Review: Camelbak Repack LR 4 hydration waistpack

 

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I have a history with Camelbak product that stretches all the way back to the early-90s original. Along the way I’ve worked my way through the Rogue, H.A.W.G and Cloudwalker. In recent years however I’ve been getting less use out of them. A combination of constantly evolving bike bags and bikes with umpteen bottle cages have made the rucksack capacity Camelbak less of an essential. So if your frame bag has robbed you of bottle cage space, the Camelbak Repack LR might just be what you’re looking for…

It’s not a bumbag

The Repack LR is a waistpack that’s part of Camelbak’s LR, or Low Rider range. As the name suggests, they all store their water at waist level. If like me you haven’t bought a new Camelbak in years then you’re in for a surprise! The faff of filling/drying a bladder has been greatly reduced with the new design. The hose can be removed with a quick-link while the bladder remains watertight. There is also a handle integrated into the filler cap mouth. If you’ve ever struggled to fill up at an outside tap and keep the mouthpiece out of the dirt you’ll appreciate this setup.

The Repack’s reservoir can store 1.5 litres (or 50 oz in old money) of water, comfortably matching a pair of bottles then! The bite-valve features an on/off valve and even when on no amount of rough riding lead to any leakage. The hose clips to the pack’s belt using a magnetic tube-trap. To begin with I found this tricky to replace when on the move but it soon becomes second nature. It’s certainly less trouble than trying to replace a bottle into a cage under a frame bag or on a fork leg!

The Crux reservoir, holding water with the hose removed!

There are handy pockets on both sides of your hips. On the left a zipped one that was perfect for keys and on the right one with just elastic and an overlapping flap. While I could happily fit a 700c innertube in them there was no way they’d take a modern smartphone. Both sides of the belt have the same ladder-stitched strapping so you can switch the hose-clip to the whichever side you prefer.

Secure hose retention and handy zipped pocket

Comfort

Another clever feature of the belt is that the main strap passes under  the pockets. Whatever you’ve got stored won’t interfere with or get crushed if you cinch the belt tight. Another upside is that I found the Repack to stay in place with a relatively loose belt. There was no need to cinch the belt so hard you give yourself a beer-belly look-alike! The Repack stays put both when spinning a fast cadence or bashing down sun-baked ruts. There is plenty of padding around the lumber and belt and perforations prevent an excessively sweaty feel.

Elasticated pocket for quick-access for bulkier items, but not your phone…

Further storage

Inside the main compartment there is a central divider to separate the space for the water and other kit. Undoing the zip creates a wide opening so getting the reservoir in is a piece of cake. With the full 1.5 litres on board there’s an additional 2.5l for kit. Room enough for a tool roll and mini-pump without forcing the zips. There is an additional small pocket under the camelback logo. Inside are a series of dividers (So I could do away with the tool-roll!) and a zipped mesh pocket with a key-clip. The exterior zips move horizontally so the pocket opens like a book and velcro flap ensures the zip-pulls can’t catch and pull open inadvertently.

Room for all the essentials in the Camelbak Repack

Camelbak Repack: Summary

I found the Camelbak Repack to work really well for a number of scenarios. For quick rides it holds all the essentials, and on longer rides it increases your overall capacity, conveniently returning what has been lost through fitting a frame bag. Compared to a rucksack there’s no sweaty-back or shoulder ache to contend with. The Repack can also be spun-around to access the pockets without having to remove it, handy for grabbing your camera or a snack in a hurry. The clever design shows Camelbak haven’t been resting on their laurels, if only the side pockets could take my phone! All said, the Repack looks set to join me on a lot more adventures in the future.

The silver-loop is reflective and can take a clip-on light

Review: Genetic Driser 4-10 drop handlebars

 

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Drop-what?

25 years on from riser-bars having their second coming on mountain bikes, Genetic have released their new Driser 4-10 drop-bars. Joining the original Driser 4 road  and Driser 16 gravel bars there is a clear family resemblance. In common with its predecessors, the Driser 4-10 is a drop-riser, that is to say a drop bar with a rise on the top section. At first this seems counter-intuitive but there are situations where this could come in handy. Perhaps to get comfy you need more height than your steerer can accommodate, or perhaps you just want to avoid the huge stack-o-spacers look.

Paired with gel-pads the drisers are a seriously comfy bar

On the bike

The 4-10 part of the Genetic Driser name relates to the 4 degree flare on the drops and the 10mm rise from the centre. The original Driser shared the same flare but came with a 20mm rise. Another way that Drop-bars are aping MTB trends is by getting wider. The Genetic Driser 4-10 is available in five widths from 400 to 480mm in 20mm increments.

The tops of the Drisers are an interesting shape. Normally you’d refer to it as aero, but that’s probably not the biggest concern for someone hoping to raise their bars! I tried our test set with some gel-pads and it made the drisers almost a replacement for flat handlebars. The 4° flare seems tame compared to  a Woodchipper, but adds 16mm width on the drops. So for an Audax, back-roads bash or gravel-lite© it’s enough to help your elbows flex outward. The drisers are made from 6061 alloy and (even without the gel pads) didn’t feel overly harsh or excessively flexible.

Roomy & practical with a hint of flare!

Aside from ride feel the drisers have another couple of handy features. There are channels underneath to help recess the cables and also maintain a comfy shape when gripped. The semi-aero flat-tops leave a bit more room for GPS & light mounts, useful for bars that aim to help you stay out longer! At £44.95 the Drisers compare favourably to rivals and offer a broader width range. If you have some big rides planned, or a bike that’s too compromised for regular use, the drisers could be the bars to open up your options.

Specifications

• 6061 Aluminium tubing
• 40/42/44/46/48 cm Widths
• 10mm rise
• 70mm reach
• 4° Flare
• 115mm drop
• 31.8mm stem clamp diameter
• 23.8mm main tube diameter
• Laser etched logos on a sand blasted and black anodised finish

Review: Giro Agilis MIPS helmet

 

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As gravel bikes straddle the middle ground between road & mtb, the associated kit begins to do the same. Road helmets ache to be aero while MTB lids sprout peaks and chin guards. If like me you’re unlikely to be putting out some serious wattage at the DK200, your priorities are different. Decent ventilation, and some additional protection as an off-road tumble is always more likely than on smooth black-top. The Agilis MIPS from Giro is aimed squarely at the all-road market looking for this blend of speed & safety.

Construction

The Giro Agilis helmet uses the familiar polystyrene construction you’ll find in most helmets. The first thing that stood out to me was that none of the outer faces of polystyrene are exposed. So scuffs and dents from daily use will be fended off by a tougher polycarbonate shell. This can only help the helmet’s longevity.

Why so serious?

Fit & comfort

As we say in all our helmet reviews, any comments on fit have the caveat that all human heads are different shapes. One thing that everyone can probably agree on is that good ventilation is a must. Here the Giro Agilis does well, and in the pics below you can easily see both my head, and some daylight through the vents. These combined with the generous foam pads meant that when working up a sweat it doesn’t run into your eyes. Another aspect of fit that thankfully has been important of late is compatibility with sunglasses! My Oakley Monsterdogs have the chunkiest frames of all my sunnies and play nicely with the Agilis. Neither push each other lopsided when worn together!

Good ventilation and clearance for big sunnies!

Adjustment

Looking inside the Giro Agilis you can see the Roc Loc 5.5 MIPS cradle. For those of you unfamiliar with MIPS it’s a system that aims to reduce rotational brain injuries. Once the main body of the helmet has absorbed the initial impact the MIPS liner allows your head to rotate within the helmet. This is particularly important when your head hits something at an angle. Let’s face it, you’re unlikely to hit anything perfectly on the level. Of course I can’t verify the effectiveness of MIPS, what I can do is say that the system doesn’t make the helmet uncomfortable or more difficult to adjust. In fact I was hugely impressed by the level of comfort offered. The straps are easy to adjust and stay put while the Roc Loc adjuster has enough fine-tuning to allow a custom fit. Crucially I could adjust the Agilis so that it stayed in place without feeling like my skull was being compressed!

Excellent adjustment, and comfort without bulk.

Summary

The Agilis was a hit from the get go. It’s comfortable, light, and very easy to adjust. The Agilis mixes the best of road & MTB helmets without compromise. The best helmet is perhaps the one you don’t notice and you’re happy wearing. Retailing at £89.99 I feel the Agilis represents good value for money, considering the excellent fit, finish and MIPS cradle. If you like the design of the Agilis MIPS but aren’t convinced by the MIPS system then a standard Agilis is also available. It retails for £69.99 and comes in the same seven colourway options. Personally, spreading that additional £20 across the many hours I’ll wear this helmet for makes the extra expense a no-brainer. Ahem.

It’s also worth mentioning that currently Giro are supporting NHS & key workers by offering a 30% discount off their range of products. You can read more about it HERE.

The Agilis extends lower than your average road lid

Cool movie! INTO THE RIFT: THE STORY OF THE ATLAS MOUNTAIN RACE

 

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The Atlas Mountain Race

At its announcement the Atlas Mountain Race had all the hallmarks of being an amazing event. So much so I barely hesitated putting my name down when entries opened! With the covid-crisis going global shortly after the AMR, what was a contender for the event of the year, might end up being the only big event of the year! With terrain that was as beautiful as it was punishing, the AMR has undoubtedly burned itself indelibly into the memories of those who competed. Even so, with the events that have unfolded across the world, the freedom of ride, eat, sleep, repeat seem a distant memory.

A film by Brady Lawrence

It is fortunate then that Brady Lawrence was invited to film the event. And in doing so, open up the rider’s experiences to a wider audience. The film’s producers sent us this to outline what you can expect in the movie:

To simply finish the Atlas Mountain Race means navigating 1,200 kilometres of the most rugged and remote roads in Morocco. Along forgotten gravel paths from Marrakech to the Atlantic coast, riders must climb a staggering 25,000 meters of elevation past snow-capped peaks, through scorched desert and into palm-filled oases. All under the eight-day time limit.

 

To win requires riding almost non-stop, night and day, for days on end. It is a combination of strength and sleep deprivation that only a few riders in the world can manage. Riding alone, unsupported and loaded down with supplies, each competitor must constantly battle mechanicals, heat exhaustion and saddle sores to get to the finish. There is no prize, no money, simply the satisfaction that comes from pushing oneself to the limit while exploring the backroads of a beautiful country.

 

With support from Canyon in conjunction with PEdALED, Fizik and the race crew led by organiser and route creator Nelson Trees, filmmaker Brady Lawrence followed the race documenting everything from a brutal 80 kilometre walk through the high desert with a broken bike, to one racer’s simple joy at realising they’ll soon eat their first warm meal in days.

 

Featuring the sport’s biggest names and first-time, ultra-distance racers alike. Into the Rift gets up close to the kind of people crazy enough to take on this epic challenge. Capturing the human drama set against an otherworldly landscape, Into the Rift is an in-depth look at a true adventure.

Into the Rift

Into the Rift: The Story of the Atlas Mountain Race. Debuts on May 20, 2020 at 20:00 UK time (21:00 CET) on YouTube.

Click here to watch Into the Rift

Bikepacking movie: Salsa Cycles: Choosing To Live

 Finally the wait is over! Salsa Cycles and Travel Alberta‘s new movie, Choosing To Live, is ready to stream online.

While mourning her late husband, Sarah Hornby craved an opportunity to connect with him through his biggest passion. Her goal was simple. She would attempt all 10 routes he created while researching his Bikepacking in the Canadian Rockies guidebook, in a single year. As she pedaled, her story transformed. From sadness and loss to a profound celebration of both his life and her own unique journey, she was choosing to live.

Sarah Hornby, ticking off the routes of the guidebook.

A Salsa Cycles movie is always greatly anticipated. Choosing To Live, made in conjunction with Travel Alberta, is no different. It documents routes in the Canadian Rockies laid out by inspirational bikepacker and cycle racer Ryan Correy. Correy, the founder of Bikepack Canada, tragically lost his fight with cancer in April 2018, aged only 35.

His last project was to write Bikepacking in the Canadian Rockies, the definitive guidebook for the area he loved to explore most. Choosing to live records his wife, Sarah Hornby as she rides each of the routes laid out in the guidebook in a single year.

More Info…

For more information on Salsa Cycles, visit their website: salsacycles.com

Check out Travel Alberta to start planning your dream holiday at: travelalberta.com

Review: Alpkit Squalline windproof jacket

 

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Packable protection from the elements

While the worst of Winter weather is now hopefully just a distant memory, it still pays to be prepared. Early morning mist, April showers and fast descents can all chill you to the bone if you are in the wrong kit. Alpkit’s Squalline jacket is designed to provide protection without the usual bulk of a full on winter jacket.

The first thing you notice is that the Squalline is not your typical crisp packet stiff, rustly, shell jacket. It is soft to the touch and very stretchy. There is no restriction when getting down into the drops, or hefting your bike over a gate. It is not until you unzip it and examine the inner face of the material that you can see it is water resistant.

Fit

The Squalline has relaxed but not baggy cut. The sleeves did not ride up when on the drops, and the double cuff design pairs up well with gloves to keep the damp and draughts at bay.

Your base layer and winter jersey will fit easily under the Squalline without it being stretched tight. The drop tail is big enough to cover loaded jersey pockets and overlap the small of your back.

On the bike

The double cuffed sleeves and high neck combine to keep the elements out. When it does warm up, the zip is easy to undo one handed. There is none of that needing to use your teeth business fighting a stiff zip!

The large zip garage means no painful beard or chin nipping either!

A mesh vent across the shoulder blades helps to prevent overheating. It also keeps that boil in the bag feeling at bay.

There are no front pockets, instead there is a zipped rear pocket for essentials. This pocket doubles up as a storage bag and makes it easy to store the jacket in your jersey pocket or frame bag.

The steel grey colour has resisted mud staining and provides a contrast from the scenery without being shouty like some fluro colours. There are reflective details on the front and rear to get you noticed in the dark.

Wet weather performance

For a jacket that is sold as weather resistant rather than waterproof, it performs remarkably well. For it’s first wet outing I took a full-on rain shell as back up, but despite persistent showers, never felt the need to change as it was doing a great job of keeping me dry.

Summing up

With the Summer approaching I can see the Squalline being the go-to shell. Being light, breathable and able to keep out all but the worst downpour, it will keep you dry and comfortable without weighing you down.

Review: Fizik Terra Microtex Bondcush Tacky handlebar tape

 

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With the Covid-19 restricting big rides, take advantage of the good weather and give your bike some  long overdue TLC. Handlebar tape is a crucial contact point but often suffers from cost-cutting on new bikes. Follow any bike mechanic on instagram and before long an image tagged #bikeshophorrors crops up showing the grim evidence of sweaty hands!

Terra Bond-what?

You expect a funky product with a name like Fizik Terra Microtex Bondcush Tacky. Fizik explain the lengthy name like so. Terra means it’s tape for off-road drop bars. Bondcush is the name for the cushioned padding bonded to the outer layer. Finally we are left with Tacky, not because of any garish colours but because the Microtex outer layer is grippy. Speaking of colours, the Terra tape is available in six colours, including black so you’ll find a shade to suit whatever you ride. The Challenger Tank green of our test tape is ‘green blue’ apparently. With a retail price of £31.99 it’s clearly at the upper end of the scale so it had better be good!

Fitting

When fitting the Fizik Terra tape you have a couple of options. The tape has both recessed logos and black printed logos on it. I opted for the more subtle recessed branding. While the tape does have a pull-off backing strip, the adhesive is actually a silicone strip rather than actual glue. Getting started is tricky but with a couple of decent wraps it holds solid. It also has the advantage of allowing you to reposition the tape without losing grip when you are eventually happy.

Ah, repositioning tape. I’m happy to confess that I’m not a natural when it comes to wrapping tape. In fact I gave the Fi’zi:k how-to video a few watches before starting. Naturally the pro in the video can slap on tape perfectly while simultaneously completing The Times crossword. I found the Fizik Terra tape a real mission to fit and was saved numerous times by the gel-backing. But, and it’s a big but, when I had eventually finished I was very happy with the result.

While the lack of stretch in the tape made it tricky to wrap neatly around the curves it paid dividends elsewhere. The tape’s strength meant that I could pull it really tight without the tape thinning-out and looking uneven or bumpy. Additional bonus points go to Fi’zi:k for supplying finishing tape that was actually capable of sticking to itself.

It had us in the first half, not gonna lie!

Summary

There’s no doubting that Fizik’s Terra tape is both an expensive option and tricky to fit. It does however reward those with patience by being supremely grippy and comfortable. At 3mm thick it’s Fizik’s thickest tape but doesn’t feel bulky like some.

 

My only real complaint is that there aren’t enough logos on the tape. Not because I want to broadcast that I’ve got flash bartape, but because the random spacing looks a bit uneven! If you’re champing at the bit to get out, rest a while and treat yourself to some Terra tape. It’ll be perfect for those long hot summer rides we’re all looking forward to!