OTB = Off-The-Bike things that make our lives more enjoyable as cyclists
Looking for the perfect pre- and post- cyclocross shoes? Look no further than the Bogs Classic High Boots. They’re made of four-way stretch neoprene uppers that are both flexible and insulative. In fact, they’re rated to a ridiculous -40ºF. I didn’t test them that low, but I have worn them for long days of standing around in freezing temps and been perfectly warm and comfy.
The tops have a wide opening, making them easy to slip in and out of. They’re also easy to tuck pants into, but not so big you can’t pull your jeans over them, too. Unless you’re a hipster.
Step past the break for more details and photos, plus a quick review of Snap-On’s industrial torque wrenches and bits that work just great for bike maintenance, too…
The Bogs have a hand lasted natural rubber outsole that’s plenty grippy, even on snow and such. They’re also waterproof, and at 14″ tall, should keep you warm and dry at even the nastiest ‘cross races.
Retail is $120 (check price on Amazon) and worth every penny if you’re standing around ringing cowbells (or shoveling snow or whatever) for any amount of time.
Snap-On’s industrial brands CDI Torque Products and Bahco make for great home bike shop tools, too. The CDI torque wrenches come in a variety of preset torque settings for common adjustments like stem, handlebar, seat post and brake/shifter clamps. We got in the 4, 5 and 6 Nm wrenches. When they hit the preset limit, they just click and spin, so you can’t really over tighten the bolt. The only downside is they can’t be used to loosen bolts, too, as turning them in reverse with some force can mess up the torque settings. Street price is about $24 each.
The Bahco Impact Bit Magazine makes for compact storage and easy accessibility of the most commonly sized bits we need for our bikes. They’re held snugly in place, and each wing folds flat for secure portability. Street price is around $18. Bonus: They’re hollow, so they’ll even work on secure bolts for anything else you’ve got around the house.
