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The week in links (08/02)

Tour symmetries

“I think he’s trying,” says Eki, “to wear the yellow jersey.” Aren’t we all? But what this year’s Tour seemed to point out more than many others I’ve watched over the years is how you get there is more important to everyone.

It seemed like last year this lesson had begun to sink in. “It’s kind of cool to be the one up front pulling.” was heard to be said by Lance. Being the one up front pulling has rewards that last a lifetime. Just ask Big George.

Cycling has a benefit over many other sports besides its accessibility (anyone can ride). It can have style and it can lend you style. You can be the personification of a style, or your style can be a manifestation of who you are. Or both at various times. The long hours on the road can distill the essence of your being even as it instills new qualities as you explore your limits. It’s much like practicing a musical instrument. It inhabits you even as you illuminate it. (Nietzsche would be proud). This symmetry continues.

This year’s Tour also taught people manners and noblesse oblige. You do not need to wait, but you do not need to attack. There is a middle ground though it can be tough to find for some people. For some it seems to be black and white: “Everyone can attack when it is easy. You win races by attacking when it hurts, you attack when it is hard, when your legs are burning, when everyone else is breathing hard and you are suffering. That is when you attack.” Maybe, in its purest, noblest sense. But in reality people are scared and confused and they attack when an opportunity presents itself. That is human nature. But I love that so many people feel that the Tour isn’t just about raw human emotion, courage, and suffering, but also, and possibly more so about sportsmanship, elegance, and a profound respect for your competitors. And I hope that they act that way in their own lives.

The road humbles us all. The miles pile up and they write a story on our faces and bodies. The windy flats, the climbs, and the “lumpy” rollers. So often it feels like the road attacks us; climbs lurking around each curve like a terrorists bomb; never letting the ride relax into a painless cruise. They explode our lungs and hearts, remind us of our responsibilities, our limitations, and in the end, we seek them out to grind those edges off our lives.

This year Armstrong went out the way he came in: digging deep, enjoying the pain and riding, at times, like a champion. Love him, hate him or whatever, he will leave a chasm in the sport now that he’s done for good (I hope he doesn’t make a fool out of me here, but I think not). Maybe he can do more good just pulling for others now.

The next time you’re on the rivet, crosseyed, and attempting to fly up some hill, or launching your next move, things will be clearer because of this year’s Tour. Courage and defiance. Anger and revenge. Apology and remorse. All were present this year to encourage and teach us. The symmetry continues.

This year celebrated the 100 anniversary of the inclusion of the Pyrannees in the race. The scouts for the Tour famously reported the inclusion of Col du Tourmalet as “parfaitement praticable” (perfectly fair) while the riders found the Mountain climbs so difficult that “Vous êtes des assassins!” – ‘You are assassins’ spat Octave Lapize to onlookers and Tour officials as he struggled over the Col d’Aubisque in the 1910 Tour. It was also that year that a small concession was introduced for the first time by Degrange—la voiture-balai, the infamous broom-wagon to sweep up any riders unable to carry on. Without one, there is no need for the other.

The Tour will end shortly and someone will have won. And life will press on. The intensity of sporting events is that they distill life to simple rules and boundaries. The majesty is that we can carry the lessons with us into our lives and use what we’ve learned to make a difference in a way that truly matters. Riding a bike is a perfect metaphor. Find a balance, pull for others, then seek the yellow jersey.

Allez!

The week in links (07/19)

The Rapha Cycle Club Opening

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I love the quote they chose for the wall.

Rapha opened their pop-up, the Rapha Cycling Club last night.

I walked down there after work which was interesting in and of itself. Since we’re talking style, let me say this. Woman of New York: Should you decide to wear a clingy knit dress, or a tight shirt, etc. and clearly some of you do, consider the effect of the clothes you wear beneath the outer garment. The seemingly intended effect is ruined by bunched, loose, ill fitting, poorly coordinated under garments. To be fair I saw some equally egregious lack of coordinated efforts from men, but who cares? Just another slob.

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Anyway. I got down there quite a bit early, and killed some time checking out the neighborhood. As it got closer to the right time I just barged in. I was quickly welcomed by Slate Olson and later Derrick Lewis. We chit chatted, and I learned that Rapha doesn’t know what they’re doing with their currently engineless broom wagon when the 3 months are up. Might you have a suggestion?

There was a lovely spread and some great cycling artifacts on display. Some of the Paul Smith items they collborations were on display including the lovely courier bag.

the spread

Not long after fondling that very bag I heard a small crash behind me, and someone had had the misfortune of placing the bag back on the shelf and having the shelf collapse to the floor. In the whirlwind that followed I met Michael from A Continuous Lean. I had met him once before at some other event that has faded into the dusty cobwebs of my mind, but it was nice to chat with him. A regular read from the design and manufacturing side of life.

The place really filled up as things got started officially, Stella’s were being served, coffee was brewed, and the food consumed. (I had a walnut the size of my fist…) It would be nice to catch a ride with some of these folks, especially if they plan to come up to Rockland (a classic New York ride).

Congrats to all the folks who worked hard to get the place going for the summer. There’ll be daily airings of the Tour etc. 352 Bowery, New York, NY 10012, (Down by Cooper Union) Phone: 212.228.1529, *Opening 3rd July, 2010.* The bar is run by ThirdRailCoffee who are planning some cuppings and coffee related things. There’s interior bike parking as well.

The Broom Wagon

Tech and design links

Bespoke later, for now, it spoke no more

bespoke_at_MAD

On Thursday, Mark Z. and I took a moment to see the “bespoke” exhibit of hand made bicycles at MAD. It’s a nice display of some of the finest bikes made by hand today. The irony of the bike rental business on the corner, while just inside were wheelsets that cost more than several rentals was not lost on us. Another irony was the mud covered Richard Sachs ‘cross bike which the guard would shoo people away from if they even tried to touch it… something tells me Richard would just shake his head, atmo.

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As I’ve said before I’ve yet to commit to a “bespoke” cycle… but one day.

However in the world of cycling ignominy is never far away—at least for me. Lloyd and John posted this nice ride they do up to Cold Spring and beyond. In need of nice long ride I planned to go despite having to wake up early on the one day when I don’t have to… 5am came early as it were.

Six of us started out from Rockland Lake heading north up the rollers of 9W, dropped into Haverstraw, and met up with three others. We climbed up toward Bear Mountain bridge and crossed over continuing up 9D. As I get nearly as far away from home as I’m going to get, I hear the loudest “bang” I’ve ever heard come from my bike. I thought I had flatted, so I slowed and stopped carefully, but it didn’t look like it, and once stopped, it was clearly not the problem, and yet the wheel was not really turning. And then I saw it.

There was a spoke unattached at the hub end. “That’s gonna be a hassle.” I thought. I knew that I didn’t have a spoke wrench on my multi tool. And while I opened the brake and tried to re-orient the wheel in the frame enough to limp home, it was a no go. The wheel was significantly out of true.

Just then Lloyd and (the other) John came riding by (I’m not sure why they were that far behind me) and the stopped to help. Lloyd broke off the dangling spoke, but without a spoke wrench we were kinda stuck. They didn’t have anything on their tools either. There’d be no limping home. All that was left was calling Lisa and asking to be picked up. Luckily she had a morning of chores planned, and was home and could quickly throw The Kid in the car and made her way to me… but still… I’m almost as far away from home as I planned to be that day. (Darn you Murphy!) Nor was I close to any of the bike shops in the area that would have come and picked me up (because they’re awesome around here.)

Phone call made, I sent Lloyd and (the other) John on their way and tried not to go stir crazy waiting… now of course, all of this could have been worse. It could have started raining for example. But even then, I happened to stop by Hudson Highlands State Park, so there was a little covered message board that I could have hidden under. And while it was cool, I did have rain jacket with me… and food and water. All in all… not the worst conditions in which to wait. I only called Lisa three times…

I’ve taken away some thoughts for the future.

  1. I put a spoke wrench in my seat bag. Already. As in I already got one of the right size and put it in the bag.
  2. I could have salvaged the ride home if I had a spare set of wheels pumped up and ready to go in every way sitting where Lisa would know she had the right wheels. This is a bit more complicated, but I took the steps I could today. I need to get a set of wheels with matching rims to really make this pain free… but in the meantime I’ve prepped a set and made a spot for them to live. When I check the pressure on the bike set, I check those too. I’d move them into Lisa’s car, but that’ll get in her way most of the time, so I’ll leave them in the newly created spot.
  3. Lastly, I need to put *all* the phone numbers I need into my cell phone. As long as I have a cell connection I can look up the phone numbers I need. But what if I don’t? I might be able to borrow a cup of phone, but internet access? Lots harder ’round the state parks. I can’t run up 411 access fees on someone’s phone either… it would make it harder for the next person who needs their help to get it (regardless of whether I pay for it or not. Just my feeling, but still.)

I’d take a few hours of riding on a wobbly wheel over dragging my wife (or anyone else) out on the road to help me while I wait. And a little preparation could’ve rescued the ride. She even could’ve grabbed another bike, but the rack isn’t on her car and putting a bike in the car is not easy (to say the least)… so wheels it would be.

I thought about bringing extra wheels to the Battenkill ride, but because I didn’t think of it until the last minute I was, again, unprepared. I’ll do better next time. Seems a shame to lose a day to something that a minute wheel change could save. Especially in that case where we really did have a “team” car.

elevation graph

The week in links

My take on “Women as Outcasts In Cycling Industry”

First, go read Women as Outcasts In Cycling Industry including the comments. (As always, I’ll wait).

My disclaimer here is that I know both David and Abby and have some passing familiarity with the problems Abby has faced finding a bike that fits (or that doesn’t cause her to throw fits).

If you work around people who wear suits you’ll see very few who are wearing clothes that truly fit. Why is that? Pants legs and jacket sleeves that are too long, or extreme bagginess (Must one be able to store a family of marmosets in there? I think not.) Never mind clothes that are wrong for the person on possibly many levels. The fix for these problems is not expensive. So why?

I see lots of ill fitting bikes. Too small, too big, and less often I see people on the wrong type of bike. So why?

There’s a problem created by the need to stock products. Your local store stocks stuff. They want to sell what they stock. People want to buy stuff that’s available (I want it now!). Ordering and waiting has to have a significant payoff, and often doesn’t.

The bike industry and the clothing industry take a similar approach. They make a range of sizes heavily influenced by their “professional” work. Clothing trends follow “designer” or “couture” trends. Bike industry development is influenced by racing and the needs of the pros. And like all systems there’s some failure there. Much as most of us are not an exact and properly fitting size medium (whatever that is), we’re are also not (as a collective) small male bike racers. And yet in both cases, we enjoy pretending that we are and making some bad choices along the way.

There’s a backlash to this amongst the bike builders. It’s sometimes discussed as bike “fit”. In other cases its discussed as what you want out of the experience of riding a bike. Listen to the narration of this cool little film with Jeff Jones and Sacha White (two incredible builders). And while you can (and should) parse the difference between how a bike fits you physically and the type of bike and the influence that has on the experience of riding it the two are far more closely tied than one would think. And the “custom” bike builders can build a bike that takes into account not just the measurements of your body, but what you tell them about your riding. Assuming you’re honest in the process, you’ll most likely get a bike that “fits” not just anatomically but stylistically as well. Like I said, it’s more important than people think.

The “woman as outcasts” issue is far larger than just the bike industry. As a software developer and someone who builds teams to do that kind of work I can assure you that the software industry does a horrible job of sustaining the interest of woman drawn to technology.

So yeah, there’s fewer choices for woman in terms of cycling clothes and fewer parts choices that extend the size range, and as I mentioned above style of riding and the weight range of riders also comes into play. All of which seems to be improving at least a little bit. And the industry is at least becoming aware of the issue of fit as more of us ride. It’s not just the racer or wannabe crowds who are buying bikes. Companies are offering bikes in more sizes and trying new ideas about what makes things work (well size symmetry and head tube sizing anyway), and for many of us changing seatposts, stems, handlebars, and cranks, even within the industry limits, can produce a fit that works. But that’s the equivalent of shortening cuffs and the like… it’s not the same as having clothing or a bike made for you.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find that Natalie’s Lust line size medium fits me nicely (I could be wrong, I’m kinda in the border between medium and large the irony of which is not lost on me). I wish I could try one. I’d be curious to see how a bike design that is the sum of what Natalie has found works for many of her mostly female customers feels like. Will it leave me with the hard to describe complaint I’ve heard from many of female bike friends about things “not being comfortable”? Could be a great way to gain some insight into their problems.

Anyway, I’m glad the my female bike friends are finding bikes that are comfortable for them and custom built with them in mind. One day, I hope to do the same for myself.

Finally, the Moots has a build

I never think it’s going to take as long as it does. A warning sign for estimation of any sort. A while back I wrote about used frame and starting a build. That was back in January, and here it is March, and other than the parking lot shakedown, the bike is untested. It was finally completed late yesterday.

In the meantime, Mike is off to his latest adventure. You can follow along on his blog (guest blogging by Jill Homer).

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Anyway… so the idea of the build was to make this frame fill in between the full on fat tired mountain goat of my Jeff Jones and the commute/road bikes of the Casseroll and R3SL. I was looking for great versatility, a bit of the goat, but also the ability to crank it out on the road. I wanted it to feel comfortable on gravel or off road, but not feel upright and overmatched on the road. We’ll see if I managed all that. Compromise is a compromise all it’s own.

Things that went wrong. I made some assumptions about what would and not fit on the frame, Specifically the crankset. A compact road integrated spindle was not going to go, the stays are too wide. But I wanted to put drop bars (or alt drop bars) on this build. Makes the road thing work sooo much better. Offroad, I seem to like alt bars, like the h-bar on my Jones, or as I first expected, Midge bars on this bike. And I wanted to use integrated road shifters. If wasn’t going to get thedorp bars and integrated shifters on here, for the type of riding I have available to me, this frame was not going to work. I should add, that I need enough top end to keep up with my road bike riding friends, and enough bottom end to climb off road without wrecking my knees.

So looking at what would fit, and what I wanted we started making some hard choices. Short of playing around with spindle length and really experimenting (read costly in time and money) the simplest thing to do was to go with a triple. I looked at what was out there, found a crank I would have really loved to try (it seemed to fulfill the triple dream of light, strong, and inexpensive) but my LBS couldn’t get it, and I wasn’t going to spend any non-ebay money/credit. So I went with the classic XTR cranks, which if things didn’t work out, would at least provide excellent return when sold. We left the little 22 ring off, which gave me a 44 and 32 up front. The 44 top end concerned me a bit, but I rarely spin a 50×11 combo so it seemed that a 44×11 might hang in there. I can always get a 48 tooth ring on there, that’ll certainly cover me, but I’m going to try this first.

These cranks also gave me the chance to use a Chris King bottom bracket, which already has an great reputation. They are incredibly smooth. That much I can already feel. And they add a touch more color.

Next was what to use as a front der. Bill picked out on the new SRAM XX front der from the zillions of variations they make. He seemed confident. I trust him. It seems to have worked out just fine.

Out back I matched up the new Sram XX ten speed stuff. Works perfectly with their integrated shifters, and the 36/11 cassette back there gives some nice range to the gearing from a low of 32×36 to a high of 44×11.

Once the cranks and stuff were on I spent some time trying out the custom Moots stem and Midge bars vs. a Thomson stem and 3T road drop bars that were on the shelf. Both were comfortable so for this round I went with the road bars because of an upcoming ride. 4000ft. of climbing, 25% dirt, I’m hoping that this bike will split the difference nicely. We’ll see once I done some real riding on it, and it will partly depend on the weather (choice of tires and bike).

Everything else are routine choices. Avid BB7 160/140 discs, a Chris King Dreadset (nice! a few bucks to Wheels4Life and the bike needed a little color.) I have three sets of wheels for the frame, two built by Mike. One set needs different rotors, there’s some mismatch between the center locks on there and the BB7s. I’ll look in to that shortly. Then there are Zipp 505s laced to DT Swiss 240s. They’re road wheels in both the aero and rubber categories. Lastly are wheels that Billy built for me, Red CK hubs drilled 32, laced 3 cross to Mavic rims. They have 35c cross tires spun on. I’ll prolly change the rubber, but I’m not sure to what yet. In the meantime they’re just fine.

Gore Ride On cables, Red shifters, King Ti cages, Salsa QRs. Crank Brothers eggbeaters, Fizik Gobi saddle and Cyrano post complete the touch points. I have a seat pack from Carousel Designworks that’ll work fine, and I hope to order a frame bag for my own adventures.

I have no nice pics yet as the build was finished late yesterday.

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Yeah, there’s no question that this build from the frame and fork to the various components is a bit out of the box. But that’s OK. No need to fret. Everything’s gonna be just fine. And seems in character with the original owner, my own sense of adventure, and a willingness to learn what works and what doesn’t for me.