your daily bicycle log

La la I don't get in more than riding to the bar, lately. In the bad weather & holiday season I'm finding a new love for my old lady bike, though -- I have worn some ridiculous get-up on that bike with no problems and for short trips on wet roads it's like the perfect vehicle.

My women's L3vi's are already a lot higher in the back than the front, and they're the skinny leg ones so no chain probs. What I do need, though, is a reinforced crotch/thighs, because that is going to wear out pronto.

Other advantage of 21oz denim: no chance of road rash. Just put Kevlar in the hip pockets.

two weeks away from riding to let my shoulder rest and ice melt off roads. parking mgmt has removed bike rack--with my kryptonite on it. WAR, BITCHES.

fortunately i at least had a combi cable on me.

i had no idea denim was so...technical.

i have basically worn out the crotch on all my pants

youre a pro tho. i dont think ill ever ride enough to need concrete jeans.

i just moments ago signed up for this. such a fucking racket, but ive never done it befo why not. ive always said ill just ride it by myself one day for fun, but ive heard the cops have cracked down on riders on i70 between bakerville and the tunnel.

Wow, you got there just before they closed for entries. Man that is several magnitudes more hardcore than I can even fathom. Hope you have a blast!

ive actually ridden the course as far as copper mtn before, but then i turned off and went over fremont pass to turquoise lake. i'd argue that my route is tougher, but the rollout to avon on triple bypass sounds like a slog.

some friends have ridden triple bypass in pouring rain, and that sounds beyond miserable. im praying for sun.

been off the bike since tues, due to med school interviews. feeling FAT and OUT OF SHAPE.

today i fitted full fenders to my Other Bike and it was a total pain in the ass. i'm bringing it with me down to Iowa so i can cruise IA City and look disdainfully at all the biker kids not riding through the winter.

...apparently the singletrack is really good there???

anyone have any experience with studded tires? im bored and considering putting nokian a10s on my old commuter for icy days. i think only a10s would fit.

the frame should be junked, but its rideable (as long as you keep your hands on the bars).

13 miles today, 13 miles yesterday. Struggled a lot today - 25mph winds blowing in every direction. This may be a really dumb questioning but cycling after a really big meal with wine - bad idea right?

I went out yesterday in horrendous winds too, did about 40kms. also got horrendously sunburnt. MTB dude kept trying to keep up with(embarrass)me. But i didn't let him.

he kept trying to keep up with you? so he kept up with you, yuh?

; )

ha, traffic lights were the problem.

honest!

But I am incredibly unfit atm

i bailed

where is the "I BAILED" thread?

I'm missing NY already, cycling in London does quite have the same buzz. Can't wait to get back.

i bailed at the 25 minute mark, onto the bus. so so so f'ing cold (9 deg). i just didn't have warm enough gloves or socks, and my thin wool trousers weren't doing me any favors either.

my resolve to ride despite the cold is in conflict with my resolve not to have to change clothes.

I rode last night borderline drunk and my god, I was travelling at maybe 2/3 speed - I just had no energy at all. I was also cycling into a breeze and wearing heavier clothes (tight jeans - not a good idea) but still.

Woohoo! All bundled up and well drunk last night, it's amazing how little you notice the cold once your head is wrapped up like a toothache and you're happy just to ride in a more or less straight line.

And to think I almost didn't go out because of the temperature/wind.

Two mtb rides at w/end, Leith Hill and Swinley Forest. Only about six miles each but at Leith Hill I was cold and unfit and hungover, and Swinley has been riven in two by a giant pipeline project, making it tough to do big loops. Took my new Garmin Edge with me, and discovered http://www.motionbased.com for importing the gps data into google earth.

2 punctures in a week. On the plus side, it meant I had a lovely long walk :/

How do you find the GPS, ledge? I would love one for country riding, not having to look at the map at every turn but is it a bit to GEAR?

I've only used mine (garmin edge 305) for recording so far, not navigating. But the map display only displays the actual route, no map features e.g. roads. Might make navigating a bit tricky but y'never know.

I get the Garmin and the Charmin commercials muddled up :(

uhoh i got a new job

'uhoh' doesn't sound like a two wheeled job

it is sort of a two wheeled job: i'm working for $AUTOMOBILE_SHARING_COMPANY. i will continue to bike around the city, but instead of delivering packages, i'll be throwing my bike in the back of a prius and taking it to the shop. then, i leave on my bike and do it again

i mean, basically. however, it's salaried and wif full bennies. among the benefits: they'll cover the cost of repairs/equipment???

HEY YOU

http://www.fullcycles.com/images/time-atac-alium-blk.jpg

*looks around* uh...you who?

1. thats my general round town pedal of choice (mines the older shape tho)
2. that job sounds good

it is an affiliate of see ehn tee dottttttt oh ahr gee, which appears to be a pretty rad organization

Won't you need to get a folder so you can fit it in whatever car you are called to?

gbx's new bike:

http://www.yankodesign.com/images/design_news/2007/03/5/one_bike.jpg

oh sweet

where is drivetrain?!

how does it steer?!?!

How do you not get beat up every 14 minutes?

I mean, on that bike.

wow. and haha laurel.

my bike/gear log today is that i bot a pair of perf neoprene booties size 13 on sale and cut out the zippers in back to create super big/thick toe covers. i tested them in the 15 deg temps today. VICTORY- toes a little cold, but not bad. bonus, covers dont interfere with my times at all.

also picked up some cheap, wack looking "glove covers" on close out. they are basically windproof shells in a lobster configuration. i put them over my newish, insufficiently warm planet bike borealis gloves and they worked great. gear gear gear

Took my first ride yesterday since the collarbone break. It was 60 frigging degrees out; I rode out an old country rode with one of those ancient stacked-rock fences, listened to Thelonius Monk, all in all about a 2 hr ride. It felt REALLY GOOD.

It's raining today though, so instead I'm staying in and slow-cooking a roast.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1587503

On my rounds. About a third of what I'd usually do as a messenger.

i wonder if "work" is a decent enough excuse to get a bike with S&S couplers....

i actually got blown off my bike this morning - literally blown sideways right off it and into the road :/ was trying to turn left downhill and leaning into the wind and it blew me off sideways uphill. was lucky with positions of cars. hella windy...

wow, thats unlucky and pretty lucky at once.

i once saw a teammate get blown off his bike in front of me racing up mt evans. he was only 120 pounds in 60 mph gusts though.

There's very little chance I'll ever be blown sideways off my bike by wind, because I always seem to be riding straight into it. No matter which direction I'm traveling.

i wonder if "work" is a decent enough excuse to get a bike with S&S couplers....

this is yr chance to get the cx frame you want- get a ritchey breakaway cx frame.

Those things are crazy expensive. Isn't it like $1000 for a frameset?

theyre not cheap, tho ive seen used ones pop up on craigs and ebay. s&s are also pretty expensive from what i recall. neither are considered user friendly for quick deployment from what ive read.

i think a cheaper folder is what is required here but im guessin