Tilley Airflo Review

I spend a lot of time outdoors, mountain biking, working in the yard, outdoor concerts, backyard parties, etc. To keep the sun damage to a minimum, and just plain keep the hot sun from frying my noggin, I like to wear hats. I especially like having a hat, while sitting around after a bike ride, when it is really nice to get a break from the sun. Baseball caps are cheap, have decent fashion sense and are usually handy, but they don't quite give enough coverage. I have a cap that has a drop down neck protector, but it still makes you bake a bit more than a full brim hat. Enter the Tilley Endurables Airflo hat.

Tilley Airflo
I have an old cotton duck Tilley's hat, that is around 20 years old, and it is still going strong. I prefer a bit lighter, and more comfortable material myself, and the Tilley Airflo really fits the bill. The Airflo is made from Nylamtium^®, a strong water-and-mildew resistant form of nylon, which has been impregnated with Insect Shield^® Repellent. It has a small band of mesh material up by the crown, and a soft and comfortable sweatband. It incorporates a tuck away neck protector, fore and aft neck cords, and a secret pocket in the crown. Some other benefits are, that the hat floats, it repels rain (not a full on rain hat), is UPF 50+ plus certified, and is insured for loss and comes with a life time guarantee.

Camelbak Elixir Review

I started using Camelbak Elixir when they accidentally sent me a batch instead of an anticipated test hydration pack. I am sure glad the mix up happened, else I would never have tried the product. I had always prided myself on only using water during rides, and I found most sport and hydration drinks either too sweet, sugary or just plain bad tasting. The Camelbak Elixir was a welcome surprise, and is pleasant tasting, with a mild sweetness, is easy to use, and actually offers athletic benefits due to its electrolyte additives.

Rudy Project Sterling Helmet Review

I have been wearing the Rudy Project Sterling helmet on and off since late winter, and it's a pretty sweet helmet. The Sterling is the new to 2010, and is their top of the line road helmet from the Italian manufacturer. The helmet is a great-fitting, well-ventilated helmet that offers plenty of protection, and is extremely comfortable.

Race Face SIXC Crankset Review

I have been testing a set of the Race Face SIXC (silent C) cranks for almost 2 months now, and they have proven to be stiff, durable, have been good shifting, and are made of uber bling carbon fiber. The SIXC cranks are made with their Optimized Carbon Technology program, and have been created for All Mountain biking, so they are slightly overbuilt in comparison to the usual carbon cranks. They are strong enough for mellow freeride, but light enough to appease a weight weenie (like me) or a cross country rider.

In a nutshell: carbon fiber is a high strength, high stiffness material that when combined with a resin matrix creates a composite with exceptional mechanical properties!

Sun Ringlé Charger Pro Review

I got a spanking pristine set of the new Sun Ringlé Charger Pro wheels in the late winter, and I have put them through a beastly thrashing, and they are light, fast and amazingly tough. The Charger Pro is an All Mountain wheelset which is available in 26" or 29" sizes, featuring tubeless ready aluminum rims that come with swanky labeling that screams, "Go Fast".

Garmin Edge 500 Review

I had read about the new Garmin Edge 500 just before the Interbike 2009 show, and was very fascinated by the features of the unit. It is more comparable to my Edge 305 then the Edge 705, since it doesn't have the 705's maps and routing capabilities. What it does have is a lot of the newer technology that has evolved from the Edge series engineering and knowledge base, and it has been rolled into a lightweight and small package. I was intrigued by the unit, since I have found that I rarely use a GPS's visual mapping capabilities on a ride, and much prefer the raw number data, such as mileage, heart rate, speed, time of day, elevation, etc., which, in a nutshell, is the Edge 500.

POC Cortex DH Review

I have been using the POC Cortex DH full faced helmet for several months now, and it has been comfortable, durable and safe. The helmet offers a plethora of protection and features, which are all engineered with safety in mind, and my crashing and tumbles have shown it to be an ideal candidate for the wicked world of rocky gnarliness and speed.

What's in your bike pack?

The other day someone asked what comprised a decent first aid kit. As I looked over what my bike first aid kit contained, I was thinking about what was in my pack. I realized I had gone through a lot of trial and error over many years for my current inventory of gear.

Essentials
- Rain gear, better safe than sorry!
- Multi tool with a chain tool is a must
- Chain lube, even sunscreen and lip balm will suffice
- Wets ones or baby wipes, great for cleaning greasy or dirty hands
- Spare tube, tire lever, tire boot and tire pump
- Balaclava
- Energy bar
- Spare socks
- Chain quick connect
- First aid kit
- Emergency rear derailleur hanger

My first aid kit might seem like overkill, but I have been around a couple of accidents (sometimes myself), and wound management and comfort are paramount in many situations.