Outward Hound Excursion dog packIt's great to see a well trained trail dog running singletrack, but if you're going to bring your hound out you may as well get them to do some work. Outward Hound's Excursion bag is designed to carry a small amount of gear (
it's not recommended to make your dog carry more than 10% of its body weight), with two large zippered pockets on each side and two smaller outer pockets. There is enough room to have your pooch carry a multi-tool, tubes, energy bars, and even a small pump or tightly rolled jacket. A small pocket on the side can be filled with poop pick-up bags that are dispensed through a rubber gasket on the side of the bag, and reflective highlights make the your dog easier to spot in the dark. Three padded straps are used to keep the Excursion in place, with two under the belly and one larger strap that wraps around the front of the dog. It is available in three different sizes that can be sized to fit dogs ranging from a 19" to 48" girth. The Excursion bag retails for $34.99 USD.
www.myoutwardhound.com |
| Pinkbike's Sherpa wasn't a big fan of the Excursion - it rotated when she ran and the zipper quickly failed. |
 | It goes without saying that care has to be taken when having your dog carry trail supplies for you, mainly being conscious of not overloading the pack (never exceed 10% of your dogs body weight), and it must be adjusted correctly. But a dog with a pack can be a very happy hound, not just because they are out on the trail, but because it can make them feel like they are doing a task. Be smart and aware, keeping your dog properly hydrated and not weighed down too much, and you should have no issues. Fitting the Excursion bag will vary from dog breed to dog breed, but it's worth the few minutes it takes to measure your dog to be sure that you get the best fit. All of the adjustable straps feature mesh padding to keep them from chafing, and the top section of fabric connecting the two sides is made from the same material. The small sized bag is large enough to fit multiple tubes, a folding tool, energy bar and gel, and even a small pump, but all of that put it far overweight for Sherpa's 23lb frame. I settled on just the bare minimum, leaving enough room and weight margin to even stuff in my folded up Dakine windbreaker. Unfortunately the bag doesn't function quite as well as I was hoping once I got her running on the trail. It constantly wanted to roll to one side after only a few minutes of use, even when both sides were as balanced as possible, likely making for a very uncomfortable train run for Sherpa. The belly straps continually came loose as well, not helping matters. In the end a zipper failure put the Excursion bag out of commission after less then twenty rides. While the idea is great, the Excursion bag doesn't cut it for use on my dog's back. - Mike Levy |
Frame Defender protectionFrame Defender's stick-on pads have been designed to protect your bike frame from noise or damage caused by chain slap, cable rub, or anything else that foam padding could prevent. The nearly weightless foam material features a raised surface with reliefs that allow it to be wrapped around curved surfaces easier than if it was smooth, and a super sticky 3M adhesive backing is used to hold it in place. The Frame Defender kit includes seven differently shaped pieces: one large piece that can protect a downtube, two smaller segments that are likely enough for two different chainstays, and four smaller sections that are ideal for cable rub trouble spots. It can be had in either an all black or in a blue/white camo option. MSRP $19.95 USD.
www.framedefender.com |
| While an old inner tube can do the same job, your bike deserves the lightweight and inexpensive Frame Defender padding instead. |
| The Frame Defender package comes with instructions that suggest to both clean the frame application surface with alcohol, and to use a heat gun (or your girlfriend's blowdryer) to warm the padding up before installation. We didn't think that most riders will take those steps, so we didn't either. Instead, we simply gave the frame a quick wipe with a clean rag, slapped down the Frame Defender padding and hoped for the best while expecting the worst. Much to our surprise, the padding has stayed put for months, with not even a single edge lifting up. And that includes countless inconsiderate jet washer cleanings - whatever sticky 3M concoction they have used to keep the padding in place is amazing stuff. We trimmed ours so that it fit nicely around the bike's chainstay mounted cable stops but the kit's six differently shaped pieces can be employed anywhere on the bike where some extra protection is needed, including one long segment that can cover most of the length of a downtube (although some might call that a fashion faux pas). The difference between a bare chainstay and one with a layer of Frame Defender applied is obviously night and day, but its foam construction also makes it much quieter than any inner tube wrap job could ever hope for. Longevity looks to be quite good as well, with very little wear showing after three months of use. Downsides? The foam padding is thick enough that it may get in the way of some chainstay routed shift cables or hinder tire clearance, but some careful trimming should take care of it. At just $19.95 USD the Frame Defender kit receives full marks from PB; it's light, relatively inexpensive and infinitely more pro looking than wrapping an old tube around your chainstay. - Mike Levy |
Bontrager XR4 Team tireBontrager's past tire lineup never received much praise, but a renewed effort by the Trek house brand, including the hiring of renowned tire designer Frank Stacy, has resulted in a number of new offerings that show promise. Intended for aggressive trail/all-mountain riding, the 2.35'' XR4 tested here features an all around tread design that Bontrager claims will work well in both wet and dry conditions. Ramped center knobs should help to preserve rolling speed despite the aggressive lugs, and siping is used throughout to improve knob adhesion and create more biting edges. The prominent cornering lugs use a laterally cupped design for the same reason. Our 2.35" Team Issue version weighs in at 742 grams (
730g claimed) and the calipers tell us that it is exactly bang on the advertised width when mounted to the Bontrager Rhythm rims. It is also available in a 2.2" wide model, with both widths also having a TLR tubeless ready casing option. The Team Issue XR4 retails for $64.99 USD.
www.bontrager.com |
| Bonty's XR4 surprised us with a super consistent ride that is likely to change people's minds about their tire lineup. |
| We rode the XR4 tires in everything from the driest of dry conditions to the wettest that South Western B.C. has to offer (that means that it was really, really muddy) and have come away from it all with a good understanding of how the XR4's behave. Consistent would be the key word, with them offering up a feeling that isn't likely to surprise you with a sudden falling away of traction. Their round profile surely plays a large role in this sensation, but the aggressive knobs also seem to simply work, regardless of what's under them. After a short get-to-know-you period we were quickly throwing them into corners with the confidence that we have in some of our other favorite tires. Braking traction is on par with other aggressive designs, no better and no worse, but they do seem to roll better than rubber of similar weight and intentions - the ramped crown lugs at work. With 28psi front and back we've had zero flats, punctures or otherwise, and the casing shows no signs of damage. The rubber compound feels harder to the touch than we had expected, especially given the tire's performance, so it also comes as no surprise that the wear rate looks to be quite good. While Bontrager hasn't been known for their tires in the past, the XR4 will likely change that. - Mike Levy |
