Apparently I’m a bike person now. I bought a gravel bike at the end of 2022. It changed my life because I am obsessed with riding it everywhere. I had a Nite Ize HandleBand Universal Smartphone Bar Mount, which was phenomenal and fit every single iteration of phone I’ve had for the last 8 years. Unfortunately, it is too big to fit on my new bike stem. I was sent the Peak Design Out Front Bike Mount for me to check out. Now, I’m wondering how I ever managed to live without it.
I hate bike clothing almost as much as I hate bike culture. I don’t really understand why everyone looks like they are sponsored by their local coffee shop or brewery or corporation. I don’t race. I’m not hardcore. I just wanna ride my gravel bike and go wee woo, eat snacks, and generally have fun. The Wild Rye Holly Jersey is the perfect cycling top for someone who isn’t a pro, but is more than just an occasional rider.
Last fall, I decided I was going to start biking more. And by biking more, I meant that I would volunteer at the Sacramento Valley California Native Plant Society about 11 miles away from me on the American River Bike Trail. It was a manageable ride, but after the several days of 2+ hours of riding, my sit bones were very upset with me. I started looking into getting more cycling appropriate clothing, and landed on the Wild Rye Eleanor Chammy as my very first pair of padded shorts. Here’s how they’ve held up to the test.
If you know of Melanzana, you know how difficult it is to get your hands on one of their coveted Micro Grid Hoodies. It’s a versatile piece that’s great for climbing, backpacking, skiing, lounging, and more. Their products are only available at their headquarters in Leadville, by appointment. With resale prices of Melanzana hoodies going for over twice of their retail cost, it’s not economical to buy secondhand. If you’ve always wanted to pick up a Melly (it’s what the cool kids say), here’s a list of Melanzana alternatives to tide you over, because nobody should be without this ultra cozy, technical fleece.
The La Sportiva Women’s Katanas were my first pair of climbing shoes. They’ve since been discontinued by La Sportiva, which is an absolute shame. The Katanas are the perfect all-around shoe, geared towards newer and experienced climbers alike. Once broken in, they could last on your feet for hours, without extreme pain. I currently have 1.5 pairs (lost a shoe bouldering at the Zephyrs, it’s size 35.5, holler if you find it), and I know that one day, they will no longer be resole-able. In anticipation, I’ve been testing out a bunch of other shoes from La Sportiva. Here’s my list of La Sportiva Katana alternatives.