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Front Bike Child Seats (Thule Yepp 2 Mini) vs Rear Mounted Bike Child Seats (Thule Yepp 2 Maxi): Which is Best?

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As the father of one, it looks a bit extra to be riding my Kona Dr Dew with both a front and rear mounted child bike seat. I bought the Thule Yepp 2 Maxi rear mounted rack seat when my son turned one year old, then was gifted the Yepp 2 Mini front mounted child seat from a friend. It looks a bit extra, but it has enabled me to test both simultaneously, and answer a question I pondered when looking a children's bike seats: which is better - front or rear?  The Thule Yepp 2 Mini (front-mounted on the fork steerer tube) and Thule Yepp 2 Maxi (rack mounted) are two of the most popular options on the market. Both seats are known for their durability, comfort, and safety; but they offer very different riding experiences, both for the baby/child and the bike rider. If you are searching for the best child bike seat , or comparing front vs rear child bike seats , this guide should break down everything you need to know: advantages, disadvantages, and which seat works best for short...
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Bikepacking Tips – Wild Camping When Bikepacking and Cycle Touring

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Wild camping and bicycle touring or bikepacking go hand in hand. Camping in fields, on beaches, and in remote rural locations means you can choose your camping spot; allowing far more freedom in terms of route planning and far more scope to account for adverse or favourable riding conditions. Wild camping is also an incredible way to get closer to nature. It lets you experience sunsets and sunrises in secluded places, and lets you truly escape from civilisation on your bikepacking adventures. There is also the fact that wild camping is free, and it is often the only choice for back-of-beyond bicycle touring. This blog post details my personal top tips for wild camping. The advice comes from experiences on hiking trips, and bicycle touring or bikepacking adventures such as the #RoadsFromRome , #7Countries7Passes , #CelticCrossTrail , and #CoastsandCols tours. Camping in the wild is an unforgettable experience—one that should be enjoyed by all. Hopefully, this wild camping g...
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Review – Muc-Off Big Bore Tubeless Valves

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Tubeless tyres are now widely accepted to be the best choice for gravel bikes, mountain bikes and even road bikes; but whilst tubeless technology has come a long way in the last decade, tubeless valves remain one area that has been ripe for improvement. Tubeless bicycle tyre set-ups usually use a Presta style valve, with a removable valve core to allow you to inject tubeless sealant into the tyre without removing the tyre from the rim. Yet, Presta valves have two disadvantages: First, their relatively small valve opening reduces the airflow that can be pumped into the tyre in one go, this is problematic when you want a large whoosh of air to 'pop' the tyre bead onto the rim when seating tubeless tyres. The second disadvantage is that tubeless sealant tends to clog up the delicate valve core, leading to problems inflating and deflating the tyre. Muc-Off have a solution to the downfalls of Presta valves, with their new Muc-Off Big Bore Tubeless Valves. Designed to maximise a...
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Review – Kostüme Cycle Wear Jersey and Bib Shorts

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Kostüme's approach is different. Rather than warehouses full of stock, end of season sales and out of stock sizes, Kostüme operates a pre-order setup: they release an edit of a cool new design, and you place a pre-order within their ten day window. Once all orders are in, Kostüme make the kit, and you get your bespoke apparel delivered. I am a great supporter of the pre-order manufacturing approach. Yes, you might have to wait 6-8 weeks to get your new cycling jersey, bibs and gilet, but that just requires a bit of prior planning. Pre-ordering reduces waste, enables more frequent changes in design, and is ultimately better for everyone's wallets. Kostüme aren't just different in their manufacturing approach though, their kit also has some of the most daring and interesting graphical design work of cycling jerseys I have worn to date. Thanks to their collaborations and partnerships with world-famous artists, they can bring to life jerseys that will turn everyone's h...
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Review – Ortlieb Accessory Pack Waterproof Handlebar Bag

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Over the years I have tested countless handlebar bags, both for multi-day bikepacking expeditions and for everyday adventures; in that time, I have created a mental five-point checklist of all the things a compact handlebar bag must deliver on and feature: 100% waterproof – it needs to keep its contents safe and dry; otherwise, tools will go rusty, and you will need to take it off the bike every time you wash it or ride in the rain.  Secure Velcro mounting – straps are better than buckles in my experience, causing less damage to handlebars and allowing for maximum versatility.  Below computer mounting – it needs to hang below the horizontal level of the handlebar, so it does not conflict with the computer mount, but not so low that it hits the front wheel.  Durability – it needs to stand the test of time and constant use. This means the materials need to cope with prolonged periods of dampness and the buckles or zips need to last.    Compact size – large eno...
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