That Guy

Spring is just around the corner and with it comes more and longer rides. And more group rides. Have you ever noticed that there is always--or nearly always--one guy who shows up and works on his bike? His shifting will be maladjusted, or his tires will need inflating, or his headset will be loose, or... something. Always something. It's not even necessarily the same person every time, but there is That Guy.

I'll admit, I've been That Guy, before. It's embarrassing. What's worse, is that I've shown up late and been That Guy.

So, how do you avoid being That Guy? How can you be the one standing by, mocking the sorry sap who has to work on his bike at the trail head?

Here are a few suggestions:

Clean and lube your bike from time to time. Your chain isn't supposed to be that noisy. When you are cleaning your bike, take a moment to inspect it for damage, make sure that your wheels run true--and round--and check that your brake pads have sufficient material left.

Right before the ride, air up--or down--your tires. Make sure that their pressure is correct for the ride you are going on while you are still in your comfortable, dry, garage and using a comfortable floor pump--or, better yet, an air compressor.

If your shifting wasn't working properly on the previous ride, chances are it hasn't fixed itself. When you are doing the cleaning and lubing I mentioned above, adjust your shifting.

Finally, things do break on the trail and tires do go flat despite our best intentions. Remember the old Boy Scout motto, Be Prepared. Pack your own tube, tools and pump.

Understand that these aren't rules etched in stone. I've carried the pump for the group and have relied on others' pumps in the past. Usually, though, I've checked with the pump carriers before the ride--"hey, do you have a pump? I don't want to pack mine"--and received the OK ahead of time. I've also given out many tubes. Once is not a problem... but every week? Bring yer own!

So, don't be That Guy, maintain your bike and then open mock those that don't.

Flats

Recently, CyclingNews had an article on the state of road tubeless tires. Now, I love tubeless tires. I use them on my road bike, my mountain bike and I really wish I could use them on my 'cross bike--soon I hope.

I like them for a few reasons. First, since I use inexpensive tubes, the set up is lighter weight than my normal tire/tube combo. Second, they feel better at 95psi than my standard tire/tube do--more lively while still providing the vibration damping that I prefer on our chip sealed roads. Finally, they are pretty tough. I haven't had a flat on them... until now.

I knew, in an academic sense, that if I were to flat, I could pop out the valve stem and throw a tube in there. I did not know, in a very real sense, how easy or difficult that would be.

So, just in case, I have been dutifully packing a tube and CO2 inflater on every ride, secretly knowing that I'd never have to use them.

Then, last Saturday, near the beginning of a long ride, my front tire felt... odd. Because the tires are thicker than normal tires, they have more support, more structure to hold their shape as they go flat. Also, since the tire bead locks onto the rim hook, they don't squirm when flat. Finally, they lose air at a slower rate than a tube and tire combination. All of this conspired to make me wonder if I was losing air or losing my mind. I mean, something was wrong.

It turned out that I was more or less sane, and the tires was, in fact, losing air pressure. I could not find any debris in the casing or tread--no nails, no wire, no thorns, no glass. I pulled the tire and looked from the inside and found a pinhole. There was my leak.

In goes the tube, and on goes the tire. Now, you do not want to use tire levers on tubeless tires, if the bead gets damaged it won't make a good seal and will leak air. Since I am going to repair the tire, I want to keep the bead intact. It turns out that it was not difficult at all to put the tire back on with my hands alone. A quick shot with the CO2 and I was back in business.

One thing I hadn't thought of, I no longer had a tube--since there wasn't a flat one--to put in my seat pack, so I had to dig through my pockets to find enough stuff to put in there to keep my tools from rattling around.

All in all, it was as easy as fixing any other flat on the road. I didn't do anything that I wouldn't have done with a standard tube that punctured. I think that the fear of what to do in case of a flat is overblown.

I still stand by the use of tubeless tires in all aspects of cycling. I really feel that their benefit outweighs the slight drawbacks.

Quads

For the many years when all I did was mountain bike, I learned to pedal at a fast cadence and stay seated on the climbs. Many of the trails around where I live are fairly steep and loose--making it hard to climb out-of-the saddle. Also, once I started riding a full-suspension bike, I quickly learned to stay seated to be more efficient.

When I picked up road riding a few years ago I found that some hills were just too much to do seated-climbing on. Sure, I try and stay in the seat most of the time, so I don't wear myself out, but there are plenty of times where I stand up to sprint or stand up to hammer up a nasty hill. I've gotten used to, some times, using a slower cadence than I would on a mountain bike, and pushing harder.

On Saturday, I got out on my first road ride of the year. I didn't go particularly far--nor did I go at it hard. Yet, long before my ride was over, my quads began to burn and freeze up on me.

That's when I remembered. I've been on the rollers a lot this winter--when I wasn't on the Pugsley. I can't stand up on my rollers. I just spin. Sometimes I spin hard and fast, but mostly I just spin to get my heart-rate going.

Evidently, spinning doesn't work my quads.

And then it dawned on me: This is going to seriously mess up my bunch sprint-finishes against all my imaginary opponents.

A Winner

Our second Lactic Acid Threshold product giveaway has ended. It should come as no surprise that poster Craig has won the light for his neighbor, Susan. Craig, shoot me your address--james AT gearreview.com--and I'll get the light to you post haste.

In other news, if you haven't seen the video of the moonwalking gorilla, you need to. It goes a long way in showing why/how cyclists aren't seen. Joe Lindsey--over at Bicycling Magazing's Boulder Report--has a nice write up about it. I've attached it here, for your viewing pleasure.

Look Out For Cyclists Test

Posted to Bicycling by Double D on March 15, 2008

Click to Play | View Details

It's rather startling, really. It also, I think, helps explain why a really, really bright tail light, even run during the day, can help grab drivers' attentions and force them to notice you. I think that if the Gorilla was wearing a pink Mohawk it might have been more noticeable. Something to ponder.

More Tools

Last time I talked about tools and how they can help us with training--or in my case, just collecting numbers about my rides. Today, I'll add two FREE bits of software that help with that.

First, up, Google Earth. If you haven't played with Google Earth, you really need to download it now. It's free. What's nice is that it'll import route. What you need is either a way to convert whatever your GPS outputs into a .KML file, or you'll need a GPS that will export in that format. Run.GPS, that I mentioned last time, exports in .KML format. I used it last night on our weekly night ride--more about the rides next week. Importing the file gives this (click on the image for the big version):

Now, once it's in, you can change your viewing angle, so the hills stand out a bit more, like this:

You know, at the time it didn't feel like we went around the hill. I thought we climbed it. Huh.

The downside? Either the photography or the routing isn't perfect. Probably a combination of the two, though with tree cover, I'd bet money that most of the error is the GPS. This is what I'm talking about, you can see the gravel road we were on, but the route overlay doesn't follow it quite right.

All in all, this is a very cool way to visualize and share your rides--whether on the road or off road.

The second little bit of software is a website. T. introduced me to Veloroutes.org. This routing website is built for bikes. It allows you to create routes, with an elevation chart, and then export the route in Garmin's .GPX format. Once created, a route looks like this:

Both Google Earth--to visualize the ride you've done--and Veloroutes.org--to visualize a route your haven't done, yet--are ways to share your riding area with others and to help you explore your area a little better.

Tools

One of the concepts that was hammered into me while I studied engineering and physics in college was that of a toolbox of knowledge. We'd derive the equation for rotational inertia of an odd-shaped object and then the Prof. would say "now you have another tool for your tool box." Up to that point, I had thought of tools as physical implements--you know, a wrench. Preferably a BIG wrench. Now, I think of tools as anything that enables. A wrench, going back to that example, enables tightening or loosening a bolt. Big wrench = torque a big bolt. A heart rate monitor (HRM) enables you to monitor--quantifiably--your exertion.

If you are serious about training--which I am not--or if you are serious about collecting numbers about your rides--which I am, it's a sickness--then you probably know that there are things that measure power, heart rate, incline, where you've been, where you are going, the ultimate answer to the ultimate question, what you had for breakfast down to the last molecule, and so forth.


Add to that cross over from different areas of technology. You see, I have a cell phone with built in GPS. They are becoming rather common these days, and for good reason, it's pretty darn cool! Consequently, I've been looking for software to fully utilize this capability. I found one program called Run.GPS. It is specifically designed for outdoor enthusiasts. It tracks things like route, duration, elevation, speed, etc. Like you'd expect it too. So far, it's like any other GPS, right?

Wrong.

This thing yells at you. OK, yell might be harsh, but it tells you what's going on. It'll tell you your speed. It'll tell you your elevation. It'll even tell you how many calories you've burned--which is great for those of us on a perpetual diet. Now you'll know exactly when you've burned off that last donut.

You've seen pictures of the Pros using an earphone to keep in contact with the team car--see the image below. Picture curtesy of PezCyclingnews.com.

Now, in addition to wearing team kit for a team you don't belong to, you can run a earphone from your phone and look like you are keeping in contact with an unseen DS, when really it is just this program telling you that you are slow*.

So many tools to make us faster/fitter/better looking, should we choose to use them.

Or not.

*Run.GPS doesn't actually tell you that you are going slow. It tells you your speed and you decide if it's too slow or if 10mph is sufficiently fast, thank you very much.

Don't forget to leave a comment on the "You may already be a winner!" for your chance to win a Knog Bullfrog.

You may already be a winner!

Now that Daylight Savings Time is officially upon us, I have to try to ride in the dark. Oh, sure, I need lights on the first half of my commute in, but usually I use them in flashing mode any more. I'm sure that many/most of you are the same--unless you work the night shift, in which case I feel your pain... I really do.

Now, I want to help you, dear reader, in your endeavor to commute by bicycle and I happened to have a brand new, never used, removed from the packaging for photo taking only Knog BullFrog. This light is very similar to the Toad we previously took a look at. The main difference is that it is mounted horizontally, rather than vertically.

Now, here's what you need to do to bring this baby home. In the comments section, leave a message telling us why you need this light--how much it'll change your life. Jon and I will pick the best tale and this bright little sucker could be winging it's way to your abode--shipping on us, naturally.

Now the caveat: Open those residing in the United States only. Sorry guys, gotta keep the shipping cost down.

Edit: We'll announce the winner in one week, Monday, March 24th.

And Ode to Poor Weather

Living in Utah, most of the time I get the luxury of being a fair-weather cyclist. That is, I rarely have to deal with rain. (Of course the winter months are just indoor trainer/roller months--but that's the topic of many other posts--not today.) I'm okay with this. It means to me that I never have to wash my road bike as long as I ride enough to keep the dust off. I probably need to wash my mountain bike a couple times a year, but usually don't.

Speaking of maintenance, I'm pretty sure that I'm supposed to have my shocks overhauled once a season, at least, but I've never done it. Anyone have any opinion on this? I just keep hoping that by the time it really matters (2-3 years later), I can get a new fork/shock. (Although, my full-suspension bike is a Cannondale Jekyll--which means the shock mount is different than on other bikes. Dang you Cannondale! Looks like I'll need to upgrade the full bike when the time comes.)

So, today it is raining. I won't be riding today--mainly because I need to scrounge up some tires for my road bike and the mountains are, well, in bad shape. These excuses, however aren't the only thing keeping me off the road. I just don't want to ride in the rain, when I know it won't last.

On the other hand, I'm stuck inside alternately working, and staring out the window at the rain. Since I have to work anyway, at least I'm not looking outside--longing to be on my bike--not in this weather.

What I miss most about riding outside, though, is the rambling about. I can still get good workouts inside by pushing really hard on the rollers, but I love to go exploring on my bike. I love wandering around the rural communities and then trying to find my way back. I love finding hidden areas in the mountains where I can be alone and enjoy the quiet and solitude of nature.

Watching movies--although good for getting through a session on the rollers--just takes away from the whole biking experience.

Soon, I hope, I'm going to be out there enjoying the ride. Not today, though. Not in the rain.

The Moment You've Been Waiting For

Okay, everyone, breathe. The wait is finally over.


We just posted the Pugsley review. What can I say about this bike that I haven't said? It is unlike, probably, any other bike you've ridden and it will take you much further in the winter than an indoor trainer would. Honest. Go read it, but come back to read the rest of this post.

Speaking of being indoor, I spent an hour on the rollers this morning. Riding on rollers is a harrowing experience. Or was it just the bad acting in the movie I was watching: Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones? The world may never know.

Also posted, just in time for, um, winter. As it were. 

Anyway, just posted is a review of the Keen Blackcomb winter boots. They're both warm and bootish--making them good for winter, um, boot usage. Read it here.

I Hate Mud

There is a spot where I ride that necessitates avoiding when there is mud. It isn't mud so much as clay--clay that is only one step away from brick. It doesn't really wash off. It scrapes off. As such, there is no rubber known to man that it doesn't adhere to.

There is another place that has mud--real mud that is actually manageable--if a little slippery. It is to this second place that I first went.

Of course that place was covered with about three feet of snow. Evidently spring-like weather in the valley does not mean spring-like conditions in the mountains.

Here, then, is my lapse of judgement. I decided to try the other spot. The clay spot. Luckily, this time I didn't ruin my rear der. (may my poor X.0 rest in peace), and there were dry places--and even slushy places.

At one point, I was riding along a slope of  a hill and hit a patch of slush that slid my front wheel out. For some reason, my reaction to this was to slam my right knee into my stem as hard as possible. In retrospect, I should have just put my foot down--or even let my bike slide out and land me on the ground. Because, man oh man that hurt. Hurt like the last time I slammed my other knee into my handlebars while riding Slickrock trail in Moab. I had to sit down and take it easy because I kept coming close to blacking out--I get woozy that way.

So, I headed over to a gravel road--where there was neither snow nor mud and had a pleasant rest-of-the ride.

I hate mud. I think I'm going to ride on the rollers next.

For now, though, I have to scrape the mud off.

Bike Fit

The Problem

Like many people who refer to themselves as "cyclists," I have more than one bike. In fact, I don't know of anyone, personally, who claims to be both a cyclist and owner of a single bike. Oh, sure, there are the roadies who have more than one road bike, so they have a single type of bike, but that's not the same as having a single bike. Really. Ask your wife/husband/significant other and they will confirm this fact.

Here's the problem. I ride particular bikes in spurts. Most of the winter is spent on the 'cross bike, whether I'm riding on the road, or off of it. That bike fits me a particular way. As we move into spring, the road bike comes out to play -- it's rear tire gets switched from the Continental trainer tire to a pavement ready tire.

And the moutain bike gets cleaned up, tuned up, and ready for the longer epic rides that summer brings.

Here is the problem, every one of these bikes fits me a little differently. Their angles are a little different, the reach is a little different, the saddle position is a little different. Maybe I spend too much time analyzing my rides and equipment, but it always takes me a good week of solid riding to get really comfortable on a bike that I haven't ridden in a while. I can't just hop on and go. I have to tweak -- adjust the saddle height, angle, set back, etc. -- and fiddle. I have to readjust to the different posture.

Am I alone in this?

The Plan

I have two or three rather epic rides planned for this summer. All of them are off road and all of them will be done on my mountain bike. I want to be as comfortable on that bike as possible, since one of the rides will be longer than 10 hours -- all single track.

I'm going to commute on my mountain bike, as soon as the rain stops. Why wait until the rain stops? Fenders. Call me a wuss, but I'm not commuting in the rain without my full fenders. So, the mountain bike will have to wait.

But there's more.

Riding a mountain bike on the road stinks. The tires are heavy, the bike is heavy-ish, the rolling resistance is slightly less than riding though deep sand. But wait! My mountain bike has disc brakes. My 'cross bike has disc brakes. I'll mount my 'cross wheels -- shod with skinny 25C tires -- to my mountain bike! It should be quick and nimble. It should get my self used to the mountain bike. It should be weird and fun. Mostly fun.

It might, might, pique my interest in 29ers.



Nah.

To Fill Up Some Space

I think spring might come and winter end. No, I really do. I mean, we had a tiny bit of snow yesterday, and it was 19 degrees (F) this morning on my way to work, but I really think I'll soon get outside--and not to ride the Pugsley.

Which is, actually, kind of sad.

I'm wrapping up the Pugsley review right now, and I must say it has been some of the most fun I've had on a bike. My winter has actually flown by because of all the fun I've been having--a rarity for me in the cold, snowy months.

I think that before I strip it down and pack it up and ship it back, though, I'll try and get in a good mud ride or two. The mud around here can be just terrible, so I want to see if it's better on the Pugsley.

But, that's not all I'm going to do. I might actually go for a road ride. I think I've seen the road sweepers out and about, so it's now time I made use of my road bike again--only outside instead of in.

Which means I need tires. Desperately do I need tires. Why is it, by the way, that of all the tire brands out there you can find on sale, it seems to be 80% of the time Hutchinson road tires? I mean, I really like them, so I don't mind, but still, why? Don't they sell very well? Does anyone out there hate Hutchinson road tires (and here I'm talking about the nice road tires, not the $15 ones)?

Okay, enough rambling. Read my review (when I post it), then go buy a Pugsley and have a blast on it. It will make all your local standby trails fun again.

Fenders, Sweet Fenders

There are few accessories you can add to your bike that make riding year round dramatically better. Lights are one such item. Being able to actually see where you are riding is so nice. Fenders are another.

Living in Oregon -- on the wet side, no less -- I get to ride in the rain often. Now, while, they won't do much to keep you dry in a downpour, fenders will keep you dry after the rain has stopped and the streets are still wet. As a bonus, they work equally well off road as they do on the pavement. Case in point, this is my mountain bike after a wet off road ride:

And this is my 'cross bike after a very wet gravel road ride:

Not only do the fenders keep mud and water off of me, they keep the muck off of my drive train, prolonging the maintenance intervals. And the less time I need to spend fixing or cleaning my bike, the more time I have to ride them.

So what fenders do I recommend? First, where possible, I recommend full fenders, not the clip on type. I know that this isn't possible with many/most full suspension mountain bikes. Full fenders don't work very well with front suspension either. If you are looking at setting up a full rigid mountain bike, a 'cross bike or a road bike, full fenders are the way to go.

I've used both Planet Bike Freddy Fenders and SKS Chromoplast fenders. I like the front attachment on the SKS fenders as they allow the fenders to pop out in the event of something getting sucked into the wheel. I've actually had this happen -- I picked up something in my spokes -- with both types of fenders and my front Freddy Fender was destroyed, while the SKS just needed to have the stays re-inserted into the mount. The SKS also has two stays per side both front and rear, while -- at the time I got the fenders -- the Planet Bike's only had one per side up front. I see that their newer Cascadia fenders have two stays per side and also have a very nice mud flap. Hmm... I might have to get a set of those to try out!

As a bonus, Planet Bike donates 25% of their profits to bicycle advocacy, so supporting them helps to make the roads a safer place.

Whether you go with the SKS, the Planet Bike or even the costly wooden variety, full coverage fenders are a worthwhile investment that will make riding more enjoyable year round.

And they are easy to install.