USED & REVIEWED Special Section

BALKANS RIDE WHAT DID I USE, AND HOW DID IT PERFORM?
WORDS/PHOTOS THE BEAR

I have seen many things in this life,but few have been more sad-yet hilarious than a road tester, out on a long ride, who discovers that the brand-new gear he is testing… doesn’t work. It has been somewhat less hilarious when I am the person around whom a supposed top-of-the-line riding suit disintegrates, of course. Or when the “waterproof” boots fill with rain and the gloves stain my hands with an evil and probably carcinogenic blue-black dye… and yes, all of that has happened.