Knog Blinder 4V Reviewed: Classy Stripper

Mark Pawlak    Cycling     Bike, bike gear, Buying Bike Lights, cycle gear, cycle safety, cycling, Knog

There’s not much to say about the Knog Blinder 4V. Having already had the Knog Blinder reviewed in an earlier post, there seemed little point in this light even existing. But that’s not the point: This is an excellent rear light.

Blinder 4V: Classy LED Rear from Knog

Still, it’s really an evolution of the previous model so don’t expect any radical changes.

Ok, there’s the in-line LED layout rather than the 4-square format. But on paper, it’s the same light. So, why should this be a problem?

It’s not. It’s another winner from Knog with great build quality and insightful design. Fancy a stripper? Here’s what you’ll get for your money.

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Buying cheap bike lights: Knog Frog Strobe Reviewed

Paul McWilliams    Cycling     adventure holidays, bike gear, Bike lights, Buying cheap bike lights, cycling, cycling equipment, cycling gear, Cycling Holidays, Frog Strobe, Knog, Knog Blinder, Knog Blinder Reviewed, Knog Frog Strobe, review, Silicone Lights

Long gone are the days of the old torpedo-style bike lights working off a dynamo (apart from the odd retro hipster type you see on their rusting old Dutch bikes). In one way it’s a shame because try buying cheap bike lights and you’ll soon find massess of brittle plastic and boring designs.

The Frog Strobe twinpacks can be mounted almost anywhere.

Those old chrome lights did have a lot of charm. The charm usually lasted about three weeks before the rust set in.

Then there was the fact the light they cast was about as bright as the combined casts of TOWIE and Made in Chelsea. And if it rained, you could forget all about it working at all.

So, what is there that will light your way and fit in your pocket without emptying your wallet? Hello Knog Frog Strobe, time you got reviewed!

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Cycling Essentials: Bike gear you actually need

Mark Pawlak    Cycling     bike gear, cycling, cycling equipment, cycling essentials, Cycling Helmets, HD cameras, high-vis vest, merino

There are cycling essentials you need and the stuff they try to sell you. But only some are truly indispensible, others you can easily do without, or buy cheaper.

Still, as the market grows, innovations come along that are truly smart and worth having. Some are vital for safety, others for comfort. And with more riders on the road, we’re now getting products devised for both.

So here are 5 products (some new, some not so) that I’d say are cycling essentials – ok, one’s an indulgence but bear with me.

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Buying Bike Lights: Knog Blinder Reviewed

Mark Pawlak    Cycling     bike gear, Bike lights, Buying Bike Lights, cycling gear, Safety tips for cycling

If you are out buying bike lights you’ll soon spot Knog products. Having reviewed the Knog Blinder, I’d liken a pair of Knog lights to a Mac: A PC might be cheaper and do the job just as well, but you’ll want to own the Mac.

New 'Blinder' by Knog

So far, design and innovation have set Knog apart in a field of very ‘samey’ bike lights. Out went cheap plastic clips; in came gummi bear silicone wraparounds.

Earlier products have inspired, yet the company’s new Blinder is still a rare sight – and may remain so if its styling is not to cyclists’ liking.

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Mountain bike gear: are tubeless rims the best for your ride?

Gabriel    mountainbikingholidays, Pro Tips     bike gear, Mountain bike gear, mountain biking, Mountainbike, Mountainbike holidays, MTB, MTB tyres, tubeless rims, tubular tyres

Reading around the blogosphere, I see there is a lot of research on mountain bike gear and discussions on tubeless rims and which tyres to ride when mountain biking. That’s an important question – if you are a seasoned downhiller you’ll be riding on different rubber than if you were an apprenticing single-track newbie. But before we grace the question of tyres, I believe a more important question is what do you put them on? Are tubeless rims the best for your ride?

Are you rocking tubeless rims? Image: Flickr/thazit

Tyres and tubes are made of rubber and filled with air. When you think about it, there is a lot of rubber rolling on the ground at any given moment. What if you were to remove the inner tube? Interesting, lets look at the tubeless options available.

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