Wish List: Mounted Bike Speaker

Sometimes I just wanna jam out on my bike, nobody in sight, just me pedaling listening to the *new Drake album*.  Outdoor Tech outdid themselves with this bluetooth speaker.  10 hour battery life, power bank, and a built in light.  Comes in at ~$80 bucks, but just might be the summer time accessory you absolutely need.  Also, you need the new Drake album. 

5 Instagram Accounts You Need To Follow

A photo posted by Joe Newton (@thunderinthenight) on Sep 8, 2015 at 3:28am PDT

Visual stimulation sure to please the outdoors(wo)man, cyclist, nature lover, adrenaline junky, or simply--lover of good photography.  Check these accounts out!

Vermont's Slopeside Syrup - UnTapped Pure Vermont Maple Syrup

Quite possibly one of the best things I've seen on the net these days!  Portable packets of Pure Vermont Maple Syrup by UnTapped to keep you fueled on the saddle, during a game of hoops, before/after a good workout, or when you need a quick, delicious pick me up. Check out this video about UnTapped's and what they hope to achieve with their product.  I have a feeling its going to be a good winter.  Buy Here.  Check them out on Instagram!

Yeti SB6c - Limited Edition

You may have caught the SB6c in action from a previous post, here.  So you know my love for Yeti bikes is real and I can't wait to cruise on one of these guys in the future.  A little pricey, starting at around $9,000, but the specs are sweeeeet.  Fox components, carbon fiber frame, SRAM parts, DT Swiss wheels and quite a stellar paint job.  Captained by the Aussie Jared Graves, who has won multiple enduro championships aboard the Yeti, this bike is sure to put a dent in your bank account but will likely outlast you.  #FamilyHeirloom

The Sidecar Bicycle by Horse

Horse has done it!  They've brought use the  classically designed Sidecar Bicycle that has me drooling.  The Sidecar Bicycle is made out of chromoly alloy steel and is a tank.  You can opt for the surf rack, a flat bed, or I'm sure for $4,500 you can get a little specific about what you want.  The bike comes standard with a Brooks Saddle and pair of grips. This is one of those family heirloom type goods, so makes the price tag worth it, right?  But how much fun would this be??!  Check out the sidecar bicycle in action, here.

Personally, I would take the wood piece out from the double top tube, create the sidecar out of some durable plastic to save on weight and get a 3-speed hub on that monster.  The bars are already superb.  My birthday is tomorrow, let me know if you need my shipping info!  But you could always opt to build your own, here.

Tour de France '15 Crash

We had some dead air over here on the blog for a couple of days now. No worries, I've just been getting over a nasty little cold and spending too much time in front of the tv.

That being said, I've been glued to the Tour de France this year and all of the epic things that have happened thus far. DID YOU SEE THE CRASH? Well, have a look at the video above and you'll get a shudder. That's a 50+ mph crash knocking out a good chunk of the group. An unfortunate setback for Fabian Cancellara (wearing the maillot jaune) who suffered two broken vertebrae from the fall and will have to drop out of the race this year.

Philly Indego Bike Share

Philly Indego Bike Share is now in full swing.  Kisoks are popping up all over the city and more and more sightings of folks giving the blue bikes a go everyday.  Seriously, check out all of the stations!

I haven't given them a spin yet, but definitely on the agenda when I have some visitors in from out of town.  The bike itself looks like a tank and will surely be tough enough to handle all of the obstacles, weather, and potholes in the city!  Check out the specs here.  I'll have more to report when I pop mad wheelies on 'em in the future.  

Chris Cross 2 Featuring Chris Akrigg

B O O M !  Chris Akrigg is back for round 2 of cross biking!  Check out the latest video "Chris Cross 2" and watch him rip through the forest aboard the mighty Mongoose.  Whether you are a cross rider or not, you can definitely appreciate the style and perfection Chris brings to the table.  

Chris Cross 1 - here

Cycling #RoundUp: Winter and Night Riding

Be seen and heard during your next adventure aboard your trusty steed.  A couple great gadgets here to alert drivers of your presence on the road. The Proviz jacket has amazing reflective qualities at night, check out the link below to see it in action.  Not too steeply priced for a waterproof cycling shell either.

1. Japanese Brass Bell - $19.90
2. Fly6 Rear Light and Camera - $249.00
3. Proviz Cycling Jacket - $139.99
4. Defeet High-Vis Socks - $17.00
5. Defeet High-Vis Glove Liners - $15.00
6. Cateye Front Light - $17.25
7. Nite Ize SpokeLit - $8.00

Fatbike Trials Riding in Southern California

A fun little Fat Bike trials video to get your Tuesday morning going! I love the angles from the Killer Shot swivel cam.

Cycling Gear: Fly 6 HD Rear Camera and Light

\

Commuting in the city can sometimes be a treacherous ordeal.  Distracted drivers, taxi cabs, mindless pedestrians and even other bikers pose a huge threat to your safety.  I've read way too many horror stories and had my fair share of close calls and near misses.  More than half of the time it was the driver's fault.  A team in Australia developed an impressive rear camera and safety light, The Fly6,  attaches to your seat post and captures license plates, other bikers, and all of the threats on your tail end.  720p, HD, and Bluetooth all packed into this tiny device. Now that the rear light has been fully funded on Kickstarter, they're working on the front light as well.

Videos made with the Fly6

Price: $249

The Ride Journal | Past & Present

The Ride Journal is a compilation of bike stories and pictures for the avid cyclist.  We're talking mountain, randonneur, lycra-wearing, racing, track, mud--everything you want a fine bicycling journal to cover, Apart from the wonderful content and killer images, 100% of the money made on the journal is donated to various charities.  You may download (for free) past issues and purchase new releases, here.

Velodrome in South Philly?

There has been talk about building a $100 million dollar world-class velodrome in FDR park in S. Philadelphia.  The addition to the park would revitalize a sad, run down splash of greenery near the large sporting complex area.  Four acres are required to build the structure, we'll wait and see if the city is willing to let it go in exchange for a facelift.  In order to appeal to wider audiences, the proposed 6,000 seat building will also house concerts and alternate sporting events, so that'd be neat, right?

Mikkel Soya: Photographer, Writer and Adventurer

by Mikkel Soya from "A fat summit attempt"

I love mountain biking.  I love camping.  So does Mikkel Soya and he captures his adventures with some of the best photographs I've ever seen.  I love checking back to see if any new outdoor pursuits were documented, especially this time of year when I need a little more motivation to get out on the mountain.  Check it out!

Velo Orange Six Pack Rack

They've gone and done it!!  Velo Orange unveils the beautiful little Six Pack Rack of your dreams.  Made out of stainless steel and available in polished alloy (above) your ride is gonna scream "party bike" with this one.  I'm so pumped about this accessory.  I bet you know what I want for Christmas.  Perfect for storing all those sweet brews I talk about so often. #BeerReview

Message me if you want to mail one my way!

THE KOOTENAYS x PROVEN HERE - Yeti Cycles

Featuring rider Jared  Graves atop the Yeti SB6 Carbon.  This is a beautifully filmed and edited piece.  Really enjoyed watching it during my morning coffee.  Hope you like it!

Cycling Caps

I recently picked up a monthly subscription to Bicycling Magazine.  Now, I'm not a lycra-wearing road cyclists, an extreme mountain biker (though I dabble), or a cross rider, but I do love reading about gear and news from the professional front.  The center fold this month could not have been more appealing, hundreds of cycling caps through the years and a nice little write up to justify the wearing and history of the cap.

I have a few caps hanging around and used to wear them in colder weather while on the dirt trails or when it rained.  I have to admit that though guys can for the most part pull off wearing the cap, it is much harder for women.  Do you agree?   Maybe I have a funny shaped head.

I've read a dozen or so articles about the history and "how to wear" guides for the old casquette.  Here's my favorite how-to guide over at Cycling Tips.

What are your thoughts on the cycling cap?  Do you wear it solely while riding?  Or is it okay to accessorize your daily wear with it?  Are you a collector?

It's raining here in these parts, but you enjoy your weekend wherever you are!

Mission Workshop in San Francisco

Inside Mission Workshop

Proper testing of the Vandal

Subtle Signage

The Vandal, 3 months in

At the beginning of May I wrote about a variety of bicycle commuting bags that would suit my needs in various ways.  I touched on the high and low points of each bag and the cost.  Recently I had the opportunity to visit the flagship Mission Workshop store in San Francisco (check out my vacation posts) and from that point forward was sold on the MW Vandal.

The store is tucked away in a little alley off of Valencia Street.  The big sliding barn doors open wide for a cool view of the inventory and space.  I fiddled around with just about every bag in the store, weighing my options. Admittedly, the price tag and shock took a moment to sink in.

Annually I commute approximately 2,500 miles on my bike.  Rain, cold, snow, sunshine, humidity, and all types of weather are common here in Pennsylvania. Having a piece of gear that could get me through each season was, at this point, not something I wanted to skimp on.  

So I decided to bite the bullet and go all in.  Three months down the road, I am still happy with my purchase and impressed at how it has performed so far.  I look forward to many, many years with this bag.  

Here are some of my favorite features of the Mission Workshop's Vandal bag:

- Lifetime guarantee

- Padded straps with padded back rest 

- Expands from a 22 Liter capacity to 44 Liters!!!

- Waterproof

- Chest straps that are horizontally and vertically adjustable

- Roll or flap top closing

- Tough as nails velcro

- Great buckles (and they now offer metal buckles that can be switched out)

- Craftsmanship

- Repairs for life

*AND I mentioned to the man helping me that a friend's MW bag had a zipper malfunction.  He said the bag can be shipped back for repairs and they will send out a bag for the friend to use while his is being repaired! 

Chain Rings Built For Winter By Wolf Tooth Components

Commuting in the winter can sometimes be a huge pain in the butt.  You have to deal with slush, ice, black ice, piles of snow blocking the bike lanes, and that odd day when you are forced to ride the bus.  I've recently been brainstorming more ways to winter-ize my bike but I haven't really settled on anything yet.  Now I'm wishing I had a big ol' fat bike or a mountain bike to pop on some of these beautiful festive chain rings by Wolf Tooth Components.  Under $100 bucks, you can't beat it. 

Chris Akrigg's Trial Trails

Chris Akrigg's Trial Trails filmed while riding the Mongoose Teocali. Enjoy!