I’ve had the opportunity to test the Incase Range Large backpack for the last three weeks, and in that time, it has gained a spot on my list of favorite backpacks. The reasons are many, but first up is its size. For my daily commute I typically carry my laptop, a pair of shoes or boots, food, my daily planner, and a bunch of bike tools. This bag handles all this perfectly. As a bonus, I discovered that even fully loaded, I can still put my Catlike helmet in at the very top, and still zip the bag closed. The compartments are really well thought out on the Range. The laptop loads in from the side into a dedicated sleeve lined with plush faux-fur. At the front is a velcro flap covering the U-Lock compartment, and at the lower corners are two small zippered compartments perfect for stowing away all the tools needed for on-the-fly bike repair. At the top there is a large zippered opening to access the main compartment. This is the place for the shoes, the daily planner, the jacket, and anything else you can think of. It also has a storm flap to help protect the contents from the rain. At the top of the large opening, there is a small compartment for business cards, keys, gum, etc. As I said, the size is perfect, but even better is the fact that the bag does not look massive, but instead looks quite small. It’s a welcome optical illusion that may be due in part to its incredibly clean design. There are no straps fluttering around, just a simple clean shape. There are small reflective details as well as the obligatory blinky light attachment point. Yesterday on my commute home, I loaded an additional two coffee table books in the bag, upping the total weight to 32 lbs. This is not something I recommend, but in a pinch, the bag handled the weight well, and felt pretty good on my shoulders and back. This is a great bag, and at $149.95, the bag is also competitively priced. I highly recommend this bag to those who enjoy simple and functional design.
This is a video taken by Marcelo Gutierrez as he rides the Red Bull Downhill time trial in Monserrate, Colombia. I rarely post videos, but these athletes have earned a place next to big wave surfers in terms of sheer madness.
Chrome Industries have launched four new shoe models. From top to bottom, we have the Lower Southside, the Dolores (Chrome’s first shoe for women only), the Kursk Natural, and not pictured, the Kursk Natural Pro. I am a fan of Chrome shoes, and have been wearing the Southside for well over a year now. The shoes hold up well, are very comfortable, and in my opinion, look really good.
I’ve written about Aether Apparel in the past, but now I have first hand experience with one of their products. I am lucky enough to live and work within a couple of miles of the Outpost, where I was able to look at the whole line. I found it very difficult to choose which jacket to try, and in the end the decision came down to two items, both completely different from each other. One was the Fall Line Jacket NH, and the other the Military Jacket. I chose the Fall Line based on the simplicity of its design. It is incredibly straightforward and functional, something to be worn in all conditions. The jacket is made from a 4 way stretch Japanese shell fabric that is completely waterproof. Seam sealed construction with black taping, waterproof zippers and a bottom hem adjustment drawcord are all part of the package. It is incredibly well made, and very definitely waterproof. We had an unusual rainstorm in late April, and I was stuck out on the bike during a short monsoonal drop, and my core stayed completely dry. I can’t say the same for the rest of me, but I maintain that if your core stays warm and dry, you’ll be fine. The jacket performed great, and once home, the mud on the back due to the lack of a fender, was wiped off easily with a sponge. Later, I wore it out to an art opening, and felt rather dressed up wearing the Fall Line. In my never ending quest to find clothing that works well in all situations, Aether Apparel has come up with a perfect solution in the Fall Line Jacket.
I’m having visions of touring bikes these days, so I’ve been on the hunt for rear panniers. The Brooks Land’s End Rear Pannier seems to be a great choice for the serious traveler, and being from Brooks, it has plenty of style to go along with its functionality.
The nice part of having a blog is being able to post completely unrelated items from time to time. Here is a photo found over at Things Organized Neatly.
3T has introduced the all carbon Integra LTD Stem. The stem has an integrated Garmin mount designed to house and protect the Garmin head units. It appears to place the computer at an optimal viewing angle, and according to 3T, improves the aerodynamics. The stem weighs 178 g (110 mm). I think it’s great that computer integration is becoming the norm and 3T appear to have done a great job with this stem. At $365.00, it doesn’t come cheap. An elegant alternative for mounting the Garmin comes from Above Category in the form of the Bar Fly. At $39.00, it is also a bargain.
Last weekend was the opening of Velo Love in Glassell Park. Velo Love serves as the storefront operation of Swrve, showcasing all their product as well as selling other cycling related goodness. The store looks great, and it is a great pleasure being able to see the entire product line in one place. While going through the racks, the above pair of jeans jumped out at me. They are the Limited Edition White Oak Cone USA Selvage Jeans. Before knowing what exactly I was looking at, I wanted them. Once I found out more, I wanted them even more. The color is amazing, the material feels great, and the cut is somewhere between the regular trim fit and the skinny fit. This is perfect, as I fall directly into this category. I’m hoping to pick these up this weekend, but worry I’ll see many other things I want or need. Velo Love is a highly recommended stop. The hours are Monday through Friday 10am to 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 7pm. The address is 3421 Verdugo Rd | Los Angeles | CA | 90065.
