3M Scotchgard Film – Cheap Bike Frame Protection

3M makes a really cool film that is designed to be applied to a lot of different surfaces, but most notably it is known for use on the front of cars as a clear bra to protect against bugs and rock hits. This clear adhesive backed rubber-like film, comes in sheets and is ready to cut to fit for any application.

All you have to do is cut to fit, remove the paper and apply to your frame. It almost seems like it magically gravitates in as you apply it and leaves no bubbles or mess behind. Just cut and stick on. You can even see by the pictures of the headtube on the Turner 5.Spot that you do not even have to be clean about it. My overlapped, messy job is still holding strong after a year’s worth of riding and washes without letting dirt or moisture underneath the coating that I even overlapped. The stuff just works that well.

One of the other things I hate about most of the branded, bike specific frame protection are the logos and designs that stand out when applied to the bike. As you can see by the pictures, the 3M film doesn’t even look like it is on your frame after application. When you apply it to glossy finishes (like the carbon bike pictured), it literally disappears.

So if you are looking for a cheap way to protect your frames and you want something that is not going to leave a goo residue, won’t wear out, won’t be visible on the frame and doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg…check out the 3M film. If you want to overpay for something that is not going to work over the long haul…you can pick up the other stuff.

The only part that is a little bit annoying is that I have only been able to find it on eBay…about $12.95 gets you 12″ x 24″ and that should be more than enough to cover your bikes and all of your friend’s rides.

Buy 3M Film Here

More About Harlot Clothing Co.

Finally, bike shorts and activewear for the rest of us. No shiny lycra, no bulky pads. No pink butterflies, no neon anything. Just simple lines & style that let you get on with your sport.

We understand people like you, because we are people like you. We ride, run, hike, and play with the best of them, and we put that knowledge straight into our shorts, tops, and gear.

Our activewear and bicycling apparel is made in the USA in small batches.

Review: Harlot Murray Mountain Bike Short

h4m is Harlot’s performance line for men

• 85% nylon/15% polyester stretch shell offers lightweight protection
• Dryon™ water repellent finish
• Gusseted crotch with 4 way stretch panel
• Fit easily over padded shorts and armor with supple stretch throughout
• Wicking, lined waistband prevents chafing
• Integrated seatbelt style straps allow waist adjustment for perfect fit
• Zip fly, industrial snap waist tab, 2 deep trouser pockets in front
• h4m embroidery on right hip
• Made in USA of North American materials
• MSRP: $89.oo

“For those that like the understated, these bike shorts offer all the technical features you need + the clean lines and style you crave.”

General Use: Harlot Murray MTB Short

I am pretty picky when it comes to mountain bike apparel. Not only does everything need to be comfortable, but it needs to breathe well in the hot southeast humidity that plagues our best part of the riding season.

The Harlot Marray mountain bike short is a simple, all-black design made out of a lightweight nylon/polyester blend. When I first put them on, I noticed right away that these shorts are not as heavy as they look. The combination of materials sits on the body nicely with most of the weight up around your hips with the adjustable seatbelt style’d straps. Adjustments in the waistline are made via these straps and the wide contact patch for the velcro makes for a durable connection that will not come loose while riding.

The front attachment is done through a burly zipper and a combination of two buttons and velcro. Throughout my riding, this never came undone or loose, even during moments where I was unexpectedly sliding across the ground. The velcro makes it extremely easy to get the buttons pushed while wearing gloves as you are not fighting to keep the shorts up after a short “relieve yourself on the side of the trail” break. Everything comes undone and closed back up again very easily.

On the Trail: Harlot Murray MTB Short

The Harlot Murray MTB short is incredibly comfortable on the trail. The lightweight design almost goes unnoticed as you rip through singletrack. As I went blowing through creek crossings and pouring sweat onto the shorts while riding, precipitation actually beads up on the shorts preventing soak through. This was a welcomed feature on some of our wetter rides as I didn’t feel like the lower half of my body was completely soaked.

The length of these shorts is perfect for my needs. As you can see by the pictures, the Murray short sits over the Kyle Strait 661 knee pads perfectly and the lightweight design keeps them comfortable on the knees even when you are not padded up. The inner stretchy material keeps things tight around the pads without being too tight on your body. It really is the perfect combo for those of you that wear pads on a regular basis.

The lightweight material did slide on slicker liners, so it is probably best to use liners that are dedicated mtb internals rather than lycra that is made to wear on its own. Having some texture to the outside of the liner helps prevent any slipping as you sit back into the saddle.

Overall: Harlot Murray MTB Short

These are a great set of shorts for mountain biking. The plain black style really speaks well to my preferences and the lightweight design keeps these longer shorts still cool during the summer months. If you do not get a lot of tree cover in your area, the black may prove to warm up on longer rides, but in the southeast they were about perfect. The increased length and stretchy interior really helps out with pad coverage to prevent the shorts from bunching up on the upper section of the pad.

Positives: Harlot Murray MTB Short

• Durable Velcro Adjustment
• Simple, Lightweight Design
• Perfect Shorts For Knee Pads

Negatives: Harlot Murray MTB Short

• No Liner Included
• Limited Pockets
• Can Slide On Roadie Lycra

If you are looking for a no nonsense set of shorts that can be used in multiple applications, check out the Murray’s from Harlot. They have become a go-to set in my gear bag.

Pick up your own pair by clicking here.

Review: Harlot Primo Mountain Bike Jersey

h4m is Harlot’s performance line for men

• 100% wicking, technical mid-weight polyester
• Abrasion, snag, and pill resistant
• Flatlock seams, contrast stitching, tagless neck
• Roomy fit with lots of stretch, slides easily over armor
• Made in USA
• Available In: Gray and Black
• MSRP: $45.00

“Silky and soft jersey on the inside but strong and tough on the outside – primo indeed.”

On The Trail: Harlot Primo Jersey

The Harlo Primo jersey is a simple black jersey with contrast stitching and a 3 diamond design. Made out of a wicking, technical polyester, the Primo jersey proved to be durable throughout the entire testing period (still looks as new as the day it came out of the box). Overall, the Primo jersey was very comfortable on long rides bringing the sweat off my body quickly and evaporating easily. As you can see by the picture, the neck opening is a little bit wider than I typically like, but I run into this issue with a lot of mountain bike jerseys across several brands.

Like the Murray shorts, the Harlot Primo jersey really goes along with my simple style, so…from a looks standpoint…I really like where Harlot headed with the design. Other than that…it is just a solid jersey for those riders looking for something simple to throw on and shred. If you need something that is a little bit lighter for summer riding, you can get the gray color that is also available.

Positives: Harlot Primo MTB Jersey

• Very Durable Material
• Simple, Understated Design
• Repels and Evaporates Sweat Quickly

Negatives: Harlot Primo MTB Jersey

• No Zipper or Pockets

If you are looking for a simple, durable jersey to hit the trail with, the Harlot Primo jersey might be exactly what you are looking for.

You can pick up your own Harlot Primo by clicking here. (on sale for $20.00 right now)

Final Thoughts: Harlot Mountain Bike Apparel

The Harlot mountain bike apparel has become part of my regular wear because of the simple design and style. Especially with the shorts, the Harlot gear does exactly what I need it to do on the trail without any real flare or trendy designs. It just works and works really well. I would like to see a jersey for men out of their lineup that includes a zipper and pockets sometime in the future that compliments their style and the option of a specifically designed liner with their shorts that clipped in…but…other than that…this is a really solid offering for mountain bikers looking for apparel that is both light and durable.

Specialized S-Works MT MTB Helmet Specs

From Specialized.com:

The lightest helmet in the world to comply with CPSC standards now comes in an MTB-specific configuration with MTB visor, aFIX visor attachment and new graphics. Worn by Specialized Pro MTB teams and athletes, it’s all about race weight, maximum ventilation and complete comfort.

• Complies with one or more of the following safety standards for bicycle helmets: CPSC, SNELL B90A, CE and AS/NZS
• Dual Density EPS (patent pending) to maximize weight savings and impact performance
• Kevlar-reinforced Inner Matrix (patent pending) saves weight and allows larger, deeper channeled vents
• Color matched MTB-specific visor
• 4th Dimension Cooling System w/ Mega Mouthport
• Thin, soft and lightweight 4X DryLite webbing won’t stretch out with sweat or water
• Slimmed down Pro Fit 360 retention system is secure and easy to adjust on the fly
• Instrap system minimizes strap length and reduces strap contact for more comfort
• aFIX Visor Attachment System
• Lighter U-Turn 2 strap adjusters guide webbing better
• Lighter, low-profile buckle
• Quadruple in-molded shells protect the foam and your head
• Available in Black, MTB (red w/no visor), Silver (Tested), Team Red, Topo Black, Topo Blue
• MSRP: $200.00
• Weight: 280g as tested w/visor (about .6 lbs.)

Review: Specialized S-Works MT Mountain Bike Helmet

So now that we have had some trail time on the new Specialized S-Works MT helmet, let’s see how this helmet stacks up…

Initial Fit and Feel: Specialized S-Works MT Helmet

Instantly, you notice how light this helmet is when you pick it up out of the box. At 280 grams with the visor installed (just over .6 pounds), this is the lightest mountain bike helmet I have ever used. When you put this helmet on your head, it almost feels as if it is not even there. The Pro Fit 360 retention system wraps fully around your head and tightens with a pinch mechanism in the rear. I found that I really like Specialized retention because it creates a feeling that the helmet is wrapped around your forehead instead of being pushed into the front pads. The retention system keeps that pressure off of the front of the shell and makes it more uniform and stable on your head. By wrapping the entire system inside the shell of the helmet, the Specialized S-Works also seemed to be comfortable for multiple shaped heads.

The lightweight straps exit through the shell and wrap around your chin. Specialized really dropped a lot of weight by using a thinner strap design, and for those of you that are use to thick, heavy straps…this does take some getting used to as they tend to move a little bit more than their heavier counterparts. The adjustments are made quickly and easily via the side clamps and clasp. Specialized put rubber ends on the straps as well to make tightening the system easier which worked really well.

Once you have everything adjusted and running, the Specialized S-Works MT helmet fits securely and feels amazingly light.

On The Trail: Specialized S-Works MT Helmet

Honestly, once you hit the trail…you almost forget the helmet is there. With the lightweight design and comfortable retention mechanism, you can go about your trail duties without the uncomfortable, heavy head that some mountain bike helmets can give. The ventilation with Specialized’s Mega Mouth port is fantastic. Adequate air was let in while hot air escaped my head to keep everything cool and collected as much as it can be in humid, summer heat in the southeast US. For those really hot days, you can remove the visor and open up the front ports a little bit more to let more air in. I did notice a pretty sharp increase in air flow once that visor was removed.

The 360 retention system also doubles as a sweat band in the front keeping most of the salt filled water beads from rolling over your forehead and into your eyes. That is another positive side effect of having a full retention system over using the front of the helmet shell as the point of contact with your forehead. During technical riding, the Specialized S-Works MT stays put without any noticeable shaking or movement. I really think this is due to the lightweight design as there is not much weight to shift while you are blasting through rock gardens and other technical sections of trail.

The Specialized S-Works MT appears to provide adequate protection should the worst happen and you actually have to put the helmet to it’s designed use. You do not get the additional, lower head protection that we are seeing out of more AM styled lids, but…overall…everything seems covered where it needs to be. Luckily, I didn’t have the chance to test the impact resistance against the trail, so I’ll just take Specialized’s word that it passes.

Overall: Specialized S-Works MT Mountain Bike Helmet

The Specialized S-Works MT mountain bike helmet is the lightest, most comfortable mountain bike helmet I have tested to date. Of course, all of that gram reduction and comfort comes at a price…$200.00…which also makes it the most expensive one I have tested. The silver color that was tested for this review is not the one I would buy personally (I tend to like the darker colors), but it ended up being perfect for summer riding when you are trying to keep as much heat as possible off your head.

Positive: Specialized S-Works MT Helmet

• Ridiculously Light (280g) – Can Barely Feel It On While Riding
• All Day Riding Comfort
• 360 Retention System Fits Many Head Shapes and Doubles as a Sweat Band
• Looks That Most Riders Will Like
• Fantastic Ventiliation
• Very Comfortable – No Noticeable “Hot Spots”
• Remove The Visor and It Could Double as a Road Helmet

Negative: Specialized S-Works MT Helmet

• Expensive: $200.00
• Availability – You Have To Buy At Specialized Dealer or Specialized.com
• You Don’t Get the Extra Protection On Lower Rear That Some AM Style’d Lids Have

If you are looking for one of the best, xc/am oriented helmets on the market and are not worried about price, the Specialized S-Works MT is probably the helmet you have been looking for.

Side Note: For those of you with Oakley Half Jackets, they fit perfectly in the front of the helmet and stay there while riding for those times you need to take your glasses off on the trail.

As seen in this preview post on Kool ‘N Fit, the crew over at Kool Fit America sent us over a sample pack of Kool ‘N Fit Performance Spray for review on Bike198.com. The Kool ‘N Fit performance spray promises to do the follow upon application before, during and after your ride.

• Increase Blood Circulation By Up To 30%
• Relax Tense and Tight Muscles
• Prevent Cramps and Spasms
• Cool, Sooth and Invigorate Tired Muscles
• Not Stain Clothing

With pro endurance racers like Pua Sawicki using Kool ‘N Fit Sport Performance Spray, I was interested to see what this unique product would do for the rest of us as we try to squeeze that extra bit out on our rides.

From koolfitamerica.com:

KOOL ‘N FIT® Sports Performance Spray is a proven, all natural, and effective topical spray used by professional and amateur athletes for better warm-up, higher performance and faster recovery. It vitalizes the muscular system by increasing blood flow (up to 30%), by relaxing tight muscles, and by eliminating cramps and fatigue. When used before, during, and after competition maximum workloads can be achieved & maintained, injury risks are being minimized, and recovery is accelerated. This German engineered atomizing spray is the World’s First Sports Performance Spray. It special formula contains 12 herbal ingredients, is easy to use, safe and effective, and generates a feeling of well-being.

Contents: Grain Alcohol, De-ionized Water, Polysorbate 20, Menthol, Camphor, Juniperberry Oil, Peppermint Oil, Rosemary Oil, Pine Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, and other Herbal Oils.

Review: Kool ‘N Fit Sports Performance Spray

The idea for cyclists is to try to keep muscle fatigue and cramping to a minimum while riding. We have all been on those rides where we over-rode our fitness and the inevitable bonk hit at the exact wrong moment making a slow, painful trip back to the cars. Kool ‘N Fit promises to rectify a lot of that by increasing blood flow in your legs with the use of their Sport Performance Spray. The ingredients of this spray are listed above and it includes natural ingredients that shouldn’t be any cause for alarm on your skin.

As you can see in the picture of my hairy legs to the right, The Kool ‘N Fit Sport Performance Spray comes in an easy to use spray bottle with the option of getting smaller bottles (pictured) for packing up during a ride. Obviously, you are probably not going to want to take the large bottle with you on rides as it can take up a lot of room and weigh down your pack. When you spray on the Sport Performance Spray you smell the Peppermint Oil and Eucalyptus Oil almost instantly. For those of you that have ever been to a high end restaurant that gives you a refreshing wash cloth after your meal, you will recognize the sensation. After application to your legs, it feels cold and refreshing.

Does The Kool ‘N Fit Sport Performance Spray Work As Advertised?

As with any product like this on the market, there is a series of marketing materials and test results that are provided to prove the worth of the product. The real test…getting it out on the trail and seeing what happens.

As I just mentioned, the Kool ‘N Fit Sports Performance Spray does feel very refreshing upon application. Especially when your legs feel hot and worn out, the cold feeling can relieve the over heating feeling that you can get during and after a hard ride. My legs even have the tendency to get really red when exerting above the threshold, so the spray helped in revealing some of that heat build up.

Did the spray prevent cramping? Well…it is really hard to tell honestly. Whenever you are testing a product like this, there is no way to tell if you would have cramped without applying it during or after the ride. What I can say is that the refreshing feeling of the spray did help get my mind off my legs and cool things down to the point that I think it helped in preventing any further discomfort. The small, travel-sized bottles allowed me to carry a few on the ride and apply it on some of those “holy s%$t! Am I going to finish this climb?!” rides and especially in the high heat and humidity of the southeast US, the spray did help relieve that discomfort.

After hard rides on the road and in the mountains, applying the Sports Performance Spray gives you a refreshed, clean feeling on your legs and arms while you take in the aroma of the peppermint and eucalyptus much like the hand towel given to you at the restaurant. Once again, it is sometimes hard to tell what I would have felt like without using the spray, but overall it was a positive experience and it appeared that I recovered easier.

Who Should Use The Kool ‘N Fit Sport Performance Spray?

For my purposes, I am going to use it on longer rides in the mountains and really hard road rides/centuries. While the Sport Performance Spray from Kool ‘N Fit is pretty inexpensive, that is where I get the most bang for the buck on application. You will really have to use it for yourself to make your own judgment call, but I did find it beneficial as my legs can really heat up during and after hard rides.

Endurance and xc racers…you will most likely love the sensation that this spray gives you before, during and after your race. I would pick up a test set and try it out at your next event.

Try it out for yourself and purchase your own bottle of Kool ‘N Fit by clicking here or on Kool N’ Fit’s website…

There are certain things that every cyclist can not go without…a bike, tires, helmet, a saddle that doesn’t rub you raw. One of the things that often goes unnoticed is an easy way to carry identification with you on the trail or road. Typically, this equals shoving your license and insurance card somewhere that you hope someone finds it should the worst happen and you are laying on the side of the trail without even a clue what your name is. To make things easier on you and the people rescuing you…Road ID has made this really cool bracelet that can go with you everywhere the pedals hammer.

With simple information like contact numbers, insurance carrier and policy number and your name, you can hit the trail or road with the ease of mind that someone will be able to tell who you are after they hit you with their car. They have several different models to chose from and you can even chose to have an “interactive version” that keeps all of your info online if you are not comfortable with having it on the band. I am boring…so I like the standard sport in black. For those of you that want to add some flare to the wrist (maybe match you kit), you can choose from other styles and colors.

The Road ID sport attaches with Velcro, doesn’t get in the way of your gloves (those are the kick ass new set from Mace…more on those later) and is light enough that you do not even realize it is there. The material is also durable as hell so you don’t have to worry about it falling off or ripping apart.

With prices starting at $19.99 and spreading up to $29.99 (mine was $19.99), the Road ID is really a no brain’er for any cyclist because…remember…even though you might ride with the same riders for years…even they do not know your medical info or where to find it. My wife also tends to sleep a little easier knowing this info is on me.

Now…I know this sounded like a glorified advertisement…but I have mentioned this in other “have to have items” articles as well. There are very few products in the industry that I really believe everyone should have and this is one of them. I don’t leave home without my helmet and Road ID.

Pick up your own Road ID by clicking here.

The Feedback Sports Velo Cache Bike Storage Stand

From Feedback Sports dot com:

Free Standing Column
Perfect for in-store displays, garage and home storage. High quality free-standing design won’t mark walls or ceiling.

Stable Base
Three-leg base (2-bike configuration) holds up to 80 lbs. and four-leg base (4-bike configuration) holds up to 160 lbs.

Sturdy Construction
Quality anodized aluminum column and carefully engineered cradles ensure years of exceptional service.

Adjustable Cradle Arms
Each pair of arms can be independently height adjusted to hold all types and sizes of bikes, even with sloping top tubes. Soft rubber protects the frame’s finish.

Accessories
Multiple accessories available.

• height 83” (2108 mm)
• base footprint 23” x 32.5” (580 mm x 830 mm)
• support arm length 10” (250 mm)
• load capacity 80 lbs. / 40 lbs. per cradle set (18 kg per)
• weight 22.5 lbs. (10.2 kg)
• shipping we ight 30 lbs. (13.6 kg)
• available in black or silver
• 3-year warranty

Assembling The Feedback Sports Velo Cache Bike Stand

The Feedback Sports Velo Cache bike storage stand has a couple of pretty basic pieces. The base, 2 vertical sections and the mounting arms. When you order the 4 bike add-on kit, you get an additional leg for the base (makes it 4 legs instead of 3) and the additional arms to mount pointing to the rear of the stand.

After about 15 minutes, you are up and running with a storage stand in your garage or house. One of the legs has an adjustment to accommodate uneven floors. Luckily for me, my cement floor in my garage is anything but flat in the area I wanted to place the stand. With only once adjustment point, I had to put a couple of metal shims under the other leg to get the stand fully secure.

The arms attach to the vertical sections by bolting them to plates that slide up and down the sections. Once you have them in the location you want, tightening the bolts sets the position. You have the option of doing every arm individually, but I used the stacked method that put the arms on each side at the same level.

Once you have everything in and installed, you will want to mount the bikes in the stand to determine the correct arm height. I found it is best to set the arm height and then rack the bikes in the same spot each time so further adjustments are not needed. The arms have rubber feet to the arms that prevent frame scratches and keeps the frame from sliding back and forth.

Using The Feedback Sports Velo Cache Storage Rack

The first thing I noticed about this storage stand from Feedback was how stable it was. Even with heavy commuter bikes racked on the top, the storage rack did not feel like it was going to tip over…even when you shake it. That is a big deal for storage stands as you do not want thousands of dollars of equipment dropping on cement from 6 feet up if the breeze blows the right way.

I did run into a small issue with smaller full suspension mountain bikes (like my wife’s small Felt) as the arms are not adjustable for different sized frames. They worked out great for 99% of the bikes I racked up, but hers just couldn’t get on there comfortably. Ideally, it stays on the floor anyway so she can get it out easily when I am not at the house, so it wasn’t a big deal on my end. Every now and then, you have to get a little bit creative with more complicated suspension designs, but with a little adjustment…everything else fit on fine.

Final Thoughts: Feedback Sports Velo Cache Storage Rack

This turned out to be exactly what I needed. An efficient, stable way to store bikes in my garage. The lightweight, easy to assemble design is still stable with heavy rigs and makes better use of my space.

I would like to see some kind of adjustment in the arms for small full suspension mountain bike frames (maybe a flip-able arm would do the trick) like my wife’s, but that is really the only thing I ran into while using this storage stand from Feedback. Now…I just need another one!

Positives On The Feedback Velo Cache Storage Rack

• Very stable design with no worry of falling over during operation and storage.
• 4 bike add-on available for larger quivers.
• Fairly simple assembly.

Requested Feature Additions

• Flippable or adjustable arms for smaller frames.
• Second adjustment foot for really out of whack floors.

If you are looking for a way to store your bikes in your garage, the Feedback Sports storage rack is a great option.

Pricing: $124.99 for 2 bike and $199.99 with 4 bike option. 4 bike option available separately.

For as long as I can remember, Thule and Yakama have owned the platform rack market. Kuat is the new comer into the market and with the NV, they are bringing in some high end options to appease the pickiest of cyclists. As a long time user of the Thule T2 platform bike rack, I was interested to see who this new entry performed. So how does the Kuat NV bike rack stack up?

More About Kuat Innovations

From Kuat Innovations dot com:

Kuat Racks was founded in 2007 by Luke KUschmeader and Brian ATkinson, riding partners from way back. The guys had a passion for all things bike and wanted to become a larger part of the bike community. In 2008 KUAT launched their first line of aluminum hanging style hitch racks, the ALPHA and the BETA, creating a tsunami of positive vibes throughout the industry. Due to the consumer response Luke pressed on as the company visionary but with a new partner, Guy Mace; engineering genius, manufacturing guru, and an avid outdoor enthusiast who owns more cars than the average car lot. With the new partnership Kuat released more goodness to the public for 2009-10 (see NV and SHERPA). In short from day one it has been our mission to make a better rack for our fellow riders and scratch out a living while doing it.

The Kuat NV Platform Bike Rack

The all aluminum Kuat NV platform bike rack comes with a host of features that really make this a top end unit.

• Light aluminum design
• Integrated cable locks
• Included hitch lock
• Optional 4 bike add-on
• Integrated bike repair stand (optional)

Kuat NV Platform Hitch Operation

The assembly of the Kuat NV is pretty basic. Once out of the box, several bolts are responsible for securing the entire rack together. After about 10 minutes of fumbling around, you have the rack assembled and ready to put on your truck or car.

Right off the bat, you notice the lightweight design. With most of the competition still using heavy steel for the mainframe in their designs, the lightweight aluminum is a welcomed change during normal operation.

Mounting The Kuat NV

The Kuat NV is available in 2″ or 1-1/4″ receiver configurations. The mounting tube has 2 different mounting hole options to control how far away the rack sits from your truck or car. This really comes in handy for vehicles with racks that are tucked up under the rear bumper. You can move it out more to get extra clearance. Kuat recommends that you install the rack into your hitch with the most insertion as possible that still provides adequate clearance.

Once inserted, you use a conventional hitch lock in the pin hole and tighten a plastic knob on the end of the rack to tighten into the hitch. The knob expands a plate inside of the insertion point of the tube against your hitch. But be careful, just like with any hitch mounted rack, don’t go blowing up driveways as you can scrape the plastic knob against the ground. Mine has a couple of battle scars but still works perfectly.

Once installed, a gold latch on the right side of the base releases a pin for movement up and down (as seen in the video below). Pretty basic stuff that you would expect out of platform operation with 3 positions: up, flat and angled down (for tailgate access).

Mounting Bikes In The Kuat NV Rack

Like any platform styled rack, you have ratcheting arms that come up and over the front tire to secure your bike to the rack and a strap on the rear to keep the rear end of the bike from bouncing off and into the street. The Kuat NV ratcheting system operates through a button on the top of the arm. When pushed, you can control the height of the assembly and compress it against the front tire of your bike. Kuat’s plastic u-shaped tire fitment fits over your front tire nicely and securely. There is also adequate room for larger tires as I still had plenty of room while mounting 2.4 29er mountain bike tires (picture of clearance below). The button performs well, but there were some times when it would stick down. A quick shake of the button and it re-engaged so it wasn’t a problem…just an occasional slight annoyance.

Note: Kuat also provides an arm extension for 20″ and 24″ tires so you can mount smaller bikes to the rack securely.

The rear tire of the bike is strapped down with a simple ratchet strap that slides on the assembly to accommodate different wheel bases. From DH bikes to short road bikes…it had plenty of adjustment to handle different rigs and never came loose.

Once everything is on…the cable lock retracts from the arms, go through the rear triangles of the bikes and lock together. I highly recommend keeping that key hole greased up with WD40 as it can be prone to sticking. With a quick spray it is all good.

Driving With The Kuat NV Rack

In the “look in the rear view mirror to see how bad the bikes are shaking” test, the Kuat NV did incredibly well. Even on long trips through the mountains where we like to test the limits of a trucks ability to act like a sports car, the rack stayed put with minimal shaking. Upon inspection post driving, it was evident that the mechanism that tightens the rack against the hitch stays put while driving.

Using The Bike Repair Stand

One of the best features of the Kuat NV platform rack is the integration of a bike repair stand. This telescoping repair stand is operational while the rack is folded up and uses a simple bolt-style clamp to secure the seat tube.

The clamp is a little awkward and doesn’t keep the bike completely still while mounted, but it is secure enough to work on your sled. I used it to change numerous tires, chains and adjust shifting throughout the testing process without issue. I would like to see Kuat perfect the clamp just a little bit more to really secure the bike.

Note: You can use the clamp on the top tube of the frame to make it a little bit more secure, but I do not like putting clamps on frames.

Final Thoughts: Kuat NV Platform Bike Rack

The good news? The Kuat NV platform bike rack has just made my Thule T2 a backup. The added features plus the lightweight design really put this rack at the top of the competition in my eyes. With the integrated bike repair stand to the included hitch lock, this rack from Kuat really looks at the needs of cyclists on the go. It also provides me with the clearance I need on larger 29er tires.

There are a couple of “fine tuning” things I would like to see Kuat integrate into future designs that are really small. Basically, I would like to see a better clamping mechanism on the integrated bike repair stand and a little bit more bulletproof design on the button latching system in the racks arms. If there is a way, I would also like to see some sort of lateral adjustment for the bikes to prevent having to drop the seats during mounting in some situations. The 13″ in between bikes (nice and spacious!) does prevent most of this but for long legged guys like me…our miles of seatpost showing can interfere with the bars when racked.

The Good News On The Kuat NV

• Aluminum design is light and easy to use.
• All locks included to secure bikes and rack.
• Bike repair stand integrated into the unit.
• Conversation starter looks. (I’m not kidding…it’s a show stopper at the trailhead)
• Huge front wheel clearance for bigger wheel/tire combos.

Nothing Is Perfect…

• Repair stand could use a more secure clamping mechanism.
• Button catch on arm ratchet catches occasionally.
• Price: $475 for this rack will be steep for a lot of riders.

The Kuat NV platform rack is the top of the line rack out of Kuat Innovations, so check out their website for the rest of their lineup that integrates many of these features at a lower price point. Then…hit up your local bike shop to pick up your own.

Click here to buy your own Kuat NV or check out more info on the Kuat Innovations Website

Energy on the trail is one of those things that you can never have enough of on tap. As you start to get deeper into the ride, those feet of elevation change that you were eating up several hours ago now feel like a brick wall headed straight up. For cyclists and other endurance athletes, there are products out on the market that promise to make those remaining miles easier by providing our bodies with the supplements needed to make that last leg of the ride strong.

The crew over at GU sent us over one of their sampler packs to review on Bike198.com. This box of random energy has everything from recovery powder to ultra endurance energy gels.

More About GU:

From 1991 until today, athletes the world over have come to the same conclusion: GU works. Our Berkeley-based sports nutrition company started with our original GU Energy Gel, a revolutionary and more effective method to keep athletes fueled during exercise. Since then, GU has continued to improve the recipe, incorporating the latest scientific research into its products. In 2001, GU Electrolyte Brew (formerly Gu2o) was launched as the perfect hydration companion to GU Energy Gel. 2008 saw the introduction of Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Gel, followed by Chomps Energy Chews and GU Recovery Brew in 2009. Every product is formulated to further GU’s mission: to help athletes go faster and longer than ever before.

Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to integrate these products into our rides to see if they really make a difference.

What’s In The Box?

• 2 Electrolyte Brews
• 1 Recovery Brew
• 2 GU Chomps
• 9 Energy Gels (1 of each flavor)
• 3 Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Gels (1 of each flavor)

Where Can I Get Some GU?

GU CHOMPS ENERGY CHEWS 16 PACK

GU ENERGY GEL, 24 PACK

GU ENERGY GEL SINGLE PACK

GU ENERGY GEL, 6 PACK

GU CHOMPS ENERGY CHEWS SINGLE PACK

GoPro Hero HD Helmet Cam

From GoPro.com:

GoPro’s HD Helmet HERO is the world’s highest performance wearable 1080p HD video and still photo camera. Professional quality 1080p / 960p / 720p HD resolutions record at 30 and 60 frames per second (60 fps in 720p). Record up to 2.5 hours on a single charge and up to 9 hours total on a 32GB SD card (not included).

The camera can also shoot automatic 5MP photos at 2/5/10/30 and 60 second intervals during your activity, hands free. Press the shutter button once at the start of your activity and record up to 2.5 hours of poster-print quality photos of you and your friends, living it up.

Included are mounts for attaching the camera to three helmets and two pieces of gear or vehicles, as well as a head strap allowing you to wear the camera like a headlamp. You can also pull this strap over helmets for easy camera sharing between friends. One of the above mentioned helmet mounts is a lace-through strap-mount designed for vented helmets.

Check out the GoPro Hero HD and learn more by clicking here.

• HD Video Resolution Modes: (subject to change, pending final firmware release)
  • 1080p = 1920×1080 pixels (16:9), 30 fps, 15 Mbit/s data rate
  • 960p = 1280×960 pixels (4:3), 30 fps, 12 Mbit/s data rate
  • 720p = 1280×720 pixels (16:9), 60 fps, 15 Mbit/s data rate
  • 720p = 1280×720 pixels (16:9), 30 fps, 8 Mbit/s data rate
  • WVGA = 848×480 pixels (16:9), 60 fps, 8 Mbit/s data rate
• Sensor Type: 1/2.5″ HD CMOS, 2.2µm-sized pixels
• Light Sensitivity: Super low-light sensitivity (1.4 V/lux-sec)
• Video Format: H.264 compression, saved as Windows- & Mac-compatible MPEG4 (.mp4) file
• Exposure Control: Auto with user selectable center weighted average and spot metering settings
• White Balance: Auto
• Battery Life: Approx. 2.5 hrs

We will be using this cam from GoPro to record footage for reviews and use it for a standalone review here on Bike198.com, so be on the lookout for more footage and info on this wearable camcorder as we move forward. Who knows…we might even capture some “oh s&!t!” moments along the way…

Check out the GoPro Hero HD and learn more by clicking here.

Specialized S-Works MT Helmet

From Specialized.com:

The lightest helmet in the world to comply with CPSC standards now comes in an MTB-specific configuration with MTB visor, aFIX visor attachment and new graphics. Worn by Specialized Pro MTB teams and athletes, it’s all about race weight, maximum ventilation and complete comfort.

• Complies with one or more of the following safety standards for bicycle helmets: CPSC, SNELL B90A, CE and AS/NZS
• Dual Density EPS (patent pending) to maximize weight savings and impact performance
  Kevlar-reinforced Inner Matrix (patent pending) saves weight and allows larger, deeper channeled vents
• Color matched MTB-specific visor
• 4th Dimension Cooling System w/ Mega Mouthport
• Thin, soft and lightweight 4X DryLite webbing won’t stretch out with sweat or water
• Slimmed down Pro Fit 360 retention system is secure and easy to adjust on the fly
• Instrap system minimizes strap length and reduces strap contact for more comfort
• aFIX Visor Attachment System
• Lighter U-Turn 2 strap adjusters guide webbing better
• Lighter, low-profile buckle
• Quadruple in-molded shells protect the foam and your head
• MSRP: $200.00 US

Specialized Vice AM MTB Helmet

From Specialized.com:

This high performance helmet is designed for the All Mountain athlete looking for optimized coverage. Featuring massive wind tunnel tested vents and our new dial-operated HeadSet SL fit system, Vice is our most technologically advanced mountain helmet available.

• Complies with one or more of the following safety standards for bicycle helmets: CPSC, SNELL B90A, CE and AS/NZS
• Extended rear coverage for ultimate protection and durability
• Headset SL fit system with 4-position height adjustability is secure and easy to adjust on the fly, even with full finger gloves
• 4th Dimension Cooling – wind tunnel optimized Mouthport, vents and internal channels
• “Bolted” visor attachment system with color matching MTB visor
• Total coverage in-molded shells maximize strength and durability
• Composite Matrix internal reinforcement and Instrap webbing system minimize weight
• Light and simple U-Turn strap adjusters
• MSRP: $110.00 US

From super lightweight to increased protection, Specialized has just about everyone covered with these two entries in the mountain bike world. As we go through the review process…hopefully we don’t end up testing their hard impact durability too many times in a row…

For more information and purchasing options…hit up your local Specialized dealer or Specialized.com.