Tag Archives: accessories

Product Highlight: Brooks Pickwick Day Pack

Brooks of England, the legendary saddle maker, designed the Pickwick in London but went to the hills of Tuscany to produce it, a classic daypack. The Pickwick’s water resistant European canvas, along with the rolltop design, will most definitely keep your items dry on those dreary days, and the Brooks leather trim will help the bag stand the test of time. In addition to the large main compartment, there are two smaller pouches, one located on the lower back portion of the bag and the other being on the bottom of the bag. The 2 smaller compartments are accessed from the “underside” of the bag, increasing security and ensuring waterproofness. Currently available in five colors, the Pickwick sells for $235.  According to Harold, the Goose Beak hue is the standout choice.

Winter Speciale: All Chrome Gear 25 – 50% OFF

As the NYC Velo Winter Speciale continues, all In-Stock Chrome gear is on sale! This means that all Chrome messenger bags (including the Citizen, the Metropolis, the Yalta, the Pawn, the Bravo, the Dually, the Sherman, the Krakow, the Olaf, and the Cardiel ORT) are up to 50% off.  Chrome apparel (including the merino wool Cobra and Pasha, the waterproof Storm Cobra, and the Ike Windshirt) is up to 50% off.  Chrome’s innovative shoes (including the Kursk, the Kursk Pro, the Midway, and the Southside Pro) are up to 50% off.

As always, the Winter Speciale applies to in-stock items only, and once they’re gone, they’re GONE!  Call or stop by the shop to check out the selection in detail.

Product Highlight: Fizik Antares Saddle

The Fizik Antares (as reviewed by Harold):

One of our “go-to” parts and accessories companies, Fizik has been making high-quality bicycle saddles by hand in the Veneto region of Italy for more than 15 years. The Antares model is Fizik’s “Chameleon” shape in their performance road line. While it unfortunately doesn’t change colors at will, it is intended for riders who adopt multiple positions on the saddle while riding and whose flexibility falls between “very” and “not-so-much” (referred to as the Snake and Bull, respectively).

The Chameleon designation refers to the amount of spinal flex the rider has, according to Fizik’s “Spine Concept”. The Spine Concept is Fizik’s approach to guiding riders to choosing (and using) the the most appropriate saddle for them based on their flexibility. In Fizik parlance, the Snake saddles are for the most flexible riders who can place their palms the floor when bending over, the Chameleon saddles are for riders able to touch their toes, and the Bull saddles are for the rest of us with little flexibility.

On the bike, the Antares’s flat profile allows for plenty of movement on the saddle, which I really appreciate on longer rides. The nose of the saddle is also a little bit wider, allowing me to drop down a little bit, which came in super handy in the tristate-area headwinds. Along with the agreeable ride qualities, the saddle’s weight (or lack thereof) puts the Antares squarely in the top group of performance saddles. The heaviest of the saddles in the line, the K:ium, tips the scales at 189 grams, while the 00 comes in at a svelte 135 grams. Fizik also offers a convenient saddle demo program, available at NYC Velo, that allows cyclists to test ride saddles (both men’s and women’s models) prior to purchase. Stop by the shop or give us a ring to learn more about Fizik’s saddle line, tell ‘em Harold sent ya!

Product Highlight: Giro Reverb Helmet

Harold, representing Central New Jersey here at NYC Velo, reviews the Giro Reverb helmet:

For the 2012 model year, Giro looked to the past a bit when it launched the Reverb helmet.  The Reverb helmet bears more than a passing resemblance to Giro’s first hardshell offerings from the early 1990′s, but delivers safety features that are truly modern.

The Reverb also shares design cues with many of the recent BMX-style helmets on the market, though incorporates dramatic improvements to rider comfort. Giro designed the Reverb with 9 vents that allow air to flow freely over the rider’s head, a godsend in the warmer months. The Autolock harness on the back ensures that the Reverb stays securely on the head. By taking advantage of the InMold technology (the hard plastic outer shell is fused with impact-absorbing EPS foam) used in their high-end offerings, Giro was able to keep the weight of the helmet low while not sacrificing safety.

Lastly, the color and design options available for the Reverb are deep, offering riders the ability to don a stylish lid that doesn’t look like the rest of the pack.

Harold’s Favorite: the black and red gloss, just the right amount of retro!

Field Test: Freight Baggage Rolltop Backpack

The Freight Baggage Rolltop Backpack (Small), as reviewed by Martin:

This bag hasn’t been given a break from its day-to-day duties for over eight months and it doesn’t seem to mind at all. Travis Poh, founder of Freight Baggage, has been sewing bags for bike messengers in San Francisco since 1998. Because bike messengers typically demand durable, high-quality bags and a penchant for destroying inferior ones, Freight Baggage bags have been put to the test from the start. I opted for the smaller ‘standard’ version of the three (small, medium, or large) for everyday use and have been very satisfied with its 20L capacity.  The bag easily holds everyday items such as an (adult) lunchbox and a few extra layers of clothes, with spare room for unforeseen post-work trips to the grocery or wine shop. 

Freight has felt no need to mess with perfection, exemplified by the fact that their Rolltop Backpacks remain largely unchanged since being released (as one of the first rolltop bags on the market) in 2006. All Freight bags are fully waterproof, which came in pretty handy for a commute through the Nor’easter a few days ago. If it weren’t waterproof, the snow that piled up on the bag would have eventually soaked right through the cordura and onto all of my gear. The side compression straps come in handy for cinching down small compact loads and the cargo straps add exterior versatility for carrying odd and oversized packages. The Rolltop Backpacks come in two different versions. The first being the ‘standard’ with an easily accessible exterior pocket with loads of organizational options, and the second is a ‘basic’ version with no outer pocket, but instead two smaller Velcro pockets on the inside.

In the end, my Freight Rolltop Backpack is a really durable product with a Made-in-the-USA provenance that I appreciate.  It meets (and exceeds) my needs, and is highly recommended!

2012 NYC Velo Holiday Gift Guide

Phil Wood Hand Cleaner, a home mechanic must-have, $12

Brooks Limited Edition Union Jack-Series Swallow Saddles, Red ($275) and White ($350)

Grimpeur Bros 9 Dub Espresso Beans, roasted in Queens, $14/12oz

Endura 100% Merino Baabaa Base Layer, $69.99

CEP Compression Gear, Team NYC Velo Tested, $39.95

Andy Hampsten's Extra Virgin Olive Oil Co. from Tuscany, $24/.5l

Oakley Frogskins, A Classic, Revised, $100-140

Bailey Works/Independent Fabrication Whale Mouth Duffle, $150

NiteRider Lumina 350 Rechargeable Headlight, $95

Silca Classic Floor Pump, Made in Italy, $100

Silca Classic Floor Pump, $100

Defeet/Team NYC Velo 9 Inch Wool Socks, $20

NYC Velo Custom Wheels, Industry Nine Hubs, Velocity A23 Tubeless-Ready Rims, Sapim CX-Ray Spokes, $1100

NYC Velo Wool Longsleeve Jersey, Handmade in Canada by Cima Coppi, $190

Search And State S1-J Riding Jacket, Weatherproof, Handmade in New York City, $245

SUN GLASSES!! It’s That Time Of Year!!

With zero shortage of sunshine, it might be time for some new stylish performance eye protection that looks good on you! And who better to deliver than OAKLEY.
OAKLEY was started by a mad scientist named Jim Jannard who began questioning the limits of industry standards. “No one believed my ideas,” said Jim. “No one would listen.”

In 1975, he went into business for himself. Jim started Oakley with $300 and the simple idea of making products that work better and look better than anything else out there. OAKLEY has grown into somewhat of a household name since the 80′s with it’s influence seen both in street fashion and the multi-sport culture. It’s frames and lenses are worn by royalty and retro bmx kids alike.

Today, Jannard’s brand has become the mark of excellence, one that does not compromise on performance, style and technology.

Gear Review: Mission Workshop Vandal Backpack

I guess it’s easy to write off a shop’s “gear review” as a bit “biased.”  However,  one has to feel strongly enough about a product in order to overcome laziness and write about it. That should say something.

I had been using a small Chrome backpack for the last few years that an ex-girlfriend got me as a birthday present.   While it looks good and is the de facto hipster norm of backpacks, it became apparent over the years that it wasn’t an effective bag when it came to carrying anything significant.  Messenger-style bags that hang on a single shoulder have an inherent design flaw of using one shoulder instead of two (duh.).  I had been waiting for someone to come along and produce a good looking yet utilitarian backpack.

Enter the Vandal, produced by Mission Workshop.

After owning this backpack for a few weeks, I can tell you that its the best messenger bag/backpack/urban bag/keg hauler I have ever used.  Solidly and locally constructed,  waterproof, and expandable, this bag is as versatile as MacGuyver in a hardware store.   Here are some deets on the bag:

4,000 Cubic inches is enormous. Kloe Kardashian enourmous.  The compression straps keep the bag tight when expanded.  You would think that it’s too big for everyday use, but the collapsible midsection keeps things slim.   Here’s a shot of it in its collapsed form,  which still has 1,800 cu. in. on space:

Time to put it through its paces.  I started by using it as my only bag for a 2 day excursion to the Gran Prix of Gloucester.  It fit all of my CX gear (including helmet and shoes), clothes, laptop, camera, and other items.  The perfect weekend bag.

The bag is comfortable when on the bike.  I would assume this bag is well-liked by the “legit” messenger community as it is waterproof, comfortable, gigantic, and well-compartmentalized.

This bag is also perfect for anyone looking to carry something on a motorcycle.  it fits well and doesn’t get in the way.  to test this out, I used it for a few laundry runs on my Ducati.  Yes, I’m aware that doing laundry runs on a Ducati is about a 105 on the douche-meter (out of 100)  A week’s worth of laundry was no problem.

As for negatives,  I would say that I’m worried about forgetting something in one of the cavernous pockets.  it’s only a matter of time before I accidentally leave a Bahn Mi in one of the compartments only to discover it a month later…

This bag gets an A+ in my book.  My friends are sick and tired of my ranting and raving about it, so to them, I apologize.

The Vandal retails for $259,  and they are in stock at the shop.  Stop by and see how you like it.

Chrome + Mark "Gonz" Gonzales Collabo

Chrome bags and skateboard legend / artist / mastermind behind Krooked skateboard company Mark Gonzales have teamed up on this limited edition courier bag. Chrome supplied the bags and ” Gonz” supplied the art !  The final product is a rippin’ collaboration.  The portrait of Gonz is by famed portrait photog Ari Marcopoulos.

We also have some other NEW custom bags by chrome, Custom Eddie, Custom Anne, among others.

Hold Fast Straps

NYC Velo is super stoked (to use contemporary parlance) to welcome Hold Fast FRS (Foot Retension System) to the family.

Rob and the crew sew up one of the nicest (read: durable) pedal straps we’ve ever seen.  The company and the products fit well with the NYC Velo ethos.  Check them out the rest of their goods here.

Stop by to check out the goods in person!