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Posts Tagged ‘Axiom’

Seattle Bicycle Expo: See you there!

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

The webpage for the Cascade Bicycle Club reads: “Largest bicycle consumer show in the United States,” and frankly we would be remiss if we didn’t attend – so we will. If you are in the Seattle area or even a bit out of the area and up for a drive, or more fittingly a ride, then come and check out the Seattle Bicycle Expo this Saturday and Sunday at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal 91. There is a lot to see and as always you can expect some pretty cool gear to be on display not to mention great people to talk too -we’ll be there after all. Anyway, hope to see you there!

seattlesay2 046

Tags: Axiom, Axiom Gear, Cascade Bicycle Club, Seattle Bike Show
Posted in News and Events | No Comments »

Panniers 101: Purchasing the Perfect Pannier

Friday, March 5th, 2010

The noble pannier can be either friend or foe. On the one hand a good, well made pannier can make carrying your gear around much easier, while a bad one can cause all types of headaches. Panniers, which most people would simply call bags that attach to racks on your bicycle, were probably so named to avoid such a long winded explanation, have been around for quite a while. Since the dawn of the two-wheeled transportation thingy we call a bicycle people have needed ways to carry their stuff. And so the famed pannier came to the rescue. But how do you know which of these fantastic creations are the best for your needs?

The Where, When Conundrum?

Where are you going to ride and when? Let me elaborate, when you are looking at pannier bags you should try and set a realistic idea of where and when you will be riding or aspire to be riding. Are you going to restrict your pannier usage to fair weather days, only exposing yourself to poor weather when you have no choice? Maybe you will be riding to work and back 20 kilometers each way no matter what that wily Mother Nature throws your way. Or are you a touring addict, taking to the road for weeks on end each year?

Answering this question will influence your pannier decision in more ways than one. If you ride to work every day you will want something that is waterproof and durable and that can maybe hold your laptop a change of clothes and some food so you don’t need a monstrous touring size bag. If you have a short commute to work and only plan on ridding in nice weather, wear your work clothes on the ride and only need to carry a laptop and some food then a slim purpose built pannier will fit your needs.

You probably get the point; answering this question will make sure you get a bag that will fit your needs and doesn’t under deliver on your expectations. If you have questions then you can always swing by your local dealer for help or advice on the right bags for your needs, or leave a comment on the blog.

But what should you look for when you get to the dealer? There are four main things you should consider when buying panniers bags: fabric(s), construction, size and attachment system.

Constructions and Fabrics

All bags are not created equally. It seems obvious I know but you really do get what you pay for, though, not everyone needs the top of the line. Most pannier bags are made from either Nylon or Polyester fabrics and often feature a denier or Tex number, which refers to the linear mass density of the fabrics, the details of which are beyond the realm of this discussion – just know that as the numbers rise so does the quality, durability and the price. You may also see the name Cordura which is actually a brand name fabric, much like Gore-Tex is to waterproof membranes.

Most of the panniers use coated fabrics making the fabric itself essentially waterproof but the construction or how the seams are joined and the zippers can be the Achilles heel of dry gear. There are three main ways to join fabric: Sewing, hot welding and Ultrasonic Welding.

Sewing is the old school method you learned in home-ec but better; however, this still leaves you with a bunch little holes – perfect for letting water in. Hot welding involves overlaying two fabrics and joining them with heat, creating a seal and is often found on dry bags and higher end water proof bags. The final and most technical and expensive, not to mention coolest sounding is Ultrasonic Welding to join the materials using sound. But when looking to keep water out there is more.

Going that extra mile, top end panniers will feature taped seams and waterproof zippers which will ensure your gear stays dry. Many mid end bags come with covers, but if you are concerned about staying dry drop the extra coin for the Gucci gear: it will last longer and make sure your stuff stays dry.

Attachment Systems

There are many systems out there and even more opinions on which are the best. The most widely accepted systems come from a company named Rixen Kaul, which effectively combine ease of use with durability. Many companies have their own proprietary attachment systems or use a combination; Axiom uses their Posi-Lock system on most bags and started using the Rixen Kaul on the top end gear for 2010. When looking at attachment systems it is always a bonus if the pieces are replaceable, just in case you run into a problem like a broken clip. When looking for panniers go to your local shop and try out a few bags to see which best suit your rack.

Size Matters

I’m sorry for the overused cliché, but it seems apt for this situation. If you aren’t going to be carrying a lot of stuff then buy a smaller pannier. Extra size will leave you with awkward and cumbersome bags and a lot of empty space. Go back to the Where, When conundrum and use your answers to gauge how much space you need.

If you made it this far you have read over 800 words on bicycle panniers. Wow. I know there is more to cover but I don’t know how much longer you want to read about panniers. If you want to know more leave a comment and I will dive deeper into the pannier void. The next step is to go out and find your perfect pannier, get on your bicycle and go for a ride.

Tags: Axiom, Buying Panniers, Cycling, Pannier Technology, Panniers, Riding
Posted in Guides | 3 Comments »

See it again for the first time: Why cycling is the only way to see your city.

Monday, February 15th, 2010

When you are speeding by, behind the wheel of a car, hopefully paying attention to the task at hand -aka driving- you miss many of the sights your city holds. Architecture, art, scenery, and more zip by; you may never fully get to know your city in a car. But luckily there is such a thing as bicycle, and one of the best things about cruising around the city on one is that you get to take in the full experience. You can stop and enjoy the sights, people and sounds with a richness you just don’t experience by car.

A couple of weeks ago Dustan, the Norco Marketing Coordinator, and I went downtown to get a few pictures and managed to stumble across a host of interesting places that you just wouldn’t see unless you were traveling by foot or pedal. Being that there is a major event in our city right now and led by the fact that everyone likes to look at pictures I thought I would share some of the images we managed to get while downtown. Hope you Enjoy!

Cadeyrn_Craig_Axiom_Mace_Indie Shoot (1 of 32)

Tags: Axiom, Bicycling, Cycling, Cycling Downtown Vancouver, Gas Town, Norco, Vancouver
Posted in News and Events, Opinion | No Comments »

In the end, Wearing a Helmet Just Seems to Make Sense

Monday, December 21st, 2009

I will always remember a quote I read a few years ago: “There are three types of lies: Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics.” If you Goggle this quote, you’ll find that details on who first made the statement are foggy, regardless it’s been repeated many times since. I once tried to use it against my statics teacher in university, a middle aged woman with strawberry blond hair, a bubbly personality and a sharp wit, who was quick to rebuke with the fact that it depends on who is wielding the statistics when they are presented. “Good point” I muttered under my breath as she stared at me with vicious contempt from behind her thin, black rimmed glasses. The memory of that moment had slipped from my thoughts until just recently.

A couple of weeks ago I put up a post about wearing helmets. To me, wearing a helmet had always just made sense. I work in the bicycle industry, have for the past 15 years and never really questioned wearing a helmet I just did. I admit I’m not perfect; I’ve gone on a ride or two to the store or around the block where I haven’t dawned my brain bucket for one reason or another, but the majority of the time I am strapped in.

Because of my natural tendency to wear a helmet I had never realized what a hot topic the helmet debate was until this post. The article elicited a long response that argued that helmets are not as effective at saving your life as you might think, worse they have strangled a couple of toddlers. I was intrigued by the insidious allegations that helmets harmed toddlers so I read the whole reply, checking out the links and going over the arguments against helmets.

My curiosity opened a door and as I explored both sides of the argument information came rushing in. I consumed article after article with ravenous interest. I was surprised to learn just how many people where vehemently against wearing a helmet while using pedal propelled devices.

The side against cranial protection systems did present intersting arguments; except for the one that helmet laws would increase childhood obesity. – This reminded me of a caution that the same statistics teacher had pointed out: “Correlation does not infer causation.” I figured unless the children were eating their helmets instead of wearing them, and honestly how many calories could a helmet have, the law was probably not causing a surge in adolescent weight gain. – I digress. Interesting as the arguments against a helmet may be, they still fall short of offering what most would deem as compelling evidence against helmets.

Yes, helmet laws seem to be ineffective and costly, and nobody likes being forced to do something they don’t want to – wearing a helmet for example. In Vancouver, BC, where wearing a helmet is mandatory, the law seems to have convinced many cyclists to at least put a helmet on their handlebars which is close to their head though I assume ineffective in any type of a crash. And many cyclists that do wear helmets wear them improperly which again reduces their effectiveness. And I will concede that in the battle of cyclist against a motorized vehicle, the cyclist will always be at a disadvantage.

But, and this is a big BUT, there is enough evidence pointing out that helmets do provide more protection than not wearing one, even the arguments against helmets agree. My take on the subject after learning a bit about both sides is this: I like my head and having spent a lot of money educating my brain I have grown very fond of the whole package –brain, skull and all- so whatever protection I can provide my investment I am happy to do so. Maybe helmets are not as effective as they could be but they do offer more protection than just your skull and I have witnessed this first hand. Having spent the last fifteen years working in the cycling industry I have seen countless examples where a helmet thankfully did its job and a cyclist walked away from what could have been a catastrophic crash with little more than a broken helmet and a surprised if not dazed look on their face.

Not everyone likes helmets, and that’s fine, but to me wearing one just makes good common sense so I will keep one strapped to my melon when I am on a bicycle. In my opinion if helmets provide any protection it’s still better than none. Besides, I don’t know too many people who have argued that they are alive because they did not wear their helmet, but I have heard more than a few exclaim that they are here today because they had a lid on during a crash, and that seems like reason enough for me.

On that note I wish you all safe and happy holidays.

Tags: Axiom, Axiom Gear, Bicycle Helmets, Bicycle Safety, Cycling, Helmet Debate, Helmet Laws, Wearing a Helmet
Posted in News and Events | 1 Comment »

Sirius Pannier and Phoenix Rack Reviews

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

Some of our Axiom gear was recently reviewed by the fine people at Bicycle Times magazine and is featured in their most recent issue – #4. The gear in question, as the title of this post states, are our Sirius waterproof panniers and the new urban-styled Phoenix Rack. Here are a couple of short excerpts. If you want to pick up a copy of the magazine follow this link or go by your local bike shop or magazine store.

Sirius Pannier Review

“Everything about the $120 Axiom Sirius panniers points to durability. The front, back panels and hood are made from welded tarpaulin. The polyester side panels and bottom are designed with gussets, which help reduce stress on the seams. The tarpaulin material has a thick and waxy plastic feeling and has thus far handled a fair amount of rough handling. Bonus: materials are free of heavy metals and VOC’s (volatile organic compounds). No funky plastic smell either. The straps are reinforced where they are connected to the tarpaulin to prevent tearing away from the bag over time” By Amanda Zimmerman

Sirius Pannier

Phoenix Rack Review

“The first thing one must note about this bike rack is that it sure is pretty, with its slick black alloy deck, elegant curves and sleek lines. The great part is that it’s functional as well. The white powder-coated tubing is slightly thicker than a standard rack, making it a bit sturdier—rated for up to 88lbs. This does make the rack slightly heavier as well (910g), but you can really load up with groceries, camping gear, etc. if need be.” By Amanda Zimmerman

Phoenix Rack

Tags: Axiom, Axiom Gear, Axiom Gear Review, Axiom Review, Bicycle Times, Ethically Sourced Products, Phoenix Rack Review, Sirius Pannier Review
Posted in Reviews | No Comments »

Have we lost our minds: Is Wearing a Helmet Uncool?

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

It seems like a no brainer: if you enjoy your ability to engage in coherent, cognitive processes and you ride a bicycle you should wear a helmet. But the old adage appears to be true, ‘common sense ain’t so common.’ At least not these days. It is fairly common knowledge that in the event of a crash a bicycle helmet can save your life and prevent you from becoming a human vegetable. But have a look around many cities and you’ll notice that it seems fewer riders are taking the simple steps -like putting them on their heads- to wear these life saving devices. More often than not you’ll see the helmet strapped to the handle bars, and I am not sure that they will do there job there. It would seem that helmet use is facing a rapid decline, but why?

Before you get up in arms about the fact that you still wear your helmet and many people you see are wearing helmets, let me just say that I am not insinuating that everyone is opting out of using cranium protection systems, but a lot are. And it just may be because it’s cool not to wear them.

There are a lot of people that are riding away without their helmet and it may be because people love to follow trends, cool trends set by others. And what could be cooler than movie stars? Movie stars like Gerrard Butler, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin and even Arnold Schwarzenegger have been spotted riding without their helmets. How can common sense ever hope to beat the terminator. Somehow someway something has to change but my question to you is how can we make the helmet cool again, how can we make wearing a helmet something people want to do? Anything uttered by authorities or parents is automatically uncool so we have to appeal to something else, a higher level of reasoning that can convince people that wearing a helmet is better than cool, it’s lifesaving. There is no simple answer or solution, making it the law seems to have been ineffective and it could be argued that many intelligent people are not wearing helmets, so it isn’t an intellectual deficiency. Not that irrational behavior has ever held intellect in high regard.There is a distinct gap between knowledge and action and the solution lies somewhere in bridging that gap…

On that note I leave you with a question: What do you think would make people change their behaviour and strap a lid on their heads?

Tags: Axiom, Axiom Gear, Bicycle Helmet Safety, Cycling and Helmets, Cycling Safety, Helmets, Wearing a Helmet
Posted in News and Events | 4 Comments »

Arm and Leg Warmers 101.5: Enjoy the Warmth

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Last May during Bike to Work Week, I decided it was time to suit up and take on the 64km (40 mile) round trip commute to work and back on my trusty bicycle, which was brand new so I was only assuming it was trusty. And though my bike did turn out to be trusty my clothing choices left something to be desired. The first morning would teach what it meant to be woefully underprepared on a ride.

My alarm woke me up just after 5am, I reluctantly crawled out from under my warm covers, shoveled back a quick breakfast and hit the road. It was cold, damn cold and wet too. When the mountains came into view I could see a blanket of fresh snow, like the sugar coating on Mini-Wheats that extended half way down the mountain side.That’s okay I was starting to warm up, or at least parts of me were. Others were getting cold quickly; namely my legs, feet and arms. Just over an hour later I rolled up to work feeling dangerously close to a human Popsicle; It took two hours for my toes to stop burning as they thawed. Deciding I didn’t want to go through that again I purchased knee and arm warmers and a set of shoe covers. On my next ride I was like Goldilocks, before the three bears came home and ruined the party, just right. It was the warmers that made the difference.

Before I learned the hard way I had never seen the virtue of warmers and covers but afterwards they became a must have and something I recommend to every rider. There are a lot of options out there, and of course it depends on when and where you are going to be riding. But here are some of the basics when it comes to covers and warmers.

Shoe covers will keep you and your feet happy and comfortable and come in a variety of materials, heights, closures etc… If you are only worried about your toes then you can get toe covers that just cover the front of your shoes. If you are going to ride in wet cold weather then look for something that is waterproof and windproof, yes, I know this is obvious but I’m sure somebody would still ask. Look for covers with waterproof membranes or coated fabrics. Trust me shoe covers, booties or whatever you want to call them will make your rides much more comfortable.

Leg warmers are, awesome. Enough said! Okay I can say a bit more. They are great for riding and can serve double duty for running as well. You can buy either full leg warmers or knee warmers (which actually cover a good deal of your legs). Warmers are great for almost any cooler to cold weather ride and can be layered under your pants or tights to keep you toasty. Arm warmers are similar to leg warmers except for the obvious: they go on your arms. Warmers are easy to remove, making them ideal for layering and are relatively small making it a simple decision to pack them with you. If you are planning on riding year round or even in the cooler shoulder months warmers are key.

Many of the daily bicycle commuters here at work swear by warmers and shoe covers, making them the first suggestion to me when I was imitating an ice cube during my long commute last May. Now that warmers are a part of my life I can’t imagine a cold weather ride without them. If you haven’t tried warmers yet then next time you stop by your local bicycle shop grab a pair and try them out. They are an inexpensive way to add excellent warmth to your rides.

Tags: Axiom, Axiom Clothing, Axiom Gear, Axiom Riding Gear, Bicycling, Bike To Work, Getting into riding year round, Riding, Shoe Covers, Warmers
Posted in Guides | 2 Comments »

Just because it’s Friday doesn’t mean you should stop riding your bicycle.

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Friday is here, thankfully, and even though Bike To Work week goes until Sunday, for most of us the work week is over, therefore negating the need to bike to work -obviously. But that doesn’t mean you should shove your bike back into the shed or hide it down in a dark corner of your basement and hop back in your car until the next bike to work week. Hopefully if you have been biking wherever you needed to go this week you now feel that you might park your car a little more often and get out and enjoy the ride. If you weren’t riding your bike this week, well, you probably have your reasons. Maybe you’ve seen others riding to work this week and now you might consider taking your bike to work the next sunny day you have.

Next week I’ll try and put up two posts, if the time presents itself, but that’s my goal. Look for a quick post on the virtues of warmers and covers (arms, knees, shoe etc…) and perhaps one on demystifying your derailleur’s. Here are a couple more pictures from the week.

Happy Friday!

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Tags: Axiom, Bike To Work Week, Friday, Riding your Bike
Posted in News and Events | No Comments »

Bike to Work Week: Update

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

The van rolled up just after six am. As I opened my front door the cold air slapped me in the face, snapping me awake. I was already looking forward to the warming powers of a nice hot cup, or three, of coffee. I hopped into the Norco van and we headed out to find the Starbucks and pick up a big vat of coffee to warm the cold, early morning commuters on the third day of Bike to Work Week. Our mission was to offer tech support, coffee and a snack to the passing riders.

Arriving at our station at 6:30, coffees in hand we quickly set up the tents, work stands etc… to help the brave early morning commuters. This morning we were situated at the foot of the Pitt River bridge in Pitt Meadows, a part of the Tri-City area of Vancouver. As the sun poked its head up over the horizon we waited for the riders to show.

Shortly after 7 am they began to trickle through, stopping for coffee and a bit of conversation it was obvious they appreciated a little bit of warmth on this cold morning. Only a handful of riders came out but every one had a smile on their face, which was more than I could say for the throngs of drivers sitting behind the wheel of their cars as they inched their way through morning traffic. That’s the beauty of riding a bike; almost every day is a good day when you are on your bicycle.

Check out some the pictures from this morning below.

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Tags: Axiom, Bike To Work Week, Cold Weather Commuting, Commuting, Norco, Riding
Posted in News and Events | No Comments »

Here comes the rain: Are you ready?

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

Photo: cyclestudios.com

Last night I woke up suddenly. It sounded as though the heavens were falling. It rained proverbial cats and dogs. I wasn’t sure what was going on at first but the noise certainly woke me up quickly. And in my sleepy haze it took a few seconds before I realized –it was raining, and hard. You don’t want to hear it and I can barely admit it to myself but summer is almost over. I’m not trying to be a pessimist, I love winter, but most people fight tooth and nail to hang on to that summer feeling. But I have a question: Are you ready for the changing seasons?

It seems like only a week ago I was stripping the fenders off my commuter and enjoying my daily ride, basking in the sunshine. Wow, does time ever fly! I know not everyone had the summer we did here in Vancouver, but I only vaguely remember it raining twice. Not to rain on anyone’s parade but usually we end up reaching a fairly consistent rainfall throughout the year and with fall nipping on our heels it’s almost time to start thinking about… dare I say it? It’s almost time to start thinking about wet and cooler weather riding gear.

Okay, no one wants to admit that summer is coming to an end, but nothing is worse than waking up ready for you commute only to realize that it’s cold and pouring rain outside, and you don’t have the right gear for the ride. But what is the right gear?

I learned a few things last May when I started doing a 64km commute a couple of times a week. The learning spanned a couple of days and the curve was steep; I suffered on those cold, wet days while I was getting the hang of it. But I figure I can help others avoid the mistakes I made with a few tips.

For cooler days remember the key word is ‘warmers.’ Get yourself leg and arm warmers, trust me they work wonders, keeping your knees and elbows warm makes the ride much more comfortable. Shoe covers are a must, sure they may not look super cool, but wow they are necessary – it took an hour for my toes to regain feeling after my first long commute. If you are going to be riding in the rain, even on occasion then get waterproof shoe covers. Finally warm, waterproof gloves and a Thermal Beanie that fits under your helmet will make sure you are stoked to ride even in cooler temps.

Next if you are going to commute in the wet, make sure you have full coverage fenders, they will protect you and your bike from road grime, rocks and debris. You’ll also want to get a waterproof jacket and pants, breathable is best but you can get inexpensive rain gear that will do the trick, especially for shorter commutes. Make sure that the bags you carry your gear in, whether they are panniers, a messenger bag or a backpack are fully waterproof, showing up with a wet change of clothes can really ruin your morning. On colder days layer underneath your waterproof gear to make sure you are still warm and dry and you can use fewer layer if its warmer on your ride home. Finally wear sunglasses with lighter tinted lenses; coming down a hill at mock chicken and being blinded by rain can end poorly.

Don’t worry there is still some summer left but it’s good to be ready for when it changes, Mother Nature can be unpredictable at the best of times. The list above is quick and dirty, and meant to get you thinking about the months to come so you are not caught unprepared. I’m sure I forgot something but I’ll try and provide more updates when summer really bows out to the fall weather.

Keep on riding the good ride.

Cadeyrn

Tags: Axiom, Axiom Gear, Commuting, Fenders, Panniers, Wet weather riding
Posted in Guides, News and Events | No Comments »