See all of our Project 24.2 reviews here!

Just right.  It’s always subjective assessment, but finding a hydration pack that’s just right for racing has been hard for me.  Sure, most racers wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a pack on race day, but when facing 24 hours’ worth of riding, being able to fix mechanicals, carry a light battery, or grab an emergency snack makes the fashion faux pas worth my while.

Hydrapak’s 4L (plus a 2L bladder) Selva aims to be just right for quick rides and longer races.  Is this the little bag that could?  Or did it leave me wanting for a bit more (or less)?  Pass the break to find out!

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See all of our Project 24.2 reviews here!

If you could only have one wheelset, what would it look like?  Every rider is different, but for me, it would sport sturdy rims wide enough to handle true 2.3in tires, have a proven freehub, be compatible with several hub standards, freakishly light, and not too expensive.  Something that would be up to day-to-day aggressive trail use, big weekends with the boys in Sedona or Moab, and maybe light enough for the odd 24-hour race.  It would be tubeless and require as little maintenance as possible.  That’s a lot to ask of a wheelset- but when it arrived last September, Roval’s Control Trail SL wheelset looked last fall to be every one of those things.  Eight months later, has it lived up to its early promise?  Hit the jump to find out…

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See all of our Project 24.2 posts here!

While it has worked so far, I decided to go in a different direction when it came time to update the contact information on my Road ID Wrist ID Elite.  As temperatures have gone from wintery to downright hot, the wide silicone band has been on the warm side.  More importantly, I’ve been spending more time on our mountains’ rough and rocky trails and the weight added by the Elite’s stainless deployment clasp has caused the ID to rattle around more than I’d like.  When I saw that a new Wrist ID Slim would cost $1 less than a replacement ID Tag for the Wrist ID Elite, the decision to give the smallest Road ID a try was easy. Cross the line for my thoughts…

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Between the ever-larger frame tubes (on road and off) and the proliferation of dropper posts (for the latter), it sometimes seems as though the humble 27.2mm seatpost is headed for extinction.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing- larger diameter tubes are less likely to bend and require less clamping force to stay put.  They’re also… stiffer.  And, for lighter riders or those looking for a bit of comfort in their rides, this can be a shame.  My recent replacement of a scandium-framed single speed (with nearly a foot of 27.2 carbon swaying in the breeze) with an aluminum frame and 30.9 seatpost had my pampered backside and spine wondering what they’d done to deserve the sudden abuse.

Which is why I jumped at the opportunity to give Syntace’s new P6 Carbon HiFlex seatpost a try.  Taking the company’s proven P6 head and adding a shaft with twice the shock absorption of its predecessor, the P6 Carbon HiFlex boastings “improved oscillation dampening and directional stability even when drifting around corners or when hitting harsh ruts.” Indeed, a flexy post sounded like just the solution.  Hit the jump for more details, more photos, and a couple of initial impressions…

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See all of our Project 24.2 posts here!

Every cyclist has spent a good day in the saddle feeling happy and loving life- only to sit down at work the next day realizing that more than a unpleasant amount rubbing and chapping has occurred. Sometimes, it doesn’t even take until the next day.  Shaving, years of saddle time and proper fitting shorts can all help to eliminate inner thigh rubbing induced redness (ITRR), but not in all cases. In the hopes of easing the pain of training for and racing in this spring’s 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, Enduro Stuff sent out their Okole (“butt” in Hawaiian) Stuff chamois ointment for Alex and I to try.  Did the thick allantoin, tea tree oil, and aloe enriched Stuff make believers of our Okoles?  Go below the belt to find out…

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See all of our Project 24.2 reviews here!

Made in Italy.  That little phrase- though increasingly hard to find- is almost magical in the cycling world.  Not only does it signify a high-end product, but those three words evoke a land where food is enjoyed, style is effortless, and cycling is a part of culture.  Founded by an accomplished racer and in business for over 35 years, Vittoria make each and every pair of their shoes- from under $100 to over $400- at their factory in Italy.

Vittoria’s manufacturing flexibility is a big part of their current story.  While the company produces 81 stock model/color combinations in 27 sizes, three non-standard widths are available in addition to their standard width at no charge.  Even different-sized pairs are available for a nominal fee.  Want mountain uppers on road soles?  No problem.  Want carbon-soled, mountain-treaded shoes with uppers from the company’s stylish 1976 line?  You bet.  Vittoria USA can make any of this happen in 2-3 weeks from your order to when they land in your local bike shop.

With their $300 sticker coming well under high end Asian-made (not that there’s anything wrong with that) shoes from bigger brands, how have Vittoria’s Supra MTBs treated my feet?  Pretty darn well.  Click through for the details…
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See all of our Project 24.2 posts here!

With Specialized providing the aft contact points for our Project 24.2 race bike, I suspected that my happy parts would be in good hands.  Falling under their Body Geometry aegis, Specialized’s saddles were developed in conjunction with one Dr. Roger Minkow to “eliminate numbness and soreness normally associated with other saddles by enhancing blood flow in men.”  Who doesn’t like the sound of that?  With a wide range of saddles in three sizes and with an excellent reputation for comfort, it was a safe bet that something would work for my body.  Click through to find out what I tried and why the Henge is my new dirt favorite.

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See all of our Project 24.2 reviews here!

Along with the Valcon Carbon saddle reviewed here, WTB sent out some race rubber in the form of Nano TCS tires and WeirWolf grips to complete my Tomac Supermatic  race bike.  Out of the WTB line, the WeirWolf grip (which shares its knobby pattern with the Mark Weir signature tire of the same name) looked set to provide good control and grip to tired hands.  The tubeless compatible (with sealant) Nano TCS tire looked like a fast tire with enough of a casing to avoid late-night cactus-induced flats.  Were they up to the task?  You know where our secrets go…

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