Product Review: Specialized Pro Women’s Mountain Bike Shoe

Written by: Jennifer Hanks

Finding a comfortable high-quality mountain bike shoe is a feat; for women it is even harder. Most bike product manufacturers simply do not offer the same quality in women specific gear as they do for men. And a shoe is one area where a men’s version just doesn't size up. In my search for the perfect shoe, I purchased a pair of Specialized Pro Women’s Mountain Bike Shoes.



In the past, I’ve worn the Sidi Women’s Dominaotor 5. These shoes were comfortable enough, but I didn't like that the mountain bike version did not offer a carbon sole. I’ve also worn the Shimano M225 shoes for three seasons. The Shimano shoes have a nice stiff carbon sole, but they weren't offered in a women’s specific model and were quite wide for a woman's narrow foot. I would have to crank the velcro toe straps around to get a secure fit and then cut off the excess. I’ve also had my share of foot problems. In 2008 I suffered from sesmoiditis, which was quite painful and required holes cut in the footbed of my shoes to relieve pressure. More recently, I sprained my foot in cyclocross and a comfortable shoe became imperative.

For that reason I started my mission to find a new shoe for 2010. After some Internet research, I settled on the Specialized shoe. Kudos to Specialized for actually making a high-end women’s specific shoe. I like that the shoe has a carbon sole, good tread for those dreaded hike-a-bike sections, a narrow fit and a fully adjustable ankle strap. The shoe is available in half sizes to ensure a perfect fit. Advertised weight: 640 gram/pair.

I rode these shoes for several weekends of binge mountain biking in St. George, Utah. The shoes were a snug fit and more than comfortable enough to not irritate my sprained foot while being incredibly stiff - just the feel I like when pedaling.


My favorite feature about the Specialized shoe was that they were narrow enough for my long, skinny feet. Even the insole, which advertises a varus wedge, metatarsal button, and longitudinal arch support, was quite comfortable for an out-of-the box insole. The only thing I did not love about these shoes was the stiff plastic ankle strap that puts some pressure on the anterior ankle when walking. I think the shoe would have been even more comfortable if there were a bit of padding on the strap, but then again that would increase the weight. If I continue to find this irritating, I plan to cut the strap back a bit. Actual weight for these shoes was more like 718 grams, however this is still lighter than my Shimano M225 which weigh 882 grams.

Overall, if you’re a serious female mountain biker and willing to shell out some cash ($260) for a high quality and comfortable shoe, the Specialized Pro Women’s MTB shoe may be for you.

Product Review: Mountain Smith's Bike Cube Deluxe

written by: Kevin Day (K-Day Racing.com)

I would dare say that my bag and pack obsession rivals SDAY’s (Mrs. K-Day Racing), but Shan’s are generally a bit different in both form and function. I’m always looking for something nice that fits on my back rather than over my shoulder or if does go over the shoulder, it needs to hold at least a weeks worth of cycling clothing and accessories. That being said, KDAY Racing will now be sporting the Bike Cube Deluxe, at every cycling related event.

Mountain Smith isn’t known for their cycling related packs but this one should put em on the map. I’ve never found a more perfect bag that not only holds a large volume of clothing, but has more than a handful of pockets and compartments for all the extras you pack along to your events.



The Bike Cube Deluxe has three main compartments, two of which are specked with a heavy duty mesh on the top side that allows wet items the ability to vent. A large changing mat is stored in a fourth compartment/pocket located on the back-side of the bag which proves to be extremely valuable when you’re slipping on some shoes and socks and you don’t want to stand in the dirt or on the hot pavement.

Within each compartment are more pockets and dividers that help to allow even better organization. Spots for extra food, gels, bottles. You name it. There’s even a sleeve that holds a roll-up tool pouch that comes with the Cube.

At 56 L. the Bike Cube Deluxe so far has been the pack-all of all my bags. It’s especially nice for those days when you’re just not sure how much clothing you’ll need to bring for your afternoon ride. When in doubt, bring everything. And the Bike Cube Deluxe can handle it.

You can purchase the Bike Cube Deluxe on Mountain Smith’s website or many other online retailers. Check it out here. If you’re a team manager you may want to consider snagging some of these and having them custom embroidered. Not a bad way to show up to any race or event.

Product Review:Ergon Grip Review

Written by: Jen Hanks

I like to be comfortable. I love to wear soft sweatshirts and I don’t see the point of high heels. When I ride my bike for hours on end, I also want to be comfortable. I’ve put a lot of thought into improving my comfort on my bike. I’ve ridden endless saddles, definitely have favorite chamois, and even prefer some helmets over others. I had never really thought about improving my hand comfort; mostly because there was only one type of grip available. Round.

These Ergon GX 1s went through some serious testing by our reviewers

In 2007, I started dabbling in ultra-endurance riding/racing, my hands started to bother me more. I came back from the 2007 TransAlp with sore, blistered, and bruised hands. This is when I started hearing about Ergon grips.

Ergonomic grips. What a brilliant idea. I bought a pair of GX1s to try for 2008. The difference was amazing. The grips worked, surprisingly, just like they were advertised.

No more numb, blistered, sore hands. Plus, the platform shaped grip surface allows me to rest my hands on the grips and therefore relax my upper body, which decreases energy expenditure. This difference is especially noticeable during insanely long rides. The GX1s saved my hands for my first 10-hour solo event as well as the 2008 TransRockies. At TransRockies, though, with it’s endless climbs, I thought, ‘perhaps I would like some extra hand positions.’

The Ergon GX 2 with integrated carbon bar end

So, for 2009 I bought a pair of GX2s. The GX2s were essentially the same platform grip as the GX1s, with carbon bar ends. I had never been a fan of bar ends, mostly because I like to shift a lot, and I can’t shift when on the bar ends. But, the extra hand positions provided even more comfort and upper extremity relief. The GX2s were the perfect grips for the long steep climbs of the inaugural Breck Epic.

One of my favorite things about the Ergon grips is the ease in which they are installed. This allows me to swap my grips out easily based on course profile. I prefer to use the GX1 grips, however if I know a course has a ton of climbing I can throw on the GX2s in just a couple of minutes. The grips also clamp securely to the bar, which eliminates the potential for slippage in rainy conditions and come in size small and large.

Ergon grips are mounted over a plastic tube with expansion joints that allow it to clamp securely to your bar when the outer ring is tightened

The Ergon grips are also competitively light. The GX1s weigh in at 134 grams and the GX2s 190 grams on my gram scale (this is pretty dang close to the advertised weights on the Ergon website). I have not had an opportunity to ride the new, smaller profile GA1s, but they weighed 124 grams. For comparison, I weighed some other, non-ergonomic grips. A pair of non-ergonomic rubber grips weighed 100 grams while a pair of non-ergonomic foam grips weighed 38 grams. As for me, I will take the small weight penalty for comfortable hands and improved performance!

Product Review: Ergon BA 1 Pack

written by: Kevin Day (K-Day Racing.com)

Whether I'm riding singletrack, commuting to and from work, or just out on a hike with the family, the Ergon BA1 has become a staple in my quiver of packs for multiple reasons. The unique Flink® Link ball joint is by far the most innovative feature I've seen on a pack and boy does it work well. The revolutionary carrying system manages to distribute the load on both shoulders and hips evenly, keeping it off your back and eliminating sensitive pressure points.

At only 16 liters, the BA1 is just big enough to stash a change of cloths in for my commute or a reservoir and plenty of food for those epic Wasatch rides. There's an external pocket for a multi tool and a few other quick access items and stashed on the underside is an integrated rain cover.

Because of its size and weight I don't think I'll be using it much for endurance racing, but everything outside of that, you can count on it being there with me. The BA1 comes in gender specific sizes, both small and large. See the full line of Ergon Outdoor packs at ergon-outdoor.com and don't forget to check out their entire line of cycling specific packs at ergon-bike.com. There you'll find the BD1 which is they're 12 liter, cycling specific pack that would suit most of you cycling hydration pack needs.

Product Review: Kid Tested, Mother Approved - Slime Pro

Written by: Brian Hester

Slime products have been preventing flats on bicycles, motorcycles, cars, trucks, trailers, and wheel burros for just over 20 years now. Competitors have come and gone but Slime remains the industry leader for one simple reason. The green stuff works.



Missing from Slime’s lineup, however, was a tubeless bicycle tire sealant. Enter Slime Pro Tubeless Sealant.After extensively testing the competition Slime came up with a formula that addressed user’s complaints. It’s more effective, faster sealing, and weighs less than the other top brands. Slime Pro also contains their top secret rust and corrosion package to protect your expensive wheels and it’s made without ammonia so it’s less damaging to your tires and less toxic than other brands.

A 16-ounce bottle costs around 20 bucks. That’s enough to seal 8 mountain bike tires, about half what you get from a bottle of Stan’s for only a few bucks less. So at nearly twice the price why would you buy Slime? Easy, it works better and lasts longer.

My first experience with Slime Pro was a few months back. The perpetually bald rear tire on my mountain bike sprung a leak. I had sealant from one of Slime’s competitors in the tire but it just wouldn’t seal. After removing the presta valve cap I squirted in about an ounce of Slime pro and pumped up the tire. It sealed instantly even though I used half the recommended amount. Hundreds of miles later and a half dozen goat heads, the Slime is still working perfectly.

We also ran Slime Pro in a cycle-cross bike for a full season of CX racing. The courses in Utah feature an endless supply of goat head thorns and a flat tire usually means the end of your race. Our Slime Pro equipped bike went the entire season without incident despite routinely having multiple thorns in both tires. Slime Pro seals so quickly there was never any need to put more air in the tires so our tester finished every race ‘off the rims’.

While Slime Pro may initially cost more, the long-term value and that pina colada smell makes it worth every penny. We plan to use Slime Pro for the 2010 XC season so check back next year for updates.

Product Review: When 8 isn’t enough…Niner - The Air 9 Carbon

Written by: Brian Hester

29-inch wheeled bikes have been around for almost 20 years now. A handful of companies tried to market big wheels for mountain bikes throughout the 1990’s but reaction from consumers was a resounding…why. Today 29er’s are no longer a novelty. With industry support and marketing muscle getting behind big wheels, 29er’s are quickly becoming the next revolution in mountain biking.

The Niner Air Nine Carbon in Vanawhite

Niner has quickly become a leader in the 29er market. For years they have produced high-end 29-inch bikes utilizing aggressive frame geometry and lightweight tubing. For 2010, they make the jump to the ultimate in weight-saving material - carbon.

Niner’s first frame building foray into the world of carbon fiber is the 2010 Air 9 Carbon. Like their beautiful ridged carbon fork, the Air 9 is an artfully done, full carbon frame. The high modulus carbon is designed to be incredibly light, laterally stiff, and vertically compliant. The Air 9 Carbon frame weighs just 2.8lbs.

Like all Niner bikes the Air 9 Carbon includes several unique features setting it apart from other bikes. The head tube is sleeved and tapered for increased stiffness in the front end while the bottom bracket shell features Bio-Centric EBB technology and the CYA bottom bracket system. Basically a fancy way of saying you can use any type of BB you want. Geared, single speed, BB30, and the now ‘old school’ outboard bearing setup (XTR). The Air 9 accommodates them all.

Niner's uniquely accommodative bottom bracket

Rather than adding extra layers of carbon to meet their standards for strength, stiffness, and rider comfort, Niner focused on shaping the frame. The “swooping” lines of the Air 9 not only look great but also help to “disperse energy, avoid stress risers, and increase the natural damping characteristics of the carbon”. (www.ninerbikes.com)

The prototypes displayed at the Las Vegas Interbike show sported internal derailleur cable routing. The cables enter the frame right through the Niner badge on the head tube. Very cool and we hope to see it on the final production model.

While the Air Nine is not yet available for testing, its extensive development, attention to detail, and Niner’s reputation for bikes that outperform have us putting our old bikes for sale on eBay.

The Air Nine Carbon in real-life at Interbike

Integrated brake mounts may add grams to the frame weight but save you many more by eliminating the need for an aluminum bolt-on brake mount when the bike is built

Product Review: Squirt Long Lasting Dry Lube

Smooth Move
By Brian Hester

I first tried synthetic “dry” lubes way back in the mid 1990’s. They promised to keep your chain clean while providing superb friction reduction. And they did, but only for a very short ride….on a dry road. After a few miles your chain started making that noise. You know the one. The one that sounds like you took your bike to the car wash and forgot to lube your chain before the next ride. I quickly gave up on the fancy, expensive lubes and went for the relative quiet of Tri-Flow.



Fast forward 15 years and dry lubes are pretty much the same. Or so I thought until I got my hands on a bottle of Squirt Lube (www.squirtlube.com). Billed as a long lasting dry lube, Squirt is a water based (emulsion) wax lube. Those of you over 50 will remember the days of waxing chains. This is the same idea but you won’t have to cook your chain in the oven!

Putting water on your chain is counterintuitive but in this case it carries the wax deep into your chain. The water then evaporates leaving the wax to do its thing. Simple! It repels dirt and lubricates at the same time. And for those of you that think Earth is a nice place to live, Squirt contains no solvents, is 100% biodegradable, and is made from recycled product.

Applying Squirt is the same easy process as any other chain lube. However, if you’re married, don’t use Squirt in the living room. The water based formula is impossible to put on without a few big drops ending up on your rim and….umm carpet. Because Squirt keeps your chain clean, you can reapply several times without wiping the chain down.

I admit to being a little skeptical before this product review. I would rather use motor oil on my chain than the typical dry lube. Thankfully, Squirt Lube is anything but typical. It works excellent in dry, dusty conditions and will get you through the rain as well. Squirt Lube has a new home on my workbench.

Stan's No Tubes ZTR Race 29er Wheelset Follow Up

Hoop Dreams Part II



Our ongoing test of the Stan's No Tubes ZTR Race 29er wheelset ended this weekend in catastrophic fashion. After over 120 hours of aggressive riding the ZTR Race 29ers were finally done in. The ultralight ZTR wheelset had endured countless hours of hammering on the harshest of trails.

After 4 hours of lift-served downhilling on Saturday I charged, second wheel, into what appeared to be a wooden ramp. As the rider in front hit the end of the ramp I quickly learned what I thought to be a ramp was in fact a teeter-totter. It turns out even a 29er wheel will not roll over a solid wooden structure elevated two feet off the ground.

In a split second our three month test of the ZTR Race 29er was over. Overall, we were quite impressed with the ultralight wheelset and despite it's "race only" designation the ZTR Race 29er held up to nearly everything we threw at it. Unfortunately, not the blunt end of an elevated teeter-totter at full speed but I can't imagine a wheel that would.

Written by: Shannon Boffeli

Product Review: Stan's No Tubes ZTR Race 29er Wheelset

Hoop Dreams. Stan’s No Tubes ZTR Race 29er Wheelset 

Written by: Brian Hester

When I first picked up the box holding our new Stan’s No Tubes front wheel I seriously thought it was empty. After shaking it like a 5-year old on Christmas morning, I confirmed that the wheel was actually inside. My first thought was ‘these wheels are crazy light’. My second thought was ‘are they too light’?

The No Tubes web site, www.notubes.com, claims 1,370 grams for a complete disc tubeless wheel set including 32 spokes, rim tape and valves ($950.00 MSRP). Our set tipped the scales at 1,360 grams. The Race rim is a full 45 grams lighter than the gold standard Mavic Crossmax SLR 26 inch rim. American Classic hubs are standard for the Race wheels but you can also choose Lefty, 15mm, 20mm, or single speed options (our test set came with a Lefty front hub). The various hub options are all understated black numbers that look great and are on the lower end of the weight spectrum. Spokes are courtesy of DT. 32 black Revolution 2.0/1.5 spokes are complemented by silver aluminum nips. The feathery weight comes with a few caveats. No riders over 170 pounds, tire pressure must be kept below 33 psi and recommended use is race day only.

Spoke lace patterns are 2 cross on the front and the rear wheel is built with a 1 cross pattern on the drive side and 2 cross on the non-drive side. No Tubes claims they chose one cross “to transfer more of the peddling force to the non-drive side spokes.” While this build will transfer force, it will also produce more twist on the drive side and more stress on the spoke heads during acceleration and braking. They also use an all head down approach on the drive side spokes making the wheel less laterally stiff.

ZTR Race wheelset getting some abuse and liking it in Moab, Utah

MTBRaceNews.com has been breaking the “Race Day Only” rule by giving these wheels a daily beating. After over 60 hours of riding, the ZTR Race wheels continue to impress. Other than minor truing for the rear wheel the Stan’s No Tubes Race wheels have been maintenance free. The ride is solid and acceleration feels on par with a 26” Mavic Crossmax set. Once up to speed the wheels show why 29ers are all the rage. The larger diameter allows the wheel to roll over bumps and obstacles with less pounding, making it easier to maintain your speed. My only complaint is the rear wheel build. A traditional 3 cross pattern would improve overall strength with minimal weight penalty making the wheels strong enough to keep on your bike all week long. But we have noticed no appreciable decrease is wheel stiffness during our rides.

Overall the ZTR Race 29er wheelset has proven to be a speed demon on the racecourse and has put up with daily punishment on even the roughest trails like Porcupine Rim and the rocky descents of the Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge, Colorado.


Disclosures: MTBracenews.com has no relationship with Stan’s No Tubes. This test was performed on a standard retail ZTR Race wheelset purchased from a supplier without the knowledge or Stan’s No Tubes. Our test riders weigh between 150-160lbs, which is within the weight restrictions of the ZTR Race wheelset.