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FAVORITE THINGS

As chosen by the editors of Momentum magazine.

Brooks Leather Saddles www.brookssaddles.com These leather saddles conform to your body and your riding style as you ride. They do take some breaking in, so you can’t judge them on a test ride. Keep the leather supple and they will last forever. When you see those 50-year old bikes with the ancient saddles still in use, those are Brooks!

Xtracycle xtracycle.com

This great attachment for pretty much any bike extends the back end by a couple feet, and adds two large side slings for carrying gear and a large rear platform. It’s lightweight and quite stable, considering it can carry close to 200lbs, and is a great alternative to a trailer. Momentum graphic designer Chris Benzen has his on an old mountain bike frame set up for road riding with fenders and 26× 1. 25 tires. He’s carried everything from camping gear to another rider with a flat tire!

Knickers swrvecycling.com, chromebags.com

Also known as “shpants,” these mid-calf-length pants stay clear of the bike’s greasy drivetrain. The latest style trend to borrow from: messenger chic. There are many new brands and styles to choose from, including some made from stretchy and/or water-resistant fabrics.

Bungee Cords

These elastic wonders with hooks at both ends truly are a cyclist’s best friend. Whether we’re securing a box onto our rack or creating a gigantic sculptural assemblage in our trailer, bungee cords get the job done. The beauty of bungees is that they come in a variety of lengths and thicknesses (and colors!), and there are a million ways to combine and tie them. Bungee tying is an art form!

Dyno/Generator Hub sram.com Battery-powered, clip-on lights are easily stolen, their mounting hardware usually breaks, and they consume a lot of batteries. With a Sram i-Light hub, you never need to worry about theft or dead batteries. Yes, it’s relatively expensive and heavy, but after three months, Ecstatic Mechanic columnist Omar Bhimji is still taking dark routes home and aiming at walls just to revel in the joy of lighting his own way.

Honorable mentions go to a variety of useful items:

Zap straps, steel bicycle frames, bike computers (yay, mileage!), rain booties, clipless pedals, and ... cornstarch, for lubricating inner tubes if you don’t have talcum powder handy, plus it’s good for making crunching snow sound effects for your indy movie or radio play, not to mention cooking.

Momentum provides self-propelled people with inspiration, information, and resources to help them fully enjoy their urban biking experience and connect with their local and global cycling communities. momentumplanet.ca

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