Sometimes, you need to throw a little shade. That’s especially true when you’re posted up at the trailhead on a hot day with the sun blazing overhead. If you happen to have driven to that spot, an awning for your roof rack can be an oasis from the heat – as long as it is quick to deploy and easy to stow. Something like the Yakima MajorShady 270.

I’ve used the MajorShady at trailheads after a bike ride while chilling and having some lunch. I use it a lot for lunch stops while out Jeepin’ around the deserts and mountains on day trips. But, mostly I use this awning for shelter from the elements while on camping trips.

Let’s get the tech details and retail out of the way before I get into how it performed.

The Yakima MajorShady 270

The MajorShady 270 is a freestanding 270-degree, roof-mounted awning. And, as far as awnings go, this one is pretty pricey at a retail of $949. At the time of this writing, it looks to be on sale for $759 on the Yakima site.

This awning comes in two flavors, left-hand swing and right-hand swing. Meaning, that you can have it open from the passenger side of your vehicle or the driver’s side. Because the Yakima tent that I was reviewing at the time of mounting the awning, opened to the driver’s side, I opted for the awning to open on the passenger side.

It uses heavy-duty support arms, which aid in a super easy deployment. The awning material is made of 420D poly-cotton fabric with PU coating. This means it’s not only durable and waterproof but very light. the vinyl travel cover is not too tight and makes it easy to slip on and off, as well as zip it closed and open.

One added thing that I love about the awning’s appearance is the topo pattern that is on the top and bottom. The MajorShady 270 also has two support legs that clip up out of the way when not needed.

Yakima claims that it provides 80 square feet of sun and weather protection. I never measured it, but it does a great job of protecting you from the elements.

MajorShady 270 Retail & Specs

Retail: $949 (on sale as of this article $759)

• Weight: 46.5 lbs
• Dimensions: L 90″ x W 8.5″ x H 10″
• Minimum crossbar spread: 26″
• Limited one-year warranty

Installation

I used the Yalima Rib Cage which allowed me to add roof racks to my Jeep’s fiberglass roof. The Rib Cage reinforces the removable roof and allows for the load bars to be attached, which means I can use a rooftop tent.

I used Yakima HD Load Bars to install the tent and awning. The awning came with “L” brackets which made it easy to install. The MajorShady 270 isn’t very heavy, but it is a little awkward to get into place. So, to make the installation easier, I used two people to slide it onto the top of the HD Load Bars. The install took about 15-20 minutes.

How it Performed

The MajorShady is so easy to deploy and break back down, which means that I use it more. Less than a minute to deploy, and a little over 2 minutes to close up. For me, the fact that it was so easy to deploy, made me want to deploy it all the time, which I did.

You would definitely need to use the two built-in support legs and guy lines when using the MajorShady in very windy conditions. I try to never camp in severe winds, so, I’ve never had to use the legs and line when using the awning.

Like most awnings that are attached to vehicles, using them is not always ideal. Sometimes the sun is in a spot that makes deploying traditional “straight” awnings a futile effort.

But, with the MajorShady and its 270 degrees of coverage, this happened hardly ever. There was rarely a time when deploying the MajorShady resulted in unuseable shade.

Another cool feature is the small pole on top of one of the braces. This lil’ bar can be left down when there is no rain or erected when there is rain. Deploying this lil’ pole helps the rain drain off the edge of the awning, preventing surprize puddles on the top of the awning.

With it mounted to the roof, it didn’t add a lot of additional wind noise in the Jeep when at highway speeds. And I didn’t notice a hit in MPG either.

In Conclusion

The Yakima MajorShady is great to have attached to the Jeep full-time. I use it more than I ever thought I would. One of the big reasons for that is the ease of opening and closing it.

It allows for quick deployment and easy breakdown. Sure, it’s a pricey addition to your vehicle, but it is a quality piece of gear that I suspect will last a lot of years.

My wife and I spend a lot of time in Southern California deserts, and I can’t imagine not having it when we stop for lunch under that desert sun. I have a tailgate table on the Jeep and use it to eat and prepare food.

When the MajorShady is deployed, the rear area of the Jeep is fully covered and protected from the elements. This allows us to prepare food and eat in comfort.

If you are serious about adventuring by vehicle, and are out and about venturing in remote areas, the MajorShady is a worthy investment to add to your gear. Even if you would like some shade while you kick back and share food and drink with your riding buddies, I would seriously consider purchasing the Yakima MajorShady 270 Awning. It’s been a game-changer for us.

Check out some more details on the MajorShady, as well as all of the accessories and goodies Yakima has to offer by hitting the link below.

Yakima.com

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Let’s start off with the fact that Chimpanzee nutrition is not globally available, and maybe you won’t find their new Super Bars near you. But if you are in Europe, they are definitely worth seeking out. Made almost entirely of natural dates, cashews & raisins, these super bars are energy-packed, easy to eat & digest during activity, and sneak in a full 100mg of slow-release caffeine that will help keep you riding further, and longer!

Chimpanzee Super Bars, natural nutrition bars with caffeine

I basically see sports nutrition fall into one of two categories. Either it tastes and feels like an over-engineered synthetic (but likely effective) solution to keeping you fueled during activity OR it’s just regular (hopefully) natural food, carefully picked to be easy to eat on the go and easily digested during strenuous activity. Pretty much everything Chimpanzee Nutrition makes falls into that latter category. Natural and often organic ingredients are essentially their whole thing. So every time I see them do something new and different, but still keep it natural, my interest is piqued.

Their latest new offering – these caffeinated Chimpanzee Super Bars – are a perfect example.

They are still made of simple mix of 100% natural ingredients – just 7 ingredients in each bar – come in two flavors, and include a subtle 100mg of caffeine boost for extra energy over the long run.

Review: 100mg of caffeine in a natural ingredients energy bar

Interestingly, that’s probably about the same caffeine that you’ll get in a small cup of coffee or espresso, or even more than a can of Red Bull. But, slowly delivered into your bloodstream in a soft and slightly sticky bar that’s about 95% dates, cashews & raisins, you won’t notice the jittery peak you would associate with that much caffeine in a drink.

As an aside… apparently, the science of caffeine absorption suggests that even in coffee, it’s around 45 minutes after drinking it that you really get the effects. But we all know that psychosomatic reality is something different. And many coffee or energy drink connoisseurs will have rewired our brains to feel a boost almost immediately… even if that’s more a digestive function boost once it hits your stomach.

In any case, I feel like whenever I eat one of these bars – and I’ve gone through at least a half dozen so far – I kinda don’t notice the caffeine at all. I just coincidentally feel like I have a bit extra energy and can pedal a bit harder about 30-60 minutes after I eat one. And that’s what’s nice in my mind. Subtle extra energy without any negative feeling.

But how do the Chimpanzee Super Bars taste?

They just taste like a natural bar made of fruits and nuts, and that’s about it. Simple, and effective. “Fast-acting carbohydrates”, plus caffeine for “sustained energy levels”.

The two flavors are also not all that different in the end. Unsurprising as their approximately 95% composition of dates, cashews & raisins plus <1% of guarana extract is shared between both bars. The Cocoa Muffin bar tastes mostly like dates with just a hint of chocolate from its 6% fat-reduced cocoa content. The Jelly Berry is decidedly more sweet and fruity, powered by its 2% of freeze-dried raspberries.

For the full breakdown of each’s 7 ingredients and their nutritional values, you can find both flavors on Chimpanzee’s website, here: Jelly Berry or Cocoa Muffin.

More Chimpanzee Natural Sports Nutrition options is always a good thing

The new Super Bars are a nice new addition to Chimpanzee’s more conventional range of energy bars. They already make a bunch of typically classic sweet-style bars – my favorites being Chocolate Espresso, Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt, and Crunchy Peanut. But also a newer unique crop of salty sports bars that I called out before in my Editor’s Choice Awards – Olive, Spicy, or Pizza are a great alternative when you’ve just had too many sweet bars. Especially nice to add a salty bar into the mix for long endurance events to refresh your palate and give your stomach something different to digest.

Chimpanzee Super Bars – Pricing & availability

The two new Chimpanzee Super Bars just debuted last week, so the best way to get them is direct from the ChimpanzeeBar.com webshop. They sell for 2.50€ a piece or just 2€ if you buy a 20-pack. Shelf-life looks like it’s about 12 months based on the sell-by date on my bars. That’s really the one thing to keep an eye on with Chimpanzee bars, since they don’t have artificial preservatives you probably don’t want to stockpile more than you will use in a half a year or so.

So, I’ll buy another handful of each flavor once I eat the last few I have remaining. Then, I’ll probably buy a 20-pack of each once springtime is around the corner.

ChimpanzeeBar.com

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With more and more bikes featuring downtube storage compartments, I initially thought Crankbrothers’ timing with their S.O.S. tools collection was a bit late. However, I quickly realized this allows MTB riders who don’t have in-frame storage to enjoy the same convenience without buying a whole new frame or bike. I also realized while testing the tools some of them were quite well suited to gravel/touring bikes along with MTBs.

I’m impressed with how many functions Crankbrothers crammed into their compact multi-tools, and the quality of the tools, cages, and storage tubes is very good. I never had any functional failures with any part of the tools I tested. To see all the details of the whole S.O.S. Tools collection (including weights and all functions of each), check out my launch article from earlier this year. Since a few of the tools are very simple, I focused on the more deluxe models for testing.

BC18 Bottle Cage Tool Kit – $99.99

Right away this was my favorite of the S.O.S. tool series because it’s the only kit that carries tools and water on one bottle mount. Assuming you have room for a large enough bottle, this kit allows you to ditch your hydration pack and remain well-equipped with trailside tools.  

However, I ride medium frames and I had trouble finding a bike that was compatible with the BC18. I first installed it on my Knolly Chilcotin and it seemed to fit, but only with my smallest water bottle. Unfortunately, after two rides I realized my piggyback shock was contacting the bottle. With no room to slide the kit forward, I had to remove it from the bike.

It’s important to note the BC18 kit requires more clearance than a standard bottle cage. Even with no spacers under it, the water bottle sits quite high off your frame.

I later installed it on the Devinci E-Troy Lite eMTB. With two spacers underneath to clear the eMTB’s wide top tube it fit… but once again, only with a small water bottle. I did a few rides with it but soon pulled it off. Since eMTBs tend to encourage longer rides, I wanted to carry more water than one small bottle’s worth on the E-Troy Lite.

It’s an unlikely idea anyway, but FYI this tool will probably not fit on a bike with in-frame storage! I tried installing the BC18 on a Trek Slash and a Rocky Mountain Altitude, and both storage doors are too wide and flat. Even with two spacers, the tool kit will not clear the width of those frames. I guess if you were thinking about increasing your in/on-bike storage you’re out of luck.

One good thing about the BC18 tool kit is that the storage tube keeps the multi-tool clean and dry through muddy rides. I even submerged the tube in water for 15 minutes, and it stayed perfectly dry inside. I also like the fact that this kit can carry a larger 25g Co2 canister.

TS18 Tube Stash Tool Kit: $89.99

While Crankbrothers is primarily marketing the S.O.S. tools to mountain bikers, I installed the TS18 on a Kona Sutra touring bike (which runs tubed tires), along with the BC2 Bottle Cage. This combo covers all the essentials; The BC2 Bottle Cage takes care of water (a big bottle fits easily on this bike), and the Tube Stash Tool Kit provides a multi-tool, Co2 canister and spare tube. With both tools, I have two tire levers to work with.

If you have another mount to carry a bottle, the Tube Stash Tool Kit will provide the essential tools for typical trailside repairs and you can kiss your pack goodbye. If your bike only has one mount, you’re still stuck with a pack to carry water.

TT17 Twin Tube Tool Kit: $119.99

A few months ago, I put the Twin Tube Tool Kit on my Knolly. While it is slightly wider than my frame, the Twin Tube kit is not wide enough to cause any issues with pedaling. This tool should fit on any bike with a water bottle mount. Its three mounting slots offer plenty of fore-aft adjustment, and the tool is smaller than any bottle cage/bottle.

Assuming you’re looking to ride pack-free, this kit is ideal for a bike that can carry a water bottle and another accessory. It’s not a great option if you’re already committed to wearing a pack, as you can easily stash a far lighter, more compact multi-tool than the 257g Twin Tube Tool Kit. The Twin Tube kit does make its tools quick and easy to access during a trailside stop.

I recently found out I’m diabetic, and I now need to bring sugary snacks on rides so I tried carrying some Skittles in the TT17’s storage tube. It held enough to keep me going for a shorter ride… at least a big mouthful! If you put hard candies in the tube (or similar items), be aware they will rattle loudly as you ride!  

Later I put a Co2 cartridge in the storage tube, and the top cap (which threads onto the cylinder) held it tightly without rattling. The spring-loaded multi-tool in the other tube never made any noise while I rode.

As for weather resistance, the Twin Tube tool easily fought off mud splatters and short bursts of light rain. Some water got into the mounting bracket in these conditions, but not into the storage tubes.  Later I went for an hour-long ride in steady rain (see title photo). The multi-tool stayed perfectly dry, but a small amount of water did get into the side with the Co2 canister. It might be wise to check the multi-tool and Co2/storage tube after a very wet ride.

The Tools:

I did use the S.O.S. multi-tools several times and they’re good quality tools that offer all the essentials. The multi-tool is small, but you can leave the inflator head/chain tool clipped to it, or even use the storage tube for extra leverage if needed.

I never had to plug a tire with the S.O.S. tools plug tool, but I did use the levers to swap a set of tires on my MTB. The only thing the levers lack is a hooked notch to hold themselves on a spoke. Aside from that, I had no issues working with them.

crankbrothers.com

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Wolf Tooth Components has gone digital. Don’t worry. Their precision-machined parts aren’t going anywhere, but to help you get the most out of your ride, WTC just released their first app – the Bike Tire Pressure Calculator.

WTC is not the first company to release their own tire pressure app, but they wanted to address their own specific tire pressure needs. Specifically, fat bikes and bikes with wider tires. According to WTC, the calculator is based on the Wolf Tooth philosophy that lower pressures are better for performance, and “the lowest possible pressure consistent with terrain, riding style, and equipment is better”.

The WTC Bike Tire Pressure Calculator is available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play, and starts with the option to choose from Advanced or Basic options. The Advanced setting gives you more input parameters to get a more precise pressure recommendation. Basic will get you off and running with half those inputs. Simply punch in each field and the app spits out precise front and rear pressure recommendations.

Advanced:

• Weight of Bike + Rider + Gear
• Tube/Tubeless/Inserts
• Casing Type
• Riding Conditions
• Inflation Temperature/Riding Temperature
• Tire/wheel Diameter
• Sidewall Tire Width
• Measured Tire Width
• Inflation Pressure
• Riding Pressure

Basic:

• Rider Weight
• Ebike
• Riding Conditions
• Sidewall Tire width
• Inflation Pressure

First Impressions

I’ve been using the WTC Bike Tire Pressure Calculator for about a month on gravel, mountain, and fat bikes. So far, the recommended pressures are almost exactly in line with what I would typically run – which is a good thing. I spend a lot of time riding and testing different tires, wheels, components, etc., and I’d like to think that I’m pretty good at choosing the right tire pressure by this point (and being able to feel the difference). One of the most critical parts to getting the right tire pressure is considering the entire weight of not just you, but your bike, water, gear, etc. Before your next ride, guess how much you weigh completely ready to ride with your bike and all gear/water/food, and jump on a scale. You might be surprised…

The one thing that the app has convinced me, is that I should be running my front tire pressure 1 or 2psi lower than I have been. I typically run 1 or 2psi lower in the front than the rear, but the app often suggested 2-4psi lower, which I now use.

But for those that don’t ride almost every day and have decades of experience dialing in tire pressures, the WTC app seems like it will give excellent advice on where to start. The app is also a handy way to store your pressure preferences for multiple bikes, or even the same bike with multiple tires. Note that you have to click on the ‘My Bikes’ tab first, then hit the ‘+’ to add a bike before calculating tire pressure to save it.

There’s also a Temperature Compensation calculator which isn’t that important when you’re riding a normal bike in the summer, but it becomes far more critical in the winter. If you’re filling a tire at 72ºF and you want your tire to 5psi once you’re outside in 0ºF weather, you have to inflate that tire to 8.1psi while inside. You can use the Compensation calculator alone, or it is integrated into the Advanced Pressure Calculator.

The app won’t work for everyone as there isn’t an option for road bikes with tires narrower than 30mm, and some wheel and tire sizes (like the new Surly 24 x 6.2″ fat bike tires) aren’t included. Also, it could use a few improvements like replacing invisible cursors to let you know what field you’re typing in. But like any app, it can be updated in the future. For a free app, it seems to work pretty well and is highly recommended if your riding buddies keep telling you your tires are way too hard…

wolftoothcomponents.com

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The funny thing about OSMO is that they’ve barely changed since their launch in 2012. Through the years, and perhaps because they didn’t keep dropping flashy new flavors and seasonal editions, their business and the attention they garnered has ebbed and flowed.

But their quality and performance has remained a constant, which is why it’s one of my go-to products when I have something big planned.

The latest such adventure was 2+ weeks of cycling in Japan, first on an organized tour with Ride & Seek (read about that here), then on a loosely organized bikepacking trip with my son where plans changed hourly. For that, I packed a suitcase full of OSMO’s catalog, hauled it halfway around the world, and proceeded to crush it with zero bonks and zero cramps for the entire trip.

If you’re looking for solid ride nutrition and recovery, here’s what you need to know about OSMO…

OSMO Rapid Recovery

I don’t start rides with a recovery drink, but I’m starting this review with Rapid Recovery because it’s one of my favorite products. Here’s why: Their Vanilla recovery mix is hands down the best thing to add to iced coffee with a little milk for a killer hot-weather recovery drink. (watch me make it here)

Each serving has 17g-18g of protein from whey protein isolate, and that’s important. Whey Isolate is a much higher quality version than Whey Concentrate, which is common in a lot of other products (not all, to be fair, but a lot) because it’s cheaper. But, Isolate digests cleaner with fewer issues (less bloating, fewer farts). Despite guzzling down 1-2 servings after each day’s ride, I never had any bloating or gastrointestinal stress.

The chocolate flavor blends in more Micellar Casein, which I don’t have a problem with, but I prefer the vanilla by a large margin.

For the bikepacking segment, I dumped a couple tins of it into a Gallon Ziploc and shoved it in our trunk bag. Japan has lots of spots to get water, so it was easy to mix after each day’s ride. And, Rapid Recovery rinses clean, so it didn’t build up any film in my shaker cup over two weeks of just rinsing it with water after each use…no scrubbing necessary.

I finished every day’s ride with 1-2 servings (and sometimes a half to full serving again before bed). This strategy worked as I felt surprisingly strong and fresh each day for the entire duration, and wasn’t completely wrecked after 16 days of hard riding.

OSMO Hydration & Power Fuel

OSMO’s original message was simple – drink to hydrate, eat to fuel. So, if there’s been one big change for the brand over the years, it’s that they’ve finally introduced a drink mix that’s designed to fuel you, too. Sort of.

Their original Hydration mix is the same as it ever was, and both berry flavors are awesome. Highly recommend. Orange is pretty good, too, and Lemon Lime is among the better Lemon Lime’s out there, but it’s still just a Lemon Lime. All of the flavors do an excellent job of keeping me (and, presumably, you) hydrated. We hammered day after day, and once bikepacking, were doing it with loaded bikes up lots and lots of long climbs. Sooo many climbs.

Yet we never cramped, and Steve (my partner on the Ride & Seek tour) decided it would be fun to not shift into the little ring for the entire week, so he was definitely pushing big gears on the climbs. No cramps or bonks for him either.

It comes in 20 serving canisters, which we used for the cycling tour while they shepherded our bags around for us. Then we switched to their single-serve packets for the bikepacking leg since they’ve take up less and less space as we used them. I like bags and pouches of product for that reason…they pack down smaller, and keep getting smaller throughout a trip. I’m guessing they also use less plastic?

Some days we added OSMO’s newer Power Fuel mix to the Hydration mix, which is how you use it. It’s an additive if you’re looking to get more carbs in your carbs. It’s a Cluster Dextrin (highly branched cyclic dextrin) blended with Fructose and Sodium Citrate, with no flavor. It’s designed to add a meaningful dose of carbs (39g) to your current sports drink mix, but remain easily digestible. It makes the drink a bit sweeter, and it’s a little sticky, but seems to work well. Available in 16-serving pouches and single-serve packets, with or without caffeine.

OSMO Preload

OSMO’s Preload pre-sport hydration mix is one of my favorite things and I don’t think it gets the love it deserves. It has a very slight pool water taste, as does anything with a lot of sodium bicarbonate, but the pineapple margarita flavor makes the most of it. I actually kinda like it. There’s also potassium (83mg) and magnesium (14mg), but the main thing is pumping 1,430g to 1,850mg of sodium in you to help you hold water before heading out to ride.

If it ain’t broke…

Would I like to see more flavors from OSMO? Sure. But there’s something to be said for consistency and predictability. I know that OSMO’s products work well for me, the flavors are palatable all day, every day, for weeks at a time, and that they do what they say they will. Recently, they’ve added single-serve packaging for all of their products, which is great for travel. If you haven’t found what you’re looking for in a sports nutrition product, I’d say give these a try. They’re relatively simple, without any gimmicky ingredients or promises, but they taste great and they work.

Full disclosure: OSMO provided a small travel stipend to support our trip to Japan. In no way did that influence this review or my opinion their products – I liked them before, and I like them now.

The post Review: OSMO Nutrition Keeps Us Keepin’ On appeared first on Bikerumor.

If it’s not the world-class skiing in the winter or Mt. Fuji, most of the hyped imagery around Japan is the neon lights of Shibuya Crossing, the crush of bars in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai, or the irrationally popular Running Man sign along Dotonburi canal. That, and the weird food.

But get outside the mega-metropolis of Tokyo, temple-filled Kyoto, and deceptively chill Osaka, and there’s a much more interesting side of Japan to discover. And, naturally, the best way to do that is by bike.

Ride & Seek offers just such an opportunity with their Samurai Cycling Tour, a two-parter that starts in northern and central Honshu (basically the middle of Japan), then finishes with a tour around Shikoku Island, the large island just west of Osaka. All in, it’s nearly a month of riding, including bonus loops around Mt. Fuji, but you can break it up into parts as needed. If that sounds like fun, here’s everything you need to know, plus stories from our experience riding the Shikoku Islands stage with them in May 2024…

About Ride & Seek

Ride & Seek is a global cycling tour operator, with multi-day to multi-week tours all over the world. Most have a slight theme based on the location, with the goal being to immerse you into the culture more than you could do on your own. They also handle all on-the-ground logistics and, if needed, can advise on coordinating travel, bicycle transportation, etc.

That logistics part is key, especially in Japan. Not only is the language barrier higher, but finding good hotels in the middle of nowhere is hard. Finding restaurants (any restaurant) that will be open when you need them to be is even harder. And even if they are open, as a foreigner, they may turn you away…not because they don’t like foreigners, but because they’d rather say no than risk providing sub-par service. That, or you needed a reservation so that they could have the food and staff on hand. It’s tricky, but Ride & Seek handles all that and much more for you.

They have a primary team for each location, then contract with vetted locals as needed based on group size. There’s always 1-2 guides riding with the group, and one person (or more, as needed) in support vehicles. For the Japan trip, they covered breakfast and dinner, and we were on our own for lunches most days (see the “food” section further down to see why).

They also set up snack stops several times each day, with a mix of local treats, candies, and snacks you’re unlikely to find at home. Plus sports drink, sodas, energy bars, and more.

The guides also include snack stops at local spots, like this cafe that serves an egg and banana…and coffee (and that’s it). Other times it’s a small shop that has local baked goods, jams, jellies, ice cream, and other treats. This is the local knowledge that’s hard to get on your own, which is one of the big perks of an organized tour.

Japan has a lot of vending machines that serve both hot and cold coffee, koucha and ocha (black and green teas), but if none are nearby, our guides made pour-over coffee, too.

Snacks are set up at the end of each day’s ride, too, so we could refuel before hitting the onsens (hot baths) and relaxing before getting ready for dinner.

Bathrooms are plentiful, too. Japan has an abundance of public bathrooms, and they’re almost always clean, well-stocked, and many have heated toilet seats with bidets. Oddly, most do not have soap or towels, and hand dryers are sporadic, so it’s a good idea to bring along a small thing of hand sanitizer, or use the one provided by the guides at the snack stops.

Pre-trip support is excellent, with plenty of documentation. Once we arrived, an information packet had printed details for each day plus common Japanese greetings and phrases, which is a handy reference.

There’s also a pre-trip app that has much of the same information if you prefer screen to paper, or just want to have a quick reference to the day’s route while you’re out riding.

The guides also provide daily route files through Ride With GPS, and can help you get them onto your cycling computers, too. You’ll need to create a free RWGPS account in advance, and it’s helpful if you know how to get a route onto your device. Most days offer short and long routes, so you can get more riding and climbing if you want, but typically even the short routes will hit all of the scenic highlights.

Supported, not rushed

One of the things I liked best about Ride & Seek is that there’s a very loose agenda. You have a breakfast time and a dinner time, and then a whole lot of hours in between.

We were able to ride at our own pace, stop and take as many photos (silly or otherwise) as we wanted, explore the temples and villages, and generally create the experience we wanted.

For us, that’s perfect. Even if we weren’t documenting the experience for this story, we like stopping and exploring, as you’ll see in the photos below (plus more on our personal Instas – @tylerbenedict and @collective.wild).

It’s also perfect because the hammerheads can hammer, and the slower folks can mosey. It means you can bring along friends or family of varying levels and everyone can enjoy the trip. There’s no pressure to keep up, and no expectation to wait up.

That said, everyone should be in good shape and able to comfortably handle 40 to 70 miles/day for 8+ consecutive days, and fix a flat and other little things that may go wrong. As long as you make it to dinner, you can be as autonomous as you like.

Cycling through Shikoku

I’ve mountain biked near Nagano, just east of Ride & Seek’s Honshu Stage of the Samurai Cycle Tour, and it’s rad. For this Shikoku stage, the terrain was completely new to me but, despite being a bit more coastal, it was just as mountainous.

Our eight days of riding had a claimed 24,800 feet of climbing (7,560m) with an average of just 53 miles per day. That’s a hair over 3k feet of climbing per day, though some days definitely had more than others.

Japan’s population is clustered in the big cities for a reason – it’s impractical to build anywhere else. Their major cities are generally surrounded by either the sea or mountains. Those mountains are so steep, and they get so much rain, that it simply isn’t feasible to build there. Once you head out and up, traffic and people quickly disappear.

Shikoku is even more remote. There are no major cities on it, and only a few bridges (and even fewer trains) connecting it. Which makes it a great place to ride if you want to explore a more ancient side of Japan.

Our route followed parts of the Kobo Daishi pilgrimage trail, which has 88 temples, and climbed over the highest mountain in Western Japan (Mt Ishizuchi, 1,982m / 6,502ft).

The upside to all that rain is that the roads are almost all perfectly paved. Or, at least, very well maintained. Even in the most remote areas, the roads might be single-lane, but they’re smooth and fast.

Where much of the world would leave these forest service roads and connectors as dirt or gravel, Japan’s voluminous rain means they’d be grading, repairing, and replacing them constantly. They would wash away too quickly. So they pave them. That means gravel cycling is harder to find in Japan, but it also means endless ribbons of beautiful, traffic-free roads through lush green forests and epic mountains.

Most of the days are spent crossing the interior of the island through a mix of villages, rice paddies, and mountain roads. Plenty of variety, and plenty of climbing!

There are plenty of miles along rivers, and lots of small bridges to cross just for fun and views.

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for the Tanuki, aka “Japanese Racoon Dog”. If you’ve ever played Super Mario Brothers and thought you were wearing a racoon suit, think again. It’s also in Animal Crossing.

Tanuki statues are massively popular, found outside almost every door we passed. They supposedly bring good luck, but also represent trust, good fortune, protection, and more, depending on how they’re dressed.

Closer to the coast you’ll find small crabs. I also found a massive toad, fire belly newt, and…

…a giant Japanese Blue Worm, literally one of the coolest creatures I’ve ever seen. There are also monkeys, deer, and more, plus large black birds that look and sound like ravens but are actually a large Jungle Crow.

Also worth noting: Almost every corner has a mirror so you can see what’s coming around the bend. It’s very handy, letting you take the corners a little quicker and have more fun without being surprised. They work really well, but obviously, you should still use caution.

Shimanami Kaido Bikeway & the Bridges

The trip finishes along the southern coast, then another day inland, then a quick train transfer to finish things off with the amazing 60km+ long Shimanami Kaido bikeway, a series of suspension bridges and six small islands that link Shikoku with the main island of Honshu.

Japan has invested in cycling tourism here in interesting ways. While there are “Blue Line” cycle paths marked along similar coastal roads on the Kii Peninsula (south of Osaka and Nara), those are more heavily trafficked and lined with businesses. I rode some of those sections after this tour and ended up moving back into the mountains to get away from the cars.

On Shikoku, though, it’s so remote and disconnected that there’s very little traffic, even on beautiful coastal roads like these.

The most impressive investment is the bikeway that was built into the suspension bridges connecting Shikoku to Honshu. It was purpose-built with separate cycling lanes and, in some cases, even separate lanes for scooters, too.

The popularity of it is apparent from the number of rental bikes we saw, and groups of casual cyclists. It still wasn’t crowded, but definitely more riders around the bridges than anywhere else we rode.

And for good reason – it’s really cool. The ramps leading up to and down from the bridge loop around in circles and figure eights and are quite fun…

…and the views from up top are stellar:

It’s an excellent way to finish, and the last night’s hotel is something special, too. It’s one of the few without an onsen, but it’s fully modern, cycle themed, and the dinner includes 90 minutes of all-you-can drink…if you’re into that kind of thing.

Meals and more

Breakfast and all but one dinner is included in the tour, and we all ate together for both.

The host hotels all served a full Japanese breakfast, which is lots of small plates of things you can mix together in your mouth to create different flavors. Or not. They were mostly good, always interesting, and thanks to the unlimited rice, always enough. Honestly, if you’re not an adventurous eater, breakfasts will be tough unless you seek out your own…which will also be tough due to the remote location of most of our hotels.

(We rode past a lot of 7-Elevens, Lawsons, and Family Marts, which all have plenty of other options…and excellent fried chicken, seriously).

Each restaurant served a similar multi-dish dinner, usually in waves that ended up being a LOT of food. And a lot of seafood, some in forms and flavors you will definitely not recognize. Candied fish, anyone?

As much as all of us, and there was a mix of Americans, Europeans, and Brits on the tour, were craving a burger by night five, the food is part of the experience and very good. Typically, Japanese do not eat like this – it’s a lot of work. But it’s what you’ll find when staying at traditional-style hotels and ryokans. Here’s a gallery of more of our meals (click any photo to enlarge):

Which is why it’s cool that we get to choose our own lunches:

Our guides had suggestions, but some spots had multiple options. And we sought out takoyaki stands when we saw them. It’s pan-fried dough balls with octopus in them, covered in a variety of sauces and seasonings. Very delicious, and a popular snack in Japan.

A big, hot bowl of pork ramen with the special egg is also a great, filling option. I definitely recommend asking for it oomori (large portion) with an extra serving of pork (a standard serving is usually only 2-3 slices).

I also strongly recommend looking around. The recommended lunch spot(s) is/are usually a “safe” option, but we found food trucks across the street with way more interesting dishes. This one smoked and seared fresh Bonito right in front of us, then sliced, seasoned, and plated it with pickled vegetables and more. It was amazing, and amazingly cheap…roughly $6 USD.

Don’t be afraid to explore, that’s the reason they leave lunch up to you. Take advantage!

Also, try the local beverages, and check out the ice cream section at the konbini (convenience stores)…lots of tasty treats there! Some restaurants had sake flights so you could try local and regional sake, too.

Note: While breakfast and dinners are included, alcoholic beverages are on your dime for most meals, as is lunch and extra snacks, etc. I recommend bringing about 20,000 yen in cash with you, and use the ATMs at every c-store if you need more. Not every store or cafe takes credit cards.

Hotels & Hot Baths

The hotels were a mix of Western-style and traditional ryokan, where you lay out sleeping mats on the tatami floors at night. Or, if you’re riding buddy snores, you leave their pad in the closet and close the door…

In most cases, you want to take your shoes off as soon as you enter your room, but always for rooms with tatami mat floors. One hotel had a shared bathroom on the hall and provided bath slippers, so you’d swap from your room slippers to the bath slippers, then back. You’ll also take off your shoes and slippers before entering the onsen.

Onsens

An Onsen (ōn-sin) is more than a hot tub, it’s a public bath. Where Scandinavian cultures go to hot springs to soak, Japanese go to bathe.

But don’t worry, no one’s scrubbing in the hot pools. Showers line the entrance, and everyone is expected to thoroughly cleanse themselves before entering the water. Many people spend more time cleaning than soaking, but how you enjoy it is up to you…after you’re showered.

Almost all are separated for men and women and do not allow clothes, phones, cameras, food, beverages, or tattoos. Yes, you have to get naked, dems the rules. Hotels with onsens, of which most had them during our tour, provide robes to wear to and from the baths, and small wash towels that also make great modesty pieces if you’re uncomfortable walking around bare.

There are some outdoor spots with foot soaks, which are co-ed, and occasionally you can find a hot spring feeding into a river that’s public. But most onsens and baths are private and separated.

These are a highlight of the trip. Soaking after a long ride is amazing, and especially on the cooler days. This trip is offered twice per year, in May and October. The May trip ends just as southern Japan is about to enter its rainy season, so there’s a good chance of sprinkles. We had a couple of days with showers, but nothing serious, and nothing that stopped us from riding. Bring a rain jacket, and soak in the onsen after!

Notes & more photos

Our guides Nate & Eri were great. Super friendly, happy to help with anything, and had the logistics dialed, bags loaded and unloaded, and hotel check-ins covered before we even finished the ride each day. All we had to do was show up, ride, and enjoy ourselves, which is exactly what you’d want and expect from a full-service guided tour like this. They took turns riding and driving the van, so we got to know each of them…when we could keep up – they’re both rippers up and down the mountain!

If you’re looking for a well-structured, expertly-guided cycling tour, I recommend checking out Ride & Seek’s extensive trip catalog. And if you’re interested in Japan, check out their Samurai Cycling Tour. We enjoyed ourselves immensely, thanks both to the guides’ stories and intel, and also because we could explore on our own, too. The route was the right mix of hard and fun, with plenty of short detours to be found if you want.

Nate even waited up to loop us through a small alley with a local brewery so we could grab a bottle for later, and they pointed out cool shops and local treats along the way.

Independently, and away from the guides, Steve and I also asked the other participants what they thought of the tour. They mostly echoed our sentiments, which is impressive considering they ranged in age from late 20s to 82! Plus, everyone’s cycling experience and personal backgrounds varied considerably, too, so the consensus confirmed our opinions in the best way.

It also made for an interesting week, talking to everyone, making new friends, and sharing our collective photos and stories from each day. It’s always interesting how different people experience the same thing, and I appreciate that there’s always something to learn from others. Sharing meals made that easy.

Temples and more photos

We took a LOT of photos. And video, which you’ll see in some of the reviews for products we used (list at bottom of this post). Many of our side trips were stops at various temples, which ranged from big and grand…

…to small and hidden, tucked down a path next to a waterfall. Our best advice? Just look around, and take time to stop. Here’s the best of the rest of our pics from Ride & Seek’s Samurai Cycling Tour.

Huge thanks to Ride & Seek for hosting us. Full disclosure, they covered the cost of the tour for us, but we paid for our flights and pre- and post-trip hotels and train rides, lunches, and other ancillary costs. To make this possible, our trip was also supported by the following brands – Links to reviews will go live as they’re are published:

• Lauf Cycles (Uthald road bikes)
• GoreWear (riding kits & gloves)
• CEP Socks (riding & travel socks)
• OSMO Nutrition (hydration, fuel & recovery)
• Trek (shoes, helmets, bottles & lights)
• Huckberry (merino travel clothes – on GearJunkie)

Check out dates, rates, routes, and more details at RideAndSeek.com

The post Review: Ride & Seek Samurai Cycling Tour Delivers a Quieter Side of Japan appeared first on Bikerumor.

When I spoke to the 1UP USA crew at the Sea Otter Classic this last April, we talked about racks, bikes, and even off-roading. For those that like to go off-roading and take their mountain bikes with them, new 2″ Super Duty is perfectly suited to the task. It was built for extreme off-roading from the drawing board, and it has some new features that are worth checking out.

First Impressions

My immediate impression when I saw the Super Duty up close was that it was very beefy. But, it’s rated for “extreme off-roading”, so naturally, it is beefed up where it needs to be. I don’t rock crawl in my Jeep, but the way the Super Duty is built, it looks like it could take it without a problem.

The rack is constructed from corrosion-resistant aluminum, which is used for the entirety of the build. I didn’t see any plastic being used. As usual, the rack supports bicycles without any contact with the frame or fork, using the load arms on the bike tires.

The new Super Duty has an adjustable tray length for bikes with a wheelbase up to 58″. It also has more spacing between the trays which adds extra room for wide downtubes and flat pedals.

Neat New Features

Optional Wheel Chock

One of my pet peeves with some tray-style racks is the continuous movement of the front wheel through the steerer tube, even when the bike is “locked and loaded”. This phenomenon worsens as the bike gets heavier or the road gets rougher. These instances are where the Wheel Chock comes in.

The Wheel Chock was designed to reduce the amount of steerer tube rotation you get making the bike more stable while on the rack. 1UP states that the wheel chocks are required for bikes over 75lbs, or intense off-roading. However, anyone can use them under any circumstance if they’d prefer a more stable bike connection.

There are two different sizes of the Wheel Chock, Standard (fits tires up to 3″ wide) and Fat Tire (fits tires from 3″ to 5″). They are all aluminum and are sold separately for $110 each. That means if you have a two bike rack and wanted Wheel Chocks on both, it would be $220. Also, the Chocks are specific to wheel size so if you want to run both standard and fat bikes on the same rack with Chocks, you’d need to buy two sets.

True One-Handed Operation

A welcome addition to the 2024 SD Rack is the addition of true one-handed operation of the rack. there are two ways to actuate the arms of the rack. If you want to use two hands to open the rack, just press the red button, lift the arm, load the bike, and adjust it to familiar ratcheting as you close the arms onto your tires.

If you’d like to use one hand on the rack and one to hold your bike, simply press the red button while lifting the button housing. This eliminates the ratcheting aspect and you can move the arm in any direction you see fit. Freeing one hand to do whatever.

To re-engage the ratcheting, simply press the button housing back down.

Additional Options

Wheel Lock

I’m sure most of us lock our bikes to the rack when stopping for a pre-ride Clif bar, or post-ride brew. And some integrated locks are better than others. I would say that the 1Up USA Wheel Lock 1/4 Turn (long), is more of a deterrent than a full-blown lock. I like that it doesn’t come in contact with the bike in any way – if you have a bike rack with an integrated cable lock, it’s not a good idea to drive with it locked since it can rub through the paint on your bikes (or worse).

But, when I stop for longer periods with my bike on the Jeep, I usually have it in sight. So, I’m very comfortable with this level of defense. 1UP USA states that most users run one lock per bike, though in higher crime areas, two isn’t a bad idea. The locks are $24 each, but if you buy more than one, you’ll get a 15% discount.

For additional protection, 1UP USA does offer higher levels of security with the Chain Lock and Cable Lock.

Installation

The assembly of the rack was very easy, and straightforward. It can be done without even reading the directions, although complete and easy-to-follow directions are included.

I have a Jeep Wrangler and I need a swing adapter of some sort to be able to access the rear of the vehicle. For that, I am using the Rig’d Supply RambleSwing, you may have read my review of that here. It’s an outstanding product and blends perfectly with the Super Duty Rack.

One of the highlights of using 1UP Racks is their proprietary, integrated anti-wobble corner expander ball. The simplicity of it and the ease of use and installation make it better than most systems I’ve tried. It comes with two proprietary security wrenches, one I keep in my shop, and one in the Jeep.

Also, the actual hitch bar has a 3″ long slot machined into the side of it. This means that you have up to three inches of fore and aft adjustability when using the included hitch bar lock.

In Use

As tested, the 1UP USA Super Duty two-bike rack with all the accessories would run $1,259.80 with free ground shipping – the rack starts at $900 for the two-bike version. This is a premium rack, with a price to match.

I’ve been up and down the mountain with it since installing the Super Duty two weeks ago. It’s easy to use, and the new features are a very welcome addition to the rack. I have yet to take it off-road but will be doing so soon.

When driving with a bike on the rack, even in strong wind, the bike didn’t move. The Wheel Chock makes a huge and very noticeable difference to the front wheel movement. When using the chock, front wheel movement was not even noticeable from the driver seat. It’s just unfortunate that it’s a $220 option for a two-bike rack.

So far, mountain bikes load on and off with ease, and the Wheel Chock is the perfect size to hold 2.6″ tires. I will be mounting the Salsa Moraine eMTB for a trip. That bike weighs in the neighborhood of 53lbs. But, with the Super Duty’s tray weight capacity at 100 lbs per tray, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Looking forward to reporting back in a few months with my opinion after putting some serious mileage on the rack. Stay tuned here for the details.

1up-USA.com

The post First Look: New and Improved 1UP USA 2024 Super Duty Double Hitch Rack appeared first on Bikerumor.

Ron Andrews works his magic as the master craftsman behind the boutique bicycle bottle cage company, King Cage. Located in Durango, Colorado, the small, family-run, King Cage bends all of their cages by hand right in Ron’s basement garage using all USA-sourced materials. I’m a big fan and a long-time customer. So, when they reached out to ask if I’d like to review their unique new Stainless Steel Side Loader cage for the Haro Saguaro 1 I was reviewing, I was on board.

For those who have seen some of my builds, you may have noticed that their Iris Cage is usually my first choice.

First Inspection

Out of the box, it looked like a regular bottle cage, as nothing immediately stood out as a side-loader bottle cage. As I looked closer, I noticed that the back, mounting plate was angled with mounting holes off to the side.

The mounting holes on either side allow for using the cage on the right or the left, depending on how you grab your agua.

Mounting was simple. I was initially worried about the bottle getting in the way, but after mounting it, I saw that in my particular application, it didn’t.

I would imagine that my application, on the inside of the down tube, would be 90% of the applications for this cage.

Side Loader Out on The Trail

I know in the end, it’s just a water bottle cage, but using the Side Loader was a little bit of a game-changer, for me. Let me explain. Like most of us, I’ve always at the minimum, had a bottle cage on the inside of my down tube. In a tight frame, like the Haro Saguaro 1, or my RSD Middle Child, it’s always been fairly easy to get to, but tight.

For the Haro Saguaro 1, I initially installed and tried the King Cage Stainless Steel Bottle Lowering cage. I ran that cage on the bike for a few rides. It worked fine, but still felt a bit tight in the front triangle. After the first ride with the side King Cage Stainless Side Loader mounted, as you might expect, grabbing my water bottle was easy. In fact, reaching for my water bottle and putting it back while riding has never been easier.

Side Loader Retail, Go Get One

Retail: $30

In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a huge problem. But if you can’t efficiently use a traditional water bottle in your bicycle’s front triangle, then the King Cage Stainless Steel Side Loader is a great problem-solving product.

Stainless steel won’t mark up your bottles. It’s light and durable. It’s corrosion-resistant. Plus, it’s classy. The King Cage Stainless Steel Side Loader is handmade in Durango, Colorado, by a small family-owned company using 304 USA-sourced stainless steel.

Check out all of the cool King Cage goodies at the link below.

KingCage.com

The post Gettin’ Some on the Side, the King Cage Stainless Steel Side Loader Bottle Cage, a Review appeared first on Bikerumor.

Jeep Wranglers are incredible machines, but they have some unique requirements when it comes to carrying bikes. Thanks to the spare tire mounted to the rear swing gate, if you mount a standard hitch rack, you can’t open the rear swing gate. Not being able to open the swing gate made it much more difficult to take bikes with me when I camp. That’s all changed now I picked up a RiG’d Supply RambleSwing, and it works amazingly well.

Remember when I wrote that little piece about the new RambleSwing a couple o’ months ago? It’s a simple yet ingenious way to swing your 2″ hitch-mounted bike rack out of the way, allowing you to use the rear hatch/door/tailgate of your vehicle.

But, the RambleSwing is only simple in the fact that it swings. The ingenious design details are where it stands above the rest of the hitch swing adapters out there.

Who’s RiG’d Supply?

Based in the city of Orange, in sunny Southern California, RiG’d Supply is a company run by a small passionate group of cyclists who like to go 4-wheelin’. With the fire inside for off-roading, camping, and riding bikes came the birth of their first product, the UltraSwing.

Nothing they were using from other manufacturers met the needs for use on their rigs, so they came up with the UltraSwing. Always striving to make items that they use regularly better suited for their needs, the company has a drive for making high-quality, USA-made products.

They are a team that is “deeply committed to family, community, and finding ways to create the best possible outdoor experience“.

Picking Up the RambleSwing

Being located in Orange, California, RiG’d is close to where I lived, so I was able to shoot over there to pick the RambleSwing. They offered to install it and go over the basics of the swingout.

It was installed easily enough, and I’ve taken it on and off the Jeep since, and it’s been easy every time.

However, I will say that it requires a long socket extension to tighten the anti-wobble wedge system.

So, if you don’t have a long extension, you’ll need to purchase one if you plan on removing the RambleSwing. After the wedge bolt is tight you can insert their clever locking hitch pin.

I got a lil’ look-see into the warehouse and we talked about how they started and showed me the UltraSwing and their RambleRack bike rack (stay tuned for the review in the next weeks). They’re runnin’ a tight ship.

RiG’d Supply’s RambleSwing

Retail: $799

The RambleSwing is a swing-out hitch system that can be used with any 2″ hitch-mounted bike rack. At the moment I am using it with my Rocky Mounts GuideRail rack. So far, other than the RambleSwing inadvertently highlighting how much more robust it is than my actual bike rack, it’s been great.

I will be reviewing the RambleSwing with Rig’d’s actual bike rack, the RambleRack, very soon. For the complete Ramble experience, stay tuned.

The RambleSwing is so stout because it was built to be added to a vehicle that goes off-roading. This allows you to take your favorite bike, or eBike (it has a weight capacity of 300 lbs) with you on the roughest off-road trails.

The RambleSwing is purpose-built for the Jeep Wrangler, Toyota FJ Cruiser, or the Ford Bronco, but can work for most other cars/trucks as well. Let’s go over the features that set it apart from all the other swingouts.

In-Line Design

The inline design of the RambleSwing creates a super stiff connection between the two arms. Sandwiched by a set of Delrin glide plates, the RambleSwing closes completely with zero effort, even when loaded.

FlipFlop’n

You don’t have to worry about ordering a right (passenger side) or left-specific (driver side) swing when buying the RambleSwing. FlipFlop technology allows the swing to open from either side of the vehicle. Easy peasy, and Bob’s your Uncle.

Wobble-Free

The RambleSwing uses the same proven wobble-free wedge system as their popular UltraSwing. It eliminates any, and all movement in my Jeep’s hitch.

The Beefy Latch

The latch on the RambleSwing is patented and like nothing I’ve ever seen on a swingout. The 500lb compression latch sports a lockon bicycle grip, latches with authority, and is quite comfy to use.

Clever Integrated Step

This feature is a smart addition to an already well-thought-out product. For my use, it makes a quick, easy, and slip-free step to get to my rooftop tent. Plus, as a bonus, it’s a great foot hold for putting on my cycling shoes or eating a snack at my tailgate table.

Speaking of Grip

The RambleSwing’s integrated step is covered by Jessup grip tape. This grip tape was originally developed for use on the decks of battleships. It has an amazing grip, even in mud, and is supposed to have a very long lifespan.

Made in the USA

Like all of the RiG’d Supply fabricated products, the RambleSwing is covered by their Ramble for Life Warranty. The RambleSwing is completely rebuildable as components wear, or get damaged, it’s easy to get the right part and repair it.

How RambleSwing’s Performing So Far

So far the RambleSwing has been everything it’s promised to be. it is very stable and solid when driving off-road. My RockyMounts GuideRail can’t keep up in that sense.

Where the RambleSwing has zero movement when driving the Jeep, the RockyMounts GuideRail bike rack, with my lightest bike on it, allows the bike to rock back and forth a bit, and the rack moves a little independantly of the anti-wobble device.

The RambleSwing opens, closes, and latches very easily. I’ve been keeping the RambleSwing mounted all of the time, and it is never a burden swinging it out of the way to get to the rear of my Jeep.

The clever Hitch Pin that’s sold separately is neat, and easy to use. It’s stainless steel, made in the USA, and is specifically designed for the RambleSwing and UltraSwing. It comes with 2 keys and uses a tight-fitting weather-proof cap.

An O-ring protects the keyhole from water and road grime. It’s easy to lock and unlock by inserting the key, and turning it until it’s tight. Turn the key to one of the indents on the side and remove the key. Locked and loaded.

To Be Continued…

So far the RambleSwing has been exactly what I needed it to be. It’s been a great swingaway hitch adapter to allow access to the back of the Jeep. But, it’s got so many cool little design details to it, that it’s more than just a great swingout. As a great addition to my whole outdoor kit, The RambleSwing has become an essential piece of gear.

Allowing me to not only take my bikes camping but also access the back of my Jeep is fantastic. The game-changer is the fact that we will be able to take the most difficult route to get to a trailhead or campsite, that’s where the RambleSwing shines bright.

I’ll be touching base here for a full review in the next few months. So stay tuned for that. Also, I’m looking forward to reviewing their RambleRack real soon!

RiG’dSupply.com

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Back at Eurobike 2023, one of the more interesting things we saw was the Clever Standard Bacon Bullet. It was actually the second time we had gotten a sneak peek at the clever tubeless tool, and this time Clever’s Tomo told us it was closer to finding a home. While he had hinted that it may be in the form of WTB, now it’s official – introducing the WTB Rocket Plug Kit.

Starting with the brilliant reusable ‘bacon bullet’ concept from Clever, WTB has improved on the idea – namely in packaging and useability. Now packaged into the ‘Rocket Launcher’, the system offers internal storage for all the little pieces and makes it a breeze to use.

Each Rocket Plug Kit includes four Rocket Anchors, two large and two small. You can preload one of these Anchors onto the Rocket Launcher and also preload 1-4 plugs into the Anchor so it’s ready to go. Just pop off the cap, jam in the tire, and you’re good to go. The Rocket Anchors can’t pull out due to the design, and when the tire is spent, you can remove them from the inside to reuse them.

Another clever addition to the Rocket Plug Kit is the Extra Hand. Stored in the cap on the opposite end of the Rocket Launcher, the Extra Hand can be pulled out and used to plug the puncture temporarily while you assess the tire damage. It also acts as a reamer and can be used to remove any sticky anchors from the storage tubes. Both caps are slip-fit for easy access, and they can be used on both sides, which means you can make the Rocket Launcher longer by putting the longer cap on the other end while you’re using it.

The storage tube also has two cutouts on the side so you can see how many Anchors you have left without opening the tube. This also helps you remember which side the Anchors are in. Pro tip – make sure you’re holding the tube upright when you open the storage side so the plugs don’t fall out as soon as you open it.

The 6061 aluminum storage tube has room for four anchors (five if you preload one), and fifteen 1.5mm diameter tire plugs.

The Anchors are still compatible with a hex key (2mm for small, and 2-3mm for large, but the Rocket Launcher with a built-in 2mm hex makes it much easier to install the plugs. The rounded caps are much more comfortable to press into your palm, and offer enough leverage to drive the Anchors into tight punctures.

Available now, the TCS Rocket Tire Plug kit is priced at $44.95 for the set. Additional refill packs will be available for $17.95 and include four Anchors (two small, two large) and 15 1.5mm plugs. Both are now packaged in compressed pulp paper packaging that is 100% recyclable as well.

NanoAir TPU Tubes

At the same time, WTB is getting in on the compact inner tube game with new NanoAir TPU tubes. If you ask WTB, TPU is the ideal material for a spare inner tube since it is much lighter and more compact than a traditional butyl tube – roughly 1/3rd of the size and weighing 60% less.

Offered in three sizes, the tubes should fit many MTB, Gravel, and Road bikes and come in the “iconic WTB tanwall color.”

Included with each tube are two glue-less TPU patches and an isopropyl alcohol wipe.

On the scale, the tubes were right on the dot for claimed weight when you remove the weight of the rubber band from above. That means about 35g for road, 49g for gravel, and 80g for MTB (700 x 18-32mm, 700 x 32-47mm,, and 29 x 1.9-2.5”).

The only catch is that single tubes start at $32.95 a piece (the MTB tube is $34.95). That’s a lot for an inner tube, but they do claim to be more durable with increased puncture protection and reduced rolling resistance. Really, the reason to buy tubes like this is that they’re so small you can fit them in smaller storage containers and carry more with less weight. Just make sure the tube is protected from other sharp objects inside your bag/frame/pack/etc.

TCS Max-Flow Tubeless Valves

Finally, WTB also has a new set of tubeless valves for sale. Called the TCS MAx-Flow, the valves have a tire insert-compatible base and a larger 3.8mm bore diameter for increased airflow (the standard bore is 2.8mm). That larger bore results in a claimed 84% increase in air capacity and reduces clogging.

The caps include an integrated valve core remover, and the valve nuts are designed to be easy to tighten down by hand. An O-ring protects the rim from damage, and the universal rubber base is supposedly compatible with all rim widths and offsets.

Made from aluminum, the valves are very light at 10g per pair.

Available now through your local bike shop or WTB.com, the Max Flow Tubeless valves are priced at $24.95 per pair.

The post Bacon Bullet Finds a Home w/ WTB Rocket Plug Kit, Plus New TPU Tubes & Tubeless Valves! appeared first on Bikerumor.