Rob Templin
The Catrike Pocket is fun and easy to ride. It can maneuver easily through tight spaces with its narrower track and even if you don’t ‘need’ a light ride we think you won’t mind this extra bonus when climbing your local hills.
Arkel’s newly released Rollpacker 15 and 25 seat bags utilize an innovative, patent-pending aluminum quick release hanger that eliminates the sway (what Arkel terms ‘tail wag’) common to other bag designs.
The First Avenue Trike, a relatively new model from Avenue Trikes, was the next model up for review as I continued my apprenticeship with this very unique cycling discipline. After several hundred miles of riding, the first and most important aspect of the First Avenue was that it didn’t take several hundred miles of riding to feel comfortable on the machine.
Paul Components, based out of Chico, California, is renowned for producing a line of American-made CNC components, accessories, and adapters that can best be described as functional jewelry for your bike.
The impetus for a new handlebar design came from Jeff’s desire to find a way to bring his hands into a more natural riding position. In the process, he tossed out some of the conventional industry bike-fit standards that have been the norm for the past decade or two.
“Over the years, I’ve had to remind a few of my cycling friends, on their high-zoot carbon fiber wonders and full ‘racing’ kit, that while recumbents might look strange, we’re all part of the same cycling community.”
After several months of testing, I found that AfterShokz’s Trekz Titanium claim to being the “safest alternative to traditional sports headphones and ear buds” wasn’t just Vegas Interbike hype.
Whether for work or pleasure, air travel with a bicycle has never been an easy proposition even under the best of circumstances. We take a look at three innovative ‘travel’ bike designs that will help to avoid excess baggage fees and break down in 30-60 minutes. Most importantly, all perform like a ‘real’ bike and can easily serve as your main ride.
At this year’s Las Vegas Interbike show, the growing bike-packing and gravel grinder niches were well represented, and we picked 5 of our favorite pieces of gear for the cyclist taking the less-traveled road.
A trip I’ve documented to Arizona was a good example of how you can tour light on your next vacation (whether flying into a destination or taking off from your front doorstep). You’ll enjoy the freedom of cycling on your own schedule and not a tour company’s agenda – saving enough in the process to easily cover the cost of the equipment discussed here.
John Woodson
