Twice, in just two days, I have encountered someone wearing their bike helmet backwards. I had heard of this happening, but thought it was an outdoor legend. Like Yeti, Sasquatch, or the Chupacabra. The first girl I tried to warn, pointing out that it’s much safer when worn correctly. In return I got a very Pee Wee Hermanesqe, “I meant to do that!” So the second time I saw it, I just stared in awe and thought best to keep my thoughts to myself.
Is this the new fashion? This isn’t a regionally isolated incident either, they happened almost 200 miles apart! I remember how funny my dad thought it was to tell me my hat was on backwards when I was in high school. Man was that annoying. Like he knows what cool is. No wonder that girl snapped at me.
Maybe this is just the first in a whole wave of Backwards Bike Fashions. (BBF’s for short) Wearing your jersey backwards not only looks cooler, but makes the pockets that much more accesable. These guys had it right.
So my recommendation, be the first in your bike gang to get with the new style that is sweeping the nation. Out with the old! Who cares about function? Backwards sun-visors even give you a sporty TT helmet feel too!
* Outdoorzy does not endorse this blog post. Not only will you be openly ridiculed, riding with your helmet may cause impaired vision. In the event of accident your steezy helmet could lead to injury, paralysis, and death by fashion.
Are you an Audiophile? Are you a bike commuter, mountain biker, or festival goer? If so, this could be the next big thing for you.
The Skullcandy Link Hydro Pack is a backpack that is completely wired, with speakers on the shoulder straps, a built-in mic, internal laptop case, and a half-gallon hydration bladder. You can put your cell phone in a side pocket, plug it into the wire , do the same with your mp3 player, and take off. As you ride or roam you can answer the phone by pushing a button on the shoulder strap and just talk, no headset required. You can also jam to your favorite music with headphones or through the shoulder straps. Volume can be adjusted, and you can switch back and forth between phone and mp3 using the controls as well.
I used this on my commute last week and flatted out on my bike. I hopped off to change the tire and sat the pack on the ground. I turned the headphones off and turned the shoulder speakers on and listened to music while I changed my tire… or didn’t change it. I forgot my tire changing tool, so… I listened to music while I waited for my wife to come pick me up. It was sweet.
My only worry with this backpack is that I wouldn’t take it on a plane since as it goes through the xray machine at the airport it might look slightly suspicious with all the wires inside. But, for any other use, this thing is amazing. Pretty soon all our electronics will be wired into our clothing and run through solar panels made into the material on the shoulders. I’m calling it, you heard it hear first folks…
Retails for $139.95
Comes in Orange/Grey or Camouflage (you won’t be sneaking up on anybody while rocking Metallica though…
Here are some random pics from the Dirt Mud, Sweat, and Gears Festival in Fayetteville Tennessee. They put on a great race this year and we met some cool people, vendors, outdoorzy members, racers, and spectators. There were stitches sewn into legs, tendons torn, clogged wheels, a mess of dérailleur hangers broken, lots of Outdoorzy t-shirts given out, Gary Fischer himself was on hand representin, several frames, and some full bikes were given away, and $125 worth of gift certificates to the Outdoorzy Store were awarded.
Tinker Juarez came out on top in the men’s solo division, Pua Sawicki for the women’s. And the National Mountain Bike team came in 2nd in the “Here for the Beer” category, with JmacTN getting the award for crappiest/muddiest lap.
Outdoorzy is headed down to Fayetteville Tennessee today to hang out at Dirt Sweat and Gears. We’re a sponsor at the race and will be giving away swag, camping out for a few nights, listening to bands, watching the race, and rubbing elbows with the mtb community. It’s one of the premier mountain bike races in the southeastern US.
Cycling is a very enjoyable but demanding sport. I am extremely short and small so I have a 13 inch frame and it still doesn’t quite fit me. I have to keep my seat completely lowered so that I don’t fall over when we stop:) After an all day trail ride, this arrangement (and the fact that I am too cheap to buy a custom bike) causes my body to shift and become unbalanced. In other words, I need some serious deep stretching to cope.
Yoga for Cyclists DVD and book is exactly what the doctor ordered especially if I’m trying to avoid injury. The book is lightweight enough to put in my camelback and use during breaks and the DVD has a warm-up/cool-down session and a training session for when I can’t make it to the trail or road.
The two sessions featured on the DVD are designed to cultivate strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance and of course these are all things cyclists need to enjoy their sport. I am always on the hunt to strengthen my wrists and keep the numbness out of my seat.
Here are some of the muscles and benefits focused on during the two sessions:
leg strength; hips; butt; abdominals and lower back; arms; chest expansions; shoulders and wrist strength; forearms; increasing lung capacity; increasing circulation to the pelvic area
The poses are designed to give us something to work toward so there is a nice challenge and they work to strengthen muscles so when we do crash, we can take the impact better and recover faster.
As with all of Andria Baldovin’s specialized yoga programs, there is a wonderful meditation sequence and breathing exercise. Most of all however, I really liked that there was a strong connection drawn, before each session, between what muscles the poses work and how those muscles relate to biking.
Dirt Sweat and Gears is the big mountain biking event in the Southeast US each year. And the Outdoorzy team will be in attendance. It will be happening the first weekend in May, and we have it marked on the calendar and we can’t wait to get down there and have some fun. There will be musical performances, tons of free swag (including bike give-aways), lots of outdoor loving people, oh yeah… and lots of mountain bike races!
Outdoorzy will be giving away loads of gift cards to the Outdoorzy Store so you can load up on cycling gear and any other fun summer outdoor gear and clothing you need. Not to mention lots of other gear and freebies. Just drop by our tent and check us out. It won’t be hard to find us, we’ll be the ones with the big Outdoorzy.com banner. There will be plenty of other vendors there as well.
If you’re looking for something to do that weekend and you’re within driving distance come on up and check out all the excitement in Fayetteville Tennessee.
This is a question we should all be asking ourselves as we prepare for the upcoming warm weather and all the outdoor fun we’re going to be having. Fist Aid Kits are perhaps the most important piece of gear you’ll take with you into the wilderness.
So what do you need inside? This really all depends on which outdoor activities you’ll be partaking in. Different activities will have different sets of hazards. If you are fishing, you may need to bring along first-aid for cuts or pricks from those hooks. If you are camping you may want to be sure you have everything you need to treat burns since you’ll most likely have a fire and be cooking. Backpacking and hiking often see twisted ankles. And so on…
If you already have a First Aid Kit, now may be the time to pull it out and restock. You can replace bandages alcohol pads and ointments you depleted last year. You will also need to check the expiration dates on any medications.
Here are some excellent First Aid Kits, ranging from basic needs (lightweight) to more advanced kits.
Tour De Nez is a six day cycling festival featuring anything that has to do with 2 wheeled motion. (not related to 3 wheel motion)
The festival takes place in Truckee, Ca. This is a new venue for the 16th annual event, which is scheduled for June 17-22nd. So if you’re in the area and want to see what’s up in the cycling community, it sounds like this is your place. It is being hosted by Northstar Resort which looks like a pretty sweet place. (hint-hint Nez… if you want a reporter on the scene)
“Our partnership with Northstar™ Resort has enabled us to take the Tour to a new level,” explains Tim Healion, Tour de Nez Supreme Commander. “We will be able to really showcase the area as a destination for cyclists and people who enjoy the outdoors.”Healion said, “With the Tour largely moving to Lake Tahoe, everyone from the top domestic pro teams to cycling enthusiasts and families looking for a fun day outdoors will find Northstar Resort’s location and the Tour’s activities to be the best ever.”
“Um, looks like you zip-tied some trash to your bike.” - My Fiance
Exactly! That’s called recycling. I’d been sitting patiently by the window for a week or so, waiting for the UPS guy to bring me some more Weird Gear to test. With all that window time, It’s impossible not to notice how nice the afternoons have been. Too bad the MTB trails are snowed in, and the roads are covered in gravel, mag-chloride, ice patches, run-off, and mud. I started looking into some fender options for my cross bike and came away pretty unsatisfied with what I could get for my money.
That is when “genius” struck. Check out the photos if you too want awesome fenders for $0.99. I won’t bore you with step by steps as I think you can figure out, “Oh, here is where he puts the trash on the bike.” My first attempt at a rear was a little too short, but otherwise worked suprisingly well. I was sure it would wind up tangled in my spokes within minutes. For success, you need to go back further than you would think to catch all the spray. I’m looking into extending, widening, and stiffening in new variations. The front one works great. Please send along any ideas, or DIY gear tips of your own. I still have some soup cans, an old boot, and a broken watch in my trash can.
And the best part, while I was out test riding my DIY gear, UPS made a delivery! Weird Gear 3, superlight skateboard, coming soon.
Cycling is a very enjoyable but demanding sport. I am extremely short and small so I have a 13 inch frame and it still doesn’t quite fit me. I have to keep my seat completely lowered so that I don’t fall over when we stop:) After an all day trail ride, this arrangement (and the fact that I am too cheap to buy a custom bike) causes my body to shift and become unbalanced. In other words, I need some 
The festival takes place in Truckee, Ca. This is a new venue for the 16th annual event, which is scheduled for June 17-22nd. So if you’re in the area and want to see what’s up in the cycling community, it sounds like this is your place. It is being hosted by 
