Product Reviews
CYCLING SIMPLICITY
By Tom Barry
Every sport has its share of gadgets and gizmos, but cycling seems to promote a disproportionate number of them. From dietary supplements and cutting edge fibers to heart rate monitors and apps that track and analyze your workouts, there is no shortage of fancy new products that promise to improve your cycling output. But for those looking for a slightly more organic experience, there are products for you as well. Here are a few to help you enjoy your ride in all of its simplicity.
ROLA CANYON BIKE CARRIER
($170;
rolaproducts.com)
ROLA SAYS: The Canyon bike carrier attachment is a simple enough design made of lightweight aluminum with a wide enough track to transport most bike styles with standard fork mount wheels. The accessory track is fully adjustable to accommodate bikes up to 50 inches from fork to the center of the rear wheel, and a universal clamping design fits most aftermarket roof racks.
REVIEWERS SAY: Testers were pleased with the Canyon’s aerodynamic design and brushed aluminum look, and the product’s easy installation took under 5 minutes in getting from the box to the roof. The quick release mount is simple and straightforward, and the wide track fits even the most robust mountain bike tires for cross training. The main concern from testers was security. While the carrier itself is held tightly to the rack by ROLA’s secure bolt technology, the quick release skewer and lock-free mounting mechanism is just as easy to remove by a would-be thief as it is by the user. “The lack of locks on the carrier mean that the whole system — including my bike — could be removed in the same 4 minutes it took to put on with an allen wrench,” said Naren. “That might not fly with the paranoid owner.”
THE GIST: A lightweight and easy-to-use bike mount that is less cumbersome than other racks on the market. The quick release skewer is up to the task for transport purposes, but don’t leave it unattended for long periods of time.
TOPEAK HYBRID ROCKET
($49;
topeak.com)
TOPEAK SAYS: Combining the speedy inflation of a CO2 cartridge with the consistency and re-usability of a mini hand pump, the Hybrid Rocket is small enough to fit in a jersey pocket. The lightweight aluminum barrel is optimized for high pressure and inflates up to 160 psi. The Hybrid Rocket accepts both Presta and Schrader valves that allow you to choose between pumping, inflating with CO2, or a combination of both.
REVIEWERS SAY: Small enough to fit in a water bottle alongside a spare tube, testers appreciated the Hybrid Rocket’s dual functionality. “It seemed redundant at first,” Tom said, “but the hand pump option provided piece of mind during long rides outside of cell phone range.” Functionally, both the threaded CO2 valve and the hand pump received solid reviews. Michael pointed out that the small size means that it takes some work to get up to 100 psi using just the hand pump, “but the threat of a little extra work is overshadowed by the light weight and portability of a reliable hand-pump option.”
THE GIST: Not likely to be your first choice for airing up in the driveway, the Hybrid Rocket fits easily into a jersey pocket and provides piece of mind if you need a hand while off enjoying the road less traveled.
76 USA TRIATHLON FALL 2013
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