9/30/2011

Blackburn MTF-1 Front Rack Review

Blackburn MTF-1 Front Rack
Average Reviews:

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This is a great rack for the money. Functionally it does what it is advertised to do, for a third or half of what many others cost. It may be a little heavier, and the absolute life may be shorter than some of the more expensive ones, but unless you need expedition quality gear, this will do the job. My bike has attachment points, and the rack attached easily, but sufficient hardware is included to attach the rack where you have to rely on metal bands around the forks, etc. The powder coating is brittle, and makes it very difficult to bend the attachment arms to fit your bike without cracking it. I recommend you go with the strap approach if your screw holes do not line up well.

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Gear Up Freestanding Oak Bike Rack Review

Gear Up Freestanding Oak Bike Rack
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Setup was straightforward and took about an hour.
Once assembled, the stand was a little shaky, especially on the top bike, but it stayed vertical even when I was a little clumsy hoisting the bike up.
My big gripe is that the picture makes it look like the rack only has three legs and can therefore stand flush against the wall, but it has four legs and has to stand about 18" from the wall. I may as well put the bikes side by side! And because of the way the legs are assembled, you can't choose to remove the rear one; I think my only option will be to saw off a big chunk.

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iBert Safe-T Front Mounted Child Bicycle Seat Review

iBert Safe-T Front Mounted Child Bicycle Seat
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Before purchasing this seat, I had to carefuly do a deep research on the subject. I am a 6'2" guy, so, a was really concerned about having the seat hitting my knees. My neighbor has another model, which does not work at all for me, not even for him. He has to keep his legs kind of open in order to be able to ride the bike... Terrible!
Furtunately, I decided to go with the most expensive model. Sometimes the cheap become expenseive, isn't it? well... I did the right decision, instead of spending $48 dollars, I spent $89.00 on this safe-T-seat, and I cannot be happier.
The seat mechanism is really simple. It's just a little T-bar that you will be in contact with the bike. The seat plugs itself on this bar. The seat keeps in a perfect position. Even my long legs do not touch it when riding. I can ride my bike just like I was riding before the new passenger.
It took me less than 5 minutes to install the T-bar on my bike.
My daughter stays in a very comfortable position. By the way, she loved the new activity, and keeps asking me all the time for "MORE" when she sees the bike.
Well, if you want to have pleasure time and no headaches while in your bike, this is the seat you need to purchase.
CONS: The only thing I didn't like much about this product is that it only support kids up to 32 pouds. Well, nothing in the world is totally perfect! So there is no time to lose, I will ride my bike with my daughter as much as I can before she reachs her 38 pouds. :)Hope you enjoy my review.
---- ---- ---- 3 Years and 3000 Miles Latter ---- ---- ----
Hi everyone... here I am again (Jan-08-2009) to give you an additional feedback about this product.
My daughter is now 42 pounds (4 years old), and 110cm tall - I am still riding the bike with her. Her legs now touch the bottom of the seat, giving her more support. Her heigth still does not bother me.
Since she is now havier than the suggested weight, I will no longer take her on the seat, I am thinking about one of those semi-bikes that we attach on the back. The good news is that my wife is pregnant, and my Safe-T seat is still like new after 3000 miles - I am positive I will soon enough use it with the new baby that is about to arrive.
Thank you all for the POSITIVE VOTES on this review.


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Created by parents who were disappointed with the family bicycling options available, the iBert Safe-T Front Mounted Child Bicycle seat was made to offer families the best biking experience possible in safety and comfort. This front mounted seat offers both parent and child excellent range of vision, with the opportunity to interact as they bike together. Noted for its ease of use, the seat takes just a few minutes to install and remove, and it is equally easy and safe to load and unload the child from the seat. Providing plenty of clearance for the knees so that the adult can bike with ease, the seat is positioned so that it is easy to maintain the center of gravity. This adaptable seat fits any adult bike with a minimum of 3/4 inches of clearance on the handlebar stem.
The iBert Safe-T seat was developed after its creators became frustrated with the available bike seat options for children. They found that bike trailers kept their kids uncomfortably far away from them, got too hot in the sun, and only provided a limited view out to the children. The rear-mounted seats presented similar problems. The kids had a limited view and it was difficult to interact with them. Additionally, the balance of the bike was off and it was not easy to load and unload the kids. Other front mounted seats were complicated to hook onto the bike and difficult to remove. These seats also did not allow knee clearance for biking, and as a result were not comfortable.
The iBert Safe-T seat offers a variety of safety and comfort advantages compared to other child bike seat options. The iBert Safe-T seat allows you to maintain control of the bike when loading and unloading your child. To load and unload the child, you simply straddle the bike and lift the child into or out of the seat. When using the iBert seat you can always see what your child is doing and you can make sure that your child is safe and comfortable at all times. The center of gravity in the iBert seat is closer to the center of the bike making it easier to control the bike as you ride. The seat sits higher on the bike and is smooth on the bottom so that even tall riders rarely brush the bottom of the seat with their knees and if they do they just glide along the smooth edges on the bottom.
The iBert Safe-T seat is easy to install. The patented stinger assembly attaches to any bike with a minimum of 3/4 inches on the handle bar stem. The stinger system attaches to the bike in just two minutes and the seat can then be attached and detached from the stinger in 15 seconds. If you buy additional stinger assemblies the seat can be attached to multiple bikes.
The iBert Safe-T seat is made in the U.S.A. with safety and quality as the main objectives. While the iBert Safe-T seat is designed to meet all 1625-00 standards, at this time ASTM 1625-00 is written for rear child carriers not front mounted seats.
Specifications:
Allows interaction with your child
Child has a clear view
No dirt, dust, rocks, or water thrown in child's face
Small and easy to attach
Easy and safe loading and unloading of child
Maintains center of gravity
Similar construction to rear-mounted seats
One adult can take multiple children for bike rides
Easy assembly
Full clearance for knees
Made in the USA
Recommended for children one to four years old
Maximum recommended height is 42 inches
Maximum recommended weight is 38 pounds

What's in the Box? iBert Safe-T Front Mounted Bike Seat, Stinger Assembly
Manufacturer's Warranty Two year limited warranty for manufacturer's defects


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9/29/2011

Topeak MTX DeFender Bicycle Fender Review

Topeak MTX DeFender Bicycle Fender
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made to go with topeak's mtx rack, the fender runs a few inches under the rack and then extends about 4-5 inches beyond the rack.
i have used it once and it keeps the rider and the rack cleaner and drier. does the job it is designed for at a reasonable price.

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Rear Rack Bag with retractable side panniers and rain cover , bicycle rack bag by Biria - Mezano Review

Rear Rack Bag with retractable side panniers and rain cover , bicycle rack bag by Biria - Mezano
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I've had this bag on my blackburn EX-1 rack for over a year and it has held up very well. I use it regularly for picking up mail at the post office and carrying stuff while commuting to and from work. 3 high quality velcro straps hold the bag very tightly to the rack. It is pretty easy to get on and off. Supplied bungee cord loops hold the deployed mini-panniers to the sides of the rack. The bungee loops are separate from the bag so I suppose they could get lost. The panniers are big enough to hold a sweater, shoes or magazines. The bag even comes with a separate custom fitted yellow rain cover. For the price I don't believe you will find a better looking more durable bag.

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Eleven81 Rattan Style Quick Release Rear Mounted Bike Basket - BASK3064 Review

Eleven81 Rattan Style Quick Release Rear Mounted Bike Basket - BASK3064
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This basket does exactly what it says, quick release, and rediculously easy to attach to my rack. The smaller weave than its axiom counterpart is what made me decide to try this one, and its great. I love the look, ease, and sturdiness of this basket.
Highly Reccommend.
I only wish that eleven81 made a front quick release rattan-look counterpart to match.
A quick amendment: I ordered the axiom rattan look QR front basket, and it matches PERFECTLY!

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9/28/2011

Planet Bike Blinky "3H" 3-Led Rear Bicycle Light with Self Leveling Helmet Mount Review

Planet Bike Blinky 3H 3-Led Rear Bicycle Light with Self Leveling Helmet Mount
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The Blinky "3H" is great, but don't miss making a combo with the Planet Bike Sport Spot 4 LED Bicycle Light with Head, and Handlebar Mounts as a headlight to mount on your helmet. With the Sport Spot on the front, it's fantastic to be able to point a light at drivers just by looking at them. Since the Blinky "3H" swings, it sort of flashes randomly without using the flash mode. (I use a separate flashing taillight attached to my backpack.) These lights are very light weight. I hardly know I have them mounted on my helmet. Most people who see me with them on my helmet think they're great. These two should be sold as a combo since the headlight takes three batteries, and the rear light takes one, so you can easily recharge four NiMH batteries at a time. The only deficiency on the Sport Spot headlight is that it's tough to get the mounting angle right with the limited places to strap it onto your helmet, so you might have to glue a little wedge on it to adjust the angle.
Another great night safety product is the Planet Bike BRT Strap Multi-Use LED Bicycle Safety Light. Nearly the whole strap (7" x 13/16" of it) glows or blinks bright red when it's turned on -- it appears as a yellow reflective surface when it's off. It works great. It's lightweight, easy to use and comfortable, plus fits in my hip-pack nicely. I use it as a leg-light (above my left calf) for night biking or late afternoon inline skating. Having a light move as you pedal, and highlight the left edge of your bike provides a major safety advantage.
If you bike much at night, do yourself and your loved ones a favor and get all three, the BRT Strap, the Sport Spot, and Blinky "3H". I highly recommend all three of them.

I also strongly recommend a bright safety vest, jersey, or jacket for day and night biking. A good one can provide a dramatic reduction in scary incidents -- people turning in front of you or coming by too close. I try hard to always use one -- it makes an amazing difference -- people seem to have an automatic reflex to be much more cautious and wait for me to pass when they see my safety vest.


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Avenir Bicycle Storage Hooks (2 per Card) Review

Avenir Bicycle Storage Hooks (2 per Card)
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There's not much to say about bike hooks. These are standard bike hooks. Nobody is trying to reinvent the wheel here, just trying to hold them up.
Pre-drill your holes into a stud and you are good to go.

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Saris T-RAX Basic 2 Bike Hitch Mount Rack Review

Saris T-RAX Basic 2 Bike Hitch Mount Rack
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Just got this rack at LBS on sale for $125. I got the 212 which is the 1-1/4" supplied version. Basically the same as the 222 without the 2" hitch gizmo. All the 200 series have 1-1/4" frames. I have a 2" receiver on my trailblazer, so went to harbor freight and bought a 2" - 1-1/4" adapter ($9.99), then to home depot for a 1/2" X 3" bolt ($0.70) to replace the hitch bolt that comes with it (I was afraid I wouldn't have enough thread on the supplied bolt to engage the nut inside the rack tube). Drilled a 7/32" hole in the end of the bolt for the cotter pin, but will be putting a small masterlock in there for security.
I'm carrying (2) 700C hybrids on this puppy and she's solid as a rock. With a little ingenuity, I now have a formidable rack for under $150.00 that includes anti-sway.
"Buy Wisconsin - great cheese, great bike racks"

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9/27/2011

Tension Mounted Aluminum Bicycle Rack (Classic Black) (7' - 11') Review

Tension Mounted Aluminum Bicycle Rack (Classic Black) (7' - 11')
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My husband and I recently purchased this aluminum floor-to-ceiling bicycle rack from another website and were very excited when we received it. However, once we started to put it together, we found it VERY DIFFICULT to assemble! The spacer and extenders were manufactured too large to fit in the main body pieces, which made simply sliding the pieces together impossible. Needless to say, we had to use some creative methods of our own to figure out how to get the pieces together, which took a couple of hours. Now that we have the rack assembled (with 4 bikes on it), it seems like it will hold, but it is wobbly when touched. We have concrete floors and ceilings however so the tension aspect of the design works great; it is very secure and isn't going anywhere. We were very dissapointed with the lack of attention paid to making sure the pieces would even fit together properly. Although the end product is good, I would not recommend this product to a friend due to its difficult assembly.

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Delta Mega Rack Disc Bicycle Rack Review

Delta Mega Rack Disc Bicycle Rack
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25 pounds, please, any more than 10 pounds+ a bump=bent and dragging on the tires. Waste of money. I ended up breaking it and buying a better topeak rack later.

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Delta Cycle Wheel Hitch Review

Delta Cycle Wheel Hitch
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I purchased 3 of these units, mounts anywhere and works good, keeps tire and wheel from rolling around the bed of my truck

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9/26/2011

Surco DBR400 OSI Swing Away Hitch Mount Bike Rack, 2" Receiver, Up To 4 Bike Capacity Review

Surco DBR400 OSI Swing Away Hitch Mount Bike Rack, 2 Receiver,  Up To 4 Bike Capacity
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Did great for our long distance drives. Up to 7 hour drive. Freeway and mountain driving. It held up great and the swing away is definitely a plus when you want to get in the back of the truck and the bikes are in the way. I was leary the first time I swung it with a load of 3 bikes, but nothing happened, swung right back and locked back into place. I wish they made one to hold five bikes. We replace the short T screws that came with the rack with 4inch bolts and washers to fit all our bikes. Then we bungee all the bike tires together to minimize the tire movement and we are set. Never had to tighten the load during our drives yet.

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SWING AWAY 4 BIKE RACK

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Thule Round Trip Bicycle Travel Case Review

Thule Round Trip Bicycle Travel Case
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This case will protect your bike from the roughest handling that it will encounter. It's easy to use, and my standard road bike fits in easily if you remove the wheels, pedals and handlebars. The only problem is that case weighs 33 lbs, and your bike weight can easily take that over the airlines' 50 lb limit. Then, you not only pay for "oversize", you pay for "overweight". I circumvent this---just barely---by removing the seatpost/seat and pedals, and putting those in my carryon bag.
So, the only downside to this case is about the airlines not the case.

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Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 Standard Bicycle U-Lock (4-inch x 9-inch) with 4-Foot Flex Cable Review

Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 Standard Bicycle U-Lock (4-inch x 9-inch) with 4-Foot Flex Cable
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Kryptonite STD U Lock seems to be a very decent lock but it still can be "infiltrated" by a knowledgeable master thief/master lock picker in probably under 1 hour time. I'm not too worried since it is sizable, hefty looking and very heavy (4 lbs), so it looks bigger than what I saw on other bikes in the bike rack and my bike is only valued at $500. Plus most bike thieves are just simple crooks with a few tools (a bike crook in public with a 20 Pound Sledge Hammer, hacksaw, 42-inch bolt cutters, 12-inch screwdriver, 20-inch crowbar, and claw hammer will be very obvious and suspicious working for one hour on a lock).
Most bike thieves have limited time, looking for an "easy" and quick target. If you beef up your security with the bulky Kryptonite STD U Lock, odds are he'll go for a bike with a cheap lock (cheap chain or cable locks are a certain way to get your bike stolen in the bike rack). Many bikes are stolen because they're not even locked ("I'll just be a sec!"). Many bikes are also stolen because the locks are used incorrectly or left open/unlocked by mistake.
Kryptonite STD U Lock. The keys are very flimsy and forged with cheap metal so I won't be surprised in 12 months that they snap or are damaged. The Lock holder (cheap plastic) didn't work on my bike as the Lock is too big to fit anywhere so I just snug it into my rear rack.
Comes with a cable (be warned, it can be cut quite easily so don't use it as a "main attachment" to a pole, bike rack, etc, just use it to secure your rear or front tires with the U Lock attached to a pole, bike rack, etc, or run the cable through both the seat and the rear tire with the U Lock fastened to a solid object).
You should use a cable lock ONLY to secure your front or rear tire to the bike frame or bike rack. ALWAYS attach the U Lock to a solid, fixed object (lamppost, pole, road sign, fence, bike rack, etc). A cable lock is NOT a primary security tool to secure your bike. Never rely on a cable to anchor your whole bike, it can take someone a few seconds to cut through a cable lock. Always use a high quality U-lock or hefty chain as your MAIN locking device and cables as secondary devices.
In spite of AT LEAST 5 known attempts by petty German bike thieves to break through the Kryptonite STD U Lock, it's held up and has been an eminent tool in my bike lock collection (my secondary cable/cheap Chain locks securing my front tire have ALWAYS been cut).
In all, it's not bad for medium to low bike crime areas but don't use it ALONE for overnight, expensive bikes, big cities, dangerous zones or in dark desolate areas where a thief can use high powered tools or torches.
If you need more Security (you also will need to put up with the hassle of more Weight) go for:
Kryptonite New York Chain With EV Disc Lock Chain
OnGuard Brute STD 5001 U-lock
Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-lock
OnGuard Beast Chain

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9/25/2011

SportRack ABR622 Nomad Universal Fork Mount rack Review

SportRack ABR622 Nomad Universal Fork Mount rack
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This product is probably the best low-cost option. The hardware that comes with it to attach it to your mounting bar could be better. It comes with twist knobs, and was probably a little short for my BMW roof rack. I used the stock mounting for a while, then replaced it with some aluminum bar that fit in the channel of my roof rack. Now it's great! The front fork attachment is sturdy and the back attachment is adequate. It would be nice to replace the back buckle with a velcro strap, but it works. I've driven over 1000 miles on the freeway with my bike on this rack (after making the new mounting system) and it worked very well. For long trips you'll probably want to cover the underside of the front with duct tape to keep the honeycomb structure from whistling in the wind above 65MPH.

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Mounts directly to all OEM or aftermarket crossbars with universal U bolts

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Avenir Metro III Panniers (2, 165 Cubic Inches Total) Review

Avenir Metro III Panniers (2, 165 Cubic Inches Total)
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Background you can skip
I bought these Panniers in conjuntions with an M-Wave rear pack carrier (10$ see elsewhere) since wifey wanted start doing her grocery shopping more frequently and by bicycle. New bicycle paths in our area allow for a safe bike trip to and from the grocery store. So I set out to buy the largest cucbic inch panniers for the money without breaking the bank.
These have almost 2,200 ci and we're less than 40$ at time of purchasing so we went with it.
About these Panniers
They are not asl large as you might think. Albeit sizable, they are not so bulky that it looks like you're biking across Europe for a week with all your gear. By itself that is great but for grocery shopping the compartments are oddly shaped. There are 2 main ones on each side and smaller ons on top of that (clearly visible in the photos) and then there is the top pack. This is where it is not perfect for groceries. I could fit 1 gallon of milk or so in each side compartment but the weight of that pulled the top compartment flat (bread turned into flatbread in there). I.e. you can fit 2,200 ci of groceries, HOWEVER, make sure it consists of all canned stuff or all lighter stuff otherwise you're doomed!
As far as non-grocery stuff: I can absolutely see how this is perfect for books and some clothing items etc. No issues there, but we bought it especially for groceries... We have since moved onto adding a grocery basket onto the front of her bike which seems to work much better. Now we want to add a grocery basket to the rear as well (foldable) as this is not well suited, as I said. Buy it for everything else though!
Pros
- Good value
- Good quality (reinforced polyester)
- Good shape / size
- Plenty of compartments
- Easy fixing on to rear carrier pack
- Appears to be rainproof
- Reflective stripes
Cons
- Compartments only work well for non-grocery type stuff (books, towels, clothing, lunch box, beach gear)
- Heavy items in side compartments can push against wheel and flattens top compartment, i.e. item is not well suited for that
Overall verdict:
A great price/quality bargain but make sure you buy it for the right use. We're keeping it as it will come in handy but for grocery shopping you're better off buying the basket solutions (back and front).
Go for it!!

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The durable, well-constructed Avenir Metro III Panniers are spacious and can hold up to 2,165 cubic inches. Perfect for urban riders who need some extra storage space when on-the-move, each pannier is conveniently sized to fit a standard grocery bag. The panniers are made of strong, 420 denier nylon construction for durability and the ripstop dual outside pouches are ideal for securely storing items such as keys and cameras. The Metro III comes with an additional, large top pocket for more versatility and space. The denier nylon is lined with extensive reflective piping for increased visibility at night. The Avenir Metro III Panniers fasten easily to your bike rack with a standard hook and strap mounting system. The lightweight, aluminum frame conveniently folds flat when not in use.

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