I just picked the Giro that fit the best at the LBS. Didn't take down the name, but it was $60. When I get as fast as Pcad, I'll invest in the fancy helmet.

You're probably faster than me right now. And if you're not, give up the sport.

A helmet saved my life when I crashed because I severely doubt my head would have been ok after colliding against a tree at a significant rate of speed. I used to be resistant to wearing one because I thought I would be fine without one, now I don't get on a bike without one.

We have a couple of Road Nazis who insist on doing the local training ride on Saturdays (which is often quite the race pace hammerfest) sans helmet. I think they're insane. I wear bicycle and motorcycle helmets daily. The bicycle helmet is so light that I've ridden for an hour before I realized I accidentally left it home. Feels the same with the helmet on as it does when you're not wearing one at all, that's how light they are. With a motorcycle helmet, it's like you have a refrigerator on your head. But I don't ride my ST without my Nolan helmet either.

I only have one brain (such as it is) and I need it, even for BF.

Looks like I'll be faster than you this week.

It will allow you to come to terms with looking up to me on the mileage leader board

Hey Pcad,

What gear do you climb hills in?

39 x 21, 23, 25, depending on the grade. Unless it's a BF Pissing Contest, then it's the 53 x 11. We have at least one hill around here that really requires a 39 x 27 or lighter gear (Cain Road, average gradient 15%+ for nearly a mile, 20%+ extended sections). I get up Mt. Doom (several 100 meter+ 15-18% sections) in the 39 x 25, or maybe the 39 x 23 when I'm feeling spunky. When I'm really jamming up Mt. Doom for time I actualy have do most of it in the 21.

I didn't need a 25 down in Bergen/Rockland counties where I used to live and train. Up here there are too many hills and grinding steep grades all over the place.

Huh?

I use the 53/25 while racing or on fast group rides when I don't want to dump it off to the 39 in front and risk losing the chain, which always sucks.

If you don't use the 39 x 25, you don't live near any real hills.

Your cluelessness is impressive.

Carry on kid.

Pcad,

As bad as your week has been it still beats this.



And I don't think I've gone 39x25 in months.

Im sick... riding sucks when your sick. Opinions?

That really does happen. It happened to me on a ride a few weeks ago and I nearly got stranded 50 miles away.

When I inadvertently lose the chain off the 39, I can typically coax it back onto the rings with the front derailleur, I've done that in races and rides like Nyack (where stopping isn't really on option) often enough. It's not too hard to do, but much better if you avoid it in the first place. There are little gizmos they sell to keep the chain from doing this, but it has never been a big issue for me. How this would leave you 'stranded' is puzzling, but this is coasting here, and the Twit Factor is inestimable. Think Fred and Crumpets.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't get enough climbing Mt. Doom and Nyack racing stories.

I'm looking forward to the audio book version of your BF thread commentary, Pcad. Vinnie accent and all.

I think everyone else on BF, including me, is sick of me.

Don't let that stop you! Surely there are many more nuances to climbing Mt Doom that we have yet to hear.

..

the stories will be much better when told in person at doomstock...

Lol.......

Come over and see me in some real hills kid.....

Jesus f ing christ I just read the first page of this thread, got down, realized theres a 191 f ing pages. God only knows what blabbering takes place between 2-191...

I don't know, I should maybe move to Florida. The hills around me are only like 10%, and I'm in my 34X28, wishing I could swap the 2.