Brooks B-17 saddle, Nitto Dirt Drop stem, Nitto Moustache bars. In a word, comfy.

Our sponsors at Banjo Brothers and Minnehaha Bag Co. are bringing out a pair of new saddle bags for this coming spring. The Banjo Brothers bag is a large capacity roll-top saddle bag called the Waterproof Saddle Trunk that will retail for $44.99.

The Minnehaha Barrel Bag is a small tube-style saddle bag for carrying a patch kit, multi-tool, and other small items. Retail on this one will be $26.

The bags will be available through Banjo/Minnehaha dealers starting in April. We’ll have full reports on both bags before then.

Banjo Brothers →
Minnehaha Bag Co. →

We finally had a break in the perpetual fog and rain today and took advantage by going on our first joy ride in weeks. The intensity of the blue sky framed by the soaring, puffy white clouds was almost dizzying after so much gray-upon-gray. What a treat to be out in it on the bikes!

The Trek Bontrager Interchange Grocery Pannier Eco is a heavy-duty, oversized grocery pannier made from 51% recycled materials. The materials used in its construction include recycled inner tubes, advertising banners, and seat belts. The bag is made for Bontrager by Alchemy Goods in Seattle, WA (the bag itself is made by Alchemy, the mounts are Bontrager’s “Interchange” pannier mounts). Alchemy doesn’t sell a pannier, so if you’ve been waiting for an Alchemy pannier, the Bontrager is it.

The Eco is a huge bag that easily swallows an overflowing grocery bag, or even a full-sized laptop backpack. Besides using the pannier for shopping, I also sometimes use it for carrying my Tamrac photographer’s backpack or my Crumpler commuter/laptop backpack. I really like the nylon interior; the slippery surface makes it easy to slide the backpacks in and out, and it’s a cinch to clean in the event of a grocery spill.

The top can be closed with the main zipper as seen in the photo at the top of the page, or if you have a smaller load, it can be folded down and cinched roll-top style. In roll-top mode, there’s clearance enough on the top of the rack for a rack trunk or a bundled up sweater or coat. There’s a fairly large zippered pocket on the front for holding a wallet, keys, papers, etc.

Bontrager’s Interchange hardware is excellent. The clamps run on sliding tracks which makes mounting on almost any rack a cinch. I was able to mount the bag on four different racks with no issues. The only downside is that if you move the pannier around from one bike to another on a regular basis, it’s a bit of a hassle to readjust the mounts each time. This isn’t going to be a problem for most people who will probably use the bag on the same bike most of the time.

This is the Interchange quick release. Simply lift up on the handle and the clamps release. Pressing down on the handle locks the clamps closed. It’s not at all necessary, but for extra security I wrap a velcro strap around the handle when I’m carrying a computer or camera kit in the pannier.

The overall construction of the Eco Grocery Pannier is excellent. The strap is indestructible, and the outer shell is waterproof, tough, and attractive. I’ve been a fan of Alchemy Goods for a while now and I’ve always wondered why they didn’t make a pannier. Now we finally have one and it has the added benefit of being outfitted with Bontrager’s excellent Interchange hardware. Highly recommended.

Features and Specifications

• 51% recycled materials by weight, made from recycled Bontrager inner tubes and advertising banners
• Installs and removes in seconds with Interchange hardware
• Hidden carrying handles
• Fits one paper grocery bag (not that you would use one)
• Zippered pocket for wallet and extras
• Zippered and roll-able top for variable conditions
• PE sheets made from 100% recycled materials
• Folds flat when not in use
• Capacity – 1,950cu.in. (31,955cc)

Bontrager →

Disclosure: Trek provided the pannier for this review.

Hat tip to Elliott at Austin on Two Wheels for reminding us about this oldie-but-goodie. It seems only fitting to take another look with all the Apple talk going on lately.

Honking in Traffic published an article yesterday about the “unseen” portion of the bike commuter population made up of people who commute by bike not by choice, but out of necessity. Here’s an excerpt:

It’s an excellent article that’s well worth a read.

Honking in Traffic →

The Alliance for Biking and Walking’s Bicycling and Walking in the U.S.: 2010 Benchmarking Report is now available online. The Alliance describes the report as “…an essential resource and tool for government officials, advocates, and those working to promote bicycling and walking.”

The following “main conclusions” are quoted from the Alliance site:

Read the Report →

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles City Council voted on Wednesday to study ways to make L.A. streets safer for bicyclists. Ideas under consideration include creating sharrows, increasing training for police officers, and creating a bicyclists’ “Bill of Rights”.

Read the article in the Times →

Like many people, I watched the debut of Apple’s iPad yesterday with great interest. I was particularly curious because I just recently purchased a 13″ MacBook Pro to increase my mobility as a blogger and photographer, and I was concerned that the iPad would render my recent investment obsolete. After looking over its features very carefully, I’ve come away both disappointed and relieved. On the one hand, I was hoping (naively, I suppose), that the iPad would be able to run what I consider must-have applications like Photoshop and Lightroom, and it clearly is nowhere near capable of running any professional desktop applications (nor was it intended to). So in that sense I was disappointed. On the other hand, the fact that the iPad isn’t going to cannabalize the MacBook line-up is a relief because I depend on them for my livelihood (I’m also relieved I didn’t end up regretting the purchase of an expensive new computer… LOL).

I’ve seen posts by a number of bloggers who seem very excited about the iPad as a mobile blogging tool. For text-based bloggers I can certainly understand the appeal. But I have to wonder how effective it would be for someone like myself whose photos are such an important part of what I do. I’d love to hear from bloggers who are considering the iPad about how they plan to set-up their workflow, and how they plan to manage photo processing in the mix.

As an aside, my son, who is also a graphic artist, brought up an interesting point that I hadn’t considered at all. He said that even if the iPad could run the applications he needs, he wouldn’t want a touch screen for design work because the fingerprints and smudges would be too visually distracting for the type of detailed work he does.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to improve the comfort of almost any bicycle is to increase its tire width. Wider tires can be run at lower pressures without exposing rims to damage, providing greater suspension and absorbing road imperfections.

On a commuter bike that will be ridden on varied terrain while carrying a light load, I like at least a 32mm tire. On a utility bike used for hauling groceries, etc., tires up over 40mm wide can be a real advantage. Anything under 30mm on either of these types of bikes is a compromise in my opinion. The heavier the total load (rider plus baggage), the greater the benefit of riding wider tires. For reference, I’m currently running 37mm tires at 60 psi on my commuter.

It’s a common misconception that wider tires are slower, but this is not necessarily the case, particularly at non-racing speeds on rough roads. Bicycle Quarterly has done extensive testing on suspension losses and their conclusions show that on rough roads, up to 50% of a bicyclist’s power output can be attributed to suspension losses, and these losses are best mitigated by wide tires run at lower pressures.¹

One of the main issues with running wide tires is frame clearance. There are simply not that many road bikes on the market that provide adequate clearance for the wide tires and fenders needed for commuting and utility riding. This is one area where the industry as a whole could really improve their current offerings.

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Please welcome our latest sponsor, Organic Bikes. Here’s some background information from the Organic Bikes website:

We’ll be trying out an Organic Bikes Dylan this spring.

Organic Bikes →

The Los Angeles Times ran an article today on the City of Long Beach’s efforts to become more bike-friendly. From the article:

Read the article in the Times →

Photo © Black Sheep Bikes

It’s one month until the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. This year’s event takes place in Richmond, Virginia on February 26-28. Admission is $15 per day or $40 for all three days. If you’re a bike fanatic, a ticket to NAHBS is the best deal in town. Just be sure to hang on to your wallet because your bike lust is liable to be off the charts; there’s no other place where you’ll see so many incredible bicycles assembled in one location.

NAHBS →

Perhaps the coolest bike drawing to date. Hat tip to Perry for pointing it out.

The New Yorker →

According to a recent article in The Guardian, municipal officials in Beijing want to boost the number of bicyclists in the city by 25% over the next 5 years. Not so long ago, 80% of Beijing’s commuters travelled to work on bicycles, but in recent years the number has dwindled to around 20%. The sharp drop in bicycle ridership is attributed to China’s increasing wealth, which has resulted in nearly one million new cars being brought to China’s roads each month.

Read the article in The Guardian →

The Daily Beast has assembled a list of America’s 75 worst automobile commutes. Here’s the top 10 to whet your appetite:

• Hollywood Freeway, Los Angeles, CA
• Lunalilo Freeway (H-1), Honolulu, HI
• Capital Beltway, Washington DC
• I-35, Austin, TX
• James Lick Freeway (US 101), San Francisco, CA
• Cross Bronx Expressway, New York, NY
• I-5, Seattle, WA
• I-95, Bridgeport, CT
• Kennedy Expressway, Chicago, IL
• Airport Expressway (State Road 112), Miami, FL

View the full list @ The Daily Beast →

Background

Topeak is primarily known as a manufacturer of high quality bicycle tools and accessories, the most well-known being their popular bicycle pumps and multi-tools. They also manufacture everything from bags and bottle cages to racks and repair stands. Theirs is one of the most complete lines of accessories on the market.

Topeak is also the parent company to Jango bikes. Jango has developed a line of what they call “Multi-Activity Bikes”. The concept is that by changing out the wide range of Topeak/Jango “Plug & Bike” accessories — each specifically designed to integrate with these bikes — the bike is capable of transforming from a day tourer, to a grocery getter, to a loaded tourer, etc. Here’s an explanation from Jango:

While any number of bikes can be modified to be used for multiple purposes (my Surly Long Haul Trucker is a good example), the Jango concept integrates the accessories a little tighter, and arguably, makes the modifications simpler for beginners who have little to no mechanical skills. The downside to this concept is that the Jango system locks you into using only proprietary Topeak accessories. While I very much like the quality of Topeak’s accessories, I’m more of a advocate for open standards and universality in part-and-accessory mounts.

The Flik

The Flik is Jango’s folding model. Late last year, Jango loaned us a Flik V8 to play around with and we’ve been riding it for a couple of months now. It’s an attractive folding bike with 16″ wheels and a two-position fold. The V8 is the 8-speed derailleur model with V-brakes, rear suspension, and rigid fork. Four other models are available with varying combinations of drivetrains, brakes, and suspension. You can view the other models on the Flik website.

The fit, finish, and detailing on the Flik are excellent. It’s a pretty bike.

The Flik’s relatively open cockpit makes it feel larger than it is. It rides similar to a full-sized bike and it was comfortable for 20+ mile trips, something I can’t say about all of the folders I’ve ridden.

This is what Jango calls the “shuttling” mode. The concept is that when the bike is partially folded, it has a small footprint for wheeling through train stations or on crowded sidewalks. While the idea sounds good on paper, in the circumstances in which I ride I didn’t find this fold to be an advantage over simply leaving the already-small bike unfolded.

This is the full fold. While not as compact as a Brompton or a Tikit, it’s a super-fast and simple fold that may be sufficient for people who need a folder for putting into the trunk of a car or storing in a small apartment. It’s sufficiently small for taking on the Amtrak train (which is outfitted for full-sized bikes), but it’s too large to carry on our City buses where packages (and bicycles) aren’t allowed in the aisles.

This is the folding stem. Slide the gray ring and flip the black lever and the bars fold down. It takes just a second or two.

This is the lever that initiates the main fold. Flip it forward and the rear of the bike hinges up and over. Simple and quick.

Pull this ring and the fold unlocks. Again, easy.

There are lots of interesting details to admire on the Flik. It’s really attractive up close.

Michael and I both like the rear suspension on this bike. Small bikes with small wheels can ride quite harshly (Michael didn’t much like my Brompton due to its relatively harsh ride and super-quick steering, but she really enjoys riding this bike). The rear shock and 1.75″ tires work together to smooth out the ride on the Flik.

The Shimano drivetrain is smooth and reliable and the gear ratios are appropriate for city riding. We both like the RapidFire shifter and prefer this type of shifter over twist shifters. While I generally prefer internal gear hubs on folding bikes, the weight savings that come with speccing a derailleur drivetrain are not an unwelcome compromise on a folder.

Like the other Jango bikes, the Flik accepts a wide variety of accessories in the Plug & Bike system (35 according to Jango). While I’m not 100% sold on the concept for full-sized bikes, I think it works brilliantly for a folder. Because there is little standardization among folding bikes, many accessories are proprietary in any case. And in the case of the Flik, a wide variety of well-made and well-integrated accessories are available.

The bags attach to the rear rack via a sliding rail system. This is the forward latch that holds the bags in place. It’s a slick system that’s super-easy to use; a real advantage when shuttling on-and-off of trains, etc.

This is the integrated wheel lock that’s mounted on the front left V-brake caliper. While it won’t keep a thief from carrying off your bike, it’ll make for a good laugh when he endoes… :-) Speaking of brakes, the Jango branded V-brakes worked fine and provided plenty of stopping power and decent modulation (there’s not much to say about V-brakes – they all seem to work reasonably well if properly adjusted).

This clever little kickstand rotates in two directions which enables it to work when the Flik is folded, unfolded, or in shuttle mode.

This is the integrated headlight mount that accepts the Plug & Bike headlights.

Ding, ding! Another nice little detail…

Topeak manufactures the Allay “AirSpan” saddles. The Flik came outfitted with the “Racing Sport” model. That translucent area in the middle of the saddle is an air bladder designed to reduce pressure on sensitive tissues. The air pressure can be adjusted with the valve under the nose of the saddle. Michael found this saddle to be quite comfortable, while it wasn’t a good fit for me. As always, saddle preferences are highly personal and subjective.

What It Is

The Flik would be an excellent choice for someone who needs to store a bike in a small apartment, stow it in the back of a car, park it in the corner of a small office, or take it on a train that has facilities for full-sized bikes. It has a comfortable, open cockpit that makes it more appealing for longer rides than some other small wheel folders. The fact that it’s set-up for the Plug & Bike system gives the owner access to a wide variety of excellent accessories.

What It’s Not

The Flik is not a Brompton. In other words, it’s not a bike that can be taken onto a crowded bus or stored under the desktop in a small cubicle. The fold is secure, but on the large end of the range for 16″ folding bikes. This large folded size makes the Flik cumbersome to carry and less than ideal as a bike for multi-modal commuting in tight conditions.

Why You Might Like It

The main advantage the Flik has over its competition is its ride quality. The longish cockpit and excellent rear suspension give the Flik a comfortable and smooth ride, not unlike a full-sized bike. The fact that the wide selection of Plug & Bike accessories are so well integrated into the bike design is a real advantage as well. If you don’t have a need for a tiny fold, and you’d prefer a folder that rides more like your standard bike, you might really like the Flik. We did.

Specifications

• Frame Size: One size fits all
• Folded Size: 32.9“ x 13.1“ x 31.9“
• Suggested Rider Height: 4’11” – 6’2.8”
• Maximum Rider Weight: 242.5 lbs.
• Suspension: MCU elastomer damping, 10mm travel
• Shifter: Shimano Rapidfire 8-speed
• Crank: Forged aluminum crank arm, 50T
• Derailleur: Shimano Sora
• Cassette: 8 speed, 11-28T
• Brakes: Jango V-brakes
• Grips: Ergon
• Saddle: Allay Racing Sport
• Wheels: 16″ x 1.75″
• Weight as Tested (without bags): 27 lbs.
• MSRP: $1399

Jango Flik →

Disclosure

Topeak provided the loaner bike for this review. EcoVelo was not compensated in any way for writing this review.

Photo © Pereira Cycles (via Flickr)

Fillet brazing is rarely used in bicycle frame construction today. It’s a beautiful, but labor-intensive construction method that requires considerable skill on the part of the frame builder. The “fillet” itself is a layer of brass melted into the frame joint at relatively low temperature, then filed smooth. Fillet brazed frames are easily recognized by the unique appearance of one tube flowing seamlessly into the other. In my opinion, the aesthetic qualities of fillet brazed frames rival those of lugged-steel. Current builders using at least some fillet brazing in their frame construction include Pereira, Nobilette, and MAP (among others).

The City of San Francisco 2009 Bicycle Count Report is now available online. According to the report, bicycle ridership increased 8.5% over 2008 and 53.5% over 2006. Also of note: 69% of riders wore helmets, 29% were female, and 71% were male. I was glad to see the numbers for wrong-way riders were relatively low, though the numbers for sidewalk riders were higher than I would have guessed.

View the Report [PDF] →

Since it seems half the country is under snow and the other half is under water, I thought I’d post a photo from a hot summer night in July of last year to remind everyone it won’t be like this forever. Keep a stiff upper lip! ;-)