With the introduction of the Crank Brothers Eggbeater pedals a few years ago, Crank Bros, in my mind, changed the face of clipless pedals. Prior to that point, you basically had Shimano SPD’s and Time pedals with a handful of people using Speedplay Frogs. The greatest feature of the Eggbeater pedals was the 4-sided entry. This, combined with natural float made for a lightweight and versatile pedal that won converts in droves.

After two seasons on the Crank Brothers Mallet C pedals, I’m sold on the Eggbeater technology and wouldn’t consider another pedal.

At Interbike 2006, I stopped by their booth to chat with Christina Orlandella, their PR Superstar, and see what was new. The first thing that caught my eye was the all-new Acid pedal. It sits right between the Smarty and Mallet in size and target audience. Frankly, it nails the average mountain biker crowd who prefers a little extra girth for those times when you’re just hanging on while attempting to get back clipped into the cleats. I can’t even begin to count the number of times my butt has been saved by having a clipless pedal with a wide platform.

What makes the Acid special is that it does have a solid, wide platform, but not too wide. It lacks the shin-eating metal edges of the Mallet, but trades them for lightweight composite construction to shed 150-200 grams from the Mallet pedals. If I had to select one pedal from the Crank Brothers line that fits my style of riding, the Acid pedal would be it. Just wide enough and yet light enough to keep the inner weight weenie in me at bay.

Just a few highlights of the Crank Brothers Acid Pedals:

• 354 grams (Mg) or 395 grams (Al)
• 15 or 20 degree release angles
• scm435 chromoly steel spindle
• Warranty: 2 years

Look for a full review of the Acid pedals soon on www.FeedTheHabit.com.

MSRP: $220 (Mg/Carbon) or $120 (Al/Composite)
Buy Now: Search for Crank Brothers Pedals

Posted in: mountain biking

Norco has long been one of my favorite mountain bike manufacturers. Up in Canada, they rule the world, but south of the border, they don’t quite have the market share that other behemoth bike manufacturers enjoy (think Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, etc.). Thanks to NAFTA, Norco can easily begin the onslaught of the savvy American public.

The 2007 Norco Fluid 1.0 is billed as an all mountain cross country bike that’s built for all-day adventures full of long ascents and rock-strewn descents. True to their Canadian roots, the Fluid offers geometry that’s just a titch slacker than most bikes in the category (it’s hard to remove the North Shore from the designer’s minds). The Fluid 1.0 is currently in our grimy little hands and will be fully reviewed on FeedTheHabit.com shortly.

Here’s a few highlights of the Norco Fluid 1.0:

• Horst 4-bar suspension linkage with either 136mm or 108mm travel
• Fox Float RP23 rear shock – ProPedal and rebound adjust
• Fox 32 Float RL forks
• Shimano XT/LX drivetrain mix
• Mavic Crossride wheelset
• Hutchinson Python 2.0 tires (YIKES!!! A little narrow for my taste)

Quick Review of the Norco Fluid 1.0

After a quick ride on the Fluid, I’m impressed. As usual, the Fox Float RL fork and Fox Float RP23 rear shock provide a very comfortable and responsive suspension. This bike rides a lot like the Yeti 575, which is one of my all-time favorite all-mountain rigs. I’ve only got a few miles in the saddle, but I think I’m going to like the Fluid 1.0. The only things I know I’ll swap out are the grips and tires. The rubber on the Fluid is a mere 2.0 width, which is narrower than anything I’ve ridden in this century. I’ll swap ‘em out and I’m sure the handling in sand and loose stuff will greatly improve. As it is, the Fluid climbs like a goat and is stable at speed–thanks to its Canadian slacker roots. This is going to be a great bike… I can feel it.

MSRP: $2950 USD
Buy One: Visit Norco.com – Fluid 1.0 Page
Detailed Review: Visit GEAR.com for a detailed Fluid 1.0 review

Posted in: mountain biking

We’ve recently experienced 100% growth in the size of our family with the birth of our second… a happy and healthy baby boy. With that, our BOB Revolution Jogging Stroller is now obsolete (except for early morning jogs with only one kid). BOB happens to make the best strollers on the market with many features not found on other strollers–like a pivoting front wheel. It seems silly that not many jogging strollers offer that, but once you have it, nothing else will do.

BOB packs the Revolution Duallie Jogging Stroller with tons of features:

• Pivoting front wheel
• Dual shock absorbers for a smooth ride
• Available infant car seat adapter
• Easily-folded design
• Pockets galore
• Dual reclining, adjustable seats

MSRP: $529.00
BUY NOW: Get it today from Moosejaw.com

Posted in: kids products , outdoors , running

Just got the new 2007 Freestyle watch catalog. Looks like they have really stepped up their watches in light of the stiff competition from Nixon, Quiksilver and others.

The all-new Freestyle Funbox S/S looks to be a solid contender for an all-around watch that’s got dressed-up style with a bit of casual edgey-ness. Freestyle watches are big with the surf crowd, but this watch would be at home wherever you may roam.

Here’s a highlight of the features of the new Freestyle Funbox S/S:

• 100m water resistant
• NightVision backlight display
• Chronograph with split time function
• Countdown heat timer (not sure what that’s for…)
• Alarm
• Solid stainless steel case and bracelet
• MSRP: $100

More Info: Visit freestyleusa.com
Buy Now: Search moosejaw.com for Freestyle Watch

Posted in: water sports

Gearminer has long been the home of shopping for the best prices for outdoor gear. Well, I thought it was about time to start posting about the latest and greatest gear we see coming to market. So, look for the coolest outdoor gear coming your way soon.

Posted in: outdoors