NiteRider MiNewt 150 Cordless

The NiteRider MiNewt 150 Cordless is pretty much exactly what most commuters need. It’s a reasonably high-powered LED headlight that’s self-contained and recharges via a standard USB cable (or the provided wall mount charger).

The internal lithium ion battery runs for three hours on high (150 lumens), four on medium (110 lumens) and six on low (65 lumens). The translucent on/off button doubles as a power meter, glowing green when charged, and red when the battery is getting low (15% charge or less).

The quick release handlebar mount easily fits 25.4, 26.0 and 31.8 handlebars, and it really is one of the easiest on/off systems I’ve encountered. I have noticed the hinge pin slipping off to one side once in a while, but it’s easy to push back in, and hasn’t resulted in any problems on the bike.

The MiNewt 150 Cordless retails for $99 and includes a lifetime warranty on all mechanical components, two years on electrical components and 180 days on rechargeable batteries.

Check out www.niterider.com

Freedom ThickSlick Elite

The latest crop of flat resistant tires are pretty incredible when it comes to preventing punctures from tacks, glass and other common road debris, and double thick rubber for resistance to skidding works out well for those looking for long term durability as well. The Freedom ThickSlick Elite combines a thick rubber tread surface and their Kevlar based Urban Armor Casing undertread to provide a long lasting tire that in my experience is near impervious to flats. I rode the pictured pair of tires for about six months on my lock-up bike and can’t remember a flat tire in that time, and through countless miles at home and on road trips to NYC and Boston I was impressed with how long the rear tire lasted as used on a brakeless track bike. It wore to a squared off profile and then just kept going and going until finally the casing was showing through and the rear retired, lasting much longer than I’d anticipated, even for the double thick tread.

The wire bead ThickSlick Elite is heavy at 480g and certainly isn’t the most supple tire on the market, but neither is it meant to be. These are flat resistant city tires, not performance road versions and shouldn’t be compared to such in ride quality. While marked as 25c, the tires measure 27.5mm wide on my bike, confirming that the tires are larger than some competitors’ 28c tires—worth taking into consideration depending on frame and fender clearances. People either love or hate the graphics, but I must say I’m a fan of the dragster effect. For 2011 larger 28c labeled versions are slated to become available, along with white ones to match your belt.

Check out www.freedombicycle.com

Mission Workshop Monty

The Monty roll-top messenger bag is designed for commuters. Dubbed a “small utility bag,” it features a rolltop cargo compartment, quick-access outboard pockets and two internal zippered pockets.

The Monty is perhaps the first production rolltop single-strap messenger bag, and certainly the first I’ve used. The rolltop feature adds to the already highly water-resistant construction, which is comprised of industry-standard Cordura, a heavyweight vinyl liner and urethane coated zippers. Although it’s not always necessary, when the sky really opens up, it’s nice to have the option to transfer everything from the front pockets into the cargo compartment and be certain that it’s all going to be safe and dry when you get to your destination.

At 16” x 10” x 5”, the Monty is ideal for most of my daily needs. For the weekdays, I can fit a full change of clothes (including shoes) along with my lock, tools and a few small items. I like the rather simple organization options, and the double zippered internal pocket is especially nice for securing valuables. And the bag’s just big enough to do some light grocery shopping.

The Monty is available in five colors and retails for $149.

Check out www.missionworkshop.com

White Industries ENO Single Speed Crankset

The White Industries ENO single speed crankset is not only a beautiful example of industrial design, it’s one of the very few American-made bicycle components on the market. Each piece is CNC-machined in Petaluma, CA and individually polished under the watchful eye of Doug White. The concern for craftsmanship and attention to detail is apparent, hence White Industries has a well-earned reputation for quality.

The crankset is based on a “spiderless” design, with the chainring attaching to the drive-side crankarm via a splined interface with a lockring. I’ve been using a similar setup on my single speed mountain bike for years, and after the initial installation with a touch of Loctite, I’ve never had to tighten the lockring. Thus far, the ENO setup has been flawless, as well. The crankarms are machined from 2024 aluminum, which is known for it’s long fatigue life and high strength to weight ratio. The ENO crankset uses a JIS standard square-tapered bottom bracket, making chainline adjustments easy and a wide variety of bottom bracket choices available.

The ENO chainrings are machined from 7075 aluminum and feature the aforementioned proprietary splined interface. As you would expect, the teeth are un-ramped and perhaps most importantly, the ENO chainring seems to be as round as the day is long, which can’t be said for all chainrings.

The ENO cranks retail for $225, and the chainring retails for $50 or $60, depending on the tooth count.

Check out www.whiteind.com