If you like it please let me know. If not, let me know why so I can improve. If you have a photo you’d like to see used in a monthly wallpaper calendar please let me know.

If you reached this page via a search result and want to see all the Cycling Desktop Wallpaper Calendars created, including the latest one, just visit the Desktop Wallpaper Calendar Category.

Cycling Desktop Wallpaper Calendar: June 2009

That said, I’ve compiled a list of cool items you may want to pass along to your significant other to save them the time and frustration of trying to shop for a bicyclist. If your wife/husband knows as much about bicycling as my wife does then you’ll understand why I’ve put this list together. Without further ado here’s my list:

1. Products from Genuine Innovations. If you’re not familiar with Genuine Innovations they are a company that produces some of the best tire inflation products you can buy. Their CO2 inflators are high quality and something every bicyclist needs to carry in their seat bag. I did a review on their Second Wind Road Mini Carbon a while back that would make a great gift. You can get anything from CO2 cartridge refills to complete CO2 powered inflation kits that come in their own seat bag.

2. A Jersey from 3 Feet Please. 3 Feet Please is a new company that offers jerseys to help educate drivers on the 3-foot-law currently enforced in fourteen states. I did an article about the 3 Feet Please cycling jersey a few weeks ago.

3. Bicycling Magazine subscription. Amazon.com runs some great deals on magazine subscriptions and you can get one year of Bicycling for $11.

4. Jelly Belly Sports Beans. These are energy replacement snacks that can be consumed during your ride to help replenish Vitamins B and C and electrolytes. They’ve also got a nice collection of Jelly Belly apparel that includes cycling jerseys, hats, socks, and water bottles.

5. A Road ID Identification Bracelet. If you don’t have one of these you seriously need to consider it. A Road ID can be ordered in either standard or interactive configurations and contains the information required by first responders to treat you and notify your family in the event you’re in an accident and incapacitated. They have gift cards available and orders must be placed by December 14, 2008 in order to be received by Christmas.

6. If the above five aren’t a big enough list to give your significant other, then take a look at this list of bestsellers from Amazon.com:

Schwinn 17-Function Bike Computer

Cateye CC-RD300W Strada Wireless Bicycle Computer

Polar Insulated Water Bottle

Timex IRONMAN Triathlon Sleek 50-Lap Mid-Size

Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash 1/2-Watt Blaze LED Plus 2 eXtreme LED Rear Bicycle Light (this product has a five star review rating with 84 customer reviews)

Topeak Road Morph G Bike Pump with Gauge

Planet Bike Beamer 5 LED Bicycle Light with Quick Cam Bracket Mount

GARMIN 010-00447-30 Edge 305 GPS Bundle

Olive Drab HW Classic Messenger Bag – Jack Bag (24)

GARMIN Edge 705 Bicycle Monitor With GPS, Heart Rate Monitor, and Speed/Cadence Sensor

Lastly, if any of you feel compelled to get me something, take a look at my Amazon Wish List.

Upon opening the package the first thing you notice is the weight of the system. This thing is light! Weighing in at only 62.7 grams it’s light as a feather. The Mini is constructed very well. I mentioned the carbon fiber body and it’s beautiful. The ends are made of high-strength, glass-reinforced nylon, and the valve internals are made of brass.

One of the things that sets this pump apart though is the ingenuity of design. When using the CO2 system, you screw the CO2 cartridge into the brass fitting until it’s tight. The cartridge is punctured and activated at this point. To inflate your tire you attach the pump to your presta valve and loosen the cartridge a quarter-turn. To stop simply tighten the cartridge again. This makes the Second Wind Road Mini a controllable CO2 inflation system. The system comes with a 16g cartridge but you can use either 16g or 12g cartridges.

Now, what if you’ve exhausted your last CO2 cartridge and a buddy needs some help or you have another flat and no more CO2 cartridges? This is where the pump side of the Mini comes into play. In this role the pump is even easier to use. You simply attach the pump to your presta valve and start pumping. Now, one of the problems with most frame pumps is that they are hard to use because of their size. This usually prevents you from being able to achieve high pressures. Again, Genuine Innovations brilliant design comes to the rescue. To make the pump more stable, and give you more leverage while pumping, you just screw a new or expended CO2 cartridge into the pump handle and you dramatically increase your ability to control the pump. The maximum pressure of the hand pump is 130 psi.

So, what’s wrong with the Second Wind Road Mini? Not much that I could find. As with all frame pumps you have to be careful when pumping so you don’t damage your presta valve. The mini is no different. I used the mini several times while testing and the o-ring that seals the pump to your presta valve seems to be showing a lot of wear. This may be normal as the new o-ring is broken in. I’m not sure if there are plans in the future but it looks like this o-ring may be replaceable.

So, what’s my verdict? I love it. It’s small, fully-functional, and performs as specified. If you’re a rider that likes the ease of CO2 but would like a pump backup then the Second Wind Road Mini is perfect.

Thanks to Genuine Innovations for providing the Second Wind Road Mini
. Now, what do I do with it? Do I keep it for myself or do I give it away to a lucky reader? I kept it for myself!