There isn't a whole lot to say about this helmet as it has been discontinued by Bell and replaced with the Muni.  Not exactly sure why that is as this helmet is considered the best bike commuter helmet ever made considering the optional bike commuting accessories.  My article regarding the Muni attempting to replace the Metro discusses many of the finer points of the Bell Metro for commuting and touring.  

Photo below is of my '05 Bell Metro with optional winter accessory kit and visor mirror.   Amazon now has one Bell Metro Helmet, size medium available for purchase with a matte black finish.  Click on photo or any of the text links to purchase.  
A quote from one of our reader's comments from a previous post highlights some of the practical qualities available with the Bell Metro including longevity of the product and how other bike commuter's snatch up this helmet when available.  If I had an extra sixty five bucks I would get this helmet myself for winter commuting. 
Link related to this Post:
Bell Muni Replacing Bell Metro, Not for Me.

No wonder Axiom dubbed this handlebar bag the "Atlas" it's perfect size and functionality make it a nice complement for most bike travels. 

We had been looking to replace an older worn out rack trunk bag and decided to try a handlebar bag instead.  We were also looking for a bag that could be used for everyday and any time of day or night bike commuting.  This meant having a handlebar bag that would mount beneath the front light for night time commuting.  

W e have found that most bags and baskets prevent the front light's ability to provide ample lighting for seeing on dark unlit roads.  This is frequently due to quick release mechanisms mounting brackets placing  the bag or basket at an awkward height above the handlebar for proper front light use.  Having the convenience of a quick release mounting system is very popular among many bike commuters for good reason.  Being able to easily remove the bag to prevent theft or simply being able to have the items with one's person while at work or running errands.  After much research and trying different bag options we decided on axiom's Atlas Handlebar Bag for its cargo capacity and versatility.    

First of all we determined what items we wanted to be able to tote around.  A rain jacket, wallet, keys, large cell phone or small tablet, a couple energy bars or dry snacks and some extra room for movie rentals, small grocery items like a few avocados.  For safety reasons we wanted nice reflective accents and convenience of carrying the bag while off of the bike.  

With its' 323 cu. in. cargo capacity, removable shoulder strap and ability to easily remove the bag from the handlebars we found a winner with Axiom's Atlas model and it also happens to look good.  It turned out to have more cargo space than we had anticipated and realized it is very useful for our over night bike camping outings as well.  We can fit our C Crane Solar Observer Radio and charge our small devices while riding, pretty cool.  Bungee type chord wraps around the head tube of the bike if needed to prevent the bag from bouncing around too much during casual trail rides and off road bike touring conditions.  Some other models we considered didn't have the protective fabric covering the zippers nor did they include a rain cover for the same price or more.  We like to treat our bags when they are new with Kiwi Camp Dry for added water resistance, something I like to mention as I don't see many bike folks including it as an inexpensive way of adding water proofing to bags and panniers.

Of course, we like the axiom guarantee should there be any defects with the product. 

Links related to this topic:
Bike  Pannier Kit for under Two Hundred Dollars
Axiom Cartier Pannier Review
Axiom Phoenix Handlebar Bag Review

Most bike geeks agree that steel lugged frames are so elegantly funky that their aesthetics are worth the process of restoration and make for fun riding.

If you're one of those bike folk who enjoy finding grand dad's old well kept barn bike being sold off for little to nothing then you know that most of the wheels and tires on those bikes are 27 x 1 1/4".  There's a lot of confusion in bike forums with folks referencing ISO diameters believing it necessary to determine proper tire and tube replacement.  I hope this article helps to reveal that this is actually a fairly common tire size and can be purchased at any local bike shop, on amazon and some department stores.  

Over the years of working in bike shops the rare occasion of odd tire sizing was mostly found on older Schwinn models with obscure 26 x 1 3/8" tire sizes in which case we would special order tires for replacement by using Schwinn's own tire size coding at the time.  Other than the occasional 650c tire those were the only instances of having to "special order" a tire to fit the exotic wheel size.  

Before I forget to mention it a 700c x 32cm tube and be used to replace a 27 x 1 1/4" tire.  Also, lots of folks opt to replace 27 x 1 1/4" wheels with slightly smaller 700c wheels, which consequently may require fitting longer reach brake calipers to accommodate the slightly smaller wheel size.  

These days getting a high quality wheelset of 27 x 1 1/4" is impractical as such a wheel size would have to be hand built with custom components. Leaving it up to "decent quality" wheel replacements in this particular wheel size incurs limitations in mostly bolt on rather than quick release and gearing options as most rear wheels are the threaded freewheel style rather than more modern cassettes.  None of this is to imply or say that all 27" wheels are cheap, junk and were only put on lesser quality bikes.  I recently sold a Razesa road bike another steel lugged beauty with Columbus tubing, Campagnolo crankset and Mavic 27" wheels.  In that case there was no point in converting the bike to 700c wheels as the Mavics were in excellent condition though the Ultegra brakes would accommodate 700c wheels.  Why bother with all this?  Steel Lugged frames are expensive to purchase new and there are a good number of old steel lugged frames to be picked up used for a very reasonable price.  

Links to 27 x 1 1/4" Tires and Wheels Discussed in this Article.

27 x 1 1/4" Wheels from Avenir, Wheelsmith and others.

CST Road Raised Center Tire 
Michelin World Tour
Schwalbe HS 159 Bicycle Tire
Vittoria Zaffiro II
Continental Tour Ride Urban Bicycle Tire

It's Friday night with thunder and clouds threatening to dump much needed precipitation while I smugly appreciate my extra efforts last night to get some fenders on my Bridgestone MB 1.

Wanting to thank United Bike Supply for providing these uniquely designed as well as uniquely inexpensive fenders for 26" wheels.  I have had this set of fenders taking up some much needed work and storage space in the Dome Workshop for almost a year.  Like most bike geeks I have a way of accumulating bike accessories and components "so that I have it".  These Fenders are just such an item and were still int original packaging tossed into a spare parts box as cheap and not quite worthless.   

Earlier this year while we were beach camping in Matagorda, TX and hitting the trails we found ourselves removing fenders to get extra mud clearance.  Luckily we had tools with us so it wasn't an issue but having the option for tool free fender removal as needed is exceptionally nice.  Photo at right shows steel bracket plate with fender being easily slid off by pushing the fender forward.  If the bracket were mounted the other direction the fender might work itself loose and slide off.  

Another thing that I find unique to these fenders is the full coverage of the rear fender protecting the front derailleur, which is really what I like in a rear fender to reduce a bit of maintenance for commuting.  Many full coverage rear fenders require extra stays particularly for 26" wheels. 

Maybe it's because I'm from Portland, Oregon where fenders and coffee are the norm and I get excited about getting a bike for touring and commuting ready and it just doesn't feel complete without fenders.  Cheers! to United Bike Supply of Oregon, pleasant surprises and of course TGIF Thank Goodness I have Fenders.  After posting this article I found these same fenders on Amazon listed as XLC Clip on Fender Set MTB Black.  The XLC set at Amazon seems to be identical to the set I received from United Bike Supply exception being my set doesn't have the XLC logo on the fenders.

Seems like most bikes I use for commuting get coffee spilled onto frame, good thing it doesn't stain.  If it did I might start looking for a coffee cup fender and with all the gadgetry and novelties in today's bike market I could probably find one.  

Links related to this topic
Link to Purchase these Fenders on Amazon

Fender Favorites for Bike Touring and Commuting

Shop Bike Tourings for Fenders

United Bike Supply Fenders from this Article

Maybe it's do to the grey beard or my sun hat and sunglasses but after considering the comment I decided it was the handlebar basket.  Today while running an errand on the Dahon Mariner (I was test riding it with a new chain).  "Hey, you're the food co-op people, I don't see hippies very often around here".  

Geeze, I really don't know about the hippie comment as I have been exposed to the "hippie lifestyle" and spent some time living what might be described as a Bohemian lifestyle.  However, I don't identify with any of that and realized perhaps it's the bike style that says it all.  Miles of weathering effect can take it's toll and time and life have a way of showing some wear, which is why I replaced the chain in the first place.  Then I considered the "handlebar basket effect".  That's what I'm calling it now as it seems to invite commentary from total strangers.  Within the past three days one gal said "I love y'all's baskets", she's from Texas and another passerby uttered "I guess that might work if it's big enough".  Haha, oh boy, if I put a larger basket than the Sunlite Rattan on my little Dahon it might be like having a bit of bike with the basket.  

So when I returned to the shop I decided to put this article together regarding the Sunlite Deluxe Quick Release Rattan Bicycle Basket.  I acquired this basket approximately five years ago after my stepfather had purchased it for my mom's cruiser bike.  He subsequently knocked the bike over (perhaps after a bit of Scotch) while the basket was on the bike consequently bending the shape of the basket and breaking a small plastic piece in the quick release mechanism.  He removed the quick release assembly and offered the basket to me before throwing it out.  I was able to repair the quick release with some adhesive and bent the top hoop part of the basket to proper shape so that the handle could be used.  I have since then used the basket to tote a considerable amount of weight including a six pack of beer.  This basket has also survived two or three other mishaps since including crashing on pavement and having to be bent to shape including the metal bracket where the quick release mounts to the basket. 

 None of this need apply to the "handlebar basket effect" suggesting handlebar baskets effect proper maneuvering and causing a rider to crash.  No, not at all.  In fact if anything I often times feel spoiled with easy access of my Detours Town and Country Handlebar Basket and bag with convenience of tossing my stuff in and easily retrieving whatever I want or need. 

I did my best to provide a nice "hippie basket" portrait showing my DIY handlebar basket on the '60's Puch Bergmeister.  Just check out the rake on that fork, complete with new retro Velo Orange Porteur Bars and brake levers.  Ya baby, that's smooth and groovy, which is the "handlebar basket effect".

Links related to this topic include:
Detours Town and Country Handlebar Basket
DIY Handlebar Basket
Porteur Bike Basket Design

Replaceable USB Lithium Ion batteries with option to use AAA batteries, adjustable beam for spotlight or flood, aluminum construction, waterproof with a lifetime guarantee.  That's right, all these features including two high quality versatile tail lights for less than a hundred bucks. 

The folks at Magnus Innovations have put together a very high quality bike lighting system that I like even better than my Cygolite Metro 300, which is really saying something about the quality of the front light.  Cygolite does not supply replaceable Li-ion batteries and most front bike lights don't that are rechargeable via USB.  Magnus Innovations has provided not only the ability to replace the batteries should they wear out but also provides ability to swap out the battery if it should dim on your commute home.  Photo at left shows the two USB rechargeable batteries with removable caps, the front light only requires one to run.  What is not shown in the company's product photo is the AAA battery pack which can be used in place of one of the supplied batteries shown.  The AAA battery pack requires three AAA batteries, not included in package.  

For typical bike commuting this light kit is more than enough and for safely navigating dark unlit streets the lumens are at least equal to that of the Cygolite if not more.  Last week I had some errands to run and was riding home after dark when I noticed the Cygolite was beginning to dim with the steady flash mode I was using in combined lighting situations.  I thought it would be nice if I could swap a battery in for the rest of the commute as I wanted to take the more quiet but unlit side streets.  One of the reasons I like this option from Magnus Innovations better than the Cygolite. 

For bike touring and camping this is a real boon for us as we can easily recharge a Li-ion battery with our C Crane Solar Observer Radio which is another fun addition to a Bike Camping Kit.  Though I can recharge my Cygolite the same way, I have to wait for it to recharge before I have a front light that is ready to use.  Not so with this kit.  And if both Li-ion batteries should need charging there is of course the AAA Nimh rechargeable option. 

Photo at right shows the adjustable beam from Magnus Innovations by simply turning the end of light as you would a mag lite, another feature not found on my Cygolite.  A swivel base like that on the Cygolite is more of a ratcheting sound and feel with the Magnus light.  With the aluminum construction it feels sturdier and much more solid than any other bike light I have seen at this price range.  Threaded metal clamp not only provides a sturdy solid feel but also makes it easy to adjust to different handlebar widths with tough foam rubber padding.

As if all this weren't enough there is more quality to be described in the two included tail lights.  These lights require a simple button style battery and are turned on and off by pressing on the light's lens as a button.  A rubber adjustable strap for mounting mean the light can easily be removed for either theft prevention or for putting on another bike.  

I bought this kit for Lisa who lacks good night vision.  She would routinely complain and have to reduce commuting speed significantly to feel safe at night.  I had purchased the Planet Bike Beamer 5 for her a couple years ago and I was always using the swivel action on my Cygolite to help light her way.  Now that she has this new bike light kit she actually commented that the strobe was so bright that it was a bit annoying.  There are three modes of strobe, steady and brighter steady, which has proven to be more than sufficient bike commuting light for any situation including bike touring and camping. 

I enjoy finding affordable quality products to share with Lisa as gifts and getting to write these reviews is fun too.  As I continue to add appropriate gear to her "new to her" restored '89 Peugeot Canyon Express I have plenty of reviews to look forward to.  

It's back to school week around here and with all the back to school shopping we found ourselves finding new gadgets for bike camping while maintaining our ability to conduct business from anywhere, even while bike commuting and touring.  

This week when our wifi network went down due to some hungry squirrels nibbling on the network cables we were forced to learn a new way of staying connected to the internet for our business needs.  I have been finding the need to keep up with technology a bit anyhow so the situation turned out to be a blessing disguised as a squirrel.  I had just happened to pick up an external keyboard for my wife's Sony Xperia Z allowing her to keep up with emails and such.  Ahue Beeboard Foldable Slim Silicone Bluetooth Keyboard Wireless Waterproof for Ipad Iphone Android Smart Phone.  Wow!  Quite a cool idea and for less than twenty bucks I grabbed one.  Perfect for camping or just keeping in a bag, purse or backpack for convenient and faster typing when needed.  So while the house wifi was temporarily down I learned that I could use my new phone as a mobile wifi device!  Now that is very good news for an owner of a Chromebook.  

I had been using an old forty dollar phone for quite awhile as the only application I depended on for work was the GPS.  When the cracked screen was simply too hard to read and not responding well I decided to upgrade to a new phone and very glad I did.  I got the new Moto G 4G LTE that is supposed to be splash proof and has Corning Gorilla Glass, a few features I felt necessary to look for in a bike commuting and touring phone.  As it turns out a few folks have tested the Moto G and found it is actually waterproof!  I wouldn't try any of their tests myself but it's good to know that the Moto G is proving time and again as possibly the best budget phone on the market and is perfect for pairing with my Chromebook.  Now I can stay in touch with work while bike camping or on a short bike tour by "tethering" with the Moto G and Chromebook.  My ability to stay in touch with work has been a very important factor determining whether or not I could even go on some of by bike camping excursions and for approximately $400 for the Moto G and the Chromebook I am more than pleased with my bike travel gadgets.   Here's a link for one of the Moto G waterproof tests.
 In the above photos the Moto G is held with the GreatShield Guardian Hybrid Case Protective Cover with Kickstand for Motorola Moto G for viewing while for example, using the Ahue Beeboard Silicone Keyboard.  Which is very nice as the on screen key pad of the Moto G can take up a lot of screen space when editing a document.  With the Adock Keyboard I am able to view all of my content to be edited as once the keyboard is paired with the phone as a blue tooth device the onscreen keypad turns itself off. Pretty cool. 

Now with the ability for "tethering wifi" a term which is new to me, issues regarding the Chromebook as a quality inexpensive laptop for bike travel are being resolved.  

Seems like more and more bike commuters and folks interested in bike touring are turning to older mountain bikes for converting to road use.  Replacing heavy knob tires with narrow slicks, adding fenders or racks and in most cases older mountain bikes makes ease of installation one of its most appealing characteristics.  

If you’re in the market for a new commuter bike or simply interested in picking up a bike for any practical lifestyle solution consider some of the readily available older mountain bikes from the eighties and nineties that are commonly available  Besides the reasons mentioned above the frames are typically made of quality steel of the era, provide a comfortable and relaxed frame geometry which can typically be customized for one’s preferred riding posture by simply raising the quill stem and or handlebars, something not applicable with more modern threadless stems.  Another reason of course is that older mountain bike frames typically have all the braze ons needed to easily add accessories such as racks and fenders for touring and commuting. 

In today’s market bikes constructed with steel frames are not only desirable but are fetching a tidy sum with few kits costing well over a thousand dollars.  Arguably worth it or not or whether or not that’s a lot of money to spend on a bike is irrelevant.  When considering the wealth of quality steel frame mountain bikes available to purchase as an affordable, quality used item the only compromising part is being stuck with a 26” wheel.  Many of today’s steel frame bikes are still being built with cantilever brakes and in some instances an older mountain bike can be converted to disc brake though usually not necessary as linear pull brakes have ample stopping power for most practical purposes.  

Finding quality accessories which provide improved commuter or touring options is key.  Look for products which will install seamlessly with the least amount of add on brackets, holders, etc.  This is particularly true in the case of adding front and rear racks to a bike for touring.  Some of the qualities I was looking for in a front rack for bike touring are steel construction, solid design and ease of installation which attaches directly to the bike’s pre existing mounting options.   In the case of my ‘93 Bridgestone MB-1 an obstacle was that there was no threaded mid way fork eyelet, which is very common.  Most typical solution for this is a U shaped threaded bolt which wraps around the inside of the fork stanchions for a front rack to be attached and secured with a backing plate.  One of the reasons companies such as Old Man Mountain and Surly have such a solid reputation is due to their racks mounting more solid than the method described.  I like the designs from Jandd as well and often thought how nice to have a design like that of Old Man Mountain made of Steel like Surly Nice Rack without the excess weight. 

That’s where Minoura found a niche and hopefully will continue to manufacture and provide their two most recent steel front touring racks. Since my previous review of the MT 4000-SF Front Pannier Rack late last year I have noticed the average price of that rack has doubled from it’s introductory price of a bit over fifty bucks with free shipping.  I noticed the price increase when shopping for the Minoura FRP 3000 front rack for the Bridgestone.  Luckily I was able to find a returned item at the warehouse without all the mounting hardware.  A rear length skewer was used to mount the rack in the dropouts and works perfectly well.  I had some longer brake mounting bolts which made installation a breeze even without the replacement skewer or instructions.  

Minoura’s FRP 3000 model is approximately one pound less than the MT 4000-SF though it doesn’t have the top plate, the FRP is one solid welded piece of steel whereas the MT model comes in left and right sides which must be assembled prior to installing on a bike. 

These racks from Minoura are both very versatile steel racks that can be mounted to bikes with 26" wheels, twenty niners or 700c touring bikes.  If you have have a disc brake or suspension fork get the MT 4000-SF  Specifications for the are listed below.  Click on links provided for specifications regarding the MT 4000-SF front pannier rack.

Minoura FRP 3000 Specifiations

Weight 1.2 kgs, or 2.6 pounds
Weight Capacity per side:  5 Kgs. or 11 pounds for total capacity of 22 pounds
Fits 26inch to 700C (NOT recommend for suspension forks)
Low-rider type Front carrier for 700C touring/ Cyclocross or MTB bike with V or cantilever brake
Steel tube construction with black powder coated finish

There is so much information regarding chain maintenance it can be daunting for new comers to bike commuting who simply want an efficient and affordable method of bike chain maintenance.   As Sheldon Brown noted it is perhaps the most controversial of bike maintenance topic there is.  Well, if you'd like to jump ahead and research all the definitions and terms referring to why chain stretch is a misleading term, what's a good chain and why, what cleaners to use and which lubes to avoid based on wet or dry conditions with explanations of chemical detergents and how they can harm your chain, etc. then skip this article and go to links provided at the end of this post.  

If you would like to know a quick, quality method for maintaining your commuter bike's chain then use the following methods we have used for years in servicing many happy customers' bikes. Whether they were hard core road bike racers or fair weather bike commuters we never had a dissatisfied customer.

There are basically three things to list for drivetrain and chain maintenance: Clean, Check Wear and Lube.  How often? When a new chain is put on a bike it is recommended to not clean and lube the chain until the original packing grease has been worn away.  At the first sound of a dry squeak clean and lube it.  After completing that routine a couple times you will get to know you're own particular schedule for chain maintenance.  Many factors contribute to how frequently your chain will need attention and varies from bike to bike depending on how many miles you ride, on or off road, wet or dry,etc.  A chain cleaning and lube technique which I am sharing here has worked for all types of bikes regardless of riding conditions.  In my experience it is not only the quickest and easiest way to clean the chain it is also the longest lasting between applications as well as providing long life to chain and all drivetrain components.  
Scroll down to see photos that help to illustrate each step of this simple and easy process.
If you don't have a bike repair stand or the space for one, you can get a twenty dollar Sunlite Bottom Bracket Type Bicycle Display Stand, oh and a five gallon bucket to store the following list of items in.  Just yesterday I was out on one of my bike commutes and found a nice quality shop rag and felt it was a good idea to share this tried and true chain cleaning technique for bike commuters. 

1. Degreaser: For Chain Cleaning we use straight Simple Green which is both non toxic and biodegradable and can be purchased by the gallon and dispensed with a spray bottle or added to a Bike specific Chain Cleaner.  
2. Rags: lint free and durable easy to find by the bundle at auto supply stores and are very inexpensive.  After use, rinse well, soak with simple green for degreasing and place in bucket of warm to hot water.  Pull the rags out when convenient, rinse, ring dry and re use.  
3. Chain Cleaning Tool:  After the kids in the shop kept dropping and breaking our Park Cyclone Chain Cleaning Tool I decided to look for a more durable much less expensive alternative to routinely replacing a $25 maintenance tool.  Finish Line's Grunge Brush (shown in photo above) turned out to be the best tool available.  Using a spray bottle filled with straight Simple Green profusely sprayed on to the chain, chain rings and cassette gears with a spray bottle and running the chain through the Grunge Brush in two directions worked to clean even the worst chains.  Then spray again with a bottle of half Simple Green and half water use a rag by gently pinching the rollers and running the chain through the rag until clean. Fold rag in half, holding either end and clean between cassette gears.  It may require some practice to get a feel for moving the cassette in the free wheel direction with the rag to thoroughly clean the cassette.  In a shop when a bike is in a repair stand this is very easy.  If you don't have a repair stand, remove the rear wheel after having cleaned the chain if the gears appear to need that.  Often times after the initial soaking with Simple Green Degreaser simply rinse off with a garden hose.  Before applying any lube wait several minutes for everything to dry or repeat the described cleaning methods with a clean dry rag.

Links related to this topic:  Sheldon Brown discussed all the finer details and then some.  
Pink Bike Article regarding Chain Lube
 Lennard Zinn's Video