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Bike Bytes By MBT Staff What We're Riding | |||||||||||||||
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 = We'd rather eat a soggy bike sock than buy this thing.
 = Pretty good. Could use improvement, but functional.
 = If someone gives it to you, maybe. It's a paperweight.
 = Sweeeeet. We'd buy it. It won't cure cancer though.
 = We'd use it if we were in a bind. Maybe.
 = Dude, it does everything including wash your car. It rules!
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Hydrapak Borracho:
In the past couple years Camelbak has been given a run for their money by a few smaller competitors. One of those competitors happens to be Hydrapak. When Rob first looked at the Borracho (he's got to be mad to need a pack bigger than a high schooler's backpack) he was a little skeptical of the bladder mechanism. Instead of using a screw closure bladder like Camelbak or other competitors, the Hydrapak bladder closes up by rolling the top down, doubling it up and velcroing it shut. It doesn't sound waterproof, but it'd amazingly leak-resistant. The bladder itself is puncture resitant material, it can be turned inside out to dry it out, and some of the nice bits include a thermal regulation sleeve on the hose, quick disconnect hose, velcro hose guide and a reasonably high flow mouthpiece. The pack itself is massive, featuring more than 1300 cubic inches of storage space, nifty little mesh side pockets, durable construction and a cool urban camoflage pattern. So far, Rob's completely enamored with it, so that's got to be a good thing. Hydrapak
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WTB Velociraptor Tires:
What happens when you take your all weather tires on your car in nasty mud, ice and snow? Chances are you're going to have problems slipping and sliding all over the place. The same can certainly be said for the skinny little tires on your bike. So when you're planning on riding in nasty mud or other conditions, it helps to shod your hoops with a set of these wickedly knobbed tires. Featuring a uni-directional series of knobs that are deeper than your average tire, you'll have no problem slicing through deep mud or other nasty conditions with ease. The 2.1 Velociraptors are a true 2.1 inch tire, and a folding bead offering will weigh no more than an average "all season radial". Tough casings and a durable tread compound make this a winner tire for winter conditions. Wilderness Trail Bikes
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Hayes El Camino Trail Disc Brakes:
After getting our hands on a pair of these new brakes, our initial impressions are very good. There has been a lot of talk on various forums that the original El Camino was lacking in power and feel. So far we're having none of the "supposed" problems with the new El Camino Trails. They've got gobs of power, a great lever feel and design, simple reach adjustment, and kick ass looks. We've enjoyed playing with them in the fortuitously warm New York winter, and they've been strong enough to handle being immersed in mud, thrown down hills and flung over logs. They've even been strong enough to handle a little trials riding. We'll have a full report on these great new brakes in a few months, so stay tuned. Hayes Brakes
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Aztec Powerlines Derailleur Housings:
Let's face it, a day playing in the mud rocks, but cleaning all those nooks and crannies post-ride just plain sucks, especially when all that grit and grime slowly works its way into your cable housings. Enter Delta's Aztec Powerlines, a light weight, double layer cable defense system using Duracote Teflon pre-stretched inner cables, surrounded by an Ultra-slick liner. Give yourself some time for installation, however. The lines require precise cutting, and an endless series of tiny metal links string together to line the outer housing. Be prepared to chase these links around the work bench if your thumb slips off the end of the tube. Overall, these are a great investment if you live in a wet climate or even for commuting. Delta hails these as shifting "up to three times better than ordinary cables." Faster or no, these cables shine during those muddy rides when your buddies are fighting to gain a cog and you're clicking through gears with a vengence. We'll have a full installation article on these babys in a future issue, along with some long term results. Delta/Aztec
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