Initial Review: Skratch Labs

Being one of the first shops to carry the new Skratch Labs line-up, and the first in Chicago, I put myself up as the test mule on the new mixes.  I'm the first to admit I put my nutrition and hydration to the wayside and very rarely am prepared.  Heck, last year I showed up to The Judson Ride a few times with empty bottles...that wasn't smart.

This year I'm planning to not only ensure I'm hydrating, but trying to do it smart.  I'd like to think Allen Lim MIGHT know a LITTLE more than I do about nutrition, so I'm giving Skratch a shot.  Right off the bat I'm a big fan of the subtle flavor, we'll see how well I feel it's working on some longer and hotter rides.

My favorite part of this mix so far is the Everyday Mix from Skratch.  Used when off of the bike, it's replaced my normal diet of Mexican Cokes and Skittles.  I can't help but to assume that's a step in the right direction to a better diet.

The Lemon & Limes flavor is very subtle in the Everyday Mix, just one packet per bottle of water is just enough flavor to satisfy my tastes.

Lemon & Limes Exercise Mix is slightly stronger tasting than the Everyday Mix, but not so strong that it needs to be severely diluted like Gatorade or other sports drinks.

I've had the most experience with Oranges Exercise Mix, the flavor is my favorite so far.  I mix it slightly lighter than suggested but not by much.

Raspberry is still waiting on a test, that'll come tomorrow.  I'm hoping the flavor strength is similar to the others.

A gem of the line-up, the resuable tin comes in under $10 and holds whatever you need.  Far cheaper than picking up a tin at The Container Store or other home stores.

More info to come as I give this stuff more time on the bike.  Initial reviews have been good on the web and I'm happy to report I agree....so far.

In Stock: Tate Labs Bar Fly

To be honest, I wasn't sure what the Bar Fly was really for.  I'm pretty happy with the current Garmin EDGE 500/800 mount.  I don't spend too much time staring at the head unit while riding, so glancing down during an interval didn't seem like too much of a bother.  On top of that, the Garmin mounts are only $10, versus the $40 MSRP of the Bar Fly.

Last year I actually had the chance to get a tour around Mt. Tam with the crew from Above Category, and at that time was able to see the Bar Fly in prototype form.  At that time it was clear these guys were on a mission to make something different but also perform to the exacting standards they expect on all of their builds.

Upon arrival, presentation is as expected from Tate Labs and Above Category.  Clean packaging, somewhat minimal with just enough hidden detail to make you appreciate it.  The packaging is highlighted by the Bar Fly photo mounted to a Baum.  Instructions on the back are almost unnecessarily thorough, but who hasn't received a new part and rushed to install it but ended up scratching something?

Installation is simple requiring a 3mm allen and a single bolt.  Construction is solid with the mount made of Delrin, the same thing Wheels Manufacturing is using for their BB30 adapters amongst other things.

Once mounted, it's pretty amazing how much tighter the Garmin 800 fits into the mount than with the standard Garmin mount.  With the standard mount the Garmin slips in quickly and has a firm "click" when in place.  With the Bar Fly it takes much more pressure to install the Garmin and much more force to turn the Garmin into place.  It doesn't have the same type of "click" when in place, but it does still stop when correctly positioned.

The Bar Fly puts the Garmin in a position that at first ride made me nervous.  The EDGE 800 isn't a cheap computer and hanging out in front of my bars made me a little nervous, but after a few minutes on the bike I forgot about that.  The mount is perfectly secure so far and has quelled the fear of losing my computer.

Most importantly, the Bar Fly allowed me to adjust the angle at which the Garmin sits.  This seems to be most important to those using negative-rise stems or high-rise stems.  Personally I use a -10 degree stem, which isn't extreme, but it can leave the Garmin with a lot of glare.

After about 20 miles with the Bar Fly, I'm starting to "get it".  Surely it's not the cheapest option, but it is US-made and of the highest quality.  When mounting it up to a hand- and US-made, custom frame, a few bucks for a nice computer mount shouldn't be too big of a deal.  The ability to adjust the angle of the computer is more important to me than having it mounted in front of my bars, but both of those things made the computer more readable than the stock Garmin mount.

If you've ever experienced glare, or found yourself craning your neck to read your computer, this unit is for you.  Maybe you just want something new and a little different?  This fits the bill.  It's a nice mount, it's well made, it offers a level of adjustability not previously available.