Eclectic Thursday: Kogel, Sportful, CLIF, KuaiFit, Squirt, Knog, ALÉ
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This Thursday the PELOTON Service Course is bringing you seven products from Issue 71 of PELOTON Magazine, our Gravel/’cross themed issue. If you’re a subscriber you know we love themes, but sometimes we need to break the mold. Here you’ll find seven eclectic products, from chain lube called ‘Squirt’ to over shorts from race focused ‘Sportful’. To get a copy of issue 71, check it out our in our store right here: Issue 71.
PELOTON
KOGEL CERAMIC BEARINGS BOTTOM BRACKET
Texas-based Kogel Bearings was started by Dutch expat and mountain bike racer Ard Kessels. A former bike shop owner in Belgium, frustrated by the low attention paid to bottom-bracket bearings by product managers, Kessels sought to build a better solution. He knew well the havoc unleashed on bearings by the bitter weather in Flanders. From a small El Paso storage unit, he set out to create premium ceramic bearings for high-end road and off-road bikes. Kogel strives to make bearings that are extremely low friction. Because the company has found that the lowest-friction bearings on the market also lose something in durability, Kogel tries to strike that ideal balance between a bearing that is ultra-smooth but can also withstand a proper, muddy beating. Kogel makes bottom brackets across most of the industry’s different platforms. They come with a very confident two-year, few-questions-asked warranty, so go ahead and give them the full muddy CX test. $159; kogel.cc
GIARA OVER SHORT
Once you’ve made the road-to-gravel transition, sooner or later you will even come around to the adventure over short. “Heresy!” will be the cry of the Lycra-hardened roadie; but hear us out a moment—it’s not as if we’re asking you to stop shaving your legs. The more adventurous your rides become, the more thankful you will be for the extra protection an over short provides. Sportful has been making performance ski and cycling wear since 1972. Its four-way stretch Giara Over Short is perfect for long gravel sojourns. These DWR-treated shorts repel dirt, have great moisture management, and include four pockets for extra storage. The belt loops mean the Giara Short can also be dressed up when you need to look your best at that cortado stop. $80; sportful.com
CLIF NUT BUTTER FILLED ENERGY BAR
Making home-prepared ride food is not always feasible. Thankfully, CLIF is there to fill our pockets with nutritious, thoughtfully made bars that keep us fueled for the ride. The Bay Area company has just released the newest addition to its product line: the Nut Butter Filled Energy Bar. Bringing together nut butter inside an organic energy bar outside, these have 7 grams of protein and are low on the Glycemic index. With 230 calories, one bar packs enough punch to fill the nutritional needs of more than an hour of riding. The CLIF Nut Butter Filled Energy Bar comes in five flavors: Chocolate Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter, Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter, Blueberry Almond Butter and Caramel Chocolate Peanut Butter. $21.48 (12-pack of 1.76oz bars); shop.clifbar.com
KUAIFIT SPORT HEADPHONES & CYCLING SENSOR
Digital-driven technology has staked out a firm position in the world of tracking and measuring personal-fitness data. FitBit, Zwift, Garmin, Strava, Wahoo and countless others have emerged to fill this market thirst for one tracking device to rule them all. KuaiFit has entered the fray with its multi-sport headphones and cycling sensor. The sweat- and shockproof smart headphones play music, answer calls, track heart rate, have an accelerometer and provide voice-guided coached workouts based on personal real-time metrics. An additional ANT+ cycling sensor measures speed, cadence and distance. The KuaiFit headphones have 8GB of storage for music and workouts and a claimed seven-hour battery life. The companion desktop and phone apps include a workout-data visualizer and a store to purchase premade training plans. $209; kuai.fit
KNOG PWR TRAIL LIGHTS
When it comes to riding anywhere, keeping safe means seeing and being seen. Knog has created a powerful light system with an integrated charger. The USB-port power bank can top charge mobile phones or any other USB-powered devices. The PWR Trail model shines brightly at 1,000 lumens. It has an elliptical beam for wide view, spot beam for intense front lighting and a nine-LED round light ring to create an eye-catching glow. The light head is modular, which means it can be swapped for other lamp options sold as separate add-ons. Knog’s accompanying Modemaker App programs brightness, runtime and up to eight light-display modes. The PWR Trail comes with a quick-release bar mount for under- or over-bar placement. $159; knog.com.au
SQUIRT LONG-LASTING DRY LUBE
This wax- and water-based chain lube has made the rounds through the mountain bike set for some time now. It’s a 100-percent biodegradable emulsion that keeps chains clean for a long time in some dirty conditions. We have put it to the test across a range of Southern California conditions. From dry and dusty to wet and muddy, Squirt has kept our bike chains running smoothly and efficiently. It’s available in three sizes, including a mini bottle that is ideal for adding a little extra dab mid-ride. There’s also a low-temp version of Squirt to keep chains running well in very cold conditions. $13.95 (4 oz bottle); squirtlube.com
ALÉ PRR CLIMA PROTECTION WINTER JACKET
It may be cold outside, but that’s not reason enough to keep you from turning over those pedals. This ergonomic ride jacket by Alé is built for Mother Nature’s colder ride days. It’s suggested for temps of 23 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or what the company more romantically calls “Nordic conditions.” The front and sleeves of the jacket have a cold-protective laminated fabric, while the back uses a moisture-managing thermal fabric. It has a venting system to help maintain the ideal body temperature. There are three pockets on the rear, plus a zippered fourth pocket, and reflective piping is used to improve visibility. $228.75; alebikewear.com