WIWTBT Vol. 9

I've always known that I should stretch before and after exercise. I don't do it. Of course, that isn't the only reason why my legs get sore. I mean, they're bound to be sore when I'm strengthening them. It goes with the territory. Here's what I want to buy today, though:

A full-time massage person (masseur/masseuse?). 

I know the pros get massages all the time and I think that would be it. I mean, that's when you've arrived. Sure, almost anyone can pick up a carbon fiber bike on practically any street corner, but to have someone there, waiting for you at the end of your ride just to massage the life back in to your legs would be the ultimate.

Also, my legs are sore today, so it'd be kind of nice right now.

End Note: We mentioned Chain Love last week. Great site. If you're like me at all, you can hardly let 5 minutes pass between refreshing that page. And I thought I was addicted to Steep and Cheap. Chain Love is twenty times worse for me. And, when I'm not looking for the next good deal on it, I spend my time wondering how I'm going to pay for the stuff I will buy.

While looking at the site this morning, I noticed a brand of road tubes I hadn't seen before: Cutter. I couldn't find any information anywhere else on the web relating to this brand. I can only assume it's a house brand for Backcountry. Has anyone else seen "Cutter" as a brand of cycling gear?

WIWTBT Vol 8.

Anyone who has been "into" bikes long enough will eventually run into a problem of space. That is to say that, theoretically, there exist people who sell old bikes and only keep one at a time, but I have my doubts as to their existence. Most of us are trying to amass bikes. We're trying to build a stable of them. One mountain bike can't take the place of 5--not when every manufacturer is trying to increase revenue by creating more and different varieties.

At some point, each bike owner will hit the Bike Saturation point (BS). At this point, no more bikes can be purchased without things heating up.

Surprisingly, I haven't reached that point. I have 4 mountain bikes in the garage and two road bikes inside. Those are just my bikes, not the bikes of the children or that of my wife.

However, I can tell that point is near. Today's WIWTBT offers up a solution-albeit a round-about one. No, I'm not talking about those clever bike holders that lean against a wall and hold two bikes. I'm past that point. No, what I need to do is reduce the size of everything else in the garage so as to provide more room.

This minor "garage update", as I like to call it, will only cost me $12,000 plus licensing fees and registration each year.

Behold, the Smart ForTwo. (Smart, because it is small enough to make room for many more bikes without the need to park my car where I'll have to scrape ice and snow off it.) (Note, the picture on your screen is actual size... I think.)



I hope Yakima or Thule can fit a rack on it.

WIWTBT Vol 7.

Today's WIWTBT comes from Backcountry.com. The folks over at Backcounty finally have realized they were missing something. Namely, they were missing bike stuff. So, without further introduction, I present to you: Bike. That's right, Backcountry has an entire category dedicated to all things bike. 

While perusing the listings, I happened upon these Giordana Forma Bib shorts. I love these shorts. We reviewed them a while back. They're so comfortable. The chamois is very nice without being super thick--some companies' answer to a comfortable chamois. Unfortunately, they are pretty expensive. If you have the means, though, you'll be happy you bought them. I want to buy these for the day when mine finally wear out.

WIGITMT (What I Got In The Mail Today) Vol. 1

Yes, folks, you wouldn't believe it, but the very day posted about wanting this hat, I got it. My unseen benefactor? Non other than the illustrious Jan Tindall. This is history in the making, folks. It is unprecedented for a WIWTBT to turn into a WIGITMT, but there you have it.

Here's a picture of some stylish model showing it off.

And another view.

I'm happy to say, in addition, that it works great. Although it didn't happen to be raining when I used it on Saturday. It kept my head warm and kept some of the sun off my eyes. It was a very sunny day and, what with all the snow on the ground and all, made for a very bright day. Hopefully, we'll get more precipitation soon and I can test it out with snow actually falling from the sky. Naturally, I'll report back here my findings.

WIWTBT Vol. 6

As I look back on past WIWTBTs, I've noticed that I don't own any of those items. Hmm, this is a bad trend. No matter, I'm not the sort to be deterred and I will just push on ahead.

Today's item is traditional in what it is, but not in the materials used. But, before I go into what it is, let me tell you why I've never considered owning this, and why I need it now.

I'm a fairly fair-weather cyclist. In Utah, at least in the summer, this is an easy thing to be. It just doesn't rain that much. Now that I've started riding in the snow more, I've been caught in more than a few snow storms. After asking around about what's to be done to keep rain and/or snow out of my eyes as I ride, I was told to buy a cycling cap. In fact, that's what they're made for.

However, cycling caps are cotton. Cotton! I mean, in this [cycling] world of synthetics or wool, why would anyone in the industry create anything cycling specific made of cotton?!

Therefore, I have decided that when I get a cycling cap, it won't be cotton. I found exactly one that isn't. Here it is:

Surly Cycling Cap


It will fit nicely under my helmet and keep the elements out of my eyes. It might be a tad warm in the Summer, but I live in a desert and it really doesn't rain in the summer. Or snow.

I actually don't think they make this any more because I can't find it listed on Surly's site. Please don't rush out and buy so many that there are none left for me. That's all I ask.

WIWTBT Vol. 5

Today's item is, strictly speaking, not something I want to buy. In all actuality, I just want to own it. At $150, it's kind of hard to justify--that is until I crack my fancy-schmancy carbon frame by over-tightening something. Anyway, allow me to present, the:

Effetto Mariposa Giustaforza 2-16Nm Torque Wrench

If you find yourself with $150 too much in your checking account. Feel free to pick it up and send it to me. I'll even pay for shipping.

WIWTBT Vol. 4

Ah spring is here. I can tell because it's in the 30s again outside (though it was in the 70s a few weeks ago). What this means to me is that I can't pack up the rollers just yet. I never know when I'll be on them again.

Though I've mentioned before that I want a second set of wheels so I can ride my bike on the rollers without destroying my normal tires (right now: these), I actually have a 2nd bike that I end up using. Though old (~ 18 years old), it is fine for the monotony of the rollers.

However:
Last year, I bought this saddle to be more, ahem, anatomic, if you will. This isn't the saddle on my rollers. It turns out that when riding in one position (which is all I get to do while riding on rollers--to preserve my life), the saddle makes even more of a difference.

Which brings me to:
Buying another saddle like this is cheaper than getting new wheels.

Selle Italia SLK Saddle

WIWTBT Vol. 3

As you might have guessed, it is very easy to find things I want to buy. With the recent Nashbar and Performance sales (and the corresponding emails and print catalogs), I am bombarded with things I want. However, today I will list just one.

When mountain biking, I have a Topeak Alien. I love this tool. In fact, I often use it at home because it saves me from hunting around my garage for the right tools. However, on the road bike (when I don't carry a hydration pack on my back), I'd like something less bulky.

Today's item is thoroughly untested. No matter, I still want it. If it was tested, I'd probably have it, so it wouldn't find its way to a WIWTBT. This can be found at Performance Bike (click on the title).

E3 e-Tool Macro Multi-Tool:

WIWTBT Vol. 2

Saturday was beautiful--not at all like February should be. As such, I took the time to swap out the Hometrainer tire on my Synapse for a Hutchinson Fusion so I could head outside. The weather was perfect. Though I wore arm-warmers, I got away with short-fingered gloves.

Today, I woke up to around 2" of snow on the ground outside. Today is February again. If I'm going to ride, it'll be on the rollers inside. I need to swap out my tire again to do such.

Today, I want two things:
1. Ritchey Deep Section Road Wheels (available as front and rear wheels--not paired up, for some reason--at Bike Nashbar (click the banner on the right)). These are 50% off now, so the set can be had for around $225. They aren't fantastic, but Ritchey generally makes some good quality stuff for a reasonable price.

2. Shimano 105 10-speed Cassette. $59.45 at Nashbar. I need this to make the transition between bikes even easier. It'd have to be 12-25, just like my current Dura Ace setup.

Bonus item: I only have one Hometrainer tire right now. I'd get another from www.BikeTiresDirect.com (direct link) so I wouldn't be wearing out any road tires unnecessarily.

What I want to buy today (WIWTBT) Vol. 1

A new feature for Lactic Acid Threshold is "What I want to buy today". In it, I'll feature items I want to buy. You might also want to buy the same items, but that's merely coincidence.

Because I get hourly sale updates from Performance and Nashbar--reminding me of all the stuff I don't have, but want--I might just feature them heavily. However, I am leaving it open for branching out.

Today's item: Adidas Adistar Road Comp Shoe
$87.49


Though I've never used Adidas before, these look nice. I like the idea of a quick-lace system, and the vented carbon sole is a great feature. It ought to be light and stiff and cool. Right now, it is on sale at 50% off. Also, it comes in gold (pictured)--which would nicely match the spokes on my Topolino wheels. They even have my size: 9.5.