Welcome to the n.2 episode of the BAJA-PROOF tips and gear series!! We gonna talk about neck shade, extra water carry system, merino wool and DYO phones cover!
(Full list of all BAJA-PROOF products tested so far here )
Terms of use: The tips and modifications suggested in this section of the site are to be considered as potential ideas only and should be followed at your own risk. Bikepackingbaja.com, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individual riders who decide to implement these suggestions.
product:
UNCO FOLDABLE HELMET BRIM
An essential accessory, I would almost call it a lifesaver, which is also ultra-light, foldable, sturdy, and super affordable is the sombrero-style brim for helmets by UNCO, sold on Amazon for only $6.99 and officially intended for construction and road workers, which proves to be incredibly efficient for cyclists as well. It is available in various fluorescent colors or gray, in any case with a skirt to provide shade for the neck and a reflective band. The visor attaches to the helmet using two side Velcro straps that pass through the internal structure of the helmet and a “half pocket” at the front where the helmet’s rigid visor is inserted. This system ensures excellent stability even in windy conditions and downhill rides, without having to deal with it flapping or moving around.
If wet, will dry in few minutes, and if needed it can be quickly folded into sandwich size and fitted into the little fabric pocket that comes attached to it. I personally found that the wide skirt that provides shade to the neck tends to block a little too much the airflow when riding downwind ( even if being of a mesh-like fabric with many holes ) generating a bit of overheating ( probably just a personal issue though ! ). I solved that by cutting and removing the skirt and happily finding out that the little fabric storage pocket attached to the brim function extremely well as neck shade being just of the perfect size to protect the exposed part of the neck without preventing almost any air flow.
This said we highly recommend this product between all the hard-hat brims available out there. We tested it in the heat and rough roads of Baja and it served very well, the price-quality-utility of this item it out of question, and if you are planning on venturing in Baja on a bike i could almost say that you must get one for your safety! And remember, even if you don’t use it, is good to have it there, it takes very little space and only 3.5/4 ounces (100/120gr ) of weight, but man….that only time that, due to bad planning or any sort of emergency, you find your self forced in riding or climbing in the peak of a very hot and dry day, trust me that you will be grateful to have brought one. Click here to see the product.
tip:
THE SOCK PHONE COVER
From the very first time I attached my phone to my Sincetop phone mount on the handlebars, I kept thinking about what I could invent to protect it from dust and direct sunlight, which are the main enemies of a technological device with a big screen out here. Especially because, apparently, no one has yet come up with a cover that can be put on and removed while riding, allowing for a quick look at the route or access to one of the phone’s functions.
After weeks of thinking, drawing, and cutting all types of fabric, the solution finally came to me, brought by my tiny Chihuahua, El Santo. As usual, he was carrying one of my wife’s no-show socks. When I saw it, I immediately grabbed the sock from his mouth. Looking at it for a second, its shape clearly appeared to be the most obvious and easy-to-find phone cover on earth! I just had to punch a small hole, pass a string through to secure the sock to the stem, fit the sock over the phone with the toe side down, and the job was done!
Being quite elastic, the sock works really well because it can be taken off and put on even while riding. It’s pretty hard to break, has a gentle, soft touch on the screen, and solves the problem of dust and direct sunlight amazingly. Also, like most of our BAJA-PROOF tips, it is cheap and easy to find anywhere. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a no-show sock you could simply cut and modify a regular ankle sock too but no-show socks (like these ones: https://amzn.to/3WrxsTg ) will fit perfectly and are less likely to tear apart. Remind also that dark color socks will be more effective against sun rays.
product:
MERIWOOL PANTS FIRST LAYER
Since I discovered Meriwool on Amazon, I feel relieved because the quality-to-price ratio of this brand is almost unbeatable, and I finally know I can wear clothing that are 100% merino wool, durable and have a nice perfect fit.
Available in two thickness options (250g/m² or 400g/m²), the thermal Meriwool pants offer unparalleled comfort. The fabric feels soft against the skin, and its thermoregulating capability, along with its elasticity, is incredible. You never feel too cold or too hot, and the fantastic thing is that, given the infrequency of washing when bikepacking, they help keep bad odors under control for a long time.
For Baja, we recommend the lighter 250g/m² version, which is perfect for hanging around at the campsite, sleeping, or even setting off early in the cold morning while cycling.
We recommend all of Meriwool products, from socks, underwear, shirt, etc. and soon we will review what is probably their best product which is the 100% merino wool hoodie first layer. Stay tuned!
tip:
TOP-TUBE WATER MOUNTS
This is a good one especially for those of you doomed with a tiny S size frame bike and consecutively a very small frame bag.
Always concerned about carrying extra water in Baja wherever I go, I thought the time came to finally use that top-tube space and rigidness for something heavier and way more bulky than a few tools and energy bar tuck into a couple of to-tube little bags. I try to do my best to make the frame support most of the weight of my water instead of relying on bags or other types of mounts. So, besides the indestructible Salsa Anything cages that so far have been holding on every trip without issues, I had the idea of using the suspension fork cages made by @tangentbags, a little company ran by my friend Rachel up in Washington state, instead than on the fork on the top-tube. I used to have these cages on the suspension fork of my bike before i switched to a rigid fork with eyelets and they worked really well. I had them attached to the fork with zipties and a spread of black silicone and never saw them failing even under the weight of two 64oz Klean Kanteen bottles dancing up and down at the rhythm of the rough roads of Baja. So now that I had eyelets on the rigid fork I told my self “ why not adapt the cages to the top tube so that i can load more Klean Kanteen bottles saving plastic and having the weight of the water leaning on the frame?”. Guess what? It worked really well! The bottles do not bother at all when pedaling and even in case of an eventual quick rubbing the smooth round shape of the tanks creates a very gentle and not annoying contact. It is quite amazing how tough zipties together with silicon are, probably even tougher than holding a cage with bolts!
As you can see in the pictures the cages on the top-tube can also be used to secure many other parts of the equipment as well.
Mattia Dalvit ( @busyerode )
bikepackingbaja.com 
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