Certified Real Jams

If there’s something listed on this page it has earned the title of being a truemarmalade certified Real Jam, meaning it has withstood the rigors of full time bike touring long enough without fail to be a product that I would recommend wholeheartedly. Promo codes and affiliate links will get you a discount and/or get me a couple bucks for coffee.

Ornot Mission Shorts

Everything that Ornot makes are well designed and executed with care and skill. I’ve spent the last few years wearing nothing but their clothing, both riding and socializing as well as sleeping, and their Mission Shorts have lasted me over 12,000 miles of riding on a Brooks Cambium saddle (notoriously rough wearing on fabric) while looking and feeling as good as day 1. Shown in this photo at mile 10, 243.

Affiliate link: https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=pl&ti=9861&pw=415261&mi=23377&pt=3&pri=5255

Ombraz Armless Sunglasses

Being someone who didn’t know trees had leaves until I got my first set of glasses, they are something I absolutely need to exist in the world and being an inherently fragile object I went through multiple pairs a year until finding Ombraz. They are unique from literally every other glasses by having paracord as their temples allowing them to have a built in retention system to dangle from your neck when not in use and removing the hinge, the spot where most glasses end up breaking. Mine are both RX and transition which is offered by Lens & Frame Co through Ombraz, If you so desire. I have also affixed a rear view mirror which is made by https://www.cyclingmirror.com/

Affiliate link: https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=pl&ti=8997&pw=415261&mi=21957&pt=3&pri=159

Bedrock Cairn Sandals

Going from a spandex wearing clippy-cloppy shoes wearing cyclist for nearly a decade to flat pedals and sandals is something I never would have predicted, but there are so many benefits to letting them dawgs out that I’ll never go back. My feet don’t sweat while riding, I don’t have to wash socks every day, and being able to hop off my bike and clamber around on any type of terrain without the worry of slipping on cleats is such a convenience. I have modified my Bedrock Sandals by swapping out the plastic ladder lock buckles for aluminum ones made by Austere MFG.

Direct link: https://bedrocksandals.com/collections/all-cairn-sandal-models/products/cairn-evo-3d-pro?variant=31278679064649

Use code: MarmaladeBedrock15

Wolftooth Waveform Pedals

As mentioned above I have spent many years using the clippy sorts of pedals and while they certainly offer a well researched mechanical advantage over flat pedals, any marginal gain they may bring me would absolutely be negated by some other aspect of my ridiculous bike. Connecting with Wolftooth at MADE a few years ago they provided me a set of their Waveform pedals with the directive to run em until they die. Zero upkeep, zero maintenance, just see how long they last. My left pedal lived a hard life until around 19,000 miles (shown right) at which point the bearings exploded and WT sent me a replacement set, but I decided to only swap out the broken one to see how long the right pedal would continue thriving. At the time I’m writing this on May 31, 2026 the right pedal has 30,993 miles and is still spinning perfectly smooth with only a slight amount of side to side play.

Affiliate link: https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=pl&ti=7341&pw=415261&mi=18985&pt=3&pri=225

Gevenalle Shifters

With so much of cycling pushing tech forward faster and faster it’s been nice to rely on something as simple as friction shifting for the past 70k miles of bike touring. There’s a particular satisfaction in being able to dial in the exact gear by hand rather than just tapping a button to do it for you, especially when it allows me to micro-adjust on the fly as my chain stretches. I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to ride a bike chain for more than 3-5k miles but my most recent drivetrain lasted 10,000 miles without too much trouble.

Direct link: https://gevenalle.com/products/cx2?variant=52528480092469

Cane Creek Stages Eewings + Hellbender 110

Traveling the country on a 200lb cargo bike puts an incredible amount of wear and tear on every component and after breaking a few that were constructed of lesser materials I upgraded to what I truly believe is the best crankset in the world. I probably can’t appreciate the performance gains causing other cyclists to choose Eewings but for me being able to trust that the parts on my bike will never let me down, no matter where I am or how hard I ride, is truly invaluable. As a type 1 diabetic another bonus is having the Stages PM track my calories burned more accurately than a HRM helping me stay fueled and keep my blood sugar numbers in a safe range. Cane Creek has engineered and crafted something so perfect that even after 50,000 miles of fully loaded riding in every imaginable condition I’ve yet to have any problems. Plus anytime someone notices them on my rig it’s always a delightful IYKYK moment.

Direct link: https://www.canecreek.com/collections/cranks/products/eewings-g1

Silca Elettrico Pump

It feels a little crazy to imagine that someday I wouldn’t rage mode turn into the HULK upon getting a flat tire, but adding this little box of magic to my kit has done exactly that. I’ve been a big fan of everything Silca makes for over a decade now both due to their attention to detail as well as engineering expertise no matter what the product is. Whether it’s a pump, bottle cage, or chain lube; you can trust that it’ll be the best you’ve ever had on board and something you can rely on mile after mile after mile. There’s been countless group rides where someone’ll get a flat and my Elettrico pump will save the day getting us back on the road in just a few minutes. Bonus that it charges easily from my dynamo hub and solar panel so it’s always ready to go.

Direct link: https://silca.cc/collections/elettrico/products/elettrico-ultimate-inflator

Also worth mentioning is the T-Ratchet multi tool that they also make. It is hands down the most versatile ratcheting multi tool that I’ve ever used and is easily customizable swapping in any specific bits that your build may need. The link below leads to the Silca website where they sell the 2nd generation of this tool but the original one is actually superior. They’re pretty easy to find on ebay and you can identify 1st gen by looking for a silver switch on the ratchet vs the black plastic switch on the 2nd gen.

Direct link: https://silca.cc/collections/multi-tools/products/t-ratchet-ti-torque-kit-2nd-generation

Spurcycle Bell

I truly believe that every bicycle is better with a bell on it. Whether you use it to safely signal to pedestrians that you’re passing (and the chime from a Spurcycle is the perfect combo of loud and polite) or just spreading some joy while out on a ride, this is the best addition to your handlebars. I’ve had over 30 bikes in my previous life and every single one was equipped with a Spurcycle bell no matter what it was and thanks to them offering plenty of mounting and color options it was always a perfect fit. The bell currently on my cargo bike was the first I ever ordered from them back in May 2015 and is getting close to 100,000 miles on it. I was fortunate enough to visit their HQ in Bend, OR where they swapped out the stock hammer for an orange one and it made me fall in love all over again.

Direct link: https://www.spurcycle.com/products/better-bicycle-bell