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Scicon Phantom 230 Pro Carbon

Scicon Phantom 230

Scicon Phantom 230It’s fair to say that Scicon know a thing or two about cycle bags and accessories. With thirty-plus years of design experience behind them the Phantom 230 Saddle Bag is the latest offering to impress Cyclo. In every way the epitome of a well-designed and constructed saddle bag it uses the unique ‘roller 2.1’ saddle fixing, making attaching and removal (or switching to the larger Compact 430 or Vortex 480 options) absolute simplicity.

 

The 2.1 fixing is effectively a two-part clamp – it attaches to any size seat rails without the need for tools and, once in place, allows attachment with a simple ‘twist and click’. However, Cyclo found that it was important to tighten it almost beyond the point that felt component-safe to do so to stop the loaded bag from slipping along the length of the rail.

 

Despite being the smallest of the bags in the range the 0.23L capacity of the Phantom 230 Saddle Bag is more than enough for the essentials: a spare inner, keys, gels, even a phone and the fact that two tyre levels are integrated means that’s one less thing to remember.

 

The Phantom 230 is uses a combination of DuPont’s legendarily tough Cordula and carbon fibre, which makes it both light, at 123g, and incredibly durable. Whilst the ruggedness is to be admired, the relative inflexibility of the material does make stuffing that little extra inside problematic – perhaps this is an object lesson in not over-packing for the ride though… The bag closure is a simple zip for easy access, the rubberised zip tag is cold-finger-friendly, and the reflective detailing is an always-welcome addition.

 

SciCon Mini ToolIf you are also looking for tool options to stash inside the Phantom 230, then the Scicon Mini Tool is a good place to start; a folding combination that includes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6mm allen heads, a Phillips and flat head screwdriver, and a T25 torx bit, it weighs in at a mere 60g and measures barely 3cm by 3cm. Of course the miniscule size doesn’t allow for a huge amount of either grip or control, but as an emergency roadside option it ticks all of the right boxes.

 

The SciCon Phantom 230 Saddle Bag retails at around the £24 mark and the Scicon Micro Tool circa £23 – further details and online purchase at sciconbags.com

 

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Win a Place on the GENCO Mongolia Bike Challenge

GENCO Mongolia Bike Challenge

GENCO Mongolia Bike ChallengeTaking place September 1-7 the GENCO Mongolia Bike Challenge is a long, tough stage race, open to professionals and high-level amateurs, a unique opportunity to race across the majestic landscapes and lonely steppes of Mongolia. But with places limited to just 108 riders this competition from SCICON Technical Bags (official sponsor of the GENCO Mongolia Bike Challenge) and the newly founded Backcountry.com Bike Team could be your best bet at securing a spot.

 

For a chance to win a place on the GENCO Mongolia Bike Challenge guided by Team Backcountry.com Bike Team riders, plus a SCICON bike bag, you have to film a short video (60 seconds) that demonstrates your passion for mountain biking and shows why you deserve to win this amazing experience. Full details on how to enter at sciconbags.com

 
Find out more about the GENCO Mongolia Bike Challenge at mongoliabikechallenge.com

 

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Scicon AeroComfort 2.0 Bike Bag

Scicon AeroComfort 2.0

scicon_aeroComfort_smallScicon have been creating beautifully constructed bike bags for more than three decades and the high-spec, high-tech AeroComfort 2.0 Bike Bag looks like the kind of pinnacle at which other companies might dust their hands, mutter ‘job done’, and retire. Scicon, of course, will keep on refining and producing ever-greater bags, but in the mean time let’s admire the mighty AeroComfort 2.0 …

 

If you have ever had to cross your fingers and entrust your beloved bike to the darkness of an aeroplane’s cargo hold you will know what a tense time stretches ahead. The AeroComfort 2.0 removes the stress and, being (essentially) a soft bag, does so at the fraction of a cost of some hardshell options. The AeroComfort unzips along three sides, the frameset drops into the aluminium frame via the included skewers, the wheels are stashed in the padded and reinforced side pockets, then it’s just a case of tightening a couple of straps, zipping the zips and you’re good to go. And because the bag is wider at the front end there isn’t even the need to remove your handlebars.

 

Okay, we have perhaps over simplified a little – we did need to drop the saddle slightly (but that will depend on your bike set-up anyway) and on first use, when things were unfamiliar, using the AeroComfort was slightly daunting but with practice we got an initial pack time of 15 minutes down to a much more respectable 5.

 

Scicon AeroComfort 2.0 And it’s not just the relative ease of use and the reassuringly solid construction that impresses here; as much as anything it’s all the added niceties and incredible attention to detail. The rear derailleur is targeted for padding against side shock, the wheel pouches include solid hub protection, the straps and webbing are well thought through and fully adjustable for customisation and the bag even shipped with foam shock tubes to prevent frame scratches. Add to this as saddle cover and even a TSA (Transport Security Administration) approved combination lock which allows airport security (but no one else) access, and the AeroComfort really begins to add up.

 

If we had one slight criticism it would sit with the external shoulder strap clips which felt like the weakest link and were incredibly stiff to clip into place. That said in transit they have little or no load-bearing responsibility and their resistance to fastening did ease with use.

 

The Scicon AeroComfort 2.0 Bike Bag is made from heavy-duty Ripstop nylon, weighs in at 8.9kg and is designed for road, tri bikes and MTBs under 29” – it retails at £475, not cheap but given the level of detail and the peace of mind that such well thought through construction brings Cyclo considers it worth every penny.

 

Further details of the AeroComfort at sciconbags.com and take a look at the video below for instructions on how to use.