Review: The #creakybottombracket 2024 Holiday List
The past year has embodied the expression, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Ridekicks we haven’t seen in almost a decade have come back to the road scene. There’s even talk of getting the band back together. Old events are being discussed to the point some of us may wind up paying for US Cycling licenses again. And speaking of events, the Tour of the Battenkill, last raced in 2017, is back on the calendar after being purchased back by Anthem Sports.
Meanwhile bike shops across the country are sitting on bike surplus. The bike shop industry, the backbone of our culture, continues to hope for customers ready to spring for that bike purchase. Those that have gone out the door tend to be gravel bikes. The gravel clout has officially inflicted panic in the cyclocross ranks. Road cyclists are back into the one-bike-does-everything expectation like the steel-is-real rigs until the early 80s.
At the office, things have changed, too. There is a surplus of reviews yet to be posted. Meanwhile things have stayed the same. Nighttime routes are back. Long format racing is dotting the calendar. But the readership continues to rebound from the exhale post pandemic. Things stay the same when we say we are thankful for those who take the time to read our hard work. We wouldn’t continue to bring unfiltered thoughts if the audience wasn’t there. Group rides and races of old are back. Readership and content continue. We are proud to present the ninth creakybottombracket.com holiday list. Happy holidays, thanks for reading, and ride safely!
Gift Card to the Local Bike Shop ($ Any)
Bike shops need help more than ever. The shops who weathered the pandemic are now navigating the overstock order when no one could find a bike. Now, new old stock sits on shelves as would-be customers look for next year’s flashy bike. The shops still remaining hide the anxiety of uncertainty. Forwarding the cyclist on your list a gift card to the local bike shop will help foment optimism going into the final half of the fiscal year.
Bike shops are more than just retailers. They are the club house to meet new people and learn rides. Many of them provide support for events, often at a financial loss. More importantly, they are hubs for conversation and socialization. Many fellow cyclists are quiet people until they enter the local bike shop. They plant roots in the community. The money toward a gift card at the local bike shop will keep the money within the community. We all win when that happens.
Happy Cat Coffee Subscription
Breaking records for how local it could be, Happy Cat Coffee, a nano roaster, is located half-a-block from the creakybottombracket.com office, and we couldn’t be happier. We’ve reviewed Happy Cat Coffee before, so why not promote their vast menu by putting them on the holiday list? Happy Cat Coffee beans are about as fresh-roasted as they come. We’ve received bags that were less than 24 hours old. With varieties from around the world, Happy Cat Coffee roasts beans in light, medium, and dark roasts, and vary in bags size from 12, 16, or 32-ounces. Plus their subscriptions come with a little extra love.
There have been numerous times when a Happy Cat Coffee order has bailed us out of the dreaded empty bean container. Subscriptions can be modified to match the consumption rate. If the person on your list is as jittery as we are, the modification option will likely be utilized. Happy Cat beans are the perfect gift for the coffee fan; brewing a cup is enjoyable again. This is important when the early ride needs a little more kick to get out the door if the forecast is not so welcoming.
Long Rifle Soap Company Bay Rhum Shaving Soap
As a cyclist in the winter, leading edges take a beating from the elements. The face is no exception. For cyclists who shave, we have always loved Long Rifle Soap Company’s tallow shaving soap. Taking a restorative warm shower after a cold outing and pairing it with a wet shave, the rejuvenating properties of self care are important. Skin care, especially the face, is an overlooked - and at time dreaded - task. After taking up wet shaving, add Long Rifle Soap Company’s Bay Rhum Shaving Soap to the gift list.
Bay Rhum is arguably the most quintessential scent when walking into a barbershop. The sweet, powdery scent of rum and barbershop will transport users down memory lane when the barber had to add the booster seat. Using locally-sourced tallow, Long Rifle’s soap creates a firm pillow allowing for a rehydrating lather leaving the skin feeling slick and refreshed. Bay Rhum has been a favorite in our wet shave reviews and Long Rifle sets the bar by which all other soaps are rated. While you’re at it, pick up an artisanal shave brush from Long Rifle to complete the introduction into sustainable shaving.
Sockeloen Merino Winter Cycling Socks
Back in 2020 we featured Netherlands-based sock manufacturer Sockeloen on our holiday list. Recently, we’ve dreamed of the Sockeloen Merino Wool Winter Cycling Sock strictly on how warm they look. With Sockeloen only gaining in popularity over the past few years due to professionals paying for their socks, it is an easy conclusion on whether these socks will keep the feet warm during off-season base mile rides.
Sockeloen has changed the structure of a cold weather sock to promote ventilation without heat loss. Terry material, fabric used to insulate body heat, has been moved to the outside of the sock. This prevents heat loss while wicking moisture away. All of these duties point to warmer socks. With the sock height of 7.5 inches/ 19 cms, the pass the vibe check for the discerning road cyclist. Add the fluffy appearance to certify these socks to keep feet warm, and one is slowly running out of reasons to miss the winter cafe ride on account of temperature.
Velobici Belgian Ride Cap
Velobici has always impressed our reviewers when it comes to their attention to detail. Their online store offers items featuring simple yet beautiful designs. The kits appear almost timeless. While new threads are promoted in their flagship kits, Velobici also offers items that have survived the test of time.
The Velobici Belgian Ride Cap looks as though it fell out of the golden era of road cycling - the 1960s and ‘70s. Using fabric to maintain warmth, Velobici has created a herringbone cap, complete with a flap that protects the ears and back of the neck. If there is one thing we’ve learned over the thousands of winter miles, it’s keeping the neck warm can make or break a ride. Structured for breathability, the Belgian Ride Cap also looks to avoid an overly hot head, something that would wreak havoc on a cold ride. All we know is, this is one cap to add to the winter kit trunk for regular rotation.
The Art of Suffering: Capturing the Brutal Beauty of Road Cycling by Kristoff Ramon
Early in the creakybottombracket.com social media presence, we latched onto Kristoff Ramon’s (kramon) account. His photos are some of the most iconic in the business with focus on the European road and cyclocross scenes. Ramon captures the raw intensity of a bike race by making the viewer feel close to the action. If only he found the time to arrange his most iconic racing shots into a book.
Until now. Kramon has released the perfect road cycling gift, a collection so noteworthy, CNN did a special interest piece on it. The book features the iconic introduction of Wout van Aert’s road career at Strade Bianche where he collapsed for a second time at the finish. There are captures of muddy classics, dusty Grand Tours, and candids from training rides offset by dramatic stories. The Art of Suffering gives the reader full access to the unseen world of professional cycling while capturing the emotion behind road racing’s biggest moments.
Tour of the Battenkill Entry
Let’s celebrate the Tour of the Battenkill, the Queen of the Classics, for returning to its old format in 2025. Late in the summer of 2024, Dieter Drake of Anthem Sports reached out to say the Tour of the Battenkill was close to reappearing on the race calendar. This was the news we had all been desperately - and unknowingly - waited for. The hole Tour of the Battenkill’s departure left in our life when the race, part of the Rip van Race Series, traditionally carried us through winter training.
The town of Cambridge, NY, will welcome the old race format. Racers will hammer through the opening miles, through the iconic covered bridge before hitting numerous unpaved sectors. This isn’t a gravel event, though, as every unpaved sector is smoother than any road in Pennsylvania. Road bikes will do just fine. And if the race isn’t for you, the Tour of the Battenkill is keeping the fondo format that has been in place since 2018. All we know is we plan to hoist the Battenkill Creamery chocolate milk like we just won the Indy 500 after we finish the race.
Cafe du Cycliste Solange Cycling Jersey
December is the prime season for the winter bike to roll out of the service course and straight into harsh weather conditions. If the rider and bike are ready to tackle wind gusts, freezing rain, maybe some snow, then the cyclist needs a kit to encourage long days out by keeping the elements at bay. Forget the aero cut, this is the comfort season. Jersey and bib choices are all about keeping warm and dry. Cafe du Cycliste offers the Solange cycling jersey, a flannel to complement the season.
Made from recycled fleece fabric, the Cafe du Cycliste Solange is designed to stay close to the body to maintain body heat. The front of the garment features a chest pocket to keep select items closeby or out of the elements. Naturally we gravitated to the navy/ orange colorway, but each color looks so warm and functional. The Solange might even have us hoping for inhospitable cold fronts ushering in cutting rain. If a jersey could handle some of the worst weather, we would be officially out of excuses to remain inside.
Challenge Tires Chicane
The off-season bike needs tires that meet the demands of winter road conditions. Leaning into the cyclocross tire selections, Challenge Tires’ tubeless ready Chicane is ready for the challenge. With a request for less rolling resistance than a gravel tire and knobs on the shoulders for unexpected hazards, the Chicane would be a good gift for the winter cyclist.
Designed to handle hardpack, sand, and ice, the Chicane is a great option for roads hidden from the winter sun. From frozen ground to the unexpected accumulation of snow, the Chicane gives winter riders the best chance at control. Plus, mounting them on the winter bike makes jumping into a late season cyclocross easy. With the tires being hookless compatible, within the UCI 33mm width, while sporting the traditional gumwall look, the Chicane is a great tire option to keep those outdoor winter miles rolling. Be sure to check Challenge Tire’s YouTube channel on the appropriate mounting approach to prevent dozens of minutes of cursing.
Feedback Sports Sprint Repair Stand
With the addition of a gravel bike, washes have done a number on the seatpost clamp style bike stand. The desire to swivel the bike while cleaning as well as having fewer parts to wipe down post wash leads to the Feedback Sports Sprint Repair Stand. The fork mounted stand is great for working at a convenient level as well as getting bikes squeaky clean.
Watch any Grand Tour mechanic and one thing is apparent - fork mounted bike stands are the way to go. There is no invasive clamping of carbon parts and the bike is fully supported by the bottom bracket shell. Fork mounted allows rougher treatment to the bike with more pressure through tools or cleaning. Plus the swivel action comes in handy to keep the water pointed in a single direction. Having fewer parts on the upper part of the stand means fewer spots for water to accumulate, thus hastening rust. Fewer parts means a smaller breakdown and less space.
Horse Cycles Road Racer Plus
While talking about road race bikes is nearly impossible without mentioning carbon as a material, there are boutique brands still slinging the steel construction. Horse Cycles, located in Brooklyn, NY, offers road, gravel, and mountain bike frames. Once the custom process is started, Horse will take the frame and add the most up-to-date components. A steel bike with Di2 and an ENVE cockpit will definitely make the bike the talk of the group ride.
Speaking the language we love, Horse promotes the Road Racer Plus as the bike that will inspire [us] to get out the door no matter where or why [we’re] riding. The Road Racer Plus touts tire clearance up to 32mm, and a longer wheelbase to add to ride stability and comfort. Horse offers a chance to spice the custom build with options such as internal routing, fender mounts, and custom paint colors, among others. While the big carbon bike producers churn out OEM packages, Horse Cycles continues the tradition of steel tubing mixed with contemporary components to create a one of a kind build that will last for years.
