Yep. I agree with your synopsis, but there are some folks who don't seem to have (or want to have) the mechanical skills to do their own work. If everyone did, bike shops would be like WallyMarts focused on selling.

LD? Yes, sir! Maybe I -can- get a few more miles in before the end of the year. Heck, GB, get some studded tires (mine are coming tomorrow) and we'll go up into the mountains. I'll drive.

I was just informed on Twitter that the new carbon shifters from Forte are actually re-branded microShift components:

http://www.microshift.biz/

Although I acknowledge that a LBS has a limited use for me I still think I use their services more than the "average" American cyclist who, since they are not using their bike as much, wouldn't need as much maintenance as I do. Plus, I still like the "bike store culture" and stop in occasionally just to say hi.

Ugh! I'm fretting the studs this year. I made a firm decision that the bike to mount them on would be the Kogswell. Now, Peter White is saying he will not stock any more in 650b this season. I could buy 700's and put them on the fixie or the Coho, but I just don't like the compatibility with how I ride those bikes. I've scouted around and there are some Euro companies that carry the 650b's (so they are available in Europe). I might order some from overseas, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

Hey, I thought I'd send along this invitation to the New Year's Day ride out of Glen Rock for whatever interest there might be. Not your normal MDPeeps ride I know, but if we do have one thing in common its that we're not afraid to hoist a cold one after a ride. I did NOT include this on the BBC ride calendar for various reasons, including the perceived lack of structure. BBC likes their rides to have well defined cue sheets, etc which won't be possible based on the venue I have planned:


Get the New Year started off right with an on/off road point-to-point adventure ride! Nice late start time to accommodate hangovers and catch the warmest part of the day. We will be riding a bunch of dirt roads, some single track with some hard road to connect it all. Two heated indoor rest stops along the way to fight off the chill. ;-) Estimated mileage will be 25 - 30 mile at the most. No cue sheets are possible for this ride as we will be going totally off road at times. Equipment: Run what ya brung! Some tread on the tires is recommended but other than that almost anything should work. No pre-determined or ambitious pace is planned but since we will all need to ride together you'll have to be able to hang. Meet at the Glen Rock library and be ready to roll at 10 AM. This ride is sure to become a New Year's Day tradition!
Andy

We'll do this ride in any weather. I just reserve the right to change the planned route without notice depending on conditions. If we get good snow melt in the next 10 days count on some trail ride sections in there along with the dirt and paved sections.

Andy

I'm just half serious anyway. No problem. Hey, I have two studded 650 B tires. Would they fit your rims?

Nevermind--Sheldon Brown shows them as 13mm smaller than 650c. 584 for B / 571 for C.


She's looking like a bike. Not much more to go, but I probably won't get to ride until tomorrow. Much of that will be to get it dialed in:

http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/uu96f.jpg [click for larger version]

Sounds perfect for my new machine!

Btw, bring birthday gifts. I turn 52 on 1/1. :notamused:

You guys like my backward jersey "tool belt"?

http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/uttmi.jpg

anyone ride on macarthur blvd since this snow storm? would it be safe to ride on alone?

Ok... she's done except for lights and saddle bag. Looks like I need to level the saddle, too.

http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/uvvy5.jpg

On my 3rd celebratory beer--at this rate you may find me heading downtown at midnight on her. ;)

I just heard some bum news. Barry is leaving for Arizona. We should try a final Baltimore city BF ride with him (with beers of course). His leaving will leave a huge hole in the bicycling advocacy in Baltimore.

NR looking good.

Yeah, Barry mentioned that this was a possibility when I talked to him several months ago. I'm bummed to think he's leaving us both as a friend and also as a biker who has benefited from his tireless activism. Maybe a MD Peeps movie party at Harry's. January?

Thanks, Charlie!

Yeah, I wrote Barry about his latest pronouncement, but heard about the possibility earlier like Bob.

We shouldn't screw around and miss the opportunity. Barry, if you're still reading this board, let us know when's best for you.

Did a ride on the Ridley today. It was a very short one--about 20+ miles.

Went out to Wilson Point where I shot this picture of it:

http://twitpic.com/show/full/uz6j1.jpg

She's definitely a stiffer ride than the Giant. At one point, while going over bumps in the road, I nearly lost hold of the handlebars due to the stiffness. On the Giant, I could hold the bars more lightly. The Ridley will buck you off if you don't watch out.

I'm reserving judgment on the shifters. I'm going to have to relearn how to shift with them. My brain hasn't caught on to which paddle to press for up and down shifting. Fortunately, braking is accomplished the same way as the Shimano shifters.

Speaking of brakes--$%#@%@ squeaky friggin things! The rear finally quieted down, but the front are still howling. :notamused: I guess I need to ride with grungy braking surfaces on the rims before they'll quiet down.

So, I spent a little bit of time, today, getting to know some of the characteristics of this bike. Shifting was good, but I did have a little bit of cable stretch I had to tune out at one point--no biggie. The ride is stiff, but I didn't go ape-$hit on it until I build more confidence in it's shifting and that I'm not going to fall on my face due to a missed shift or the cable sticking somewhere causing an incomplete shift.

As far as my position on the bike, dumb luck was on my side. I didn't take any measurements from the Giant, because it's a compact frame and the Ridley is "conventional" (i.e., non-sloping top bar.) Looks like I'm not going to have to change anything at this point. I felt good on the tops, hoods, and drops.

There's a little problem in the drops--I can't get to the upshift paddle on the shifter as easily. The paddle is very accessible from the hood, but not quite so from the drops.

What's more, the shifter is not stealthy. It has a definite audible click for each shift made. This won't be good for trying to get the jump on the pack or an opponent while racing. CLACK! ...CLACK! CLACK! ...CLACK!

Tonight, I will be mounting my studded tires. They need to be "ridden in" for 25 miles according to Schwalbe. Twenty-five slow miles with rolling resistance. Sounds like fun. NOT!

Hey HC203! That wall looks familiar! Powdercoat looks great.

Ha! I just saw those in the Rockville PB yesterday... Thanks for shedding light on them.

^^^^^ Hey, RT! Long time, no see--on BF that is.

Merry Christmas MD Peoples! (sic) Getting ready to go out and break in some studded tires (my family defers celebration for the 26th so that my brothers and sisters can have the 25th with their kids).

If Harry can't do it, I will host. Barry post up a few dates and we'll fill in the blanks.

Merry Christmas all.

NR: I use to ride many different bikes(down tube, rapid fire and bar ends shifters) and was always shifting the wrong way. I finally gave up made all of them bar ends(except 1 thumb shifter) and life is better. Your brain will catch up to your new shifters.

Thanks Charlie. It seems that my brain is starting to catch on already. I only had about two moments where I thought, "Ok. what am I suppose to do next?", on the shifters.

Today's ride:

Christmas Ride - Two parts:

http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/28918

http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/28919

About 68 miles on the studded tires. I think I can safely say that they are "run in".

Barry Arizona
 

I guess I've been away from the BF for a few days, Christmas, sick, done with it now but for lungs full of crap, a perennial winter issue, maybe I should go with Barry to AZ. Speaking of which, what a shock, and indeed what a loss for bike advocacy in Bmore and MD. I'll have to check with my wife as per a farewell thing here. Throw out some dates.

Barry-What will you be doing in AZ? and where? Tucson? We'll be sad to see you leave but you won't need studs out there.

Anybody taking up Janet's invite for a Sunday ride? Not sure if I'm doing heres but will probably get out and stretch the legs. HC

Today's miserable ride to Annapolis - http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/28930

I liked the saran wrap on the feet. You seemed to be logging some serious miles onto your studs. Today you can take them off and resume normal bike riding. I hope to ride a little this AM to hook up with visiting family in Towson today.

^^^^^
Yes, over 100 miles on the studs already.

I did pull them off and replaced them with 35mm Continental Cyclocross Speed tires. But, apparently, the tube was bunched on the front tire. At mile 2, while going down a hill, :crash: .

The tube blew and during the fall the new tire's Kevlar bead was torn away from the tire for about 2 inches. I have road rash on my left outside thigh, left elbow, and left knee (again). I had to call a cab for a ride home. Once home, I mounted a 23mm tire on the front, then went back out to complete my ride.

The bike seems to be OK except the left shifter has an abrasion--just like me--'cept, it's not bleeding.

:mad: :mad: :mad: Damn! How old is this bike and I've already crashed on it?

EfMe!!!!!! http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/28952

Dude. Seriously. You need an intervention or something. :lol:

OK I'll chime in before any more of you drop me notes, we will get together before I leave. Right now I'm a bit freaked out in icy conditions and I misplaced my extreme weather outer sock so I'm a bit limited in extreme temps + long distances. I do want to thank all of you for your concern and care. Lets start off throwing some dates around, what's good for you guys?

On to other things NoRacer what happened with you using Tufo's (sp?) Man I feel bad about your spill with a new bike. The first time out on my new bike I got caught in a torrential down pour. Granted not as bad as your situation but first day out on my new ride, man I was bummed.

I'm good anytime up to the 3rd of January. Bob has a LD ride on the 3rd.


I discovered, as I'm rediscovering with the studded tires, that the rolling resistance of the Tufo tires is insidious. By the time you realize how much energy you've lost, it's too late--you're dead man riding.

Don't worry. The bike got the better of it (i.e., not as much damage), believe me. I'm still achy from the fall at this moment. I do not want another one any time soon.

Hear that, Bob! I'm taking it easy on our CWC Winter 2009 ride tomorrow!

NoRacer and I cut our way through the 25+MPH headwinds and over the Cotoctins to officially complete the "2nd Annual" Year End Civil War Century.
Minimal ice and snow on the roads was great for me riding on Panaracer Paselas, but not so good for NR as he was working much harder riding 35mm studded tires.
There were a couple of clothing adjustments in the early miles, but it seemed that the two of us had pretty effective systems for warding off the wind and cold. Trying to keep my water from freezing was another story. I'm glad one of my two bottles was insulated.

The air seemed to warm up to almost pleasant by 11AM and as we pulled up to lunch in Boonsboro at 42 miles we were thinking that the day might not be such a challenge. However the second half of the ride was much longer than the first (including a couple extra miles because of a missed cue) and not long after 2pm the sun started dipping and all the warmth was sucked out of the dry air. We kept pushing without another rest stop attempting to finish before sundown. Not long after NR stuffed some hand warmers into his gloves I began realizing that the warmers in my shoes must've quit.

I had a huge advantage in rolling resistance over NR on the climbs so I was putting a gap between us on the afternoon hills- Raven Rock and Jack's Mountain. But on both occasions NR powered back and I could hear the steely crunch of his studded tires behind me at the crests. At the 90 mile mark, with no rests since lunch and only ice in my bottles we were still bucking headwinds. I started hearing a whiny voice inside my head that I deserved a brisk tailwind home for all the work we'd put in so far. No luck.

The sun officially dropped below the horizon, but I was acting in denial about it by not turning on my front lights. I watched my long and wobbling shadow ahead of me from NR's lights. The moon was pretty and bright and the surrounding farm landscape was illuminated with the psychedelic colors of the fading light. As we finally rolled into Thurmont I couldn't even read the street signs, so reluctantly clicked on my bottle generator light for the last mile back to the park and the end of ride.

We quickly loaded up and 20 minutes later were waiting for dinner at Pizza Hut.
Thanks NR. A good challenging ride day. (pics to come)

pics here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2797683...7623104383434/

^^^^^
You need 30 more miles!!!!!!

No, thank you for pushing me forward into this ride -and- for letting me "suck wheel" at times.

27, 28, 29... <GB spinning on the indoor trainer> :lol: