Cateye BM-300G Racing Mirror
This was my mirror for a while. When I set up for my first tour i was really still just a kid but i listened to older advice of having a mirror on my bike. Maybe a little dorkish but it was for my own use. I skipped the advice of mounting an orange safety flag.
I still carry the mirror, minus the bar end mounting bit, for shaving.
Made in Japan
Today I went to pick up my new lenses in my old frames at Lenscrafters and as I was walking out I noticed these sunglasses. I was in a hurry to meet a buyer for a bike I was selling so I kept walking. Made the sale, so that’s money in the bank and one less thing to store. After shaking hands I walked away w/o a bike to walk home. The sun seems a bit brighter when not hunched over the bars, so I walked back and bought what’s really just a delayed impulse buy. I have AAA *wink* and that gets a discount, not just on eye glasses but sunglasses too. Not bad.
100% UVA and UVB
Classic, comfortable, black, comes with cloth and case. And it means I don’t have to bring my broken Tifosi sunglasses I bought 8 years ago. Perfect.
Cost: $73
Made in Italy
A simple and lightly padded wrap for my camera. No zipper, just a bit of hook-and-loop for closure. This has been used to carry my camera in my messenger bag countless times, never had a problem.
Made in USA
A lens cloth, dust blower and lens brush make up a basic cleaning kit for my camera. I’m not sure where these things are made, other than the cloth, it’s made in Japan.
Just more shit I have to carry but keeping my camera clean while out on the road is important.
I collected these items over time. All together I probably spent $20
If I lost any of these items I’d buy another right away because any one is not very expensive and does a specific job well.
A friend from my last tour rode with one of these. I was wanting one ever since. Right after I decided to go on another tour I ordered this straight from Arkel. So far it seems like a really good bag.
The bag mounts are all metal. The way it disconnects and installs makes sense and is not a pain in the ass at all. The main compartment is big and the front pocket is spacious. The top seems to have too much curve and reading a map area at the very front could be a pain. I might rather see that be flat but I can live with it. I have a New York City flag patch that’s going right over the Arkel logo on front.
Ordered direct from Arkel with no problems.
“Fabric made in the USA, Manufactured in Canada”
Working on my bike means having rain gear is a necessity because riding in the rain for 7 hours sucks if I’m soaked straight though. I don’t highly recommend these specific items but they work well enough to bring along. A little worn but I’m not too invested. I spent about $150 for the set, tax included, at one of EMS’s Every Month Sales.
The jacket does not have a cycling cut at all but does have a good hood and long pit zippers. The pants are totally annoying at the waist and the cuffs act stupid around a drive train. The pocket is useless. The best thing is the material does hold up to hours of rain.
Made in China
This is one fine hoodie. Soft, comfortable, warm and breathable. Merino again, this thing is an essential for the cooler days. Or if I’m in the mountains or up north or still riding in the cooler months I’d be a fool to not have a hoodie.
If it’s really cool out I’ll wear my Outlier Packable Heat jacket over this and be set.
Mine is green. A good army green. Maybe not Army green but a green that would blend in if I was just off the roadside somewhere setting up camp for the night. A green that is not unlike the color of my tent.
I bought this directly from Outlier at a sample sale. Later I learned that they only made three green ones.
Made in New York of New Zealand Merino wool.
This is kind of the partner to the hoodie, or I can wear it by its self.
Tiny and light (3oz total weight), keeps the heat in just enough.
Made in New York City with Japanese 100% Polyester Ripstop
Shimano 105 FC 5703 30-39-50 tooth 172.5mm arm length
I have a good mix of Ultegra and Dura-ace group on my bike. That does not mean that I can’t dip a little lower in the Shimano line and run some 105. The price difference from 105 to Ultegra is $100 easy, for just this one part. That does buy a better set of chainrings, but those are what I’ll have to replace anyway and 105 is just fine. Very good for this purpose because the 105 has a 50 tooth big ring and the Ultegra triple has a 52. I know it’s not much of a difference but it means I’ll be in the big ring a little more often which means I’ll be in the middle ring a little less often. I’m doing the math in my head and it equals a more evenly utilized (worn) drivetrain vs. the more expensive crankset.
Maybe that doesn’t matter but I still saved $100 easy.
Made in Japan
Pretty simple.
I was thinking back to my first tour, I spent so much time picking out things to have and deciding on what was, or was not important to bring. I have no idea what that stuff was today. I forget it all. Half the reason I’m doing all these reviews is because I’ll be able to remember what I thought was important to bring, or things I didn’t have. Probably lame, I don’t care. This is one thing, two, that I can check off the list. When the list is all check marked I’ll have no excuse not to just go.
Here’s me in 10 years: yep, that’s what my rear derailleur looked like back then.
Made in Japan
I’m riding a Shimano chain right now. I’ll give that one a good little run but this is my back up.
Cost: $50
Made in Germany
My friend talked me in to getting these. He helped me get a deal from his account with Velo Orange because he was already putting in an order.
It took me about two hours to install but they look good. They fit on my bike well, don’t make any real noise and have very good coverage. They say 45mm is good for up to 700×32 tires. That’s what I’ve got and don’t see myself going any larger in tire size so these fender should work fine.
I’ve been riding around with these on and they give the bike a good look. They draw complements.
Shinny.
Also, they call these hammered but they are more of a pressed-to-look-hammered. It’s not like some craftsman sat at a bench swinging a hammer at these over and over. If you have never seen these in person, they are clearly made by machine.
Not sure where they are made, my guess, not in the US.
Cost: $35
Velocity makes a good rim for a fair price. I’ve ridden the Deep-V’s on many bikes. I like the Fusion, too. I also have a set of B43’s that suit a more aesthetic purpose. For touring I wanted a wider rim good for 700×32 tires. Velocity Dyad is a great choice for loaded touring rim.
Not much of a specific review on the rim because there are many things involved in the wheel. Spoke count (48), tires, air pressure, weight, road surface, speed, it’s almost endless. I do know that Velocity USA has very good customer service. That’s enough right there.
I have already put over 4000 miles on the rear and it doesn’t show any reasons to not be happy so far.
Now I have a set and both were handbuilt in a 4 cross with DT Swiss Champion spokes.
Cost: if I remember correct, about $45 ea.
Made in Australia
Panaracer RiBMo 700×32
I feel like a few of pol0 players like these tires. And these are new to me but knowing that a good number of people in New York chose these tires is testament enough. Its not like they all bought the same bike that happen to come with these. this is choosing a good tire that will hold up.
I looked at them and they are a bit pointy. meaning not a softly rounded contact area to the ground. sort of makes me think that these will roll with less resistance than your average 32 size tire.
I used to like the Ritchey Tom Slick. These seem much better. Probably are but i really cant recall the price difference.
I’ve been riding them on my touring bike for a couple months now. Good so far.
Made in Japan
EBoost gave a bunch of these to the promotional ride I was on a couple years ago. I liked them, mixed them in my water every day, sometimes a couple few times a day. Looking through some of the photos from that ride I found this.
I never see this product in stores, but on the other hand there are stores I don’t go into. If I find some I might buy more, til then I’ll just remember the good old days of Boosting E’s for free.
It’s been so long since I’ve had one in my hand I can’t remember where they are made.
Edit: Seems Eboost is another one of those companies who do not respond/answer emailed questions. Bums.