Today in Gear: May 4, 2016

Good morning and happy Wednesday. MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU. It is, after all, the now-iconic demi-holiday celebrating the best sci-fi movie franchise of all time (sorry, Trekkies) (please don’t write in about Jar Jar) (#HanShotFirst). Looking to outfit your landspeeder to go bullseye some womp rats? Here’s what’s good in gear: a novel about a disturbing and possibly real future conundrum, a disturbingly tempting Bluetooth speaker, watches that create more than a small disturbance in our Force and much more.

Scalpel-Si by Cannondale

According to Cannondale, the Scalpel-Si is “the lightest, stiffest, best climbing, best descending, all-around fastest XC race bike ever made.” The bike features an offset drivetrain and a custom fork with extra-long offsets, among plenty of other features — namely: “evenly dished Ai rear wheel, super short chainstays, LockR locking axles and BallisTec Carbon Construction.” Plus it’s ultra light, weighing in at less than all other dual-suspension XC bikes on sale today.

Zero K Hardcover by Don DeLillo

DeLillo’s newest novel explores the family mechanisms at play when a patriarch’s much younger and very ill wife “surrenders her body” to science in the hopes that she can be preserved until science is able to cure her. “We are born without choosing to be. Should we have to die in the same manner? Isn’t it a human glory to refuse to accept a certain fate?” Add this one to your reading list, stat.

Mercedes’ “Classic Car Travel”

Mercedes just got friendly with tour-planning firm Nostalgic. Customers can explore France and Italy — including authentic hotels and restaurants along the way — in a classic Pagoda SL roadster. Prices include airport transfers, fuel, insurance, accommodations, a tour guide and more for about $2,300 per person.

Navy Camp Moc by Oak Street Bootmakers

Handstitched in a mocassin construction right in the USA, this deep navy Horween leather shoe features waxed stitching and enough handsome swagger to knocks the socks off anyone at the campsite. Because why are they wearing socks anyway?

New Star Wars x Nixon Watches

You’ve sworn up and down for decades now that you’re “Force Sensitive,” citing that as the reason you like running around swamps and as the reason you really like your sister. All that aside, how about something more… time sensitive? Nixon’s latest Star Wars-centric release features Death Star, Rebel Pilot, Millennium Falcon and Darth Vader designs, so you can [insert Midichlorian joke here]. May the 4th be with you!

iXoost XiLO 5.1 Bluetooth Speaker

As if Formula 1 cars could sound any better, now they’ve been fashioned into a mantle-worthy Bluetooth speaker for all your soothing music needs. Or to stream audio from the latest race — your choice. The 140-watt subwoofer is an eight-inch down-firing affair, and sits alongside two 40-watt midrange drivers and one 40-watt tweeter. To complete (most) of your automotive fantasies, the speaker comes with an app that broadcasts a bunch of engine noises through your new toy.

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