diff --git a/content/post/decathlon-riverside-panniers-review/index.md b/content/post/decathlon-riverside-panniers-review/index.md index d4688a8..70b9940 100644 --- a/content/post/decathlon-riverside-panniers-review/index.md +++ b/content/post/decathlon-riverside-panniers-review/index.md @@ -94,9 +94,8 @@ And honestly? That’s more than I can say for most of the gear I’ve tried. - - --- + ## TL;DR - 24L per bag, roll-top, IPX6 waterproof @@ -108,9 +107,8 @@ And honestly? That’s more than I can say for most of the gear I’ve tried. --- -### About the Author -Siddharth Subramanian is a documentary filmmaker who sees the world best from a bike saddle. When not riding or shooting, he’s usually tweaking setups or dreaming up the next adventure. +> ### About the Author +>Siddharth Subramanian is a documentary filmmaker who sees the world best from a >bike saddle. When not riding or shooting, he’s usually tweaking setups or dreaming >up the next adventure. +>Follow him on Instagram — [@catchsidsub](https://www.instagram.com/catchsidsub/) +> *Images/Videos by @catchsidsub in Delhi NCR. All rights reserved.* -Follow him on Instagram — [@catchsidsub](https://www.instagram.com/catchsidsub/) - -*Images/Videos by @catchsidsub in Delhi NCR. All rights reserved.* diff --git a/content/post/fenix-bc26r-review/index.md b/content/post/fenix-bc26r-review/index.md index 524d1e7..466da2a 100644 --- a/content/post/fenix-bc26r-review/index.md +++ b/content/post/fenix-bc26r-review/index.md @@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ There’s nothing ornamental here. Everything exists because it has a job to do. At first glance, the BC26R looks like a flashlight reimagined for the handlebar. And that’s no accident. Fenix, known for their tactical and EDC lights, has brought that DNA into this design. -The bronze-accented power button is tactile and satisfying. The fins on the sides help with grip and heat dissipation. The slide-rail mount system is built into the flat underside, offering stability. The USB-C port is tucked under a thick rubber flap. It charges fast, and more importantly, it means **one cable for all devices** on a bikepacking trip. +The bronze-accented power button is tactile and satisfying. The fins on the sides help with grip and heat dissipation. The slide-rail mount system is built into the flat underside, offering stability. The USB-C port is tucked under a thick rubber flap. It charges fast, and more importantly, it means **one cable for all devices** on a bikepacking trip. + And of course, it's built to last. IP68 waterproof. Shockproof. Dustproof. Monsoon-tested. Mountain-washed. Ladakh-hardened. @@ -61,14 +62,19 @@ And in case you're wondering: yes, your old 18650s will work with a small adapte I’ve ridden with the BC26R in snow, in slush, through three months of uninterrupted monsoon. It’s seen more rough days than most lights will in a lifetime. ### It's Tough + I've pressure-washed it after rides. Dropped it. Left it charging in the tent vestibule while it rained outside. It's shrugged it all off. ### It's Reliable + +I've pressure-washed it after rides. Dropped it. Left it charging in the tent vestibule while it rained outside. It's shrugged it all off. + On two separate overnighters, I used the 600-lumen mode continuously for over seven hours. On one ride, I used the turbo mode briefly for a descent — runtime was still a remarkable 7h:10m. > I carry a spare cell. But I’ve rarely needed it. ### It's Smart + Double-press the switch, and you’re in flash mode — 600 lumens, daytime visible. No need to cycle through. It’s instant. It’s intuitive. --- @@ -94,18 +100,23 @@ My local ride to Nathatop is 15km with 900m of climbing. I like to watch the sun ## Designed for the Bike, Not Just the Rider ### Wide Beam + A 100° reflector throws light not just ahead but to the sides. On narrow mountain roads with unmarked drops, this matters more than lumen count. ### Side Slits + Two small windows on the side illuminate faintly—perfect for being seen from the flank on unlit roads. ### Recessed LED + It’s tucked behind a lip. You don’t see the emitter. That’s good—it protects your night vision. Especially when climbing out of the saddle. ### Adjustable Mount + The mount allows about 30° side-to-side rotation. It clicks into position. You can fine-tune where your beam lands, even with a handlebar bag in the way. ### Symmetrical Beam + You can mount the BC26R upside down, sideways, or however you need. The light doesn’t care. It just works. --- @@ -115,12 +126,15 @@ You can mount the BC26R upside down, sideways, or however you need. The light do Nothing is perfect. And the BC26R isn’t pretending to be. ### Proprietary Mount + Out of the box, there’s no GoPro or Garmin compatibility. You can buy an adapter, but it costs extra. ### No Cut-Off Beam + There’s no facula line. On highways, I point it down to avoid dazzling drivers — but I miss the sharp line from older Fenix models. ### Not Featherweight + At 154 grams, it’s not light. But then again, it lasts long and doesn’t die mid-ride. That’s a trade I’ll take. --- diff --git a/content/post/missing-shoe-bikepacking/index.md b/content/post/missing-shoe-bikepacking/index.md index b4c18f0..2caeab8 100644 --- a/content/post/missing-shoe-bikepacking/index.md +++ b/content/post/missing-shoe-bikepacking/index.md @@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ Dinner was spectacular. Butter-drenched, belly-filling, and deeply earned. I ret I slept like the dead. -Well — almost. +Well — almost. + At some point in the night, thunder rolled but the skies held. I rolled over. Later, laughter pierced the quiet. A man — probably the one I'd been warned about — was muttering and pacing. He stared at me. I stared back. My best stern face. My best evil eye. It worked. He wandered off. I checked my bike from my bivvy — still locked. All good. diff --git a/content/post/one-bike-to-do-it-all/index.md b/content/post/one-bike-to-do-it-all/index.md index 313ebae..c4a71aa 100644 --- a/content/post/one-bike-to-do-it-all/index.md +++ b/content/post/one-bike-to-do-it-all/index.md @@ -98,4 +98,3 @@ Then — and only then — start reading spec sheets. > Begin with what you do. Then find the machine that listens. And if you’re lucky — it might just come in olive green. - diff --git a/content/post/smanie-saddle-guide/index.md b/content/post/smanie-saddle-guide/index.md index 34398b0..fe76d8f 100644 --- a/content/post/smanie-saddle-guide/index.md +++ b/content/post/smanie-saddle-guide/index.md @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ image = "comprehensive-guide-to-smanie-saddles.webp" description = "A detailed guide to choosing the right Smanie saddle in India — from the plush EX Explorer to the aggressive DRS Sport." +++ -There’s a quiet, persistent discomfort that every cyclist knows — that nagging unease between rider and saddle that grows over hours, kilometres, and climbs. It begins as a minor ache. Then it settles. Then it lingers. +There’s a quiet, persistent discomfort that every cyclist knows — that nagging unease between rider and saddle that grows over hours, kilometres, and climbs. It begins as a minor ache. Then it settles. Then it lingers. And then, one day, you find the right saddle. And the ride becomes… silent. Smooth. Whole. @@ -57,12 +57,14 @@ I’ve used the EX Explorer on overnighters, through city commutes and gravel am > It’s not a race saddle. But it’s a survivor. ### Pros + - Maximum comfort - Great price (₹1900) - No-fuss build: PU cover, PP base, CrMo rails - Ideal for rough terrain and variable posture ### Cons + - Slightly heavy - PU surface isn’t the most premium looking - Padding might raise ride height diff --git a/content/post/why-buy-local/index.md b/content/post/why-buy-local/index.md index 0e390df..813824b 100644 --- a/content/post/why-buy-local/index.md +++ b/content/post/why-buy-local/index.md @@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ I came across that quote years ago. I underlined it in a notebook and forgot abo --- -## No Sermon. Just a Suggestion. +## No Sermon. Just a Suggestion I’m not here to tell you where to buy your gear. But the next time you’re looking for something — a bag, a light, a bottle cage — pause.