10 Mountain Bike and Outdoor Products You May or May Not Need

Many of you have asked for an update on my injury. So here it is fast. My collarbone is still broken but has healed enough to start physical therapy. So I'm going to take off the sling, make this video, and try not to overdo it. With that, let's move on to the matter at hand. Here we have ten

mountain

bike

and

outdoor

products

that I've spent some time with over the past few months. In this video, I'm going to give you my opinion on them starting with this. When traveling to remote locations for

mountain

biking, having the option of car camping is always good.

This inflatable mattress turns the entire back seat into a bed, even filling the area where your feet normally go. You can also deflate one of the chambers and use it as a normal sleeping pad. This was $30 on Amazon and at least worth that. It comes with an electric pump, replacement vinyl patches, and even a cushion that prevents the center console from hitting your abdomen. These inflatable pillows are terribly uncomfortable, but they work great as concrete blocks for my highest bench. This car camping solution won't work if you're very tall, and results may vary depending on the exact shape of your backseat.

But one thing's for sure: it's better than sleeping in your own seat. It gives you much more space and a flatter platform. While this provides a viable backcountry solution, a tent may be a better option if you have a place to pitch one. In a previous video, I demonstrated this Fidlock water bottle, which snaps into place with magnets and stays there with mechanical latches. I love it. But they also make this smaller bottle and this unique base that can be placed anywhere. You may want to fill your larger bottle with plain water and this smaller one with electrolytes on longer rides.

They are sold separately, but I think they work well together to pack a little extra hydration. My only complaint is the $25 price of the foundation. I'm sure it's well made, but it's quite expensive. In any case, I've been using them together and it's a surprisingly safe combination. Next up some stuff from KMC starting with these DLC

bike

chains. These are super strong, super lightweight, and aren't cheap: between $60 and $80. It's a tough sell when you can get good chains for $25, so I can't personally recommend them to the budget-conscious consumer. KMC claims they shift particularly well, but a new chain always feels good to me.

What I will say is that the look of the DLC chain is absolutely phenomenal... But objectively, all I can say is that it's light. So if you're looking to add some style points to your bike, trying to shave off grams or just have exquisite taste in chains, go for the DLC. Otherwise, buy a decent chain, replace it frequently and everything will be fine. Also from KMC are the missing link levers. I like these. These tire levers are a great addition to not only your bag, but also your home shop because they also double as master link pliers.

Considering they cost the same as regular master link pliers, I think they're a good buy and a nice gift for literally any mountain biker. Once you're done using them on your chain, you can also use them as forks. These cold weather hand gloves appear to be touchscreen friendly, but are hit or miss when it comes to certain gestures. I'm sure you've seen this move when it comes time to remove the hairpins. These touch gloves are designed to improve accuracy and response when using a touch screen while wearing gloves. I put them on my index finger and thumb and saw a difference.

The response was much better and the accuracy was a little better. With clean gloves and a little heat, they adhered surprisingly well to the fabric, much better than you'd think. But I would be worried about how they would perform over the course of a season. If this is a recurring problem for you, tactile gloves or something similar might be the answer. Otherwise, a bare finger is totally free. Storing tools and supplies on and off your bike can help you stay prepared. This product helps take advantage of head tube space. It's called a fork cork and it ranks second as the best named product I've reviewed.

The fork cork is really simple, it simply expands when you squeeze it to secure an aluminum cap to the bottom of the head tube. You can use it to store a tubeless patch kit, a tire inflator, or some cash for emergencies, as long as you find a way to keep it from making noise. The fork cork costs $30, which is a lot more than a real cork, but it's well made and does what it says. In many videos you have seen me use my Evoc flight bag to pack my suitcase and fly with my bicycle. It is starting to show signs of wear.

Some TSA screener must have had a really hard time putting my wheel back on because they put the rotor through the fabric and ripped off the zipper. So when Scicon sent me this flight bag, I was hoping it would be a more solid alternative to the Evoc. It's sturdy and does a great job of protecting your bike, but it's not for me. I will try to tell you the good and the bad. The Scicon bag has wheels that roll in all directions. Much easier than an evoc bag considering that you will also have to worry about the rest of the luggage.

When you arrive at your destination, you open the bag on both sides. There, your bike is presented to you on a sort of work stand where you can reinstall the pedals, derailleur, and handlebars. All of your tools and gear are in these bags under the frame, and your derailleur is protected in this bag suspended from the chainstay. Once you've assembled your bike, you roll up the bag and store it in this longer bag until the end of your ride. Actually, pretty well thought out. Except, all packed up, this bag is a foot taller than an Evoc bag.

Evoc bags barely go over the headliner of upright SUVs and, in compact cars, can be pushed between the seats. The Scicon bag with my small size bike required a lot of fiddling to fit into my wife's Honda Civic, and considering it doesn't fit through the headliner of an SUV, it would have to sit with the rest of the luggage on top. he. It's not ideal, especially if you're with a friend. Also, the bag has some parts that can get lost and rest assured, you will be in a hurry every time you

need

them. Given the great build quality of Scicon bags, I'd be inclined to overlook these flaws, but they cost more than some bikes.

Even with the deep discounts we're seeing from some sellers, Scicon has a ways to go before it overtakes Evoc in terms of value. However, I appreciate these custom storage bags and like the clever packaging process. When mountain biking with a GoPro, chest is one of the most preferable angles, except it is quite uncomfortable. The "chest," as GoPro calls it, is a solid piece of oddly shaped plastic that presses against your breastbone and makes you sweat. The latest version of the Chesty is nothing like this. It is symmetrical, fully padded, ventilated and well designed. The patented latch is also nice and low profile.

It costs $35, which for a GoPro accessory seems oddly ethical, which is why I give the latest generation high marks. The next product is a manual pump which is a kind of floor pump. It is made by Pro Bike Tool and is titled Mini Bike Floor Pump - Super Fast Tire Inflation - Secure Presta and Schrader Valve Connection - High Pressure Bike Pump with Stabilizing Footrest for Road and Mountain Bikes. We'll just call it a mini floor pump. This is incredible! The build seems nice all around, it works for both presa and shraeder, and in terms of size it's a bit longer than my Oneup and Crankbrothers pumps.

The mini floor pump comes with a mount for your bike but with the external tube and the only thing I would say is to leave it in your bag. For $30 it's a good value and much easier than a typical hand pump. Finally, the Magura Vyron 150mm wireless dropper post. This is an older model with many miles on it. Still, it has become my favorite dropper post, to the point that I switch it between my bikes. The post itself charges via Micro USB, which should be done maybe once a month. From there, simply place it on the bike and attach this button to the handlebars.

When you press the button, it latches onto the post for a full second. During that second, you can let it appear, push it down, or stop it anywhere in between. For me, the main advantage of a wireless dropper post is reducing cockpit clutter, but the Vyron is also easier to install, compatible with any bike, and great for left shifter bikes. If you are parking during the day, you can also remove the button completely and simply leave the seat down. A new Vyron will cost you almost $500, so it won't be for everyone, but spending money in the name of clutter reduction is nothing new.

I hope you found some of these reviews helpful or at least entertaining. If you want to know where to get any of these

products

, I have provided links in the description. Thanks for watching, thanks for being patient while I get off the bike, and thanks for riding with me today, see you next time.