Pinkbike Product Picks
Sombrio Carver jersey
The Carver is one of four long sleeve jerseys in Sombrio's lineup, comes in a solid color (either black or french navy), with low key graphics, it is certainly the most subdued of the bunch. It also fits into Sombrio's 'Epik' series, meaning that it features a slightly looser, casual cut that conveys "I'm here for fun" instead of a "I plan on beating everyone to the top on my 20lb hardtail" appearance. In other words, you can wear it to the pub for post-ride drinks without looking like a weirdo. The polyester fabric employs an anti-bacterial treatment to keep the funk to a minimum, and flat-lock seams are found throughout. There is also a nearly hidden side pocket for small items that you want to carry with you on your ride. Sizes run through XS to XL. MSRP $55 USD. www.sombriocartel.com
![Sombrio jersey]()
Pinkbike's Take:
Bike Gears' gear calculator
The Bike Gears app by JPMartineau allows you to calculate the gear ratio (number of sprocket teeth vs number of cog teeth - the larger the ratio, the faster you will go), gear inches (signifies how high or low the gear is, and is commonly used for comparisons), development (distance travelled by the bike during a single rotation of the cranks), and even the gain ratio of nearly any given gearing combo that would make sense on your mountain bike. A speed function lets you know the projected velocity and distance covered, although it is locked in to a cadence of 90rpm. On top of all that, there is also a nifty, albeit useless to most mountain bikers, skid patch calculator that allows fixie riders to determine the best gearing to enhance tire life when locking up the rear wheel. A handy 'Gear Swap' function lets you quickly compare and alter gearing ratios by simply sliding a bar on the touch screen from left to right. There are over two hundred preset tires sizes that include every common variation, as well as some far less common sizes, and you can also enter custom diameters if need be. The Bike Gears app sells for $4.99 USD in the Apple store. www.bikegearsapp.com
![Bike Gears app]()
Pinkbike's Take:
Nookie Bikes Playa pedals
Nookie Bikes' offerings include everything from cranksets to dirt jump frames, but it's their Playa pedals that we've recently been spending a lot of time on. They eschews a super slim profile or massive platform area with the Playa design, focusing on building a solid pedal that looks to be able to take a beating instead. The 17mm thick body (at the front and rear edges) features eleven pins per side, with the leading and trailing pins threading in from the opposite side via a phillips screwdriver. The four central pins feature a wider top and base to them, and thread into the pedal's face. A gentle concave body shape is also utilized to help keep your feet put. A chromoly axle is used, along with sealed bearings and rubber seals to keep them running smooth for as long as possible. We measured out set at 91mm long by 95mm wide (much smaller than the claimed 109.5 by 100mm dimensions), with a 400 gram/set weight on our scale. MSRP $125 USD. www.nookiebikes.co.uk
![Nookie bikes Playa pedal]()
Pinkbike's Take:
The Carver is one of four long sleeve jerseys in Sombrio's lineup, comes in a solid color (either black or french navy), with low key graphics, it is certainly the most subdued of the bunch. It also fits into Sombrio's 'Epik' series, meaning that it features a slightly looser, casual cut that conveys "I'm here for fun" instead of a "I plan on beating everyone to the top on my 20lb hardtail" appearance. In other words, you can wear it to the pub for post-ride drinks without looking like a weirdo. The polyester fabric employs an anti-bacterial treatment to keep the funk to a minimum, and flat-lock seams are found throughout. There is also a nearly hidden side pocket for small items that you want to carry with you on your ride. Sizes run through XS to XL. MSRP $55 USD. www.sombriocartel.com
Sombrio's Carver jersey will be a hit among those who prefer a subdued look to their riding gear.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | It's the time of year when we find ourselves spending quite a bit of time in long sleeve jerseys, with the Carver seeing more action than most others thanks to a comfortable fit and next to skin softness that makes other options feel like burlap sacks. While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, the Carver certainly has one up on most in the comfort category - the cuffs are especially invisible during use. Its side pocket is quite handy as well, although we wouldn't recommend putting much more in it than a credit card or single car key (any more weight and the pocket will flop around, plus who wants to fall on their car keys?). Our single gripe comes down to the rather long cut of the sleeves. They are not only long enough to keep from being pulled up when bent over in the saddle, but there is also enough length to pull right over your hands! Overall, the Carver is a great choice for cooler use in cooler climes, especially by riders who aren't looking for flashy clothing. - Mike Levy |
Bike Gears' gear calculator
The Bike Gears app by JPMartineau allows you to calculate the gear ratio (number of sprocket teeth vs number of cog teeth - the larger the ratio, the faster you will go), gear inches (signifies how high or low the gear is, and is commonly used for comparisons), development (distance travelled by the bike during a single rotation of the cranks), and even the gain ratio of nearly any given gearing combo that would make sense on your mountain bike. A speed function lets you know the projected velocity and distance covered, although it is locked in to a cadence of 90rpm. On top of all that, there is also a nifty, albeit useless to most mountain bikers, skid patch calculator that allows fixie riders to determine the best gearing to enhance tire life when locking up the rear wheel. A handy 'Gear Swap' function lets you quickly compare and alter gearing ratios by simply sliding a bar on the touch screen from left to right. There are over two hundred preset tires sizes that include every common variation, as well as some far less common sizes, and you can also enter custom diameters if need be. The Bike Gears app sells for $4.99 USD in the Apple store. www.bikegearsapp.com
From left: chainring/cog/crank arm length selector, tire circumference selector (complete with ERD numbers), the gear swap screen, projected speed and distance covered for a given gear combo.
Pinkbike's Take:
| While it may look like this app is tailor made for the uber-nerds of the cycling word, it is actually comes in very handy for more than just geeking out with fellow bike dorks. The user interface couldn't be easier to understand - there are different screens for each readout, and simple gear and wheel size selectors - with all of the pertinent info displayed below your selection. We first bought Bike Gears when testing a 29er and found ourselves wanting to know the equivalent gearing of the 26" test bike that came before it (the larger diameter wheels change the aspect ratio), but it comes in handy very often given the amount of different bikes that we test. Thinking about making the jump to a single chain ring, but not sure of which size makes sense? You can use the Bike Gear app to quickly figure out the gear inches of the combo that you are thinking of and then compare it to the gearing that you find yourself using for your local climbs and descents to see if it makes sense. No, it isn't going to appeal to all readers out there, and some of the functions make more sense for roadies and fixie riders, but keep in mind that it retails for less than what most tubes sell for and it you'll maybe see that it isn't just nerds that can benefit from using it. - Mike Levy |
Nookie Bikes Playa pedals
Nookie Bikes' offerings include everything from cranksets to dirt jump frames, but it's their Playa pedals that we've recently been spending a lot of time on. They eschews a super slim profile or massive platform area with the Playa design, focusing on building a solid pedal that looks to be able to take a beating instead. The 17mm thick body (at the front and rear edges) features eleven pins per side, with the leading and trailing pins threading in from the opposite side via a phillips screwdriver. The four central pins feature a wider top and base to them, and thread into the pedal's face. A gentle concave body shape is also utilized to help keep your feet put. A chromoly axle is used, along with sealed bearings and rubber seals to keep them running smooth for as long as possible. We measured out set at 91mm long by 95mm wide (much smaller than the claimed 109.5 by 100mm dimensions), with a 400 gram/set weight on our scale. MSRP $125 USD. www.nookiebikes.co.uk
The Playa pedals don't win any awards for being the thinnest, lightest, or grippiest, but they can take a beating.
Pinkbike's Take:
| A lot of different platform pedals get put through the ringer here at Pinkbike, with them being used for everything from the expected shuttle runs and jump sessions to four hour trail rides. The Playas were no different, being swapped from DH bikes to XC machines, as well as plenty of jet wash cleanings that we probably shouldn't be doing. Their feel underfoot is expectedly smaller than that of larger pedals that we've recently spend time on, but they feel no smaller than many other options out there. The amount of traction offered by the 11 pins per side is somewhat less than what you will find from a pedal with more surface area and open top set screws, but we also never found ourselves asking for more. In fact, those who use sticky soled riding shoes might find it easier to move correct their foot postion with the Playa pedals, while offering reasonable purchase as well. Mind blowing traction? Not really, but nothing to complain about either. The bearings turned impressively smooth out of the box, and, despite the jet washings, they still do. While maybe not the most exciting pedals out there, nor the grippiest, they do seem to be a solid choice for riders not concerned with who has the thinnest or lightest pedals in town. - Mike Levy |
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Member since Oct 18, 2005
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haha...."nipples"
"may have to test nipples too"....so wrong yet so right
www.badasstoys.com/chandler/chandler_gear_calculator.htm
I take it PB test this stuff then post it here for our honest opinion ? Well here it is....
How about go out of your way and actually find something that is going to make me say "Wow, look at that, I want one of those" Pedals + the most un-cool looking top that wouldn't stand out in an old folks retirement home ? Now way PB !
Thanks for your input every week.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/7796199
They are Wellgo B030's cost me about $16 for my sample pair.
Neither Smac or Nookie design or manufacture anything. They just brand Taiwanese parts that they've picked out of a catalog. I know beacuse we did the same thing in the past with pedals. But it didn't take us long to figure out that when you have an actual factory it cost less to produce the same pedal domestically than it does to import from the orient and BS people into thinking different.
Lots of company's do this until they can make their own designs, We have a new factory making 100% all our own parts for 2013.
Blackspire is well know for using catalogue parts.... boxxer direct mount stem?? etc. in fact most companies started this way... NS Bikes, Dartmoor Bikes etc etc
At least company's like Blackspire, Nookie Bikes and Smec are out there giving riders parts to choose from.
Thanks for all your comments, We always take your comments on board and do our best to change any points you guys point out.
You are right! Most companies start by branding other manufacturers parts... RaceFace got started by putting their name on parts we made for them. We've been making our parts ourselves from day one!