"You can't buy happiness but you can buy a bicycle and that's pretty close".  Most bike folks and those considering taking up bike commuting, touring or recreational riding can relate to to that quote.  One of the reasons it's "pretty close" is that lots of folks after purchasing their bike for its' intended purpose find themselves needing a few more items to fulfill their bike's ability to meet their needs.  After four years of blogging, riding, testing products and reviewing them here is our list of our favorite affordable quality products.  

A few years ago while designing and building our kinda fat mountain bike as an all terrain utility rig that could navigate an area without designated bike routes we had a difficult time finding a steel front rack to meet our needs.  I was looking for a design which provided low rider positon of panniers and a top deck for either strapping a tent or sleeping bag to or to support a large handlebar bag or basket.

After comparing cost, weight and other specifications I was pleasantly surprised to find the MT-4000SF front rack from Minoura.  Not only is that rack disc brake compatible it comes with hardware for mounting to either standard or suspension forks, will fit 26" to 29" wheel sizes and mounts to the axle with an extra long skewer making installation easy yet very secure.  Here's link to my review of that rack from three years ago.  

After being very happy with the first Minoura front rack I decided to try another rack in the FRP-3000, a traditional low rider front rack for my road touring bike, weighs much less than the MT-4000SF and includes same mounting hardware with axle skewer and brake post mounting hardware.  

I have had both of these racks for three years now and very much appreciate the quality steel front racks provided by Minoura with a price tag that is unmatched by anything comparable. 

Here's a link to my initial review of this rack that I have installed on both a 26" Bridgestone MB-1 converted to a touring bike and my 700c touring bike.

Here's a link to another informative review of these racks shares some ideas of optionally mounting the rack to the a threaded touring bike fork rather than the brake bosses.  

While Minoura provides favorites in terms of front bike racks axiom continues to deliver some ultra solid load carrying capacity with their rear racks.  I've installed many axiom racks for customers over the years and since the introduction of the Streamliner DLX rear rack for disc brake equipped bikes installation couldn't be easier.   Here are a few main points to consider from their product description:

• A lightweight, low profile solution for mountain, commuting and fitness bikes
• Ultra-narrow profile improves aerodynamics, keeps load closer to center and greatly reduces bag "swing"
• Hand-welded 10.2mm tubular 6061 T6 alloy construction
• Fits 26" and 700C wheels
• Ample space for MTB and Hybrid/Trekking fenders

At our shop the most popular is the axiom Journey for bikes that don't have disc brakes.

Due to the simple fact that I like to ride different bikes for a variety of reasons it is nice to be able to swap panniers and bags from one bike to another.  That quality of versatility is something I look for when considering and sifting through many of today's bike touring and commuting pannier and bag options. 

For example a handlebar bag which mounts with a quick release bracket can only be used on the bike to which the quick release clamp has been installed.  Some manufacturers offer an additional clamp at additional cost of course.  The same can be said about some panniers with locking mechanisms which limit the ability to swap panniers around to the front or rear racks as preferred or needed.  This is not to say that some of the more popular products from Ortlieb, Arkel and the like are not of excellent quality but to say that there are some other options in affordable quality panniers that can lend some added versatility compared to others.

Photo above is of a very inexpensive handlebar bag that just so happens to fit most all my gear for "some" professional quality photography and blogging gadgets including a tripod, tablet, camera, cables and rechargeable power pack.  Here's a link for a review of that handlebar bag. It's design provides a very convienient option for swapping the handlebar bag from my touring bike to my mountain bike for bike packing and even on a folding bike for travel.  Very versatile indeed and after two years of lots of use it is holding together extremely well considering how rediculously affordable that bag is. 

​Axiom products continue to prove to be an exceptional choice of quality and value.  Unfortunately, Axiom has discontinued their Cartier panniers (front panniers in photo at left) which are still providing dependable service after ten years of use.  Fortunately they have introduced the Seymour DLX panniers available in two different sizes both of which can be used as front or rear bags and although those panniers now have the Rixen and Kaul latching mechanism for attaching the top of the pannier the very heavy duty steel hook and bungee are used to secure the bottom of the bag making for a versatile yet secure attachment system.  

Another very impressive option in that same series is now available in a waterproof material called their "O Weave" series.  It's a complete line of various panniers and bags of varying capacities for different uses.  Another thoughtful idea is that the interieor of the waterproof design is a red interior for enhanced visibility inside their bags and panniers.  

A favorite around here are any bike lighting products from Cygolite.  With a rechargeable USB connection I can simply connect a Cygolite Metro front light to a Zendure power bank if for whatever reason the battery should get low.  I've been using the Cygolite Metro for my night time bike commutes and for bicycle touring with ability to recharge via USB cable and solar kit.

We have found most if not all Cygolite products to outperform other bike lights based on battery run time, lighting options and overall brightness.  

Last year I received a Blackburn 2 fer front or rear light for review which is also USB rechargeable and can be used as a headlight for camping.  It's very small, lightweight design and multi mode functions make for a nice bit of kit just know that the battery time is lacking.  

I have tried so many different types of materials from various brands and manufacturers but they fell short of the quality I wanted or had an absurdly high price tag.  Now that  I have found a rain gear kit that truly keeps me dry I don't mind riding in wet weather at all. 

For the past couple years I have been more than satisfied with the performance of my Bellwether Storm Front Jacket with a drop down butt cover combined with a pair of Tenn Outdoors Waterproof Cycling Trousers.  Photo at left shows how much rain we frequently receive along the Gulf Coast and having good quality rain gear makes it fun and easy to ride.  


While I continue with this blog look for more fun and effective ways to improve your rides whether it's more bike commuting or bicycle touring we effort to have you covered.
Link related to this topic:
Multi day Bike Touring Kit


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When bike folks think of Las Vegas and bikes their first thought is of the largest annual meeting of bicycle industry leaders known as Interbike.  “The annual Interbike International Bicycle Exposition is where the bicycle industry gathers to celebrate, educate and conduct the business of cycling.  Bicycle retailers, media, importers and distributors can discover the latest in bicycle technology, including bicycle demos at the largest 2-day demo event for the trade – OutDoor Demo”.

​Yeah, pretty awesome whether you’re a customer or a vendor it’s considered the most exciting event the bike industry has to offer.  However, Interbike is held only a few days out of the year so is there any good reason for a bike travel enthusiast to want to visit what has been dubbed “Sin City”? This article highlights just a few reasons that hopping on a bike and touring around Vegas could be one of the most fun and rewarding travel ideas many bike folks wouldn’t consider.

Of course, if you're looking to get off the pavement and onto some dirt the coordinators of Interbike have selected some of the best mountain bike trails in the country for their annual display of bike industry leaders wanting to show off their latest and greatest rides.  

Want to simply grab your bike and leave for Las Vegas without making a whole lot of travel and activity plans?  Guided mountain bike tours are available like that pictured at left of McGhie's Las Vegas Mountain Bike Guided Tour.

There are also many hotels and bike shops that rent bicycles for you to conveniently get some exercise while visiting Las Vegas.  Visit Vegas.com to search those types of specal offers and deals.

I know that some folks, bike enthusiast or not just want to see Vegas from a unique perspective that can add to their vacation enjoyment.  From a photographer's point of view I wanted to know just how bike friendly Las Vegas is.  Well here's a nice tid bit of information Las Vegas increased its bike network by more than 23 percent to 444 miles of bike lanes and 102 miles of paved off-road trails and installed bike parking racks throughout downtown.  The League of American Bicyclists awarded both Las Vegas and Henderson with their bronze award in recognition of the closely knit communities efforts to encourage bike enthusiasts to visit the tourist based area.  

That's what I like to hear when considering a bicycle touring or bike travel destination, particularly when planning logistics for photography opportunities.  I have found getting around town by bike is the most versatile and efficient methods of transportation regardless of what town it is and more often than not offers picture opportunities that I wouldn't have otherwise considered or seen if I was in a motor vehicle.  Businesses like that of Pedego Henderson understand this and offers electric bike rentals and tours of Henderson, Las Vegas, Lake Mead and Boulder City.  

Whether you're interested in epic mountain bike rides, long, scenic road touring or just want to get out on the bike while playing in Las Vegas there is a bike and terrain for your every whim.  Visit Vegas.com for more information when planning your next bike touring adventure whatever that means to you.

Escape Adventures offers a variety of mountain bike tours, road tours and many other options for bike touring enthusiasts of most all skill levels providing many ways to see the sights of Las Vegas and the surrounding areas.  Click on photo for more information and if you plan on going to Vegas to party and exercise you might consider stopping up on some healthy performance supplements like that from redace organics where our visitors can now get an additional fifteen percent off their purchase.  

A few years ago I met a fellow bike touring enthusiast who told me how good he felt on long rides after fasting on beet juice for several days.  He explained how much lighter and faster he felt not only while riding but in his everyday life he was just feeling more energetic.  We have a juicer and enjoy the nutrition benefits it offers and with a good food dehydrator using the pulp to make crackers or fruit leathers that can be packed for bike camping and touring is quite a perk.  That having been said, sometimes in the course of our busy-ness around here we want something quick to grab and pack that doesn't require refrigeration without compromising on quality nutrition.

Good nutrition plays such an important role whether it's helping to meet the demands of everyday bike commuting or completing those long treks of bicycle touring.  Other than pre ride carb loading and post ride protein recovery, nutrients necessary for maintaining a healthy immune system will keep you going when the going gets tough wherever your rides may lead. 

We appreciate good food and nutrition so much that we opened our organic country store almost six years ago.  Since that time we have expanded not only our store's ability to meet the varying needs of our customer's dietary concerns but have learned a lot along the way.  Over the past few months we decided to make our store's products all organic and non GMO as more folks are educating themselves about proper nutrition and how it contributes to their general health and well being. When the folks at red ace organics reached out to us with an opportunity to test sample their products we were more than happy to considering their California farm supplier is a hundred percent organic and GMO free.

The Boulder, Colorado based company well known for their three beets per two ounce bottle of beet juice now has two more blends which rounds out a more complete nutrition package. It includes a beets and greens blend packed with antioxidants, is cleansing and detoxifying and a beets and turmeric blend to help with recovery with post workout inflammation.  All of these products aide cardiovascular health, stamina and oxygen intake.  This kit of two ounce glass bottles which don't require refrigeration unless opened offer a very practical method of getting a good dose of nutrition in warding off fatigue for long rides as it's not difficult to find some space in a pannier or bike bag to accommodate the little two ounce bottles.

Usually when I think of the types of ride performance supplements found in bike shops I think of GU, Red Bull and other junk food caffeine sugar spikes which actually deplete the body of good ride fuel.  When the body is fueled with such synthetic junk food it's like a gas hog vehicle that gets very poor mileage.  We're excited to be promoting such an excellent performance supplement that benefits not only your bike rides but supports your body's good health and longevity.  

Before I sign off of this post I also want to make mention of what I refer to as "my green drink" that I like to have everyday with hemp milk or with water.  I've tried a few over the years and have found my favorite for the past few years to be from Amazing Grass and their Original Superfood Powder.  It's very easy and convenient to pack and is of course organic and non GMO.  

Our blog visitors can use promo code clean energy at check out for an additional fifteen percent off your purchase!

Links related to this topic:
Lose Weight, Get Fit for Bike Touring
​Benefits of Goat Milk for Commuting
​Bike Touring Energy Bar Recipes

When Kent of TASIS Bikes contacted us about reviewing his new handlebar tape made specifically for bike touring enthusiasts he mentioned "if you double wrap your handlebars, this product is for you".  Of course Kent got his new Fat Wrap product to us a couple months after I had just finished double wrapping the bars on my touring bike.  

Due to the long hours spent on a bike while touring having your bicycle set up properly is imperative in eliminating some of the most commonly associated miseries of a long bicycle tour. Even with proper bike fit, handlebar to saddle length and height adjustments customized for the rider's body characteristics certain types of pain tend to creep up on many folks while touring.  Second only to saddle soreness is hand numbness and/or wrist pain from maintaining and holding a particular riding position hour after hour day in and day out, week after week.  

Over the years I have used many products all of which I might add have provided solutions to hand numbness and pain.  Several gel pad products are available designed to be installed under handlebar tape and I found them to be most notably helpful while riding over rough dirt and gravel roads for vibration dampening.  Some of the fancier kits are designed to fit over the contour of the handlebars and are reusable when you need to re-wrap your bars.  

That having been said the gel pads are only so durable and if they get punctured the gel oozes under the handlebar tape consequently requiring the tape to be removed and very likely replaced. Also, some of the gel kits are a bit cost prohibitive and don't include bar tape.  Padded cycling gloves help to some extent but often are just not quite enough to accommodate the needs of some long haul touring enthusiasts.  There have been innumerable companies creating all sorts of gimmick products (particularly saddles) in an effort to provide more comfort or "implied comfort" by the less scrupulous.  So it is refreshing to receive a product to review that provides a simple, practical solution to one of bike tourings' most common complaints.

Introducing Fat Wrap, a simpler more cost effective method of getting the handlebar comfort and durability for bicycle touring and especially bikepacking where I have a tendency to be rougher on equipment than while road touring.  Grabbing, gripping, lifting the front wheel and throwing it about can cause the gel pads to wiggle about if not properly secured under the tape during installation.  Sweat, rain, any moisture that may seep in can contribute to some of the loosening effect over time.  

A simple solution would be to have a very thick, durable handlebar tape available which can be installed securely without added layers of other products.  That having been said how much thicker is Fat Wrap than one of my favorites from my shop supplier?  Significantly, photo at right illustrates how much thicker Fat Wrap is then the very durable cork synthetic blend shown in photo.  It's worth mentioning that the durability test of handlebar tape can be determined while wrapping gel pads.  I've had some tapes tear while getting the tight wrap necessary to ensure the pads stayed in place without feeling "squishy".  Perhaps it's due to the sheer girth of this product which contributes to such a nice durable feel when installing as while I pulled and stretched it tight to ensure the tape would cover the entire handlebar I soon realized I wouldn't have to be concerned about tearing it. 

If I have one criticism it's that the Fat Wrap didn't include bar end plugs, which although not an issue around here as I had plenty extras to choose from other folks may not.  However, a trip to your local bike shop might provide a set for free or very inexpensively.

Fat Wrap is so thick that when I attempted to begin to wrap the drop bars (photo at left) by tucking the initial portion inside the handlebar and then inserting the bar end plug like all other handlebar tape the Fat Wrap kept kicking the plug out.  All this is covered with the included product instructions but I had to test it out myself for this review.  

As barend plugs are designed to fit with bar tape tucked in I added a short piece of cloth rim tape to ensure it would hold securely.  Fat Wrap is designed to be wrapped flush with the handlebar end so the accompanying instructions which suggest using a short piece of electrical tape to secure Fat Wrap tape to the bar when beginning the wrap proved very useful.  

While adding some hand positions to my mountain bike for bikepacking I installed some inexpensive plain old foam grips (left photo) over the bar ends and then wrapped them with some extra tape from the shop.  

Although this provides more than ample hand comfort it is a bit squishy and I'm concerned it will wear out rather quickly as the tape flexes with the cushy foam.  

This is an excellent example for highlighting the textured surface of Fat Wrap which feels to provide a much better grip so important on the trail while maneuvering a loaded bikepacking rig over rough terrain.  Not only does Fat Wrap offer a better textured grip but the product feels sturdier simply due to the fact that it is applied directly to the bar surface eliminating slippage or quickly wearing out under rough handling.  We really like this product from Canadian based TASIS Bikes and their Fat Wrap and look forward to sharing other products that Kent might be coming up with for fellow bike touring folks.  Use any of the bold text links or photos for more information or to purchase.  

Links Related to this Topic
Bike Fit Basics
Fit Well Bikes
Ergonomic Cork Grips
​Posture for Bicycle Touring
Treatment for Sciatic Pain