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Bicycle Holiday Wish List, by Brad

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The other guys have made it clear, if you haven’t put together a list yet, better get on it. Here’s my wishlist for this year:

WISHLIST TOOL: Park Tool PRS-20 Workstand

I first tried one of these out at a race, where a team mechanic was cleaning bikes. During the US Postal team days, the team mechanics asked Park Tool to design them a stand like this one, and now I see why. While it takes a little more time to get the bikes on and off the stand, the PRS-20 really shines when it’s time to work. For starters, it folds up smaller than most stands, so its easy to stash and transport to races or stow in a closet. Once you get the bike up and on (with or without wheels) the stand rotates 360 degrees. Set it up, grab a hose, spray, spin, spray, repeat. The ability to spin the bike around without having to unclamp the bike to get to the other side is invaluable, and will make your cleaning and routine maintenance a lot easier.

WISHLIST CLOTHING / GEAR: Garmin Edge 705 GPS

I love finding new rides, and I travel quite a bit. After getting tired of reaching into my pocket for a piece of paper with hastily-scrawled directions from locals, I finally broke down and got a GPS unit. No more bad turns, no more easy afternoon rides that turn into death marches, and no more stopping to ask for directions. The Edge 705 kept me on track, and I could just focus on riding and taking in the new scenery, instead of worrying about where to turn next. All the maps are up to date, and the unit can even find gas stations, convenience stores, and other spots to fuel up when you feel a bonk coming on. The GPS functions great and the unit also tracks all the data that a traditional cycling computer would, so it quickly became one of my favorite purchases. Perhaps the best compliment I can give it; after the computer was tragically stolen from my bike last month, I immediately went about replacing it.

WISHLIST COMPONENT: Crank Brother Joplin R Drop Seatpost

I’ve tried out a few dropper seatposts, but when this came on a borrowed bike while out riding with some friends, I was blown away. Smooth, reliable, and remarkably stiff while it’s extended, the Joplin R was everything I thought a dropper should be. Three inches of drop was plenty for me, although there are some more versatile dropper posts on the market, but I just didn’t need that much adjustability. Perhaps my favorite part was the precision in which the seat returned to normal height for flat sections. When it was time to bring the seatpost up, the bike fit the exact same every time.

WISHLIST MOUNTAIN BIKE: Gary Fisher Superfly 100 Elite

While I only rode a few mountain bikes this past year, I had a chance for a brief ride on this one and it blew me away. With a great name like Fisher behind it, this bike represents the pinnacle Fisher’s design and Trek’s build capabilities, and after an update this year, it’s better than ever. As soon as I find that $6,000 I misplaced, it’s going towards one of these.

WISHLIST ROAD / CYCLOCROSS BIKE: Cannondale Super X

The bike that dominated the domestic cyclocross circuit this year, after we first spotted it at the Cannondale press camp. At 15.4 pounds and a long list of wins, the bike speaks for its self. While some manufacturers are still perfecting and developing carbon frames, putting many of their athletes instead on easier to develop and produce aluminum frames, Cannondale seems to have perfected the carbon ‘cross bike formula.

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