Rave and Review

Bones Bicycle Rack by Saris Cycling Group

When my wife and I first got our bicycles, we had a lot of our friends laughing at us.  Not for the fact that we were riding, but because our bikes were so different.  She on her Electra Townie, and me on my full suspension mountain bike, we definitely turned a few heads.  After a few months of this ridicule and once the realization hit me that the most dirt my mountain bike had seen was a long driveway, I ended up trading it in for a road bike. 

Unfortunately, this didn’t solve all of our mismatched bike problems.  Much worse than a few snickers was the fact that taking our bikes anywhere by car was next to impossible with the two very different sized frames.  At least it was until we found the Bones 3 by Saris that helped expand our biking area dramatically.

Anyone who has gone bike shopping recently will agree that there is a staggering amount of bikes available, and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Even a casual observer would note that not every bike is going to fit nicely onto a standard fixed frame car mounted rack, especially when there is more than one bike to tow.

Sure, you could spend hundreds of dollars getting a roof rack and all the attachments, but that adds up quickly and doesn’t seem worth it when you just need to transport two bikes for a few weekends here and there. Besides the fact that it’s difficult to get heavier bikes on roof racks (*ahem, Electra*), it also permanently changes your car‘s appearance, which doesn‘t appeal to everyone. For the spur-of-the-moment biker who prefers being able to go through a drive through with low height clearance, or for someone who needs to pull into a garage, the trunk mounted rack is absolutely the way to go.

The problem we found with most trunk racks is that if you have two very different kinds of bikes to mount, there is a very good possibility one of them isn’t going to fit right. The first rack we tried had my bike nice and straight across the back while the Townie, with it’s step through frame, was tilted up at a crazy and rather unsafe angle. At that moment, my wife refused to let her beloved bike ride tandem with mine and we were relegated to biking directly from home if we were going to ride at all.

We’re lucky to live in an area that is highly populated with bike trails and lanes and can easily get to most of them within an hour of biking without a problem. But, with small children in tow we were all of a sudden a lot less mobile now that we needed to avoid heavily congested roads.  For long jaunts, we ran the risk of the kiddos being finished biking before we even reached the trailhead.

For us, finding an easy to use rear trunk was becoming more of a necessity and we began our search to find the perfect solution. We needed a strong and sturdy frame rack that could hold the weight of the Townie as well as my road bike and our daughter’s little frame bikes, and we needed that rack to adjust in numerous ways to accommodate all three at once.  We needed quick installation and removal to keep us as spontaneous as possible, with no damage to either set of wheels.  The Saris Cycling Group’s Bones 3 Rack was the only rack we found with all of these features and more, and it came with the added bonus of delivering this high functionality with style to spare.

The heart of the Bones 3 Bicycle Rack by Saris is an aluminum center tube with grooves all around it.  Mounted to the tube are arch shaped legs which work with these grooves to fit practically any vehicle, from SUVs to sedans and station wagons, and even on cars with a spoiler. The multitude of grooves allow you to move each leg independently to almost any angle to get the fit perfect for your vehicle.  In addition each mounting leg has a rubber foot to insure you don’t scratch your car in the process.

Once you get the rack mounted and it’s time to load up your bikes you’ll see another area where the Bones 3 really shines.  Each bike has its own specific place to sit with rubber lined channels with their own set of ratchet straps. Once again, each arm can be mounted at different angles to make sure everything fits perfectly. If your bike is still hard to mount – like a step through frame -  there are even straps on the sides of the arms that allow you to mount to your seat post so your bike will stay level and secure, no matter what the shape.

   

Bones 3 Bicycle Rack features and pictures, courtesy of the Saris Cycling Group website:

Injection-molded arms and legs are the strongest on the market.
Articulated rubber feet to protect the finish on your vehicle.
Built with 100% recyclable, non-rusting materials.
Ratcheting anti-sway straps secure and stabilize bikes.
Arc-based design fits over most spoilers,and separates bikes on different levels.
No overhead lifting, twisting, balancing or hefting required, so you can save your energy for the ride.

Saris Community and Advocacy:

You gotta love a company that gives back, and Saris Cycling Group gives back in a big way.  This is only a partial list of the campaigns and community involvement programs Saris belongs to:

• Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin
• Boys & Girls Club of Dane County
• Wisconsin Off Road Series
• Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival
• Camba Festival of the Trails
• 12 Hours of Blue Mound
• Insane Terrain Challenge
• L'Alpe Bl'Huez Time Trial

Advocacy Efforts

• Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
• Dream Bikes
• Alliance for Biking and Walking
• Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
• Bikes Belong

How could you not love a company like Saris?  Innovative designs, tried and true functionality and a commitment to leaving the world a better place simply speaks for itself.  Click any of the above links to get involved with a cause that moves you!

Price: $130 for 2 bikes, $160 for the 3 bike rack and they come in a variety of colors

http://www.saris.com/

 
  

Earthmate PN-40 GPS by DeLorme - Geocaching, anyone?

Most people hear GPS and the first thing they think of is dash-mounted vehicle units to help guide you in the car.  I’m here to talk with you about GPS when your method of travel is by bike, foot and car.  The DeLorme Earthmate series handheld GPS are perfect for hiking, biking, boating and more, but what I’m really raving about is the world of possibilities a rugged and handheld GPS unit opens up for a family on the go.

By far the coolest thing about the PN-40 was that it introduced us to geocaching, and now has become our newest obsession.  For those of you who are not familiar with geocaching, it is my pleasure to acquaint you with the coolest pastime ever.  Geocachers all over the world hide little treasures and notes in just about any place there’s human access and then leave the GPS coordinates of their cache on sites like http://www.geocaching.com.  Unlike most hobbies that require large amounts of your disposable income, geocaching is free and the only equipment necessary is a handheld GPS unit like the DeLorme PN-40.

As well as being fairly inexpensive once you make the initial GPS investment, geocaching is quite addictive and has led us to do some crazy things.  Like hunting for treasure in the middle of the night with only flashlights to guide us, hence our geocaching alias, the Night Cachers.  My favorite caches are those with clues or hints that make you feel like a super sleuth when you finally find your treasure and makes the reward that much sweeter.  It’s a great activity for kids of all ages and adding to the fun of finding buried treasure is that a lot of caches are designed for you to swap items or add to the original cache, so your toy or knickknack is added to the booty for the next cachers to find.  It’s a great way to insist your little ones purge their collection of tiny toys that were so cool – but then only played with for a few minutes.   

What makes the PN-40 so great for geocaching are the maps that DeLorme makes available to you.  For $29 a year you have unlimited access to their database of maps in formats other GPS makers can’t even dream of, including NOAA marine charts, satellite imagery, high resolution aerial photos in black and white or color, and scanned USGS topo maps in 1:24,000 scale.  And best of all, you can layer the different types over one another just by clicking a box in the menu screen.  So if you are having trouble finding a particularly well hidden cache, you can just open up the aerial imagery you previously downloaded to your PN-40 and see a birds eye view of where you are, which is much easier than deciphering topo lines or the streets and blank spaces of typical GPS units. 

This feature can also help you learn how to read traditional maps better by combining a satellite image with a topographic map you can really see how the lines follow the contours of the land and get a much more full view of every hill and valley, and then in the future have a much clearer image of how maps translate to reality.  This makes it the perfect way to get kids interested and to help them learn to navigate on their own.  The new PN-40 also features a barometric altimeter and a built in compass that does not require you to hold the unit completely flat for it to work correctly.  These, in conjunction with the maps, make it virtually impossible to get lost.  Even when you’re trying to.

If you feel you don’t need all the extra maps, fear not, the PN-40 comes with DeLorme’s own Topo USA map software including streets, trails, and points of interest for all 50 states.  The software is a little technical but with some practice will let you do amazing things and allow you to fully utilize your GPS.  Let’s say you want to go hiking; you can plan your trip all the way down to which roads you want to take and what kind of elevation changes you will be going through.  Then when you return you can see where you went and even show it off by tagging your pictures to specific coordinates to share with others online. 

The actual PN-40 is extremely durable, which has been tested more than once in our many travels with it and children.  In fact, baby pretty much thinks the Earthmate GPS is just about the coolest toy she’s ever seen and finds it very convenient that it hangs right where she rides in the front pack.  In the months we have been traveling with the PN-40, the unit shows little sign of wear and tear and still performs as good as new.

The unit is similar in size to a remote control and has large, rubberized buttons that are easy to navigate and press while gloved or while cycling.  The battery compartment is water tight and secure, designed for extreme conditions and tough travels, which means that it is kid safe – or mama safe, as the case may be.  The battery life was slightly disappointing in the rare instance when the satellites were having a hard time getting their fix and the PN-40 was searching for our location for long periods of time, but the battery life seemed fine under normal circumstances.

The screen itself is a little smaller than some other GPS units out there, but produces a very clear and sharp image, which combined with the rich map content more than makes up for it. In direct sunlight, or in the middle of the night it was always easily readable.  In addition, the super-fast processor means that as you move around, the PN-40 has no problem keeping the map up with you even while traveling by bike or car.

Speaking of bike rides, after our first bike ride with the PN-40, it’s hard to imagine going without it.  With the use of its proprietary mount it easily attaches to your handle bars in minutes, and from then on snaps in and out in seconds.  The tracking features really come in handy as you can at a glance see your current, average and max speed, your total trip time as well as time moving and stopped and total distance traveled.  Then you can switch to the map screen and see exactly where you’ve gone or where you need to go.  These features while great for hiking, proved awesome for biking as it made us really push ourselves, and also kept the kids interested in the ride much longer as they questioned our latest stats.  And they especially liked being able to search for the nearest frozen yogurt shop in the middle of the ride. 

Ways to make it even more Ravetastic: 1) My husband’s sick of me saying this, but the lanyard really should attach to the bottom of the GPS unit.  Sure, that means it hangs upside down on your neck, but who cares?  Then, when you go to pick it up or check the maps quickly the unit would be right side up.  Makes sense, right? ...right?   2) While it’s a powerful workhorse off road, navigating by PN-40 in the car is a little trickier in that there are no voice prompts.  Instead of a voice saying “turn right here”, the unit merely chimes.  Some people might prefer this, but some might do better to have a passenger seat navigator with the Earthmate PN-40 controls. 

Key Features of the DeLorme PN-40 Include:

• 32-channel STMicroelectronics Cartesio chipset
• 3-axis electronic compass
• 500 MB of available onboard Flash memory
• Support for high-capacity SD cards (SDHC) up to 32 GB
• Dual-core processor for blazing-fast performance
• Barometric altimeter
• Fast USB 2.0 data transfers to in-device SD card – no external card reader required
• More detailed onboard base map data for the U.S., now with secondary and connector roads, along with major highways and thoroughfares for the entire world (still providing detailed U.S. street and backroad detail via the included Topo USA software).

http://www.delorme.com/

Price: $270 - $399, with many sites offering free shipping and also available as a geocaching bundle.  Bicycle mount mentioned in review runs $25 at most sites.

Overall:  A lightweight but rugged handheld GPS with beautiful maps and serious tools for casual and seasoned outdoorsman alike. 

Stay tuned for our complete run-down of geocaching with the kiddos with the Earthmate PN-40.  We will be geocaching throughtout NYC and Seattle, as well as taking to the mountain and trailside to show you the abundance of geocaching options that are right outside your door.

Chariot SideCarrier Bicycle Trailer - Enter to Win $1,500 Prize Pack

 

I am scared to death of motorcycles, but if someone offered me a ride in their motorcycle sidecar, I would take them up on it without hesitation.  There is something incredibly cool about sidecars and we all know that coolness always trumps fear.  When I found Chariot Bicycle Carriers made a SideCarrier for bicycles similar a traditional motorcycle sidecar, I was already in love.  What I didn’t know then was how incredibly practical this bike trailer would turn out to be and how it would get more action in one summer than a blender at Margaritaville, quickly becoming our go-to bike trailer. 

If you prefer an off-bike child carrier or trailer, you definitely owe it to yourself and your coolness to check out Chariot Carriers.  Not only does the SideCarrier offer supreme handling ability for ease of riding, it is the best option for keeping our littlest bikers engaged and truly sharing the biking experience with them.  Since the Chariot SideCarrier allows your child to ride right alongside you, it is much easier to keep them entertained while you ride and really enjoy each other’s company.  Not only did all the kids (even a ten year old who was far too old to ride*) enjoy it more than all our other trailers and carriers, they were actually begging for rides in the SideCarrier and didn’t want to get out when their turn was over.  Since the goal of biking as a family is to connect and interact with each other, the Chariot SideCarrier would be our top pick for an off-the-bike trailer.

Unlike a typical tow-behind bike trailer, the Chariot SideCarrier is more like a unified extension of your bicycle and therefore offers superior handling and maneuverability.  Clearly, this is a product for those who love their bikes, but also love their children and want to take them along without compromising all of their speed, agility and mobility.  The Chariot SideCarrier is the result of excellence in engineering as well as an extreme attention to detail and quality of construction.  When you first see the Chariot Carriers in retail, their quality and durability are easy to detect, even from a distance.  The full-line of Chariot Child Carriers stand out amongst their competition as the clear premium Bike Trailer, and their distinctive good-looks make adding it to your beloved bike much less painful than we imagined.  In fact, once you’re out with it and baby, nothing turns heads faster than a sporty-looking SideCarrier and a clearly overjoyed child.      

Looks aside, the Chariot SideCarrier has the performance to back up its style as it is sturdy and well crafted and able to handle any trail or road.  The SideCarrier is engineered in a way that does not “tug” on your bike when you change speeds and does not push on your bike when braking.  The low center of gravity makes this carrier extremely stable and secure, even while turning.  Speaking of turning, the pivoting hitch that connects the SideCar to your bicycle allows you to turn and lean the bike from side to side while the SideCarrier stays completely upright and stable.  We found that during extremely sharp right turns the SideCarrier would brush our leg, but it wasn’t painful at all and could be avoided by making wider and less sharp turns when possible, a small trade-off for ease of turning and full range of motion with your child in tow.

One particularly useful function of the Chariot SideCarrier is for biking in metropolitan areas or those utilizing a bike lane.  When biking through town, whether that is on the sidewalk or in the bike lane, I am incredibly nervous with baby riding moments behind the bicycle.  My fear is that most drivers aren’t expecting you to be towing a child behind you and won’t be as cautious as I feel they should be when my child is cruising down the road sans airbags a few feet behind me.  With the SideCarrier, baby rides right up next to me on the right side, which just so happens to be the furthest from traffic and the safest spot for kids in town and on bike paths and trails.  Always an arm’s length away and completely secure in a padded seat and solidly built lightweight aluminum frame, I feel so much more relaxed with baby by my side.

Another great aspect of the SideCarrier is that you don’t have to ride around nervous about how wide your bike and trailer are.  With a traditional rear trailer, no matter how much we rode we never seemed to get comfortable with how wide the trailer really was.  The off center design of tow behind trailers prompted slowing almost to a stop to get through tight spots like posts at trail-heads, with contortionist level twisting to look behind to make sure we weren’t clipping a wheel or worse.  With the SideCarrier, it is much easier to get used to the size and footprint since it is right next to you and feels more like an actual extension of your bike as opposed to an add-on, even though the width of the side carrier with your bike is almost identical to that of a typical two child tow behind trailer.

As a one child bike carrier, the Chariot SideCarrier is not the pack mule that a rear trailer can be, but we feel the added maneuverability is well worth the reduction in storage capacity.  Besides, who ever complained about hauling around less weight?  From our experience, owning a two child carrier is the equivalent of being the one person in your family who owns a truck.  Suddenly everyone has a purse, jacket or flea market rocking chair for you to haul home.  While the SideCarrier can’t lug your entire nursery, we found that a little creativity ensured just enough space for the essentials.

Chariot's SideCarrier is a unique solution to the tow-behind trailer and is perfect for keeping your kids close and giving them the best view of the road ahead while still maximizing the performance of the bicycle it’s attached to.  Sleek, stylish and sporty, the Chariot SideCarrier is impossible not to ogle as it passes with its irresistible charm and good looks. 

From the Chariot Website:
 Ultra-stable with an extra-low center of gravity
 SideCarrier hitch installs in minutes on most standard bikes. You can then attach or remove the SideCarrier in seconds
 The SideCarrier mounts on the bike’s right-hand side, so the child is on the safer side of the bike paths, away from oncoming pathway users
 The SideCarrier stays upright at all times, however, the pivoting hitch allows the bike to lean gracefully into turns
 The axles of the bike and SideCarrier align, so the SideCarrier’s wheels don’t scrub or skid when turning, even when stopped
 6063-T54 and 6351-T6 lightweight aluminum frame, stiff oversized 1.5” lower frame protects child, wheel and underside of SideCarrier
 Stiff oversized 1.5” lower frame protects child, wheel and underside of SideCarrier
 A bike and SideCarrier are the same width as a traditional two-child trailer, yet much shorter
 The SideCarrier can be folded up to the bike when parked in a narrow space
 Enclosed single child cockpit
 Quick-folding design
 Rear storage bag and large mesh pocket
 Deluxe padded shoulder harness
 Mesh upper seat
 Tinted side windows
 20” spoked stainless aluminum wheel with push-button release
 Maintenance-free cartridge bearings
 2-in-1 weather cover
 600 denier polyester fabric
 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material
 Limited Lifetime Warranty

Random Rave: Riding beside the bike instead of behind it means that you are not kicking up dust and dirt right at your baby while you ride.  In our pull-behind trailers, baby ends up a grimy mess after any distance of bike ride unless you put the plastic and non-breathable rain shield up.  Not only is this not a great option for airflow on hot summer days, it makes it even harder to communicate with your little passenger. 

http://www.chariotcarriers.com/

Price: $500 and definitely an investment, but something that will last through years and years of use

Looks: As sporty as a bike trailer but as cool as a motorcycle sidecar

Overall: Highly recommended to bicycling parents, especially those on urban trails or city street

Please visit Chariot Carriers between now and November 30th (hey, that's my birthday) and enter to win their $1,500 prize pack just by taking a short survey.  You could win:

Win a 2009 Cougar 1 and a 2009 Dahon Speed D7!

Included with the Cougar 1:

• 3 CTS Conversion Kits:
  • CTS Strolling Kit
  • CTS Jogging Kit
  • CTS Bicycle Trailer Kit
• and these great accessories:
  
  • X-Country Cargo Rack
  • Side Fenders 2.0
  • Handlebar Bag
  • Stridelite™ Strobe kit

 A prize valued at over $1500

Click Here to Enter

An ecstatic thank you to Chariot Carriers for making our biking safer, easier and more fun for all of us

* Ten year olds are not the ideal passengers in a Chariot SideCarrier.  25 kg / 55 lbs is the manufacturer's posted weight limit.

Nutcase Helmets and Little Nutty Helmets Review

Little Nutty, Lotta Safe

If you were to guess what my least favorite thing about biking would be, what would you guess?  No, it’s not spandex, there’s no law forcing me to wear that.  What I really, really dislike are the helmets.  I’m sure we can all agree that no one likes wearing helmets.  We do it because it’s safe, it’s the law, and most of all, we do it because we would never, ever let our kids go without and we feel we should set a good example… at least in one aspect of parenting. 

When we found Nutcase Helmets, we were so excited that we had finally found a full line of helmets that fit the entire family – in personality and in size.  Nutcase Helmet’s mission is simple: bringing personality (and tons of it, at that) to street, snow and wheeled sports of all kinds.  Sure, they have your traditional styles and basic colored helmets available, but what makes Nutcase Helmets so cool is that they have so many other options available as well.  They have by far the most extensive selection of designs and patterns I have seen in any helmet line, making it easy to find one that fits your entire family’s style and individuality.

When I was shopping for helmets a few years back, I made hubby go to 6 different stores looking for one that wasn’t bright red, severely pointed (either front or back) or uncomfortable.  Notice comfort was last on my list, because I really wasn’t expecting much comfort to be found in a hard plastic and dense foam hat.  I finally found the most basic helmet on the market - plain black and boring and completely mismatched with my bike.  My beautiful and adorable bike that has personality to spare was being brought down by a black monstrosity that was just as uncomfortable as I had imagined it would be.

Enter Nutcase Helmets, here to save my bike from black and boringness and make wearing a helmet fun while still being functional.  Their helmets come in a full range of styles and colors, so you’re sure to be able to find the perfect match for everyone in your family.  And best of all, after you fall in love with the looks, you will be absolutely elated by the level of comfort.  On the larger helmets this comfort is provided by the included extra pieces of foam liner in varying thicknesses that allow you to fine tune the fit to make it just right. And on the Little Nutty line of helmets, there is the Spin Dial System which allows you to dial in the perfect size as your child grows.  Even our littlest reviewers kept their helmets on without complaints, which is a far cry from the ear splitting screaming that followed our helmet shopping excursion just weeks earlier.  Better yet, the kids wanted to wear the helmets after seeing us in ours.  Parents, rejoice! 

Nutcase Helmets has a broad range of designs that can please everyone from a 3 year old to the pickiest teen.  From bright and colorful to demure solid colors, you are sure to find a helmet that fits everyone’s personality and matches their set of wheels or sport.  They have retro style patterns, tough looking decals, and the most adorable floral patterns that a baby (or mama) could ever find. 

Random Rave:  There are zero pointy ends on any of the Nutcase designs, which serves two purposes.  1) They are far more stylish than their supremely aerodynamic counterparts and 2) The flat design allows kids to rest their heads comfortably against bike trailers and toddler seats without having to hold their head at an awkward angle to keep it upright.  In fact, one of the quickest ways to get kids to sleep is to pop a Nutcase Helmet on them and ride. 

Random Rave #2: A Multi-Sport Helmet means that you don’t need to purchase and store multiple helmets for your entire family.  Good for bicycling, skateboarding, scooter and in-line or quad skaters, Nutcase Helmets cover just about any wheeled sport your kids can take up. 

http://www.nutcasehelmets.com/

Price: $45 - $50 in the Nutcase Website Online Store, as well as available at numerous local retailers near you

Looks: Unique and original designs for you and all your little noggins.

Overall: Bringing style and comfort to little Nutcases of all ages. 

Julbo Sunglasses for Hiking, Biking and More

For a more beautiful and active world

 

Have you ever put on a pair of sunglasses and the world just looked better?  The grass was greener, the sky was more blue, and everything was more vibrant and saturated.  That is the Julbo trademark and why I am raving about their full line of active glasses for athletes, kids and…. the rest of us.

 

What is Julbo? It’s French, it’s chic, and it’s about much, much more than good looks.  Like every superior couture brand should be, you will be pleased to note that Julbo is impossible to pronounce (hubby and I are still debating the correct pronunciation, and have finally decided that you just slur everything together in one mishmash of a syllable in the true style of the French)*. 

Founded in 1888 and perfected over three generations, Julbo eyewear has been a leader in eyewear for over 120 years.  I had to double check that fact because it just didn’t seem possible that a company has been doing anything for over 100 years, let alone spending over 100 years making glasses.  Anyone who thinks that sunglasses are something you purchase at the super market when you stop to pick up beverages (I’m talking to you, dear sister) is seriously missing out.   

 

Julbo Sunglasses has over 120 years of design and science behind them, creating some of the hardest working eyewear in the industry.  From extreme sports to literal and figurative walks in the park, there is a Julbo for everybody.  So, what kind of science goes into creating great eyewear?  No idea.  Maybe ask me again in 120 years.  What I do know is that it would take me far longer than that to create Julbo’s full line of performance eyewear with its features like “Vario Venting” and “Elastomer”, both of which are completely lost on me. 

 

Features that were not lost on me:  I love their photochromatic lenses that are perfect in both bright sunlight and dark conditions, since you never know where the trail ahead will lead.  I also love their supreme comfort, anti-fog coating, light weight design, and good looks to top it all off.         

 

I made the mistake of trying Julbo glasses on indoors as I was running out of the house for a bike ride and I wasn’t really paying attention to the way the glasses affected my vision.  When I did finally gather all the 1,000 necessary items for leaving the house all day with the family and made it outside, I marveled at what a beautiful day it was, getting a few funny looks from the other bikers.  When it started to rain a few miles in, I took off my glasses to wipe the raindrops and that’s when I realized it was a horrible, grey day.  The kind of gloomy Seattle day that put us on the map and keeps the umbrella permanently in your handbag.  I carefully wiped the lenses and immediately put them back on – I wanted to at least pretend it was a beautiful day. 

 

And it was a beautiful day and a wonderful ride… or at least it was to me in my Julbos.  The rest of the riders faced a gloomy, grey day with a 100% chance of rain. 

 

The models I reviewed:

 

Julbo Tracks Light Sunglasses

 

Designed for superior protection while enjoying the great outdoors, the Julbo Tracks Light sunglasses are perfect for biking, hiking or every day sun while retaining the style of fashion eyewear.  With a wide field of vision and a minimalist design, these little wonders looked great on every family member that tried them and were universally hailed as comfortable.  How many pairs of glasses can you say that about?  I firmly believe that this is where 90 years of their design efforts were dedicated.  At least. 

 

Tracks Light Specs, compliments of JulboUSA.com:

 

Flex Nose – Adjustable nose piece for perfect fit, adherent material for optimal hold in all situations

Vario Venting – Adjustable ventilation to adapt to various conditions and/or sports

Light Grip Tech – Elastometer insert at stem ends

Curved, wrapping temples shaped and cut for better hold

Panoramic, photochromic Zebra lenses.

 

                                                            Julbo Motion Sunglasses

 

The ultimate in sleek, unobtrusive eyewear, Julbo Motion Sunglasses have gotten rid of (almost) everything but the lenses themselves.  Weighing in at a mere eight grams, you will have to blame something else for your weariness at the days end.  Perfect for active sports which require a helmet or other headgear, such as biking, skiing, rock climbing or playing tennis with someone way more skilled than yourself. 

 

Julbo Motion Sunglasses are designed with elastic cording that loops around your ears instead of traditional ear pieces, and once properly fitted, are nearly impossible to shake off even with vigorous activity.  At first I didn’t realize that the elastic loops were adjustable and could be customized.  Although they surprisingly fit me straight out of the package, they didn’t fit everyone who tried them and I had almost given up on sharing these little gems.        

 

A radical departure from eyewear as I know it, I was a bit skeptical at first, but found they were surprisingly comfortable and natural feeling as I rode, even for long distances.    By eliminating the external sunglass frame and most of the sunglass arm in trade for the elastic ear piece, it is easy to forget you are wearing them at all – except for the fact that you can actually see in the sun.  

 

Julbo Motion Specs, compliments of JulboUSA.com:

 

Panoramic, photochromic Zebra lenses

Wrap around shape for exceptional comfort and viewing

 

* Please do not comment and let me know how to truly pronounce Julbo – it would ruin the allure.  Besides, I have a feeling hubby is correct on the pronunciation and no one wants to add fuel to that fire.

 

www.julbousa.com for their full line of eyewear

 

Price: $45 and up, with most models falling the mid range of $60 - $80

 

Looks: Ranging from athletic to chic, varying tremendously by model and use.

 

Overall: French flair and flawless design with years of expertise that makes you confident of your purchase. 

 

Thank you to Julbo for sending these awesome models for review.  Our world looks brighter now thanks to you.

Julbo Looping Sunglasses for Infants and Toddlers

Recommended for all babies 0 – 18 months

When I first found out I was pregnant, hubby wanted to buy our little offspring a pair of these ingenious little Looping Sunglasses for kids.  I left him alone at an REI for a little over a half hour and when I returned, these Julbos were one of three items our baby just had to have.  They can be put on in any direction (i.e. there is no upside down) and there is no way to wear them incorrectly, which is great since given the chance, kids almost always put things on backwards as they learn to dress themselves.  It defies all laws of statistics, but it’s true. 

Surprisingly, they look adorable no matter which way they are pulled on and offer 100% UV protection for our little ones’ delicate eyes.  Yes, that’s right, I said 100% protection.  I had forgotten that things could actually be 100% effective, as I’m used to the 97.5% effective (or worse) disclaimer that accompanies almost everything.  But not these little Looping Sunglasses.  They are created with the same science and technology as their adult counterparts, but with kids 100% in mind and are adorable, effective and extremely durable.   

Having watched my sister’s children destroy numerous pairs of sunglasses as infants with their playful curiosity (and probably why she shops at supermarkets exclusively for her sunglasses), I was thrilled that Looping Sunglasses for infants and toddlers have no hinges and are super flexible.  Made of soft and flexible rubber and plastic, Kids Looping Sunglasses are extremely comfortable and wonderfully pinch-free.  Even though the glasses are bendable and (almost) unbreakable, they still retain their curved and fitted shape nicely to stay on your little one’s head, because we all know that sunglasses do no good if they won’t stay on. 

If you need a little help holding the Looping Sunglasses on, you will be as pleased as I was to find that they come with a removable elastic strap to help keep them on until your little one is able or willing to keep them on without help.  Tip from the frontlines:  Even after they stay on securely without a strap, the elastic should be retained for high action sports and activities when glasses could jar and disappear forever into Lake Chelan*, which is now home to over four pairs of my immediate family’s eyewear, among other miscellaneous belongings.      

While Julbo can’t help keep track of all your infant’s easy-to-pull-off belongings, they can help keep your baby’s glasses where they belong.  These little Looping Sunglasses will absolutely win your heart - all while offering 100% protection for your little one and leaving you to actually enjoy the sun together.

http://www.julbousa.com/baby/

Price: $32   

Looks: Super cute spectacles for your super cute kiddo

Overall: Settling the score between our family and kids sunglasses once and for all.  

Thank you to Julbo for sending Looping Sunglasses for baby to help review. 

*As in one of the deepest lakes in the U.S.  That’s a fun fact for you to think about while you helplessly search the surface of the water for items that are sink-tastic (hubby coined that term the summer we lost that one sandal that was remarkable in every way but its buoyancy)

Betty Basket Liners - The Perfect Bicycle Accessory

“Every Bike Needs a Basket and Every Basket Needs a Betty”

Everyone knows that a cruiser bicycle needs a basket, if not for function, than for looks alone.  What most people don’t understand is that every bike basket needs a Betty.  The math is simple: bicycle (basket + adorable liner + tote bag at your destination) – stuff escaping while you ride = X, which is the perfect combination of form and function.  If you solve for X, the answer is clearly Betty Basket Liners.   If you didn’t come up with Betty Basket Liners, you might want to check your math.  Remember it’s First, Inner, Outer, Last (FOIL).  And that’s the last math tip I will ever give you.  Promise. 

But, lucky for you, I’ve got tons of tips to help you accessorize your bike.  Once I found a bike that I loved and that fit me perfectly, hubby and I spent most spring and summer weekends on our bikes.  Weeknights were harder to plan long bike rides around with that pesky work obligation, so hubby and I began to look for any excuse to ride after we both got home.  We decided that instead of driving for dinner out, from now on we would bike there.  It was great because it gave us a chance to connect while we rode and it at least made you feel better about the french fries you enjoyed while dining.  The problem was where to put my purse, cell phone, and a jacket for after the sun went down.  And then on the way back there were leftovers, dessert if I was lucky, and anything else we picked up on the journey. 

A bike basket was a given, but the problem was finding one that looked good on my Electra Townie and carried the maximum amount of stuff.  I ended up with a minimalist wire rack that worked perfectly for carrying my bag and other big items, including groceries once we decided that biking to Safeway made more sense than driving the 15 blocks.  And then when we decided that Safeway was far too close and started grocery shopping 5 grocery stores away just so we could have a better ride, the basket was a lifesaver.  I could fit a surprising amount of stuff in that basket, and it looked great on the bike.  But the problem was how to pack it best without stuff falling through the grids of the basket.  I found that plastic bags were too pliable and as I rode, the bags would shift and settle, allowing the items to slip into the crevasses and sometimes even dump the contents along the roadway.  Paper and the reusable shopping bags you can buy at most local marts were better, except that the bags are taller than the basket by a long shot and make it really top heavy when full.  Not to mention the fact that they covered the handlebar light, making it completely unsafe after dusk.  

Once baby arrived, the problem got even more apparent as now I had a purse, diaper bag and whatever groceries or goodies I needed to haul, as well as a 24 hour supply of Gerber Puffs - even for just a small outing.  I started to search for Basket Liners at local bike shops and was finding extremely disappointing industrial designs or flimsy, flowery numbers that looked like they wouldn’t last an hour in my daily routine, let alone hold it together on my Electra for a season or two.  I had honestly given up hope when I happened upon Betty Basket Liners. 

What are Betty Basket Liners?  They are double lined and quality crafted bags that fit perfectly in your bicycle basket, folding over the top of the basket and tying on for whatever ride you have planned.  Inside there are two larger pockets, one business card or i.d. / credit card sized pocket and a great little key strap with a clip that keeps your keys or other small goodies from bouncing out of the basket while you ride (yes, this actually happens.  A lot.)  They have sturdy tote straps, which means that when you get to your destination, you can just untie the Betty and lift it out for use as an adorable and lightweight tote.  Genius.  But what is a Betty, you ask?  Betty: /be-dd-eee/, noun. 1. The term betty refers to a hot chick. One that is attractive, stylish and self confident. A betty is typically a looker. -- Urban Dictionary  Yep, that sounds like us.

I was sold.  It was as if these little Betty’s had been created just for me, incorporating all the loves in my life flawlessly and with style to spare.  It was crafty mama meets biking chic meets handmade goodness and I was in love.  And when I found out that these adorable liners actually lift out upon arriving at your destination and become the coolest totes ever?  I might have cried a little in a “I must have allergies” sort of way.  Ditto for when I held my handmade Betty for the first time, instantly being transformed into euphoric and energized version of myself as I imagined all the roads my Betty Basket Liner and I would soon travel. 

And oh, do we travel together, my Betty and me.  Besides using the Liner as a tote at the weekly Farmer’s Market or on a shopping excursion, my Betty doesn’t leave my bike.  And why would it?  It’s gorgeous, functional, and quite frankly, my bike now looks naked without it.   

Betty Basket Liners come in three different styles of liners to fit in all sorts bike baskets: the EDGE (15"l x 11"w x 10"d) that fits most large rectangular style wire baskets, mine included, and the CURVE ( 13"x9"x9" or 14.5"x9.5"x9") which fits wicker and mesh oval baskets and small rectangular wire baskets.  Neither the EDGE nor the CURVE the right size?  No problem.  There’s that third “style” of liner to choose from, aptly called “custom” in which Betty (not her real name) stitches you up a Basket Liner that is sure to fit.  And here’s the best part….  Betty Basket Liners come in 5 adorable designs, or six if you count that “custom” design in which Betty (still not her real name) creates you a one-of-a-kind pattern or design you can dream up.  I did the math and with all the fabrics out there in the world, there are more Betty Basket Liner variations than my calculator is equipped to handle.  Trust me. 

My one complaint?  That Betty doesn't make panniers, saddle bags, rack bags and rear bicycle bags as well.  My rear bike rack could use a little Betty, too.  Betty (again, not her real name) is always coming up with new ideas and is working on an oilcloth bag (more to come on that front, hopefully!) and ways to add even more functionality to the Original Betty.  Who knows, maybe she will bring Betty to the back as well!  

http://www.bettybasketliners.com/

Price: $59 for all standard designs. 

Looks: Attractive and stylish, like the Betty that it is. 

Overall:  Wherever your biking takes you, Betty Basket Liners are perfect for corralling all your necessities.  With infinite customizable possibilities, this little Betty will work with whatever you’ve got – from cruiser bikes to urban workhorses.  And, to my delight, it’s a perfect compliment to the full line of Electra accessories.

Thank you to Betty Basket Liners for creating a one-of-a-kind Basket Liner for us to review - my Townie has never looked so beautiful!

Electra Townie 21 C / 24D 700C Bicycle

 

"Biking… hold the Spandex"

Four years ago no one would have ever believed that I would ever write a love letter to my bicycle.  Sure, I had a bike, but I hadn’t ridden it for years.  Whenever hubby would suggest a bike ride, I would find some excuse for us to postpone it.  I mean, why ride when I could just drive there?  I hated the hassles, I hated the sore tailbone, and most of all I hated the Spandex.  But, then against all odds, the Electra Bike Company made a biker out of me. 

Whoa, whoa… not that kind of biker.  I still hate Spandex, I don’t understand how anyone puts up with a sore tailbone, and really, does anyone like hassles?  Electra Bicycles understands that biking for pleasure should be pleasurable and biking for function shouldn’t just be about functionality.  A cross between a hard-working street bike and a lazy Sunday cruiser, the Electra Townie 700c completely understands that beauty sometimes needs a little brawn and vice versa.     

 When I had finally convinced myself that I did, indeed, need a new bike, I had a list of attributes my new bike had to possess.  I was fairly certain I was going to have to compromise on at least half of it, as I was pretty much looking for a couch on wheels but I didn’t care.  My list included gems such as “flip flop friendly” and “like my grandma used to ride” along with other slightly more technical requirements such as handlebar brakes, and uber padded gel saddle seat, and a sporty set of rims. 

But I did it – I found a bicycle that involved no compromises at all, in fact it even included features I didn’t even know I wanted, like Flat Foot Technology.  One of my biggest requirements was one that everyone tried to talk me out of: the ability to ride while wearing a skirt.  Since I wear dresses and skirts all summer, it really seemed silly to have to change my clothes into bike able clothing before I could ride anywhere, which is what ended up happening when I rode a bike with a high frame you had to swing your leg over to mount.  Imagine how little you would drive your car if every time you drove it, you had to change into a “car outfit”.  A simple task like running to the store would be an ordeal, and you would probably do a lot more walking.  The Electra’s extra tall step-through frame allows us ladies to dress as such while cruising around town and running errands, all without compromising on style.   

So, what is Flat Foot Technology?  Think of it as a slightly recumbent bicycle, where the pedals are forward of the seatpost.  So instead of leaning forward you sit more upright, if not a little laid back - as in super relaxed. And best of all, when you come to a stop you don’t need to teeter on your toes, you can actually stay on the seat and have your feet flat on the ground, hence making it flip flop friendly.  Check out the awesome graphics on Electra’s website that shows what Flat Foot Technology is all about, in a technical sense http://www.electrabike.com/home.php

And for those who prefer facts, here are the stats on the Electra Townie 24D (my bike’s newer and extra-speed touting cousin that has, sadly, replaced my bike for good):

Specification	Description
Frame	6061 Aluminum
Fork	Hi-Ten Steel Unicrown
Crankset	Forged Alloy, 48/38/28
Bottom bracket	Sealed cartridge
Shifters	Shimano Rapidfire Plus
Front derailleur	Shimano C051
Rear derailleur	Shimano Alivio
Rear cogs	Shimano HG-40 11-34, 8-speed
Brakes	Linear-pull
Brake levers	Shimano EF-50 Alloy
Rims	Alloy
Front hub	Shimano Dynamo Generator, 32h
Rear hub	Alloy, 32h
Tires	City Tires 700 x 38
Handlebar	Alloy
Stem	Alloy adjustable
Seat post	Alloy Micro Adjust pillar
Saddle	Ergonomic with elastomer bumpers
Pedals	Alloy platform
Headset	1-1/8'' threaded steel

What I’m Raving About: 

• The beach cruiser good looks. 
• Supreme comfort for long rides and serious errands. 
• Flat-Foot Technology makes any shoe a biking shoe.
• An upright ride allows you to sit tall without leaning forward over the handlebars, making it very low impact on your back, shoulders, arms and wrists.
• Riding position feels more stable and secure than traditional street bikes and mountain bikes, even when fully loaded down with Electra accessories.

Which leads me to my next rave - as if their bikes aren’t cool enough, Electra makes a whole slew of accessories for their bikes so you can customize your ride – not that there’s any fear of mistaking it for someone else’s.  A note of caution: the vast majority of the accessories are for a specific body frame, so the bike rack you fall in love with may not be compatible with your bike.  The 700c tires prevented me from customizing exactly the way that I would like, but mine’s still a work in progress.

What I am dismayed about:

• Electra no longer makes this bike.  I’m sure the newer one is just fine – but it’s just not my bike.
• The accessories I covet are not made for my specific bike, leaving me drooling all over accessories I don’t end up buying.  My apologies to anyone shopping after me.

Clearly, I am under the Electra spell.  Having my Electra has been the fuse that lit my entire family's interest in biking and made me agree to things I would have considered crazy before, like entire days spent in its saddle and long rides just for the sake of riding.  We are now officially a biking family and you will see us all over the Seattle Metro area testing our tread along the bike paths as well as hauling our groceries home from the store.  Crazy?  Possibly.  But at least we are all crazy as a family.  

http://www.electrabike.com/

Price: $500 - $700.  Find them on sale at REI.com for a limited time

Looks:  California cruising – even if it’s only to the store and back.

Overall:  Most bikes are basic forms of transportation, but Electra Townies are bicycles; beautiful works of art that are fun to ride and have a personality all their own.  They get you where you’re going, but the difference is that while getting there, you’re rolling in style.   

Rave Reactions - Are you an avid biker, a comfort cruiser, or have you not sat on a bike saddle in years?  What features on a bicycle would get you to ride more?

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