Fifty Plus (50+) - And then the rains came....

Been living in a drought for about 3 or 4 years now and, finally, this month, the much promised El Nino has apparently delivered. We've been getting pounded all week -heavy rains, high winds, thunderstorms, hail- and it's gone a long way toward catching us up. It also means not a lot of time -OK... any- time on the road. It's a shame, too... I've had my Jamis for just over a year now and I've never been happy with the way the 105 FD shifted. I knew 105 quality was better than that but I just couldn't get it right. So, finally, I gave up and grabbed the instructions from the Shimano site and just started from scratch. Took the cable off, lowered the clamp, twisted it a little straighter and dial in all the stops for the STI. Hooked the cable back up and... oh yeah! It seems better but how can I really tell? I can't take the bike out in this weather. So I resorted to the trainer -figuring it would be better than no riding at all- and the thing shifts like butter now. Smooth, easy, predictable... and in a break in the rain, I took it out front and rode in circles to see if it would behave the same there. YES!! Can't wait to go for a real ride (maybe Saturday). There is something so indescribably satisfying in dialing in your own bike. It brings back happy memories of being my Dad's mechanic in his shop.

I gave up on the bikes and am working on an ark. I figure I'll bring two of each type of bike along to repopulate the fleet after the water subsides.

We're certainly getting our share down here...but nothing like the bay area. Hunker down!

Indoor training is one of my least favorite things to do. I am looking to Saturday with hope. To tell the truth I actually looked at fenders at the LBS yesterday. I am not likely to get them even for the Jamis and never for the Lapierre but it might be a possibility for the old Steel Trek. Then again even with them I am not a wet weather rider.

I put fenders on my Rockhopper last week. I'll ride on wet streets but not in the rain.

No fenders for me, I'll just live with the spray.
I'll ride wet streets and rain if it's not miserably heavy (Mrs S bought a nice rice cape for me).
This week though has been another category altogether, though, as far as rain goes. Nuh-uh. Not for me.
But I am just DYING to road test that FD.

Riding in rain is no big deal as long as I can stay warm unless it is coming down so hard that I can't see or be seen. Sometimes it is actually fun. Fenders are great if you need to stay fairly clean and dry while you ride, like for commuting or traveling. If I am doing a ride for exercise or sport, I can deal with getting wet and having the wet dirty stripe up my back, so no need for fenders.

After rain all week, today is supposed to be a huge flood day in SoCal...we'll see.

I don't trust the cars on the road Dawg...I barely can trust them in perfect driving conditions! :lol:

Same story for the Vegas Valley. Looks like its here for at least another week. Stupid recumbent stationary is gonna get some sweat on it. Where's the TV guide?

http://www.autocanoe.com/images/happywife.jpg

No problemo!

Glad someone else is getting damp.

Rain rides- no problem............Wind- no problem..............Wind and rain forget it.

Nice sun, most of the snow is gone. Warm enough to turn the woods into mud...........cold mud. Went hiking instead. I do hope though that none of you in California has a house sliding into the sea. Watched that on the news and it looks scary.

Just realised that SKT probably doesn't have any rain gear. It would not be one of my priorities for clothing if I lived in his area. So wrap up warm and when you do get wet- remember you will get cold. Don't do any 50 milers till it dries out.

But no one wants to talk about the joys of maintaining one's own bike?

As for sliding into the ocean, no danger of that where I'm at but, if you're seeing any news about the Esplanade Apartments, they're close. I can see them from my house.
They are soon to be gone I'm afraid.

But no one wants to talk about the joys of maintaining one's own bike?
Esplanade Apartments, they're close. I can see them from my house.
They are soon to be gone I'm afraid.

SaiKaiTai - are you talking about the Esplanade apartments in San Jose? - I live downtown (and have been commuting to work and back on a bike all week this week). It has been moist and breezy, but not that bad.....

As to your comments on adjusting your Fder - having a hard time relating to that, my commuter has no Fder :)

For me there are not many joys in maintaining a bike. It is just the thing I do naturally after a bike ride. If anything has caused a problem on the ride- I investigate while cleaning and checking the bike. Gears not changing properly? a bit of adjustment and they are fine. Brake squeal come on and it is probably contaminated blocks so clean and rub down before taking for a quick test ride. In this way the bike is always ready to go after taking out of the rafters and pumping up the tyres.

So why have I got the FD cable on two bikes that is fraying? The bar tape on one bike is lifting in one spot and really should be changed. and the pile of tubes that need repair is growing again.

Perhaps I ought to take time out to maintain the bikes again- but I only did that at christmas. Still got to change those cables sometime though. But as they have been fraying since the middle of last year and everything still works- It can wait a bit longer.

No danger of sliding into the ocean for me either. On the other hand, all this SoCal rain has given me many hours of fun in the garage, working on bikes.

I just rebuilt a Neuvation wheel last night (for my Ti GT); amazingly easy to get it true, dished and round.
Thanks goes out to John Neugent of Neuvation Cycles for the warranty replacement rim!

Two evenings ago I swithched some cranksets around, taking the newish triple off my 853 GT and putting it on my Mercian touring bike.

The crankset that was on the Mercian needs to go on ebay. The Ultegra compact crank that I took off the Calfee two years ago, I installed on my 853 GT.

This evening I will start on the alloy wheels for my wife's 3-speed. One good thing about a fleet of bikes around the house; you're never at a loss for something to do on them!

My touring bike does have fenders, and I have all the proper clothing for riding in the rain, but I have a new Brooks saddle on that bike, and I don't want to get it soaking wet, esp. since I don't have any Proofide on it yet! I really should buy a waterproof cover for it . . .

Rick / OCRR

I am not used to so many days in a row. But I don’t want to seem like I am whining about it. I just have absolutely no interest in riding in the rain or on wet streets. I have been working on my bikes however and I have even ordered some new bits and pieces for the Jamis and Lapierre.
I can look at the bright side and realize my legs are getting the end of season rest I haven’t given them in a while. Even if the cross training in the gym is making different mussels stiff. But I have been working on getting ready for the Bull Dog at Camp Pendleton at the end of February and the Tour De Palm Springs on the 13th. So I am ready for this rain to stop.

I fully understand about the FD being adjusted. When I built the Lapierre it took weeks before I got the FD right and I ended up having the LBS help me. When I put the Jamis together I got the FD right after one test ride and took it on a Coffee Shop ride the next day. It shifted great.

SaiKaiTai - are you talking about the Esplanade apartments in San Jose? - I live downtown (and have been commuting to work and back on a bike all week this week). It has been moist and breezy, but not that bad.....


No, I forgot about there being Esplanade Apts in San Jose. These are in Pacifica... quite a bit older than yours, I think.
They've made quite the news over the past couple of months. They even made the news in Boca in December!

I am not used to so many days in a row. But I don’t want to seem like I am whining about it.

Not used to it? Hahahaha... must be a newcomer.
Then, in SoCal, about you guys know about rain is what you get from us.
It *does* rain here. Usually. We do have these worrisome dry spells though.



I fully understand about the FD being adjusted. When I built the Lapierre it took weeks before I got the FD right and I ended up having the LBS help me. When I put the Jamis together I got the FD right after one test ride and took it on a Coffee Shop ride the next day. It shifted great.


Yeah, it's funny. I had to replace the FD bracket on my Giant last year and the FD adjusted beautifully on the first try. Haven't had to touch it since.
The Jamis took a couple, three tries. But I started the Giant from scratch (like a new install) which I didn't do with the Jamis until this last try.
There's a lesson in there somewhere :lol:

I got last year's Jamis Aurora Elite and I love it. But I'm still pretty much a newbie and have been reluctant to do a lot of the maintenance. I took it by the LBS for a tune up and asked them if they had a class for some of the maintenance. I figure I can pretty much noodle through how to do most things on my own but I still lack the confidence that I'm doing things 100 percent correct.

By the way, have you seen this year's model? They've downgraded the components but they've added disc brakes and a rack. In the catalog, they are marketing it as the ultimate commuter. That was certainly the case with me. I didn't intend to commute when I bought it, but I couldn't get enough riding in on weekdays. Hope you post a riding report once things dry out.

I gave up on the bikes and am working on an ark. I figure I'll bring two of each type of bike along to repopulate the fleet after the water subsides.

Remember the Ark measurements are in cubits not cm.

I hate getting my fenders all wet.

Man, if we waited for a dry day to ride 'round these here parts, there wouldn't be much use for a cycling forum.

Fenders are de rigueur.

Yes, I always thought dudes from Southern California were a bunch of wimps! Here in the Pac Northwest, we are hard men (and women) who ride every day regardless of rain or snow or wind or whatever. We could care less about fenders ruining the prissy lines of our oh-so-delicate bikes. You have to enjoy riding in the rain if you want to ride up here.

Two points about the mechanical issues:
1. In less than one typical BC winter I can destroy any bike parts designed and built by wimp Californians who have never ridden in real world conditions, and this includes Phil Wood.
2. The component durability issues connected with riding in heavy rain day after day likely contributes to the popularity of fixed gear bikes around here. At least there are no derailleurs to get damaged. It's bad enough having to replace brake pads every 500 km, and having tires self-destruct through rotting of the sidewall just above the bead. But this is stuff you wimp Canlifornians have no idea about. Maybe now you just might, heh, heh...

Luis (who used to live in Berkeley and Oakland)

Yes, I always thought dudes from Southern California were a bunch of wimps! Here in the Pac Northwest, we are hard men (and women) who ride every day regardless of rain or snow or wind or whatever. We could care less about fenders ruining the prissy lines of our oh-so-delicate bikes. You have to enjoy riding in the rain if you want to ride up here.

Two points about the mechanical issues:
1. In less than one typical BC winter I can destroy any bike parts designed and built by wimp Californians who have never ridden in real world conditions, and this includes Phil Wood.
2. The component durability issues connected with riding in heavy rain day after day likely contributes to the popularity of fixed gear bikes around here. At least there are no derailleurs to get damaged. It's bad enough having to replace brake pads every 500 km, and having tires self-destruct through rotting of the sidewall just above the bead. But this is stuff you wimp Canlifornians have no idea about. Maybe now you just might, heh, heh...

Luis (who used to live in Berkeley and Oakland)

Escaped from Berkely did you? ;)

Thanks for the light hearted comments. Let me ask myself, do I want to be a tuff cold, wet cyclist or a warm, dry cyclist? :rolleyes:
Been to Vancouver, nice place to visit but not a place I would choose to live. Not because it isn’t nice but seriously dude your winter weather sucks eh! :D

Our solution to weather like yours is just different. We decided not to live in it. We live here because we like the weather. Do you ever see paradise described as cold, wet or freezing? Maybe we are just a bit more laid back because of it?

Truthfully my dad took me kicking and screaming to Seattle for my last two years of High School and I am a child of the sun. I was going nuts in the rain there. They did have a great T-shirt at Pikes market however, it said, “no this isn’t a tan, we rust.” :lol:

Last point, when the old USSR wanted to punish someone did they send them to a warm dry place or a cold wet one? :innocent: I am sure they rode fixies in Siberia. :eek:

Who's being light hearted? Eh? :p

Seriously, I think that when you're over 50, you have earned the right to do things that might be frowned on for those who are younger. Like having Campag Record stuff on your bike without having won it in a race, or without having the bike with the stuff on it give to you by a team. And probably not having to go out in the rain is one of those privileges!

One of the main reasons I preferred doing track races in the Pac NW is that if it rained, they didn't make you race. I just hated cleaning up after a dirty, wet road race in the rain.

But I'd sure hate to have scheduled my winter training camp in SouCal for this past week! Talk about carrying coals to Newcastle...

Luis

Humph :notamused:

Here in my little corner of so Cal it's snowing. :eek: I'll be on my trainer if you need me. :roflmao2:

Humph :notamused:

Here in my little corner of so Cal it's snowing. :eek: I'll be on my trainer if you need me. :roflmao2:



Snow in Beaumont? If I were you I would shoot a letter off to Al Gore right now. I moved here specifically to get away from snow.

[QUOTE=Robert Foster;10302941]
. Do you ever see paradise described as cold, wet or freezing?
QUOTE]

Been to Aspen lately

Been to Aspen lately

To each his own...but not my idea of paradise. ;)

[QUOTE=Robert Foster;10302941]
. Do you ever see paradise described as cold, wet or freezing?
QUOTE]

Been to Aspen lately

Yes I have in fact. Mostly there is a caveat attached to Aspen, “for skiing”. ;) Not for cycling however I am not used to the altitude but I am working on that. It was all I could do to ride the two weeks we were in Colorado Springs Last October. But then I was on my MTB and I have been assured it would have been better on my road bike. I like Tahoe and Salt Lake as well, to visit.
I have the classic view of paradise, warm sun, hammocks, shorts or bathing suites, birds singing things like that. I might even go with the description of Eden. :D I just moved from the Lake Arrowhead area of Southern California so I have had my fill of snow. For 19 years we got discounted ski lift tickets in the Big Bear area as locals. However to me this was not cycling country, at least not in the winter. I only got back into cycling about two years ago and last year I think I only missed two rides because of weather. :)
I now understand what a snow bird is, and they like other birds move south for the winter. But it looks like we will get some sun tomorrow and next week so I am already feeling better. :lol:

The prcip is so serious in So Cal that I put on my fenders on my bike and zipped up my raincoat inside my house this afternoon, and went hydroplaning down the hallways for three hours to work on my base, as well as my snorkeling skills.

The prcip is so serious in So Cal that I put on my fenders on my bike and zipped up my raincoat inside my house this afternoon, and went hydroplaning down the hallways for three hours to work on my base, as well as my snorkeling skills.

No kidding...I just checked and we have had 6.5" of rain since Monday.

No rain in Seattle all week.

I just loaded my bike in my car for a ride tomorrow morning -- I am riding my "summer" bike, not my "rain" bike.

Just wanted to say that, as I rarely get to type the phrase "no rain" in January.

Finally I got out today. The roads were damp and in places muddy and I had a bit of a cold but I was determined to get out. I took on my least favorite Climb out Sage on Saint John’s grade that steps up several times with one of the last sections just over 8 percent. When I got to the top I was just about finished but I got a call from a friend on the other side of town heading up Batista Canyon, a nine mile climb of about 4 percent with a few little climbs towards the end. Still I got in 42 miles under blue skies with some white puffy clouds and a temperature of about 55 degrees. I came home bushed and had a hard time breathing but it was good to get out.

We have fenders for the tandem and rain gear, and we just go.

Last week I rode the Diva in the rain w/o rain gear and it sucked. Not only did I get wet but my beautiful bike got filthy. I even rode the trainer 2 days to avoid the nastiness outside. I do not enjoy riding in the rain, but will do it if I've committed to it.

Otherwise there's the trainer and my awesome playlists...not what I want but it serves the purpose.

No rain in Seattle all week.

I just loaded my bike in my car for a ride tomorrow morning -- I am riding my "summer" bike, not my "rain" bike.

Just wanted to say that, as I rarely get to type the phrase "no rain" in January.

I should not have written this -- it cursed me. A few hours after writing this, I woke up Saturday morning, and it was raining moderately hard. Pulled the summer bike out of the car, put the rain bike in, and proceeded to drive to the group ride. 43 miles, probably 35 of it in light to moderate rain. I was pretty comfy; the hills about killed me, though.

I should not have written this -- it cursed me. A few hours after writing this, I woke up Saturday morning, and it was raining moderately hard. Pulled the summer bike out of the car, put the rain bike in, and proceeded to drive to the group ride. 43 miles, probably 35 of it in light to moderate rain. I was pretty comfy; the hills about killed me, though.

When the white man first settled in the great North West they couldn’t pronounce the Indian word for the area. But the translation to English simply meant Sea Elephant in Air Tiny Tinkle when Least Expected. At least that is what I have heard. :lol:

I like playing fixer upper on my bike. My wife thinks its an excuse to not watch Lifetime with her.

could be?

Man Vs. Rrrood...

Well, we had enough of a clearing on Saturday to actually get off of the trainer and onto the pavement.
I've been dying to try out the adjustments I made to the Jamis and, well, here was my opportunity.
I don't think I have ever been less enthused to get out for a ride. Mostly, everything was just.... hard. More work than fun.
But, you know, even at that, I just couldn't turn around and go back... I figured I was already out so I might as well just keep going.
In the end, it was only 20 miles but it felt like forty and I was still sorry to see it end after I pulled into the garage and dismounted.
The best part was telling people at that night's monthly jam that I just did a short ride.
"How short?", they asked.
"20 miles", said I.
"You consider 20 miles short? That's not short!"
I just laughed. What else could I do? Ya get it... or you don't :lol:

My question is, after all the bi**hin and moaning from my southern left coast neighbours is, are the reserivoirs and lakes full yet or do you still need us northern left coasters to keep sending the rain your way? As per DG's request earlier. :D

My question is, after all the bi**hin and moaning from my southern left coast neighbours is, are the reserivoirs and lakes full yet or do you still need us northern left coasters to keep sending the rain your way? As per DG's request earlier. :D

It would take a month of that kind of weather to fill all the lakes...so keep it coming! ;)

SKT, I hear ya. After a week of being rained out over here in Livermore, CA, I got 45 miles on Saturday and lead an 80 mile ride on Sunday. On Sunday, we stopped at a deli half way and while eating a "heavy dew" refreshed the pavement. We finished with nary more than a sweat.