Sponsor Product Reviews
Squirt Lube
Crankbrothers Pedal Review
Ogio Gear Bag Review
Squirt Lube
The Loeka Team has had a great connection with Squirt Lube this year. Squirt has given our team enough lube for each of the girls for the season, and then some!
I've had a positive experience from the Squirt Lube product this year.
The Squirt bottle size is perfect for my on-the-road toolbox. Even carrying a bottle of Squirt in my Camelback takes up minimal space.
The wax base of Squirt keeps the lube in your chain through wet and muddy conditions and keeps the wet and mud out of your chain, which would cause serious wear between the links.
When I'm feeling more resistance in my pedal or I can hear the chain while spinning, adding Squirt Lube has made my ride smoother and quieter.
Tara Johnson - Team Loeka
Crankbrothers 50/50XX Pedals Review
This past year and a bit I saw a lot of the new Crankbros 50/50 pedals out on the hills. You cannot miss them. They are probably one of sleekest looking pedals on the market. So when I was finally able to try out my own set this summer I was really excited.
The 50/50 are Crankbrothers flat pedals. Their unique feature is that the pedals come with removable plates, which allow pin
location to be easily customized. With the removable plates, pins can be accessed from the back. No matter how worn down the
pins get they can always be removed. In addition, the plates are made with a harder aluminum that the rest of the pedal body,
which is smart since they are located in the area of the pedal that takes the most abuse.
There are two versions of the 50/50, the X and the XX. The XX, which I am running, have sealed cartridge bearings and weigh 558g. The X type have ball bearings and are a little heavier at 618g. Both the X and XX come with a second plate set and long pin set.
Besides looking extremely slick, my 50/50XX are light and they provide good grip. Since putting them on two months ago I have
not slipped a pedal once, which my shins are grateful for. I have mine set up with nine pins per side and there is space for
more if I choose, though I doubt I will need the extra grip. I have also not had any problems with the bearings. Though two
months is hardly a test of long-term durability, my 50/50 feel as smooth as the first ride.
Rumor has it that the two plates on the pedals can separate. However, I have never experienced a problem with this, and upon checking my pedals after two months of hard riding, the plates were still secure to the main body.
If you are looking for a great looking set pedals that will keep your feet glued to your bike without weighing your machine down, the odds are that you will dig the Crankbrothers 50/50.
The Crankbrothers 50/50XX are available in black/silver or red/black and retail for $130. The 50/50X are available in sage/anthracite or silver/anthracite and retail for $90. Extra plates are available in black, silver, red, orange, green, anthracite, blue, pink and yellow. Bodies are available in silver, black, green, and red. Pins are available in sliver, yellow, and black. Check out www.crankbrothers.com for more information.
Ogio 9800 Gear Bag Review
Ogio's 9800 Moto gear bag is like designer luggage for the mountain bike or motor cross enthusiast. It is made to withstand a biker's beating with its tough material, zippers, and buckles. On top of that, it is designed with a wide array of features that make traveling a lot of gear possible and easy.
Packing a lot of mountain bike or motocross gear can be a heavy job, so Ogio has equipped the 9800 with its SLED (structural
load equalizing deck) system to make handling easy. The bag also comes equipped with oversized wheels and a retractable pull-
man handle to improve maneuverability. For people traveling on the road, the bag has multiple grab handles and straps for
handling and using tie-downs.
The 9800 bag has 9800 cubic inches of room, hence its name. The reinforced panels and pockets are designed to accommodate and
protect the gear and tools of a typical rider while keeping these things easily accessible during travel, such as a padded
helmet compartment.
For our honeymoon my husband and I took trip up to Rossland, BC to relax and do some mountain biking after a busy past few months of wedding prep. This was the first good opportunity I had to use my Ogio 9800.
On top of all my bike gear, I was packing all my "girly" items including clothes, a hair dryer, make-up, etc. You get the
picture, I am not a light packer! I found that there was ample room for all of my things, which did not impress my husband as
he loaded the truck, and that during our trip everything was very accessible. What really impressed me was that padded
compartments, panels and pockets prevented my dirty bike gear from stinking up my more dressy clothes (you know, my good
jeans).
The one issue with the Ogio 9800 is that it is considered oversized by some airline standards. It has a combined height, width, and length of 67 inches. When traveling by air, check with the airline for their checked baggage restrictions. Westjet and Air Canada only allow for a combined h-w-l of 62 inches. It is a close call, one that you may get away with, but if the airline gets legalistic you may have to pay an excess baggage fee.
All in all, the Ogio mountain bike gear bag is an excellent bag for traveling longer distances with a lot of gear. It is
durable, has lots of room, is easy to move, and things are very accessible when packed. Plus, it is one mean looking bag!
The Ogio 9800 is available in 4 different colors/patterns and is available online for $217.95 Canadian. Check out www.ogio.com for more information.
