Here at GRAVELBIKE, products are usually reviewed and evaluated separately.  Recently, two very-complementary items happened to arrive at the same time, and it made more sense to review them together, rather than separately.

First up is Dill Pickle Gear‘s large saddlebag.  Dill Pickle Gear is the brainchild of lifelong cyclist and tinkerer, Emily O’Brien.  When she couldn’t find exactly what she wanted in an off-the-shelf saddlebag, she decided to make it herself.  Others took notice of her handiwork, and she began selling them to like-minded cyclists.

Dill Pickle Gear saddlebag. Perfect for day rides, brevets, or commuting.

While the Dill Pickle saddlebag may resemble the classic, British-style saddlebag, that’s where the similarity ends.  Instead of waxed or oiled cotton, Dill Pickle bags are constructed from two layers of waterproof fabric: 1000-denier coated Cordura nylon on the outside, and a lining of lighter nylon packcloth with an extra-thick waterproof coating.  These fabrics are lighter in weight than canvas or leather, while still being long-wearing and resistant to abrasion.

The liner’s zipper provides access to the outer layer to repair holes or leaks. Grey fabric makes it easier to find items.

Dill Pickle saddlebags are available in two flavors: made-to-order, or in-stock, ready to ship.  The bag that I tested was one of the latter.  All bags–whether custom, or off-the-shelf–include the following standard features:

• Extra lash points on the top
• Reflective trim
• Multiple attachment points on the bottom
• Floating lining to help keep water out

The basic Dill Pickle large saddlebag is $155.  My review sample came with the optional extension flap ($20), cordura side pockets ($25), brevet card pocket in the lid ($25), and double shockcord rear pockets ($25).  Even with all those extra features, the bag weighed a reasonable 600 grams.  Quality of construction was second-to-none.  Every feature of the Dill Pickle bag is well thought-out, and while the materials used are decidedly modern, the design’s classic roots are still evident.

Capacity of the main compartment is approximately 700 cubic inches.  That assumes a full–but not overstuffed–load, and doesn’t include the external pockets.  In real-world terms, the Dill Pickle easily held a pair of thick winter cycling gloves, an extra-large windbreaker, a pair of size-11 sneakers, winter cycling cap, and a couple of energy bars.  The external pockets were large enough for items such as a spare tube and repair kit, wallet, and cell phone or small camera.  Glove-friendly, quick-release closures keep everything secure, and the double ladder-lock sliders easily allow for bulkier items (or you can cinch things down for a more compact load).

Several people asked whether a support was necessary for the Dill Pickle saddlebag.  As with any saddlebag, this will ultimately depend on your bike’s geometry, saddle height and position, and personal preference.  I use a support with my own saddlebags, but the Dill Pickle’s multiple attachment points made it easier to secure the bag without a support.  As luck would have it, Carradice’s Bagman 2 support arrived in time for me to test in conjunction with the Dill Pickle bag.

Carradice Bagman 2 support.  A definite improvement on the previous design.

I reviewed the previous version of the Bagman support in March, 2012.  The Bagman 2 offers several improvements, not the least of which is an alloy frame that’s welded to the main clamp.  This design is not only lighter (by 40-50 grams), but it eliminates the set-screws that were prone to loosening.  To reduce sway–and take stress off the saddle’s rails–Carradice added adjustable support struts (an optional seatpost collar is available for frames without rack bosses).  The result is a very rigid platform with virtually no flex (I could easily lift my bike by the support frame).  Like the previous version, the Bagman 2 has a load limit of 10kg.

Adjustable struts are compatible with a wide range of frame sizes and saddle heights.

The Bagman 2 is available in two sizes (Sport and Expedition) to accommodate a variety of bag sizes.  The smaller (Sport) model worked best with the Dill Pickle saddlebag, whereas the larger (Expedition) size was necessary for my Carradice Nelson saddlebag.  Carradice offers a quick-release version of the Bagman 2 that eliminates the need for saddle loops.  Prices vary due to exchange rates, but a list of stockists is available on Carradice’s website.

Disclosure: Dill Pickle Gear and Carradice provided review samples for this article, but offered no other form of compensation for this review.

Long before gravel biking became “a thing,” people rode–and even raced–regular road bikes on gravel roads and dirt trails.  Now we have dedicated gravel bikes (as well as this blog), and road bikes have evolved into single-use machines.  Thankfully, the versatile, dirt-friendly road bike is alive and well at Black Mountain Cycles.

Mike Varley founded Black Mountain Cycles in 2007 after logging 13 years of product development work in the bicycle industry.  In early 2011, he extended the Black Mountain brand to include steel-tubed road and cross frames.  These weren’t Varley’s first foray into frame design, though, as he previously designed bikes for companies including Haro and Masi.

Black Mountain Cycles’ frames are TIG-welded in Taiwan from custom drawn and butted chrome-moly steel tubing, and heat treated after welding.  Top and down tubes are 28.6mm and 31.8mm diameter, respectively, and both tubes have 0.8mm/0.5mm/0.8mm wall thicknesses.  Black Mountain’s forks combine a modern threadless steerer (28.6mm) with a classic sloping-style crown.  The frames are powdercoated, and a clear coat protects the decals (as well as being treated with a surface finish that protects the frame from internal rust).  My 56cm frame weighed just over 4 pounds (4.07, to be exact), and the uncut fork (300mm steerer) came in at 2.3 pounds.  With a conservative component selection (in other words, mostly what I had on-hand), the entire bike weighs 22 pounds (including bottle cages and mini-pump).

To make component selection easy, both models utilize tried-and-true 68mm bottom bracket shells, 28.6mm front derailleur clamps, and 27.2mm seatposts.  The road model is spaced for a 130mm rear hub, and standard-reach (47mm-57mm) brakes.  Included with both models are all the necessary bits such as bottle cage bolts, seatpost clamp, barrel adjusters, and bottom bracket cable guides.  Building up the Black Mountain was a breeze, as everything went together smoothly, and without any surprises.  Varley’s years of experience as a mechanic were evident in the attention paid to braze-on placement, cable routing, and frame prep.

Creating a road frame that’s also dirt-friendly can be tough.  While the Black Mountain isn’t a dedicated gravel rig or “country bike,” it’s more than capable on dirt roads.  Off-road, handling is predictable, but on-road, the ride is still lively.  With 28mm tires, the bike transitioned easily between paved and unpaved terrain.  Many of my rides finish with a dirt climb (6%-7% grade) that’s followed by an on-road descent, ending with a right-hand turn over broken pavement.  I’ve ridden it at least a hundred times on several different bikes, and rarely does one bike handle well on both sections.  At the risk of hyperbole, the Black Mountain was the first bike that I could hammer on the dirt climb and nail the paved descent.

If I had to describe the Black Mountain in a single word, it would be, “inspiring.”  Whenever I ride the bike, I want to keep on riding.  My legs or lungs may tucker out, but you’ll never hear me complain about feeling “beat up,” no matter what the terrain.  From the first ride, it immediately felt familiar.  The handling is predictable without being staid or boring.  Riders who are looking for a modern implementation of the classic, do-it-all road bike, should definitely consider the Black Mountain Cycles frame.

Black Mountain framesets sell for $595.  Visit the Black Mountain Cycles website for availability and ordering information.

Shopping for a bicycle headlight can be a bit overwhelming.  Figures for lumens, lux, watts, and candlepower get thrown around with abandon, and each manufacturer tries to outdo its competitors by simply pumping out more and more raw light.

More is not always better, however.  The majority of the headlights on the market rely on a round, symmetrical reflector to project the light.  Like a flashlight, the light is dispersed equally in a circular pattern.  The result is a beam that puts light where you don’t want it (into oncoming riders’ or motorists’ eyes), and at the same time, doesn’t focus the light were you do want it (namely, on the road’s surface)

Enter the Philips SafeRide 80 LED bicycle light.  Philips leveraged their automotive lighting technology to deliver one of the brightest, longest, and most powerful beams of light available.  The SafeRide beam features a sharp upper cutoff, and the twin Luxeon LEDs put out a brilliant white light with an output of 80 lux (1000 lumens).  With some lights, you’re forced to choose between distance, foreground illumination, or “spread” (i.e., width), but that’s not the case with Philips’ SafeRide.  The high-performance reflector creates uniform lighting with powerful foreground illumination and an extra wide 50º illumination zone.

Beam projected onto garage door. Light is approximately six feet from the door, and 40″ off the ground. Peripheral artefacts were un-noticed when riding.

Transfering the light between bicycles is easy, thanks to the tool-free mounting bracket.  A system of interlocking shims enables compatibility with handlebars ranging from 21mm to 32mm in diameter.  During testing, I was able to leave the clamp loose enough to make minor adjustments, but I didn’t detect any slippage (even when used on dirt roads and trails).

Silver Philips SafeRide 80 mounted on a 31.8mm diameter Ritchey Classic Curve handlebar.

Powering the Philips light are four, AA rechargeable batteries (included).  A 2.5mm allen key (also included) is required to install or remove the batteries.  The SafeRide is equipped with a mini-USB port, making it easy to charge via a laptop or tablet.  Charge-time was seven hours with the included wall charger.  On a full charge, the light can run for approximately two hours on high-power, or roughly eight hours on the city / eco setting.  As a safety feature, the light will switch from high- to low-power when the battery has approximately 30 minutes remaining.

Eco / city setting on left, High-power setting on right.

My 12-mile commute is a combination of multi-use paths, suburban streets, unlit back roads, and dirt trails.  The SafeRide performed well in all conditions, and for the first time that I can remember, I didn’t feel like I would “out-run” the light when descending at higher speeds.  Off-road, the light proved capable for non-technical trails at speeds under 20mph.  The beam pattern proved very effective, eliminating the need for a secondary light to fill in any dark spots/areas.

Suggested retail price for the SafeRide 80 is $219.99, and the light is available in anodized black or silver finishes. Additional information can be found on the Philips website.

Disclosure: Philips provided a review sample for this article, but offered no other form of compensation for this review.

Profile Racing is best known for its BMX components.  The company got its start in 1978, and three decades later, the Florida-based company expanded its offerings to include fixed-gear hubs.  In 2012, Profile introduced their Elite Road hubset.

Like the company’s other hubs, Profile Road hubs are CNC-machined in-house.  Front hubs are available in 20, 24, or 28-hole configurations.  The rear hub features 130mm spacing (Shimano/SRAM compatible), and is available in 24, 28, or 32-hole drillings.  Our front hub weighed 88 grams, and the rear hub tipped the scales at 314 grams.  The front hub rolls on two sealed (61901) bearings, and the rear hub utilizes four sealed bearings (two 6802 in the hub shell, two 6802 in the driver).

The heart of the rear hub is Profile’s Elite Ultradrive system.  Six pawls mate with a 68-step ratchet ring for near-instantaneous engagement.  The hub’s distinctive sound–which Profile likens to “Furious Wasps”–is hard to ignore.  Coast, and everyone around you will immediately take notice.  After my first ride on the Elites, I dubbed them “Motörhead” (i.e., “… louder than everything else”).

For our test, we had the Profile hubs laced to Velocity’s A23 rims (28h front, 32h rear).  With Panaracer’s 28mm Pasela tires, the wheels have been reliable–and comfortable–over a variety of surfaces, including dirt roads (this is GRAVELBIKE, after all).  After only a few rides, I found myself spoiled by the quickness of the Ultradrive’s engagement.  It’s too soon to tell how long the hubs’ internals will last, but Profile offers a complete selection of replacement parts including pawls, springs, and bearings.

Profile Racing Elite Road hubs retail for $464.95/pair, and are available in black or silver anodized finishes.  Rear hubs are available separately for $319.95.

Disclosure: Profile Racing provided review samples for this article, but offered no other form of compensation for this review.

When I was a wee lad, there were two kinds of handlebar tape–plastic or cloth.  Now, 40 years later, there’s cork, foam, leather, pleather, and course, cloth and plastic tape.  For the past few years, I’ve pretty much stuck with gel cork tape, but recently I’ve been experimenting with other types of bar wrap, including eleven81′s padded grip tape.

eleven81′s padded grip bar wrap on the author’s commuter/daily rider.

As its name implies, the eleven81 padded grip tape combines both cushion and grip into one neat package.  Cushion-wise, the eleven81 tape feels comparable to other (non-gel) padded cork or foam wrap.  After a few hundred miles of on- and off-road use, I’d give it the Goldilocks rating–not too hard, and not too soft.

Where eleven81′s tape really stands out, though, is with its embossed, textured surface.  The subtle, waffle-like pattern offers far more grip than conventional cork or foam wrap, but the tape doesn’t feel rough or uncomfortable when used sans-gloves.  Sweaty hands or wet weather didn’t negatively impact grip, and the tape didn’t develop a clammy feel when damp.

Close-up of the textured finish.

Wrapping the tape was a breeze.  There was more than enough length to completely wrap a 44cm ‘bar with plenty of overlap.  I normally avoid adhesive-backed tapes, but the eleven81 tape wasn’t so sticky that you couldn’t undo a section if you made a mistake.  And although the tape is a little stiffer than plain cork or foam tapes, it could easily be stretched when necessary.

Would I buy it again?  Yes.  It’s a great, affordable (street price is around $15) alternative when you want a little more traction than conventional cork or foam tape.

eleven81 products are distributed by Hawley USA.