Garmin Edge 500While bigger than a standard cycling computer, Garmin's $249.99 USD Edge 500 is much more compact than the higher-end Edge 800, but still offers all of the important functions that the majority of users will appreciate. Think of it this way: whereas the $449.99 USD Edge 800 features a mapping touch screen and a claimed 15 hour battery life, the smaller 500 forgoes the touch screen, has a claimed 18 hour battery life, and retails for nearly half the price. A number of metrics are tracked, including distance, speed, location, and both elevation gain and loss, and you can also use it to monitor power via its ANT+ compatibility. Heart rate and cadence are yet other options if you choose to jump up to the $349.99 USD version. Interestingly, while there is a current temp readout, the unit forgoes saving your maximum speed for viewing after the ride. Colour options include black/silver, red/black, and the blue/silver version shown here.
www.garmin.com |
| The Edge 500 is a great GPS enabled computer that has been with us on every ride since it arrived, |
 | When it comes to GPS units, Garmin's Edge 500 is the one that we see mounted to most rider's handlebars. Setting up the 500 is a cinch, and even those who have trouble figuring out how to use a calculator should be able to master it. The computer head attaches via an O-ring mounted twist-lock perch that can be located on either the bar or stem, and it all can be removed in seconds if needed but we never had an issue with it coming off on the trail. That said, it would rotate slightly on rough terrain. This wasn't a big deal, but some riders may want to check out the Tate Enterprises Bar Fly mount that offers a more secure fixing point (although it does put the computer out in a more vulnerable position in front of the bar). Scrolling through the pages is easy to do, although we'd like to see the buttons have a more tactile feel to them for gloved hands, and we liked the ability to set up each page with the information that means the most to us. The display itself is also relatively large and easy to read, and the on/off light is handy when needed. Our Edge 500 did well against Mother Nature as well, with it not being any worse for wear after some very wet rides. We even left it on the handlebar during a jet wash-assisted bike cleaning, and although we don't recommend doing the same, the little blue and white computer was no worse for wear. Battery life fell a bit short from Garmin's 18 hour claim, with us getting approximately 15 hours worth of use before it gave out the terminal 'beep' to let us know it was done work for the day, but keep in mind that battery life will vary depending on conditions. We should also note that we didn't use the heart rate strap option (you can purchase the Edge 500 with it for $349.99 USD or without it) as that function isn't high on our list of requirements. One of our issues with not just the Edge 500, but all GPS-type computers is a loss in signal strength caused by tree cover or something else in the way, and a rarer occurrence called GPS drift that results in inaccurate readings. The result is questionable data, an especially annoying outcome if you like to compare your segment times on Strava - it can be far enough off that certain segments are missed entirely. This won't be an issue for riders who are using the GPS unit to track their rides for their own good and not to compare times online, and it needs to be mentioned again that this is an issue that can affect all GPS computers, but keep it in mind if you are thinking about spending a few hundred dollars on a computer for Strava-only use. We'll admit that, for the most part, we've always been staunchly against using any type of cycling computer, preferring to focus on simply going for a ride instead of any hard data. We've had to eat some humble pie lately, though, as the Edge 500 has been with us on every ride since mid-Summer, and we now find ourselves keeping track of a number of the ride figures. Yes, we still go out and have fun, but being able to note that we've done a massive amount of climbing or distance on a particular loop certainly adds to that post-ride, accomplished feeling. Don't think you're into that? Fair enough, then the Edge 500 isn't going to be for you. But it is a great option if you like to know the metrics produced by all of your hard work in the saddle. - Mike Levy |
Specialized Roval Traverse 29er wheelsetSpecialized's Roval Traverse 29 wheelset has been assembled with abuse from hard-charging 29er riders in mind, with a 28mm width (
external, 24mm internal) that means that they are well-suited to high-volume tires in the 2.4" width region. You'll find a set of nicely machined, sealed bearing hubs at the center, with the rear sporting a lightweight aluminum freehub body that employs DT Swiss' proven Star Ratchet clutch mechanism. Straight pull spokes tie everything together, with 32 used on both the front and rear wheels, as well as DT Swiss' Pro Lock hexagonal nipples to keep the tension from backing off over time. The Rovals can be fitted to nearly any bike thanks to easily convertible axle endcaps that allow the front hub to swap between quick-release, 15mm, and 20mm, while the rear can go from 135mm or 142mm axle spacing. The 1,860 gram Roval Traverse 29 wheelset retails for $699.00 USD.
www.specialized.com  |
| Lighter than most stock 29er wheelsets and able to fit nearly every axle size, the Roval Traverse 29er wheels are a worthy upgrade. |
| We've used the Roval Traverse 29 wheels for nearly a full season, putting them on a number of different test bikes during this time and riding them on everything from Utah's rocky singletrack to B.C.'s wet and rooty trail network. How did the 1,860 gram wheelset fair? Very well. The tubeless-friendly internal rim shape makes doing a conversion painless, especially when fitting them with Specialized's own tires (near-instant bead seating, even with a hand pump!), and they come equipped with rim strips and valve stems to do just that. The tool-free convertible hubs also made fitting them to a bunch of different test bikes very easy, allowing us to put more time on them than if they weren't so adaptable. There was some minor truing required of the rear wheel, but the rim's sidewalls remain dent and ding free despite our often complete disregard for both tire pressure and line choice. The straight pull spokes used to build the Traverse 29ers have also stood up well, with not a single broken spoke or troublesome aluminum nipple during the test. Having said that, straight pull spokes are less common than your garden variety J-bend spokes, so we'd suggest having a few in your spare parts box. Internally, the rear hub's DT Swiss Star Ratchet clutch system is the best in the biz, even if the pick-up isn't as fast as some other options out there. As has always been the case for us, it proved to be ultra-reliable. If some maintenance is required, the entire system can be pulled apart by hand, cleaned, re-lubed, and put back together in only a few minutes. It doesn't hurt that the sound that emanates from the twin ratcheting discs is like music to our ears. Bearing life was par for the course, with them feeling a touch rough after a Winter/Spring/Summer riding schedule, but we can't complain on that front. Anything to grumble about? Big, aggressive riders might notice less lateral rigidity compared to heavier options or wheels that employ a burlier rim, but we'd say that the Traverse 29ers can still handle a hell of a lot of abuse. We're not big guys, but we like to get a bit rowdy from time to time, and the wheels gave us no troubles until a massive crash put the front wheel into a shape that made it unrideable. We can't fault the Traverse wheels, though, given that it was an event that would have destroyed any other wheel, but we still feel obliged to mention the outcome. Their weight might not seem like anything to brag about, but they are lighter than many 29er wheelsets that come as stock equipment on a mid-level bike, making them a worthy upgrade in our minds for a rider who wants an easy-to-tubeless wheelset that employs DT Swiss' super-dependable Star Ratchet clutch. - Mike Levy |
Smith Optics Pivlock V2 glassesSmith Optics' Pivlock V2 features aggressive styling and a minimalist design that does without an upper frame element. Instead, each arm attaches to the top corner of the lens via a pivoting (
hence the name) mount that allows lenses to be swapped out in seconds. The diminutive three-way adjustable nose piece slips on separately as well, making the V2 one of the airiest looking designs that we've seen. The medium-sized lens - there is also a 'Max' option that offers more coverage - employs a hydroleophobic coating that is said to help moisture to bead up and roll away. The V2 kit comes with three lenses: the stock lens on the frame, known as 'Super Platinum', as well as both a clear option and an orange tint called 'Ignitor'. While we tested the blue and white model, our favorite has to be the new '
Impossibly Black' version that also comes stock with a photochromic lens that self-adjusts to changing light conditions. Everything comes from Smith in a rigid case, with a retail price of $159.00 USD.
www.smithoptics.com |
| Great optics, very fog-resistant, and they look fast just sitting on the table. Not as casual as some other options, though. |
| The Pivlock's frame-less design may not be what some riders are into, with its 'Look at me, I'm European' appearance, but we have to concede that they are absolutely the best choice when it comes to glasses that resist fogging. This is especially important for us given that we spend most of our time riding in B.C.'s temperate rain forest, a location that often results in near-instant fogging when we come to a stop on the trail. The Pivlock's ability to stay clear must surely be down to their very open frame-less design that not only allows air to circulate behind them, helping them to clear quickly if they do start to haze up, but they also seem to sit a bit further out from our face when compared to other choices. Swapping lenses is simple, requiring that you only rotate each arm up to unlatch it, and the adjustable, ratcheting nose piece makes for an easy custom fit that won't alter its shape unless you want it to. The single issue that we take with the Pivlock is that we routinely experienced sweat beads running down the lens, an annoying quirk when suffering up a long, hot climb, although it didn't happen at anything above walking speeds. Besides that one foible, we're extremely happy with the Pivlocks. The $159 USD asking price is a lot of money, but the three lens options and hard case that are included in the Pivlock V2 kit takes some of the sting out of it. Still, we can see many riders shunning the V2s given their styling and price, which is a shame given how well they perform. - Mike Levy |
but what people seem to forget is even downhillers wanted to use it until it got banned for being too manly
Because if you were one and tried a 29er you would see the deep well of potential and realize at the same time how much more guts, strength and skill it takes to use the advantage of bigger wheels. Im not saying it's better, I just say it is... simply faster
