Posted by Daniel Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:08:00 GMT
Posted by Daniel Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:18:19 GMT
Posted by Daniel Mon, 26 Jun 2006 13:37:31 GMT
Posted by Daniel Thu, 22 Jun 2006 15:11:32 GMT
Not too long ago I got a new bike pump. I had the previous pump since about '89. I liked it a lot, but then things changed. What changed? I had bought the pump when I got my mountain bike. Mountain bike tires are not inflated to a high pressure for the most part. Somewhere around 35 - 45psi most of the time (for the conditions/riding I do around here). So you're not asking the pump for a great deal of pressure, just some volume. And all was well. Then I got a road bike, which is a very different beast. Tires inflated to 125 psi. Lots more pumping and difficult pumping at that. Plus some minor changes to the presta valve and I was getting a workout just pumping up the tires of my bike. And I ride my road bike far more, since, well, there's roads everywhere around here.
But that wasn't the killer. The killer was the hose clamp. That little forked doohickey that holds the hose between uses. The old pump folds up somewhat, and in making that design work, they placed the tongs of the holder so that I, in stabilizing the pump with my right foot and knee have developed a small scar on my right thigh from the sharp edge of the clamp. Naturally, the greater pressure required by the road bike required a more violent pumping stroke, and so the scratch grew larger and more annoying. Plus, I wasn't getting the tires filled properly.
So off I went to my LBS, announced that I needed a new pump and threw myself upon their tender mercies. They gave me a nice deal on this jobby right here which has been working out great. Either my old pump always sucked or pump technology has greatly improved. The new pump is a joy to use. The gauge is easy to read, it takes only a few strokes to bring the tires up to pressure, there's a built in release valve so you get the pressure spot on if you care to, and the nice wide base provides for a stable platform. I can't believe what difference it makes to have a pump that works so easily.
If you've been struggling with an old bike pump and loath to spend the money on a good one (certainly I had some kind of mental block about replacing my old pump)... it's worth every penny. Joy!
Posted by Daniel Thu, 15 Jun 2006 21:15:36 GMT
You’d think that the problem of drinking water from a container would have been solved a long time ago, but alas and alack we have created as many new problems along the way as we have solved.
My personal issue relates to riding and drinking. For many years, the squishy, water splashing bottles that always seem to reek of plastic/chemicals were the only choice… as they fit into the holders on the bike. Sure, you get to support your favorite cause or otherwise advertise for company who provided the bottle, find every color under the rainbow, and various minor variations on the valve, but there wasn’t any improvement in the material the bottle was made from, and therefore no relief from the chemical smell or odor.
I only put water in these things, as putting anything else is just begging for them to smell of the combination of whatever you put in them and the plastic/chemical smell forever. Forgetaboutit.
So it was with some joy that I saw that Nalgene makers of various containers out of durable polycarbonate (which at least takes some steps toward eliminating carry over odors etc.) released the OTG which stands for, clevery enough, On The Go, which fits in a bike’s water bottle cage. Their advertisement even featured a Serotta bike, a high end, custom bike maker (I sigh and tell myself one day right about here). To the issue at hand however, it was with much glee that I picked up two of them. They have been serving handily ever since. Yes, they get scratched. The poly wears where the bottle holder grips it. I don’t care. Yes, I had to change the water bottle cage on my bike to keep them from rattling on a full time basis. Not so terrible. On the upside, they pour without requiring copious suction or squeezing. They clean up nicely (on the inside) and the the spout has a cover that can be operated with one hand. Excellent.
They’re not particularly good for drinking in the car because you have to tip them up to drink. Bad. I drink on my way to the park that I ride in and around a lot, to help with my hydration. Getting killed in a car accident on the way there because I was trying to drink the bottom half of the bottle contents is not helpful, since I’m supposed be improving my health.
So I was interested when Camelbak put out a new bottle with a bite valve. (I’d point you to it, but it’s a Flash deal) I always thought they had a great valve, the straw they include means that I can drink from the bottle without tipping it up (although you can remove it if tipping works better for you) and generally seemed like it was worth checking out.
I did so today and have the following comments. Yeah, it’s good for the drive over. Nice bite valve, modest amounts of vacuum, no tipping. On the bike, same things apply except for two caveats. The bottle doesn’t really fit into a bottle cage, although it’s close, it can I guess depending on your cage. Boo.
Fortunately, the opening to all these bottles have become somewhat standard as filter manufacturers want their stuff to work etc. etc. So the CamelBak top will fit on the Nalgene OTG. (BTW, it wouldn’t surprise me if Nalgene makes the CamelBak bottle, but anyway.)
So I put the top on the OTG and rode off. Two problems. One, the bite valve mechanism can be laid somewhat flat into the handle to protect it. It’s not particulary one hand friendly in that mode and is a bit of pain to operate. OK I’ll leave it unfolded says I, whereupon every bit of road grit and dust that can possibly attach itself to the moist and somewhat naturally sticky bite valve does. Sigh. So. The combo yields some benefits but is not 100%. (My wife informs me that the dust thing occurs in the car as well, so it just seems to be part and parcel of using whatever material CamelBak uses for their bite valves. Since I haven’t noticed any other downside, I’m chalking up it up to it is what it is.)
A simpler top without the fancy hanger but with a cover might be ideal.
You also have to purchase two bottles for every one you create. Not optimal.
I guess the design guys have some work to do still…
Posted by Daniel Thu, 15 Jun 2006 16:01:29 GMT
It’s hard for me to put together three days of reasonable weather, good schedules, and whatever magic is required to allow to bike three days in a row. But this week it happened. I’m not sure I can get a fourth day in, but I’ll try. Finally, enough riding to see some progress. Allez!
Posted by Daniel Wed, 31 May 2006 19:04:57 GMT
So Chris G. came up again today for a ride. I got to our starting point about 45 minutes before he did, so I did a fairly quick 9 mile warmup. While I was waiting back at the start, I decided to see how I was doing on the short hill that loops behind the lake. It makes a nice consistent test since a couple of years ago I could barely make it up that hill. I climbed strongly (for me that is) in third gear. I turned around, ran back, and would have repeated but Chris was there by then. He was feeling his oats after last weeks run (wefweshed was the term he used) and he went pretty good today. I was fairly toasted when we finished (the 25 mile mark for me). That was the longest ride of my season so far… and one of the faster ones. Allez! I’m hoping to repeat again next week.
Posted by Daniel Fri, 26 May 2006 18:09:40 GMT
I coaxed my friend Chris into going for ride with me yesterday. He hasn’t been riding yet this year, so we took it easy, but it is really a pleasure to ride with other folks. I ride alone most of the time. I wonder if I’ll get any time in over this long weekend?
Posted by Daniel Fri, 05 May 2006 12:28:16 GMT
I managed to get a 15 mile ride in yesterday. Not long, but the longest of the season. Good thing, I was able to crank it up to 21MPH on the (essentially) flats. That’s a good sign for this early in my season, I don’t believe I was able to do that at this point last year. Bad thing, I can’t even come close to sustaining that pace for any length of time. So overall the ride was slow but I think the limits have been pushed back, so that as I get more miles into my legs I’ll be better this year than last. For right now, that’s a lovely bonus to my health program. Allez!
Posted by Daniel Fri, 28 Apr 2006 17:08:00 GMT
I went for a quick ride today. Of course, since the bike was just tuned up, there was an annoyance that will bring me back to the shop. Truly minor, and it certainly won’t prevent me from riding, but I have no stats because what wasn’t working was the CycleComp. No minor adjustments on my part made it work… so it’ll be back to the store for some help. I hope to sneak out Sunday morning for the next ride. Hopefully a bit longer, even if I still have no stats, and if I’m smart I’ll ride a route that I’ve done before so that I have some clue as to what I’ve done.
Posted by Daniel Thu, 27 Apr 2006 13:06:00 GMT
In the U.S., National Bike Month begins in four days, featuring Bike-to-Work Week on May 15-19 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 19.
Right now, with gas at $3 per gallon in much of the U.S. and warm weather coming, it’s an ideal time to start riding your bike for daily transportation. You’ll save money and invest in your fitness.
For more information about Bike-to-Work Week and Day, check with the official sponsor – the League of National Bicyclists – at http://www.bikeleague.org/.
Posted by Daniel Fri, 31 Mar 2006 14:53:49 GMT
