Editor’s Dozen: Nic’s Favorite Gear and More of 2025

With a a lot of bike-related work behind me, this year felt like both an eternity and the blink of an eye. It’s a wonder how three bike shows, multiple events, seemingly endless travel, and just under 5,000 miles in the saddle was accomplished. The lessons never seemed to stop, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the supportive and ever-encouraging cast and crew here at the site, and for the chance to make a living doing what I love.

Behind the scenes, there’s been a lot of change. Moving, trying to put down roots, making time for things outside of bikes, and taking in the new scenery have made true reflection a little difficult. That said, as the end of the year approaches, I took the chance to highlight some of the standouts that have made my life easier and a little brighter throughout this tumultuous journey. Here are some of the best things I’ve used over the last 12 months.

Farther Bag Co. Psychic Medium

354 grams / Made in Memphis, Tennessee / $120 at Farther Bag Co.

The eagle-eyed among you may have seen this little handlebar bag kicking around on a few of the reviews I’ve put out this year. Made in Memphis, Tennessee, the Psychic Medium doesn’t initially present as something all too different than what’s already on the market. But after using it on just about every bike I’ve tested this year, it’s the simplicity and size that have made it so useful for me.

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I don’t love running front racks, given I don’t have many of them, and I never have enough space between the bottom of a Carradice-style bag and the tire because of my tendency to slam stems. The Psychic Medium, with its simple design, has proven useful for the wide variety of bikes that don’t quite fit larger bags but still need something that can hold plenty of items. In addition to its subtle usefulness, I got to know Will Moss, owner of Farther Bag Co., a little better earlier this year, and found his approach to bag-making heartening. Part of what’s great about bikepacking and this side of the industry is patronizing small, one-person operations, and Will is among the best and most deserving of your hard-earned cash.

1UP USA Quik Rack

Made in the USA / $390 at 1UP USA

One of the grim realities of living anywhere in the United States is having to rely on a car. Within that, though I minimize car use when getting around town, the infrastructure here in western North Carolina makes getting to a trailhead on just two wheels pretty tricky. So, shuttling my bike to places like Bent Creek has become commonplace and would be altogether impossible without my 1UP USA rack. Prior to getting a vehicle with a tow hitch, I had a tailgate pad on a truck, which worked OK, and I spent many, many years taking off my front wheel and perilously shoving bikes into the back of a Honda Civic. The 1UP is, without a doubt, the best and least damaging option for all involved and has made getting bikes to and from the areas I want to ride a breeze.

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Though I opted for the single bike rack, what really excites me is the modularity built into their system. While additions aren’t cheap, you can add up to two more bikes, and you aren’t limited to the number of bikes that fit the initial purchase. I definitely plan on getting an addition in the future, but not being locked into a specific number of bikes either way is really nice. Aside from that feature, it’s well-made, easy to use, intuitive, and fits a variety of wheel sizes. With aluminum construction and small parts, I don’t fear it rusting in the moist climate of lower Appalachia either. It’s one of the most affordable options for a hitch-mounted rack on the market, and I’ve had zero issues thus far.

Trader Joe’s Liege Waffles

40 grams / $4 at Trader Joe’s

One of the most annoying parts of getting ready for a big day out in the woods is preparing enough food. Back in Florida, there isn’t really enough remoteness to ever be further than an hour-long pedal away from some sort of gas station or food stop. Regrettably, it meant I relied heavily on highly processed foods to get me through rides when I was too lazy to make a PB&J or a bag of potatoes. These days, I’m even shorter on time, and most of my rides put me nowhere near any kind of food stop.

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When I haven’t set the time aside to make something a little healthier, a six-pack of waffles from Trader Joe’s serves as a quick, easy, and not altogether awful alternative. Unfortunately, they use single-use plastic, but for the convenience and price, I get about 60 to 100 miles out of a pack or two and haven’t really tired of the taste. They come in three flavors, but I vehemently dislike all things pumpkin spice. Sticking to the standard and maple flavorings hasn’t let me down.

Vittoria Peyotes

790 grams / $106 at Vittoria

In the past, I’ve been skeptical of the utility of tires with thinner casings, given their greater risk of punctures. However, over the last year, I’ve found use for them in my own dirt-centric riding. Still new to mountain biking, I lament the idea of a hyper-specific bike. Thus, I’ve designed my sole mountain bike to be as versatile as possible. To that end, the Vittoria Peyotes in the XC race casing have been phenomenal for the kinds of aggressive gravel and light mountain biking I do on my Ritchey P-29er.

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Lightning fast on the road and seemingly even quicker on the trails, they deliver the perfect combination of grip and speed. Though the center tread isn’t the grippiest pattern if you’re after gravity-defying traction, working with the tires on the slippery roots of Appalachia has been fun and skill-inducing. The side profile delivers when really leaning the tires, and Vittoria’s new race casing has held up well on the sharp rocks I’ve been spending more and more time on. And, for the record, I had these on my list before Steve!

Woolie Boolie Socks

Made in North Carolina / $25 at Ron’s Bikes

No longer a stranger to the cold, I’ve found a better use for my Woolie Boolie LaRon’s socks than just as a soft case for an extra camera lens. I have two pairs of Ron’s Wool socks in my wardrobe, and not only do I find they make an excellent fashion statement, but they are exceedingly warm. I get cold toes quite easily, especially since I haven’t sprung for a pair of winter-specific riding shoes, and these have really saved me.

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On 20 or 30-degree days, one pair will do just fine. But on those dark, gloomy rides where the temperature doesn’t come up above the teens, two pairs will have you feeling just right. They are pretty thick, so you’ll need a bit of space in your shoes to make doubling up work, but I’ve never found it a huge issue. The Woolie Boolie socks are made by DeFeet near Asheville, here in North Carolina, which only boosts their profile in my estimation.

Zab’s Datil Pepper Hot Sauce

Made in St. Augustine, Florida / $9 at Zab’s

Cooking most of my meals means I eat a lot of what I call “slop.” I don’t cook meat at home, so a slurry of rice, quinoa, assorted vegetables, and beans makes up the majority of my diet. Though it is pretty cost-effective, it does get a little repetitive. After being reintroduced to the hit YouTube series Hot Ones this year, I’ve endeavored to try quite a few new hot sauces.

Chief among them is one from my homeland of Florida: Zab’s! Made from the Datil pepper, a variety native to the state, it’s a great daily driver that gives my slop bowls an appropriate amount of kick, without requiring me to pat down my head or neck because of the Scoville level. Zab’s comes in two variations, regular and St. Augustine style, with the latter being a bit sweeter. It’s a tasty sauce with great branding and a nice way to spice up your everyday slop.

Slug Terrestrial Ti Bars

230 grams / Made in Taiwan / $285 at Slug Bikes

Amid packs of four-dollar waffles and nine-dollar bottles of hot sauce, it’s important to make space for the finer things in life. I’ll dive into all the specifics in a forthcoming review, but the Slug Terrestrial Ti bars are the nicest set of handlebars I’ve ever owned.

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Responsible for smoothing things out on my mountain bike, these flat, no-rise titanium bars from the San Francisco-based company have made riding rigid or geared a heck of a lot more comfortable than with the stock aluminum bars that came with the bike. Despite being partial to drops, they’ve made a world of difference on my favorite bike and have served me quite well during the time I’ve used them.

Progressing on a Mountain Bike

If I had a dollar for every time I’d misjudged something before really trying it out, I’d be a very rich man. Unfortunately, close-mindedness rarely pays, and while I’ve experienced the opposing financial effect since delving further into mountain bikes, I’m glad I did. Spurned on by my experience reviewing the Ritchey P-29er, traversing the technical terrain in the mountains of Appalachia has given cycling a whole new dimension for me.

Once convinced that mountain biking solely comprised the Red Bull-style clips I saw on Instagram, my experiences slowly but surely picking my way through rock gardens and impossibly steep sections of trail have re-ignited my desire to get out on new and interesting bikes. Though I’m still hesitant about specialized bikes, I see the value of the technologies the discipline has developed, and I have had a lot of fun bringing a more aggressive, adaptive riding style into my own life. I don’t yet know where the buck will stop for me and mountain biking, but I sure am having fun.

Albion Zoa Mountain Jacket

$410 at Albion

Whenever I complain about the cold, my more prepared friends always like to say, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.” It’s something I’ve learned the hard way since moving to a climate with actual seasons. But I’ve been able to stomach some cold nights out in Appalachia because of the Albion Zoa Mountain Jacket.

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As much in use off the bike as on, this down jacket features a two-way zipper, a hood, holes for helmet straps, and a variety of pockets, making it perfect for when temperatures are well below freezing. It kept me warm riding through the night at Mega Mid South and has been in daily use since the weather turned dour, as I find it to be a great all-around jacket.

George Masa: A Life Reimagined

$20 at Amazon

After listening to an episode of The Broadside, a podcast I featured in my summer Editor’s Dozen, I learned about a very special former Asheville resident. George Masa, a Japanese immigrant who spent the last years of his life in Asheville in the early 1900s, had a significant impact on the city and the nature of mountain conservation in the United States.

Shrouded in a degree of secrecy, we’d only learn of Masa’s origins through more recent investigations into his past. Escaping racially motivated accusations he faced when he was a professional baseball player in Portland, Oregon, Masa came to Asheville for a quieter life. Eventually falling in love with the very same mountain range I came here to experience, Masa’s photography has become well-known in the area, along with his efforts to create the Smoky Mountain National Park and other conservation-minded concepts.

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In George Masa: A Life Reimagined, I’ve had an experience like no other. Able to learn about my new environment through the lens of a figure I can’t help but feel fondness for, this biography has been a great way to learn about many of the things that play a massive role in my life today. Be it the Blue Ridge Mountains, photography, conservation, or the Carolinas, it’s a great, insightful read that provides meaningful context for a figure who deserves more recognition.

COROS Nomad

Made in China / $350 at COROS

Having to switch between a few bikes means that consistently using a head unit has all but gone out the window. I wasn’t really a fan of it to begin with, but with different bars, bags, positions, and the challenges they present, I’ve just about sworn off using computers on local rides and only resort to them when I’m in an entirely unfamiliar place. That said, I still find value in tracking my activities and keeping an eye on general health data metrics.

In this regard, the COROS Nomad has been exceptional. Equipped with extremely granular maps and all sorts of other pertinent features, it’s without a doubt the best activity tracking wearable I’ve used. Its battery life, charging, additional features, and UX are among the most intuitive I’ve worked with, making my data tracking more seamless than ever before. Stay tuned for a full review of the Nomad in early 2026.

Exposure lights

Made in the UK / $265 at Backcountry

Forever the guy on the group ride who needed to bum a light, my recent acquisition of a set of lights from Exposure has been illuminating. Equipped with a whole host of features that the $20 lights I kept burning through could never dream of, the Exposure Diablo front light paired with the Boost R-3 Reakt rear light has made a world of difference.

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Not only do they last long and burn bright, but they also are equipped with simple, easy-to-understand “fuel gauges” that, through the color indicator on the rear, let you know how much battery you have left. No more guessing or being surprised that your light is out of charge when you depart for a ride. These have been essential in keeping the mileage high as the days have gotten shorter. They’ve also been updated to use a USB-C charging plug, which allows me to simplify my pack and bring just one standard cable. They’re both worth every penny, and I’ve come to see them as end-game lights.

If you’re interested in purchasing any of these products, please support your local bike shop and buy from them when possible. If you can’t, or they're only obtainable online, we’ve provided links to manufacturers and stores where they are currently available; some of these retailers offer a modest referral fee, which helps support this platform. This has no bearing on the review or selection.

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