Life In The Saddle

Plugging or repairing a large hole or cut in a tubeless bicycle tyre can be a necessity when the opening is too large for the tubeless tyre sealant to clog. The Pro Bike Tool Tubeless Tyre Repair Kit is a neat tubeless tyre plug system, housed in a compact metal canister. I once wrote a feature on ' How To Make Your Own Tubeless Plug System ' – that system worked well, but it was rather flimsy and eventually broke after repeat use. The homemade creation was based on the tried-and-tested design of most tubeless tyre repair plugs though, and this Pro Bike Tool one is a great example. The Pro Bike Tool Tubeless Tyre Repair Kit is a simple system: you insert a sticky plugging strip into the open needle end, and then push the needle into the hole or cut in the tyre. As you pull the needle out, the plug strip remains in the hole. Then, you just spin the wheel and the sealant clots around the plug. The Pro Bike Tool system is housed within a neat metal canister, which avoids t...

Gravel has become Monster Gravel. Cyclocross has morphed into CXtreme. XC courses are no longer distinguishable from Enduro. With the lines between disciplines becoming even more blurred, Token Products designed the RoubX wheelset – a 700c do-it-all carbon wheelset that supports anything from 700 x 30c to 29 x 2.1" tyres. Built on a super wide tubeless rim, with CX-RAY spokes – the ROUBX is light, stiff, and fast. Here is my test report and review… When I consider the key attributes of a gravel bike wheelset, I think of strength, weight, rolling resistance, and aerodynamics—in that order. To fulfil the sought-after balance you need the right materials for rim, hub, and spokes; you need the right spoke lacing pattern; you need the right rim profile and depth; and you need a smooth running and durable hub at the heart of the wheel. The Token Products ROUBX wheels seem to tick a lot of these boxes, even just glancing down the spec's sheet… A hooked 33 mm deep tubeless carbo...

If you are running a SRAM Force or Rival 1X drivetrain set-up, then you may well find yourself wishing for a lower gear, especially on bikepacking adventures. The SunRace MX80 / MX8 11-46 tooth cassettes supply two additional low ratio gears than you get on the standard 11-42T SRAM cassette. That is an upgrade worth considering... On my Kona Sutra LTD build , I was concerned about a lack of low end gear spread for the Tour Divide . Whilst pure grunt will usually get you up most things on an 11-42T cassette, I thought with the cumulative fatigue and long climbs on this 21 day bikepacking route, I might need something lower... SRAM rate their SRAM Rival and Force 1X rear derailleurs as suitable for a maximum of a 42-tooth cassette—I was keen to see if the SunRace MX80 and MX8 cassette would work with the derailleurs and provide that sought-after lower gear possibility. You may well not have heard of the SunRace brand, but you likely have heard of Sturmey Archer—the iconic hub gea...

A phone is an essential piece of equipment for a bike ride. Cyclists use their phones for staying connected, calling in emergencies, and documenting their adventures. A good phone case is a well justified accessory though, as the life of a smartphone can be a tough one in a cyclist’s jersey pocket. The Otterbox Defender Case is a quality modular bumper phone case, which supplies superb drop protection and functionality for your iPhone. I am familiar with the Otterbox brand, having used their Defender case on an iPad for several years. That case has saved the iPad from many drops, knocks, and spills; even when the device has been carried to work in a pannier on a daily cycle commute. It was with this familiarity and reliability in mind that I selected the Otterbox Defender as my choice for a robust phone case to keep my smartphone safe on cycling adventures. The latest Otterbox Defender case features several great upgrades, as well as keeping all the winning qualities of the old...

The new WTB Raddler Gravel Tyres are the bigger brother of the well known WTB Riddler Tyres. They feature larger knobs and side lugs for improved grip and better traction on loose or muddy trails. On my recent XPDTN3 Algarviana bikepacking adventure in Portugal, I put the 700 x 40c tyres through their paces on the challenging terrain of the Algarve. I have used the WTB Riddler tyres in 38c volume on a number of test bikes over the past few years. For light pea-sized gravel, they deliver the perfect balance between fast rolling speed and traction on forest tracks and dry dirt trails. Where the Riddler begins to struggle though, is when the rock size increases to more fist-sized gravel, or when the mud and slippery roots increase in number. This is where the Raddler enters… The WTB Raddler uses larger depth knobs and larger side lugs, to provide more grip and traction for the tyre. The slightly larger 40c volume also provides more cushioning from impacts, and more comfort on rough...

I have been using a set of Aftershokz bone conduction headphones daily, ever since I reviewed the Bluez2 headphones back in 2015. The Aftershokz Aeropex is the brand's latest release model and offers several notable upgrades: including IP67 waterproofing, a lighter and slimmer frame, and an outstanding improvement in clarity and unit functionality. Bone conduction headphones allow for open ear listening—where the headphone sits next to the ear rather than featuring an earbud that blocks the ear canal. The result is that you keep your ambient sound listening capabilities—a vital safety consideration for cyclists, as well as being necessary for optimum balance and stability. Even back in 2015, with the Aftershokz Bluez2 headphones, I was impressed by the Aftershokz bone conduction open-ear technology. I remember being sceptical whether the sound would be comparable to normal headphones, but I was amazed by the clarity of the audio. The small downfalls of the Bluez2 model were s...

With the growing popularity of sweep handlebars (a.k.a. wood-chipper bars) I thought it was about time to see how they could improve the ride of one of my gravel / cyclocross bikes. To test and review, I fitted the new Easton EA70 AX handlebars and Easton EA70 stem to my Kona Private Jake . I have not upgraded much on my 2016 Kona Private Jake; the stock components are genuinely superb. With the more recent models of Kona gravel bikes featuring sweep handlebars though, it suggested it would be a worthwhile upgrade to test. The Easton EA70 AX Handlebars are an alloy sweep bar aimed at the gravel and adventure market. The handlebar features the same top section as the well praised Easton EA70 road handlebar, but the drops flare out at 16 degrees to provide a wider grip for greater control on rough terrain and descents. Sweep bars come in varying degrees of angles, some with a very extreme flare. Easton deemed that a 16 degree flare was optimal for easy switching between hand p...

The best-selling Scicon Aerocomfort Bike Bag has received some significant design updates. With thru-axle compatibility, added protection, and an overall lighter weight—the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0  is even more of a market-leader than before. Back in 2013, I reviewed the Scicon Aerocomfort 2.0 ( read the review here ). That bag has had some significant use: for transporting bikes on planes, trains, and even yachts. With many of my bikes  now having thru-axle designs though, the Aerocomfort 2.0 had required some questionable 'bodging' on my part to make it usable. I was therefore relieved when the new 3.0 was released—this new design is much improved. Thru-Axle Compatibility One of the biggest differences with the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 Bike Bag is that it will accommodate 12 mm thru axles on the front and rear of the patented suspension frame system. To fit thru-axles, you simply remove the QR inserts in the suspension frame, then use your bike's existing axles t...

For the last five years, I have toured across the European continent on a Kona Rove Titanium or Kona Private Jake. The trans-continental rides—including 3000+ kilometre epics , have mostly been on asphalt or light gravel trails. This year, a new machine came to be—one intended to 'Go the Distance' on real off-road bikepacking adventures… meet 'The Sergeant'. The Sergeant is a 2020 Kona Sutra Ltd. He earns his badge because I view this bike as a beefier, more outbound version of the fantastic Kona Private Jake —still my favourite bike to be built and ridden to date. This bike though, is the next rank above… With its army green paintwork and Reynolds steel tubing, the Sutra LTD is a bombproof adventurer. It will take 2.15 29er tyres for comfort and grip, and the 36x42T gearing is enough for the steepest dirt road passes. With mounting bosses across the frame and fork, there should be more than enough scope for laden luggage carrying too. 'The Sergeant' is...

Cyclists need a good phone case. We carry our phones with us as a lifeline and to capture and share the ever-evolving story of our rides. JIMMYCASE is a Californian brand that produce beautifully crafted handmade phone cases for iPhone and Android. Their unique design combines a real wood backplate, with rubber side buffers, and a unique super-elastic card sleeve on the rear. It is a winning design for the minimalist bike rider. I have been searching for the perfect phone case for cyclists, and the JIMMYCASE makes my shortlist of the top three (reviews of the other two options coming soon—check out the label 'Phone-Cases'). What makes the JIMMYCASE a good phone case for cyclists? Firstly, it is protective. Mobile phones are fragile things, and while most modern versions are waterproof, they still would not deal well with being dropped on the asphalt or trail. The JIMMYCASE is robust, rigid, and strong enough to shield your phone from drops and knocks. I admit I have not...