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Bike to the Basics
The joys of riding a bike are instantly apparent. From the first time a child balances without training wheels, bicycling offers a fabulous sense of freedom. It is also a great way for adults and youth alike to stay in shape. Family biking provides golden moments of scenery, camaraderie and accomplishment. If your summer needs a breath of fresh air, plan some family bike outings. Start small, with a half-hour roll through a local park. Then pick up a local bike path map and plot a longer ride. Bring a small backpack for lunch and a full water bottle. While there's no need to deck yourself out like a Tour de France contender, a comfortable pair of bike shorts, wicking jersey, well-fitted helmet and cushy gloves will enhance the experience!
Castelli Prologo LS Jersey FZ
These form-fitting jerseys are eye-catching as well as performance-enhancing. The Prologo Jersey is long-sleeved for those pre-work rides when Dad needs a little extra exercise. The advantage of a full zipper is excellent venting and a more customized fit. The ProSecco fabric is durable, soft, and lightweight. The synthetic, woven two-layer material has micro-channels that pull excess heat and moisture away from the body to keep body temperature regulated, even when you're climbing that last stretch before you break for morning coffee. Our testers liked the jersey's terrific visibility, with its bright colors and dual back reflective logos. The ProLogo has a back mesh insert for cooling, and three handy stash pockets. $89.99; castelli-us.com
Pearl Izumi Elite MTB Shoe for men and women (and junior-sized feet!)
Carbon-fiber midsoles are the ultimate for clip-in bike shoes, but they can cost upwards of $200 a pop. While the $165 price tag for the Elite MTB shoe is nothing to sneeze at, our tester gave the shoe five stars for value. The Elite MTB's are comfortable right out of the box, with a supportive foot platform that is comfortable, sensitive, and best of all, lightweight. The new men's and women's Elite MTB fit great. Sizing goes down to about men's 6 (39) and women's 4.5 (36). A molded TPU cage gives the shoe traction and durability. We like the mesh forefoot patch that helps feet ventilate. The three Velcro straps are nice for easy on-off. Our tester also liked them to crank down on tightness for additional security on steep and technical terrain. Our first spring training ride with the family consisted of about 5 miles of muddy trail. Unlike so many technical shoes, the Elite MTB is great for walking as well as riding, with high traction lugs and a comfortable heel cup. $165; pearlizumi.com
Novara Duster 20" 6-speed Bike
Buying a kid's bike is tricky. You don't want to have a child ride a bike that's too big or small. Pick the right size frame, and you should get a couple years of riding with minor seat and handle bar adjustments. If you have more than one child, a durable model can be handed down, providing excellent value for your investment. The 20" Novara Duster is ideal for most kids ages 6-9. In addition to an incredibly sturdy frame, the 6 speeds are easily mastered by a junior rider. The handlebar shifters are intuitive - so there's no taking attention away from the road or trail while your child gropes for the gear shift! While the Duster has a lightweight aluminum frame and bomb-proof Shimano components, it is surprisingly lightweight. My testers loved the responsive front suspension fork - not only does it cushion the ride, but, as almost-7-year-old Alice says, "It's a REAL" bike. The fenders are great for kids who love to sail through mud puddles and across stream beds, and the linear pull breaks ease the bike to a fast, reliable stop. Novara is REI's in-house brand, and the bike comes with a lifetime guarantee and free tune-up! $185; rei.com
Giro Flume Bike Helmet
Bike helmets are now required equipment for children. Fortunately, well-designed, light-weight helmets are available that grow with your child. The Flume has a nifty fit-band that adjusts to fit head's from about 50 to 57 cm. A child should be able to wear this helmet for several years - the one we tested fit all three girls, all of whom wear different ski helmet sizes. The colors are bright and visible - the Red Butterfly pattern is super popular in our house, but boys will gravitate toward the red-and-black dragon flames. The lightweight Flume has an exoskeleton that's fused with a molded impact-absorbing liner. There's plenty of ventilation, and the chin strap cinches up snuggly without pinching. $39.99; giro.com
Gramicci Rogue Rider Bike Shorts
These two-in-one bikes shorts are the ultimate in value. The chamois is removable, so you can wear the shorts by themselves or together with the chamois. My tester has worn them on 35-mile rock hopping and stump jumping extravaganzas, and commuting to work. He uses them as his "travel" shorts, as he can use the stand-alone shorts for climbing and hiking, and then wear the chamois on bike days. Gramicci bills the pants as urban-bike-hike pants and they are totally on target. The fabric is a "quick dry" synthetic material (Epic Expanse) that feels like cotton but functions like nylon. While so many sport-shorts look like a blend of hippy and grunge, these have a distinctive Herringbone texture, which gives them a sophisticated yet relaxed feel. The material is breathable, even when wearing both the short and chamois, and the fabric is rated for SPF 30 protection. $85; gramicci.com
Ibex Calais Bike Shorts (Women's)
Warning: Wool bike shorts are addictive. Superfine New Zealand Merino wool is blended with nylon, spandex and polyester. Rather than feeling like you're squeezed into a nylon tube, these shorts have excellent texture with a fit that looks great on curvy and lean women alike. The chamois is a multi-dimensional 8 mm antimicrobial fiber that doesn't chafe when you're walking. Enroute, it provides a cushiony, bruise-proof ride. The material is machine washable, although I'd recommend hand wash (and never machine dry!). The Calais is designed to fit snugly, but peruse Ibex's size chart. If you are in-between sizes, I'd bump up to the larger size. $95; ibexwear.com
Outlier 4 Season OG
This awesome new company makes ideal pants for urban commuting. The Outlier 4 Season OG is made in New York City - and is comfortable from Malibu to SoHo without missing a step. They are the most socially versatile pants we tested - the Schoeller Dryskin Extreme fabric stretches, breathes, and resists abrasion, while maintaining a super-comfortable fit. While the pants don't have a chamois (have you tried wearing chamois all day at work?) they are tailored specifically for biking. The leg opening is a bit narrower than traditional everyday pants, and the stitching in the crotch is a stretchable French seam. The Schoeller Dryskin fabric is "self cleaning" - it is coated with nanoscopic spikes that prevent stains from bonding to the fabric. Water, dirt and road muck doesn't stick - and if you do get spots, a damp cloth does the cleaning trick. Schoeller has perfected all-weather protection - the pants shed water, but don't have that rainslicker feel that dogs many other water-proof/breathables. Size the pants like you would Levis 501 jeans . . . the inseams are a minimum of 34" and are designed to be hemmed to the correct length. $175-$180; outlier.cc
Zoic Queen Bee Knicker
Here's the buzz - getting kids out on family excursions is not always easy. Watching cartoons is a lot more comfortable. A crafty way to encourage kids to join you on a bike ride is to provide an outfit that is more fun than Homer Simpson. Zoic makes both girls and boys riding shorts and jerseys that have the performance capabilities of the company's adult pieces. You can count on the fabrics being lightweight, breathable, quick drying, soft against the skin, and so on. But what makes kids want to don their bike clothes is the sassy printing and contemporary design. Even girls who are convinced that Miley Cyrus is the pinnacle of singing and fashion perfection will love the look of the Queen Bee Knicker. The flower graphic on the convertible hem are very cool and kids will like the trick MP3 pocket. And the top-stitching on the pockets and embroidered logo extremely chic. My daughter wears the shorts with the liner for long rides, and takes the liner out and wears the shorts alone when she's just messing around with the neighborhood bike brigade. $45. Also pictured is the technical but fashionable Cap Sleeve Screen Printed Jersey that is guaranteed to make parents and kids smile. $35; zoic.comPost a comment
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