Archive for month: November, 2019

Fezzari bikes are designed in Utah along the corridor of the Silicon Slopes – the state’s geographic swath of startups and technology companies at the foot of the Wasatch mountains. We love this area for it’s mountain biking opportunities with access to single track in the foothills and bike parks up the canyons. Now this local bike company is making an impression on the bike industry as well.

We’ve been aware of the Fezzari brand for several years. Naturally- they’re quite popular in our neck-of-the-woods. Based in the town of Lehi, the Fezzari factory store and warehouse was less than an hour drive from the house. When I arrived to pick up our demo, I was greeted by Jordan and he told me, “The company has been steadily growing, and we’re moving into a larger space soon.” That’s a testament to the fact that exclusively selling online is working. A large part of this relies on accurately fitting customers to a bike based on measurements and other data supplied.

It’s all part of Fezzari’s 23-Point Custom Setup. Jordan also stated, “We realize that spending $500-$5,000 on a bike sight unseen via our direct to consumer sales model still requires a leap of faith. Fezzari removes those barriers by offering award winning, world-class bikes, at a savings of 30%-40% compared to other companies selling through the dealer model.”

Fezzari also backs up their frames with a lifetime warranty and a 30-day “Love It Or Return It” policy. Their website states that if you don’t think you and your bike are a match made in heaven after riding it for 30 days, your can return it for a refund. Fezzari will even cover the shipping.

Another reason why Fezzari is growing is because their bikes are good. Their enduro model, the La Sal Peak, won Bike Magazine’s award for the best long travel bike under $4,000.

The Fezzari Solitude comes in three sizes and can be fit with either 27.5+ or 29 inch wheels. Our demo was set up with 29 inch wheels. You can choose from a 16 inch, 18 inch or 20 inch frame. The Solitude is designed to fit a rider with a standover height ranging from 27.5 inches through 31.5 inches. Three build options are available for the Solitude where the Elite Race specs govern carbon wheels. We got the Solitude Comp which featured WTB wheels. With the stock seat post and pedals, our bike weighed in at 25.6 lbs.

Monoform carbon molds used for the Solitude result in a single-piece frame that does not have joints. Many other bike brands build up a front triangle and a rear triangle that need to be bonded together. With the elimination of joints in the frame, Fezzari’s technology allows the use of longer carbon fibers. Sans junctions and bonded sections, Fezzari’s frames are light, strong, stiff, and responsive.

Take a look at the angles and dimensions on this light, dependable, cross-country machine. You’ll see that it’s designed to ascend with efficiency and be a comfortable dirt chariot across challenging terrain.

Numbers shown are for the Fezzari Solitude with 29-inch wheel set. Take a look at the Fezzari site for numbers on the 27.5+ wheel set.

In our opinion, a hardtail cross-country steed’s directive is simply: be light – be fast. The test rider for this bike review is a Wyatt  – our 16 year old kid who is a whopping 6ft, 1in tall and can spend hours in the saddle. A 20-inch size frame was selected based our guinea pig’s size and he was immediately impressed with how light the bike was. We outfitted our demo with clipless pedals and an internally routed Raceface dropper post. Installing the dropper was made easier by using a nifty Park Tool Internal Cable Routing Kit.

It took a couple of rides to get used to the bike. But right from that start, the Solitude stood out as a comfortable climber. The bike’s geometry and crank length were great for getting full extension on the pedals. The wide bar width  opened up the shoulders to allow for getting air into the engine. The stiff carbon frame was easy to control when the occasional opportunity for a front wheel lift presented itself.

Our test rider is old enough to remember the dark days of kid bikes that were heavy and cumbersome. Recent years have bid adieu to front derailleurs, crummy suspension forks, and cheap 26-inch wheels. Nothing was taken for granted when powering through rides with the Solitude’s [Comp build] 1x drivetrain, air fork, and quality 29-inch wheels.

Following his second outing on the bike, our rider told us “I’m used to riding a long travel trail bike and descending with the Solitude took a bit of discovery. Once I figured out how to keep my feet ‘heavy’ on the pedals and my hands ‘light’ on the bars, the bike added a new element of fun and confidence.”

One of our objectives when receiving this bike was to get our rider out racing on it. In addition to competing in regional enduro events, Wyatt is on a Utah NICA team. He’s not as competitive in cross-country events as the gravity disciplines, so we were eager to see how having the right tool for the job would influence his race results.

The venue for the experiment was an 18 mile race; 3 laps x 6 miles with about 550 feet of elevation gain. The course featured 1.2 miles of dirt road for passing and separating the athletes prior to hitting singletrack.

Our racer said, “The bike pedaled great during the race. In open spaces, I was able to get up to speed quickly. Climbing was easier and I loved the 29-inch wheels. They rolled fast and smooth.”

In his category, Wyatt finished in 31st place on the Fezzari Solitude. At his previous race on his trail bike, Wyatt finished in 38th place. In our opinion, the bike made a big difference and allowed him to increase his overall position.

And to further sweeten the deal, Fezzari offers an additional incentive pricing to registered NICA racers and coaches. See fezzari.com/highschool for live pricing and more information

Do your research and compare the Solitude’s frame and build options against all the competition – large brands and small. You will be hard pressed to find a bike that can beat the Fezzari Solitude and save you at least hundreds of dollars. Just take some simple measurements at home to determine the correct fit and you can own a premium carbon xc race bike at a very good cost. And, Fezzari’s warranty coupled with their 30 day money back guarantee removes all the fences people attribute to the online only sales model.

The MyFAK comes in two different versions – basic and advanced. Certainly, this kit is a great choice for mountain biking families, NICA coaches, and hikers. We own the basic version, which includes items for repairing wounds, like liquid skin, gauze rolls, and bandages in various sizes. Additionally, it has a splint and a CPR shield.

We have had to use the kit to attend to a few small injuries since we received it during the summer. In addition to a couple of small cuts and abrasions on NICA team rides, the largest injury we used the kit for was a large cut on a rider’s shin. We happened upon a dad who was riding with his daughters in Park City and one of the women had a cut on her leg. Their small peel-and-stick bandages were not doing much to get pressure on the wound. To stop the bleeding, they ended up using a medium-sized gauze with tape from our MyFAK.

This first aid kit for mountain bikers contents leave you prepared for many small injuries. Firstly, the MyFAK includes “specialty items” like a thermometer, shears, and a penknife. Secondly, it also boasts as topical items, such as lip balm, antibacterial ointment, and saline solution. Thirdly, this set includes the traditional band-aids, tape and gauze. Finally, it includes medication like over-the-counter painkillers, Benadryl, and even Pepto-Bismol. Importantly, there’s one interesting difference – a survival rescue blanket and a rescue whistle are also included. This means that should someone in your ride group end up getting separated from others while on the trail, there are a few things in this handy kit to help protect them until help arrives.

Surprisingly, the MyFAK First Aid Kit is small enough to fit inside of a hydration pack. It measures a compact 4 inches by 6.75 inches by 7.75 inches and weighs a little less than two and a half pounds.

There is no reason not to carry this extra-sturdy nylon (600 Denier nylon, for the record) kit around. For this purpose, it’s designed with handy D-rings so that it can be attached to a strap, as well as a useful handle. Undeniably tough, it’s also water-resistant. Another positive aspect – this pack comes in several different colors, so that you can match this first aid kit for mtb families to a bike.

Overall, the MyFAK First Aid Kit is extremely handy and includes many things that might be needed while on the trail. For this reason, it has just become habit to carry it with us when we ride. Because its contents are too important to leave behind. Given that its size and weight don’t interfere with our long trail rides. Finally – as the saying goes, it’s better to have a first aid kit like this and not need it, than it is to need it and not have it.