Posted in Components Reviews Tires

Vittoria Terreno XC 2.1″ Tires: Checkpoint

The profile of this tire, which is a low, peaked one, allows the Terreno XC to ride and conform right over crushed stones, making for a really smooth, controlled ride

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Posted in Components Reviews Tires

Teravail Tires: Rutland, Cannonball, Ehline- Getting Rolling

Teravail has a wide range of gravel and mountain biking tires available, but these three represent some of their better choices for gravel travel, along with the narrower Rutlands already reviewed.

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Posted in Components Reviews Tires

Hutchinson Kraken 29″ X 2.3″ Tires: Checkpoint

In the intro’s ‘First Impressions’ segment I shared that I thought these tires were very damped feeling. This is to say that the Kraken really feels smooth and helps to cut down on vibrations. That to me is the best quality of this tire yet.

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Posted in Apparel Helmets Quick Review Reviews

Bontrager Starvos WaveCel Helmet: Quick Review

If you have a larger head size, as I do, now you have something that will not only fit better, but takes no prisoners in terms of protection, which previous “big-headed’ helmet options often did compromise on. Plus, it doesn’t cost a small fortune to buy into WaveCel with the Starvos. Well done, Bontrager!

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Posted in Components Keepers Long Review Reviews Tires

Continental Terra Trail and Terra Speed Tires: Long Review

It’s amazing how good gravel tires are today, and these new Continental tires are great examples of the progress we’ve made. They’re not much heavier than a road tire, yet are true 40c semi-knobbies that can confidently be ridden in nearly any gravel conditions.

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Posted in Accessories Quick Review Reviews Sealants

Orange Seal Tubeless Products: Quick Review

What a mixed bag of results! The sealant is really top shelf stuff. Orange Seal has a high reputation with many riders and deservedly so. I can heartily recommend the sealant.

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Posted in Components Reviews Tires

Vittoria Terreno XC 2.1″ Tires: Getting Rolling

The tires feel light and pliable in the hand. The sidewalls on these are a bit more brown than tan, but the tires look handsome none the less. The resemblance to the Terreno Dry 40mm tires is unmistakable. This bodes well, in my opinion, because those tires are some of my favorites in that size class.

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Posted in Components Reviews Tires

Teravail Rutland 700c X 42mm Tires- Quick Review

Teravail admits in its marketing that these are not the fastest rolling tires out there, but that they motor on though where those tires might fail. I think that summation of what the Rutland is about tells us all we need to know. The ride performance bears this out, in my opinion.

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Posted in Gravel Bikes Reviews

Salsa Cycles Stormchaser: Checkpoint

The Stormchaser’s mission is to perform well in the worst of conditions, and I think it has the characteristics to make a name for itself in those situations. But let’s face it- This bike also has to hold up as a gravel bike in normal situations as well. I feel that, besides a couple of quirks in the handling and fit departments, yes, this bike does gravel well.

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Posted in Accessories Pumps Quick Review Reviews

Tubeless Set Ups With Grannygear – Topeak

There was no floor pump in existence that was going to seat that tire and it was air compressor time. But, the Tubibooster X came through like a boss.
Award it a silver medal.

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