Bicycling April 2013

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER GETTING A NEW Fuji 10-speed during the summer between fourth and fifth grades. I can picture test-riding that bike and a dark-blue Panasonic up and down the sidewalk outside the local shop where my parents had bought two Peugeots, and choosing the Fuji because of its lustrous maroon finish and superior bar tape. My father threw the bike into our wood-paneled Pontiac Grand Safari station wagon, and I have a memory of glancing back at the frame sparkling in the sunlight. When we were a block from home, we passed by a neighbor’s house where kids my age were playing in the yard, and the story goes that I begged my dad to stop the car so I could show everyone my new bike. But I…

In “The Grand Bargain” (p. 90), JASON SUMNER helps you get the most bike for your money—and recommends nine models that can be had for $1,100 or less. “With technical advances and more efficient production methods, it’s possible to get a really solid bike for less than expected,” he says. Sumner, who lives in Boulder, Colorado, interviewed American track-cycling Olympian Sarah Hammer for our August 2012 issue. Brooklyn-based photographers JAMES MICHELFELDER and THERESE SOMMERSETH “were really pleased with the ethereal, backlit look” of the action shots they took for our Buyer’s Guide; the pair also photographed the drool-worthy Eddy Merckx EMX-525 carbon race bike that graces our cover. The former professional skiers’ work has also been commissioned by ESPN, Callaway, Under Armor, and Volkl. ALYOSHA SMOLARSKI, who rides for New…

LESS IS MORE Our Jan./Feb. feature “2,696 Pounds, 36 Lives” resonated with readers of all sizes. It was nice to read about people riding to better themselves. Even though I am not looking for weight loss, I’m riding with a goal in mind. I started cycling this year to feel more fit. Steve Drouillard, Windsor, Ontario Started with walking, then got small enough for a bike. Now it’s 4,000 miles a year on a road bike and 220 pounds gone. Never going back. Bill Cole, via Facebook I weighed 210; now I’m 170 and still eat what I want. Haven’t driven my car for two years. Steven Spenner, via Facebook I did Selene Yeager’s Ride Your Way Lean program and lost 25 pounds in three months. Then I started racing…

1 Castelli Endurance Bib Shorts $150 Stretchy, lightweight fabric makes these bibs comfortable and cool. They are also Castelli’s least expensive model to sport the premium Progetto X2 chamois, a thin pad that won’t overheat like lower-end models do. —Matt Phillips 2 Genuine Innovations Air Chuck Elite Inflator $25 Repair your flats efficiently with this diminutive, durable inflator. Just screw on a CO2 cartridge and press the chuck onto a presta valve to fill your fresh tube. A 16-gram cartridge inflates a 23mm tire to 130 psi.—M.P. 3 Rapha Hi-Vis Gilet $160 Only Rapha could pull off such hip high-visibility clothing: This intense shade of the brand’s signature pink really lights up the road. The thick, stretchy material is comfortable in cool temperatures, but slightly bulky.—M.P. 4 Garmin Edge 810…

1 PDW Full Metal Fenders $120 These sleek aluminum spray catchers fit tight clearances on most road bikes and work on frames without eyelets, although they only accept tires up to 23mm wide. They have struts that connect between your bike’s dropout and quick-releases. They also mount to your fork and brake bridge.—Matt Phillips 2 Chrome Cobra Storm Jacket $200 This snug jacket looks great off the bike and has enough technical features to make it a smart choice for wet rides. Though it could use more reflective hits than the logo in back, a longer tail protects you from spray. Multiple vents prevent overheating, and the hood fits nicely under a helmet.—M.P. 3 Topeak MTX Beam Rack and DXP Trunk Bag $60, rack; $125, trunk bag The expandable trunk…

1 Ritchey WCS Trail Group $170, bar; $100, stem; $220, seatpost These components strengthen your cockpit and improve handling. The aluminum stem’s clamp wraps 220 degrees around the bar for a secure interface. At 740mm, the light, stiff riser bar is Ritchey’s widest carbon model. The layup in the carbon post adds damping, but most trail riders will prefer a dropper. —Ron Koch 2 Mavic Notch Helmet $110 Aggressive riders should appreciate this lid’s extended rear coverage. Large vents keep you cool and plush pads boost comfort. A dial-operated retention system keeps the helmet in place, but the Notch best fits riders with rounder heads. Straps on our test sample were too short, limiting adjustability; Mavic says the helmets in stores will have longer ones.—R.K. 3 Shredly Basic Shorts $85…