Category — Gear Review

Alright folks this is it. Recently I received a brand spanking new Yuba Mundo 21-speed cargo bike for review. Boasting an amazing 440lb cargo capacity and Cadillac like handling I was pretty stoked to give this thing a go.

The trend towards more environmentally friendly and healthy modes of transportation has been slowly ramping up and what better way than on a bike that can haul it all?! After several phone chats and emails with Ben Sarrazin, Yuba’s founder and over all bike nut, I was blow away by his passion and dedication to expanding the possibilities of zero emission travel as well as his commitment to building a cost effective mode of transportation for one and all. The result of his time and energy is the 6′9″ 55lb welded steel behemoth the Yuba Mundo.

So here is the deal. We all grow tired of reviews of items that are hasty and off the shelf quick looks, and well for some things that is alright, however this is an investment, both in money MSRP $1099 and in lifestyle, so we are really going to run it through the ringer over an extended period of time.

This is the introduction to this lengthy process.

Upon receiving the Mundo via Fed Ex I was pleased to find that there was minimal work to fully assembling the bike. All in all I simply had to put the seat on, attach the handlebars, pedals, front fender and the rear cargo support. Total time commitment: 45 minutes.

Now my first thought about the bike was holy crap this thing is a beast!!! I was definitely concerned about the viability of this as a daily mode of transport, but all of my concerns melted away as soon as I took the first pedal stroke. All I can say is wow! Cushy luxury would be an understatement, this baby was a joy to ride super easy to maneuver and believe it on not seemingly weightless. As I mentioned this is a lengthy review and I will have multiple updates on this bike as I use it for commuting (both in the city and in my small mountain town) I will load it up for a play day with kayaks, grills, beer, friends and who knows what else! I am also working to get this out to the people of my community to see what they think so keep checking back for a chance to give it your own test ride!

5'0" 75 y.o. woman pedaling with ease!

Here is a bit of beta taken from the main Yuba site which should really give you a feel for what this movement is all about!

Based in Sausalito, California, Yuba was founded in 2006 by Benjamin Sarrazin, a lifelong bicyclist who saw the need for a new type of bike while traveling around the world as a professional kayaker in the 1990s. In South America, Africa and other parts of the developing world, Sarrazin saw people carrying goods to market on rickety bikes not built to handle the weight of big payloads. He returned to the States in 2000 and helped start Xtracycle, which builds a platform that can be welded to bikes. Sarrazin worked at Xtracycle for several years and helped popularize long wheel-base bikes in the United States. But Sarrazin felt that the add-on design was not sturdy or durable enough for the long haul, so he left and founded Yuba, enlisting the help of top frame builders and designers to create the Mundo, the strongest long wheel-base cargo bike on the market.

In an era of climate change, rising fuel prices and growing discontent with our automobile-centric society, the Mundo is a clean, healthy, affordable and fun alternative to fossil fuel powered vehicles. In a few short years, Yuba has built a devoted following of customers who use their Mundos for everything from carrying groceries to delivering products. “Yuba’s goal is to create a better world by giving people a practical, comfortable option for running errands and getting work done,” says Sarrazin, who can frequently be seen pedaling his Mundo around Sausalito with his young daughter and wife on the back.

As I am writing this I notice that there is a bit of snow falling, so get ready for a review of this beast sporting studded tires and going on a 8 mile round trip grocery run!!

After reading a post on Mud, Sweat, and Beers I really dug the idea that Mike is recapping the things he used as opposed to the classic gear to get for your Christmas adventurer. So I figured I would follow suit with items that I used the most or got the most enjoyment out of. All of these items are old and beat up but that should be seen as a testament of their usefulness and overall badassitude.

1. 1997 Stumpjumper converted into a single speed- This was my first true mountain bike. Originally I built it full XTR as my fun XC/race rig. Then I purchased a Blur XC and the stumpy was relegated to a life of bar hopping. This all ended when I decided I wanted a single speed and although the vertical dropouts made it interesting I was able to build it as a 32×16 ss without a tensioner!! Now the Blur just sits around and pouts as now I ALWAYS ride my beloved stumpy!

2. Sleeping Platform- I built a great sleeping platform in my rig and have never looked back. Designed to have two side sleeping platforms with a removable center. Underneath I can neatly store all of my gear and I can sleep out fo the weather in the comfort of my truck no matter where I may end up.

3. SmallPropane Grill- I can’t tell you how many times I have used this small collapsible grill. From the trail head after a long MTB ride to the snow covered lots at the local ski resort. Having this grill allows a good time to be had after enjoying the great outdoors, more often then not Brats and Beers are on the menu after a great day of play!

4. Leatherman Wave-  This is by no means a light multitool but I has everything I could ever want and nothing I don’t. I’ve built hasty shelters fixed my bike and truck, cut wood opened beers and everything in between. Always having this on me is a definite plus.

5. La Sportiva Imogene trail runners- I have never had a pair of shoes I absolutely love until now. I score this pair almost a year ago and wear them daily whether it is running errands or running the Pikes Peak Ascent I love the simple light design and ample support as well as the super knobby grippy sole.

6. Petzl Tikka Plus- While not the best or the brightest this headlamp has served me well with great battery life and brightness enough to illuminate the deepest darkest depths of the Colorado wilds. Always hanging by my front door I can grab it on the go and know I will be illuminated.

7. Chacos- Simple sandals that make me happy. They are heavy with beefy Vibram soles and are built to last and are tall enough to be able to walk in small puddles or in snow with out freezing out your feet. Originally designed as a river rat’s best friend these little babies have served me well and I don’t care what you think I have no problem sporting socks while wearing them.

8. Olympus Stylus- By far the best outdoor camera EVER. I got the early version called the 790sw. Waterproof to 10 feet (yes you can take pics and video underwater) withstand lows temps (14F) and can handle a drop from 5 feet. Now I really ran my through the ringer and dropped it down a waterfall took a picture inside a pint of beer and best of all it has never even had a hiccup. I really really dig this camera and when it fails I will purchase a new one, which is now under the Olympus “Tough” line.

9. TNF Paramount Convertable Pants- Comfortable and durable, these pants dry quickly when wet and can take the licks while hiking in deep brush or bumping rocks these versetile pants are by far my heros. Although I need more than one pair, becasue I wear them constantly!

This is the Ktrak bike and as I am certain you have deduced this rig is for ripping on the snow! And although this would be a great fun time for me I doubt I will ever actually have one to demo. However coming soon I will have my 1st weeks impressions of an absolutely kick-ass rig.

The Yuba Mundo cargo bike!

The great folks at Yuba sent me out a demo rig in Carrot orange and I have been blasting around town, running errands and carrying crazy loads on this 440lbs capacity 21 speed cadillac of the cargo-cycling world!

A new danger lurks in our national forests. Long have people secretly feared things in the outdoors: wild animals, falling trees, inclement weather, injury, the occasional serial killer, now add to that ever growing list spam eating illegal immigrants toting automatic weapons. Yep you read correctly, according to numerous reports hikers are encountering vast fields of irrigated marijuana fields dutifully guarded by gun toting men.

This is very near my house!!

For years I have heard reports of these illegal operations scattered here and there, in fact I have had friends make serious attempts at finding them, always to no avail. But it appears that now it has reached epidemic proportions with millions of dollars of marijuana fields discovered weekly. You might be assuming that this is in areas that see little to no traffic and would be very secluded, in reality some of these fields have been located closer than 1/2 mile from popular and well traveled tourist destinations.

To make matters worse these “farmers” are serious bringing in irrigation systems and motion sensing equipment. Reports lately have linked operations as far north as Washington state with definitive ties to numerous drug cartels based in Mexico.

Another unfortunate side effect is the fact that all of this policing by the U.S. to eradicate these illegal pot farms is costing us tons of cash. Up to $1 million in Sequioa N.P. alone since 2006! Not to mention all of the damage the fields do to the valuable ecosystems disrupted by the operations.

Some of the signs that you may be nearing one of these operations are ( and I am being serious here) tortilla wrappers, spam cans, empty beers cans, blue tarps and irrigation pipes. Officials are recommending if you come across a marijuana field leave the area immediately and call police once you are safe back in your vehicle. Do not stay to investigate as the “farmers” are usually armed and willing to shoot first.

Seriously this is a real problem and it should be a real concern to anyone that ventures into the great outdoors.

Western Mountaineering, based in San Jose, CA, has been making top-quality down products, and remained independently owned and operated for 35 years. They are very proud of this, as they should be. They are also very proud of their product line, and they should be, offering over 30 models of bags, more than 10 of which weigh in under 2 lbs. The UpaDowna Product Test Team recently acquired one of their bags and I’ve been rigorously testing it for several weeks now.

Western Mountaineering Alpinlite

Temp Rating: 20 degrees

Available Lengths: 5′6″, 6′, 6′6″

Shoulder/Hip/Foot Girth: 64″/55″/39″ (Medium size)

Total Weight: 1 lb 15 oz

MSRP: $425

As much as we would have loved to test their entire product line, since UpaDowna is Colorado-based we thought we’d pick a Colorado-appropriate bag to try out (something rated around 20 degrees). It came down to either their Alpinlite or Ultralite model, both being from WM’s EXTREMELITE series. The only differences between the two are the girth measurements; the Ultralite being the slim-cut model and the Alpinlite offering an extra 4″ of wiggle room. I tried both models on for size and for me and my awkward dimensions the Ultralite made my arms feel like they were bound to my body. I’m a bit of an arm-flopper at night so I opted for the Alpinlite (the sacrifice being that it weighs an extra 2oz). Aside from the girth, you can probably apply the rest of this review to either model. [Read more →]

ERGON BD2

Size: Mens small

Capacity: 15 liters

Max recommended weight: 6kg

Hydration compartment: Yes (bladder sold separate)

MSRP: $149 (2008)

When the idea came about to review hydration packs I was excited to say the least. For years I have been wondering when someone would design a pack that was held off of your back so that you did not have the soaked jersey and uncomfortable sweaty back while hammering on a bike.

Alas Ergon has done it. With their patented Flink® Link ball joint shoulder harness and frame, Ergon has managed to do a few things that I really do think will revolutionize pack design.

Basically Ergon has a standard bag that is nestled in a molded plastic frame. This frame design allows the weight to be redirected off of your shoulders and on to your hips. By eliminating the pressure on the shoulders this achieves a few key points. First it lowers the center of gravity, this feature keeps the bag from flying up your body when descending gnarly terrain or landing jumps. There is nothing worse than balancing on techy section of trail trying to hit a perfet line only to have your balance thrown off by your bag shifting its weight up and throwing you around!

The second key to the design is the brilliant central Flink® Link ball joint shoulder harness. While this system looks cumbersome and unwieldy, I kinda thought it would feel stiff and overbuilt, but in reality it is genius, plain and simple.

The shoulder harness comes together in the center of the frame into a ball and socket joint that allows unrestricted range of motion at the shoulders while the waist belt and lower frame of the pack stay firmly in place. You can even adjust not only the firmness of the socket but also the placement of it on your torso . It was actually a pretty cool experience to be able to fit the pack to the individual instead of being stuck with the factory settings.

Another great aspect of this pack it the full length front zipper so you can fully open your pack to get at what you need with out dumping the contents. There are also plenty of handy pockets to stash all of your gear. I have heard some gripes about the pockets size (some say they are too small) but I disagree. I have managed to find the perfect placement for all of my gear. I have found 10 pockets including the main pack pocket.

I ended up using the small outer zippered pocket to stash tire fix gear (CO2, patch, tire levers), the inner zippered pocket I carry a lighter and multi-tool. The inner pouches I store snacks and in the main compartment I keep a spare tube and what ever additional clothing I might bring. On the portion of the pack that meets your back there is also a mesh full width pocket that has an inner elastic pocket, I have yet to need it but I assume it is for on the go snack storage and the smaller pouch could be for an ID and cash. On the outside of the pack there is a helmet strap that also has two separate velcro pockets which is where I carry my ID and keys. On the bottom of the pack there is a small pouch that hold a pretty useful rain pack cover.

While this pack does not come with a hydration bladder there is ample room for one including a central portal to feed the tube through from the inside to the top of either shoulder straps. The shoulder straps are full of various Velcro straps and two mini bungee cords as well as a small whistle integrated into the buckle on the chest harness.

While this pack is designed for cycling I ended up using it for a backcountry ski trip and was really surprised that it did well carrying my teles with out a problem. I was concerned that the edges of the skis would cut the webbing fortunately they did not and the skis stayed in place the entire hike.

Look at how almost everything else in the cycling industry is specialized for certain uses, now your pack can be as well.

After using this pack for a few months now, I can truly say that my Camel Back is relegated to storage. This thing has definitely earned its place among ‘go to’ gear.

To read more info on this pack as well as an entire line of great products check out the Ergon site. Here is a great video that will help further explain the Flink® design.

If you are interested in a different style of pack, Ergon also produces packs designed with the Flink® design for hiking, climbing, bumming around town or just about anything else!