Scott of Archie's Grobags sent me the hip pouch of all hip pouches… the Rosie! I don't even think I can review any more hip pouches from now on because the buck stops here with this little gem. Talk about a small sized hip pouch the can fit as much goods as a medium hip pouch. Inside you will find 3 pockets centered with 2 narrow pockets on each side… that's 5 pockets total. On the exterior flap you will also find a zippered pocket… that's 6 pockets total!

I like the way the mini u-lock is mounted through the hoops on the front. It provides easier access and alleviates the pain of having your u-lock ejected while hitting those unforeseen bumpy roads. Or having that class clown trying to yank your u-lock from under your nose. On the back side you will find two standard loops for you belt. Two extra loops are provided at the bottom of the pouch for your micro pump. The construction and design of this hip pouch is the best i've seen yet.

If you want one… send an email to archiesgrobags[at]hotmail.co.uk =)

Tags: Reviews, Hip Pouches

The kind folks @ Burro Bags sent me a nice Hip Bag and a set of their Billboard Pedal Straps. The medium size Hip Bag is one helluva sturdy bag that is lined with recycled billboard banner material... which I like. It holds it form and can hold loads of goodies. I easily loaded my mini u-lock, iPhone, set of tubes, levers, Park Tool multi-tool, snacks, and much more. This little fellow also features 2 extra pockets... perfect for your more precious items.

Like the Hip Bag, Burro Bags uses recycled billboard banner material on their Pedal Straps. With the adjustable velcro straps... it’s practically effortless to get that perfect fit. For an added bonus... these straps come with one secret stash pocket. You can use your imagination in regard to what you want to stash. What stands out about these straps is that they are sturdy and not flimsy. So even if you accidentally crush down on them... they will pop back up enough to wiggle your foot back into it.

Big thanks to Jack and everyone @ Burro Bags!

Tags: Reviews, Hip Pouches, Foot Straps

Octopus Caps sent me a few caps to try out. One cap which pays homage to Van Halen caught my eye real quick! The overall construction of these caps are flawless and fit so damn well! As a bonus feature, you will find a nice silk-like nylon pocket inside the cap to stash your money and cash cards. The best part about these caps is that they come in different sizes. I've always disliked the "one size fits all" approach. In the end, if you're looking for a nice cap... I highly recommend Octopus Caps! By far... they are my favorite! I think Juliet likes them as well because she snagged the Van Halen cap =)

Tags: Reviews, Caps

About a month ago, Seagull Bags sent me a Deluxe Courier Bag to test out. Like the Standard model, it features the same contoured front flap. Open that flap and you will also find two gracious sized front pockets. Noted in my first Standard Bag review, "The compression strap system adjusts to all your custom needs. What I thought was really cool is the female plastic buckle on the secondary strap (strap under the armpit) is adjustable... it can slide up or down on the main padded strap for that desired position." This also applies to the Deluxe model. Also, I forgot to mention that there is no presence of a male/female buckle system on the main strap… which makes things more simplistic. Why unbuckle when you can simply pull it over your head!

What truly makes this bag Deluxe is the numerous added features that makes your jaw drop. For one, materials used to make this bag is off the chart! You have 1000 Denier Cordura exterior, 18 oz. vinyl interior, an additional floating 3rd layer made of 500 Denier Cordura, and a fourth layer ballistic bottom… making this bag truly impenetrable! On the exterior of the bag, you will find a nicely placed side pocket that is great for all your grab and go essentials. On the base of the bag you will find three compression straps to adjust your sized loads.

The interior of the bag is just as impressive as the exterior. You will find a large flat inside pocket on the front and an even larger flat inside pocket on the back. The front pocket also has slots to stow away all your vital needs (i.e., pens, maps, iPod, wallet). The back pocket is nicely sized to place your important flat materials or even a small laptop. Lastly, you will find a nicely sized removable tool pouch that also serves as a hip pouch.

After giving this bag a beating for roughly a month now… it has retained its integrity and has proven to be one HELLUVA great bag. Thanks to Seagull Bags for letting me give this baby a test drive. All your hard work is shown in the quality and extraordinary details of ALL your bags.

Tags: Reviews, Bags

Paul from BLAQ had sent me this bag as a prize for the Rose City Fix event... which I declined to give it away because I wanted it. Hey, I think I deserve a little treat too! Of all the bags I received for this event... this one bag clearly caught my attention.

I was immediately drawn to the color scheme... with its purple accents and that awesome screened silhouette depicting a drive chain. Like Chrome, BLAQ incorporated the same buckle system. But what sets this buckle system apart from Chrome is that they used a recycled buckle. And I’m all about recycling! The material used in the construction of this bag is 1000 Denier Cordura which is a heavyweight workhorse fabric. The bag features two large front pockets with numerous column pockets for your pens, mini-pump, tools, etc. The interior of the bag also features two large pockets with a nice main compartment that is truly spacious.

It didn’t take me long to test this bag. From shipping box to my back... I was off to the Rose City Fix. My gawd... this bag was so comfortable. My biggest problem with courier bags in the main torso strap. They are either too long or have way too much seatbelt webbing. But this bag was PERFECT in all measurements! I was never a fan of packing a heavy bag, but with this bag... I packed it heavy for the event and it still retained its comfortability... as it contoured perfectly to the shape of my body.

I’ll admit it... this bag is my favorite so far. Before our U-haul cargo van was broken into and our bikes were stolen, I was hesitant in leaving this bag in the van. I’m glad I made the right choice and taking it with me. Though, I wish I was more cautious about the bike situation. You win some... you lose some.

Paul... THIS BAG ROCKS!

Tags: Reviews, Bags

Seagull Bags was one of our last minute sponsors who came through with a BANG! When I saw that embroidered rose, I was shocked with happiness. With all our bag sponsors, I was wondering if any of them would try to incorporate the City of Rose’s into the design. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I saw this bag!

I really love the shape of this bag... with its contoured front flap. The double front pockets are SUPER deep! So many essentials can go into these spacious pockets... especially your tall boys! The compression strap system adjusts to all your custom needs. What I thought was really cool is the female plastic buckle on the secondary strap (strap under the armpit) is adjustable... it can slide up or down on the main padded strap for that desired position.

As you can see from the bottom picture... this bag is extremely spacious. The inside of the bag also features a solo pocket for all your precious (i.e., wallet, purse, iPod) items. I really can’t get over the embroidered rose. Honestly, I was never into roses until I moved to Portland... now I love them!

Tags: Reviews, Bags

It’s amazing to think that there is such a HUGE talent-pool of bags makers amongst us. I really have to give credit to the underdogs such as Velo City Bags, Mer, and Under The Weather. Though, you may not see them in every cookie-cutter bike shop around the corner, you should support these bag makers because they are truly helping the growth of the cycling industry. And the personal detail in each bag is superb!

The Velo City Bag was quite impressive at first glance. You could not believe how gracious the space was when fully packed. The construction, compression strap system, and detail is out of this world! I also like their distinctive pattern on the front panel. You really can’t miss this trademark logo. Seriously, I was truly tempted to keep this jewel, but I knew some lucky person would really be happy winning it. After the lucky winner picked up his bag, I got a chance to see it being used right off the bat. It was incredible to see how many items and prizes he was stuffing into this bag. He was stoked!

The Mer bag is simple, clean, and very functional. Bags often go overboard with their innumerable little pockets which truly seems like a waste of time and space. You know the feeling when your in a rush and you can’t remember which pocket you put that certain item in... it’s a pain in the ass! So it’s nice to get a bag like this one with simple huge pockets. I’d rather dig than open every velcro flap I can find.

Under The Weather sent an entry-level bag that was light and well constructed. Canadians got it going on too! I only wish this bag had some sort of padding around the shoulder/torso strap. But overall... a nice looking and functional bag. I would recommend this bag to anyone who is looking for something simple, inexpensive... but at the same time functional.

Big shout out to Velo City Bags, Mer, and Under The Weather... your prizes were truly appreciated!

Tags: Reviews, Bags

I fuckin’ love these straps! And let me tell you why. For one... there is NO parts to assemble. Seriously, have you ever took notice on how many damn parts are comprised in just ONE functional double strapped pedal? You have your toe clip, threaded bolts, washers, locknuts, toe strap, blah, blah, blah. Besides having a bunch parts to assemble... you also have to worry about wear and tear. With Hold Fast... you can kiss all that goodbye!

The mounting process only took a few minutes for both pedals. Though, I already had my Odyssey Twisted PC pedals notched-out which made the process even faster. Sizing and securing your feet to the straps was a breeze! With the adjustable velcro strap, you can pretty much ride in any shoe you like. Thin or bulky shoes... Hold Fast will have you feeling secured... and rest assured, there will be no more loose foot play. Also, ejecting your feet from the straps is just as easy as putting them in. Overall, I highly recommend them!

Thanks Rob for letting me experience these quality straps!

Tags: Reviews, Foot Straps

There is no doubt that I have done my share of bag postings. Sadly, you can never judge a bag by a lifeless picture. But recently, Meta Bags sent me this monster bag of all bags! Seriously, this bag may be the best bag I have ever laid eyes on. Function and quality of this beast is SUPERB! There is compression straps for everything you can imagine. Even the main torso strap has a compression strap for that extra slack... no more twisting that slack around your strap. There is even a secret stash pocket that I didn’t even know about until Dom from Meta told me. The bag also features two large front pockets and one huge inner pocket. All I can say is good things about this bag. Expect Meta Bags will be a big contender in the bag industry... they deserve it! Two thumbs up... way up!

You will have a chance to win this bag at the Rose City Fix events on Aug 15th.

Tags: Reviews, Bags

A few days ago, I received an awesome package from Isaac @ Chicago Wig. And... if you’re not familiar with Chicago Wig, they make some quality Messenger Bags, Backpacks, Hipsacks, and Knickers. The package I received contained a small Velo Pouch and one pair of Knickers.

The first item I played with was the Velo Pouch. Though it may seem small, it’s quite large enough to hold all your daily essentials... like your cell phone, MP3 player, and currency. You can either mount the Velo Pouch on your belt or on the shoulder strap of your messenger bag. I favored mounting the pouch on my shoulder strap for quick cell phone and MP3 access. The belt loops on the back of the pouch are wide enough to accommodate a 3-inch belt/strap. There is also a strip of reflective material on the front of the pouch for added safety. All in all... a nicely crafted killer pouch!

The Knickers couldn't have come at a better time with summer just being around the corner. Made from 100% cotton ripstop... they are lightweight and have a super comfortable feel. On the waist and leg opening... you will find adjustable straps to help you get that perfect fit. There are two standard front pockets and two large button-down back pockets... perfect for your u-lock. The Knickers also feature two large button-down cargo pockets which are large enough to hold a tire repair kit, tools, gadgets, etc. And with the double-stitched seams... they will take any abuse you throw at them. The best part about these quality Knickers is the price... $50! On a nice sunny day, riding with them made the day even better. Sadly, I'm a one man army and couldn't take a photo of me wearing them.

Thanks Isaac and Chicago Wig!

Tags: Reviews, Knickers, Hip Pouches

Lately, I've been reluctant to try new shoes, especially after wearing Vans for the past two decades. So a few days ago, I received a nice package from Veronica at Vittoria Shoes. She sent me a pair of the 1976 Classic cycling shoes made with Lorica-Microfiber (vegan friendly). And if you didn't know already... the 1976 was created due to the popularity of Fixed Gear bicycles in Europe.

My first impressions, having only seen them in pictures... was how light and minimalist they were. Being MADE IN ITALY... the overall design and construction of the shoe is top notch! With the breathable holes on the upper & side portions of the shoe, you can rest assured that your feet won't get the heat and the stink. And like other SPD cycling shoes... the SPD fitting area can be easily concealed with the supplied cleat covers that sit flush with the contour of the sole.

The contact between the shoes and my MKS Custom Nuevo pedals was solid. I didn't feel the pedals digging into the soles like my Vans usually did. And like any other new shoe that hasn't been broken in... my feet were a little sore at first. But after a few hours of riding... they loosened up and my feet were just fine. The best experience with these shoes was going to my job and not worrying about bringing an extra pair of work shoes. I simply kept them on and did my job with a smile on my face.

The 1976 Classic is just an all-around great cycling shoe for all you Fixed Gear riders. The 1976 comes in several materials of your choice. And with the supplied sizing chart... you won't have to worry about not trying them on first.

Big thanks to Veronica and the team at Vittoria Shoes.

Find you distributor HERE! Also, feel free to contact Vittoria Shoes if you can’t find a distributor.

Tags: Reviews, Footwear

When I ride... I like to ride light! So today I received a Bagaboo u-lock holder/wallet sample from Richard @ Urban Hunter. My first impressions of this hip pouch was how simplistic and compact it was. And the overall design and construction was SUPERB!

The integrated wallet is just big enough to hold all your basic essentials. The placement of the zipper was on-point because you don’t have to twist your body all the way around to access it. The tri-fold padded design allows you to insert a mini u-lock to a full size u-lock of your choice. SUPER CONVENIENT!

Taking the pouch along for a ride was just as nice. I couldn’t even tell I was toting around a mini u-lock on my ass... that’s how comfortable it was.

I highly recommend this hip pouch for all those who are tired of carrying around useless baggage. Head over to Urban Hunter and get one!

Thanks Richard!

Tags: Reviews, Hip Pouches