It's that time of the year, all the new 2012 bikes are getting introed and making me drool. Could this year be a new bike year?
I currently own three bikes: 2008 Jamis Coda 19.5", 1999 Trek 930 19.5" and 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX 58cm. All are really a bit small (if you follow Riv's sizing guidelines) and I'd like to correct that. Riv says I should be on a 60-62 for road bike sizing. I'd also like to have disc brakes on all of them. The main advantage of the Coda, is that it has full braze-ons for racks and fenders. If the Fantom CX had those I'd not need the Coda. So finding a CX or relaxed geometry road bike with discs and full braze-ons means I could replace two bikes with one. I've found a few bikes that would meet those requirement (and could be considered affordable)
Specialized Tricross Elite Disc Apex Compact. The priciest of the bunch, and Aluminum. Highest standover, shortest toptube and longest stays. Steeper headtube and more rake make it the lowest trail of the bunch, which combined with the long stays could make it the slowest steering as well. The rear caliper hanging back behind the seat stays could cause rack issues. It's probably a pass.
Raleigh Roper. Missing lowrider braze-ons. Shortest stays. Lowest standover and shortest headtube. Probably the sportiest of the group. Not impossible to consider.
Redline Metro Classic. The only triple in the group, which doesn't thrill me. But otherwise the best gearing for my riding style. and Avid BB5's are well respected. The color and styling are great. This is the new front runner.
Soma Double Cross DC. Only available as a frameset. Tange Prestige tubing is the best of the steelies. best known clearance for wider tires, but still only 38s, which just isn't enough for serious gravel grinding. No lowrider mounts on the DC fork. Building from a frameset is probably the most expensive option, unless I were to run cantis/v's and switch over everything from the Fantom CX.
As mentioned none of these has the kind of tire clearance required for serious gravel grinding. Which means I need another bike! I'd considered another 26er frame and switching everything over from the Trek, but if I want discs that means a new wheelset, brakes and levers and at that point it may just make sense to go 29er.
Bikes in the running:
Surly Karate Monkey. Pretty much a classic. Track ends aren't my favorite. Only available built as a SS, but frameset is reasonable and if I'm ditching the Fantom, I can scavenge the brifters from there.
On One Inbred. Lighter tubeset than the KM. Carbon fork. Switchable dropouts with many options available (including Alfine!) Built bike is pricey, but frameset reasonable, and similar scavenging can be done as the KM.
Origin 8 Paladin 29. In a dream world where I was light enough to think that carbon was a good idea, and I needed a light bike to win, this could become a serious option. Fully Rigid, carbon 29er. Could be built very light and should (if all I hear about carbon is true) be very comfy on gravel with big soft meaty tires.
Much to think about and numbers to be run, but as we get to the "off season" it means plenty of time to plan out the road map.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Darkness
Just as we start plunging into darkness, my much loved B&M Ixon IQ has failed. Luckily, it has done so before the end of its 2 year warranty, and it now in a box on its way back to Peter White Cycles, the distributor.
However, its failure has prompted me to purchase a backup light, the Planet Bike Blaze 2w. Sadly it will likely be over a week before either arrives to cut through the night and point my way. That leaves me relying on my old Niterider Ultrafazer Max 1w. The Max is waterproof and dependable, but lacks the beam shape and power of the Ixon IQ. It also won't share the same mount as the Ixon, which the PB Blaze will. It's battery life is pitiful as well.
While ordering the Blaze, I went ahead and ordered new brakes for the Motobecane. Shimano M590s and Travel Agents. The same setup I have on the front of Beast will now be on both ends of my main ride. Hopefully this will adequately solve the wet weather braking issues I've had.
However, its failure has prompted me to purchase a backup light, the Planet Bike Blaze 2w. Sadly it will likely be over a week before either arrives to cut through the night and point my way. That leaves me relying on my old Niterider Ultrafazer Max 1w. The Max is waterproof and dependable, but lacks the beam shape and power of the Ixon IQ. It also won't share the same mount as the Ixon, which the PB Blaze will. It's battery life is pitiful as well.
While ordering the Blaze, I went ahead and ordered new brakes for the Motobecane. Shimano M590s and Travel Agents. The same setup I have on the front of Beast will now be on both ends of my main ride. Hopefully this will adequately solve the wet weather braking issues I've had.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Hot Fudge!
Today was the final ride of the season for my Floyds Knobs Ice Cream route. One of the Ice Cream stands closes tomorrow for the winter. It was cold and rainy. 7 hearty souls showed at the start, with 3 bailing after the first stop. I had provided a bail out cue sheet for them to get back safely.
I had never before ridden so many miles continuously in rainy conditions. I could have been dressed warmer for it, but was fine, adding my rain jacket for the final 20 miles. A heavier wool jersey would have been better than the light-weight one I wore.
Two much more important lessons were learned:
1- cantis suck. Despite pad changes, and much study on setup and trial and error to get them right, they just lack the power of v's. It also reaffirmed my statement that my next bike will have discs.
2- even when cold and wet, hot fudge makes ice cream desirable.
I had never before ridden so many miles continuously in rainy conditions. I could have been dressed warmer for it, but was fine, adding my rain jacket for the final 20 miles. A heavier wool jersey would have been better than the light-weight one I wore.
Two much more important lessons were learned:
1- cantis suck. Despite pad changes, and much study on setup and trial and error to get them right, they just lack the power of v's. It also reaffirmed my statement that my next bike will have discs.
2- even when cold and wet, hot fudge makes ice cream desirable.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
2011 Old Kentucky Home Tour
It's my third time riding OKHT, having first tackled the course on my Jamis. I bonked around mile 84, to the point I was riding off the side of the road. I rolled to a stop and the bottom of Pottershop, and walked nearly every inch of the road, but I did make it to Bardstown under my own power...in about 11 hours.
Last year I hit it on the Motobecane, and cramped. It had started raining on the way into the Lincoln Homestead SAG (Sarcasm and Grief) stop. Pouring actually It was like someone turned on a hose inside my shoes. I had been hot, and hammering to make decent time. Turning onto the decent into the SAG, I realized I had less than zero brakes. I seemed to actually go faster with them on. I waited at the SAG for it to stop, of course they were out of everything. So with suddenly cold muscles, wet feet and no nutrition, I tried to take off for Pottershop, and both calves cramped. I made it 80 miles. I called a friend for a ride.
This year my Motobecane and I have already visited Pottershop, and climbed it successfully. We've done many more centuries this season, and I've gotten much better at fueling. It should be an awesome ride.
The night before I rode up the the registration on Beast, with all my camping gear in tow to put it in a friends vehicle. I was having some neck problems. Not the normal right side neck/shoulder I've been struggling with, but the left lower neck/spine. I return home descending HWY-42 after dark on Beast. flat out..and slow. The panniers, my baggy clothes and an unwillingness to really go for it kept me under 40mph. Aerodynamics are the key on that descent, even something like knickers can drop 3-4mph easily...back to the ride.
I wake early Sat to get ready for the ride, I want to be out of the house and riding to Sawyer for the start by 6:15 at the latest. Minor problem. My neck won't bend enough to let me look out over the bars, much less get into a tuck. About 10 minutes while the coffee is brewing with a tennis ball and a wall and I get my neck into position. Still can't turn it much, but it's good enough to ride. By the time my neck is made workable and breakfast, shower and such are ready I'm already late out the door and I still need to get bottles and such on the bike. I finally get out at 6:45.
My morning wakeup is Wolf Pen Branch, with is the lowest traffic way to get to Sawyer Park. Still pitch black and quite cool and damp compared to what we've had lately. I feel strong on the climb. I'm just easing up it, not hammering, but my legs are working well and feel great. I continue on my way and roll by Sawyer thirty minutes later than I really wanted to. I had really wanted to stop and hang for fifteen minutes or so and roll out at 7:15, but 7:27 will have to do.
I have a simple way of knowing if I left soon enough: if I roll past the Lilly Pike SAG before they open. They open at 9:30 and are 29 miles away. Pretty much I need to average 15mph over 2 straight hours non-stop. My GPS is showing me splits every 6 miles, 15.4, 14.7, 15.0...averaging 15 over the first 18 miles...no room for error, must pick it up. I see people in front of me peeling off and visiting each of the SAGs, I'm not stopping, pretty soon I realize that other then the racers who are heading up to open Lilly Pike, I'm the first rider. The 12-18 miles split comes in 18mph! Just bought myself 4 minutes! I'm awesome! Then come the 18-24 miles split, 13.9. I just lost almost half of my gain! I end up passing the sag in 1:58:43, meaning I beat the opening time by just under 5 minutes. I keep going on to lunch, and get there 19 minutes later, the first one. As I eat others start showing up, the Scouts know this and despite the fact that they're not officially open until 10, they're ready for us 15 minutes early. I'm later shocked to find I spent 27 minutes eating a sandwich and chips. Despite the massive waste of time, I'm still the first to roll out.
Continuing on to the next SAG, which my friends the MAD PUPS put on at Mt Zion church, which is the point where you have to finally decide on the 70 or 100 options. On the way some faster riders finally start passing me by, a group of racers I know about 7 in total, and a pair of riders who were lunching next to me and left right after I did. I knew I would spend a bit of time here, and a pleasantly surprised to find it was only 24 minutes, of quality eating and socializing. I make sure everything is full and I carry on.
It's 28 miles to the next SAG, Lincoln Homestead, and from the moment you make the turn onto the Century course it starts punishing you. after the first 3 you begin to wonder if you made the wrong choice. The punishment continues for the 6 more after that. A few lazy miles travelling through Willisburg and Mackville, and you soon arrive at what is probably my favorite section of road, a flowing slightly downhill section of patched up concrete called Mays Creek Rd. which you get to enjoy for 6 miles. I tend to get feisty on this road and will hammer for a bit if there is anyone to chase or drop. This year it was a tri-tool of some sort, who I saw out of my mirror having his aerobars pointed at my back in full tuck. I can guess he was going to ovetake the big guy with the fenders and bags in short order, but I ever so subtly put some more effort into it, not getting out of the saddle to make it look like I was working but powering a gear higher, pushing on the downhills and soon I'd dropped Mr. Carbon not to see him until a couple roads later coming into the SAG.
I dropped down the hill into Lincoln Homestead and arrived at 1:26, putting me at 5:59 for 78 miles, with 51 of that so far at SAGs, that number was about to go up a bunch. I was going to fuel up here for the final push to Pottershop. 38 minutes. I had a sandwich, some fruit, gorp, M&Ms, Payday. Bottle of Gatorade.
Lots of people telling stories of previous attempts at Pottershop. I tell someone to take it easy and rest in the miles coming up to get ready...of course I don't bother to mention that the next 10 miles are pretty punishing. He later passes me and asks how exactly he's supposed to rest up. I mention the 6 miles leading up to it as being fairly easy, which they are and quite welcome at that point. I take it easy, taking 1:20 to cover the 18 miles to the HILL!!!
Time to climb. I still have my neck bothering me, any out of the saddle efforts aren't going to be fun. I slide forward on the saddle, lean into the bars and press my palms into the drops. Stay to the right and just go. I'm really shocked that it's only a 5 minute climb up the first. I only have to paperboy it a couple times at the bottom. I spend way too long at the top of Pottershop. I feel good, but have been riding alone all day and want to socialize. 28 minutes for no reason.
The rest of Pottershop continues as before, just go, I know I've gotten up these hills before, so there's no point in thinking I'll have to walk this time.
I finish up in 9:07 total, with a 14.1 av rolling speed. I'd say I'm not overly thrilled with those numbers, but heck I finished OKHT and feel great, like I could ride more miles. I was stopped for 1:53, I could probably do better, but it's supposed to be social, and not having anyone to ride with, my social times are stopped.
Last year I hit it on the Motobecane, and cramped. It had started raining on the way into the Lincoln Homestead SAG (Sarcasm and Grief) stop. Pouring actually It was like someone turned on a hose inside my shoes. I had been hot, and hammering to make decent time. Turning onto the decent into the SAG, I realized I had less than zero brakes. I seemed to actually go faster with them on. I waited at the SAG for it to stop, of course they were out of everything. So with suddenly cold muscles, wet feet and no nutrition, I tried to take off for Pottershop, and both calves cramped. I made it 80 miles. I called a friend for a ride.
This year my Motobecane and I have already visited Pottershop, and climbed it successfully. We've done many more centuries this season, and I've gotten much better at fueling. It should be an awesome ride.
The night before I rode up the the registration on Beast, with all my camping gear in tow to put it in a friends vehicle. I was having some neck problems. Not the normal right side neck/shoulder I've been struggling with, but the left lower neck/spine. I return home descending HWY-42 after dark on Beast. flat out..and slow. The panniers, my baggy clothes and an unwillingness to really go for it kept me under 40mph. Aerodynamics are the key on that descent, even something like knickers can drop 3-4mph easily...back to the ride.
I wake early Sat to get ready for the ride, I want to be out of the house and riding to Sawyer for the start by 6:15 at the latest. Minor problem. My neck won't bend enough to let me look out over the bars, much less get into a tuck. About 10 minutes while the coffee is brewing with a tennis ball and a wall and I get my neck into position. Still can't turn it much, but it's good enough to ride. By the time my neck is made workable and breakfast, shower and such are ready I'm already late out the door and I still need to get bottles and such on the bike. I finally get out at 6:45.
My morning wakeup is Wolf Pen Branch, with is the lowest traffic way to get to Sawyer Park. Still pitch black and quite cool and damp compared to what we've had lately. I feel strong on the climb. I'm just easing up it, not hammering, but my legs are working well and feel great. I continue on my way and roll by Sawyer thirty minutes later than I really wanted to. I had really wanted to stop and hang for fifteen minutes or so and roll out at 7:15, but 7:27 will have to do.
I have a simple way of knowing if I left soon enough: if I roll past the Lilly Pike SAG before they open. They open at 9:30 and are 29 miles away. Pretty much I need to average 15mph over 2 straight hours non-stop. My GPS is showing me splits every 6 miles, 15.4, 14.7, 15.0...averaging 15 over the first 18 miles...no room for error, must pick it up. I see people in front of me peeling off and visiting each of the SAGs, I'm not stopping, pretty soon I realize that other then the racers who are heading up to open Lilly Pike, I'm the first rider. The 12-18 miles split comes in 18mph! Just bought myself 4 minutes! I'm awesome! Then come the 18-24 miles split, 13.9. I just lost almost half of my gain! I end up passing the sag in 1:58:43, meaning I beat the opening time by just under 5 minutes. I keep going on to lunch, and get there 19 minutes later, the first one. As I eat others start showing up, the Scouts know this and despite the fact that they're not officially open until 10, they're ready for us 15 minutes early. I'm later shocked to find I spent 27 minutes eating a sandwich and chips. Despite the massive waste of time, I'm still the first to roll out.
Continuing on to the next SAG, which my friends the MAD PUPS put on at Mt Zion church, which is the point where you have to finally decide on the 70 or 100 options. On the way some faster riders finally start passing me by, a group of racers I know about 7 in total, and a pair of riders who were lunching next to me and left right after I did. I knew I would spend a bit of time here, and a pleasantly surprised to find it was only 24 minutes, of quality eating and socializing. I make sure everything is full and I carry on.
It's 28 miles to the next SAG, Lincoln Homestead, and from the moment you make the turn onto the Century course it starts punishing you. after the first 3 you begin to wonder if you made the wrong choice. The punishment continues for the 6 more after that. A few lazy miles travelling through Willisburg and Mackville, and you soon arrive at what is probably my favorite section of road, a flowing slightly downhill section of patched up concrete called Mays Creek Rd. which you get to enjoy for 6 miles. I tend to get feisty on this road and will hammer for a bit if there is anyone to chase or drop. This year it was a tri-tool of some sort, who I saw out of my mirror having his aerobars pointed at my back in full tuck. I can guess he was going to ovetake the big guy with the fenders and bags in short order, but I ever so subtly put some more effort into it, not getting out of the saddle to make it look like I was working but powering a gear higher, pushing on the downhills and soon I'd dropped Mr. Carbon not to see him until a couple roads later coming into the SAG.
I dropped down the hill into Lincoln Homestead and arrived at 1:26, putting me at 5:59 for 78 miles, with 51 of that so far at SAGs, that number was about to go up a bunch. I was going to fuel up here for the final push to Pottershop. 38 minutes. I had a sandwich, some fruit, gorp, M&Ms, Payday. Bottle of Gatorade.
Lots of people telling stories of previous attempts at Pottershop. I tell someone to take it easy and rest in the miles coming up to get ready...of course I don't bother to mention that the next 10 miles are pretty punishing. He later passes me and asks how exactly he's supposed to rest up. I mention the 6 miles leading up to it as being fairly easy, which they are and quite welcome at that point. I take it easy, taking 1:20 to cover the 18 miles to the HILL!!!
Time to climb. I still have my neck bothering me, any out of the saddle efforts aren't going to be fun. I slide forward on the saddle, lean into the bars and press my palms into the drops. Stay to the right and just go. I'm really shocked that it's only a 5 minute climb up the first. I only have to paperboy it a couple times at the bottom. I spend way too long at the top of Pottershop. I feel good, but have been riding alone all day and want to socialize. 28 minutes for no reason.
The rest of Pottershop continues as before, just go, I know I've gotten up these hills before, so there's no point in thinking I'll have to walk this time.
I finish up in 9:07 total, with a 14.1 av rolling speed. I'd say I'm not overly thrilled with those numbers, but heck I finished OKHT and feel great, like I could ride more miles. I was stopped for 1:53, I could probably do better, but it's supposed to be social, and not having anyone to ride with, my social times are stopped.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
TMD Uphill TT
Tommorrow is the third time I will attempt the Moser Knob Uphill Time Trial. The first time I attempted it I was fairly new to the LBC, and I went up it fully loaded on my Jamis Coda hybrid. It weighed something like 40lbs. I took 12:26, only one person was slower. Last year I attacked it on my Motobecane, stripped of luggage, bottles and fenders. I took 13:23. I was the slowest person up the hill, even beaten by someone with a broken wrist riding a mountain bike on flat pedals! I was having allergy problems and had to stop half way up to catch my breath. I have no idea how I'll do this year, better would be nice, but a three-peat as the slowest male would be interesting as well...
September Populaire
Awesome!
I decided to ride this months' populaire with the group. I knew I wanted to hammer it out and try for a very good time. I switched out cassettes last night from my 13-30 to an 11-26, so I had some gears to hammer on, instead of spinning my high gear like I tend to do on flattish rides. I've only used the 11-26 cassette on a few other rides, where I knew there were no major climbs. And this was just such a ride, never requiring me to drop to the small ring, or to cross chain (meaning I never used a gear lower than 46x23)
I had a goal of 4:00 hours on the bike. I didn't make it, with a rolling time of 4:08:27. I was 4 minutes faster on the return, despite there being a good bit of rain on that leg. The middle section of roads were a bit rough, and knowing this going in I dropped the pressure on the tires by 5psi front and rear. The CX geometry and 28s were made for this, and the bike acted awesome, floating over all the choppy pavement and really encouraging me to just go for it. Averaging 16.7 over 69 miles is pretty damn fast for me. I've done faster rides, but never over such a distance. Honest Abe, which I consider my "TT Century", has never had me average better than 15.96.
The route wasn't exactly flat, but rolled pretty much the whole way with no significant climbs, but still even the one guy who came on a SS with rack and panniers managed to get in within the time limit. My gps shows 2562ft of climbing, making it the "flatest" ride I've ever created, and less than 200 ft more than the July Populaire Steve created.
I decided to ride this months' populaire with the group. I knew I wanted to hammer it out and try for a very good time. I switched out cassettes last night from my 13-30 to an 11-26, so I had some gears to hammer on, instead of spinning my high gear like I tend to do on flattish rides. I've only used the 11-26 cassette on a few other rides, where I knew there were no major climbs. And this was just such a ride, never requiring me to drop to the small ring, or to cross chain (meaning I never used a gear lower than 46x23)
I had a goal of 4:00 hours on the bike. I didn't make it, with a rolling time of 4:08:27. I was 4 minutes faster on the return, despite there being a good bit of rain on that leg. The middle section of roads were a bit rough, and knowing this going in I dropped the pressure on the tires by 5psi front and rear. The CX geometry and 28s were made for this, and the bike acted awesome, floating over all the choppy pavement and really encouraging me to just go for it. Averaging 16.7 over 69 miles is pretty damn fast for me. I've done faster rides, but never over such a distance. Honest Abe, which I consider my "TT Century", has never had me average better than 15.96.
The route wasn't exactly flat, but rolled pretty much the whole way with no significant climbs, but still even the one guy who came on a SS with rack and panniers managed to get in within the time limit. My gps shows 2562ft of climbing, making it the "flatest" ride I've ever created, and less than 200 ft more than the July Populaire Steve created.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
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