On The Pedals
The Daily Grind
Over The Bars
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What’s So Special About the December Issue? | |
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The Holiday Buyer’s Guide is here again and while it seems like only yesterday we were scurrying to complete last year’s guide in time, the fact is this very issue has been in the making since about August when snowy nights and waiting in line to cash out are the furthest things from our minds. For those of you who have yet to experience the HBG (and to anyone else in need of a refresher), this issue is a little different from our normal routine. Throughout the course of the year we encounter literally dozens of products that come through our office in effort to bring you Mountain Bike Tales each month. And while we test a vast majority of these items as a part of our monthly features, there are some that simply outshine the rest. For these diamonds in the rough, we set aside a special place to share our positive experiences and that in a nutshell is this very issue. However, there is a little more to it than that. In addition to being products that have managed to impress some seriously jaded editors, the Holiday Buyer’s Guide exists to help shoppers in need of gift ideas for the mountain bike rider on their list. These are all items we use nearly daily and feel would constitute happiness to riders of all skill level from rank beginners to crusty old veterans. Since each review concludes with manufacturer direct links and in most cases direct purchasing links, this issue is also a great tool for dropping hints as to what you really want. Hey, we’ve all been on the receiving end of a pack of tube socks ourselves. They say that it’s the thought that counts but that thought counts double when it’s something you’ve been lusting after to boot. Additionally, this year we’re trying something new. Each of our editorial columns will offer up five bonus picks as the items each of our editors hold dear to their hearts. We here at MBT pride ourselves on being real world riders ourselves (and not corporate drones). Just like you, our paychecks disappear on parts, accessories, gear, and components. When something we buy manages to impress us after a season of abuse, trust us it’s good! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. We’ll be back in February.
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Slime Skabs (Tube Patch Kit)
Let’s face it, flats suck! I carry quite a few trailside repair products in my pack but it’s tough to put a price on the security that a few Skab patches by Slime can add to the equation. What makes Skabs unique is that unlike a normal tube patch, they do not require the application of messy glue. Instead a rider simply pulls the damaged tube and slaps a Skab tab over the puncture spot as if it were a sticker. I was pleased enough to run a Skab after a pinch flat as emergency repair to get back to the trailhead but additionally impressed with the fact that they still hold air without flaw two months down the road. They also work on tubeless tires. Bonus: For $3 Slime also throws in a pair of tire-levers to save your fingertips when popping that bead a hundred miles from anywhere. This is a stocking stuffer deluxe! Order Direct | |
Bell Ultra-Tool Multi-Function Bike Tool
Ever think you’re prepared for anything only to discover that you need an Allen wrench when all you have is a Phillips head? How about discovering you’re stem is loose out in the middle of nowhere and all you have to tighten it down is a pair of pliers that don’t fully close? I recently picked up a Bell Ultra-Tool Multi-Function bicycle tool with the only regret of not having snagged one of these things sooner. Features a nice assortment of drivers, Allen wrenches, tube patches, glue, and spoke wrenches (14, 15 and 16 gauge). It also includes two tire levers with molded tube buffers, Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers, and a convenient multi-pocket belt pack. The only thing missing is a chain tool.
For $14, this is a stocking stuffer that can’t miss!
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Woodstock 707
We typically frown upon recommending complete bikes in our Holiday Buyer’s Guide but once in a while a bike comes through our office that manages to perform way better than it’s retail price would indicate. For this year that bike is the $895 Woodstock 707. A member of our long-term test fleet, the 707 has been serving daily duty since March and has yet to give us a hint of compliant. Having been sent through the gooey New York spring clay, the hot summer dust, slippery fall leaves, and early winter snow, this dual suspension beauty has earned its stripes through countless hard miles and with that our respect. $895 may be some serious coin to drop on the mountain biker on your list, but if you can swing it, be sure to have the camera ready for the smile that will follow!
Our full review of this bike can be read by clicking here: Woodstock 707 Review
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Sette Torx ST-14 Tool Kit
While I recommended a multi-tool for those repairs that sneak up on us out on the trail, it’s hard to deny the convenience of having a good set of bike specific tools at the home workshop. Included here are the following: spoke wrench, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6mm hex wrenches w/ flat and phillips head screwdriver, hub cone spanner (2 pc/set), 8mm long hex wrench w/ socket adjuster, chain rivet extractor, ISIS & Shimano crank remover, cartridge BB tool for Shimano & ISIS, nylon/fiberglass tire lever set, locking socket w/ stabilizer post, chain whip/pedal wrench, flat and phillips head screwdrivers, puncture repair kit including: patches, cement and sandpapern and an 8 & 10mm open ended wrench all tucked up in a hard carrying case with foam protection insert. Best of all, Pricepoint is blowing these kits out for $25: Pricepoint.com | |
Bike Valet Stand-Up Storage Rack
Long gone are the days where you had to run a school to have access to your own outdoor bike rack. The Bike Valet from Bike Rack Shops is a well-constructed indoor/ outdoor rack with some pretty mountain specific features:
$79.95 with free shipping from Bike Rack Shops: Bikerackshops.com Questions? Comments? Love letters? Send 'em to Editor@mountainbiketales.com. | |