Knog products have always held me in good stead. Their ergonomic, functional design and robust construction seem to complement whatever bike I’m on, rather than detract from it, regardless of whether it’s classic or modern. Their range of USB-rechargeable Blinder Lights are the latest addition to a long tradition of funky luminescence and I’m proud to team up with Knog to offer a Japanese Special Edition Blinder 1 to Cycle EXIF readers.

The Blinder 1 is a waterproof 20 lumen light housed in a silicon body. However, only 500 of these Japanese Special Editions were made. To win one of them, all you have to do is tell me, in 25 words or less, what you like about riding at night. The most creative answer wins! Leave your entry in the comments below. Winners will be announced on Friday and in the meantime, check out the rest of the Knog range on their website and Like their Facebook page.

PS: Thank you to everyone for taking the time to enter the Cycle EXIF Knog Blinder 1 Competition. Christoph composed an elegant haiku-esque entry that was deemed the winner. Here it is:

“The darkness is falling fast
In the dark, we may not be
Where is the summer gone
With all the light that we love
A light promises us life
in the darkness”

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

This week will see the release of Rapha’s 2013 Spring / Summer range, including a capsule collection that makes a grand départ from their usual understated style. The Rapha & Ræburn series features limited edition jeans, a similarly exclusive Henley merino shirt and a highly individual and visible jacket created in collaboration with UK designer, Christopher Ræburn.

It’s going to be near impossible to resist making quips about designer genes in this story, as it involves two brothers with highly visible roles in the British fashion industry landscape. One is Graeme Raeburn, Rapha’s lead product designer and the other is Christopher Raeburn, a fashion designer well known for utilizing re-appropriated military fabrics.

Surely it wouldn’t have been long before the two hooked up on some project, but it might not have been successful had not their styles been so compatible. Christopher is all about recycling martial materials and the epic riding portrayed by Rapha’s Continental riders, for example, requires the material’s resilience.

The Rapha & Ræburn Hooded Wind Jacket is made in England from decommissioned and deconstructed nylon parachutes. Both strong and lightweight, it’s covered with reflective polka dots and when not in use, can be packed into one of its own rear pockets. The jacket is limited to 600 pieces: 300 white, 200 green and 100 orange.

The Rapha & Ræburn collection may not be to the taste of riders used to the brand’s conventional lines, it’s certainly an exciting variation on a theme which is not entirely out of place. Kudos to both Rapha and the Ræburn brothers for being brave enough to think outside the black and pink square. Keep an eye on the Rapha website, facebook page and twitter this week for the drop.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

If you read Cycle EXIF, chances are you’re the type of person who prefers things a little different to the stock standard. Something a little custom, something a little handmade. Andrew Groves is a UK-based illustrator, designer and maker of hand-carved wooden camping utensils, who I am incredibly proud to have worked with on the new Cycle EXIF Honor Patch.

That last skill set may seem slightly tacked on, but when you view his two-dimensional work to his objects, you’ll realize it’s a perfect extension of his style. Andrew has been working as a freelance designer for the last 6 years, drawing inspiration from the outdoors. In 2011, he embarked on a hiking adventure to the far north of Sweden which took his design in a new direction.

Andrew was introduced to the traditional handicrafts of the Sami people, who make beautiful wooden cups, bowls, spoons and tools from the natural materials available to them in the northern wilderness. With reinvigorated inspiration, Andrew started Miscellaneous Adventures. I was so impressed with what he was doing I asked if he was interested in a collaboration and, lucky for us, he was.

The Miscellaneous Adventures X Cycle EXIF Honor Patch is the result of that collaboration: a reminder that no matter where we live, adventure is only a short bicycle ride away. This 65mm, high quality embroidered patch is easily affixed to most suitable materials (your panniers, club jacket or rucksack, for instance).

Simply set an iron to the highest setting (cotton/linen), position patch in desired location, place a tea towel over it and press iron on top for 90 seconds. It’ll stick fast, and permanently, so make sure you’ve got it in the right spot. A limited run of 200 is now available in the Cycle EXIF webstore for $13 including postage.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

For those of you who are devoted fans of Brooks saddles, and even if you’re not, here’s an exciting opportunity. Brooks England is about to release the first non-leather saddle in a very long time and one that is unlike any other on the market, the Cambium C17, and they’re inviting the first 100 cyclists to register on the Brooks England Cambium website to try one before the 17th June release.

From the Press Release:
The Cambium is made from a uniquely flexible natural rubber and organic cotton top, enhanced by a thin layer of structural textile for added resilience. This vulcanized waterproof top, which follows the rider’s movements, is immediately comfortable, maintenance-free, and highly abrasion-resistant to offer the longevity for which Brooks is legendary.

Working up to the 17th June release, Brooks is selecting a diverse group of 100 individuals worldwide to be the first to try the new saddle. Those selected are invited to try the saddle for a few months and share their feedback, which will be published on the Cambium website. The individuals selected will include men and women of differing body type and age, using a variety of bicycles, and importantly:

-33 will be long-time users of Brooks Leather Saddles.
-33 will be cyclists who have used both Brooks Leather Saddles and other saddles.
-34 will be cyclists who have never used a Brooks Leather Saddle.

Individuals who wish to register for consideration to be the firstv to try the Cambium may do so before the 17th of May at the Brooks England Cambium website. All registrants will receive a 10% discount to the Brooks online shop.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

We’ve teamed up with our friends at Caravan Collective to bring a little bike love to your wardrobe. Caravan Collective is the creative partnership of Omri, a highly passionate cyclist and Yaara, a very talented graphic designer. Together, they are promoting cycling and the use of organic cotton by producing some great Tshirts — and if you think about how much cotton is produced globally, just to cater for Tshirt addicts like myself, you’ll realize organic cotton is a much better choice.

Cotton is the most polluting of all agricultural crops, due to the lack of restrictions on hazardous pesticides and fertilizers. “Many cotton factories do not control the employment conditions of workers”, Yaara tells us, “and many employees are working under miserable conditions, sometimes on the border of slavery.” Choosing organic cotton ensures that you won’t be wearing any hard chemicals that often remain in non-organic material even after it’s been washed.

I own a lot of Tshirts, but I’ll always make room for more. Especially if they’ve got cycling-specific designs. Caravan Collective have got a great collection — for guys, the ladies and even for the babies, who are going to love the cleanliness of organic cotton. Starting today, if you head to the Caravan Collective Facebook Page and share it with the most people, you can win a set of two shirts. Just in time for Spring. There’s a chance to win two shirts each week until they decide to stop, so get sharing.

Once you’re done, check out this beautifully shot video of Omri and Yaara sharing their inspiration. They live in the northern Carmel Mountains, Israel, and it’s making me want to visit.

[vimeo 60921687 w=625&h=469]

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

The kangaroo is an iconic Australian animal who, along with the emu, proudly support the shield on our Coat of Arms. We chose both animals because they don’t like traveling backwards. Kangaroos are also good for another thing: their hide makes wonderful toe straps. I’ve been test riding a pair of ‘roo leather straps by Patebury, a new Aussie brand, and I can vouch for their quality.

Patebury is a portmanteau formed by the names of Joram Salisbury and Cameron Paterson, two designers brought together by a mutual love of surfing and cycling. Their toe straps are the result of 12 months of development, which has been thoughtfully documented on their website. Kangaroo leather is far superior to cow leather — it’s stronger, due to a wild life in the rugged Australian bush.

Because of my background as a graphic artist and, more importantly, as a cyclist, there were aspects of Patebury that I liked instantly. The typography, packaging and website were warm and professional, reminiscent of old photos of Oppy riding the Warnambool. They perfectly matched my lugged steel ride and my riding — a 30km commute in Vans and longer weekend rides through the National Park.

The straps were easy to setup, it took about three blocks worth of riding to adjust the size perfectly. Straps are ideal for low-profile shoes. Shelltoes, not so much. My Vans loved them and after about 6 months of riding, they’re starting to mold around my foot. Easy care instructions are supplied in the box and on the website and after a few dressings, they’ll be as waterproof as I need them to be.

Construction is rock solid: custom designed and cold forged solid copper rivets, made locally in Sydney, secure the tabs and are hand set, requiring over a hundred strikes with a peening hammer. The buckles are pure 304 Stainless Steel, which won’t corrode even if the surface is damaged, and there’s a polyamide inner layer which provides rigidity and reinforcement.

Cameron and Joram printed their boxes on a Swiss-made lithographic offset-proofing press.

Patebury also make other leather ‘cycling components’, some of which you may have briefly seen during my coverage of the Australian Custom Bicycle Show, and each item is constructed by hand with the same level of quality and care as the toe straps. I’m looking forward to many years of reliable and stylish riding with these straps. Head to the Patebury website for more details and purchasing facilities.

PS: Yes, custom branding is available as an option.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

Carson Leh has been producing some beautifully upholstered saddles lately. We first saw his work on his Deluxe TECH2, he’s since been refining his style with plenty of new saddles, profiled on his new website. The site is now live, under his new brand, LEH SPLY&MFG. Have a look at the news feed while you’re there, which presents an interesting insight into his skill — and the restoration of his vintage Singer sewing machine.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

Louison Bobet, Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Ottavio Bottechia, Charly Gaul, André Leducq: suave, debonair and gritty champions of a black and white era. Their steely gaze and crystal drive to win continues to inspire, not only by their hard graft, but by their style. In their spirit, in association with Eleven Vélo, I’m proud to present the Cycle EXIF Jersey.

Inspired by their iconic images, riding authentic steel frames across dirt-tracked cols, Cycle EXIF has collaborated with an Australian design studio, Eleven Vélo, to produce a limited edition, 100% merino wool jersey. Leave the logo-emblazoned lycra to those who feel the need to prove something; this is the jersey for riders who are confident in their ability to suffer gracefully and beautifully.

The Cycle EXIF Jersey is bringing the collar back to an Australian-made garment made from wool grown in Australia. The 170gsm (5.9 oz) Superfine Merino used is light and tough, yet soft against the skin with a non-itch feel. I’ve had the opportunity to test these merino jerseys in winter, where it can be used as a base layer, and summer, where it can stand alone as a single layer.

There’s the standard three pockets on the back, it’s machine washable, naturally anti-bacterial and odour-free. That makes it a perfect jersey for centuries, Sunday mornings, commuting and touring. The Cycle EXIF Jersey is essential wear for serious riders — whenever endurance, comfort and panache are required. For more information and to place your order, head to the Eleven Vélo website.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

Living in an age of pop out and handmade bicycles, it’s refreshing to step back and remind ourselves of how these two anomalies came about. Many reasons can be traced back to Europe in the 40s and 50s: Edoardo Bianchi, Pietro Casati, Cino Cinelli, Ernesto Colnago, Giuseppe Daccordi and their contemporaries. Marcello Faggin was another Italian racer who started building the frames he loved racing, 67 years ago. The family Faggin celebrated with a book called Milestones. And a big party.

All of the men listed above, and countless others, helped develop the industry that we appreciate today. But the Faggin family is a little different, in that Marcello’s daughters, Maria Rosa, Gianna, Carla and Cristina, are still operating the family business. In Cristina’s case, that means actually brazing frames together. Milestones is an inspiring read for those of us with any appreciation for Italian racing bicycles and handmade bicycles in general.

It’s also an attractive read, a stylish layout with a flamboyant, graphic flair. The story is described in both Italian and English, tracing the history of the brand from its beginnings in Udine and the move to Padua, where it still exists today. The reader is swept along with the increasing interest in Italian bikes from the overseas market, racing victories, logo developments and the embrace of new frame materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber.

Unfortunately, Milestones has old out, but keep an eye on the Faggin web shop for a reprint. In the meantime, you can follow them via their Facebook page and Instagram feed.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

Perfect for your waxed cotton panniers or club jacket, the Cycle EXIF sew-on patch will announce your appreciation of beautiful bicycles. Pick one up via the web store. It’s a run of only 25, so be quick.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

Portland is a hotbed of creativity. Readers of Cycle EXIF will be well aware of the profuse number of custom frame builders located in Oregon’s most populated city. It’s also home to Poler Camping Stuff, a range of well-designed implements that are aimed primarily at folks who focus on having fun in the great outdoors — whether it’s camping, snowboarding, surfing or road tripping. I took their Rucksack on a 220 kilometer off-road trip and it proved to be a great accompaniment.

My good mate Adam Macbeth is a super-keen adventure biker, and regularly conquers multi-day off-road rides through the Australian countryside. He’s an ardent Salsa fan, recently adding a Mukluk, their fat-tire model, to his quiver. He’s been trying to convince me to accompany him on one of his mad treks and when he offered me the use of his titanium Salsa Fargo, I finally agreed. It’s been years since I seriously rode on dirt, although it was my native terrain when I was growing up.

I felt a certain amount of trepidation when we embarked on our journey. On Friday night, Adam, Felicity and I drove to the Imperial Hotel, a grand old ‘pub’ in the Blue Mountains village of Mount Victoria. The Blue Mountains is a section of the Great Dividing Range — a 3,500 kilometer-long line of peaks and highlands that run from the northern tip of Australia, down the east coast to the southern state of Victoria. We would drive from the ‘Imp’ to Lithgow and rendezvous at dawn with Nathan. Then ride approximately 110km from there to Sofala, an old gold mining town, and back again on Sunday.

The Rucksack was packed with what I couldn’t fit in my frame bags, and didn’t need to access regularly, namely my thermals for sleeping in (being winter in the southern hemisphere) and lunch — a loaf of sourdough, a chorizo sausage and a block of sharp cheese. Oh, and a hip flask full of a single malt whiskey. On Saturday, our first stop outside Lithgow was the Mount Lambie truck stop, after a 10km ‘shakedown’ stretch. Here Adam silently contemplated the road ahead, mainly because, being a regular visitor to the region, he was quite aware of the pain awaiting us.

Soon we turned off the highway, ironically following signs to Portland, NSW, Australia. It felt good to hit the B roads, but I was enjoying the asphalt surface because it was about to run out and the dirt tracks would begin, and would continue until we rode into Lithgow the next day. The Rucksack still felt comfortable, once I’d adjusted the straps to the appropriate length. It was only filled to a fraction of its potential capacity, but sat squarely and didn’t float around at all.

At this point we turned onto unsealed roads and barreled along trails that ranged from hard pack to highly enjoyable single trail. A welcome lunch was had at the top of a peak that offered a sudden view through the trees of the valleys below. It was great to finally be out of the city, breathe the clean air and listen to the silence that was broken only by the calling of native birds and the whir of Chris King hubs.

It soon became obvious we weren’t in Kansas anymore, the only sign of civilization being the odd farm house and shed we passed every hour or so. The dry landscape soon took on a wonderful dusty hue and, after an unsuccessful negotiation of a steep section of single trail, so did I. The Rucksack took the brunt of the fall but held up well, with no tearing.

Finally, after racing kangaroos through eucalyptus forests, gazing at magnificent views, several crossings of the Turon River and cracking a deraiileur hanger, we arrived at the Royal Hotel in Sofala. Several burgers and beers were quickly swallowed before carting our bikes upstairs to our rooms and drawing straws to find out who first had the pleasure of a hot shower.

The Royal Hotel was first licensed in 1851, and not much has changed. Adam reckons it’s haunted but if it is, the resident ghoul was unable to rouse us from our slumber that night.

In fact, the only spirit to be seen was the vast amount of beer we consumed as we sat at the bar, chatting with the locals and watching the steam curl up from our Sidis, drying above the roaring fire.

In its heyday as a gold mining town the population of Sofala swelled to about 40,000 but currently has a population of about two or three hundred. They consist of hunters, farmers, a motorcycle ‘social club’ and others who prefer the slower pace of life. As you can still find traces of gold dust in the Turon River, Sofala also attracts the odd local fortune hunter, who proudly showed us his finds.

Breakfast was at dawn, where we encountered some of the locals in the kitchen, still drinking from the night before. A dehydrated meal of bacon, eggs and hash browns later (it’s actually not bad… just ask Adam), the second day’s riding began. It was frosty — perhaps 5 or 6 degrees Celsius, and shortly our first river crossing appeared in front of us. The only reason the river wasn’t frozen, I believe, was because it was flowing. To avoid spending the rest of the morning riding in cold, wet shoes, we took them off. And walked the bikes across. Our feet turned blue but we managed to rub some color back into them before setting off.

The day warmed up as the sun rose and we settled back into a familiar routine of riding and eating and drinking in the views, which were breathtaking. As were the climbs.

I’m sure Adam had inflated his 3.8″ tires with helium as he seemed to float up the slopes, while Felicity and I did our best to encourage each other behind him.

However, to the victor goes the spoils and after an endless series of ecstatic descents and torturous climbs, we were rewarded with an aspect of the Great Dividing Range rarely seen from the main road:

Before too long, the shadows got longer and adrenalin kicked in as we realized our goal was near. Headlights were ignited and we summoned every last dram of energy in our tired legs to carry us into Lithgow. An odd 220kms later, we bundled ourselves into the car and we headed back into Sydney; tired, dusty, smelly and happy. The Poler Rucksack proved to be a capable and comfortable day pack, although I sure wish I brought the Napsack along as well: it would have come in very handy. Next time.

Check out the entire Poler range on their website, as well as the adventures of the Poler team.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

Merino wool is finally making an impression on the cycling garment market, and it won’t be long before it is recognized as a superior fabric to synthetics. It provides a stylish alternative to any rider who prefers subtle quality and functionality, so it was with great pleasure that I happened across Lab-Gear, an Australian brand that offers a unique range of merino wear for the discerning cyclist.

Merino wool has been used for cycle gear for aeons. The first Maillot Jaune was woolen, in fact, the first year it was made from a synthetic material, some winning GC riders refused to wear it. Hell, even Eddy Merckx’s Team Faema shorts were woolen. However, merino wool has grown up since the good old days. New manufacturing processes have refined it to a superfine level, making it softer and more comfortable than synthetics.

I have been fascinated by the use of merino for cycling kit, although having owned numerous ‘retro’ jerseys, my impression was dubious. These Belgian and French jerseys were constructed from a mix of wool and acrylic, which, while perfect for European winter riding, were bulky and tended to insulate sweat rather than dissipate it. When I met with Gerard Thomas of Lab-Gear, he outlined the positive attributes of merino with a quiet evangelism. I was tempted.

Lab-Gear are somewhat different to your standard clothier. They offer a bespoke ordering and construction system through their website: first you select your size and then you can choose what color you’d like your sleeves, breast and chest panels, collar, stripes and stitching to be. The Superfine Merino fabric used by Lab-Gear is 100% Australian grown, spun and woven. It’s not processed overseas, but rather in its home state of Victoria, which means it has a very low carbon footprint, because all Lab-Gear garments are assembled in Australia as well. It’s made to order, so there’s no excess stock, and you get an individually tailored piece of kit.

So, tempted I was. I hit the order page, deliberated over the colors, almost opting for a harlequin mix of every shade available before being talked into coal on each panel with red and white stitching. Sold, signed and delivered, a few days later I received a package in the mail which contained an enlightening surprise: this merino stuff is soft. Soft, pliable, flexible and smooth. It felt good. The real telling, however, would come with the riding. I took it out for a quick 60 kilometer (37 mile) ride, where I managed to experience wool’s vapor-wicking advantage. Wool, by its very nature, pulls moisture off your body even before it turns into a droplet.

Finally, an Australian brand with an Australian-made product that can compete with overseas offerings. If you’re a serious cyclist, even if you’re more of a casual rider, you owe it to yourself to try some of Lab-Gear’s range. I can now affirm that Lab-Gear’s merino wool feels vastly superior to synthetic fabric and, according to the website, it is flame resistant, fully breathable, fully sustainable, renewable and biodegradable. It’s also ethically and locally grown. It’s not blended with lesser quality wool and it’s machine washable.

It is a perfect insulator, meaning it will keep you cool as well as warm you up. It’s antimicrobial and antibacterial — oils and odors cannot actually cling to the fibers. This makes it perfect for commuters, long distance riders, cyclo-tourists… well, all cyclists, really. Now I’m a believer, I dropped over to the Lab-Gear workshop to see where the magic happens. Gerard is a designer and engineer, and he’s always working on a new project or refining an idea. The ‘Bike Life’ range currently consists of bibs, shorts, leg and arm warmers, but they also have an “Urban Life’ range with casual T-shirts, scarves and jackets. I also had a sneak peek at some new items which will be added to the lineup in the future, which looked exciting. Take a look around the studio below, and check out the Lab-Gear website here.

Special thanks to the very talented graphic designer Paula Cardona for the photography, visit her website here.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

It’s been just over a year since we featured Carson Leh’s Deluxe TECH2 BMX and its leather upholstered saddle that so excited the bicycle blogosphere. Carson is a multi-talented designer who has applied his appreciation of traditional style to furniture and industrial design, sustainability consulting, photography and, finally, traditional shoemaking and custom leather saddlery.

Shoemaking is a skill less-oft heard of nowadays, despite a popular resurgence of interest in traditional crafts, and Carson has combined his cordwaining skills with his love for BMX riding to produce the brogued saddle installed on his Deluxe TECH2. That saddle created so much interest, from all genres of cycling—road, cyclocross, MTB as well as BMX—that he implemented a Kickstarter project to enable a short production run of similarly-styled saddles, under the banner of Alden Seats.

Carson’s aim is to produce a hard-working saddle created with leather from the USA’s most environmentally friendly tanneries, built tough to withstand the rigors of life on (and off) the road, with a style that wouldn’t be uncomfortable inside the most exclusive gentleman’s club or boardroom. There will initially be three seat shapes, with four leather colors and nine distinct designs. Styles will include a retro road and track seat, a Dutch style comfort seat and a slim pivotal-style BMX and MTB seat.

Alden Seats needs to raise $5,700 on Kickstarter in just 12 days time to actualize the project. As an incentive to pledge your support, Carson has a range of gifts to reward your donation, such as limited edition seats, shirts and posters. Most notably, if you can donate $100, you’ll receive $100 dollars towards a saddle from the first production run. This basically means you pre-purchase a seat with free shipping anywhere in the world. Check out the Kickstarter project page here, and watch the video of Carson and his leather saddlery below. Hopefully every boutique cyclery around the world will be inspired to carry one of Carson’s saddles and pledge a donation.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.

The crew at fyxation recently sent me a selection of their products to review, and now the silly season has receded I’ve had a chance to mount them on a trusty steed and give them a good run. The bike is a Ricardo, a marque as familiar to Australian cyclists as Schwinn is to Americans. I swapped out the drop bars for fyxation’s Alterra Cafe bars, wrapped them in their Loop cloth bar tape, and installed the Curve saddle.

The Curve hearkens back to Selle San Marco’s legendary Concor saddle, and is just as comfortable. I was expecting some chafing due to the width but we’ve been close for over 120km now and there’s no irritation whatsoever. The upholstery is vinyl which, to it’s credit, is completely waterproof, but I’d love to see a limited edition version in leather or suede. The chrome rails contrast starkly with my rusty old ten speed, but set atop a shiny new seat post, should look at home.

It’s now three years since I embarked on an unsupported six-day ride from Sydney to Melbourne, the ‘Cannonball Run‘. My traveling companions were a motley crew of current and ex-messengers, all riding either fixed or single speed bikes. I will say it was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and six days in the saddle, averaging 200km a day, taught me a lot about riding position. I rode my single speed On-One il Pompino, set up with risers and, by the third day, my wrists were in agony. All I could think about were these handlebars. The opportunity to vary one’s hand position is worth the investment alone.

I will swear by these bars. The very front of them can be grasped when battling uphill, moving one’s hands towards the ends will bring them closer towards you and raise your shoulders. When descending, there is no loss of control and the arms are forced further out, increasing airflow. The 590mm width are an added bonus when carrying extra weight such as fully loaded panniers uphill.

These bars were a straight swap from the drops, so the original brake levers are still installed. If I was to take these on a long trip, I would definitely replace the levers with regular MTB or BMX levers. The position is as comfortable as I could get them, so I’ll leave it at that until I can find some decent replacements. The 6061 T6 Aluminum construction offers a small amount of flex, which can actually be a small relief as it helps to buff against bumpy terrain.

I’ve never used cotton tape before, but admired it’s appearance on countless bikes on Cycle EXIF. It’s very easy to install evenly, and there was enough length supplied to wrap it in a close spiral. Which was lucky, because I find cotton tape to be a lot less forgiving than either foam or leather bar wrap. I would suggest the trick of sliding a section of inner tube over the bars before wrapping the cotton tape, just for a little extra comfort. As mentioned, I’ve ridden this combination for 120km now, and I’ve no intention of swapping the bars back. They give the impression of captaining a 40 foot wooden sloop, or driving a big old Gran Torino over meandering country roads.

Special thanks to fyxation for letting me review their products. You can buy these, and their others, on their website. The Alterra Cafe bars come in either black or polished aluminum, the Loop cloth tape in either black or white, while the Curve saddle comes in six colors.

Cycle EXIF supplies a daily dose of commuter bicycles, custom bicycles and classic bicycles.