Hasta La Gadget!

The Merrell Evera MJ comes in three colors including black, which pairs well with a Chanel dress. Photo courtesy of Merrell.

Cycling is a bummer for riders who don’t have the option to change clothes post-commute. Leather-soled wingtips slip on metal pedals. All but the tightest jeans require rolling up the pant leg to avoid chain grease. The problem is compounded for those who don heels, braving a bicycle route fashionably rather than comfortably.

Merrell, sensitive to this plight, will soon be releasing the Evera MJ, a heeled bike shoe with bottom contours that fit snug into pedals, and a rubber sole that grips where your Christian Louboutins would slip and scuff. The suede upper has elastic accents near the toe for flexibility while torquing uphill, and a Velcro strap secures the shoe to any arch. Added side vents ensure your trotters get plenty of air flow.

Merrell’s heels will be available February 2012 for $110. Until then, you’ll have to make do with your flats.

Frederick James's Madoff Collection is nearly sold out, but some cases made from Madoff's summerwear are still available. Photo courtesy of Frederick James

While Bernie Madoff spends the next 150 years in prison blues for securities fraud, iPad owners can buy his clothes to protect their iPads in style.

iPad cover manufacturer Frederick James is selling sleeves made from Bernie Madoff’s pants. The collection comes from Madoff’s summer attire, taken from his beach house in the Hamptons.

Last November, the U.S. Marshals Service auctioned off Madoff’s belongings, giving the proceeds as compensation to victims of his Ponzi scheme. John Vaccaro, founder of Frederick James, bought up Madoff’s cashmere sweaters and chino pants to expand his collection and help victims of the felon’s crimes.

Several covers made from Madoff’s khakis are still available on the Frederick James website. The sleeves start at $250 and come with a certificate of authenticity.

The Leica aperture ring ring. Possibly the most romantic thing ever

If the Leica Guy (Matthew B. Harrison) had any doubt as to the marrying potential of his wife-to-be, it surely evaporated when he saw the wedding gift she got for him: a custom made Leica ring, modeled on a lens aperture ring.

The detail is astonishing, from the Leica typeface through to lens model (50mm Noctilux-M ƒ0.95) to the depth-of-field markings on the ring’s “barrel.”

The ring was commissioned and made by jeweler Gaelen in British Columbia, Canada, who makes custom engagement rings for people of taste. And what did the Leica Guy buy for his lovely bride? Like, some watch or whatever.

I’m totally jealous of this ring, although I’m even more jealous of the cameras the couple packed when they flew off to Italy for their honeymoon. What did they take? A pair of M9-Ps, of course.

The Leica Guy got married [The Leica Guy via PetaPixel and Leica Rumors]

Bike Bag? Camera bag? Where do I sign up?

Today, the stars have aligned to bring the perfect Friday afternoon item for Gadget Lab. As an aficionado of both camera bags and bicycle bags, imagine how fast I scrambled to my keyboard when I saw this camera-carrying backpack, from none other than Chrome, the bike-messenger-bag people.

It’s called the Niko, and it’s similar in concept to Kata’s 3N1 bags, with a wraparound flap to open the bottom section and a separate, zippered and lidded compartment up top for sundries.

Like all Chrome bags, it consists of an outer nylon shell with a truck-tarp interior, rendering it all but totally waterproof. And like all Chrome bags, it has that big seatbelt buckle on the strap for quick-release. Sometimes, though, this release is a little too quick, like when some idiot comes up and jabs the switch, dropping your gear to the ground. It has happened to me, and it has also happened to Brad over at Urban Velo, who brought to Niko to our notice.

In use, the 2.5-pound bag will hold cameras, lenses, flashes and other gear in its padded, compartmentalized interior. Outside there are some Velcro straps for holding a mini-tripod, or even a pump. And because it only has one strap, you can swing it from your back to your chest to grab the camera whilst still on your bike.

Chrome bags are usually pricey, but they are also expected to last forever. Camera bags are also very expensive. So expensive, in fact, that they make the Chrome Niko look pretty reasonable at $95.

Will I be buying one? Nah. I already have the Kata, and if I fancy taking a camera out with a bike, I also have Chrome’s Citizen messenger bag, an expensive, heavy piece of kit which — when combined with Photojojo’s Anybag insert, is more than bag enough for anyone.

Chrome Niko product page [Chrome via Urban Velo]

See Also:

• Hands On: Kata 3N1 Camera Backpack
• Mamba Shift Backpack Swallows Almost Everything
• Hands-On with the Ortlieb Velocity Backpack

The Wakemate promises to get you out of bed pain-free, every morning

Wakemate promises to bring you around from the land of dreams into an alert, awakened state every single morning, without a klaxon or bacon cooker in sight.

It’s wristband that monitors your movements throughout the night and, when you get close to your pre-set optimum waking time, it waits for the shallowest part of your sleep cycle before sounding the alarm. The Wakemate pairs with your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth, and uses this to track your sleep and wake you with your favorite music.

Our sleep runs in 90-minute cycles, and ideally we should wake at the part of shallowest sleep. If you feel like your regular alarm clock sometimes drags you from the very depths of sleep, that’s because it is — it’s waking you from deep sleep.

There are iOS apps which use the iPhone or iPad’s accelerometers to do the same thing and — once calibrated — they do a good job. They also require you to sleep with your device in the bed, and for the app to remain powered on, draining the battery rather quickly. Bluetooth also sucks the juice from your phone, but not nearly as much.

The Wakemate is available to buy right now, for $60. Or you could do what I do, and live nine time zones ahead of your employer, so that you can get up as late as you like and still be early.

Wakemate product page [Wakemate. Thanks, Renee!]

See Also:

• Wooden Dock Turns iPhone into Retro-Tastic Alarm Clock
• iPhone Alarm Bug Lets Europeans Snooze an Extra Hour
• Wake Up! Five Great iPhone Alarm Clocks