11/22/2008

Number 8 is half Gear Shots, half review because it’s summer and things are crazy around nsmb headquarters. I couldn't tell you the last time I serviced my bike...

ANYway, expect to see more product reviews on the site in the not-too-distant future, including an all-Specialized Gear Shots and some info on a new Cannondale all-mountain bike. Until then, feast your eyes on the following goodies.

e.thirteen DRS replacement roller I’ve been a fan of e.thirteen Components since I started using their chainguides, and have had very few issues with anything I’ve tried. The one minor complaint I had, though, was the hard plastic roller on the Double Ring Security chainguide. The DRS is designed to be used with a middle ring and a granny, with a plastic roller keeping the chain close to the rings. In older models, that roller was made out of the same hard plastic

The kit comes with a new roller, outer slider, and sticker in case the old one is worn out

e.thirteen addressed the problem this year with a new softer durometer roller that will keep the racket down. I’ve been using it for a while now, and once everything was properly seated, there was hardly any noise at all coming from the guide. It’s been a real improvement – so much so that it’s actually hard to tell that I’m running a chainguide.

The new rollers come stock on the ’04 DRS, or can be ordered from e.thirteen dealers if you need to upgrade an older guide.

Lots of padding to keep your hands safe

Ridge Sports carbon gloves Ridge Sports makes a whole slew of protective gear for bikers and boarders, including the Ninja Jacket upper body armour. The newest addition to the line-up is a carbon fibre street / DH/ freeride glove. These black beauties are equipped with a one-piece carbon protector that sits across the three outside knuckles - the most vulnerable part of your hand when it's on the bars. Other features include the requisite snot wiper, small brake-lever grips on the fingers, Kevlar protection on the palm of the glove, and something special – a built-in wrist support incorporated into the hook-and-loop closure system.

I’ve got long fingers, but not super wide palms and glove fit tends to be a bit of an issue for me. These gloves are spot-on when it comes to width, but they’re a little short in the length department. Not so much that I can’t wear them, though. Ridge is considering an XXL model if there’s sufficient customer demand.

As far as performance goes, the gloves are solid. They didn’t bunch up at the base of my fingers, and don’t stretch out of shape – even after repeated wearings. The carbon knuckle guards have held up well to general trail abuse (i.e. bouncing off trees and rocks), and there's enough padding on the inside to prevent impacts from being transfer to your hand. The wrist guard / strap is an interesting add-on. It took some getting used to, but now that I’ve been wearing the gloves regularly, I like it. Wrist support generally comes in the form of some sort of brace that fits under your gloves, which isn’t always the most comfortable thing because it means jamming something other than your hand into the glove. Fit isn’t compromised with these gloves, however, because the support is external. I’ve taken a couple of hand-first bails, and my wrists have escaped unscathed.

Close-up - the wrist strap with Ridge logo

Protection for your knuckles and wrist, all in one package

There is one thing I need to point out, in case it's not obvious: a hook-and-loop strap around the wrist doesn’t provide the same protection or support as an actual wrist guard. It’s definitely better than nothing and you don't have to worry about a wrist guard messing up the fit of your gloves, but in the end it’s not the same thing. So don’t expect your wrists to be invincible, because they won’t be.

Would a little more carbon across the knuckles - two separate pieces covering each of the four knuckles - be helpful? Possibly. More protection is always a good thing. Do these gloves have enough to keep you protected? Absolutely. The fit might be a bit tight if you're got big hands, but they'll work fine for most people. You've also got a choice of red of black gloves.

For the measly sum of CDN$50, it’s hard to go wrong with these babies. Especially if you’re like me and think that carbon is pimp-tastic.

Stuart Kernaghan

Fit and comfort: 3.5  Performance: 4  Price: 4.5  Overall: 4

Pros: Cons: - Good protection for   knuckles - Wrist support without   compromising fit - Very reasonably priced - May be small for people   with big hands - Don't give you wrists of   steel - Wrist strap will annoy   some people