Best of 2014: Pete’s List

We don’t do an NSMB Best of the Year Awards roundup, because we think our readers are smart enough to make their own decisions about what deserves gear of the year status. Besides, just because a few opinionated media guys from North Van tell you something is the best, doesn’t mean it’s the best for you. Instead, we like to compile our own personal favorites from the year. You can take ’em or leave ’em, but rest assured that none of these are commercially-motivated or paid for – it’s just stuff that works for us. Here then is the first of several Best Of 2014 Lists that we’ll share over the next few weeks.

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Pete’s Best of 2014

This was a good year for bikes and gear, so it was tough picking my favourites. After some reflection, I realized that it was easy enough to narrow the list down if I focused on the things that make a difference on my rides almost every day.

Dissent MTB Genuflex Compression Socks
I’ve been using Dissent socks for the last two seasons and it’s no exaggeration to say that pulling them on before a ride now feels like a part of the pre-ride ritual. The benefits of compression socks have been well documented but I don’t even know if they’ve made a performance difference or not – what I DO know is that they feel so good that I get anxious when my last pair is used up and I’m still a few days away from doing laundry. That feeling when you first pull them on and know that they’re going to stay in place for the whole ride is worth the cost – any other benefits are just gravy. They’ll come down a bit from the high water mark on your calf as you pedal, but the foot and ankle stay tight and wrinkle-free, giving you a sweet fit for the whole ride. In a year when I’ve been auditioning lots of different shoes, my feet have really appreciated the snug fit that Dissent socks provide.

The Genuflex is thicker and tighter than the MTB Supercrew, but I’ve never been uncomfortable in them on hot days. When it gets colder I have to switch to wool and that makes me sad – a warm version of the Genuflex is definitely on my wish list – Dissent Labs are you listening? If you’re a skier or boarder, their skis socks stay up better than anything I’ve used, meaning no more wrinkles in impossible-to-reach places in your boots.

 

Race Face Indy Knee Pads + Loam Ranger jacket
I’m cheating a bit here but I had to go for a twofer. The Indy knees were one of the first lo-profile knee pads to come out on the market and mine are still going strong after almost a year of use. The d30 padding provides protection in small-medium sized crashes (this is not a DH pad) and is thin enough that I wear them even on casual rides when I might have left my larger knee pads at home. As a result I can say I’ve shed a little less blood than usual this year. They got a lot of use and started to stink after a while, but miraculously smelled better again after a washing. They’re designed to be worn all day so you’re supposed to pull ’em on before your shoes, but I’d still love it if there was a version that could be pulled on after that first climb and then worn thereafter – if that didn’t sacrifice the fit.

The Loam Ranger jacket is one of those things that snuck up on me. I won one of the quilted flannel shirts as a door prize at a North Shore Enduro race, and pulled it on right then and there. Since then it has been reached for more than any other hoodie or jacket – it’s my preferred layer to throw on after a ride, and it comes along on every road trip. My only problem is that now that several of the NSMB crew also have one, you have to call shotgun if you want to wear it, otherwise someone else will.

 

Santa Cruz Nomad
It wasn’t long ago that I published my long term review of this bike, and it’s no secret we got along famously. The Nomad came along on some amazing trips this year – starting in Chile, then Whistler, Squamish, Oregon, California, and the Okanagan. Of all the bikes I rode this year, it is the one I wanted along on almost every ride. There are plenty of other awesome bikes but none seemed to suit my riding as well as the Nomad. Thankfully the long term testing continues and I have some more suspension components coming, so I can justify keeping it a while longer. If I were choosing a bike of the year, the Nomad would be it.

 

New Riding Spots
In a good year, I might have one more fave to add to the list, but it’s been a great year so I have two.

1) Ashland, Oregon. We Ashlanded in the Southern tip of Oregon for the first time in April and were shown around by local fast man and Enduroist Nathan Riddle. His ‘lunch loop’ was about two hours’ worth of amazing amidst arid pine forests peppered with berms and doubles. We loved it so much we returned earlier this month on our way back North. This time we accepted a shuttle and headed all the way to the top of Mt. Ashland ski area. Starting at just over 2,000 meters, we picked our way through early season snow and then got metaphysical while ripping down Time Warp which turned out to be one of the biggest giggle-fests of the year. Ashland is home to a Shakespeare festival that runs almost year round, which is the reason for Oberons – a medieval-themed bar that is always an adventure. It’s even weirder and better than it sounds.

2) Penticton, BC. Riding in wine country agreed with all of us that were lucky enough to make the trip out to the Okanagan this past October. While friends and families were tucking into their Canadian Thanksgiving feasts, we were gorging on steep, sustained, slightly sphincter softening trails that left deep impressions on all of us – and that was just day 2. We’ll have more to say and show in a forthcoming article, but for now let it be known that the list of must-ride places in BC’s Interior grew by one more for all of us this year, and you’d be well-advised to add Penticton to your list, too.

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Even Frosty was seen shredding on 650B this year. What was your favourite gear of 2014?