Review: The #creakybottombracket 2023 Holiday List
(2023) This year we felt like we got our creativity back, so let’s give thanks to that. While the writing hasn’t been as regularly posted, we’ve gotten back to old events while getting out with new friends. There were chances to laugh again while riding with ridekicks. Slowly but surely, things feel like they are returning to their ways before the Pandemic.
What has been learned over the past twelve months is a heavy sense of the purpose of riding. Since retiring from proper racing, the motivation sagged. It sagged again during the Pandemic with things felt out of control. It sagged further when the fitness inventory reflected less-than-promising numbers. Somehow in 2023 the trend wiggled upward. That old desire to ride new roads continued to motivate the miles. We jumped into more group rides this summer than almost five years prior combined. Nighttime rides became a four-season experience. Plus, we were oh-so-close to having Eric ride the Tour of the Catskills. Maybe 2024 will see our crew show up to events with purpose: the camaraderie of pushing each other through events.
Most of all, we would like to thank the readers that have hung in there for the past couple of years. Decisions were made to go easy on the indoor riding scene in favor of writing nothing at all. Now that events are populating the calendar, it feels great to promote them, and we hope that voice comes through in the writing. We would also like to hear more from the audience as well as encourage submissions with like minded perspectives in 2024. In the meantime, consider the list we worked so hard to present for the eighth time in our existence - the creakybottombracket.com 2023 holiday list. Happy holidays, thanks for reading, and ride safely!
Gift Card to the Local Bike Shop ($ Any)
The Local Bike Shop (LBS) has been on an unfortunate roller coaster ride over the past few years. During the pandemic they had no supply but all demand. Post pandemic shops continued to struggle with supply. Lately shops have too much supply and a waning demand. Keeping money in the local community starts at the LBS level. Additionally, it helps shops spread their income into a season when bike shops cut back staffing due to low foot traffic.
As we have stated prior, not many people spend the precise amount of a gift card. The shopper usually tours the store and adds a few more dollars, helping the store out further. Maybe now is the time to suggest the cyclist in your life needs to have the bike serviced. A gift card to the shop down the street will work perfectly for that, too.
PONGO London Socks ($25 USD)
We have featured Pongo London cycling socks before, but lately this British-based company has added to their sock designs. Now there are dozens of sock designs to match the team or club kit. With hi-viz colors, even the cheering section will be able to pick you out as you flash by mid-race.
Pongo London socks offers a classic cuff height six inches on almost every sock. The socks offer a high needle count as well as Italian craftsmanship. These aren’t the super high socks, but Pongo London makes it count with that smaller patch of canvas. Given that these socks are boutique quality, gifting Pongo London socks show some cycling swag research to settle on a gift of style.
CloudSplitter Coffee Brewding Skies Dark Roast ($16 USD)
Founded by a United States military veteran, CloudSplitter Coffee is a great reminder of outdoorsy efforts. Follow their social media to not only decide which roasts of coffee to get but to also receive a little inspiration when that ride doesn’t feel appealing. Though the minds behind CloudSplitter run ultra marathons, their social media accounts encourage like-minded people to get out and have their best day…after gulping CloudSplitter Coffee.
Cloudsplitter’s name comes from the Mohawk word for Mount Marcy, New York State’s highest peak. With Brewding Skies as their dark roast, perfect for that dark season between cyclocross and road racing, the name evokes winter storms where buckets of coffee are brewed in anticipation of being socked in. While shopping, navigate over to CloudSplitter’s merchandise link for fun stuff to add to the dark roast order.
Le Col Cycling Cap II ($30 USD)
Le Col may call their Cycling Cap II color saffron, but around here we call it papaya. In the old days of racing Bruce McLaren’s cars were officially colored papaya and that was that. While the simple cycling cap may be considered unchanging, this cycling cap deserves a second look.
We start with the cotton base. Caps should be cotton to retain their shape as well as prevent odor build-up. But Le Col adds breathable poly materials to create a cap perfect for all season use. To complement the “papaya,” Le Col stamps their logo in blue making us all giddy for the combination. Clearly Le Col is after our affection. This makes a great quick purchase gift for the cycling cap fans on your list.
Fellow Atmos Vacuum Coffee Canister ($30 - $40 USD)
We have never organized all the coffee beans that come through the creakybottombracket.com office. That’s usually because of the consumption rate. Every once in a while, a solution is explored as to an easier way to store - and retrieve - beans prior to grinding. Fellow Products offers three sizes of Atmos Vacuum Canisters: 0.4 L, 0.7 L, and 1.2 L.
We have tried simply storing a scoop in the plastic bag with the beans. There was a brief moment where a Mason jar was tried. We have also used plastic soup containers. At least the top is wide enough to scoop quickly. But we have never had a vacuum container that can add to the longevity of coffee beans. It is also moderately priced. The best way to find out if a person on your list would benefit from this, eye up whether whole beans are sitting on the countertop. If so, this coffee canister is the perfect coffee lover’s gift.
The Cycling Chef: Recipes for Getting Lean and Fueling the Machine ($35 USD)
In the olden days of motoring, the Michelin tire company came up with a rating system to encourage people to drive more. A restaurant with a single Michelin star meant it was decent enough to pull over for. Two Michelin stars meant the restaurant was worth deviating from your drive, and a three Michelin star restaurant was a destination outing. These days the rankings have tightened - having a Michelin star is the goal of many chefs. One chef, Alan Murchison, also happens to be an endurance athlete. He produced The Cycling Chef: Recipes for Getting Lean and Fueling the Machine.
We are suckers for cookbooks, especially ones focused towards cyclists. They tend to be void of the western diet. Rarely are pages covered with gooey cheeseburgers or salty fries. Cycling cookbooks tend to use a variety of ingredients like celeriac, kimchi, and buckwheat. Though the book leans heavily into the topic of weight loss, we are excited about dishes created by a Michelin starred chef who also rides. We hope this niche group of cookbooks continues to expand, promoting the use of fresh ingredients and creative recipes.
Highland Springs Soap Company (HSSC) Barbershop Shave Soap ($20 USD)
There are few scents that are reinvigorating as barbershop shave soap. The aroma of barber visits recall weekend trips with generations of people waiting to have their hair cut and the beards trimmed or shaved. One soap company we have been looking to try is Highland Springs Soap Company (HSSC) out of British Columbia, CA.
Barbershop shave soap is one of those scents that keeps bringing one back solely for the aroma. A great way to end a cold outdoor ride during the winter, wet shaving can restore damage from a cold ride while restoring the body amidst a steamy shower to raise the body temperature. We use wet shaving as a way to transition from the Sunday morning ride to the afternoon shower in preparation for the workweek. Yet HSSC’s barbershop might add one more reason to shave - to simply revisit those old memories frequently.
Pedal Mafia PMCC Long Sleeve Jersey ($189/ US)
Since the start of cycling there has been one elusive garment that could be used regularly. Australia-based Pedal Mafia may have finally nailed the unicorn of kit by using their PMCC jersey as a starting point. Having several PMCC jerseys hanging in the staff room, there is high confidence this is the jersey to add to the locker.
There have been numerous times where a jersey was too light. A small additional warmth was desired. Or perhaps sun protection was sought. The only problem is long sleeve cycling jerseys almost always come fleece lined. Fleece lined is overkill for the chilly rides. It certainly does not help with hot sunny rides. Which is why the PMCC long sleeve jersey is on this list. Available in black or white, the longer sleeves can either reflect the harshest of rays or keep that seasonal breeze off the skin. And since the PMCC jersey is made for race cut, this jersey stays in place. Let’s hope this is the start of something lighter for long sleeve jerseys.
Silca T-Handle Folio ($185 USD)
As would happen in the cycling realm, there is a movement to feature single use tools that do one job really well. Yet there have been times where a tool that does several jobs well is hard to overlook. That’s where Indianapolis-based Silca T-Handle Folio comes in.
Featuring eight hex wrenches and two Torx wrenches, the T-Handle kit is perfect for those who like to wrench their own road bikes. The sliding function makes some of the more awkward jobs, like pedal removal, a snap because of the leverage now available. Silca does not stop at the tool detail; the whole kit is stowed in a waxed canvas bag that prevents damage to the T-Handle or other tools in the drawer. When draped over the repair stand, fellow wrenchers will certainly take note of the Silca T-Handle Folio set.
Rasputitsa Entry (From $160 USD)
If there is an event that goes against the grain, the Northeast Kingdom’s Rasputitsa is it. This year the Jay, Vermont event is returning to their original date of April 20th. This mother-of-all gravel event has a strong social media campaign distancing themselves from other gravel events. The reason is simple, they continue the legacy not to take racing too seriously.
Rasputitsa is a fifty-three-mile gravel event that is welcoming of all cycling lifestyles. Further, the event welcomes all cycling abilities. Rasputitsa is known for their Lanterne Rouge award, celebrating the rider who crosses the line last. It’s a race that hands out maple syrup shots while bumping elbows with former Tour de France riders. The 2024 race is aligned with providing the snow segment reminisced by riders from a few years ago. Rasputitsa isn’t just an event, it’s a weekend-long experience with carried over holiday vibes.
Cafe du Cycliste Classic Road Shoes ($377 USD)
Boutique cycling apparel brand Cafe du Cycliste recently released their Classic Road Shoes and we were thrilled to see laces. We were also thrilled to see a slight deviation from the cookie cutter slippers that have taken hold of the peloton footwear. Though we are avid cyclists, we still struggle with the awkward clap-clapping of cycling shoes around the concrete floors of our local cafes. Cycling shoes don’t have to look so anti- shoe like.
Maintaining the industry standard of a carbon sole, Cafe du Cycliste attaches a microfiber upper that is light and breathable. These cycling shoes are purposely styled after classic sneakers. The singular lateral pinstripe evokes an appearance of standard shoes that happen to pedal road bikes really well. Manage to size up the person on your list to complete the purchase, and rest easy knowing the gift receiver will likely be the only one in the group rocking classic-looking Cafe du Cycliste Classic Road Shoes while setting the style bar high.
Argonaut RM3 Custom Road Bike (Price varies)
Bend, Oregon, has a lot going for it in the custom bike market. In the world of OEM carbon manufactured road bikes, Argonaut creates a custom bike built around the rider. The finished product is truly a boutique bike that is unique to every rider. The fact it’s all made in the USA makes this super bike truly special.
Argonaut implements rider data either through an in-house fit or through a certified fitter near the purchaser. From there Argonaut creates a geometry before putting you in touch with the lead mechanic to build the super dreamy super bike. These may be the OEM days, but Argonaut brings back the piece-by-piece builds of former times to create an authentic reflection of personality. The bike is reviewed and fully painted to the customer’s requests. Before heading out, the bike gets its own photoshoot. Considering Argonaut only makes a handful of custom bikes each year, an RM3 Custom would truly be a unique gift.
