Extra pro Jimmi tip: If you’re going to use the Thule rack, you have to repeat the mantra ‘bikes on the roof, bikes on the roof’ as you drive so you don’t accidentally forget and go through a low barrier
As an avid indoor-cyclist/Zwifter I'd argue that the Vacmaster was one of the best investments I made ... and yes, in races I do ramp it up to max setting. For indoor cycling a good fan is a must-have and from the purpose built fans, this is actually coming out at the bottom end ... have a look a the Wahoo headwind if you are going for unnecessary.
I got mine a few months ago. Absolutely amazing, wish I’d done it years ago. The only problem is it’s so powerful, I get sweat splatters on the wall behind my bike.
Park tool bike stand, more expensive than most but essentially for bike maintenance or just washing your bike. Solid, easy to use and looks so much nice than my previous stand.
One thing about getting older as a cyclist is that although my fitness drops, my ability to buy expensive equipment increases. Buying good winter kit was the best cycling purchase I ever made.
Jimmy’s tip of taping the gel to the top tube reminds me of my buddy who used to unwrap his Power Bar, lick one side repeatedly, then slap it licked side down on the top tube. There it would stay, and he’d tear off bits and gobble them during the ride. Of course, his top tube was covered with spittle and crud from bars and it was the grossest you ever saw, but it worked for him.
I wanted to add something about the Thule bike rack that I learned when considering buying one. Ultimately I went a different direction, but many people online have reported that the thule cross bars are more aerodynamic, and as a result don’t produce anywhere near as much wind noise as competing brands. It’s not going to bother everyone, but if you drive an EV that is already rather quiet, it can make a big “quality of life” as you won’t be wanting to constantly take the rails on/off.
That shoe dryer is the best bike related purchase I've made in the last 12 months. Bought it after seeing you use it. I'd definitely argue it's a need for any UK-based cyclist. Certainly cheaper than using two different sets of shoes!
I have a fan in the garage that pushes quite a bit of air and use it to dry wet stuff and keep the humidity lower in my garage. I also have a make shift clothes line in there to hang my kits after I wash them and use the fan to dry them.
Never had a problem with newspaper - maybe it's just me, but when my shoes get wet I just stuff them full of crumpled up pages from a newspaper or similar (an old private eye issue is the go-to these days) and they're always dry, or very nearly dry by the next day.
Electric shoe dryers are a complete game changer for non-summer UK riding, especially if you’re getting super mucky off road. Such a good quality of life purchase..
@@daredemontriple6 Totally. I replace it in the first few hours and ensure I put some dry pieces overnight. I even carry a few sheets with me when travelling (cycling or hking)
I have an Urban Arrow Family (in fact, it's a year to the day since I picked it up). eCargo bikes, like your Omnium, are absolute game changers. Yes, they're expensive, but they're intended to replace your car. I've been able to do pretty much all but maybe 2-3 food shops using it, and anything like vet trips, doctors, dentists, errands etc. They're a great way to combine your love for cycling with getting stuff done. I can't recommend them enough for anyone who lives close enough to the stuff they need on a week to week basis (like in towns or cities) instead of a car. Also, it's great being able to say my other bike was £6k 😂 Especially when your day to day road bike is £2k 😂
I don't have that particular e-cargo bike, but I have do have one (and have had it for 6 years now) and it is 100% possible for it to be an only vehicle, so cheaper than a car. The one I have can carry a passenger by design (which is why I got it because my pre-teen with autism at the time still wasn't on a bike and it allowed me to ride with him on the bike even though he was taller than me - so not just good for little kids. Other manufacturers have come out with similar things since I got mine, but it was a game changer. It's good for getting groceries, hauling a person, going camping or on a picnic, etc where that rider carries the extra weight because of the electric assist.
I love cargo bikes! We've had a Dutch Bakfiets for 5 years now and put over 10.000 km on it, transporting children, groceries and other stuff. We still have a car, but that hardly gets used anymore for shorter trips. I've carried two 30-piece-cases of beer, one child and a large bag of groceries at the same time. And if you put panier bags on it you can increase the capacity even more. If you have the space to park and the spare change to buy it I really can't reccomend these things enough.
I bought an aero vacmaster for around $65 US, came with the remote and all. I would argue that adequate cooling is a huge requirement for indoor cycling. It made a huge difference for me versus using a pedestal fan and ceiling fan, even when outdoor temperatures would be 0°. I almost never have to clean sweat off the trainer mat.
I'm going to add the Garmin Varia Rear Light - especially the one with camera. I bought the basic version and love it. However on several occasions I wish I had the camera version. On my wishlist.
I'm surprised by how many folks seem to dislike these. I also opted for the 515 instead of the 715, and I've only done a handful of rides with it, but I feel a lot safer when riding alone. I'm usually pretty good about hearing cars back, but this can spot them further than I can hear them and the visual indicator on my head unit gives me a much better idea of speed and distance. Not sure if it's a cultural thing, but at least in TX where the drivers are absolutely insane and all driving gigantic pickup trucks, I feel just that much safer with the Varia around my seatpost. Too bad the seatpost mount is terrible!
OneUp rack from the USA. I live i Colorado and this hitch mounted rack is not only super convenient, but is borderline indestructible. I was rear-ended in traffic with it on one winter, and while the car behind took heavy damage, the rack took all of the impact and was unharmed. And they also sell replacement parts at a reasonable price should something wear down after a number of years.
I had some of the northwave boots. One issue I found is that water can run down your leg and into the boot, which then fills up as it’s waterproof and can’t let the water back out. Saying that though the water gets quite warm in the boot, like a little foot spa!
I nearly went for winter boots, but opted for heated socks in the end. I would need a bike fit for another pair of shoes, plus it would not solve my chillblain issues when working in icy conditions. Socks aren't cheap either, but they work for more than just cycling.
For the Thule racks, depending on the car that one has, you would also need the towers and the clamps (for a naked roof). Thus realistically driving that system to be ~$500-$650, not including the bike rack and lock cores. Just thought I would clarify :). Great video though!
Drying your shoes more quickly than just air drying also helps minimize odor problems. I use a boot/shoe dryer very frequently. For me it is a necessity. There are dryers available that have a heat or no heat option. 👍🏼
The shoe dryer is essential if you ride for any significant duration indoors. The enduro bearings aren't ideal for Sram dub because they eliminate the plastic hat/reducer and are sized to fit the dub axle. This creates metal on metal contact on the crank axle which causes unnecessary wear.
Daughter bought me a boot/glove dryer years ago. Hunting gear, diving, cycling you name it. In summer use after every ride. Sweaty gloves and and helmet. Set for no heat and air dry them. Endless options
+1 for Northwave winter boots. Mine have lasted three winters so far. The only issue I have with them is the cuffs aren't tight enough on my legs so water gets in and then can't get out! Solved by adding GripGrab CyclinGaiters. Keeps my feet completely dry even in torrential downpours 👍
Depends on what you ride and where, a Rohloff with a Gates Belt drive, is about as maintenance free as it gets. The belts are good for 20,000 km. The Rolloff is good for 50,000 km. Get an SKF bottom bracket and it's good for 50,000 km too. Costly, yes, but you basically have a lifetime power train. Barring accidents or catastrophic failures, you're done working on drivetrains forever.
Right there with ya for Silca. not the frame pump though, just bought their Terra floor pump. Excellent gauge for low pressures. Cost way too much, but I'll never have to buy a floor pump again. another one is a workstand. Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic bike stand. silly expensive, but SO nice to use. And portable; take it down, bag it up, through it in the car when heading out to an event.
Hitch mounted bike rack, specifically Kuat ones. Don't need to worry about forgetting that your bike is up on the roof. Kuat because they last long time but they are very modular so if a part wears out or gets damaged, you can just replace the part at a reasonable price.
That Vacmaster Turbofan with remote keeps me alive during Zwift races and is still cheaper compared to the Wahoo fan...and I prefer to adjust the level myself with the remote. I don´t need it but I would otherwise have 2-3 regular cheaper fans around and no room for this!
I have one - they are really good, also if you point it so the airflow is along the ground and put your wet shoes on their side, it will dry them in no time, saving you from buying the shoe dryer!
Yakima High Road is the best rack. Clamps the front wheel so no issues with carbon frames. Compatible with 26-29 inch wheels and includes a steel loop in the wheel clamp to slip a D-lock through for security. Also includes a long cable lock anchored within the rack for extra security..
Can you two rate wind proof and winter riding gloves? With you riding in cold/wet conditions regularly, it would be good information since we're entering winter season.
I believe a Brompton fits here. I've had mine for 10 years and it's amazon for running errands. I use it almost everyday. If I go further than ~3 or 4 miles my back starts hurting and I'm guaranteed to have knee pain the next day but that doesn't detract from the love of my $1000+ shopping cart.
Vacmaster and Northwave winter boots are both superb. I've used those boots on numerous winter audaxes. Not tested them at -15 though. I value my aging bones and they don't like black ice. They def work well around -5 though.
Good advice about the shoe dryer. I have one for my ski boots. It hadn't occurred to me to use it for my cycling shoes till now. Thank you for the tip.
Highly recommend a shoe drier (the one they feature is good, but there are loads of similar ones). I have a pair of boot driers that I use for my ski boots, but they also work great for basically any other type of shoe. They get to basically body temperature, so no issue with melting glue or anything, but they'll get your shoes nice and warm for you.
A good bike rack is essential, but if you have a bumper hitch or the ability to have a hitch installed on your vehicle, hitch mount racks are infinitely better (imo) than roof racks. Your bike stays a bit cleaner, it's more fuel efficient, you don't have to worry about accidentally driving under a low barrier and crunching your bikes off, putting your bikes on and off the rack is faster and easier, and if you ever do need to you still have the ability to put a roof rack box on your car if you're travelling long distances.
Thanks for the tip on the Vacmaster. I too tend to overheat on the turbo. Bought one and used it for the first time yesterday. Just wow. It’s in a completely different league to the fan I’ve used before. Also the remote is a nice feature.
The Vacmaster 54 is a breath of fresh air.... seriously I used a small table top fan for a while and this thing is just brilliant, I set it about 6 feet away and adjust the tilt...Not one to sweat much anyway this thing ensures there's no dripping nonsense going on and I've done 4hr indoor rides where the salt is dried on my arms and head....
As someone who lives in the PNW, a shoe dryer has been the best winter investment. Hiking boots, running shoes, cycling shoes...its even great for warming up the shoes before I go out!
Fully endorse that shoe dryer. I have the exact same one. It's even useful post zwift. I've also used it for walking boots and general trainers. Worth buying!
The shoe dryer is an excellent purchase. Mine gets a lot of use from my kids shoes as well! And for bike racks, the INNO tyre hold system beats the thule frame clamp for me.
I have a Lasko X-Blower Utility fan/floor dryer/squirrel cage fan *they are called different things everywhere* that I use for indoor training and also for just general air circulation and on occasion floor drying. WELL worth the 65 USD, no remote on my model so I did a bit of modification involving wire and solder. It's awesome, highly recommend for anyone riding indoors. They are MUCH better fit for the task than box fans/turbo fans, fans do not direct air efficiently, blowers do. Have had a shoe dryer for decades and it gets pretty heavy use, mostly for boots in winter and my sons' running shoes during the cross country season. Very much worth the price if you live in a place where it snows heavily and you spend significant time in said snow, these are near indispensable IMO. If either of these items broke tomorrow, I would replace them, tomorrow. The rest of the items, nah. I do have an ebike for commuting and a trailer to attach when desired for shopping, a dedicated cargo bike would be wasteful for my use case. Cheap trailer is just more convenient and much cheaper for most people than a cargo bike with the same capability. I get it, it's the same disconnect drivers have when they convince themselves they NEED a pickup truck because they occasionally haul things instead of just buying a small trailer and hitching it to their car when needed.
I got the standard Vacmaster when it was on offer and teamed it with a remote control plug socket. You can only use one power for your workout but it works and is cheaper 👍🏻
I love my shoe dryer. I use it to dry my gloves and helmet too. It can take several days for your rain soaked shoes to dry out without some sort of heat source.
I had a Wahoo Kickr trainer. I'm older and basically got tired of putting my bike on the trainer to do indoor sessions. So I blew an absurd amount of money and got the Kickr bike. It is SO COOL. Works great. I absolutely did not need it - but I love it. It cost way more than my road bike.
Actually, not all of their tools are top-notch. Their hex sliding T-handles have looser tolerances than my Bondhus L-shaped hex wrenches. One Park Tool product type I can vouch for is their workstands.
The enduro bearing have another advantage , when you ride BSA 30 . Due to the fact that bottom bracket bearings are designed to thread directly into the bottom bracket shell, eliminating the need for the aluminum cups that are traditionally used to carry the bearings they have much larger balls than other BSA 30 bearings, which mean they last much longer.
Exactly one item that I own and that is the Thule Bike rack system. They are really good. Easy to use and very secure. But, keep in mind that with the more oversized MTB frames and with the use of a Thule Carbon Frame protector the clamp system might nog clamp that well. You have to make sure it is really secure. A few years back I was a bit to quick putting my mountainbike on the roof of my car. A few corners later my bike swung to the side of the car causing some dents. Luckily my bake stayed fitted on the rack where wheels are put in because of the insanely strong wheel straps.
Thanks both - Tubolito tubes on their way - Tail Fin to follow ready for my next tour of the Wild Atlantic Way (I will need space for good waterproofs, I think!).
I bought the shoe drier after you had it on your video last year I think and its changed my life 😂😂 cycling shoes, walking boots, kids shoes, gloves, its had some use for something I didn’t know I needed 😂
I've got a tailfin on my bike and it's brilliant. My bike has its rim brake mounted by the bottom bracket, has no brake-bridge or rack mounts, combined with a quick-release that is recessed into the stays, there is no way for a conventional rack to be fitted, this solved it. Going through the rest of your items, I've got Sram eTap Red (original model) on it and although I don't have red-shift's pedals (but am considering them) I do have their shockstop stem and seatpost. It's a super comfy and practical commuter bike that most people think is completely overkill seeing as I only paid £600 for the bike to begin with, but as I ride it 5 days week, what price is comfort? I also had a pair of the Northwave boots, they worked great, but I found the top of the neoprene was soo tight that it was really difficult to get my foot in, eventually the liner ripped when trying to put them on so I had to bin them. The fidlock bottles look like a great idea, will have to check them out.
Carradice made a better tailfin 50 years ago called the bagman. They only really fit carradice bags which are not as aero as the tailfin but I've never found that to slow me down when I've lightly packed it. It's stiff as hell and you barely notice it being there. You can get it for £50 odd from Sjs and the QR version can fit any saddle with metal rails. They also make some struts which increase the load capacity from 10kg to 20 and make it even stiffer. Including the bag and the strut you're paying less than £150, and you don't need rack mounts at all since the struts can attach where you mount the fenders. You can also strap a backpack or an 8 pack to it if you need
Bought the same shoe dryer after watching an old video where you recommended it. Easy to do after a ride: hang inserts over a radiator and whack the dryer on. My current shoes are yet to get that wet dog smell. So thanks, Francis
Ortlieb panniers. I think they were ~$200 for the pair, but they're over 3years old now and just as waterproof as the day I got them. I've taken them through monsoons and my laptop has stayed dry in there. I can load them up with SO MANY GROCERIES. The plastic mounts haven't degraded - they've worn grooves into my metal rack! Don't skimp out on crappy panniers. Drop the cash for good ones.
I live in Sweden, every house has a shoe dryer, they are great for drying shoes, boots, gloves etc, bet bit of kit ever! Great for cycling stuff or just regular every day use.
Mine is tow hitch mounted Thule XT3 fold, which I bought years ago for 849.- and nowadays they sell it for almost 1250.-, best thing I ever bought for a bike. Only needs a towing hitch which was another 1600.- 😅. Fidlock - hated it, rode it on gravel and it is damn noisy, rattled so much, gave it to my kid, he doesn’t care but I was taken aback how an expensive product can be so shoddy built…
I'm surprised, considering the suite of Park Tools behind you, you didn't go for their Master tool kit. At a whopping £6,800, it's definitely insanely expensive, and as Nik will confirm, we all love a good tool. 😂
I love the Silca Frame Pump. My wife got it for me for my birthday a few years back. I want to have it painted in the same color as my bike. I also really like the Fidlock bottles. I have not lost a bottle in years since switching to Fidlock.
I recently got a Zwift Hub One and started riding on Zwift pretty much daily. I cannot believe how much I sweated when riding indoors. Believe me that VacMaster fan is a MUST buy. It is also way less expensive than some of the competition (e.g. Wahoo fan at £230).
I've got the original Vacmaster fan and it is 100000% worth the money, paired to smart plug and it's perfect. It was half the price of the new fancy one as it didn't have cyclist tax added onto it. Also have a pair of the northwave winter boots. They were no where near that price, I got them with a massive discount so only paid around £100.
I have the cycplus tiny pump, best investment ever, I've used only twice, both in winter. How happy I was to be able to pump up my tires in 90 seconds with no effort, will buy it again.
Don't forget Redshifts other products, especially the suspension seatpost and stem. Between those and the cheaper arclights, they're the best upgrades I've made.
Jimmy's Gel Method (Gimmy's Gel Method, Jimmy's Jel Method?) is the reason mechanics hate triathlon bikes. It's amazing what crap (literally?) triathletes will put up with on their bike, knowing the mechanic will have to clean it up when the seized or pulverized headset and welded on stem need to get worked on. Always fun to clean up the contrails of "miscellaneous" on the way to the back of the bike too.
With the current Omnium lineup there are bespoke electric Cargo and Mini-Max models so you don't have to bolt on an aftermarket motor. :) That said, the E-Mini-Max starts at 5200 Euros (4500 GBP). I just kitted out a very similar bike called the ten07 Unicorn, you can just unscrew one big screw and take off the cargo rack to either save space in your shed/flat or to take it on train journeys where at least here in Germany you aren't allowed anymore to take cargo bikes with you. The whole (non electric, but SRAM GX Eagle eTap with drop bars and Rival brifters equipped) bike costs just shy of 6000 Euros, but my employer subsidies the leasing scheme with 55 Euros per month for three years so it was pretty much a no-brainer for me to max out the allowed total cost of the bike, even if I have to pay a bit of it myself. :D Oh, and Fidlock bottles are great. With the grit sprayed on the bottle cages when you're off road the bottles are looking really unpleasant after a short amount of time in traditional bottle cages. With the flip-up lids the nozzles stay clean and you can still easily handle the bottles one-handed.
The MV Agusta SV Edizione Limitata. Only available in Europe, no international shipping. Gonna have to fly out, buy it, and freight ship it back. Or maybe find a similar frame and just build a lookalike. Hardest part will probably be the non-painted stem.
Fav expensive cycling things: FLECTR reflective stickers for bike wheels, Bivo water bottles (for those who hate the taste of plastic), Raveman bike lights
Garmin Rally XC pedals. They even appeared on the video. They are soooo expensive, but for those who like, the amount of information it gives you is insane.
Nice My expensive bike gear Topeak Jo blow booster Feedback sports sprint bike stand (awesome stuff) Full set of wera joker wrenches 5.5 to 19mm And a unior wheel truing jig Great content btw 👌 👏
Wow I need that Topeak Torque wrench. I haaaate my Pedro’s torque wrench. The roll up sleeve that holds the bits isn’t super secure so literally within a month one of the bits got lost. Another bit doesn’t stay in its sleeve either so it’s permanently mounted on the wrench’s bit holder. It just doesn’t seem like the type of quality you’d get from Park Tool or that Topeak one.
Please do a video about saddles. Specifically wondering if there are saddles for everyday clothes rather than the saddles that are made for MAMILS wearing chamois?
Me and the Mrs have a Talifin system each. Love them. Only issue is I own one of the only bikes that they dont make an axle adapter for! (Colnagos Hexlock system) Definitely buying the shoe drier though!
I bought one of the Shoe Dryers from seeing you mention them in a previous video. I've used it on my kids sports boots more than on my Cycling shoes but it was a good purchase.
The shoe dryer is awesome ! such great value and you recommended it in an old video and boy it was a great recommendation ❤️💪 If you ride daily or weekends it’s a perfect gadget !
The leather piston gasket inside the Silca pumps will last for decades as long as you maintain it with a few drops of oil every now and then. Can't say that for cheap rubber seals that dry out and crack in just a couple of years.
MKS EZ/EZ superior pedals come in mtb, road, flat flavors and are removable for travel. So easy to pop off and swappable to multiple bikes. Plus added security just pop one off when headed into the cafe for coffee and sweets
Have to disagree on Sram Red. I've had a Red equipped bike for c. 2 years and I've just paid an obscene amount to change it to Dura Ace as Sram Red was so fond of randomly throwing the chain into the gap between my frame and the chain rings, no matter how expertly it was set up by mechanics. It was also noticeably slower shifting than my 1st generation 11 speed ultegra di2.
The expensive thing I tell people about when they ask are my $700 power meter pedals. Necessary? No, but it has revolutionized my cycling. They're the Assioma Duos and they have been amazing.
The Nortwave are also available im cheaper versions if you don't need the carbon sole! By the way Fumpa Nano are the original mini electric pump, you're promoting a copy!
Extra pro Jimmi tip: If you’re going to use the Thule rack, you have to repeat the mantra ‘bikes on the roof, bikes on the roof’ as you drive so you don’t accidentally forget and go through a low barrier
Yes... I found out the hard way.
I think you mean "_attempt_ to go through a low barrier..." 😉
@@globeRM😮 ditto
@@mechanicaldavid4827 YOU will go through the barrier just fine... 😅
Drove a bike into the garage! Pro tip, hid the garage remote when using.
Don't spit out the tab from your gel into the road! I find them everywhere. Some gel packs retain their tabs.
As an avid indoor-cyclist/Zwifter I'd argue that the Vacmaster was one of the best investments I made ... and yes, in races I do ramp it up to max setting. For indoor cycling a good fan is a must-have and from the purpose built fans, this is actually coming out at the bottom end ... have a look a the Wahoo headwind if you are going for unnecessary.
Make sure to put it behind you when you're racing. Tailwind will help you win.
I thought the same thing when the said the price. I have the headwind, got it as part of a package but it was still a lot more then the Vacmaster.
Only said this morning that the Vacmaster is a relative bargain for indoor cycling!
I got mine a few months ago. Absolutely amazing, wish I’d done it years ago. The only problem is it’s so powerful, I get sweat splatters on the wall behind my bike.
Park tool bike stand, more expensive than most but essentially for bike maintenance or just washing your bike. Solid, easy to use and looks so much nice than my previous stand.
Sorry, I like my cheapo Aldi stand better. But only because it’s so cheap lmao
@@irfuel It’s actually rated for 30kg, and it feels pretty solid.
One thing about getting older as a cyclist is that although my fitness drops, my ability to buy expensive equipment increases.
Buying good winter kit was the best cycling purchase I ever made.
A Castlli jacket I got last year was a dam good purchase. Can ride in any weather and be warm.
Im 46 and this is so true. Just bought a new Giant that is twice the cost of my last Trek.
Ahah, so there is one advantage to getting older. Any others?
kids are out of the house, so I do not have to wake up at 5am to be back early...@@enigma1000
Jimmy’s tip of taping the gel to the top tube reminds me of my buddy who used to unwrap his Power Bar, lick one side repeatedly, then slap it licked side down on the top tube. There it would stay, and he’d tear off bits and gobble them during the ride. Of course, his top tube was covered with spittle and crud from bars and it was the grossest you ever saw, but it worked for him.
Even Hitchcock wouldn't dare to touch that subject.
I wanted to add something about the Thule bike rack that I learned when considering buying one. Ultimately I went a different direction, but many people online have reported that the thule cross bars are more aerodynamic, and as a result don’t produce anywhere near as much wind noise as competing brands. It’s not going to bother everyone, but if you drive an EV that is already rather quiet, it can make a big “quality of life” as you won’t be wanting to constantly take the rails on/off.
Love the chemistry Frances and Jimmy have so entertaining and useful products to. keep it up guy's.
That shoe dryer is the best bike related purchase I've made in the last 12 months. Bought it after seeing you use it.
I'd definitely argue it's a need for any UK-based cyclist. Certainly cheaper than using two different sets of shoes!
I have a fan in the garage that pushes quite a bit of air and use it to dry wet stuff and keep the humidity lower in my garage. I also have a make shift clothes line in there to hang my kits after I wash them and use the fan to dry them.
Never had a problem with newspaper - maybe it's just me, but when my shoes get wet I just stuff them full of crumpled up pages from a newspaper or similar (an old private eye issue is the go-to these days) and they're always dry, or very nearly dry by the next day.
Electric shoe dryers are a complete game changer for non-summer UK riding, especially if you’re getting super mucky off road. Such a good quality of life purchase..
How is the shoe dryer for kids winter gloves and or boots?
@@daredemontriple6 Totally. I replace it in the first few hours and ensure I put some dry pieces overnight. I even carry a few sheets with me when travelling (cycling or hking)
I have an Urban Arrow Family (in fact, it's a year to the day since I picked it up). eCargo bikes, like your Omnium, are absolute game changers. Yes, they're expensive, but they're intended to replace your car. I've been able to do pretty much all but maybe 2-3 food shops using it, and anything like vet trips, doctors, dentists, errands etc. They're a great way to combine your love for cycling with getting stuff done.
I can't recommend them enough for anyone who lives close enough to the stuff they need on a week to week basis (like in towns or cities) instead of a car.
Also, it's great being able to say my other bike was £6k 😂 Especially when your day to day road bike is £2k 😂
I don't have that particular e-cargo bike, but I have do have one (and have had it for 6 years now) and it is 100% possible for it to be an only vehicle, so cheaper than a car. The one I have can carry a passenger by design (which is why I got it because my pre-teen with autism at the time still wasn't on a bike and it allowed me to ride with him on the bike even though he was taller than me - so not just good for little kids. Other manufacturers have come out with similar things since I got mine, but it was a game changer. It's good for getting groceries, hauling a person, going camping or on a picnic, etc where that rider carries the extra weight because of the electric assist.
I love cargo bikes! We've had a Dutch Bakfiets for 5 years now and put over 10.000 km on it, transporting children, groceries and other stuff. We still have a car, but that hardly gets used anymore for shorter trips. I've carried two 30-piece-cases of beer, one child and a large bag of groceries at the same time. And if you put panier bags on it you can increase the capacity even more. If you have the space to park and the spare change to buy it I really can't reccomend these things enough.
The shoe dryer is brilliant. I use it all the time too. Also great for warming your shoes in the morning before a ride!
Gloves as well !
I bought an aero vacmaster for around $65 US, came with the remote and all. I would argue that adequate cooling is a huge requirement for indoor cycling. It made a huge difference for me versus using a pedestal fan and ceiling fan, even when outdoor temperatures would be 0°. I almost never have to clean sweat off the trainer mat.
I'm going to add the Garmin Varia Rear Light - especially the one with camera. I bought the basic version and love it. However on several occasions I wish I had the camera version. On my wishlist.
I'm surprised by how many folks seem to dislike these. I also opted for the 515 instead of the 715, and I've only done a handful of rides with it, but I feel a lot safer when riding alone. I'm usually pretty good about hearing cars back, but this can spot them further than I can hear them and the visual indicator on my head unit gives me a much better idea of speed and distance.
Not sure if it's a cultural thing, but at least in TX where the drivers are absolutely insane and all driving gigantic pickup trucks, I feel just that much safer with the Varia around my seatpost. Too bad the seatpost mount is terrible!
OneUp rack from the USA. I live i Colorado and this hitch mounted rack is not only super convenient, but is borderline indestructible. I was rear-ended in traffic with it on one winter, and while the car behind took heavy damage, the rack took all of the impact and was unharmed. And they also sell replacement parts at a reasonable price should something wear down after a number of years.
I had some of the northwave boots. One issue I found is that water can run down your leg and into the boot, which then fills up as it’s waterproof and can’t let the water back out. Saying that though the water gets quite warm in the boot, like a little foot spa!
I nearly went for winter boots, but opted for heated socks in the end. I would need a bike fit for another pair of shoes, plus it would not solve my chillblain issues when working in icy conditions. Socks aren't cheap either, but they work for more than just cycling.
For the Thule racks, depending on the car that one has, you would also need the towers and the clamps (for a naked roof). Thus realistically driving that system to be ~$500-$650, not including the bike rack and lock cores. Just thought I would clarify :). Great video though!
Drying your shoes more quickly than just air drying also helps minimize odor problems. I use a boot/shoe dryer very frequently. For me it is a necessity. There are dryers available that have a heat or no heat option. 👍🏼
The shoe dryer is essential if you ride for any significant duration indoors. The enduro bearings aren't ideal for Sram dub because they eliminate the plastic hat/reducer and are sized to fit the dub axle. This creates metal on metal contact on the crank axle which causes unnecessary wear.
Daughter bought me a boot/glove dryer years ago. Hunting gear, diving, cycling you name it. In summer use after every ride. Sweaty gloves and and helmet. Set for no heat and air dry them. Endless options
+1 for Northwave winter boots. Mine have lasted three winters so far.
The only issue I have with them is the cuffs aren't tight enough on my legs so water gets in and then can't get out! Solved by adding GripGrab CyclinGaiters. Keeps my feet completely dry even in torrential downpours 👍
Rohloff 14-speed hub gears. Hugely expensive -- about £1200 just for the hub, superbly engineered, brilliant to use. You know you want one ...
Pinion 🥹😢
Depends on what you ride and where, a Rohloff with a Gates Belt drive, is about as maintenance free as it gets. The belts are good for 20,000 km. The Rolloff is good for 50,000 km. Get an SKF bottom bracket and it's good for 50,000 km too. Costly, yes, but you basically have a lifetime power train. Barring accidents or catastrophic failures, you're done working on drivetrains forever.
@@thomasbernier2489 Some Rohloffs are already beyond the 200,000 kms.
@@The_Climbs_Explorator I don't doubt it. They are very nicely built units! Well worth the money if you ride enough to justify it.
Pretty heavy though...
Right there with ya for Silca. not the frame pump though, just bought their Terra floor pump. Excellent gauge for low pressures. Cost way too much, but I'll never have to buy a floor pump again.
another one is a workstand. Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic bike stand. silly expensive, but SO nice to use. And portable; take it down, bag it up, through it in the car when heading out to an event.
Hitch mounted bike rack, specifically Kuat ones. Don't need to worry about forgetting that your bike is up on the roof. Kuat because they last long time but they are very modular so if a part wears out or gets damaged, you can just replace the part at a reasonable price.
That Vacmaster Turbofan with remote keeps me alive during Zwift races and is still cheaper compared to the Wahoo fan...and I prefer to adjust the level myself with the remote. I don´t need it but I would otherwise have 2-3 regular cheaper fans around and no room for this!
Got 2 of these. Lifesaver for zwift sessions.
I have one - they are really good, also if you point it so the airflow is along the ground and put your wet shoes on their side, it will dry them in no time, saving you from buying the shoe dryer!
Yakima High Road is the best rack. Clamps the front wheel so no issues with carbon frames. Compatible with 26-29 inch wheels and includes a steel loop in the wheel clamp to slip a D-lock through for security. Also includes a long cable lock anchored within the rack for extra security..
Thule makes one that does it as well. It is called Thule UpRide. I love mine
Can you two rate wind proof and winter riding gloves? With you riding in cold/wet conditions regularly, it would be good information since we're entering winter season.
You'll need define winter is like where you are, for sub freezing temps and below, bar mitts are by far the best option I have used.
I believe a Brompton fits here. I've had mine for 10 years and it's amazon for running errands. I use it almost everyday. If I go further than ~3 or 4 miles my back starts hurting and I'm guaranteed to have knee pain the next day but that doesn't detract from the love of my $1000+ shopping cart.
Vacmaster and Northwave winter boots are both superb. I've used those boots on numerous winter audaxes. Not tested them at -15 though. I value my aging bones and they don't like black ice. They def work well around -5 though.
Jelly sandwich, on white bread, regular jelly contains 268 calories 5.7 g of protein and 58 g of carbohydrate.
Two pieces of sliced bread?
Good advice about the shoe dryer. I have one for my ski boots. It hadn't occurred to me to use it for my cycling shoes till now. Thank you for the tip.
Highly recommend a shoe drier (the one they feature is good, but there are loads of similar ones). I have a pair of boot driers that I use for my ski boots, but they also work great for basically any other type of shoe. They get to basically body temperature, so no issue with melting glue or anything, but they'll get your shoes nice and warm for you.
Also great for skates too.
A good bike rack is essential, but if you have a bumper hitch or the ability to have a hitch installed on your vehicle, hitch mount racks are infinitely better (imo) than roof racks. Your bike stays a bit cleaner, it's more fuel efficient, you don't have to worry about accidentally driving under a low barrier and crunching your bikes off, putting your bikes on and off the rack is faster and easier, and if you ever do need to you still have the ability to put a roof rack box on your car if you're travelling long distances.
it be fun to see you guys stress test a dual suction roof rack like the one from Rockbros.
Thanks for the tip on the Vacmaster. I too tend to overheat on the turbo. Bought one and used it for the first time yesterday. Just wow. It’s in a completely different league to the fan I’ve used before. Also the remote is a nice feature.
Shoe drier is an absolute must. I run, hike, and bike and this has saved me having wet shoes after rainy or snowy rides or runs
The Vacmaster 54 is a breath of fresh air.... seriously I used a small table top fan for a while and this thing is just brilliant, I set it about 6 feet away and adjust the tilt...Not one to sweat much anyway this thing ensures there's no dripping nonsense going on and I've done 4hr indoor rides where the salt is dried on my arms and head....
As someone who lives in the PNW, a shoe dryer has been the best winter investment. Hiking boots, running shoes, cycling shoes...its even great for warming up the shoes before I go out!
PNW ?
pacific northwest@@dogphlap6749
Fully endorse that shoe dryer. I have the exact same one. It's even useful post zwift.
I've also used it for walking boots and general trainers.
Worth buying!
Got myself a Vacmaster second hand a few months back. This thing is absolutely brilliant!
The shoe dryer is an excellent purchase. Mine gets a lot of use from my kids shoes as well!
And for bike racks, the INNO tyre hold system beats the thule frame clamp for me.
I have a Lasko X-Blower Utility fan/floor dryer/squirrel cage fan *they are called different things everywhere* that I use for indoor training and also for just general air circulation and on occasion floor drying. WELL worth the 65 USD, no remote on my model so I did a bit of modification involving wire and solder. It's awesome, highly recommend for anyone riding indoors. They are MUCH better fit for the task than box fans/turbo fans, fans do not direct air efficiently, blowers do.
Have had a shoe dryer for decades and it gets pretty heavy use, mostly for boots in winter and my sons' running shoes during the cross country season. Very much worth the price if you live in a place where it snows heavily and you spend significant time in said snow, these are near indispensable IMO.
If either of these items broke tomorrow, I would replace them, tomorrow.
The rest of the items, nah.
I do have an ebike for commuting and a trailer to attach when desired for shopping, a dedicated cargo bike would be wasteful for my use case. Cheap trailer is just more convenient and much cheaper for most people than a cargo bike with the same capability. I get it, it's the same disconnect drivers have when they convince themselves they NEED a pickup truck because they occasionally haul things instead of just buying a small trailer and hitching it to their car when needed.
I got the standard Vacmaster when it was on offer and teamed it with a remote control plug socket. You can only use one power for your workout but it works and is cheaper 👍🏻
I love my shoe dryer. I use it to dry my gloves and helmet too. It can take several days for your rain soaked shoes to dry out without some sort of heat source.
I had a Wahoo Kickr trainer. I'm older and basically got tired of putting my bike on the trainer to do indoor sessions. So I blew an absurd amount of money and got the Kickr bike. It is SO COOL. Works great. I absolutely did not need it - but I love it. It cost way more than my road bike.
Park Tool anything is a must. You really are paying for higher quality parts & build quality.
Actually, not all of their tools are top-notch. Their hex sliding T-handles have looser tolerances than my Bondhus L-shaped hex wrenches.
One Park Tool product type I can vouch for is their workstands.
The enduro bearing have another advantage , when you ride BSA 30 . Due to the fact that bottom bracket bearings are designed to thread directly into the bottom bracket shell, eliminating the need for the aluminum cups that are traditionally used to carry the bearings they have much larger balls than other BSA 30 bearings, which mean they last much longer.
Exactly one item that I own and that is the Thule Bike rack system. They are really good. Easy to use and very secure. But, keep in mind that with the more oversized MTB frames and with the use of a Thule Carbon Frame protector the clamp system might nog clamp that well. You have to make sure it is really secure. A few years back I was a bit to quick putting my mountainbike on the roof of my car. A few corners later my bike swung to the side of the car causing some dents. Luckily my bake stayed fitted on the rack where wheels are put in because of the insanely strong wheel straps.
Thanks both - Tubolito tubes on their way - Tail Fin to follow ready for my next tour of the Wild Atlantic Way (I will need space for good waterproofs, I think!).
That shoe dryer is absolutely boss
I bought the shoe drier after you had it on your video last year I think and its changed my life 😂😂 cycling shoes, walking boots, kids shoes, gloves, its had some use for something I didn’t know I needed 😂
Oooooh gloves. Good idea
I've got a tailfin on my bike and it's brilliant. My bike has its rim brake mounted by the bottom bracket, has no brake-bridge or rack mounts, combined with a quick-release that is recessed into the stays, there is no way for a conventional rack to be fitted, this solved it. Going through the rest of your items, I've got Sram eTap Red (original model) on it and although I don't have red-shift's pedals (but am considering them) I do have their shockstop stem and seatpost. It's a super comfy and practical commuter bike that most people think is completely overkill seeing as I only paid £600 for the bike to begin with, but as I ride it 5 days week, what price is comfort? I also had a pair of the Northwave boots, they worked great, but I found the top of the neoprene was soo tight that it was really difficult to get my foot in, eventually the liner ripped when trying to put them on so I had to bin them. The fidlock bottles look like a great idea, will have to check them out.
Carradice made a better tailfin 50 years ago called the bagman. They only really fit carradice bags which are not as aero as the tailfin but I've never found that to slow me down when I've lightly packed it. It's stiff as hell and you barely notice it being there.
You can get it for £50 odd from Sjs and the QR version can fit any saddle with metal rails. They also make some struts which increase the load capacity from 10kg to 20 and make it even stiffer.
Including the bag and the strut you're paying less than £150, and you don't need rack mounts at all since the struts can attach where you mount the fenders.
You can also strap a backpack or an 8 pack to it if you need
Bought the same shoe dryer after watching an old video where you recommended it. Easy to do after a ride: hang inserts over a radiator and whack the dryer on. My current shoes are yet to get that wet dog smell.
So thanks, Francis
Ortlieb panniers. I think they were ~$200 for the pair, but they're over 3years old now and just as waterproof as the day I got them. I've taken them through monsoons and my laptop has stayed dry in there. I can load them up with SO MANY GROCERIES. The plastic mounts haven't degraded - they've worn grooves into my metal rack!
Don't skimp out on crappy panniers. Drop the cash for good ones.
#1 DA Di2. Unless you are a member of Jumbo Visma, Utegra or 105 Di2 is more than enough.
I live in Sweden, every house has a shoe dryer, they are great for drying shoes, boots, gloves etc, bet bit of kit ever! Great for cycling stuff or just regular every day use.
Mine is tow hitch mounted Thule XT3 fold, which I bought years ago for 849.- and nowadays they sell it for almost 1250.-, best thing I ever bought for a bike. Only needs a towing hitch which was another 1600.- 😅.
Fidlock - hated it, rode it on gravel and it is damn noisy, rattled so much, gave it to my kid, he doesn’t care but I was taken aback how an expensive product can be so shoddy built…
2:26 Works for kids rugby shoes as well, never a week where I haven't used this.
I'm surprised, considering the suite of Park Tools behind you, you didn't go for their Master tool kit. At a whopping £6,800, it's definitely insanely expensive, and as Nik will confirm, we all love a good tool. 😂
Park tool quality has dropping unfortunately. One of their 5mm Allen keys is lucky to last 6 months in the shop vs a couple of years before covid
I love the Silca Frame Pump. My wife got it for me for my birthday a few years back. I want to have it painted in the same color as my bike. I also really like the Fidlock bottles. I have not lost a bottle in years since switching to Fidlock.
Best fan for indoor trainer is the Wahoo Headwind. Connect it to your HR monitor and it will increase speed as your heart rate goes up
I love my Enduro BB. The Xd-15's just keep getting smoother and smoother.
I recently got a Zwift Hub One and started riding on Zwift pretty much daily. I cannot believe how much I sweated when riding indoors. Believe me that VacMaster fan is a MUST buy. It is also way less expensive than some of the competition (e.g. Wahoo fan at £230).
I've got the original Vacmaster fan and it is 100000% worth the money, paired to smart plug and it's perfect.
It was half the price of the new fancy one as it didn't have cyclist tax added onto it.
Also have a pair of the northwave winter boots. They were no where near that price, I got them with a massive discount so only paid around £100.
I have the cycplus tiny pump, best investment ever, I've used only twice, both in winter. How happy I was to be able to pump up my tires in 90 seconds with no effort, will buy it again.
Don't forget Redshifts other products, especially the suspension seatpost and stem. Between those and the cheaper arclights, they're the best upgrades I've made.
Jimmy's Gel Method (Gimmy's Gel Method, Jimmy's Jel Method?) is the reason mechanics hate triathlon bikes. It's amazing what crap (literally?) triathletes will put up with on their bike, knowing the mechanic will have to clean it up when the seized or pulverized headset and welded on stem need to get worked on. Always fun to clean up the contrails of "miscellaneous" on the way to the back of the bike too.
Arundel Mandible carbon bottle cage. Pricey, but holds big bottles like nothing else.
On my the top of my list is a titanium bike (with sram red preferably) 😅, maybe i wil have saved up enough by next year...
With the current Omnium lineup there are bespoke electric Cargo and Mini-Max models so you don't have to bolt on an aftermarket motor. :) That said, the E-Mini-Max starts at 5200 Euros (4500 GBP).
I just kitted out a very similar bike called the ten07 Unicorn, you can just unscrew one big screw and take off the cargo rack to either save space in your shed/flat or to take it on train journeys where at least here in Germany you aren't allowed anymore to take cargo bikes with you. The whole (non electric, but SRAM GX Eagle eTap with drop bars and Rival brifters equipped) bike costs just shy of 6000 Euros, but my employer subsidies the leasing scheme with 55 Euros per month for three years so it was pretty much a no-brainer for me to max out the allowed total cost of the bike, even if I have to pay a bit of it myself. :D
Oh, and Fidlock bottles are great. With the grit sprayed on the bottle cages when you're off road the bottles are looking really unpleasant after a short amount of time in traditional bottle cages. With the flip-up lids the nozzles stay clean and you can still easily handle the bottles one-handed.
One item to mention is the PedalCell dynamo. Closing down soon though sadly.
Pretty informative and entertaining 👍
15:50 Thile Bike Rack can turn from "expensive" to a "super expensive" thing. If you forget about your bikes when going into an underground garage 😂
The ipump twist work real good.
They have a slim floor version that's pretty slick
The MV Agusta SV Edizione Limitata. Only available in Europe, no international shipping. Gonna have to fly out, buy it, and freight ship it back. Or maybe find a similar frame and just build a lookalike. Hardest part will probably be the non-painted stem.
Fav expensive cycling things: FLECTR reflective stickers for bike wheels, Bivo water bottles (for those who hate the taste of plastic), Raveman bike lights
Had the Vacmaster for 3 years now, brilliant piece of kit, definitely recommend it!
Got that same boot dryer for Xmas. GAMECHANGER! It does gloves booties, shoes and hats. Love it.
Garmin Rally XC pedals. They even appeared on the video. They are soooo expensive, but for those who like, the amount of information it gives you is insane.
Nice
My expensive bike gear
Topeak Jo blow booster
Feedback sports sprint bike stand (awesome stuff)
Full set of wera joker wrenches 5.5 to 19mm
And a unior wheel truing jig
Great content btw 👌 👏
Wow I need that Topeak Torque wrench. I haaaate my Pedro’s torque wrench. The roll up sleeve that holds the bits isn’t super secure so literally within a month one of the bits got lost. Another bit doesn’t stay in its sleeve either so it’s permanently mounted on the wrench’s bit holder. It just doesn’t seem like the type of quality you’d get from Park Tool or that Topeak one.
Please do a video about saddles. Specifically wondering if there are saddles for everyday clothes rather than the saddles that are made for MAMILS wearing chamois?
Me and the Mrs have a Talifin system each. Love them. Only issue is I own one of the only bikes that they dont make an axle adapter for! (Colnagos Hexlock system)
Definitely buying the shoe drier though!
Spatz Shoe Covers!! One VOTE!!
I bought one of the Shoe Dryers from seeing you mention them in a previous video. I've used it on my kids sports boots more than on my Cycling shoes but it was a good purchase.
55 year old, used to ride cyclocross always got wet shoes……just ordered the Renergy shoe dryer - looking forward to getting my shoes wet next ride 😉
I have one of those shoe dryers at the office. It’s a godsend in the winter. It’s also a complete hit with the others in the office.
The shoe dryer is awesome ! such great value and you recommended it in an old video and boy it was a great recommendation ❤️💪
If you ride daily or weekends it’s a perfect gadget !
The leather piston gasket inside the Silca pumps will last for decades as long as you maintain it with a few drops of oil every now and then. Can't say that for cheap rubber seals that dry out and crack in just a couple of years.
MKS EZ/EZ superior pedals come in mtb, road, flat flavors and are removable for travel. So easy to pop off and swappable to multiple bikes. Plus added security just pop one off when headed into the cafe for coffee and sweets
Have to disagree on Sram Red. I've had a Red equipped bike for c. 2 years and I've just paid an obscene amount to change it to Dura Ace as Sram Red was so fond of randomly throwing the chain into the gap between my frame and the chain rings, no matter how expertly it was set up by mechanics. It was also noticeably slower shifting than my 1st generation 11 speed ultegra di2.
Remember back in the day frames had little nubs on them specifically for frame pumps.
The expensive thing I tell people about when they ask are my $700 power meter pedals. Necessary? No, but it has revolutionized my cycling. They're the Assioma Duos and they have been amazing.
Feedback Sports elite repair stand. It’s ridiculously expensive, but so good.
I am really curious about those Enduro BBs now! Thanks!
You had me at purple flip paint!
My addition would be MAAP bib shorts. Obscenely expensive but they have the pad that keeps my butt happy.
The Nortwave are also available im cheaper versions if you don't need the carbon sole!
By the way Fumpa Nano are the original mini electric pump, you're promoting a copy!
Shoe dryers, rotting frame pumps, shoe covers, boots, rusting bearings,... time to relocate! (bring your TPU tubes and torque wrench with you!)
Frame Pump is a necessity. Especially if you’re running tubeless since most co2 completely dries up the sealant.
I think Chris king hubs were good I had them on my Cannondale bike in 1999 brilliant hubs.
The Thule rack comes into its own for dirty mtbs post ride. Was always putting dirty bikes in the car before. Plus they look cool af