About-Bicycles Bike Blog

I was just checking the bike product and bike sales pages on this site and discovered that Performance Bike has a really good sale going on right now and through Sunday 6/13.

Sorry that I am just now getting to this notification. I’m not sure how long the sale has been on but it is ending after this weekend.

The prices that I have posted on the bikes for sale on this site (through Performance Bike) DO NOT include the 10% off and the prices at Performance Bike do not show the 10% off until you add the bike to your shopping basket.

So if you are in the market for bike accessories or even bikes that can be purchased online (Fuji, GT,  Schwinn, etc.) this would be a good time to check the prices at Performance Bike.

Rob Bicycle Sales, Bike Accessories, Cycling, Equipment, Supplies

When I purchased my new Topeak bike bag a week or so ago, I also picked up a simple, combination cable bike lock.

Simple Combination Cable Bike Lock

As I mentioned in the bike security section of the Bicycle Locks page on this site, cable locks are not all that secure by themselves and are not nearly as good as a heavy duty U-Lock style bike lock.

So why get this kind of minimum security bike lock? Well, the answer is quite simple. I rarely leave my bike in a high risk area or unattended for any length of time and I just like the convenience of a simple light weight cable lock.

Generally, the only times that I need the lock is for a quick run into a store or maybe a restaurant and I usually leave my bike pretty much in site also.

So this kind of lock will work for my own particular needs but if you are looking for higher security please check in the the U-Locks on the Bicycle Locks page. I also have some other blog posts on the subject is you want to search the blog for “locks”.

Comments? Talk amongst yourselves… (or here…)

Rob Bike Accessories, Equipment, Supplies

I have made my bike bag decision and I am sticking with the Topeak RX Trunk Bag DXP (with the fold-out panniers) that I purchased at REI yesterday. 

I like the size and I love the Topeak QuickTrack™ system to attach and remove the bag.

Topeak RX Trunk Bag Expanded

I was a little undecided about whether or not I wanted to stick with the more compact Topeak “RX” Trunk bag or if I wanted to move up to the larger Topeak “MTX”  bike bag.

For my purposes, I am sticking with the smaller (“RX”) version. I like to keep my bike bag permanently on my bike and for 95% of my riding, I only carry a few items with me. The other 5% of the time I bring some extra things for longer trips (a camera and camcorder, some tools, lunch and maybe a light jacket) and I believe that the RX Trunk bag, with the fold-out panniers should be able to handle this.

Actually, I was not really interested in the fold out panniers until I started to look into them and checked them out in the store. You lose most of the space in the 2 side compartments but with the extra space that you get when you fold out the panniers (or side pockets), I think that it is well worth it.

For those who prefer more space (for touring, longer trips, commuting, etc.), I would recommend the larger Topeak Trunk Bags (the “MTX” is a pretty good size trunk bag that has the fold out pannier option) and/or full size panniers.

If you are not familiar with the Topeak QuickTrack™ system, it is a patented mounting system that allows you to quickly and easily attach and detach the bike bag from the bike rack.

Topeak RX Trunk Bag Closed/Compacted

By lining up the rail on the bottom of the bag with the rail in the bike rack you slide the bag onto the rack until it clicks into place. To remove the bag you just press the yellow clip. It really does work quite well. No more messing around with Velcro straps.

Note: You do have to have a Topeak QuickTrack bike rack if you are going to use a Topeak bike bag but the racks are no more expensive than other brands and can also be used with bike bags from other manufacturers.

Since this bag is brand new, I don’t have any first hand experiences with it yet, but I know I will, in time, and I’ll be sure to update the about-bicycles blog or website pages with my experiences.

I am pretty particular about bike bags and I have learned quite a bit in the process of searching for this one so I have updated the Bike Bags Page on this site with the latest information.

OK, so I am a little partial to Topeak now and I have also favored REI a little too, but having preferences and making honest and helpful (hopefully) recommendations are part of what this site is about.

I’m sure I will have more on this topic soon, but that’s it for now.

Rob Bike Accessories, Equipment, Supplies

I am in the process of updating my bike bag and it has been quite a process due to the bike that I ride and my own in-decisions on which bag I want.

For many years I have just used a handlebar bag attached to the back of my seat. I don’t have a lot of space on my handlebars and it fits behind the seat and allows me to carry at least a small number of items that I need.

This year I had decided to finally get a rack and trunk bag setup which I had been looking into for quite some time now (although I will be updating this page very soon, see Bicycle Bags on this site for some good information and online resources for bike bags)

My own particular needs are primarily to have a fairly compact bag to carry some essential items on everyday rides but also be capable of handling larger loads for longer trips (or even utility rides to the store, etc. for small to medium sized items).

I had decided on a trunk and rack system, but the bike that I ride is a racing bike (Trek 1500) and therefore is not designed for luggage racks. My bike does not have the threaded holes in the frame that allow you to easily attach a bike rack.

After talking to a guy at my local bike shop, I found out that I can attach a bike rack to the back of my (racing style) bike by using rubber coated clamps. It’s not the ultimate setup but I’ve tried it (2 times now (more on that later)) and it does work! One hint for a better fit and to avoid scratching the frame is to cut up an old inner tube and use it between the clamp and the frame.

OK, so yesterday I finally bought a frame (Bike Planet brand) and a very nice trunk bag (Cannondale Bobby Cargo Bag ($65)). This is a very nice trunk bag with a good amount of space, multiple compartments, a bungee cord on the top, a water resistant zipper and Velcro straps to attach to the rack.

I also looked at Topeak Bags but I didn’t really like the idea that you had to have a Topeak rack (with their “Quick Track” system) in order to use one of their bags (they do not have any other way to attach to the frame (like with Velcro)). So I didn’t go with Topeak.

After installing the frame on my bike and enjoying my new purchase, I started having second thoughts about the Topeak Quick Track setup. In addition to the convenience of the Quick Track system, I had found that there are a lot of really well designed Topeak bags out there and I had a lot more choices if I used their rack.

It turned out that the Topeak rack was no more expensive than other racks but allowed me to use Topeak Quick Track bags or any other bags whereas if you get another kind of rack you can use pretty much any other bag except for Topeak bags.

So I changed my mind and decided to go with the Topeak rack. This meant uninstalling and returning my first rack and buying and installing the Topeak rack. This was quite a job for me due to the limitations of my racking bike (described above). So much for changing my mind!

Well, I’m going to have to wrap this up, but the story isn’t really quite over yet so I will be doing some more updates in the next few days.

Anyway, I found that there was a GREAT selection of Topeak bags out there once I got the Topeak rack. I ended up returning my original Cannondale bag and going to REI and getting a Topeak RX Trunk Bag DXP which I really like.

This trunk bag has fold out panniers in the side compartments. I wasn’t sure if I wanted that at first, but I am sold on it now!

My only concern now is if the Topeak RX Trunk Bag DXP is the size that I really want. Keep in mind that this is a pretty compact bag and not made for very large loads. It does expand and allow you to carry quite a bit of stuff but the “MTX” version of this bag is much bigger and only about 1 lb heavier so right now I am still undecided as to whether to stick with my 2nd purchase or trade up for the larger version.

Well, I am set on the Topeak rack and bags so now my final decision comes down to which size to get (or stick with).

More very soon…

Rob Bike Accessories, Equipment, Supplies

But I could have been… OK, here’s the story: I bought a cheap bike for my son to use at college this year and locked it to the bike rack in front of his dorm when we dropped him off last fall. He ended up getting a skateboard and never even used the bike. He also lost the combination to the lock!

The bike was left out all year and we just went to pick him up from school yesterday. We still didn’t have the combination so I brought a hack saw, some sheet metal cutters and other tools with me in case I had a problem with the lock.

I didn’t want to waste a lot of time getting permission to cut the lock so I thought that I would just give it a try and if campus security came by, well, I’d just have to explain and beg for mercy (it’s the “easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission” theory).

So I put the tools in an inconspicuous, flowery shopping bag and went up to the bike rack (no ski mask to hide my face or anything!) I whipped out my hack saw and got ready for the heist. It took 10 to 15 seconds to saw through the cable lock! It was so easy. I had just done some research for my bike locks page and was reading about how easy it is to cut through cable locks. Well, I just proved it. I’ve read about it but it really sinks in more when you have actually done it and see how easy it is.

Bike lock easily cut with old rusty hack saw

Even though I was in front of a dorm on a crowded campus in broad daylight. Ten seconds to cut through a bike lock did not drawn any attention. In this case it was our bike anyway but that event highlighted how easy it is to steal a bike if I really were a bike thief.

This lock was pretty thin and cheap but if I can cut through it in 10 seconds then 20 seconds for a thicker cable is still not really a problem.

So, if you have a cable lock, it’s almost useless against someone who really wants the bike.  A high quality U-lock is much better. See the bike locks page for the latest bike security and bike lock updates.

Rob Cycling, Equipment, Supplies