One of the most exciting things about late summer is seeing the updated models to your favorite bikes. Whether it’s a complete overhaul, some minor geometry changes, or just new color schemes and designs, it’s all fun to see.
Regardless of whether you’re in the market for a new ride, or simply looking to do some window shopping, here’s our list of the top mountain bikes of 2017.

1.  Santa Cruz Nomad The Nomad has been an endure-smashing favorite for years now. When it was redesigned in 2014, bike park riders and enduro racers alike flocked to it for a stable platform through rough terrain and the flashy Miami Vice color schemes. For 2018’s updated model, the color schemes are much more subtle, but the bike still serves its reputation as a downhill bruiser.

The Nomad has always been a bike for those that endure the climbs because there’s a good descent at the end. This year, the Nomad is even more descent-centric. The head tube angle gets a half-degree slacker, and the rear wheel travel is increased by 5mm.

Santa Cruz is extending their model options from a base aluminum, to base carbon models, to their top-tier carbon option. You can get a base aluminum option for $3600, a base carbon option for $4,499, or spring for their premiere option with the new Santa Cruz Reserve carbon wheels for $9,399.

2.  Enduro Elite Carbon
Specialized has been staying on top of updates for the Enduro, which makes sense since Jared Graves and Curtis Keene both rely on the bike for several rounds of the Enduro World Series. For 2018, they’re again offering a 27.5” and 29” option depending on your preference. There are some fun new updates for this year like SWAT storage in the steer tube for the S-Works, Pro and Coil models, as well as a dropper post update that tilts in the down position for more hip clearance.

The Enduro is still an excellent choice for, well, enduro racing. But, if you don’t want to race, then it’s still a weapon for people who focus on all-mountain or aggressive trail riding.

A base aluminum model starts at $3200 for a complete and runs up to $8,500 for an all carbon S-Works model.

3.  Scott Contessa Spark 710
As cross-country race courses get more aggressive, the bikes have to adapt as well. The Contessa Spark still prides itself on it’s uphill pedaling ability, but now the 710 model brings a Fox 34 for added front end stiffness, and a 67.2-degree head angle so you won’t be left behind on the descents when your friends catch up to you at the top.
The Scott Contessa Spark is for those who want to light up the climb and spend a day in the saddle, but still, want something that is comfortable and capable when things get steep and rocky.
A Contessa Spark 710 with a carbon frame and alloy swing arm and SRAM GX Eagle drive train runs $4,199.
Getting ready for your next adventure? Learn more about some of our favorite mountain bike destinations to help plan your next trip.

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4.  Yeti SB5.5
When Yeti came up with the SB5.5 in 2016, they had one thing in mind: getting through rough, chopped out terrain at stupid, high speeds. The platform and geometry they chose for this long travel 29er have been working so well, that there have been minimal updates for the newest models.

The SB5.5 can handle a diverse amount of riding. With 140mm of rear travel, it still makes for a capable climber, but also has 160mm in the front for downhill dominance. In contrast, the SB4.5 is a more cross-country friendly 29” option from Yeti. With 114mm of rear travel and 140mm of fork travel, it’s a great option for an all-day trail bike that can handle aggressive riding.
The Yeti SB5.5 starts at $4,999 for a complete carbon build with Fox suspension and a Shimano XT drivetrain and runs up to $8,199 with their Turq carbon frame option and a SRAM Eagle drivetrain.

5.  Intense Recluse
The Recluse, introduced in 2016, fits in a niche that many riders look for. It’s enough travel to get through anything you really need to worry about, while not an overbearing amount to make you sweat the ascents more than you need to. Intense says it fits in their “all-mountain” category, and it’s fair to say they’re right.
With 140mm of rear travel, and a 75-degree seat tube angle, it’s not a dead dog on the climbs. It’s still no XC bike, but Intense has never been an XC minded company. That’s why the Recluse still comes spec’d with a 150mm fork and 66-degree head tube angle.
A “foundations build” recluse will net you a carbon frame and SRAM NX drive train for $4,000 and the highest end “factory build” gives you carbon everything and a SRAM Eagle drive train for $10,399.


6.  Evil Bike’s The Wreckoning
Over the past few years, Evil has built a huge following (no pun intended). Their bikes are built with aggressive riders in mind, the frame designs are unique, and they just look cool. The Wreckoning builds on their 120mm Following model’s platform for a long-travel, 160mm 29er that is capable of damn near anything.
Bike park, freeride, all-mountain and enduro racers will start foaming at the mouth over the Wreckoning. It's large wheels and suspension platform will smash out boulders and thick roots on downhill tracks with no problem. It pedals well uphill but is still a 160mm travel bike, so you're not going to fly up the ascents. Once it's pointed down though, you won't care.
A frame-only option for the carbon Wreckoning starts at $2,899, while a complete build will run you around the $5,000 range.


7.  Rocky Mountain Altitude
One of the most anticipated model updates this year was the Rocky Mountain Altitude. Rocky Mountain freshened up their entire lineup this year and re-released the Slayer and the Altitude. The color schemes scream modern, professional and stylish and the updates make it more aggressive than the previous generation without forgetting that you still need to pedal to the top.
The Altitude rides a line somewhere between aggressive trail riding and enduro. 150mm of rear travel makes climbing feasible and 160mm of travel in the front makes the steep drops doable. It’s a comfortable bike for those who need to spend a few hours in the saddle to get to a worthy descent.
Rocky Mountain is also bringing back aluminum frame options for price-conscious buyers. An aluminum base model will run you as low as $2,999 and a top of the line carbon is $7,299 with SRAM Eagle and Fox suspension.

How does this compare to your list of the top bikes of 2017? Are there any bikes that we missed on here? Feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to us on Twitter to share your thoughts.

Author Bio:
Mountain Bike Vacations was developed by a team of mountain bike enthusiasts to share their insights on how others can make the most of their mountain bike adventures. For more, you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Our friend Louie at WhatShed has thoughtfully put together a nice introduction followed by an infographic on the health benefits of gardening.  This was his way of helping us promote our efforts at Natural Living Co-op and Garden.  Thanks Louie!  Click on photo at right in blog sidebar for more information about supporting our Natural Living Food Co-op and Cafe.

When Sophie sent me her content I thought about adding some pics of Lisa instead of using Sophie's pics.  After all we've been through together this year with Hurricane Harvey, helping folks in need via our food co-op and store, then the Astros just won the World Series last night and poor Lisa's sick with a fever as I write this.  So, enjoy this post as its' more about honoring a very beautiful person in our community who happens to be a woman.  Each item has a link to an associated blog post.  Enjoy!

​1. BIke
Clearly, the most obvious part of this ‘touring with a bicycle’ article should mention the type of bicycle you need. My recommendation of bike will include one that has eyelets (or places where racks can be screwed into the bike frame are possible). Another thing to be mindful of when choosing a bike is wheel size. Your height will determine how large of a wheel/tire you are able to use on your bicycle. The rule of thumb is that the larger the tire, the easier the travel. To that point, the tread of the tire will make a great difference as well. Find a wide tire and one that’s meant to be travelled on the road.  Ask your local bike shop about tires for bike touring.

Traditional Touring Bike vs Bike Packing Rig

3. Bike Light and Other Gadgets

When you’re tired from riding and find a place to setup camp, time is of the essence. As you find and gather firewood, setup camp, or are even still riding to get to the camp grounds, having a light attached to your noggin will be a lifesaver. It will free your hands for the work that’s yet to be done. Click here for review of Cygolite and optional helmet mount.

4. Multitool
As a mechanic, I use my multitool all the time for things not associated with bicycles. My advice would be to bring a multitool to take care of your bicycle and a swiss army knife to take care of yourself. Multitools are very lightweight and generally run about $8 to $10. Another light weight, but vital tool to bring, is a tire lever. This will help you get road tires off of their rims efficiently. (To that end, bring a spare tube and a hand pump, too!)
Multitool Review

5. Computer
This bicycle computer is not the same one that’s sitting on your table at home. The most basic bicycle computers are equipped to track a number of things including: GPS, cadence, global maps, navigation, and speed to name a few. These pieces of information will help you as you find your way. Cadence (fancy word for how often you pedal in a given period of time), in particular, will help you track your level of exertion over the course of a route. You need a computer to keep up with your cadence so you can control your energy output.

7. Bike Bags and Panniers

You guessed it, everything you want to carry will be stacked into these little compartments and loaded onto your bike. You can find the size of panniers with the help of a local bike shop (again, give them detail about how long you will be on the road). It’s likely, you will need at least 2 and maybe up to 5 panniers. Two will be placed adjacent to the back tire and two more adjacent to the front. The last can sit, either, under the saddle or infront of the handlebars. The panniers will be attached to a particular bike rack and this rack will be screwed into the bike frame itself. (Remember point number one?)
Affordable Quality Waterproof Panneiers

8.  Sleeping Equipment
I write “sleeping equipment” as a point because it entails more than just a sleeping bag. While the sleeping bag is important, you will also need a special type of mat to lay underneath the bag as you sleep. Unless you are under the age of twenty, your body will not feel reseted without this padding. Stores offer special kinds of sleeping mats or you may want to try a yoga mat as an alternative.
Bike Touring Sleeping Bag and Thermarest
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9.  Kitchen Supplies
Cooking on the road is part of the adventure. When I camped, most of my food consisted of peanut butter and oatmeal; however, many peopole have better taste than myself and prefer warm meals after riding. There are light weight cooking pans, utensils, and ways of making fire when on the road.
Bike Camping Cookstove Gear

10.  Tent A tent large enough to fit yourself and your gear will be your last mission. Seeing that this will be where you spend your night, find a tent from a reputable company. Though all tents will be heavy, badly made tents will be heavy, bulky, and can easily blow away after you have set it up. 

Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 Person Tent Review

Honorable Mention:  A Basket

If you are going to the local farmer’s market or simply purchasing a book from a shop down the street, traveling with a tent will get you some strange looks. Instead of traveling to go camping, attach a basket to the front of your steel horse and presto! You’re set. To elaborate on the various styles and dependability of baskets in the market, take a look at these  best bicycle baskets.

Origin 8 Classique Cargo Unit and others Reviewed

My last piece of advice would be to think before you pack. Every little bit of clothing, equipment, and food adds weight to your bike. If you find yourself writing a list of pros and cons regarding whether to bring something, you probably shouldn’t bring it. ​

Suggested Loaded Touring Bike Weight

Author Bio
Sophie Elise is a passionate cyclist, author and blogger. She is very passionate about writing on different types of women’s bikes, accessories, health, fitness and more and regularly writes on bestbikesforwomen.cm

Links related to this topic
Affordable Quality Gear Items
Pack Kit List

This guest post from David Bender, an avid cyclist who has travelled to more than ten countries with his bike. describes some methods of packing your bike to affordably take with you on a plane.  He writes a lot about bikes at his blog.  When not attending to his blog he enjoys riding around the neighborhood.     

How to Fly with a Bike the Cheap and Easy Method
If you are a fervent mountain bike rider, at some point your adventures may include international travel with your beloved bike. You may be bringing your bike along during a holiday vacation, participating in a bike tournament abroad or simply looking to experience the thrill of exploring new, foreign trails. Transporting a mountain bike is regarded as an immensely tedious and costly undertaking by several mountain bikers but it needn’t be this way. This post will pilot you through the ins and outs of bike packing and show you the most affordable, safe and hassle-free way to fly with a bike.
Preparing to fly with a bike
Your flight’s success will be determined majorly by the way your precious bike will be handled in transit. You can improve the chances of having a successful plane trip with a bike as luggage by preparing adequately. As you plan your journey, be sure to include the following:

1. Look into the various airlines’ bike-luggage policies to identify which one best suits your needs. You may want to consider their weight and size allowance alongside luggage charges. A majority of international air transport service providers agree on general baggage allowance of below 50 pounds weight and 62 dimensions size
2. Decide which method of bike packing aligns with your preferences and prepare it in advance. You’ll need to purchase your bike’s packaging with its corresponding provisions including duct tape, wrapping twine and bubble wrapping
3. Acquire a set of bike tools like Allen keys and hex spanners for use during partial bike disassembly prior to air travel and re-assembly after arrival
4. Measure and record all adjustable bike parts like handlebars and seat-post height before setting out to disassemble the bike- this will save you substantial time when tuning them to your liking after reassembly.

How to pack your bike for air travel
Today, most airlines require that all bikes be partially dismantled and packaged for cartage although they only recently allowed them to be wheeled right into plane’s luggage bays in polythene bags. Airlines relay numerous reasons for these require provisions including:

• It’s necessary to reduce the size of the bike so that it easily fits on airports’ luggage conveyor belt systems
• Packaging will help protect the bike from damage and theft of some parts
• Boxing up your bike ensures it doesn’t interfere with or destroy other luggage
• Wrapping up the bike aids in easing its transport by luggage-handling crew

There are various ways of packaging your mountain bike for a flight. While the easiest and most cost-friendly are using cardboard boxes and clear plastic bags, the more costly ones are by use of bike cases and bike travel bags. Admittedly, the latter are also safer thus more reliable than the former. However, this doesn’t mean packing your prized mtb in a clear plastic bag or cardboard box is a trumpet call to have it mishandled en route- on the contrary, your bike is actually handled more delicately when in clear wrapping or fragile cardboard boxes. Nonetheless, you’ll need to go the extra mile in using extra padding like bubble wrap if you choose to pack your two-wheeler in a soft box.
Whether yours mountain bike or the most costly cycle dragon in the market, airlines will require you to adhere to their strict luggage weight and seize restrictions otherwise they’ll be glad to charge you heavily for excess baggage. You should do the following to stay within package size boundaries:

1. Disengage the front wheel to reduce the length of your bike then screw back the axle into the forks to shield them from warping
2. Unfasten the stem and push the handlebars down to reduce your ride’s height. Further, turning them parallel to the frame will lessen the width of the bike
3. Unhinge your bike’s pedals or twist them inward if they are foldable. This will also condense your bike’s width.
4. If your bike has disc brakes, be sure to unfasten them and secure the brake pads with padding between them to prevent scraping
5. Disconnect the rear derailleur from the frame to protect the two from damage in transit. You can also secure the derailleur with duct tape or bubble wrap for added protection
6. Partially deflate the bicycle’s tyres as required by several airlines. This is supposed to shield your tubes from rupturing at high altitude
7. Lowering the bike’s seat-post before packing aids in reducing its height to the required 1m or below
8. After packaging, ensure the box, bag or polythene is carefully labeled with your name and address (home or destination) to streamline customs clearance as well as aid in convenient shipment in case it’s lost.

Post-packing tips
Once it’s handed over to the luggage-loading crew, there’s little you can do for your precious cargo but cross your fingers and hope the baggage handlers will be careful. However, you can take pre-flight precautions to safeguard your bike from avoidable damage by ensuring it’s packed with sufficient padding to absorb and transmit most of the shock of impact. Further, it’s imperative that you ascertain whether the airline’s luggage insurance covers damage, loss or theft of bikes in transit.
Final words
It’s clear from this post’s coverage that international air travel with sensitive luggage can be a tricky undertaking. Still, we are optimistic this post has presented practical tips on the easiest and most affordable way to fly with a bike without compromising its safety.
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My previous post I touted the benefits of having a folding bike for travel and there is no better example of how convenient it can be than if traveling by plane.  That post doesn't mention or describe my favorite travel bag for stashing the bike because I didn't need to use it on our road trip.  After reading the information presented above consider this from a reviewer of the Rock Bros Folding Bike Carry Bag.  
"​Great folding bike bag! Best I have ever owned. Intelligently designed to include a comfortable lightweight matching backpack which can be used when traveling to hold the folded bike bag: get off the plane get bag at carousel unpack and unfold bike and fold bag into backpack and bike away. Backpack also has velcro so it can be used as a handlebar bag".

Learn more about David and his relevant content for mountain biking enthusiasts at his site Best MTB Gear.
Or visit him at Facebook or Twitter

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Save Money with Folding Bike for Travel
​A Folding Bike That Fits

My mission if I chose to accept it was to drive Lisa's seventy six year old mother (Grandma Lynn) from our home in League City, Texas back to her home in Phoenix, Arizona via a lengthy scenic route.  

Lisa planned out a nice road trip vacation for her mother which consisted of visiting some of her mother's favorite areas including Santa Fe, New Mexico with the arts and crafts scenes that area has to offer while staying a night at nearby Madrid, a very eclectic if funky little town.  From there we would drive to Lisa's mother's cabin in Heber Overgaard, Arizona and then drive her home to Phoenix on our return drive home. 

Sad as it is, Grandma Lynn is experiencing some early stages of dementia which is just one of the reasons I was asked to do most of the driving, that and I'm simply an excellent driver.  : ) Anyhow, knowing how much stuff the gals tend to pack for a vacation (Grandma Lynn, Lisa and a teenage girl) I decided to see how full the car was before I selected a bike and bikepacking kit. Ironically while I assessed which bike to bring Jennifer Campbell asked me to share her informative piece on How to Choose a Bike According to Science, 10 Factors to Consider.  It's a pretty good read although there is no mention at all of folding bikes for travel. 

Four years ago I visited Grandma Lynn's cabin at Overgaard, Arizona (blog post here) and had such a nice time I thought next time I would bring a bikepacking kit for the Tall Timbers Trail Park.  That's what I had in mind and figured it would be alright to squeeze in one overnighter along the way.  Unfortunately, the trunk lid of the little Nissan Versa flexed too much with the bike on the Saris Bike Carrier.  Plan B, which is what I keep the old Dahon Mariner folding bike for and the fact that it doesn't require any precise bike fit consideration for the rider I can always fold it down and throw it in.  (Older post regarding this bike is here.) 

As simple as that seems to be able to do, not having a full sized bikepacking or touring bike frame for packing gear on might imply a bit of a challenge.  For bike commuting and urban touring I used a handlebar basket and a hydration pack with the little folder but packing a tent, poles, sleeping bag, pillow, air mattress, photography kit and some food seemed a bit daunting of a task and of course how would the ride feel once the gear was packed on to the little bike that could?  

Photo at left of my typical kit for bike touring that includes a solar panel for charging camera batteries, a power brick, tablet and phone.  A very small cooking kit mostly for boiling water.  I kinda stood there looking at that mess for awhile before unfolding the bike.  I brought a couple handlebar bag options (nothing fancy) and was glad I brought my hydration pack designed for mountain biking and trails due to the fact that other than the rear rack trunk bag the old Dahon doesn't have a water bottle holder and July in New Mexico requires ample hydration.   

Photo at left and above show how I got everything to fit on the bike without having to use panniers so it is more of a bikepacking kit than what is typically considered a bicycle touring set up.  Keeping in mind that I used a decent sized hydration pack for miscellaneous items that wouldn't fit on the bike.  

That inexpensive handlebar bag has proven to be very versatile and useful as a bikepacking kit item as I was able to stuff my sleeping bag and pillow into the Outdoor Research Dry Bag and used the straps of the handlebar bag to secure it.  I was able to fit my tablet, power brick, assorted cables and a mini tripod in the main compartment while the two pockets on left and right held my phone and Canon G 16 camera.  Behind the seatpost is the Seat to Summit Compression Dry Bag with my Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 Tent.  Rear Trunk bag has external pockets with assorted snack food items, small cable lock and cinchable water bottle holder.  On top of the trunk bag I secured the solar panel for charging device batteries and power brick while the main compartment of the trunk bag was able to fit my bed mattress.  Seat wedge bag held a spare tube, patch kit and a few tools.  

I'm glad I had an opportunity to experience some new variations on bikepacking and bike touring with a folding bike for travel.  Not only was it the perfect bike in a fun little town like Madrid, New Mexico populated with artsy craftsy folks who appreciate the style and uniqueness of a folding bike I was also able to experience how well it would perform for fun recreational sight seeing rides and as a get around bike for my photography.  While in Phoenix I had an opportunity to visit the Bicycle Nomad Cafe and owner Erick Cedeno after riding the little old Dahon Mariner said "it rides better than it looks, I always wondered about these types of bikes."  

This folding bike being touted on this post is a '98 Dahon Mariner five speed.  It's mostly all original with stock components with the exception of a new chain and free wheel gears as I wanted to diversify some gear ratios for trails.  Another modification was replacing the 20 x 1.5 street tires for commuting with some better quality 20 x 1.75 tires like these from Schwalbe.  Interesting that the reputable company which has been providing high quality bicycle touring tires made the Marathon Plus available in a size to fit folding bikes like this.  Also, the tread pattern provides just enough grip for some off road excursions which I found to be very useful in areas where I wanted to get some photos with the bike.   So to wrap up, as much as I wanted to bring my sorta fat bike for the trails previously described it turns out that the appropriate bike for our summer vacation proved to offer plenty of fun and a good conversation piece.  If you're reading this post in consideration of getting a folding bike to add to your riding options I definitely recommend it for their sheer versatility and convenience when a full size bike isn't an option under some traveling circumstances.  

While writing this post I received yet another email from the editor at "The Folding Bike Zone" where they consider a folding bike to be the best bicycle for your commuting needs.  Sure their a bit biased : ) everyone has varying commuter needs but their five reasons why they consider it to be the best choice may just help with your purchasing decision if you're someone in the market for this type of bike.  

When it was all said and done and I drove over a thousand miles in one day to get us home on time, Grandma Lynn is home safe and sound, I got some excellent photos for my bike touring stock images collection while putzing around on a silly little bike that made me smile.  Until next time, keep on riding even if you need the convenience of what many consider to be a fuddy duddy folding bike.  

Links Related to this topic
Folding Bike for Travel
Dahon

Hopefully all you folks who enjoy our site and blog are finding ways to beat the heat while still getting out and riding.  It's summer vacation time for many folks, so here is a timely guest post from the team at Mountain Bike Vacations (MTBV)  Enjoy and hopefully get some inspiration for your next bike tour adventure.  

Detours Sodo Handlebar Bag is currently available at such a hugely discounted price that I wanted to share the information with folks who read and depend on this blog for this type of information.  Affordable, quality bike touring gear and this product is a perfect example of that. 

I don't know for certain but it seems to me that Detours Bags is going to discontinue this product so if you're looking for a nice sized handlebar bag for either bike touring or commuting snag one of these before they're gone.  Click on photo or underlined link above for more product information.  

I was looking for a handlebar bag with a quick release clamp that could be mounted with my inline brake levers and that held the bag out far enough to allow my hands easy access to those secondary brake levers and this design allowed for that.  After reading a review from a guy who had recently invested well over a hundred bucks on the new Arkel Handlebar bag he felt that he had overpaid considering it didn't include a rain cover. I'm not saying the Detours Sodo Bag can be compared to the quality of an Arkel product but when you see the price this is listed at it's a no brainer.  And it includes a rain cover! 

Other features include a nice padded shoulder strap for carrying around off the bike and a clear map sleeve on top.  Apparently the clear sleeve was actually designed for cramming a cell phone into but it doesn't work well for that.  Like other reviewers have mentioned the goofy plastic ziploc type of access on the under side of the lid broke on the first use.  I didn't care as a map stays nicely in place with the bag closed.  

​Here's some basic information from the product listing:

• 2 large zip zippered compartments are covered by a TPU-coated waterproof flap with a waterproof welded clear pocket on the top lid for maps and screen phones
• Interior org / zip pockets / key fob / external side pockets for water and snacks
• Plenty of padding for lunch and camera
• Removable shoulder strap and removable rain cover
• Dimensions are: 10 x 4.5 x 8 in

For this year's fund raiser bike tour the need to post regularly to social media and continued blog posting I found the Detours Sodo to be a nice piece of kit to keep electronic devices protected from the elements.  Definitely appreciating the waterproof lid but also the nice thick material lending an insulative quality for potentially extreme summer temperatures.  I was able to fit all my equipment including a Voyager Pro Tablet, Canon G16 camera, mini tripod, spare camera battery, all necessary cables, power bank and even the seven watt solar panel!  There are two nice sized exterior pockets on both ends that are excellent for stuffing snack stuff into for easy access while riding.

Some common complaints of handlebar bags are the lid or cover opening from the front making it very difficult to access contents while riding.  For me, that's what a top tube bag is for so next item in this post is the Axiom Smart Box.

First bit of important information is this; everywhere I found product information this little goody bag is described as being eight inches or more both in length and height with two inch diameter.  That last bit of info is the only correct measurement.  It's actually closer to five inches in each direction, a very significant difference!

I considered returning it for that very reason but since it holds my Canon G16 very snugly providing ease of access while riding while not bouncing around at all I decided to keep it.  I was also able to fit a 6700mah Zendure Power Bank with it.    

  ​
Dubbed "Smart Box" as the exterior side pocket on the drive side of the bike is designed to hold most common sized smart phones.  I was able to fit a Moto G phone without a case easily.  I'm planning to take advantage of the pocket's convenience for my old Kodak Playsport zx5.  This provides easy access to a waterproof camera that I can use in inclement weather.  Notice the four straps used to secure this little thing makes for a very sturdy install.

What I have found an appreciation for is the no zipper design.  Some other manufacturers have tried a velcro design on covers that open and close lengthwise and folks commonly complain that the cover pops open too easily when riding over rough terrain.  Not so with Axiom's Smart Box design.  It is such a sturdy bag it actually feels more like a box than a bag and the velcro holds the lid shut tight.  

Anyhow, if you're looking for a large top tube bag to stash a rain coat or larger items than those described here this is not the product for you.  However, if you need easy access to a couple gadgets that would otherwise be difficult to access from your handlebar bag while riding than this is a very good affordable quality option.  

For a large top tube bag consider the popular ​Profile Design Standard Aero E Pack, photo at left.  One large zippered main compartment and is approximately nine inches long.  I'm considering this product option for another bike and will add a post if or when I do.  Until then stay tuned for information regarding this year's Organic Farm Tour Fundraiser.  Feels good to be blogging again after a six month hiatus due to some unfortunate circumstances at our store last August.  More about that later.  Until then, Happy Spring and y'all are planning some fun bike touring adventures this year. 

It has been six months since my previous blog post so where have I been?  Our little store was in trouble and I had to go help after the business owner who shared the lease with us decided to suddenly quit without notice.  

The case of the missing juice bar.  Being a small business owner, entrepreneur or any type of self employed venture can at times feel like a test of endurance.  It's important to take some time off, retreat, recharge and refresh.  So, late last summer while making an effort to do just that I planned a nice little getaway to New Mexico, visit family and do some bike packing or mountain bike touring.  Instead I took care of some much needed maintenance around Granny B's mini pecan grove, herb garden and while doing so discovered a major gas leak to the house.  

Then I received a phone call that the owner of the Juice Bar back home in League City, Texas decided she was done with her business and was shutting it down.  Unfortunately our store depended on the Juice Bar paying half of the lease for the newly acquired commercial space.  So, did it feel like I went on a nice vacation to refresh and recharge?  Absolutely not!  As soon as I could I was forced to pack up all my bike touring gear and return home to help find a solution to keeping our six year strong organic food co-op business going.  There's a reason our little store has been so successful for the past several years and that reason's name is Lisa Piper.

Before coming up with solutions for funding a rather large buy out of the former juice bar I had to process some much needed frustration.  Luckily there was a dead tree threatening to fall on my workshop and power lines that the city wouldn't have taken care of unless it fell onto the power lines.  There's no metaphorically speaking mumbo jumbo I was just glad I could vent a bit and do something productive at the same time.  : )

It was difficult to not be angry with former juice bar owner's sudden decision after attending a week long spiritual retreat where it seems that she "drank the kool aid" and the lack of consideration of her effect on her business lease partner and family.  So, yeah I was pissed off and after the saw dust settled Lisa told me about her solution to help cover the lease by renting out the commercial kitchen to our local vendor product suppliers.  But we still had to figure out a way to make use of the rest of the old juice bar space.  

So, this is how I helped to handle the situation in an effort to benefit our little store's efforts in our community.  Firstly, I took the old juice bar table tops which had sayings stenciled on them like "Go Ahead and Tease Me". "Feed My Soul" and "Let go and let Smoothies" and cut them into useable sizes for much needed wood crates that would help our staff with maintaining our weekend farm and garden sales table. 

Photo at left shows the stackable creates in the bike trailer (which I got a lot of use from for these tasks) and can be used to fit inside of coolers to store and keep produce fresh overnight.   By the way, if you're looking for some cordless power tools for around the house or even somewhat industrial use I have a huge fond appreciation for any of the Milwaukee M12 line of tools, especially the recently acquired hammer drill after burning out the chuck and motor of my old drill. 

After cutting up the old tables for crate use what would we do for tables then?

I replaced all three poorly made tables from particle wood and cheap trim with some elegantly funky upcycled pallet wood.  

After I got them all installed for use in the newly acquired cafe space we received a lot of complements from folks who probably got tired of reading those previously described silly messages on the old tables.

While putting this post together first thing this morning I received a call from the store that another one of our staff has had to give her two weeks notice as she simply needs a better wage.  It's just a reminder of how the inconvenience of the former juice bar owner's behavior and the forced buy out effected our funds in such a way that we are unable to offer better pay to our much valued staff.  So, with that I can make first mention of our fundraising bike tour with a link to our GoFundMe page.  

It's important to mention that given the angst created on behalf of other folks' decisions and actions the former juice bar owner continues to be a loyal customer and supporter of our business.  It wasn't about us or our business why that person made the choices she did.  And all the while Lisa received many complements over the past several months in regards to how well she has been handling it all.  I will be conducting a nice long bike tour visiting organic farms, gardens and co-ops in an effort to raise funds for our store's co-op garden and cafe.  I have just recently put together a GoFundMe Campaign for our store's continued efforts to serve the community.  For more information about all that the Natural Living Country Store and Cafe does here use any of the underlined links in this post or use new widget below. 

Looking forward to honing my bike and blog skills as a means of providing a meaningful and significant contribution to our Store's funding effort.  So far I have been realizing how much work it is to put such a campaign together and the logistics of bike touring while working.  Very different than simply putting together a bike touring vacation where it's much more of a recreational activity than an electronic gadget filled effort of blogging and posting to social media.  Anyhow, look forward to more posts regarding bicycle touring route and establishments along the way.  I have no doubt despite all the hard work and effort I will still be able to enjoy myself.  : )

"You can't buy happiness but you can buy a bicycle and that's pretty close".  Most bike folks and those considering taking up bike commuting, touring or recreational riding can relate to to that quote.  One of the reasons it's "pretty close" is that lots of folks after purchasing their bike for its' intended purpose find themselves needing a few more items to fulfill their bike's ability to meet their needs.  After four years of blogging, riding, testing products and reviewing them here is our list of our favorite affordable quality products.  

A few years ago while designing and building our kinda fat mountain bike as an all terrain utility rig that could navigate an area without designated bike routes we had a difficult time finding a steel front rack to meet our needs.  I was looking for a design which provided low rider positon of panniers and a top deck for either strapping a tent or sleeping bag to or to support a large handlebar bag or basket.

After comparing cost, weight and other specifications I was pleasantly surprised to find the MT-4000SF front rack from Minoura.  Not only is that rack disc brake compatible it comes with hardware for mounting to either standard or suspension forks, will fit 26" to 29" wheel sizes and mounts to the axle with an extra long skewer making installation easy yet very secure.  Here's link to my review of that rack from three years ago.  

After being very happy with the first Minoura front rack I decided to try another rack in the FRP-3000, a traditional low rider front rack for my road touring bike, weighs much less than the MT-4000SF and includes same mounting hardware with axle skewer and brake post mounting hardware.  

I have had both of these racks for three years now and very much appreciate the quality steel front racks provided by Minoura with a price tag that is unmatched by anything comparable. 

Here's a link to my initial review of this rack that I have installed on both a 26" Bridgestone MB-1 converted to a touring bike and my 700c touring bike.

Here's a link to another informative review of these racks shares some ideas of optionally mounting the rack to the a threaded touring bike fork rather than the brake bosses.  

While Minoura provides favorites in terms of front bike racks axiom continues to deliver some ultra solid load carrying capacity with their rear racks.  I've installed many axiom racks for customers over the years and since the introduction of the Streamliner DLX rear rack for disc brake equipped bikes installation couldn't be easier.   Here are a few main points to consider from their product description:

• A lightweight, low profile solution for mountain, commuting and fitness bikes
• Ultra-narrow profile improves aerodynamics, keeps load closer to center and greatly reduces bag "swing"
• Hand-welded 10.2mm tubular 6061 T6 alloy construction
• Fits 26" and 700C wheels
• Ample space for MTB and Hybrid/Trekking fenders

At our shop the most popular is the axiom Journey for bikes that don't have disc brakes.

Due to the simple fact that I like to ride different bikes for a variety of reasons it is nice to be able to swap panniers and bags from one bike to another.  That quality of versatility is something I look for when considering and sifting through many of today's bike touring and commuting pannier and bag options. 

For example a handlebar bag which mounts with a quick release bracket can only be used on the bike to which the quick release clamp has been installed.  Some manufacturers offer an additional clamp at additional cost of course.  The same can be said about some panniers with locking mechanisms which limit the ability to swap panniers around to the front or rear racks as preferred or needed.  This is not to say that some of the more popular products from Ortlieb, Arkel and the like are not of excellent quality but to say that there are some other options in affordable quality panniers that can lend some added versatility compared to others.

Photo above is of a very inexpensive handlebar bag that just so happens to fit most all my gear for "some" professional quality photography and blogging gadgets including a tripod, tablet, camera, cables and rechargeable power pack.  Here's a link for a review of that handlebar bag. It's design provides a very convienient option for swapping the handlebar bag from my touring bike to my mountain bike for bike packing and even on a folding bike for travel.  Very versatile indeed and after two years of lots of use it is holding together extremely well considering how rediculously affordable that bag is. 

​Axiom products continue to prove to be an exceptional choice of quality and value.  Unfortunately, Axiom has discontinued their Cartier panniers (front panniers in photo at left) which are still providing dependable service after ten years of use.  Fortunately they have introduced the Seymour DLX panniers available in two different sizes both of which can be used as front or rear bags and although those panniers now have the Rixen and Kaul latching mechanism for attaching the top of the pannier the very heavy duty steel hook and bungee are used to secure the bottom of the bag making for a versatile yet secure attachment system.  

Another very impressive option in that same series is now available in a waterproof material called their "O Weave" series.  It's a complete line of various panniers and bags of varying capacities for different uses.  Another thoughtful idea is that the interieor of the waterproof design is a red interior for enhanced visibility inside their bags and panniers.  

A favorite around here are any bike lighting products from Cygolite.  With a rechargeable USB connection I can simply connect a Cygolite Metro front light to a Zendure power bank if for whatever reason the battery should get low.  I've been using the Cygolite Metro for my night time bike commutes and for bicycle touring with ability to recharge via USB cable and solar kit.

We have found most if not all Cygolite products to outperform other bike lights based on battery run time, lighting options and overall brightness.  

Last year I received a Blackburn 2 fer front or rear light for review which is also USB rechargeable and can be used as a headlight for camping.  It's very small, lightweight design and multi mode functions make for a nice bit of kit just know that the battery time is lacking.  

I have tried so many different types of materials from various brands and manufacturers but they fell short of the quality I wanted or had an absurdly high price tag.  Now that  I have found a rain gear kit that truly keeps me dry I don't mind riding in wet weather at all. 

For the past couple years I have been more than satisfied with the performance of my Bellwether Storm Front Jacket with a drop down butt cover combined with a pair of Tenn Outdoors Waterproof Cycling Trousers.  Photo at left shows how much rain we frequently receive along the Gulf Coast and having good quality rain gear makes it fun and easy to ride.  


While I continue with this blog look for more fun and effective ways to improve your rides whether it's more bike commuting or bicycle touring we effort to have you covered.
Link related to this topic:
Multi day Bike Touring Kit


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When bike folks think of Las Vegas and bikes their first thought is of the largest annual meeting of bicycle industry leaders known as Interbike.  “The annual Interbike International Bicycle Exposition is where the bicycle industry gathers to celebrate, educate and conduct the business of cycling.  Bicycle retailers, media, importers and distributors can discover the latest in bicycle technology, including bicycle demos at the largest 2-day demo event for the trade – OutDoor Demo”.

​Yeah, pretty awesome whether you’re a customer or a vendor it’s considered the most exciting event the bike industry has to offer.  However, Interbike is held only a few days out of the year so is there any good reason for a bike travel enthusiast to want to visit what has been dubbed “Sin City”? This article highlights just a few reasons that hopping on a bike and touring around Vegas could be one of the most fun and rewarding travel ideas many bike folks wouldn’t consider.

Of course, if you're looking to get off the pavement and onto some dirt the coordinators of Interbike have selected some of the best mountain bike trails in the country for their annual display of bike industry leaders wanting to show off their latest and greatest rides.  

Want to simply grab your bike and leave for Las Vegas without making a whole lot of travel and activity plans?  Guided mountain bike tours are available like that pictured at left of McGhie's Las Vegas Mountain Bike Guided Tour.

There are also many hotels and bike shops that rent bicycles for you to conveniently get some exercise while visiting Las Vegas.  Visit Vegas.com to search those types of specal offers and deals.

I know that some folks, bike enthusiast or not just want to see Vegas from a unique perspective that can add to their vacation enjoyment.  From a photographer's point of view I wanted to know just how bike friendly Las Vegas is.  Well here's a nice tid bit of information Las Vegas increased its bike network by more than 23 percent to 444 miles of bike lanes and 102 miles of paved off-road trails and installed bike parking racks throughout downtown.  The League of American Bicyclists awarded both Las Vegas and Henderson with their bronze award in recognition of the closely knit communities efforts to encourage bike enthusiasts to visit the tourist based area.  

That's what I like to hear when considering a bicycle touring or bike travel destination, particularly when planning logistics for photography opportunities.  I have found getting around town by bike is the most versatile and efficient methods of transportation regardless of what town it is and more often than not offers picture opportunities that I wouldn't have otherwise considered or seen if I was in a motor vehicle.  Businesses like that of Pedego Henderson understand this and offers electric bike rentals and tours of Henderson, Las Vegas, Lake Mead and Boulder City.  

Whether you're interested in epic mountain bike rides, long, scenic road touring or just want to get out on the bike while playing in Las Vegas there is a bike and terrain for your every whim.  Visit Vegas.com for more information when planning your next bike touring adventure whatever that means to you.

Escape Adventures offers a variety of mountain bike tours, road tours and many other options for bike touring enthusiasts of most all skill levels providing many ways to see the sights of Las Vegas and the surrounding areas.  Click on photo for more information and if you plan on going to Vegas to party and exercise you might consider stopping up on some healthy performance supplements like that from redace organics where our visitors can now get an additional fifteen percent off their purchase.