My Supporters
I test bikes and gear, often inside events, and give my honest and hopefully helpful opinion in videos. Perhaps contrary to some on YouTube, I don’t take money for my reviews of bikes and gear!
These seven brands support me in this endeavor with the following categories.
Feedback Sports stands & tools
Based in Golden, Colorado, Feedback Sports makes high-quality cycling tools and workstands, including the pivoting Sprint model that you’ve probably seen used by pro mechanics at the Tour de France. I use that one a lot! I’ve also been appreciating their new Reflex Fixed Torque Ratchet Kit, which is handy for riding, traveling, and tight spots when wrenching at home like installing bottles cages. The 5Nm click-torque socket is something every home mechanic should have.
Giro helmets
The new Aries road and gravel helmet uses Giro’s Spherical Technology powered by MIPS. What that means is there are two pieces of foam that pivot on each other like a ball and socket to reduce impact force in the event of a crash. It’s light, well-ventilated and Virginia Tech gave it the best safety score of any helmet the university has tested.
Castelli cycling clothing
Castelli’s history goes back to 1876, and has been operated by the Cremonese family for generations. Castelli has a huge range, covering everyone from world champions to everyday riders. You can get your own custom designs, too.
Saris bike racks
The first car rack I ever had back in the day was a Saris, and in 2025 I’m happy to have a MHS 1 hitch-mounted rack on the back of my Toyota. Whether you need a simple and inexpensive trunk-mounted rack like the classic Bones or you need room for four big bike on a swing-away system, Saris has you covered.
Silca maintenance products
You ready to join the wax revolution? The data heads will tout the efficiency benefits, but honestly I mostly love using wax over oil for how much cleaner it keeps the chain, the rings, the cogs… and my hands. You can dip your chain in hot wax, or go the drip-on method.
Silca has a sweet suite of cleaning products too, from spray-on brake and drivetrain cleaner to Gear Wipes and much more.
Shimano shoes & sunglasses
I’ve loved Shimano road and XC shoes for years and years, so I’m happy to have the brand’s support for the new RX gravel shoes as well as S-Phyre road and cross-country models.
Shimano’s sunglasses might not be as well known, and I’ve been using the S-Phyre and Technium, which both have road-, mountain- and yes gravel-specific lenses you can easily swap between.
PERC Coffee
Every great ride starts with good coffee, and PERC roasts all manner of delicious options down in Georgia. I buy the Juggernaut ‘sorta dark’ roast in 2lb bags.
If you like great coffee, then I bet you’ll love a good deal on fresh-roasted beans delivered to your door. Head over to perccoffee.com/theride to save 15% on your order.
