Gear Patrol

The fine folks at Gear Junkie brought this film starring Minneapolis custom bicycle builder Eric Noren, founder of Peacock Groove Cycles to our attention. Proclaimed as the Liberace of bikes by some, in this short film Noren covers his approach to creating the ultimate two-wheeled ride that hipsters, road bikers, or any fan of self-powered…

As much as we want “YardStash” to refer to especially epic upper lip sweaters, the term has already been claimed by a company who hopes you’ll buy a tent, instead of a shed, when your gear overfloweth. To keep things safe from the elements, the shelter sports weather-proof coated heavy duty polyester with a reinforced…

Bike rack maker Kuat (Koo-at) has released a convenient and clever contraption for keeping your wheels safe. What looks like a typical bike water bottle from the outside actually contains a five foot internally coiled 8mm cable thats designed to lock back into itself. The bottle also sports a lower storage compartment for stashing keys…

The arcane sport of cyclocross is a mix of mountain biking and steeplechase that was developed in the mid-twentieth century by European road bicycle racers looking for a way to stay in shape in the cold off-season. They would fit knobby tires on their road bikes and race them around muddy, or often snowy, tracks…

If you’re one of the 7,999,000,822 people on this earth who didn’t qualify for the Tour De France this year, riding the Pro-Form Le Tour De France Indoor Cycling Bike ($1,300) is one way to simulate what the pros feel over their 2,132 mile journey — aside from beating your quads with a sledgehammer. Blessed…

The Bergmönch is designed to provide the best of both worlds for mountain bikers. Adrenaline junkies can haul the “device” up the summit of their choice as a collapsible rucksack — complete with a weight distributing waist strap and padded harness. Once the hard work is over, the bag can then mutate into a downhill-optimized…

Every once in a while something comes along so crazy, so unearthly cool, we have to shout it from the rooftops. Today just happens to be that once in a while, so feast your eyes on the BMW boxer engine powered Hoverbike. Framed around an 1,170cc 4-stroke BMW boxer engine that powers the twin rotors,…

Carbon fiber bikes have been around for a while now, though that doesn’t make them any less exclusive. BMW M Performance cars have also been around for some time, and they remain high on the list of uber-desirable cars. Well, what happens when you combine the BMW Motorsport name and the lightness and strength of…

The great Belgian cycling champion, Eddy Merckx, once said, “If you want to ride faster, don’t ride upgrades. Ride up grades.” It must have been well-known to The Cannibal, even in his day, that cyclists love to make excuses. “I’ve strained my IT band.” “I’m waiting until fall to peak.” “I can’t afford a lighter…

Cruiser bicycles are all the rage now, especially for those who aren’t trying to be Lance Armstrong’s second coming. They’re practical, very comfortable due to the upright riding position, and naturally very cool. Felt Bicycles is taking it a step further by paying homage to a car, and a good one at that, with their…

Sometimes aesthetics play second fiddle to environmental sustainability. Some automobiles come to mind. In the case of the 2011 Audi duoCity, design reigns alongside being green. Audi has partnered with Portland, OR based Renovo, maker of custom hardwood bikes. With impressive lightness, stiffness (hold back on the wood jokes) and shock absorbency, the duoCity boasts…

Transporting your little tyke in a car is hard enough. Try it on a bike. Now try it with two. Now, jump through a burning ring of fire. Okay, you get it. It’s no picnic. If you use a trailer, it’s hard to see the kids and hard to negotiate a corner. If you use…

Hybrid vehicles are popping up like Charlie Sheen headlines. You can’t go about your daily business without seeing one. If you’re going to get your hands on a hybrid, make it a good one. And why not throw fitness into the mix with self-propulsion? Well, M55 builds their bikes around that whole idea. Their flagship…

Riding an adult trike sounds about as exciting as a trip to the dollar store with your grandparents. KMX aims to change all that with their Cobra Mountain Trike ($1,549), a three-wheeled wonder that keeps your center of gravity low for good balance and excellent handling. Using TIG welded Chromoly steel and aluminum for the…

The Shadow EBike ($2,000) looks like it was plucked right off Big Bird’s curb, but don’t let the gaudy paint job distract you. Look closely, and you’ll notice there are no brake or gear cables. Electric wires from the motor, battery, controller or throttle are absent too. That’s pretty amazing considering the bike includes features…

If you’ve ever tried (and failed) to ride your bike in the winter and if you’re a big fan of public attention, feast your eyes (and your wallet) on the Ktrak Snowmobile Bike Kit ($529). Designed as an add on to your current two-wheeler, the Ktrak will enable you to pedal your way through snow…

Weighing in at a mere 235g (for 1/2 pair size 42), the completely redesigned Specialized BG S-Works Road Shoe ($350) has become a favorite amongst pro riders searching for the best in comfort, fit, and efficiency. So, what better way to check in on the fervor than don a pair ourselves?

If you’re not a serious biker, the idea of marring your whip with a typical bike rack for occasional trips might make you cringe. On the other hand, SeaSucker Auto Bike Mounts ($150-$630) use powerful vacuum cups with built-in pumps to stick to your vehicle’s surfaces. Developed initially for diving applications, the automotive racks have…

Cycling is a grueling sport that takes form in aerodynamic acceleration. Perhaps a bit too form fitting as cyclists are often caught pedaling with provocatively intrusive spandex. Endura set out to ruggedize the realm of cycling and give you back your manhood with their durable Humvee bike shorts ($80). If the name doesn’t give away…

Handmade in Eugene, Oregon, Co-Motion Cycles has literally built a reputation for rigid, light cycles since 1988. Their bikes are lean, mean, cycling machines and Co-Motion’s standing invite to their production facilities shows their dedication to transparent production – something we love to see. The Ristretto ($5,755) illustrates Co-Motion achievements and capabilities with its obsessively…

Bianchi (say: Bee-ahn-kee) bicycles have been crisscrossing the cobblestone thoroughfares of Italian cities since 1885. That’s street cred in our book. Although the Dolomiti ($3,397) may look as though it was made produced in that bygone era, it’s is actually a 2010 model with all the modern specs you would expect from the 125 year-old…

Back in the 80s, it was cool (or at least we thought it was) to put baseball cards between the spokes of your bike tire so everyone could hear you doing your best Lance Armstrong down the street. Now, nearly 20 years later, baseball cards have been replaced by 1.2 kW electric motors that allow…

What’s the only thing cooler than a motorcycle that flies? Trick question, nothing is cooler than a flying motorcycle. Since it may be awhile before that’s a reality though, the Confederate P120 Fighter comes in at a very close second. Made by hand, and crafted almost entirely of air craft grade aluminum, the P120 takes…

Looking like something an eco conscious storm trooper might toddle into work with to spite his warp drive guzzling co workers, the F MODE Foldable Bike’s ($2,200) futuristic design belies its practicality. That is if you can afford to own one. Built for city commuters looking to exercise and do their part for the earth,…

Outlier boldly states on their site that the Pivot Sleeve Shirt ($144) is “quite simply a better men’s dress shirt”, and based on their design we definitely think they’re on to something. Known for making attractive but functional clothing for today’s bike commuting professional, this project stemmed from the desire to create a shirt that…

It may seem strange that a clothing company would get into the custom bike racket, but with the trend of bikes becoming an extension of one’s look and style, Urban Outfitters may just be ahead of the curve. Created in partnership with Republic Bike Inc., by visiting Bikes.urbanoutfitters.com users can easily customize a basic Aristotle…

Some things are built to be practical. Other things are meant to simply stun onlookers by the sheer aesthetic awesomeness of their design. The Velorbis Leikier Bicycle ($2,995) falls into the latter bucket, and we aren’t complaining. Created through a partnership between renowned custom bicycle manufacturer Velorbis and Danish designer and blacksmith, Lars Leikier, this…

By Guest Writer and Gear Enthusiast Sandy Bandu With winter coming to a close, it’s finally time to remember what it’s like to get outside. In terms of warm weather recreation, cycling is probably the most versatile and enjoyable way to celebrate this time of year. So, whether you’re going out to hit some single…

Over the years, we’ve seen plenty of attempts by inventors to revolutionize the way urban dwellers get from point a to b (think The Segway). The Yike Bike represents the next iteration along these lines and was built to answer four basic questions: What is the simplest way to get from A to B with…

29er bikes may be a point of division for hard-core mountain biking enthusiasts, but we’re not looking to enter that debate at this time. That’s because all performance pros and cons listing aside, the Niner Air 9 Carbon Fiber Bike is an engineering masterpiece worth talking about. Designed off of Niner’s Air 9 Scandium race…