A tough and compact lock with the same point of origin.

A relatively budget-priced waterproof backpack from Portland, via China.

What's the common thread? These are all products that I've used, abused, and tested over the long haul: Schwalbe Big Apple tires, the Abus Bordo lock, and the Chuva Storm Defense messenger bag from Cl!ck, distributed by Cyclone Cycles of Portland, OR. 

The Big Apple is a fat, slick, kevlar-reinforced tire from Schwalbe. The Marathon family of tires from Schwalbe is legendary for durability and flat resistance. The Apples use the same rubber compound as the Marathons, and like the Marathons. they also feature a kevlar belt for flat protection. They're lighter (relative to size) and with their near-slick tread, they roll better than the Maras, but the biggest difference is that they're fat like a baby's leg—from 2.00" to a mammoth 2.35. 

You can read about the virtues of fat tires at www.balloonbikes.com. I've been using the 700C x 2.35 Big Apple on my commuter (a single-speed Surly Karate Monkey) for over a year now and I can verify the virtues of the Big Apple. At low pressure, they smooth out the bumps nicely. At higher pressures, they roll better than a tire that big has any right to. My usual commute route for the past couple of seasons is part dirt, part urban pavement. The Apples float over curbs and broken asphalt, though the lack of any side knobs at all can make going off road a sketchy proposition—that's no particular fault of the tire, however. I've only caught two flats in a couple thousand miles of riding, and one of those was caused by a crazy huge boat nail. Pinch flats? Forget it.

On a 29er like mine, a set of Big Apples makes for a bike that will roll over just about anything with hardly a hiccup—to the point of overkill, maybe. The wire bead version is also available for 26-, 20, 18-, 16-, and 12-inch wheels (!), while the folding bead version comes in 29, 26, and a 20 x 2.00. The wire bead version is quite heavy, while the Liteskin folder saves a lot of grams but comes with a stout pricetag of $69.95. 

Next up is the ABUS Bordo folding link lock. It's a serious bit of equipment from the German manufacturer of locks and commercial security systems. It's got a unique design, composed of flat links that accordion-fold down to about the size of a TV remote. It even comes with a case that you can mount on your water bottle bosses, if you choose. It's made of hardened steel that you can't get through with bolt cutters—I've tried—but it's coated so it doesn't scratch your frame. The exposed metal has been treated for corrosion resistance . . . mine has been living outside for much of its 2.5 years and the cylinder is as smooth as when it was new. It's pricey, but if you put an occasional drop of oil in the cylinder you've got the last lock you need to buy. I find it less awkward than cables that work against you as you uncoil them each time you lock up. It's fairly heavy, but that's part of the toll for security. It's available keyed or combo, in 75cm and 90cm lengths. That's approximately 2.5 and 3 feet, if you're a real American and don't traffic in socialist propaganda like the metric system.

Finally, the Chuva Storm Defender backpack, from Cl!ck. This is a house brand of Cyclone Bicycle Supply, an outfit in Portland who supplies a lot of good city and commuter gear to bike shops in the Pacific Northwest and nationwide. "Cl!ck" is their spelling . . . I don't know, maybe they're !Kung or something? They don't have a very good marketing front end—their bags are almost invisible online—but what they DO have are inexpensive, well-constructed waterproof bags.

The backpack is a simple design, featuring a rolltop waterproof main compartment, padded straps, a chest strap, and a removable waist strap. There's a closed-cell foam pad that provides some cushion and cooling for the rider's back, and a few perks like a cellphone holder, some reflective panels, and a reflective loop on the back that's intended for mounting a blinky light. Capacity is about 20L, or 1200 cu. in . . . maybe a tad more. That's a lot of PBR, or Yuengling, or whatever the kids drink these days. It's not unusual for me to load it up with a laptop, a camera case, first aid kit, a pair of shoes, and various other work-related detritus, and it's rare that I've ever felt like I was really stuffing it.

Anyway, my only real beef with the bag is that, being mostly black, it's hot in the SC summers. It's showing some superficial wear in spots, but no seams popping or anything. This backpack, like the tires and the lock, has been abused pretty thoroughly and proven to be up to the task. It's comparable—and in some ways superior—to the Ortlieb Velocity backpack, which I like an awful lot, and it costs 30%-40% less—at $59.99 it's quite inexpensive for a useful, well-constructed waterproof bag.

Schwalbe Big Apple: $39.99 (wire) to $69.99 (folding LiteSkin).

ABUS Bordo: $75-$125, depending on model.

Cl!ck Chuva Storm Defender backpack: $59.99 (wow).