Something new that just came in the door is an innovative and nice looking ski rack for your garage. Bordz-Up has an interesting history as a machine-shop owner developed a way to show off his son’s snowboards. With that he developed his Gravity Suspension Racks (GSR) that shows off the board and not the rack. It looks pretty sweet.

Back to the Pipeline PL-2004 4-pair ski rack system. When compared to other storage ski racks, this thing is overbuilt and over-engineered, that’s for sure. Everything else I’ve seen in this area has been akin to a few bent coat hangers or a 2×4 with dowels. This rack looks solid and will definitely hold 4 pair of skis and poles with absolutely no problem. (more…)

Merrell introduced a new clothing line in 2007 with the intent of providing stylish and functional outerwear for active folks who demand a lot from their clothing. A key piece of their layering line is the Merrell Rove Tech Vest. This vest is made from a 100% polyester shell that is lightweight and weather-resistant. It sheds the wind awesome. I haven’t had much chance to wear it in foul weather to know how water resistant it is. However, it’s not the type of clothing that you’d wear in wet weather all by itself.

The fit and feel of the vest is superb with little touches here and there to display the extensive thought and design that went into the entire Merrell apparel line. The PrimaLoft One insulation is perfect because it’s super light and compressible. I think it’s superior to down because it won’t shift around and will stay warm when wet. (more…)

I’ve ridden tons of disc brakes in my lifetime. Everything from Hayes, Avid, Shimano, Formula, Magura, Hope, etc. They are all awesome brakes that work well in nearly all conditions. Some have a little better brake feel than others. Some have better levers than others. Some squeak to no end, while others are as quiet as a burglar in the night.

The beauty of the Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes is in their simplicity. They are easy to use with tons of power–hardly distinguishable from their fluid-filled brethren. They are super easy to maintain and adjust with no worries about annual bleeding, or ruptured lines. All you need is an allen wrench and you’re golden. (more…)