Author: Brian O'Connor

Made in America: Sheila Moon Athletic Apparel

Fashion vs. function…the discussion that my wife and I have each time we are shopping for a new piece of furniture, apparel or sporting equipment together. Sometimes the two concepts work cohesively, but often one must be sacrificed over the other. Sheila Moon Athletic Apparel has been able to successfully merge the two concepts together and has a line of cycling clothing that is both functional and fashionable all while being made in America.

Based in Emeryville, California, the entire line of apparel is manufactured across the bay in San Francisco. Mostly geared towards women, the Sheila Moon line of apparel is whimsical and colorful without being ‘fruity’. From active wear clothing and accessories to casual apparel, the Sheila Moon collections are just plain ‘fun’.

The cycling clothing can be worn on a century ride just as easily as it can be worn on a cruiser ride down to the coffee shop for the afternoon – it just looks fashionable. The construction is on par if not better than that of the bigger names in the cycling apparel world. Most of the jerseys have at least one pocket for carrying nourishment or as my wife puts it…a place for her lip gloss. Sheila Moon offers all different styles of tops ranging from tanks to long sleeve jerseys all with the same pattern as the other cycling tops so that a rider can be coordinated if they so desire.

Along with tops, a wide variety of bottoms are also available. The cut of the traditional, padded cycling shorts is a little unique compared to other manufacturers. My wife described the waist as having a ‘yoga’ pants cut – instead of the waistband being straight across, it forms a ‘V’ below the navel area. Along with traditional shorts, Sheila Moon also offers skirts, knickers and padded liners all geared towards on the bike use.

Not only does Sheila Moon Athletic Apparel manufacture cycling tops and bottoms, but they also offer a line of accessories and street wear for those times that you are off of the bike. When the weather turns chilly or a normal summer day in San Francisco, a line of coordinated arm warmers, caps and headbands can help keep you warm while still looking good.

For the men out there, you may have to look elsewhere for your apparel needs. Even though there is a men’s section on the Sheila Moon website, it appears to be only listed under the ’outlet’ link with no new offerings apparent for 2011.

Sheila Moon Athletic Apparel is available at numerous cycling and outdoor retailers around the country. If you do not find one near you, the full line can also be ordered directly from their website. And if you were wondering if there is a real Sheila Moon, do a little search on Facebook…someone appears to be a huge Thor Hoshovd fan!

Sheila Moon Official Website

A New Cassette Standard? Hopefully…

For almost twenty-five years, cycling has been a major part of my life. From building bikes to breaking bones; being that kid hanging out at the bike shop to managing one in college; and racing to the top of a mountain or riding to work, bikes are a part of who I am. As long as I can remember, there has always been issues when assembling bikes from parts… especially when it comes to mixing drive train parts.

Usually, Campy shifters would not be mixed with Shimano derailleurs or vice versa, but it was fairly common to try to use Shimano compatible wheels with Campy shifting as there is just a much wider and usually better selection of wheels. Companies such as Wheels Manufacturing of Colorado do an excellent job reworking Shimano cassettes to work with Campy shifting, but the system of combined parts is still a little finicky. Enter the picture, Kirk Pacenti and his proposal for a universal, ’open source’ cassette body. We are starting to see more standards in the cycling world when it comes to parts, so this is not an unachievable goal. Continue reading A New Cassette Standard? Hopefully…

Made in America: Annin Flags

It is July 4th, the day that we celebrate our independence and reflect upon what it means to be an American. Overall, most of us are proud of who we are as a nation and though we are going through some tough times we still take pride in our country. This is often seen in a subtle ways through the display of our flag on our porches, businesses, sporting complexes and government buildings; but our patriotism takes a more predominant presentation through people running up a mountain in France next to a pack of cyclists, a rowdy crowd at a FIFA World Cup game or wrapped around the back of an Olympic champion. But who makes these flags? Though it is dishearting to find a flag labeled ‘Made in China’, most U.S. flags are actually made in America.

One such company still producing flags in the U.S. is Annin Flagmakers. Based in New Jersey, Annin is the oldest and largest flag maker in the United States. The American flag was scarcely 70 years old in 1847 when brothers Benjamin and Edward Annin founded Annin Flagmakers flag–makers on Fulton Street in New York City. The business had begun with their father, Alexander Annin who had been sewing flags and supplying them to merchant ships from his sail-making shop on the New York City waterfront as far back as 1820. Annin grew throughout the years and had their greatest surges in production during times of elevated American patriotism. The Civil War, World War I, World War II, the addition of Alaska and Hawaii, and 9/11 all saw times of increased pride in our country and ultimately increased sales. Unfortunately there were slower times for the flag company too, particularly during the Vietnam War, but that was drought in sales was ended by our nation’s bi-centennial celebration.

In 2005, Annin Flagmakers joined with other domestic flag manufacturing companies and became a founding member of the Flag Manufacturers Association of America (FMAA). This industry organization is dedicated to promoting the manufacture of U.S. flags in America by Americans with domestically made fabric.

In Annin’s two largest domestic factories, US flags are manufactured with advanced cellular production techniques; state, international and custom flags are digitally and screen -dyed to exact color specifications; the in-house research and the development testing laboratories, together with the art department are constantly monitoring dye formulas. Our Distribution systems are in real-time synchronization compliance with customer requirements.

Presently, Annin Flagmakers is still family owned and operated by the Beard and Dennis families. On January 1, 2011 Carter Beard became the President and CEO of Annin Flagmakers. Carter and his cousin Sandy Dennis Van Lieu, Sr. Vice President, are supported by a strong team of managers, many of whom have over twenty to thirty years of experience with the company. Annin Flagmakers employs over 500 Americans and prides itself on the quality of its products and the experience of its people.

Next time you are looking for a flag to purchase for a sporting event that you are attending, check out where it is made. Along with supporting your favorite American athlete, you will also be supporting your fellow American.

Annin Flagmakers Official Website

Made in America: Platypus ‘Bottles’

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, most of the U.S. is entering into the hottest months of the year, yet some of us forget the importance of staying hydrated. Our bodies can survive for weeks without food, but deprive us of water for a few days and our outlook is bleak. There are plenty of water bottles and hydration packs on the market, but the Platypus bottles from Cascade Designs, Inc. have the unique feature of being able to be stored flat when empty.

Originally designed to conserve space while backpacking, the Platypus bottle was introduced to the outdoor market back in 1996 as a lightweight option to the bottles that were then available . Over the years the line of bottles have grown to include three different types of bottles; three different bladders for hydration backpacks; a number of reservoir packs for transporting larger quantities of water while camping; and a wine preservation bottle – all made in America. Each of these products store flat for transportation when empty, are BPA-free and typically weigh 80% less than a hard-sided bottle of the same volume. The bottles start at a suggested retail price of $7.95 and top out at around $35 for the largest Platy Water Tank.

Since the Platypus bottles are essentially flat, flexible, durable bags, they can actually be frozen and used as ice packs. As they start to melt, the user is treated to ice-cold water, but remember that these bottles should only be filled up halfway with water as expansion occurs when the liquid becomes ice causing a possible bottle burst if they are overfilled.

Not all of the products that Platypus sells are made in America, but the do a very good job on their website labeling where each product is made. Platypus bottles are easily available from local retailers, online retailers and directly from Cascade Designs.

Cascade Designs Official Website

Hands on: StemCAPtain Thermometer

KISS…“Keep It Simple, Stupid!” This is the acronym for a principle to remind designers and engineers to avoid unnecessary complexity. Sometimes I feel that certain manufacturers miss this concept and make their products overly complicated. I was reminded of this recently while trying to program a cycling computer…I was so frustrated by the unclear layout and logic of programming that I nearly chucked it out the window. StemCAPtain has a product out there that reminds me all of the time of the ‘KISS’ concept. It is simple, yet provides information at a glance with not fuss once it is setup properly.

For the past couple of months, I has been using the thermometer version of the StemCAPtain on three different bikes. If you are not familiar with their products, we did an entry on the company back in March of all of the different versions of their products under that they offer. We received both the clock and thermometer versions to evaluate a few weeks later. I was most interested in the thermometer version since the none of my cycling computers have a thermometer feature. Continue reading Hands on: StemCAPtain Thermometer

Lazer Sports Now Has Lazer Vision

The Belgium helmet company, Lazer Sports, has recently announced the fall release of a new line of sports eyewear designed for cyclists. Established in 1919, Lazer is the oldest, continuously run manufacturer of helmets, for the bicycle, motorcycle and leisure helmets markets in more than 50 countries, over 5 continents. Brian Kee, part of the new vision division at Lazer Sports, introduced the eyewear the will be appearing in retailers later this year during a presentation at this years PressCamp. The new line of glasses has five different styles with estimated retail pricing ranging from $40 to $90. Continue reading Lazer Sports Now Has Lazer Vision

Made in America: CO2 Inflators by Genuine Innovations

The sun is starting to set and the weather is turning cold and damp, but you are still miles away from home on your bike. All you can think of is a hot shower and a nice dinner. Then you notice something does not feel right – the rear end of your bike feels bouncy and is drifting all over the place… damn, you have a flat. The last thing you want to be doing is changing a flat in the dark, but all you have is a spare tube and a bike pump… only 200 pumps until your tire is inflated!

For over 20 years, Genuine Innovations has been coming to the rescue of cyclists. Based in Tucson, AZ, Genuine Innovations has been producing inflators the use small cartridges of compressed carbon dioxide (CO2) to quickly inflate bicycle tubes and tires to get cyclists back on their way quickly. How quickly you might ask? Once the new tube is in the tire, all that is required is the CO2 cartridge to be loaded into the inflator and then the inflator attached to the valve on the tube. In about two seconds your tire will be ready to ride. Continue reading Made in America: CO2 Inflators by Genuine Innovations

Shimano’s Di2 Trickles Down to Ultegra

Shimano announced that the Dura Ace electronic shifting, Di2 (Digital Integrated Intelligence), that has been used by professional riders for the past four years will be available this fall in their Ultegra line of components. Ultegra components are just one level lower than the Dura Ace level and is much more affordable for the avid cyclist and weekend racer.

The advantages of Di2 (Digital Integrated Intelligence) are clear for everybody who has tested it: changing gears becomes easier, effortless and faster by simply touching the shift buttons. Control at the top of your fingers. Additional benefits include an automatic trimming front derailleur, unmatched precision plus super easy installation and adjustment. Continue reading Shimano’s Di2 Trickles Down to Ultegra

Avoid Bang-ups with the HeadsUp System

You are driving home after a long road trip and all that is on your mind is a plate of food and a hot shower. As you turn down your street and push the button for your garage door opener, you zip into the garage just like you would any day after work…but this time you hear a crunch and have that horrible, sinking feeling in your stomach. Your $3000 bike now looks like a metal pretzel and you could literally cry.

Roof racks on cars is such a convenient way to transport your bike, but sometimes really bad and costly accidents occur that could easily be avoided through the use of a small reminder to ‘stop’ before entering your garage. A new wireless visual and audio system is shipping in July to help you avoid this type of situation. The HeadsUp System, founded by two cyclists in Colorado, is designed as a complete solution to avoid the dreaded ‘crunch’. Continue reading Avoid Bang-ups with the HeadsUp System

Slide Into More Control with Slidepad

Sometimes there are products out there that seem so simple that it is hard to believe that it took this long to see them offered on the market. The new braking system from Slidepad Technologies, located in Palo Alto, CA, is one of those products.

The Slidepad is a braking system that controls both the front and rear brakes on a bicycle through the use of one brake lever. The rider of a bike that has the Slidepad system installed simply pulls one brake lever which applies braking pressure to the rear wheel. As the pads make contact with the rear wheel, the Slidepad (which looks like an over sized brake pad) ‘slides’ forward pulling a cable that is connected to the front brakes. This in turn applies enough braking pressure to the front wheel to slow the rider, but not too much to cause them to flip over the handlebars. Continue reading Slide Into More Control with Slidepad

Rent a Bike Online

Flying is a hassle and frankly traveling with a bike is a downright nightmare especially while trying to negotiate all of the regulations and fees that the airlines put on travelers these days. Renting a bike while traveling away from home has always been a viable option if you do not need your specific bike, but that too can sometimes be a hassle especially if you are pressed for time. What you need is to “Rent A Bike Now!”

You rent cars, vacation homes and movies online, why not bikes? RentABikeNow.com of Chicago, IL has recently improved their website to offer more features to the users. As reported in Bicycle Retailer:

“Our new reservation platform offers significant enhancements that help bike shops attract more rental business and better manage their reservations,” said company president George Gill. “The most significant enhancements are focused on system speed improvements and enhanced features and flexibility, which create a better user experience.” Continue reading Rent a Bike Online

A Look at BH Group

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8g5kaszKMY&feature=player_embedded

Though you may not be familiar with the name, the BH Group has been around since 1909. The Spanish company has many different product lines that fall under the BH name; BH Fitness, BH Bike and BH HiPower to name a few are all dedicated to producing bicycles, fitness equipment and gear for all levels of athletes.

Recently BH has created a website to help people get into the sport of triathlons and guide those who all ready compete achieve their goal of performing better. BH’s website  is full of information regarding the gear required for a triathlon; training techniques; BH sponsored events; training programs; race results; videos; and much more. The website is for both amateurs and professionals in mind, with one goal in mind – to help you achieve your tri-goals!

Along with the triathlon website, BH also has an online group named Club BH Tri where users can participate in discussions, enter contests and be notified of upcoming events. The only shortcoming of the BH Triathlon website is that you might have to brush up on your Spanish… though most of the information is in English; there are still quite a few sections and buttons in Spanish.

BH Official Website

Columbia Drainmaker: The Shoe That Won’t Drown

You might be familiar with the Columbia Sportswear Company through the number of TV ads that they run touting their outdoor, cold weather jackets and extensive testing; but you might not be aware that they also make a number of products for the summertime outdoor enthusiast. Columbia has released a shoe to help the fisherman stay out of slick situations and drain quickly when their feet become submerged.

Inspired by observing fisherman in the Florida Keys wearing running shoes in and around the water, the designers at Columbia figured that they could come up with a better shoe. They created a hybrid shoe that combines the lightweight comfort of a running shoe with the quick-dry capabilities of a water shoe. The upper features breathable open cell mesh with a durable TPU toe cap, while the Techlite midsole has built-in drainage ports in the heel and forefoot to allow water to instantly escape. Wet/dry traction is assured by a siped, lugged outsole with Omni-Grip Wet Grip rubber for sure footing on slick surfaces.

Though the Drainmaker ($80 MSRP) is designed for fishermen and fisherwomen (yes, they are offered for both sexes); these shoes are based on the structure of a running shoe, offer lightweight construction and give more cushioning than a traditional water shoe. If your ‘catch of the day’ is to complete an event like the Tough Mudder, you may want to look at the Drainmaker from Columbia and add it to your arsenal.

The shoes feature an open cell sandwich mesh upper with translucent TPU toe cap, micro suede eyestay and Techlite heel, along with Techlite midsole that includes drainage ports in heel and forefoot, and siped, lugged outsole for extra traction made with Omni-Grip Wet Grip rubber. The shoes easily go from the wet to the dry and help your feet do the same.

Columbia Drainmaker Official Website