This week’s ‘five cool things’ has a predominantly tool theme with a handy bottle cage-cum-tool pod plus tubeless inflator from Topeak, a smart tubeless puncture solution from Muc-Off as well as a classic hand pump from Fabric. There’s also a neat musette style bag from Apidura which looks perfect for a bikepacking food haul. Foraging is all the rage, dahrling. Dig in…

Topeak Escape Pod
£11

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2020-topeak-escape-pod-medium-5 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

The Topeak Escape Pod is a handy way to carry lots of tools and fit them to your bike too. The size medium ‘pod’ has space for a CO2 inflator, tyre levers, a spare tube and ‘necessary cycling gear’, and is the same dimension as a bottle cage so you can store it inside one. What sets it apart from just using a bottle cage to store your spares is the interior neoprene padding, which keeps everything secure and stops any rattling. 

Topeak Tubibooster X
£55

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COol-things-Schwalbe-Topeak-100-2 (Image Credit: Jon Woodhouse)

While we really like the combined tubeless inflator/track pumps, it’s a lot of extra money to splash out if you’ve already invested in a decent track pump. A much cheaper option is something like this Tubibooster from Topeak. You use a standard track pump to charge it to a terrifying maximum of 200psi, then flip the lever to seat your tubeless tyres with the magic of compressed air.  The aluminium construction oozes quality and it’s small enough to chuck into the back of your car too.

Apidura Packable Musette
£24

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2020-apidura-packable-musette (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Fusing tradition with a modern twist, this musette from Apidura is waterproof and constructed from ‘ultralight’ materials which means it can be easily stowed in a jersey pocket when not in use. A reversible stability strap should make it comfortable to wear, and there’s also an integrated on-bike storage pocket that attaches to the bike frame with a Velcro strap if you prefer to keep your pockets free. Storage is quoted at 7 litres, which should give you plenty of room for munch and other essentials. 

 

Fabric Megabar Pump
£45

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2020 Fabric Megabar pump hero (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Classic looks make the Fabric Megabar pump a rather enticing buy, but it’s not small at 41cm long. Fitting both Schrader and Presta the pump has a braided hose for ease of use, they call it an alternative to a track pump for travelling. Our Liam has lots of pumps in, both mini pumps and track pumps, what will he think of this crossover?  

 

Muc-Off Puncture Plug Repair Kit
£13

Muc-off puncture repair kit
Muc-off puncture repair kit (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

There will be no more scratching around in the bottom of your pack for a hairy, sticky tubeless plug with this new Muc-Off kit. It’s tubeless repair kit in a hand pouch to keep it dust and grime free. Inside is a pronged handle plug/reamer tool comes, 5 thick plugs and 5 thin plugs. Plus it looks like there is room to add other tools, such as a small blade to cut off the excess of the plug. 

Bonus Cool Thing! Schwalbe’s Mystery Box of Mystery

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COol-things-Schwalbe-Topeak-100 (Image Credit: Jon Woodhouse)

We can’t tell you exactly what’s in this giant box from Schwalbe save for the fact that they’re round, black and smell of rubber (it’s not a single huge fat bike tyre, just in case you were wondering) but it’s pretty cool nonetheless. More news on this soon…

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