking Dura-Ace shifters from Shimano have more carbon fiber and the latest design to make shifting smooth.

Shimano's 105 shifters have more aluminum and the mechanism is not as smooth as the Dura-Ace shifter.

Shimano is a Japanese company which first entered the American bike market in the 1970’s. At present, Shimano has about 50% of the component market and they seem to be the brand that the others are compared to. This market leadership is well deserved as they do make great lines of products.

SRAM (often pronounced “Sh-RAM”) is an American bike component company which had its start in the late 1980’s. They are generally compatible with Shimano, in that some of the components can be interchanged which is very nice. In many ways they have almost created a standard. In its quest to beat its bigger competition, SRAM has to push the technology and beat Shimano in price and compete in performance. So SRAM was the first to put carbon fiber in the cranks and in the brake levers. It is also focuses on ergonomics and was the first to introduce reach-adjust(able) levers.

Campagnolo is a classic Italian company which has concentrated on high-end road cycling components. Campagnolo (affectionately nicknamed “Campy”) has some very distinguishing features in that its rear cassette has 11 speeds while the others (SRAM & Shimano) have ten. Campy has a very devoted fan base, especially among purist European riders who love its silky-smooth shifting, good ergonomics, and beautiful looks. I’m sure Campagnolo would like to think they are the Ferrari of the bike component world. Like Ferraris, they are expensive to repair and the customer service can be a little slow (but the latter is something the bike shop will deal with more than the customer.)

Road Bicycle Groupsets

There are different tiers in the competitive road bike line of components. The higher end has more exotic materials including carbon fiber, titanium and aluminum alloys while at the lower end of the component groups, those alloys are replaced with heavier metals such as steel and stamping instead of machining. It isn’t merely that the higher end is lighter; they are also engineered and machined with more precision so the parts fit and interact together better. The quality of parts such as brakes, shifters and chains are better in the higher end component groups as well. Durability is also a factor: a higher end component group such as Shimano’s Dura-Ace will last longer, up to 30,000 miles and will require less servicing and adjusting.

Value-based component groups such as Shimano’s Tiagra or Sora lines are found on the most entry level road bikes. If a customer is not sure about getting into road biking, they may choose such a bike as they “try it out.” The problem with the lesser quality components is that the shifting isn’t as smooth, the chain falls off now and then, and the braking may be a bit jerky and those experiences can frustrate a new rider. These components are also showing up on hybrids and college cruiser bikes.

The question is do you need to have the higher quality tier of component groups? There are a few things to consider. The lighter weight makes a difference if you are a competitive racer or climber. The smoother shifting and braking makes you a more predictable rider in a paceline. If you are going to ride with a group, Shimano’s 105 will be good, but going up the next level to Ultegra may be just that much better as it will give you more confidence with your brakes on a steep descent and smoother shifting as you keep up on the group ride over rolling hills. Finally, the resale value of the bike is higher with a higher quality component group however, if you are the one buying a used bike, just make sure you do your research on how the bike has been ridden and how many miles have been logged. The final factor is one that we may not admit to, but we will buy the better component groups because they just look cooler and to be honest, they do!

As I talk to many riders and bike shop employees they all seem to be very comfortable recommending the top 3 lines of any of the 3 manufacturers that I have reviewed. I have also read a number of articles that recommend the grade below the top of the line for the best feature to price ratio and I have found that to generally be true.

The main road bike component groups are, with their tiers in descending order of quality:

Shimano

• Dura-Ace
• Ultegra
• 105

SRAM

• SRAM Red
• SRAM Force
• SRAM Rival
• SRAM Apex

Campagnolo

• Super Record (11 speed)
• Record (11 speed)
• Chorus (11 speed)
• Athena (11 speed)
• Centaur (10 speed)
• Veloce (10 speed)

Thanks to our friends at Millcreek Bicycles in Salt Lake City for the great variety of bicycles they have on hand AND for their helpful expertise! All these close-up photos were taken of their bicycles.

For more information on brake levers, reach adjustment and small hands, you may wish to check out a previous article: Women’s Hands and Brake Levers. Cycle and Style has other articles for help in buying road bicycles and finding a good local bike shop and we will continue to do more. Let us know what you’d like to know!

Campagnolo Chorus Rear Derailleur is primarily aluminum with some nice carbon fiber accents

Campagnolo's Super Record rear derailleur has more carbon fiber, making it stiffer and lighter. (Note Campagnolo's line is the only manufacturer with an 11-speed cassette.)

Sometimes you just need your bike to help you carry it with you and you don’t want the weight on your back in a pack. Okay, I guess it could be worse: you could be trying to carry a bag in one hand and steer with your other hand on the handlebar. Not a pretty picture! But how are you going to carry home that wonderful loot from the farmer’s market? Detours, a company located only 2 blocks from Seattle’s Pike Place Market has a beautiful solution! Actually, they have several great ideas of how to carry it with you on your bike.

As many city girl cyclists know, a pannier is not just for looks, it becomes a classic utility bag. It should be large enough to carry a bag of groceries or for the commuter, a change of clothes for work. It also should be tough enough to last for several years and stand up to the occasional road grit that flicks up.  If it’s stylish, that’s a plus and if it has some design features such as a shoulder strap for off the bike use, it will quickly become a favorite.  The Toocan is all that! How about a rain cover for when the skies open up? Remember, Detours is headquartered in drizzly Seattle…need we say more?

The Goodie Too bag is 6 x 4 x 2 inches and has a 48 cubic inch capacity

The handy Goodie bag can fit on a mountain bike or road bike top tube easily!

Detours also has a great solution for those who have had the problem of chocolate-covered energy bars melting in a jersey pocket against your sweaty back or who have wanted to carry along a camera to get memorable photos along the way.  For road cyclists and mountain bikers, the Goodie bag is just that: a top tube bag that is perfect for carrying all your goodies. The Goodie Too (shown here) is even roomier than the original; it’s large enough to carry a sandwich without squishing it! The Goodie bag is designed to keep your stuff handy without getting in your way and the slender bag fits nicely on the top tube just behind the stem. The Goodie bag fits onto various tube sizes quite simply with the MiniBug attachment system. It can be easily removed and put back on as needed.

Now that you have some extra room with a great top tube bag, maybe you want to make a batch of homemade on-the-go energy bars to share with the group on your next ride. Try Banana Oat Energy Bars or Pumpkin Energy bars!

Giveaway from Detours & Cycle & Style

You can win the Detours Goodie Too bag which fits on just about any bike’s top tube (thanks to the MiniBug attachment system!) or if you have a bike with a rear rack, you might want the beautiful Toocan with its colorful woven juice box design! The Toocan measures 15 x 13 x 7 inches and has a carrying capacity of 1600 cubic inches. Handy plastic clips with removable inserts easily attach this pannier to just about any rack.

We have the Goodie Too bag  in the Pea Green color with a pretty flower motif and it has a 48-cubic inch carrying capacity.

Comment below and you can give us a hint as to which Detours bag you’d like on your bike! When you comment, please use your real (first) name and e-mail so we can get a hold of you later. We can mail within the US or Canada. Contest will last until August 6, 2011!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DETOURS WINNERS: Kristina Rodriguez of Bronx, NY (the Detours Toocan) & Nancy M. of Springville, Utah (who one the Detours Goodie Bag filled with some goodies)!

In a previous article we had discussed some future trends in cycling clothing and gear. A favorite among those who commented was the reflective technology that helps riders to be seen at night and not have to cut short a ride as the sun sets on the horizon. We were excited to hear about a new product that has both style and function and will let your bike be seen at night: BikeWrappers.  The bike wrappers are a simple concept that works: “it’s like reflective clothing…but for your bicycle!”

There are several prints to choose from and you can pick one to suit your style.

The wrappers are reversible, one side features a cute print and the other side has the reflective material. It’s like your bike has a day look and a night look. The quick change can be done in less than a minute. It can also be used on a variety of bike frames, (although not all—it would not work for my Electra Amsterdam Sport, or my wide-tubed Cannondale road bike for example.)  We tried it on a standard road bike frame, a mountain bike and the step-through frame of a Globe Vienna. The latter needed only 2 of the 3 wrappers.

We love the idea of a wrapper that can protect your bike frame from scratches and dirt and makes your bike stand out from the rest. The wrappers are lightweight and machine washable. But the BEST part is that your bike can be visible in the beam of car headlights a quarter mile away and your bike will be visible from all sides. Finally, the bike wrappers also got the thumbs up from teenage girls—another plus!

The reflectivity of the BikeWrappers is picked up in the light amazingly well.

Another Great Giveaway! Win some BikeWrappers for your bike! 

Cycle & Style along with BikeWrappers are having a giveaway of these wrappers for your bike. The two wrappers here: the zebra print and the colored half-moon print BikeWrappers are going to be given away to two lucky readers. Not only would they be great for keeping you safe and look nice on your bike, but would be awesome to have on the bike for a night ride.  (We have a list of some fun night rides here.)

Contest will run through June 21–and hopefully the winners can have their wrappers in time for Midsummer’s Eve (June 24th.) Please use your real (at least a first) name and know we can mail to addresses in the US & Canada only.

The bike wrappers even come with a zebra print!