Cycling Product Tests At RBR we constantly have new cycling products on the road. We usually post a fresh review here every 2-3 weeks. It often takes some serious mileage before we're sure how stuff really works.   Evaluations are written by the RBR Review Crew ― Ed Pavelka, Fred Matheny, Jim Langley, Joshua Cohen, Fred Zahradnik and other experienced roadies.   You'll find our newest product review on this page until the next one is ready. Then it moves to our archive on the Premium Site.   3-in-1 Reversible Traffic Cone Bag   By Jim Langley       www.galfromdownunder.com Price:  $50 (small); $60 (large) Source:  company website Made in:  U.S. Material:  2.2-oz. Taslan nylon Sizes:  13x17-in. with 1/2-in.-wide straps; 15x18 in. with 3/4-in.-wide straps Features:  main compartment; 3 pockets; taillight loop; orange/black reversible; configurable as backpack, shoulder bag or purse/musette RBR advertiser:  no How obtained:  sample from company Tested:  6 rides     HOT! 3 bags in 1 high-visibility orange reversible to inconspicuous black 3 pockets as well as main compartment lightweight but durable stuffs in a jersey pocket   not! somewhat limited capacity   Roadies don't typically ride with backpacks. Carrying stuff is what jersey pockets, seat bags, rack trunks, panniers and handlebar bags are for. But a trim, lightweight backpack sure is handy for doing errands around town by bike. It lets you take valuables and necessities safely with you when you're on foot.   I like having one at cycling events. This way, I can bike or walk to sign in and pick up my registration packet. I don't have to cram my wallet, keys, cell phone and glasses into my jersey pockets. And I can toss my registration papers and any event schwag into the pack to take back to my car.   So I was interested to try the 3-in-1 Reversible Traffic Cone Bag (TCB for short) designed by Lynette Chiang, dba Gal From Down Under. The product name makes it sound like a heavy plastic car impediment but it refers to the bag's high-visibility orange color. It shows when the TCB is used in cycling mode, one of this chameleon-like bag's 3 configurations.   Before I get to them, you'll want to know that the TCB is sturdily constructed and built to last with 2.2-ounce Taslan nylon, which is water and abrasion resistant. These bags are made by hand in the garment district of New York City by Caroline Fu Designs. I've turned my tester inside out several times (keep reading), tugged and clipped the straps, and tossed it around loaded with gear. It shows no signs of wear or damage.   Configurations   The bag's color is changed by turning it inside out. Nylon clips on the ends of the straps click onto 4 nylon D-rings on the bag's bottom corners (2 on the orange side, 2 on the black side). You unclip the straps, turn the bag inside out, and re-clip.   Or, you can unclip the straps from the D-rings and attach the clips to each other to create a shoulder strap to carry the bag that way or messenger-bag style across your chest. The straps also close the bag. Simply pull to scrunch the top shut. There are no zippers on top or anywhere else.   In the orange cycling mode there are 2 external pockets that accept water bottles or keep small items easy to access. The main compartment is big enough to carry a helmet. An internal pocket is just right for file folders or a compact laptop. There's also a loop for attaching a taillight.   Inverting the bag turns it into inconspicuous black for off-bike use. The main compartment is the same size but orange, making it easy to see those small items that disappear in dark interiors. The organizer pockets are reversed -- twin pockets on the inside, folder pocket on the outside.   The shoulder-bag mode is possible with either color showing. From this configuration you can convert it into the third mode, which changes the TCB to a smaller purse-type bag like a musette. Now you have a smaller main compartment (11x16-in. for the size large bag and 10x14-in. for the small). You still have the internal and exterior organizer pockets, although they shrink slightly too.   Bottom Line   I like how sturdily built the 3-in-1 Reversible Traffic Cone Bag is, how you can downsize it if you're carrying less, and the ability to wear it on the back, shoulder or chest. And I love having something so visible for riding in traffic. The TCB is an impressively versatile and well-built bag that has many uses on and off the bicycle.   To better understand how the bag converts, see the video demonstration on the company's blog.     [Back to top] "Once again I am reminded why I look forward so much to reading RBR. The August '09 review of 6 pairs of premium cycling shorts [now in the Premium Site's product test archive] demonstrates the sort of honest, trustworthy and truly comparative product review so sadly missing from the bigger commercial print and electronic media.   "As in all of your reviews that I have read, the test criteria is user reproducible, a quality that is so very important to us. It is such detail that I constantly send my clients to your website for information and advice.   "I am a cycling and running coach and a personal trainer but sometimes I get too caught up in the science and obsessiveness of training. RoadBikeRider.com keeps me grounded, informed and helps me be a better coach and mentor. Thanks so much." -- Frazer H., Santa Barbara, California   Product Tests Archive on the Premium Site Most recent on top Limar Carbon Pro 104 Helmet Camelbak Podium Ice Insulated Bottle Rivendell Roadeo Frameset Specialized BG Pro RBX Knickers SipStream Hydration System Pearl Izumi Cyclone Gloves Chain-L High-Mileage Chain Lube Infini Amuse Front & Rear Safety Lights Moji Back Cold Compression Wrap Pearl Izumi Barrier MTB Shoe Covers Gore Race Power Thermo Overshoe Pearl Izumi PRO Barrier Winter Gloves Craft Siberian Winter Gloves Garmin Edge 500 GPS Cyclecomputer JerseyBin Tanita BC590BT Body Composition Scale Oakley Jawbone Sunglasses 6 Premium Cycling Shorts Boure Club SPF-35 Long-Sleeve Summer Jersey Power Cordz Wool shorts:  Joneswares & Smartwool Handlebar bags:  Berthoud Mod. 22 & Acorn Boxy Rando Moji Knee Cold Compression Wrap Sigma Rox 9.0 Cyclecomputer Assos FI Mille Cycling Shorts Sampson Showtime Walkable Road Pedals Google "My Tracks" App for Smartphones Grand Bois "Cerf" 700x26 Clincher Tire Polar RS800CX Bike Computer with GPS Topeak Allay Racing Sport 1.1 Saddle Warmfront Chest Warmer Joneswares 'Interval' Midweight Wool Turtleneck The Competition Bicycle: A Photographic History Campagnolo: 75 Years of Cycling Passion Beljum Budder vs. Sportique Century Riding Cream Keen Women's 'Commuter' Bike Sandals Camelbak Podium Bottle Headlights: Schmidt Edelux vs. Supernova E3 Gore Bike Wear Alp-X Pro Lady Shorts Shimano 105 WH-5600 Aero Wheels De Soto Arm Coolers De Soto Helmet Beanie Campagnolo Racing C644 Bib Shorts Campagnolo RacingC647 Full-Zip Jersey SRAM Red Road Components Group Salsa Casseroll Triple Road Bike Ibex Balance Wool Sports Bra Effetto Mariposa GF Torque Wrench Specialized S-Works Road Helmet Garmin Edge 605 GPS Cyclecomputer SealSkinz Ultra Grip Gloves Wabi Woolens Long-Sleeve Jersey Shimano PD-A520 Pedals Specialized BG Pro Carbon MTB Shoes Spenco Cold Snap Winter Gloves FSA SL-K Light Crankset Kurt Kinetic Rock and Roll Pro RU Trainer Sidi Ergo 2 Road Shoes Hoist V5 Multigym Bouré, Joneswares Wool Base Layers Specialized BG Pro Shorts Giro Ionos Helmet Polar CS400 cyclecomputer Reelight SL-100 Bike Safety Lights Lake CX330 C Road Shoes Specialized Helix Optics Sunglasses Neuvation R28 Aero3 Wheelset Cervélo Soloist Carbon Road Bike Positively False by Floyd Landis From Lance to Landis by David Walsh Waterford R-33 Custom Road Bike Rotor Q-Rings Chainrings Hutchinson Fusion 2 Tubeless Road Tire Shimano Dura-Ace 7801-SL Wheelset Garmin Edge 305HR GPS Cyclecomputer Spinervals Hardcore 100 DVD CTS Fitness, Cadence, Power DVDs Blackburn TrackStand Ultra Indoor Trainer iBike Pro Power Meter Recoverite Recovery Drink Easton EC90 SL Carbon Fork Profile Design Airstryke Aero Bar Specialized Body Geometry Gel Gloves Selle San Marco Aspide Glamour Women's Saddle Ritchey WCS Compact Crank Hammer Nutrition Organic Energy Bar GearStash GS 1.25 Storage System Spenco Ironman Elite Summer Gloves Continental Grand Prix 4000 Clincher Tire CicloMaster CM434 Cyclecomputer "Race Day" Training DVD Nature's Path Optimum Rebound Cereal Specialized BG Radiant Winter Gloves Showers Pass Elite Winter Jacket Pearl Izumi Microsensor 3D Bib Shorts E3 Form Saddle Lance Armstrong's War by Daniel Coyle Co-Motion Speedster Tandem Crotch Guard Skin Care Oil Ritchey BreakAway Travel Bike Sidi Genius 5 Mesh Road Shoes Vetta V100A Cyclecomputer Rido Saddle Sampson Stratics Carbon Brakes Park Tool PRS-20 Team Race Stand Showers Pass Club Jacket Look's Keo Carbon Pedals DoWrap SweatVac Winter Hats Specialized 05 Alias Saddle Osymetric Chainrings Edge Cycles Pellegrino Frame Neuvation R530 Wheelset Boure Custom Cycling Shorts Bike Friday TiLite XL Road Tandem Burley Rock Point Rain Jacket Pace Flex 500 Cycling Shorts Purple Extreme Chain Lube New Accelerade & Endurox R4 RockyMounts Noose SL Bike Carrier fi'zi:k Arione Saddle FSA Energy Compact Crankset Rivendell's Atlantis Frame Baggins Adam Saddlebag Park Tool CC-3 Chain Wear Indicator Spinervals Trainer Workouts CycliStats Training Software SKS Raceblade Fenders Schmidt Hub Generator Light Rotor Crank System SaddleCo Flow Saddle Shimano PD-R600 Pedals Specialized Bar Phat Tape Brooks B17 saddle Specialized 03 Pro Shoe Chamois BUTT'r Koobi PRS Saddle Sky Mounti Inclinometer Endurox R4 Recovery Drink Shimano PD-7750 Pedals Cateye HL-EL300 Headlight Specialized Comp Saddle Specialized S-Works E5 Road Bike ProLink Chain Lube Rivendell Rambouillet Road Bike Specialized Telluride Saddle Honey Stinger Energy Gel Cannondale R5000 Road Bike Serotta Ottrott Road Bike Showers Pass Century Jacket [Back to top]