New Feature for 2008: low Tech, BIG gains.  We'll show you how to enhance your cyclocross pleasure for less money than a 30 pack o' Pabst

Now on to the bike toys. This one is for those using or thinking of using tubulars.  Vittoria Mastik One glue.  End of Story.  Available in a big can (good for about 5 wheels) or in the small tubes.  Plan on using 5 of the small tubes for one wheelset if the tire and rim are new. 

You know you want one of these.  It'll go to 200 psi, it has a digital read-out and you can program it to cutoff at a certain pressure.  Get it at Sears.

 
Mad Alchemy embrocation.  Awesome stuff.  Get it at madalchemy.com

This week's post-race recovery beverage for individuals over 21 years of age:
 

"When you buy Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale you also help to support the Thelonious Institute whose mission is to offer the world's most promising young musicians college level training by America's jazz masters and to present public school-based jazz education programs for young people around the world.  All of these programs are offered free of charge to the students and schools."  Pretty cool, huh? Who knew,  I'm a philanthropist. 

Alright, it’s time once again to check-in with our low cost gadget editor, Poman Tech.  This week, Poman is reviewing his latest in low cost, BIG gains. This week’s offering might not seem exciting, but offers a decided advantage on double-race weekends. Without further ado, here are Defeet Woolie-Boolie socks. 

Yeah, socks are boring, but damn are these nice.  These are soft, easy to care for, incredibly comfortable, and take a little of the pounding off your legs when doing dismounts.  These are thin enough they don’t affect the fit of your shoes, yet they do offer a noticeable increase in warmth when it’s cold, especially when it's cold and wet.  Here at nmcross.com we drink the Kool-aid and really believe that if you wear these during a Saturday cyclocross race, you aren’t as sore on Sunday.  At $12, these ain’t cheap, but they’ve lasted 4 years, and as long as my damn dogs don’t get them, they should last several more seasons of day-to-day use.

Week 3 of low tech, BIG gains:

Poman reviews new affordable Cantis with BIG performance.  Tektro has long been regarded as the maker of adequate brakes, but not something a seriously nerdy cyclist would want.  Over the last 3-4 years this has changed, and Tektro has now created several high performance models.  The model highlighted here, is one of Tektro’s most affordable brakes, it’s easiest to set-up, and best performing.  You can’t beat that.  The Tektro CR 720 will set you back less than $30 per wheel, and come with a nice straddle hanger.  They are fully adjustable and use a modern pad setup so you don’t have to mess with the post design, a BIG improvment over older designs.   The cartridge pad system also makes changing pads a snap.  Most shops likely won’t stock them, but they can be ordered for you from your favorite local bike shop via Quality. Really, these are 90% as good as Pauls brakes (the gold standard) at 1/3^rd the price.  Add some Kool-stop salmon insert pads, and you’ll have supreme confidence bombing into the barriers at 20 mph.

Alright, this is a special Saturday afternoon Check the Tech.  This is actually the anti-tech as this is the most low-tech item we've ever listed.  It's more of a good karma tech.  It's the Fi Shock Step-in Fence Post. Wait, what ????

Let us explain: We are hoping to move to marking courses with these as they are easier to install, more secure, and safer than the old wood stakes.  You simply walk to where the post is going to go, you put your foot on the post's foot peg and press it in the ground.  The steel tip will go into sand or harder materials.  With these, there is no need for volunteers to bend down or drop to their knees and pound stakes into the hard ground using mallets!!!!  These will also expedite post-race tear-down!!!  These are available at Lowes and run $1.78 each.  If you're there and have a few extra bucks, pick up a few in the lawn and garden center and bring them to the next race.  You can also order them online, how easy is that???  Over the next 2 years, our goal is to compile a cache of couple hundred of these.  To get the collection started, any proceeds from the Cyclocross Clinic will be used to purchase these.

Poman Tech reviews cable hangers. 

Quick-one this week.  If you run your stem without many spacers, you likely don’t have a smooth front brake cable.  Get one of these:

Your LBS can order this through Quality for you for around $12.  It makes braking much nicer. 

We're all about talking chains this week.  The gadget he has for you this week is the N-gear jump stop.  90% of all chain drops can be avoided with proper chain and derailleur installation.  Even so, it happens.  Whether you are running 1 or 2 chainrings, you should have a chain hanger.  This is the best; it’s cheap, it’s light, it’s easy to install, and it’s made in the U.S.  Yes, there is still something made in the U.S. besides bad reality television.  Any shop can order this for you.  Get one.

We’re here to help you with your run-ups this week.  Poman’s new gadgets are SIDI Toe Spikes.  Toe spikes don’t interfere with remounts, and if anything make dismounts and remounts easier by reducing the likelihood of slipping.  These will last, and provide more grip then the ‘soccer cleats’ that come with many mtn bike shoes.  Some riders have 2 sets of these, with one set cut-down, but that seems like overkill.  These can be ordered by shops the deal with Sidi, and they’ll set you back 15 bucks.  Randy Silva, you know, the fishnet-stocking wearing cyclocross racer, has these in stock for 12 bucks.