Tag: First Impressions

Long before gravel officially became a thing, Muc-Off hit the market in 1994 with their first product–the company’s original pink cleaner. Since then, Muc-Off’s offerings have grown to include chain lubes, detailing products, and even skin care items such as chamois cream and massage oil. And while more choices are definitely a good thing when it comes to bike care, it can be a little overwhelming when there are so many products to choose from. But whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to bike care and maintenance, the Muc-Off 8 in 1 Bicycle Cleaning Kit takes the guesswork out of keeping your ride looking showroom clean.

Continue Reading “First Impressions: Muc-Off 8 in 1 Bicycle Cleaning Kit” →

For many years cyclists relied on high-viz clothing to grab motorists’ attention. Now, more and more riders are supplementing their neon apparel with lights to improve visibility for both night and day use. Even when daylight is plentiful, it’s not unusual to see cyclists along Colorado’s Front Range sporting high-powered front and rear lights on the sunniest of days. But what about side visibility? While some head and tail lights do provide extended coverage, Blackburn Design has upped the ante with their dedicated 360-degree-visible Grid Side Beacon light set.

Continue Reading “First Impressions: Blackburn Grid Side Beacon Lights” →

Since launching the GRAVELBIKE site in 2011, my track record for predicting whether I’ll like a product that’s under test has been pretty reliable. Sometimes, though, my intuition is way off base. Looking at the specs for Elite’s Rocko Carbon bottle cage, I figured the slender, 27-gram model would be more at home on a skinny-tired road bike rather than my gravel bike or plus-size MTB. But after several months’ testing, I’m happy to report that my spidey senses were indeed wrong when it came to the Rocko’s suitability for dirt and gravel riding.

Continue Reading “First Impressions: Elite Rocko Carbon Bottle Cage” →

Tubeless tire and wheel technology has improved by leaps in bounds in the past few years, but it wasn’t always unicorns and rainbows. Early tubeless adoptees (including yours truly) often struggled to make certain tire and rim combinations play nicely with one another. Back then, the most common aid for seating tubeless tires was the pancake compressor. And while compressors were generally effective, they were also heavy, noisy, and required electricity to operate. To help tubeless users cut the cord, Topeak developed the JoeBlow™ Booster floor pump ($149.95 MSRP).

Continue Reading “First Impressions: Topeak JoeBlow Booster Pump” →

Velo Orange (VO) got its start in 2006 as an importer of hard-to-find bicycle parts and accessories. In recent years, the company’s lineup has grown to include VO-branded framesets, components, and softgoods. For their current line of bags, Velo Orange collaborated with Road Runner Bags of Los Angeles to produce a diverse range of US-made gear. Designed for use with porteur-style racks (or baskets), the aptly-named Transporteur ($125 MSRP) bag is the ideal companion for touring and utility cycling.

Continue Reading “First Impressions: Velo Orange Transporteur Bag” →