A colorful duck Cotton Canvas bag with an minimalistic approach to a messenger bag.

Details from the company

Tucker & Bloom Simple Messenger Bag
MSRP : $99

Made from 100% Duck Cotton Canvas, with optional water resistant backing.
Adjustable strap inside of flap for fastening a bike lock, newspaper, or umbrella.
Removable cross-strap for biking
Heavy duty cam buckle or metal slide adjuster on shoulder strap
Rugged metal alloy quick release buckles on flap.
Exterior pocket on flap for easy access to cell phone, mp3 player, or keys.
Front organizer panel with pockets for pens, business cards, wallet etc.
Roomy main chamber.
16″ Long X 11.5″ High X 3.5″ Deep.

*Prior to releasing this article, Tucker & Bloom contacted us to tell us that the bag will now be available in ballistic nylon

Some Finer Details

To Be Continued

This bag is still under testing, especially as we move into spring.  We feel this bag may not be for everyone, especially the die hard commuter looking for a ton of function.  This will be more suited for those looking for style and a basic ability to carry.

If you have questions, size concerns or anything else you would like to be added to our testing please let me know!  Girly@BikeShopGirl.com

This product was given to me at no charge for reviewing.  I was not paid or bribed to give this review and it will have my honest opinion or thoughts through out. Read more on our review disclaimer.

The bicycle shop I manage, Cool Breeze Cyclery, and sister store, Trek Bikes of Charlotte, have brought in a fleet of the new electric assist bikes, Trek Ride+.  One of these, the FX+ is a demo bike that our co-owner with an engineering background took for this past weekend.  Below is his original experience.  We will be trying out this bike ourselves, as well as possibly building up our own with the Bionx or E-Bike Kit.

Trek FX+

The new Trek E Ride bikes arrived last week so I took the demo bike home for the weekend. This FX+ model is very normal looking at first glance with all the great Trek features built into the 7.5FX, including the carbon front fork. Taking a closer look, you’ll find a high torque pancake electric motor laced into the rear wheel, a battery pack slid into the rear rack and a controller / dash board mounted like a cycling computer to the handle bar. The concept is very much like the hybrid electric cars, difference being that the rider still provides the base engine, meaning that you still must pedal this bike. Just like the hybrid cars, the electric motor provides a power boost. In the case of the E Ride bike, you can choose to boost your pedaling power by 10, 20, 30 or 40%. The bike senses your pedaling effort just like the crank mounted high end power meters, but does it with sensors built into the rear axle. Again, just like the hybrid cars, the bike employs regenerative braking going downhill to recharge the batteries.

How did it ride?

I live in a really hilly neighborhood so I let my wife ride the bike while I road my high end road bike. Her personal bike is the same 7.5 FX used as a platform for the e-Ride bike and she always walks it up the first hill which is about an 8% grade. Knowing this we set the boost to 40% and she road up this same hill with very little effort and a huge smile…the result of a feeling of accomplishment for having finally conquered that hill. After waiting for me at the top of the hill….Ummm…not sure I’m liking this feeling….we continued for the next hour to attack every hill in the neighborhood. After an hour we had used about 15% of the battery charge. To put the bike away, I rode it up my drive way which is a 10% grade and again the feeling of the power boost is simply amazing…it is smooth and predictable and simply flattens the hills for the rider. Bottom line… this bike absolutely leveled the climbing ability between us and in the case of our neighborhood made the family ride even a possibility. Now we’re thinking about a Blue Ridge Parkway ride… By the way, the bike can also be set add up to 40% to your pedaling effort for the same feeling and effect of riding a bike in a trainer, but that’s another story.

- Steve Doolittle, Co-owner of Cool Breeze Cyclery and Trek Bikes of Charlotte.

Jerome Roy of Montreal, Quebec is a committed year round bike commuter. “I know what makes a bike work at 20 below after an evening at five,” he says. He’s carried drill presses and children on his bikes. “I think a bike can often replace a car.”

Roy has designed bikes for fun: bikes with reinforced frames and big suspension to launch through the forested trails of Vanocouver’s North Shore.

This vision of a bike as both utilitarian and fun inspired Roy and Paul Harris to create Urbana Bikes, “the real sport utility vélo!”

Urbana sells complete bikes designed around a rugged, one size fits most aluminum U frame, with a very long seat and “offset seat tube” accommodating riders from 5′ to 6′6″ tall. The high rise handlebar on a BMX stem also allows for a wide adjustment range. The slack frame angles and big 26×2.6″ Nid De Poule balloon tires results in a compliant ride. Unlike most step through bikes, however, the reinforced frame has a torsionally stiff frame for efficient sprinting through traffic.

In case you missed it, I just wrote this commuter bike is laterally stiff yet vertically compliant.

Urbana Bikes are available with several build options. Standard are the plush saddle, high rise handlebar, and custom balloon tires designed specifically for this bike. Gearing options are singlespeed, 3 speed internal gear hub (IGH), 7 speed derailleur, or 8 speed IGH. SKS fenders and extra sturdy RNR rack (120 pound capacity!) are available add ons for this bike. Perhaps most interestingly, Urbana makes this bike available in 12 different colors.

Urbana is currently available only at shops in Canada, but they are planning to expand in the United States.

I received a full on commuter bike build with Shimano Nexus 8 speed hub, Shimano Nexave rear roller brake, Avid front disc brake, fenders and rack in a 40 pound, bright pink package. I’ll put this bike through its paces and report here in the coming weeks, but I’m happy to report right away that Urbana did an excellent job combining utility with fun in this bike.

More at Urbana Bikes.

The guys at Banjo Brothers are churning out new product every few months it seems.  The latest creation is what they call a “Waterproof Trunk” bag.  This massive bag has been able to hold extra clothes and my lunch with room to give, plus because it mounts under your saddle you don’t need any racks installed to carry most of your gear.

Details from the company

#01033 Waterproof Saddle trunk
MSRP : $44.99

400 cubic inches (12.5″ J x 7″H x 4.75D)
Waterproof w/ replaceable liner
Outer pocket for quick access to keys/money
Web loop for lashing gear like jackety
Interior Aluminum Strut stiff HDPE hull and 4 point strapping

Some finer details

This bag will require some seat post sticking out for the two velcro loops to secure well.   I’ve successfully installed it so far on road racing saddles and of course the Brooks you’ll see in our Introduction video.  The bag holds all the details that Banjo Brothers is known for, these guys make great bags to last for the people that may be a bit too rough on their product.

Off for more testing

We will put the bag through the test and be back with a full review.  If you have questions, size concerns or anything else you would like to be added to our testing please let me know!  Girly@BikeShopGirl.com

This product was given to me at no charge for reviewing.  I was not paid or bribed to give this review and it will have my honest opinion or thoughts through out. Read more on our review disclaimer.

In this podcast I go over how the Light & Motion Vega 200 review is going. In the second clip I show you how the Long Haul Trucker from our Perfect Commuter Bike Build is sitting.

Let me know any questions, comments or opinions. I’m still trying to work out these podcast in order to be ready for the Handmade Bicycle Show the end of February.

A very brief video of benefits and initial thoughts of the Keen Coronado Cruiser on review. A full overview will be in the next week for both Bike Shop Girl and Commute By Bike.

This product was given to me at no charge for reviewing. I was not paid or bribed to give this review and it will have my honest opinion or thoughts through out.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @BikeShopGirlcom

Currently the Long Haul is sitting as pictured above.  I installed the Schwalbe tires by chance, not thinking they would fit, but they did!  The tires I think have taken the bike a completely different path than originally I thought it would go.  The bikes looks have changed.

Yesterday, I worked on installing the Velo Orange 60mm 26″ fenders.  I need a new L-Bracket to install the front fender but I did a quick mock up photo, as you see above.

The handlebars installed right now are Nitto North Road handlebars, attached to a Misfit Psycles stem. I’ve been really impressed with the change of ride quality between the fat, balloon type, tires and the swept back handlebars.   There are still several handlebars to work through before I can give you an honest opinion on which handlebar I prefer, but I like the swept back and comfortable feel as it is.

What do you think so far?

It seems weekly I’m modifying one bike or another, trying out the newest or greatest product.  Most of the time it is on my own dime, working in a bike shop I get to see all the cool things, and crave all the cool things too.  Here are some of my favorite things I’ve tried out personally, reviewed for the site or Bike Shop Girl.

Starting off with my favorite niche of riding, bike lights! One of my goals for 2010 is to research and expand my knowledge of generator lights.  In the past weeks we’ve talked about bike lights so continue on with the conversation.

Light & Motion Vega 200

We’ve had an introduction to this light before and my long term review is in the works but I love the ease of use.  Rechargeable lights that are all enclosed with batter and light in one unit.  The mount needs some work, but you can pick up an older style Light & Motion handlebar mount that works well with the light. Waterproof, quick charge time, various light settings (high, medium, low and flashing) gives you a long run time if needed.  In various locations they are on sale right now, so it makes this light an even better bang for your buck.

Planet Bike Superflash/Blaze Combo

The front light is a 1 watt LED that has a low, high and flash mode.  The flash mode is very crazy mode, nothing like I’ve seen and could easily distract or blind drivers if you aren’t careful.   The rear light claims to be able to be seen from 1 mile away with multiple LEDs.

Cateye TL-LD610 Rear Light

The bees knees for rear lights.  This is my go to rear light for racks running it horizontal, or any bike that has a good amount of seatpost showing for the light to run vertical up the seatpost.  The only qualm I have with the light is the new mounting bracket it changed to last year, using a turning knob the band through.  This does two things, sticks out the side when mounted on your seatpost (be warned if you have bigger thighs) and can leave a sharp end when you cut the band to size.

Reelight Battery Free Bike Lights

The Reelights have been talked about before on CommuteByBike and other places.  The points easy, we love these lights.  They run off magnets attached to your wheels, blinking off as the wheel goes around.  You install them, and forget them.  It helps often when I forget my messenger bag, or my battery is running low.  It is a good feeling to know that no matter what there are no batteries and others can always see me.

When the Batavus BUB rolled into my bike shop a good amount of thoughts rolled into my head with it.  It looked heavy, was it? Where were the hand brakes or gears?  Could I take it down my 4.5 mile daily commute with a decent size hill in the middle?  (My worry was going up and down on it.)

Riding the BUB

I quickly checked the BUB over and rode it home that 4.5 mile commute.  The step through design was very handy and made me crave for one in my daily ride.  Very easy to get on, plus I didn’t worry about ripping my jeans as I didn’t have to throw my leg over the back of the saddle.  The handlebars and saddle seemed to me much like what we consider in the US as a Beach Cruiser.  For the entire first ride I was fighting with finding a position I felt efficient, yet comfortable in.  If I was comfortable on the saddle, it would start to rub my inner thighs.  If I was comfortable with the handlebars I was in a weird laid over position grabbing half way down the long swept back bar.

It took me a week to really grasp the ride of the BUB.  It truly is a bike for folks that maybe don’t ride everyday, or are looking for something on the end of the spectrum from their mountain/road bike.  You can easily hop on this and go, you won’t be going very far or very fast but it is easy and comfortable.

As I mentioned, initially I couldn’t get comfortable on this bike.  Mainly due to the length of my long legs and once I was home I raised the stem a good amount in order to sit more upright than leaned over.  In the end it fit a wide height range, for my 5′10 height down to my 5′5 girlfriend just as well.

The Prototype BUB & What I Would Change

The bike that I was reviewing was a prototype of sorts, it didn’t have the 3 speeds that the standard BUB will.  Gears would of helped keep me in a comfortable seated position on the small climb I have coming from my work.  I also wish it had some sort of rear or front hand brake to assist with the coaster brake, but that was also mainly me as I’m not used to riding a coaster brake bike.

All the options were installed on the test BUB.  Front and rear racks, as well as front and rear lights.  The racks had an interesting mounting design, it is non-standard and you’ll have to rig up your favorite rack to work on this bike if you wish.  The racks felt very strong and stable, a small child could sit on the front, but would completely wreck the steering of the bike.  The tubing on the rack is oversize, to the point a standard pannier clip system (of all types) doesn’t fit without bending or modifying.  Out of all my panniers in my collect only the Basil bags that you drape over one side of the rack to the other worked.

The lights weren’t anything too special.  Yes, a little different in looks but if you already have lights from another bike, save them and reuse them on the BUB.

Small Details

This bike turned heads, and caught many eyes.

The unique paper clip design made people ask questions and want to ride it.  The only other bike I own that causes such questions is my Xtracycle.

BUBmood

The “mood meter” seemed like a joke to me.  This little dial under the top tube that you are supposed to move dependent on your mood.

New pedals are needed unless you are rolling this bike in only fair weather.  There is no grip on them and several times when wet I slipped off the pedals.

Full Chainguard, good fenders, strong wheels, and reflective Schwalbe tires. The small details that many “commuter” bikes are left off with weren’t forgotten here.  I just fear they over thought the design aspect of the bike, leaving it very limited to accessories.

This product was given to me at no charge for reviewing.  I was not paid or bribed to give this review and it will have my honest opinion or thoughts through out

This article was originally written on Flickr by a friend of mine Joey Emanuel from Charlotte, NC.

These deep buckets are perfect for grocery getting or any utility type errands you might want to handle with your bicycle.

For a size reference, the buckets will hold two 4 1/2 gallon cartons of soy milk in each! THIS REFERENCE IS FOR VOLUME COMPARISON ONLY! *If you were to put 4 1/2 gallon cartons of soy milk in your bucket, you may exceed the strength limitations of the bucket and the rack would end up with a sad and delicious mess.

* I’ve also fit a big frozen pizza diagonally in one during a moment of weakness for cheese.

Bike Bucket Before

You Need One or Two Buckets

The buckets can be any size you want, pick the right one for your load and your bike rack.
These are 9 & 1/4 x 9 & 1/4 x 13 inches deep. Pretty honkin’ big. When fully loaded, just one can exceed the weight capacity for my rack, but sometimes I prefer to push the limits of bicycle carrying capacity rather than using my car. A bucket with a handle helps out a lot.

Other Tools You May Need

Tools for the Buckets

• 4 Machine bolts and 4 nuts per bucket.
• 9-10 matching flat washers per bucket.
• An adjustable rubber strap to tension the bucket to the bottom of the rack stays.
• 2 hooks per bucket.
• 1 miscellaneous bolt and nut to secure the rubber strap. (I think mine were spare fender bolts.)
• A utility knife
• A screwdriver
• Pliers
• A power drill with bits that will accommodate each size of bolt.

Not pictured

• A pencil or marking device
• Reflective 3m Tape

Step One:

Step One

• Being careful not to choose a side of the bucket where the wire handle is connected, pick a side to mount the hooks on.
• Make a mark on either side of the trapezoidal bulge; a straight line where the hooks will go.

Step Two

Step Two

• Mark the width of the hook on both the flanges that protrude from the side of the bucket. You’re going to cut through these with a utility knife. Once these flanges are notched, you can bolt the hook to the side of the bucket and the hook will be flush. (Really, I don’t get the opportunity to say ‘flush’ enough.)

Step Three

Step Three

• Cut the flanges where you marked them.

Step Four

Step Four

• Score the flanges between each cut. Doesn’t have to be too deep, just enough to fold the notch you’ve made until it pops off.

Step Five

Step Five

• Now you can place your hook where you want it to go. Some people bolt their hooks so that the top of the bucket is flush with their rack. This is helpful if you have something large to attach to the wide platform of bucket and rack, like a frozen pizza, family-size 36-roll package of toilet paper, case of beer, etc. Mark where you will drill your holes in the next step.

Step Six

Step Six

• Drill your bolt holes!

Step Seven

Step Seven

• Using washers, put those bolts through the hooks and the bucket.  Make sure to put washers on the inside too, underneath the nuts!

Step Eight

Step Eight

• I cut my rubber strap to six inches long, but this depends on your rack, how tight you want the strap, and the type of bucket you use. If you’re using one of these adjustable straps, try to cut between two of the holes.

Step Nine

Step Nine

• Because I hang my buckets as far back on the rack as they’ll go (to avoid heel strike) I choose a spot just forward of the middle of the bucket’s side to anchor the rubber strap. If you’re making a bucket for the right of the bike, the anchor would be on the left of center, if it’s a bucket for the left, anchor on the right of center. This way, when mounted, the strap hangs just above the place where it hooks to the rack.
• Drill the hole through both the trapezoidal bulge and the inside wall of the bucket.

Step Ten

Step Ten

• Slide the cut end of the strap underneath the trapezoidal bulge.
• Now grab that spare fender bolt and poke it through the trapezoidal bulge, the strap and the inner wall of the bucket. Make sure you get the bolt through the hole in the strap, sandwiching it between the layers of plastic bucket.
• Give it a tug to make sure it’s caught.
• Inside the bucket, screw a nut on the end of the anchor bolt. You can put a washer on first if you want, if your bolt is long enough.

Step Eleven

Step Eleven

• Crimp the “S” hook around the strap slightly so that when mounted on your rack the pointy bugger won’t poke and scratch a hole in your bucket. This helps your bucket hang upright when on the rack.

All Done!

Bike Buckets All Done, now paint and add reflective tape.

Mounting the Buckets

Installing the Bike Buckets

Installing the bike buckets