What makes a good knee pad? With so many different options on the market from just as many different companies, it is not surprising that this is a fairly common question, and one that is is sure to get a myriad of different answers. Obviously the ideal pad would be one that feels like it isn’t there,  instead of feeling like a drunken Koala bear sliding down your leg as you pedal along. The perfect set of pads will also protect your bony knees from any foreseeable impact, whether it is an encounter with the ground, an errant pedal, or a collision with your own bike.

This balance between protection and comfort, while extremely difficult to get just right, is the difference between an annoyance, and a great set of knee pads. Typically, we have found that bulky, hard plastic pads offer an incredible amount of protection, but tend to migrate from your knees and due to their inflexible nature, usually cause discomfort. On the flip side, many soft, flexible pads fail to offer the adequate level of protection needed, in spite of the comfort they provide.

Demon Dirt is a company that has been on the rise recently, and seem to be one of the first to incorporate love it or hate it style and protection into the same pad, but where does this leave the performance of the Davy Jones Knee Pad compared to the competition?

Find out after the break!

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Tom from i-ride.co.uk, a UK distributor, sent these images over from Core Bike, a show for bike distributors to display the new goods to retailers for that market.

His brief notes suggest these custom anodized LH Thomson seatposts and stem are exclusive colors for I-Ride and says it’s a Union Jack color scheme, but looks like the good ol’ stars and stripes to us. As for the other one, we’re not sure if it’s real RealTree licensed artwork, but looks pretty close to it.

Another photo after the break…

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New for 2011, ENVE Composites has expanded their handlebar line to include a 225g, 800mm wide carbon fiber downhill mountain bike handlebar.

They’ve had a flat and riser bar for XC riders, but now gravity bombers can get in on the lightweight carbon action from the company formerly known as Edge. The DH bar retails for $180, has a 9º sweep, 23º rise and an OS 31.8 clamp area. Exterior has a UD (unidirectional) carbon finish. Available now.

Posted earlier today on his blog, Fat Cyclist has this clever, one-size-fits-all press release ready for you, just in case you get that dreaded positive test result…

Earlier today, I was as astounded as you are to discover that I tested positive for [circle all that apply: Testosterone / Clenbuterol / EPO / Abnormally high levels of Diet Coke] during the [Name or number of stage] stage of the [Name of Race]. This race happened [choose one: two days ago / two months ago] and I find it highly suspicious that it has taken [choose one: The UCI / WADA] such an incredibly [choose one: short / long] time to come out and accuse me. I think that [choose one: short / long] wait indicates a highly suspicious bias against me.

For the record, I wish to state unequivocally, that I am [circle one: entirely innocent / surprised and outraged / baffled as to how it is possible that my red blood cell count got that high without my heart stopping], and that I will fight these charges [circle one: until my final breath / until my name is cleared / until my attorney discovers that I don't have enough money to retain their services].

As you all know, I have always been a strong advocate for clean cycling, as witnessed by my [circle one: years and years of testing clean / socks that say "Dopers suck" / the way I have immediately stopped any kind of association with other cyclists once they've been implicated in any scandal / subscription to Boy's Life magazine].

Further, I would like to point out that the science behind the tests responsible for the “positive” finding is [circle one: outdated / based on an algorithm commonly used in random number generators / really complicated and confusing / new and untested], and should therefore not be trusted.

When clean cyclists like myself are being accused of doping, what it really means is that the system is broken — that the tests are [choose one or more: unfair / inaccurate / inconvenient / a total witch-hunt].

I wish to point out that the amount of the banned substance for which I have been tested would [choose one: not be enough to do me any good / obviously be enough to get me caught and so I wouldn't be so stupid as to take it anyway]. As a professional cyclist, I am tested on an incredibly frequent basis; I would never be so foolish as to put my livelihood in jeopardy by taking banned substances. Other cyclists would, but I wouldn’t. Because that would be wrong.

Also, I have enemies in the sport, people who are trying to besmirch my good name and sabotage my career. [circle one: Dick Pound / Pat McQuaid] has had it in for me for years. I don’t know why he is so angry at me.

I am confident that once [circle one: the B sample / the C sample / all the evidence / the conspiracy theory I am currently concocting] comes out, I will be exonerated, and will be able to resume the sport of cycling I love so much.

Until then, I would ask you to remember that I should be thought of innocent [circle one: until / unless] I am proven guilty.

Thank you. I will not be taking any questions.

Pig Cast from Ed Oxley on Vimeo.

A great video review of Ragley Bikes‘ Blue Pig from UK-based site Great Rock. Ed Oxley, the narrator and the man behind the chest-cam has mad skills — as he demonstrates on the “steps of death.” Hebden Bridge looks like a super-fun place to ride and Ed makes the Blue Pig look like a super-fun bike to ride it on.

You’ve gazed in wonder and awe at our overview of 2011 Osprey Viper hydration packs. You’ve stood dumbfounded with delight as you looked upon the first impression piece on the Osprey Viper 7, but, as incredible as it may seem; those were nothing. We’re talking the difference between your drunk uncle doing front flips in a bouncy castle for children and Cirque Du Soleil Dralion here.

Come with us now on a journey through pockets and zippers and high-tech-magnetic-bite valves.

Taking advantage of the warm weekend!

To see more Pics of the Day, click here, and to submit your own photo to be shown to the world, go here.

Today, as part of our ongoing series “RACE TO NAHBS!” we thoroughly harass Sutton, Massachusetts based frame builder Mike Zanconato. Mike tore himself away from feverishly readying bikes for the big North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Austin, Texas next month to answer BikeRumor’s 11 questions in a very well thought out manner.

BR: Are your plans for NAHBS a secret, or can you tell us a little bit about what you’re showing?

MZ: Nah, no secrets. My customers, who are loaning me the bikes, already know. Why not tell everyone else, right? I’ll have three complete bikes with me. The first is the Columbus Max frame with internal Di2 routing that you guys gave a sneak peak of. In addition, I will have a no-frills cyclocross bike and a road bike designed for the tough roads in New Hampshire. I’ll also have a couple of other frames and forks there. Maybe I’ll keep the details of those under my hat for now.

BR: What about the booth, anything extra-special-crazy in the booth department?

MZ: I’m all about clean and non-cluttered. My booth will have a feel similar to my shop.

BR: What do you see as the hot trend at NAHBS this year? (more…)

For a bit now, Rouleur has had this series of t-shirts with cleverly animated versions of your favorite cyclists, courtesy of artist Richard Mitchelson (I love love the Greg one… the sunglasses!). If they did not have your favorite rider -check again- because they just added four more heroes of our sport.

From MWHQ:

“We have a handful of factory second Rondels we’re offering up for a discounted price of $80. These have all been inspected and just have minor cosmetic blemishes or marks and certainly deserve a good home. They are, of course, still covered by our full warranty. As a bonus we’ll also throw in free ground shipping. Just use the code SECONDS at check out.

If you already have a pair of Rondel’s don’t feel left out. Use the code WINTER to receive 20% off your order of anything else on the site. Like most good things though this won’t last long. We’ll keep the code live until Monday at midnight.

Both offers are available for our San Francisco Shop as well, so stop by and try on a pair.

Thanks for the continued support of Mission Workshop.”

One of the things I have a hard time giving up is my backpack. I know that I could probably get to work and back, more comfortably too, with just a seatpack with tools for flats. But I can’t let go of all the superfluous stuff I like to have handy, so many of you may recall my recent review of the Mission Workshop Vandal backpack. Well, shortly after that review I was asked to test out the newly released Chrome Yalta pack. I’ve owned their messenger bags, and their shoes are still holding up as my shop shoes after a year, so I was pumped to try it out on my commute. Check out my thoughts on it after the jump…

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Here’s a sweet and simple solution to your dress getting caught in your rear wheel on your morning commute to work: Simeli sells hand crocheted dress protectors that attach to the rear fender of Dutch-style city bikes via metal binder clips (really? hmm, interesting use of an office supply). The brightly colored cotton web keeps your dress or other bits of flyaway clothing out of reach of your hungry tires. Both the clips and the crocheted dress protector come in various colors to suit your style, and will set you back €49 (not including shipping) – but I bet if you’re nice to your Granny, she’ll whip some up for you out of scrap yarn for free. Or, you can contact this crafter on Etsy, who makes similar items.

via Craftzine.