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Searching for Goldilocks: 7Mesh Copilot Waterproof Cycling Jacket Review

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Searching for Goldilocks: 7Mesh Copilot Waterproof Cycling Jacket Review

In his 1973 book Coast to Coast, Alfred Wainwright wrote, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”. Well, perhaps Alfred never experienced being blasted by sideways rain while desperately trying to gain traction on a rutted, sloppy trail! Let’s just face it, sometimes the weather can be crappy and when it is, a good jacket can be the difference between damp fun and fuckin’ drenched and dangerous.

In this review, we’re looking at the newly redesigned, Copilot Jacket from the good folks at 7Mesh. Based in Squamish, Canada, the 7Mesh crew definitely get bad weather. Afterall, Squamish regularly gets all four seasons in a day and has an average rainfall of over 220cm per year. That’s hella wet. Even by this Englishman’s standards.

Spin Dry: Testing Waterproof Flat-Pedal Shoes From Five Ten and Leatt

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Spin Dry: Testing Waterproof Flat-Pedal Shoes From Five Ten and Leatt

Continuing our quest to cover obscure sub-genres of flat-pedal shoes, we brought together a couple waterproof options, just in time for April showers. Travis Engel took the opportunity during a rainy and snowy California winter to dip his toe in models from Five Ten and Leatt. Turns out he had a hard time picking a favorite, because they’re both very special in their own way.

Don’t Tell Me You Like It: An Extended Review of The Argonaut GR3 Gravel Bike

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Don’t Tell Me You Like It: An Extended Review of The Argonaut GR3 Gravel Bike

Argonaut’s GR3 gravel bike combines the trademarked GravelFirst geometry with a custom rider-specific carbon layup to create what the Bend, Oregon-based frame and component builder claim to be a “rip-capable gravel bike unlike any other.” So, what does Petor Georgallou‘s time as a high schooler working at a video rental shop have to do with the Argonaut GR3? And, if he tells you he likes the bike, will you even believe him? Read on to find out…

Restoring a Classic MTB Part 02: Tutorial – How to Remove Anodizing and Polish Bicycle Components the Easy Way

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Restoring a Classic MTB Part 02: Tutorial – How to Remove Anodizing and Polish Bicycle Components the Easy Way

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be working on my Yo Eddy! restoration project I began last year. If you recall, I bought an early Yo Eddy! frame from my friend Martin at Second Spin Cycles and sent it off to Rick at D&D Cycles for a new paint job and a few minor repairs. Well, the frame is back in my hands, so it’s time to get crackin’ on this restoration project.

My vision for the build includes polishing a Syncros 29.4⌀ seatpost, as this build kit will have a mix of black and silver components. Most of these seat posts are pretty faded and scratched, so I thought polishing one up would be nice.

Back in 2009, I made a post on this website about polishing vintage seat posts. At the time, I was restoring various Merckx frames and had scored a few unique seat posts. But what if your seatpost, or other bike components, has a colored anodizing finish you’re just not into? Well, read on below for the full tutorial.

A Review of the Cotic Escapade 853: British Steel with Campagnolo Ekar

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A Review of the Cotic Escapade 853: British Steel with Campagnolo Ekar

These past few months have been particularly harsh here in the Southern Rockies. Santa Fe has been hammered with winter weather, leaving even the in-town XC trails in a constant freeze/thaw cycle, rendering them unrideable. We’re lucky to have a network of gravel bike trails and acequia paths that remain open throughout winter, making it a perfect time for mixed-terrain riding.

To get me through this particularly brütal winter, I’ve had a lovely companion from our friends across the pond at Cotic. They sent me their Escapade gravel bike to review and it couldn’t have arrived at a better time. While my mountain bikes remain hung up on the wall, I’ve been putting in slow miles on the Cotic Escapade, pushing this bike to become my ideal all-terrain road bike for the frigid months at 7,000′. How did it stack up? Read on for more…

Get Smart: Arclight LED PRO Pedals First Ride Review

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Get Smart: Arclight LED PRO Pedals First Ride Review

With a product line already built around bringing more functional comfort to cycling, Redshift Sports dipped into the safety and visibility terrain with the release of their original smart LED Arclight Pedals. The Philly-based brand is starting this Spring off with an updated release of the design in the Arclight PRO series, which brings commuters an improved Flat Pedal option or versatile all-new Dual-Sided Clipless version. Hailey Moore shares a first look at both models below!

Spoke Too Soon: An In-Depth Review of BERD Spokes

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Spoke Too Soon: An In-Depth Review of BERD Spokes

Last year John wrote briefly about his early impressions of the BERD spokes while piloting the Sour Bicycles Pasta Party. Due to mixing around bikes and wheels, he ended up handing them over to Kyle Klain to ride and review. After months of riding in and around Santa Fe as well as across southeast Utah during the Aquarius Huts Tour, Kyle has some thoughts to share on this unusual wheel-building option.

Long, Slack and Steep Review: Is the Chromag Darco 29er the Best Steel Full Suspension Yet?

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Long, Slack and Steep Review: Is the Chromag Darco 29er the Best Steel Full Suspension Yet?

Coming off of the REEB SST and having ridden the piss out of my Starling Murmur 29er over the past three years, when Chromag announced its new full-suspension bike, the Darco 29er, my interest was piqued. It’s no secret to readers here that I love how steel full-suspension bikes ride, and it’s been great seeing small brands put in the PR&D on these niche bikes. After some pleading, the fine folks at Chromag shipped me out a stock build of the Darco in size XL, for me to womp around on down in Phoenix while I escaped the ice-capades of Northern New Mexico for a week. Was it love at first flight? Find out below…

First Look: Crankbrothers Mallet Trail Pedals with Mallet BOA Shoes

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First Look: Crankbrothers Mallet Trail Pedals with Mallet BOA Shoes

Launched today, the Mallet Trail pedals from Crankbrothers are the brand’s most recent entry into the clipless trail pedal category. Situated between the XC/gravel-oriented Candy pedals and their enduro offering, the Mallet E, the Mallet Trail features a lightweight yet substantial platform and boasts features that make it super versatile for a range of disciplines. Josh has been using a pair, along with the Mallet BOA shoe, for a couple of months and provides an overview along with some initial thoughts below…

Finding an Ideal Low Trail Road Bike: Soma Grand Randonneur Review

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Finding an Ideal Low Trail Road Bike: Soma Grand Randonneur Review

After spending years swapping the same worn-out parts between vintage steel frames, I was ready to build my ideal “road” bike in 2020. I wanted something that was comfortable, versatile, and beautiful, and after much deliberation, I settled on the Soma Grand Randonneur. Read on to learn why I chose the Grand Randonneur and my thoughts on the bike after two tours, a gravel race, and many long days on country roads.

Bicycle Crumbs Reviews: The Ortlieb Commuter-Daypack High Visibility

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Bicycle Crumbs Reviews: The Ortlieb Commuter-Daypack High Visibility

Purpose-built for commuting, the Ortlieb Commuter Day-Pack High Visibility brings new meaning to the term reflectivity. But before you start picturing a Day-Glo aesthetic, this piece utilizes a high-luminosity yarn that’s woven throughout Ortlieb’s signature black, waterproof fabric. After testing the backpack through moody Portland commuting, Bicycle Crumbs shares his review.

Bedrock Clogs Review: For Those Squeamish of Stubbing Their Toes

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Bedrock Clogs Review: For Those Squeamish of Stubbing Their Toes

After years of being inside the design conversations and testing multiple prototypes, Spencer Harding is here to usher in Bedrock’s just-released adventure Mountain Clog. Made from synthetic or leather uppers, these clogs are a great alternative for those toe-stubbing fearful folks out there. Turns out it makes a pretty darn good mountain bike shoe as well! If you’ve ever wanted to be a granola-crunchin’, mountain-munchin’, clog-rockin’, hippie, nature-druid dad then look no further.