The Lowdown: Four essential items for a 420-mile ride
Last October, two friends and I embarked on a 420-mile, seven-day mountain bike adventure from Lake Tahoe to San Francisco riding as much singletrack as possible. We called it The Commute, and along the route we encountered brutally steep hike-a-bikes, sub-freezing temperatures, and a couple downpours of rain. Our mission was to travel light and stay with friends instead of camp so we could carry as little gear as possible. In order to accomplish this, we needed the essentials to keep us warm, comfortable and dry. Here are reviews of four items from Giro, Mountain Hardwear and Acre Supply that were essential in successfully and comfortably completing the journey.