Category Archives for Reviews

Cycling is a fun way to stay in shape, enjoy the outdoors, and even to get from point A to point B. There are many different types of bicycles and cycling, from road cycling to mountain biking that are best suited for certain personalities and that require a particular set of skills. No matter what type of biking you choose, cycling is a varied, exciting, and versatile activity. Many people who get into cycling, really get into cycling. It can be said that cycling gets into people's blood and becomes a way of life.

As a result, a lot of people who get into cycling buy a complete bicycle as their first bike. This makes sense as it comes with everything you need to be included, often already put together. But these are going to be very standard bikes that are not customized to your needs and body type, and that are not necessarily designed with performance or the type of biking you are doing in mind.

Mountain bikers have long advocated building a bike from separate, quality, professional parts, but more and more frequently, people who are road bikers are doing the same. Road biking is a broad spectrum of riding activities that all take place on paved surfaces. This can be biking to and from a job, biking on paved bike paths, speed biking, etc. As road biking has increased in popularity, so too have the options for high-end, professional-quality bike frames and parts increased in availability.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Bike Frame

First of all, you will want to know the difference between the two main types of road bike: racing road bikes and sportive road bikes. A racing road bike will be long and low for faster overall top-speed. A sportive bike will have a higher front end, which provides enhanced comfort but at a cost to top speed.

There are now also what are called cyclocross bikes, which are a relatively new style of bike intended for more casual rides and that are also suitable for going off-road.

One of the biggest things you need to take into account when choosing a road bike frame is the frame height. You can easily find sizing charts on the Internet that show you what the ideal sized bike frame is for your height. As you might expect, the shorter you are, the smaller the frame, the taller you are, the larger the frame.

You also need to consider the frame material. Are you looking for a cost-effective aluminum frame or a high-end carbon frame with carbon forks to add strength and save on weight? Another key thing to look for is a frame that allows for a lot of adjustment. This will help ensure that you can adjust the seat, saddle, and other features for the type of biking you are doing, as well as your particular body type.

Once you have considered all of these aspects and determined what is most important to you, it is time to start to consider particular frame options. What follows is a brief review of three different, high quality, and well-recommended bike frames:

Schwinn Phocus 1600 Men's Road Bike Frame

​Almost everyone has heard of Schwinn bikes. They are a time-honored and trusted maker of road bikes of all shapes and sizes. They are known for making some of the highest quality bikes available on the market and their road bikes are no exception. Their Phocus 1600 Road Bike is an excellent value at less than $400. It is a top-of-the-line, professional-quality road bike frame that is perfectly suited for riders of all shapes and sizes.

It is constructed from an aluminum road frame with a sturdy, tough carbon fiber road fork. The bike features a Shimano Claris 16-speed dérailleur with a micro shift integrated brake and lever combo.

The bike also features Promax alloy dual-pivot caliper road brakes which provide enhanced braking power. The frame also features an allow crank, which allows for a wide gear range depending on the rider's needs.

Vilano R2 Commuter Aluminum Road Bike

Vilano is another trusted name when it comes to high-quality bikes and related accessories. Their R2 Commuter Road Bike is an excellent blend of comfort and performance, available for less than $400.

It features a 6061 double butted lightweight aluminum frame. It also boasts Shimano A050 21-speed shifter, making it a great performing bike under a wide range of different grades of incline.

The bike also features a 700c double-walled wheel set and quick release skewers for optimal performance. The frame comes with free pedals.

Vilano Aluminum Road Bike Commuter

Another great option from Vilano is their basic Road Bike Commuter. This is an excellent option for some just starting out with road biking or who simply wants a quality bike for basic commuting needs. It is an excellent value at less than $300 and is available in two color choices.

The bike features a lightweight 6061 double-butted aluminum frame, as well as a Shimano 21 speed thumb shifters. The bike features 21 speeds, allowing you to easily handle hills and flat spaces with a few clicks. The frame also comes with free pedals included.

The bike frame is the skeleton or body of the entire bike. Naturally, this is one of the most important parts of a road bike and choosing the right frame for you is important to performance and comfort. Knowing the basic differences between the different types of road bike frames available will help you determine what type of road bike frame you are even looking for. You will also want to take into account your height, as this will ultimately decide the size of bike frame you need. It is also important to look for frames that allow for a lot of adjustments, as this will make it easy tailor the bike to your needs.

We then briefly reviewed three different potential road bike frames that are a great combination of value and performance. Whether you choose one of the models we describe here or use this guide as a starting point for further research, we're sure that if you do your homework and know what to look for, you will find the perfect road bike frame for your body type, budget, and needs.​

Whether you are a professional mountain biker looking to take part in some extreme outdoor activity or you simply want a relaxing way to enjoy the great outdoors, mountain biking is a fun and exciting activity for people of all ages. Mountain biking is a great way to help stay in shape and spend time with friends and family, as well as to experience the beauty and tranquility of nature. This is why mountain biking is one of the outdoor activities that is seeing a boon in popularity. For good reason too, it is something that almost anyone can do and most of us live near enough to a park or natural area that allows us the opportunity to get away from it all, even if just for a little while.

Another great thing about mountain biking is that it doesn't require a ton of expensive equipment. The biggest investment is, of course, going to be the bike itself. Aside from the bike, all you really need is some basic protective gear such as a helmet and mountain biking gloves. Most people remember the helmet, but often forget the gloves, which is a big mistake.

Benefits of Wearing Mountain Biking Gloves

Whether it is summer or winter, a leisurely ride or an intense ride, mountain biking gloves are highly recommended by professional and novice mountain bikers alike, and for good reason. With a quality pair of mountain biking gloves, you get the grip you need, even if your hands are sweaty or the weather is cold. This is really important as you do not want to take the risk of losing your ability to steer accurately.

In addition to having a better grip, which makes it easier to maneuver, gloves also provide protection for your hands. Handlebars are made to be gripped and as a result, lead to constant friction between your hands and the material the handlebar is made from. This can lead to chapped and even blistered hands, which can be incredibly painful and make it almost impossible to bike. A quality pair of gloves will also provide your hands protection from this potentially damaging friction. People who regularly bike can also protect themselves from long-term issues relating to gripping handlebars without protection, like numbness in the fingertips and even carpal tunnel syndrome.

Mountain Made Crestone Cycling Gloves with Touchscreen

Mountain Made is a trusted and well-known brand that makes a variety of different types of mountain biking-related gear and equipment. They make a highly recommended and affordable full hand mountain biking glove, their Crestone Cycling Gloves, available at a great value of less than $15.

These are lightweight gloves that allow you to get a good grip on your bike but still giving you that fine control you expect. The gloves are breathable, so they are great for biking even on the hottest of days. They also have an index finger opening to allow you to use a touchscreen, even while wearing the gloves.

Mountain Made Outdoor Gloves for Men and Women

Another excellent offering from the well-known brand, Mountain Made, is their outdoor gloves. These are a great value and provide professional quality protection against the elements while still providing a high-quality grip and comfortable feel. They are a great value for a winter-appropriate mountain biking glove, available for less than $30.

The outdoor gloves are a great combination of comfort and performance, allowing you to ride with comfort and ease, even in really cold weather. These gloves provide a snug, comfortable fit and are versatile, suitable for a wide range of outdoor activities from mountain biking, shooting, driving, and more.

​The gloves have touchscreen technology that allows you to be able to use your touchscreen devices, even while wearing the gloves, something that most other brands don't offer. While they provide excellent protection from the elements, the gloves are lightweight and not at all bulky, giving you plenty of freedom of movement.

The gloves also feature an improved YKK zipper which makes for simple removal.

HuwaiH Cycling Gloves Mountain Bike Half Finger Gloves

HuwaiH is an up-and-coming brand that makes a wide range of biking and outdoor related accessories and products. Their half-finger cycling gloves are high quality, affordable biking gloves that allow you free use of your fingertips while riding. They are a great value at less than $15.

Available in three colors, these gloves are a comfortable and unique way to secure the protection of biking gloves, without giving up the fine motor control you get with bare hands. The gloves are made from a Lycra-spandex combination that is lightweight, comfortable, and breathable, making it a great choice for summer performance biking.

The gloves also feature a gel palm pad for enhanced comfort, even after a long period of time spent gripping. The wrist features a sticky Velcro buckle which makes for easy removal.

No matter what your skill level, mountain biking is a great way to be physically active, enjoy nature, and spend time with the people you love most. You can enjoy mountain biking as a leisurely pursuit or as an extreme way to stay in shape, it all depends on your skill level and comfort. The great thing about mountain biking is that even those of us who live in the big city often have access to nature areas that allow us to get away from it all for a little while and enjoy the great outdoors.

There isn't a ton of equipment required for mountain biking, you really just need a bike, helmet, and a quality pair of mountain biking gloves. Not only do mountain biking gloves provide protection against chafing, blisters, and even certain injuries that can result from repetitive unprotected gripping, it also helps provide a more comfortable, solid grip that makes it much easier to steer and maneuver the bike with ease. Whether you choose one of the quality mountain biking gloves we briefly review here or use this guide as a starting point, we're sure you'll be happy that you invested in a quality pair of mountain biking gloves.​

Saddle seats for road bikes must be the right size in order to be comfortable. Unlike with mountain bikes, where you are going short distances, you are setting yourself up for a whole lot of misery if you buy the wrong size seat and go on a long ride, even if that seat is otherwise high quality. The best bicycle seat on the market does you no good if it’s sized wrong, so first and foremost you need to focus on getting the right “bike fit” for your saddle seat.

Seats are available in a variety of widths and positions like the noseless saddle from good bike shops but the “right” size—at least according to experts—is the one that supports your sitz bones or “sit bone” area. This is the bony part of the pelvis where your leg and bottom join together. Though you can sit on and try out a variety of bicycle seats to find one that feels comfortable, your best bet for getting the right fit is to be fitted by a pro. Bike shops usually have sitz bone width sizing tools, so you’ll get a measurement that you can use to guide your buying choices.

Everybody is different, but by combining measurements with your general comfort level, chances are you’ll be able to get a saddle seat that is right for you.

Road saddles are usually V-shaped. They have a more pronounced seating area with a longer nose. Saddles for females typically have shorter noses, though.

​Saddle seats sometimes don’t look as padded as some of the other style seats available, but there are actually road bike saddle seats that are extremely padded. Just remember padding will add weight, so you’ll need to account for that if you’re racing. If your goal is comfort, you can get saddle-shaped seats that have added gel or thicker foam than normal. This can come in handy for recreational riders, but if you’re focused on time you’ll need to sacrifice padding.

Do All Saddle Seats Have Cutouts?

No, there are seats without cutouts, but most riders tend to prefer them from a comfort point of view. Cutouts offer relief and prevent pressure from building up on soft tissue during longer rides. Since saddle seats tend to be gender specific, the cutout can keep pressure minimal and enhance the pelvic tilt for greater comfort. This is especially true for riders that tend to have a forward tilting pelvis, which is nearly everyone.

One final note:

Saddle seats tend to be expensive, but they’re a good investment if you’re serious about riding. A quality saddle can last as long as a decade, so you’ll be making an investment. Of course, quality affects how long any seat lasts, so don’t assume that if you invest in a cheap road bike saddle seat you’ll be using it for the next 10 years. Seats made of synthetic leather tend to break down faster and cheaper seats usually have gel or foam that wears out faster.

What are the Best Road Bike Saddle Seats?

Fabric Scoop Pro Saddle

The Fabric Scoop Pro Saddle can be used on road and gravel. It is carbon fiber and nylon base offers shock-dampening assistance and it only weighs 198 g. We love it because it’s durable and offers high-performance, all-day comfort. There are three different shapes available that help you get the fit that’s right for your pelvic structure. There’s no pressure relief channel like you’ll find on other seats, but most riders think this is a very comfortable saddle option. It retails for about $150 to $200.

​WTB Women’s Deva Race SE Saddle

This saddle is designed for female road and cross-country riding. It features foam enhanced with vibration dampening gel. It’s heavier than some of the other saddles available, but it had a flat profile and is very comfortable because of the pressure relieving channel. It’s shortened nose and smooth edges make it good for standing and climbing. This is a great bargain saddle and retails for about $35.

ISM Adamo Road Saddle

This saddle is ideal for riders who struggle with perineum pressure when riding. This saddle is nose-less and is radically channeled with gel and foam padding. This allows for maximum blood flow and reduces pain on all length rides. Triathletes love this saddle because they spend so much time in the aero tuck position. The seat is made from quality materials and is long-lasting and tough. It has 100 mm of fore-aft rail adjustment, but riders usually sit further forward on this seat than they do on others. It retails for between $120 and $250.

Terry Carbon Butterfly

This women’s saddle seat has been around for several decades and is still a favorite among female riders. It’s designed to fit the shape of the female pelvis and was one of the first saddles designed with a woman’s body structure in mind. The overall design has stayed the same since the seat was introduced in 1999, but now it features much softer padding and is made from durable carbon rails so it weighs less than the original seat. Riders get support and comfort and a thin layer of shock-absorbent and fatigue-reducing gel. This saddle retails for about $185.

Brooks England Standard Saddle B17

This is a classic saddle. It’s made by Brooks, a company that has been making seats for more than a century. This saddle requires some breaking in and, initially, it’s uncomfortable. It features a full-grain leather cover, which, once broken in, adjusts to the body temperature of the rider. This means it will keep you cool on hot days and warm when you’re cycling on cold days. Breaking in the saddle also means riders will get a completely customized seat body if you’re willing to put up with some riding discomfort to break it in.

It features steel rails to ease road shock and provides long ride support. It also helps to cut down on chafing.

This seat is not everyone’s cup of tea, but we love it for a couple of reasons. First, it’s a classic. You know you’re riding on something reliable that’s been loved by cyclists for more than 100 years. Can something be that bad if it’s been popular for so long? And we love how customizable it is. You get a saddle custom made to your body, if you’re willing to put up with some riding discomfort to break it in.

This saddle is available in black and brown leather and retails from $95 to $180.​

If you’re a mountain biker in the market for new bike tires, you’ve likely already determined there are several different options—including tread patterns and front and rear tires. It can help to read reviews to narrow down your choices. This way you’re able to comparison shop and determine which tires will be best for you purposes.

Determining which tires you need comes down to a few important factors: size, width, and TPI or threads-per-inch rating.

Size-wise, slimmer tires tend to be faster, but the trade-off is stability. You won’t feel as stable riding on rough terrain when you’re on slim tires. Most mountain bike and trail bike tires are 26 inches or 29 inches, and typically have a width of more than 2 inches. 2.6 is the highest and strongest width available in standard mountain bike tires to tackle rough terrain.

As far as tread goes, you’ll want something with a lot of grip. Smoother tires are designed for smoother surfaces and you need something that can stand up to muddy, rocky trails and not make your rides any bumpier than they already are.

Once you know what size and other specs you’ll need, you can begin comparing the various bicycle tires on the market. Here are some that we think are the best options:

Schwalbe Hans Dampf

These tires are ideal for those who ride on a variety of different terrains. They are available in 27.5 inches and are tubeless. Riders love the great grip these tires provide on harder terrain, making them some of the safest tires you can buy. Unfortunately, they aren’t as durable as some of the other options and they are not appropriate for on-road rides. In general, they’re a great all-around tire that works when on several different surfaces. It’s also possible to inflate the tires more if you’re riding on harder, rockier terrain. The tires come with sidewall protection that reduces the risk for tearing even if you’re riding around sharper rocks. These tires are slow, but we like them because they give a great off-road performance that’s reliable and safe.

Maxxis Mammoth

These bicycle tires are a great option for hard-packed terrain and colder weather riding. They are 26 inches and tubeless. You’ll pay up for these tires, but we think it’s worth it. This tire tends to be faster, relative to off-road tires, due to the smaller profile center tread. We love this tire’s performance on harder-packed terrain, but it’s not the right tire for everyone, especially if you aren’t doing the majority of your riding on harder surfaces.

Michelin Wild Race’R

This tire is a great option for those riding on rockier terrain. It’s 29 inches and gives rear tire traction that helps with cornering. It’s also a durable tire, but you’ll pay up for quality. There are cheaper options available, but if it’s in your budget, you won’t regret investing in this tire.

We love that this Michelin tire is fast rolling that is ideal for dry conditions on all surfaces. It features a shallow, hard center that keep rolling resistance down, which means you’ll get fast acceleration and be able to dig into corners even when the terrain is loose. We also think it’s a good option for long distance riders. The only downside about this tire is how it handles the mud—if you’re riding in wet areas on a regular basis, you’ll want to opt for another tire.

Schwalbe Racing Ralph

This is a great tire if you’re tired of sacrificing speed and you’re willing to give up some durability for it. It’s available in a variety of sizes and offers great cornering. This tire has a cult following for riders who love speed and because it offers so much flexibility size-wise. Among the tires that offer speed for mountain biking, these offer the best support for riding through patches of looser dirt and mud—most of the faster tires available aren’t going to offer this. If you want faster race times and you’re OK with tires that wear out fast but help you get the time you want, these are a decent option.

Continental Trail King

These tires are ideal for those who spend a lot of their time on rocky terrain. They are 29 inches and handle well on just about any type of terrain. They aren’t the best mud option, but if you spend the majority of your rides on hard-pack rocks and loam, you’re going to love this tire. The tire has a soft, conforming feel that is still fast and durable. Most riders report they are surprised by their ability to corner and brake with this tire—they were expecting less based on the cost and look of the tire. You’ll find you slip on mud, so stick to dry trails when riding otherwise, this is a solid choice in mountain bike tires.

Schwalbe Rock Razor

If you’re looking for a tire that works well on rocky trails and you’re OK with slower riding, this is a great option. It comes in 26-inch and 27.5-inch sizes. It works great on rocky terrain but tends to slip when you break quickly. We love this tire for downhill use because it allows for fast acceleration and can continue to hold speed on a rocky terrain and corners well. Keep in mind it’s designed to be used only as a back tire. This tire isn’t going to work for you in loose or wet soil, so keep it away from muddy terrain.

WTB Wolverine

This tire is a great, versatile option that works well for simple mountain biking. It’s our top pick for beginners and for those who just want a simple choice and don’t need a lot of specialization. It comes in 26 inches or 27.5 inches. It works well on loose surfaces (as long as they aren’t too deep) and gives a decent amount of traction, especially for riders who aren’t pushing too hard. It’s great for general riding, but not “racing fast” and not durable enough to stand up to seriously hard riding.​