A quick Sea Otter pictorial

I could write more about Sea Otter but pictures are way better than words. Enjoy the partly random, partly happy snaps along the way!

If it weren’t for these guys, parking on Wolf Hill would have been a giant mess. Thanks! Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
It’s all calm here but I saw one raging off road later in the afternoon. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
One of the handful of Factor O2’s currently in the U.S. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Kogel Bearings and their impressive lineup of bearings, pulleys, and bottom brackets. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
3D-printed Spoke Fins from Null Winds Technology are said to reduce drag on your existing wheels by as much as 67%. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
This HPC Revolution e-downhill bike is hand-welded one by one in Los Angeles, fully customizable including a drivetrain capable of going as fast as 60mph and a high-capacity battery cell for up to 100miles in one charge. Ultimate beast mode? Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
This Easton Cinch spindle power meter system sure got everyone talking. With the power measurement unit fully contained within the spindle, the $600, 65-gram power meter spindle will be compatible with existing Cinch crank arms and all the chain ring combos such at these here. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Sure, the 875g (paint included) Specialized S-Works Epic Hardtail in the back of this photo is jaw-droppingly light, but I like this one better. Just think of all the history behind this bike. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
WTB dropped some new treads at Sea Otter too. Here’s their new Byway Road Plus TCS tire for the growing 650 gravel road crowd. Decent amount of side knobs for traction while the smooth rolling center keeps the ride on the trail way more tolerable. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Hydrate or die. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Emily Batty out doing her course recon. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Secretly stashed inside the bus booth was the only GameChanger aero helmet in the U.S. It’s only available in Europe for the time being but they may just bring it stateside before you know it. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Enduro practice session. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Just when you think there’s nothing else new with taillights, Cateye dropped this Rapid X2 Kinetic (left) with a built-in accelerometer that automatically changes from blinking to solid red whenever deceleration is detected. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Prominently displayed at the OneUp Components booth was their new EDC tool system that utilizes all that space within your oversized (alloy) steer tube. With a very well thought out minitool that comes with 8mm which is relatively rare for a tool that size, chain, tire tools and option of either a pump or a CO2, what’s not to like? Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
At first glance, these gloves from Showers Pass looked similar to your normal liner gloves. But no, they are waterproof and plush without being excessively bulky. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
There were a good number of eBikes at Sea Otter again this year but there was a lot to be liked on this e-Cargo bike from Riese & Müller: Full suspension for comfort and additional traction, integrated Abus lock, the ability to mount a second battery to double its range, and a variety of options to customize the cargo area from double child seats to a higher sidewall for hauling more groceries. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Normally it’s hard to sit and write about kids bikes but Islabikes caught my attention with their new Pro line of high-performance kids bikes. Here, the Cnoc 16 came stock with a carbon fork, TRP v-brakes, titanium-spindled pedals, 185tpi folding tires, smaller-diameter grips and brakes for the little one. And weighing in at a little over 10lbs, the Cnoc will probably save the lower backs of many parents, too. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
#quoteoftheday Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Fat Chance is back! Fresh at the show was Chris’ new model, the Chris Cross. It’s Chris’ utilitarian take on cross, gravel, and bike packing. The beautifully-painted steel frame uses a mix of Columbus and Reynolds tubings and it’s handmade one by one in the U.S. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
The all-new Ibis Ripley LS, now with longer travel along with the usual sharp paint job. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Dubbed as an inner-tire suspension system, the CushCore is a circular-shaped engineering foam that goes inside your tire and is said to improve traction and stability while providing a layer of protection against flats. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
Love the paint job on this Santa Cruz Hightower. Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly
See ya next year! Photo: Stephen Lam/ element.ly

Showers Pass will take whatever Mother Nature is Giving

 

Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

If you are attracted to the idea of spending a wet winter bicycle commuting in comfort and safety, the affordable Showers Pass Club Pro Jacket, a heavier-duty shell fit for layering on the bike, could be a great cornerstone of your regular getup. Yet if you are looking for an on-off stowable jacket for conditions that evolve over the course of a recreational ride, you might want to look elsewhere in the lineup.

The Club Pro shell is of a classic design, made of a waterproof fabric that drops lower in the back and sleeves cut for a better fit on the bike. It also features zipper-clad vents at the armpits, ventable pockets on the torso and a large horizontal vent above the shoulder blades. A drawstring closure at the waist, Velcro wrist cuffs and a soft fabric neck keep things cozy.

This particular model also features a color so shockingly fluorescent that this tester swore the pigment must have come from another dimension. Showers Pass offers this jacket in a spectrum of hues, all with reflective features.

The fundamental design challenge for a jacket like this is to balance rain protection with ventilation. A garbage bag provides great rain protection, for example, yet will quickly become a horrible swamp during physical exertion.

Rain was a non-issue while wearing the Club Pro during a 14-mile jaunt across a rainy Portland, Oregon. Moisture accumulation within the jacket itself was also not a problem, no doubt thanks in part to the large back vent.

Reflective tape right above the back vent. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Toward the end of the trip, with things getting a little toasty, the other vents were easy to unzip while wearing heavy gloves and provided plenty of cooling without water intrusion. It’s notable to me that the pit vents are short and shielded by the arm, compared to rain shells designed for other outdoor pursuits that tend to have very long vents running along much of the torso.

I’m no stranger to rainy-day cycling, having ridden hundreds of cumulative miles in the pouring winter wet while much of the cycling public was cultivating its love/hate relationship with the turbo trainer. It is absolutely possible to ride in total comfort with the right gear, which hinges most of all on the right rain shell.

To me, this shell is best for very cold and wet commutes, rather than high-intensity recreational rides. The fit is rather generous in the torso, making it easy to layer up with a bulky fleece and other items that are unlikely to come off during an early-morning ride.

The material of the shell itself is burly, making this a garment that does not pack as well as other options. Yet for something that will stay on over the course of a ride, it’s not a bad thing to have something that seems likely to withstand a lot of abuse.

Those looking for something packable still have options from Showers Pass, including the lightweight Spring Classic Jacket. Yet at just over $100, compared to $289 for the Spring Classic, the Club Pro is a solid and relatively affordable option in a shell likely to last several years.

As for the color — with the sun low in the sky in the winter months, assuming the sun is out at all, you are wise to have a little extra visibility. But if radioactive yellow isn’t your thing, you’ve got options.

View from the back. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly
And it was all yellow. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly