Bontrager Rhythm gloveBontrager claims that their Rhythm glove offers "
lightweight full coverage for cross country riders", but they fit the bill for anyone looking for a pair of gloves for riding in warm weather, or those who prefer a minimalist option. To that end they use a lycra mesh top to let the air pass through easily, along with a Clarino palm that forgoes any padding, but does make use of reinforced areas where you'd be likely to damage them in the event of a crash. Both braking fingers feature wraparound tips that should lessen the chance of blowing them out in the long run, often the death knell for many gloves, and they sport an interesting Kelvar crash pad at the base of the palm to prevent tearing when you do your best scorpion imitation into the rocks. Like most gloves, the Rhythm's also sport silicone on the finger tips to keep your digits on the brake levers while riding in the rain. They retail for $29.99 USD.
www.bontrager.com |
| There isn't a lot to the Rhythm glove, but that's a good thing. |
 | Bontrager may not be the first name that comes to mind when considering a new pair of gloves, but it should be judging by how much we've come to like the Rhythms. While not quite as minimal as some, the Rhythm is still very svelte when compared to most options, something that we really appreciated on warm days. Its lycra mesh is quite breathable, something that is apparent by simply blowing on the top of your hand - you can easily feel the air pass though - making them much more comfortable when the temps near triple digits. The Kevlar crash pad on the palm is a tough material that feels as if you might notice it when are gloves on, but it's invisible in use. The cuff is one place where many gloves fall short, often ripping from pulling them on or off, or just being plain uncomfortable, but the Rhythm's wide and stretchy cuff is soft to the touch and has stood up well. Fit, the most important factor, is also spot on for our hands, with the fingers being just the right length and no excess material found at the palm. The Rhythm glove is a winner in our books, and they'll likely be in yours as well if you're looking for a minimalist glove that doesn't make you feel like you're wearing oven mitts while riding. - Mike Levy |
Schwalbe Airmax Pro pressure gaugeSchwalbe may be well known for their all encompassing tire lineup, but, quite fittingly, they also offer the Airmax Pro digital pressure gauge so that you can be sure that you have your tires set to the ideal pressure. The blue gauge is compatible with both presta and schrader valves, and measures tire pressure to within a tenth of a psi - more than accurate for even the biggest tech nerds out there. A single button turns the gauge on, as well as lets you scroll between psi, bar and kg/cm². The last reading is saved even when the Airmax Pro is turned off, making it easy to keep track of your last change, but holding the button down for two seconds resets it. It also makes use of an auto shutoff feature to extend battery life. The Airmax Pro gauge retails for $32.55 USD.
www.schwalbetires.com |
| Don't think you'd benefit from a gauge? Think again, because it could be the most effective money that you've ever spent. |
| It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how important tire pressure is to the performance of your bike. Too much or too little air will have your bike doing things that just aren't right, and we're talking as little as a few psi, so it makes sense to figure out what works best for your terrain and tire choice. Sure, most riders are happy to get by using the notoriously imprecise dial gauge on their floor pump, but that just seems silly when those same people are often riding bikes in excess of $3,000, shod with tires that likely go for over $60 each. And no, your ''calibrated thumb'' doesn't cut it. Schwalbe's Airmax Pro pressure gauge, on the other hand, certainly does. Press the button once to turn it on, then push it firmly down onto the valve for the blue digital gauge to quickly tell you your tire pressure, letting you know that it's read it with an audible beep, to within a tenth of a psi. Its auto shutoff feature keeps it from going through batteries quickly as well, with ours still on its first battery after a busy season of riding different test bikes. The Airmax Pro is a clever bit of kit that we always have stashed in our bag, but we do have a few gripes with it. First, we'd love to see an air bleed valve button (like those used on shock pumps) so that we're not forced to remove the gauge to let air out with our fingers and then recheck it. Secondly, while at about 70mm long it isn't huge, we're betting that more riders would use the Airmax Pro if it was even more compact and pocket worthy. A backlight screen would also make it easier to read in the bush. Despite those grumbles we still don't leave home without the Airmax Pro, often stopping mid ride to see if we can blame an "off day" on an over inflated tire. While a lot of riders will scoff at the $32.55 USD asking price, the Airmax Pro is a great tool if you are looking to get the most out of your rubber choice. - Mike Levy |
Nokon shift housingNokon's cable housing consists of modular aluminum pieces that are fitted over a full length Teflon liner, completely sealing the system from the elements. Each aluminum section of the German made housing features a ball shape on one end and a socket on the opposite, allowing it to be routed around tight bends without the kinking that can occur with standard housing. Nokon housing is purchased in kits, either shift or brake, that come with enough pieces to allow you to run full length housing on most bikes. It can be had in silver or black for $104.99 USD, or white, blue, red, green and gold for $113.99.
www.nokon.com |
| Nokon's housing uses aluminum pieces that fit into each other via a ball and socket design, allowing it to snake around tight bends easily. We're suggesting giving Nokon housing a pass, unless you have a bike with shifting issues caused by questionable routing. |
| Nokon housing is relatively expensive when compared to a standard setup, but it does offer some advantages beyond simply looking cool. Bikes that make use of questionable cable routing, especially tight bends or full suspension designs that bend and tug on shift lines, are ideal candidates to be updated with the trick aluminum housing. The ball and socket design of each section allows the housing to go around the tightest of bends without damaging the cable or the Teflon liner within, and the system is also claimed to be free of any compression, helping to make shifting more precise. Gram counters should also take note, Nokon housing is also about 30% lighter than a standard housing section of the same length. Unfortunately, the advantages don't outweigh the disadvantages of the design. While Nokon claims shifting benefits from the "compressionless" nature of the aluminum housing, we couldn't feel the difference, and this is after installing a number of Nokon systems on different bikes. And while they are right in saying that it won't rust, it does mar quite easily. But the final straw that made us actually remove it from our bikes was the noise and wear. It didn't take long for the ball and socket housing design to begin creaking loud enough when turning the handlebar that we had to remove it for our own sanity, but it also has a tendency to quickly wear a gouge where it rubs against the frame, necessitating a healthy application of 3M tape to prevent damage - not something that we want to deal with on an expensive aluminum or carbon frame. At $104.99 USD we don't recommend giving Nokon housing a try. - Mike Levy |
Pro Atherton gripsPro's Atherton grips have a thin 30mm profile that makes them ideal for riders who prefer thin grips, and the soft rubber compound is embossed with the Atherton logo to provide traction, but it's their clamping design that sets them apart from standard lock-on grips. How so? Their inboard external clamping collar works in tandem with an internal expanding wedge at the outer end, making them more forgiving on the outside edge of your palms during use. While they certainly aren't the first grips to use this system, it is executed cleanly. The Atherton grips measure out at 135mm and come in one color, the grey and red combo pictured below. They retail for $26.99 USD
www.pro-bikegear.com |
| The Atherton grips are a thin option that will please those who tend to ride with their hands pushed out to the very end of their bar. |
| The Atherton grips take a bit more care to install due to the internal clamping wedge used at their outboard ends - the screws need to be neither too tight or too loose for the rubber plugs to grab ahold of the bar's inner wall to prevent them from spinning - but it shouldn't take more than one or two tries. We're big fans of thin grips here at Pinkbike and the Atherton's don't disappoint with their 30mm diameter and comfortable rubber compound. Their 135mm length makes them longer than some, although we can't say that we really noticed, but their lack of an outboard locking collar certainly made a difference. If you had asked us if standard lock-on grips, those that make use of both an inboard and outboard collar, caused any issues we would have said no. But we quickly found the Atherton grip's smooth collarless end much more comfortable after the first ride. The difference was night and day when riding a bike with regular lock-on grips back to back with one equipped with the Atherton grips, although it has been pointed out to us that we tend to ride with our hands at the very end of the handlebar, meaning that our palms are resting on the very end of the grip. Give the Atherton grips a try if that sounds like you as well. Complaints? It doesn't take long for the light grey rubber to turn brown... wouldn't it make more sense for them to be done in black? As with most thin grips, they show wear rather quickly. - Mike Levy |
Look comfy too!
