The Rivendell Question

Owning a Rivendell bicycle is a wonderful experience, not only because it's a great bike to ride, but also because it seems to draw the attention of ... well, everyone.  While my other bikes would occasionally get a "nice bike" or a wave, there's rarely a ride on the Hunqapillar during which someone doesn't stop to look at it and ask about it.  It is, indeed, a beautiful bike, and I certainly have no problem in talking about it with people.

People generally have very nice things to say.  Since everyone's different, it's fun for me to hear the different things that catch different eyes.  Sometimes it's the colors in the frame.  Sometimes it's the cool woolly mammoth headbadge.  Other times it's the bags and racks, or the fenders, or the handlebars and cork grips, etc.

There's one question, though, that seems universal whenever someone who is unfamiliar with Rivendell asks about my bike.  You Riv owners out there already know this question, and are already laughing.  It usually goes something like this:

"Wow ... cool bike.  How old is it?"

I get it ... really, I do.  You see, in our world filled with modern high-tech thick-tubed molded carbon fiber and aluminum bicycle frames, it's a rare sight to see one with skinny steel tubes connected with artistic lugs.  A classically-styled bicycle is ASSUMED to be old, especially one with fat tires, fenders, racks, and bags, ridden by a dude who's obviously not dressed for any kind of training or racing.

"It was built way back in November of 2011."  That's what I tell them.  They're always shocked, having expected me to tell them about how it was passed down to me by my great grandfather who brought it back from Austria during the war, loved it more than life itself, and kept it in perfect condition for the past 75 years ... or something like that.

Sometimes I sense a slight disappointment because I didn't have a better back story of the bike's special history.  More often, though, I find that people are happy to hear bikes like this are not only still being made, but also offered with the perfect mix of classic style and modern technology.

"That looks like pure joy to ride", said one man after looking it over.  

Exactly ... that's the whole point.  It was built to be enjoyed.  Great classic style never truly gets "old", especially when there's as much quality in the workmanship as in the style.  I'm looking forward to the day when someone asks me how old it is, and I can tell them this:

"It was built way back in 2011 ... that was more than 30 years ago now, but I've been riding it ever since ... and it's still going strong ... somebody else will be riding it after I'm gone, I'll bet ..."

Review: Schwalbe Marathon Dureme Tires!

The subject of tires can bring about a gigantic can of wormy debate.

Most of the debate exists around how one defines "great performance". For some, that means extra light, high-pressure, skinny tires with great grip and low rolling resistance for fast riding. For others, it means low-pressure fat tires with aggressive tread for dirt and rock navigation without slipping. For others, it means no flats EVER, and nothing else matters. Still others might define performance as being the cushiest, smoothest ride ever, without any major concerns of weight or speed. Your definition of tire performance may be en-"tire"-ly different. That's just fine ... and that's why there are so many different tires on the market ... to suit the many different needs of many different riders.

I've had just enough time riding a bike to finally form an opinion of my own regarding tire performance. It goes something like this (not necessarily in order):

• Lots of air for comfort. 
• Enough tread for mild trails and fire roads, but not too much for paved surfaces. 
• High puncture resistance. 
• Durable. 
• Folding bead preferred.

Notice I didn't use the word "fast" anywhere. I guess I'm over that. I figure any tire that fits the other criteria will be plenty "fast" enough for me. I also didn't use the words "light weight". With the same logic, I think any tire that fits the other criteria will be light enough. Also, I've never actually had a tire so heavy that I said to myself "wow, that tire feels heavy when I'm riding on it". I generally assume that if I'm slow, it's because it's ME ... not the bike or the tires. Besides, I'm not in a hurry, and a little extra effort won't kill me.

All that aside, I pretty much adhere to the theory that when something's right, I'll basically never notice it or give it any thought. It just sort of blends in and does its job so well that it doesn't draw attention to itself. It's a bit like adding reverb to a track in a music mix ... the right type and amount should not be actually "heard" by the listener, only a noticeable difference when removed. Well, at least that's my take on it ...

Back to the purpose of this post ... it was a beautiful day today, and I was out riding on a trail that had some rough spots from horse hooves, mixed with some soft sandy spots ... and for whatever reason, I realized how nicely my tires were handling it all.

Nice day for a ride on the trails ... how nicely my tires are handling this!

Seven miles or so on pavement to the trail ... and a few miles of mixed trail surface ... and throughout the ride, there was no thought about how my tires were working ... that is until the moment it popped into my head that my tires rolled so well everywhere. This wasn't the first time I'd taken this route, so I'm not sure why I thought about it this time ... maybe because it was so nice to never NEED to think about it. So I thought it might be a good idea to pass on the experience of the tires that I haven't thought about ... thus, in the event you're looking for a tire you won't ever think about, here's a review:

Here's my disclaimer:  None of the products reviewed here were provided to me by the manufacturer or any retailer for evaluation. Nope. I'm not one of those famous bloggers who gets stuff for free. I purchased everything with my own money, and without any sort of special interweb journalist discount, so you can rest assured that the opinions expressed here are unbiased and come purely through my own experience ... good, bad, or otherwise. That being said, should any manufacturers out there wish to provide some cool bike-related products for ... ummm ... testing and evaluation ... I would likely be open to offering my honest review. 

The Schwalbe Marathon Dureme is described by the manufacturer as follows:

This new Marathon is a dream. Incorporated in it is all of Schwalbe’s Evolution
Technology:

• HD Ceramic Guard. The safest protection belt for light weight tires.

• SnakeSkin. Much lighter than a rubber sidewall, but just as robust.

• Triple Nano Compound. Our best rubber compound for outstanding grip,

• easy rolling and long life.

We combined this high quality technology with a classic, versatile tread, which feels at home on any road: The Dureme is a breeze on tracks and rolls phenomenally easily on the road.

Schwalbe Marathon Dureme 26" x 2" on Velocity Synergy rim

I've been a Schwalbe fan for a few years now, since installing my first set of Marathon Plus tires on my Look carbon road bike after getting "tired" of flats. Everyone talked about how "heavy" they are, but at the same time, never had a flat. I tried them ... never got a flat ... and actually found them to be very comfortable for a high-pressure tire. When I got my Surly LHT, I put a set of Marathon Supremes on it ... and was very happy with those, as well (see previous review here). So, when putting together the component list for my Rivendell Hunqapillar, I was pretty sure it would be Schwalbe again, just not certain about the particular model.

If you look at my list above for my definition of "performance", then look at Schwalbe's description of the Marathon Dureme, it's easy to see why I chose that model. It has great puncture protection, good tread for mixed riding conditions, a "robust" sidewall construction, and a "long life" durable design. Plus ... it comes in a 26" x 2" size ... plenty of air for a comfortable ride. And ... a folding bead for easier installation and (in my opinion) better rim attachment.

The price for these tires was a bit of a shock at first. Actually, it's still a shock. They're expensive tires. Even for high-quality tires, they're expensive. But my experience with Schwalbe told me they would be worth the price, and when I thought about it, $150 for a pair of tires that will probably last for two years of great riding isn't really that much to spend. I spend that much EVERY MONTH for cable TV and Internet! Breaking the cost down, if they do last two years, it's only $6.25 per month and only 21 cents per day! I can't even buy a cup of coffee for 21 cents ... so for something that really makes a difference, it's quite a bargain. In the end, I really felt the Hunqapillar deserved a great set of tires, so I added them to the build list without hesitation.

Fat tires and fenders ... appropriate style elements of a Woolly Mammoth bike!

Keven at Rivendell concurred, saying this tire would be one of the best all-around tires available. They fit nicely in the Hunqapillar frame, with plenty of room for big fenders. We don't get a lot of rain where I live, but the fenders sure do help to keep the sand and dirt out of the drivetrain and off the frame.

Bright ... BRIGHT ... reflective stripe on the sidewall!

I've been riding them since I got the bike about three months ago, and they have "performed" perfectly for my needs ... which is to say I haven't given them much thought during any ride. That's a great thing, considering I've taken them on a variety of paved surfaces, trails, and gravel fire roads. The ride has always been smooth and comfortable, regardless of the surface, and the tread seems to be just right ... rolling well on pavement, digging in just enough on the trail. I looked at the tread today after three months of almost-everyday use, and it shows virtually no signs of wear, except for being a little dirtier than when it was new.

Marathon Dureme Tread: sure-footed on trails, smooth on pavement

In contrast to the Marathon Supremes mounted on my Surly LHT, I find the Marathon Dureme to roll just as well on the road (for the riding I do), but much better on trails, where the Supremes tend to slide a bit in loose or sandy conditions. The Supremes also make a bit of noticable noise on smooth roads, like a medium-pitched hum. This doesn't happen with the Duremes, which is odd, since there's more tread ... so I'd think the road noise would be greater. As far as comfort, I find them both to be about the same ... nice and smooth, very forgiving of bumps and cracks in the road. They are both rated for the same load, which is 140kg per tire, or 280kg for the pair. That's 616 pounds of load capacity ... more than I could ever carry ... so they're certainly strong enough for whatever I'll do with them. They're also both rated for the same air volume, which is 30-70psi. I generally inflate them to 50psi and ride without worrying about it. I like it that way, and don't really find a need to modulate air pressure for different terrain, although I'm sure the traction would be better for more off-road riding with lower pressure, adding more air back for speedier pavement riding. With these tires and a good set of tubes, I find that I only need to add air about once every 2 weeks, and even then it's just to top them off ... a nice benefit of lower pressure tire systems. As a side note, Schwalbe tubes really do hold air better ... just sayin' ... try them for yourself and find out.

30-70psi for the 26" x 2" model ... 50psi works for just about everything!

To say I like these tires because I haven't thought about them sounds awfully lackluster as a review, but the truth is, that's why I really LOVE them! To have a tire that always rolls well, regardless of the terrain, never gets a flat, and holds a lot of cushy air means I never really HAVE to think or worry about them at all ... and that's a truly beautiful thing!

Have a great weekend!!

Happy February!!

This year is already moving fast. It's difficult to believe we've already entered the second month of 2012 ... and even more difficult to think that it's the year 2012. Wow. Aren't we supposed to be driving cars that fly and perform self-navigation so we simply sit and await arrival at our destination like the Jetsons? Maybe that's still a bit down the road.

In any case, being that it's now the beginning of February, this is the time of year when the holidays are all over, but it's still not yet Spring. And, although this Winter has been awfully mild here in the good ol' USA, the sun still sets early, and we aren't getting quite enough of the natural vitamin D we need to feel good. In addition, the bills from our extravagant holiday expenditures have now arrived, we're looking at the decorations that still haven't been put away, and  that overgrown chipmunk in that famous town has apparently seen his own shadow and given us the royal groundhog middle finger of a longer winter ahead as he crawls back into his den, where he has a comfortable supply of pizza and beer. So, with all of that happening, unless you live for the Super Bowl (did I mention pizza and beer?), this week can be downright "blah". FYI, I do turn on the Super Bowl, but my watching may be a bit blasphemous. You see, I watch ONLY the commercials, which are the very best part of the whole thing, and go about my normal day in between. I do, however, have pizza and beer ... to celebrate those incredibly clever and extremely expensive commercials.

Back to the point ... February, especially the first week of it, can sometimes leave us (and by "us", I basically mean "me") feeling a little bit "gray" ... like this little fellow I saw a few days ago:

Don't be sad ... your chubby cousin said it would only be six more weeks of Winter!

I don't like feeling gray ... which is why I like to ride a bike. Heck, just looking at my Hunqapillar begins to bring a little color into my otherwise gray day:

Bring on the color ... Bring on the Funq(apillar)!!

Although it might be tempting to go sit at the bar ... what makes me feel better is the view from my "bars":

This winter thing isn't so bad after all ... in fact, it's pretty nice today!

It always works, and I always feel better after a good ride. I come home with the energy to do the things I didn't want to do earlier, like the major office and house cleaning at the top of my list ... and putting away the last of the holiday decorations. And it seems that while I'm riding, the plan comes together in my head for getting done what I thought impossible before I left the house.

Maybe riding a bike does the same for you? If not, just get outside for a bit. Since the weather has been so mild, there are plenty of things you could do:

You could go surfing!!!

If you don't want to get wet, you could just go and watch the waves!

You could even learn to fly ... (or maybe just watch the birds)

Okay ... maybe you don't live near a large body of water. The point is ... get some fresh air. It will do good things for your spirit!

Back with more soon, including some reviews of stuff. But first ... I have to finish the cleaning and organizing of the house and office. Good thing I went for a nice ride this morning ...

Mini Reviews: Brooks, Bell, and Brilliant Mirror

This morning brought sunshine and the promise of a good ride ... so off I went in search of clear paths and trails. And then I saw this:

Yep ... path still flooded.  Three days now ... stupid flooded path!

If you read my previous post, you'll know that there's no way I'm heading toward the "Wind Tunnel From Hell" again ... and I didn't really want to ride all the way back to where I started to take a completely different route. So, instead, I took a few photos of some things on my Hunqapillar that bring pleasure to my rides ... perhaps you'll give them a try for yourself.

Here's my disclaimer:  None of the products reviewed here were provided to me by the manufacturer or any retailer for evaluation. Nope. I'm not one of those famous bloggers who gets stuff for free. I purchased everything with my own money, and without any sort of special interweb journalist discount, so you can rest assured that the opinions expressed here are unbiased and come purely through my own experience ... good, bad, or otherwise. That being said, should any manufacturers out there wish to provide some cool bike-related products for ... ummm ... testing and evaluation ... I would likely be open to offering my honest review.

First, there's my saddle.  It's a Brooks B17 Select.  You can get them from many dealers, including Rivendell. The saddle is the same size and shape as the Standard B17 and B17 Special, but is made from organically raised cattle hide, which results in a thicker, more robust and durable (claimed) leather.

From the Brooks website:

This version of the B17 is made with our extra tough, organic leather for high mileage cyclists. It also features our hand hammered copper rivets.

Unlike the other B17 versions, the Select is not dyed or tanned, instead left in its natural color. This is what it looked like out of the box, after one initial coat of Proofide (the Brooks-approved saddle conditioner):

Brooks B17 Select on it's first ride (after 1 coat of Proofide).

And this is what it looks like now, after almost two months of riding:

Brooks B17 Select after almost two months of riding ... aging nicely!

You can see it's a little darker, wearing in to a beautiful tone. That's one of the reasons I felt the urge to buy this saddle for my Hunqapillar. Natural leather ages in a wonderful way and seems to just look better with time. There's nothing wrong with dyed or tanned leathers ... I just like the natural aging process better.

I have some other Brooks saddles, including another B17, a B68 (wider), and a Team Pro (narrower). I like all of them, and originally planned to move one of them to the Hunqapillar when it arrived. But as I was waiting for it to be built, I came across the B17 Select, and something just told me it was the right one for this bike. The beautiful natural leather and hammered copper rivets seemed to be more appropriate, and the description of the "extra tough organic leather for high mileage cyclists" sounded like the right idea.

The choice was not wrong. In fact, I couldn't be happier. This is, by far, the best saddle I've ever owned ... and the most comfortable. Better than any of my other Brooks models, and better than any other brand I've had the pleasure (or pain) to sit on. Although the leather is noticeably thicker and stiffer, it also has a better "give" when I'm riding it. It's difficult to describe, and I can't offer any reason for the sensation. Brooks saddles have a reputation for needing a lengthy break-in period where it will be very stiff as it gradually shapes to you during your rides. I've experienced that on the other models I have, but somehow not on this one. It has been very comfortable from the start, even on longer rides. I can just now see the beginning of the shaping on the saddle top after almost two months, so it is still breaking in ... and continues to be even more comfortable each time I get on.

Another thing I've noticed is that most standard Brooks saddles have a tendency for the side "wings" or skirts to spread out from the pressure when you sit on them. For this reason, like many other Brooks owners, I've had to punch or drill a few holes in the skirt and tie the sides together to prevent the saddle from prematurely sagging, or from just being annoying when the skirts brush my thighs . The Select, on the other hand, seems to retain its shape under pressure. I'm guessing there may come a day far in the future that I may need to perform the same skirt-tying procedure, but I can't see it being necessary any time soon.

In short, the B17 Select is a saddle purchase I will not regret, unlike many saddles before it. The place your bum perches as you ride is critical to your comfort. It deserves some effort to find the right shape, size, and material. If you like leather saddles, and think you might like to give a classic Brooks saddle a try, take a look at this one. It is a bit expensive, but very much in line with premium saddles from any company ... even a bit less than many other top-of-the-line models from quality brands. From what I can tell so far, it will last for many years, and continue to get even better with time.

Next up is a simple little thing that doesn't cost much, but is incredibly useful and always brings a smile to whoever gazes upon it. It is my Crane Copper Bell.

Pretty! Ignore the man in the reflection ... he's trying to be artistic with his photo-taking.

When you need to alert someone that you're approaching, you could simply yell "ON YOUR LEFT" at the top of your lungs, scaring the pants off anyone who might be in the way. I've tried that, and it almost works sometimes ... but mostly just gets me dirty looks. Such a vocalization seems to say "Get out of my way", which is never met with cheerfulness. On the other hand, the quite loud, but very cheerful sound of a properly made bell like the one in the picture above says "Pardon me ... may I pass?" I've yet to have anyone give me a dirty look when they hear my pretty bell. Yes, I said "pretty." Dudes like pretty things, too.

I really love the look of the classic and timeless Japanese bells. They come in brass, aluminum (silver), and the copper you see above. The striking mechanism is available in two styles. The one I have is a very simple tightly wound coil spring with a brass "hammer" end that collides with the bell with just a light flip of the finger ... easy and quick to do whenever a greeting or alert is called for. The other style ("Lever Strike" models) is a rigid metal piece anchored with a wire spring that requires a more deliberate action to press the striker and release. I prefer the simple spring, but either is effective and looks wonderful. There are also different sizes of the bells. The one I have is a smaller model, with a slightly higher pitch. The larger models have a deeper pitch and are a bit louder. Choose as needed for your ringing environment. The clamp that attaches the bell to your bike also comes in different forms. Mine has a simple metal clamp that is secured with a bolt, and will fit any tube from 22 to 26 mm in diameter, which makes it versatile for attaching to handlebars or quill stems as you see in the photo. I've added a strip of cloth handlebar tape under my clamp to prevent any possible scratches on the stem, but this is purely a cosmetic choice, and is not necessary for attachment. The bells are also available with a more modern forged aluminum clamp, pictured here, if you prefer. A third option is for the bell to be mounted on a headset spacer for direct attachment to either a threaded or threadless stem. Velo Orange is the the only source I'm aware of for this option, although there may be others. I've used this method on my other bikes, and it works very well, allowing selective secure placement, much like the clamp version in the photo.

Crane bells are available from lots and lots of bike shops and online retailers. Rivendell carries some, but is reducing some of their inventory, so you may not find all sizes or colors. Universal Cycles and SOMA Fabrications are also good sources for a wide selection of bells.

The ring of a bell is an almost universal greeting that alerts people to an approaching bicycle, and does it in a pleasant way. It's also a great way to just say hello as you pass another person, whether they're on a bike, pushing a stroller, walking a dog, or jogging. It almost always results in a smile. The only possible negative with this particular model is that the bell occasionally rings itself when riding over especially bumpy areas, since the coiled spring is lightly tensioned. At first, it was a tiny bit annoying, but I've grown to like it ... as though my bike creates a little music when the going gets rough. The "Lever Strike" models will not do this, so if you prefer to avoid the phantom ringing, get one of those. I happen to prefer the easier ringing of the spring models, and don't mind the bonus music.

The last item I'd like to tell you about is one of those things that took a while for me to purchase, not because it's costly, but because it required letting go of my insecurity and thinking it would somehow make me less "cool". Once I gave in and got one, I realized that its benefits far outweigh any insecurity I may have once had ... and now I absolutely have to have one on every bike I own. The item of which I speak is the UltraLight German Mirror.

UltraLight German Mirror ... it's aerodynamic!

Another use for a mirror: taking photos of yourself taking a photo ... now THAT's art!

For me, the idea of putting a mirror on a bicycle meant that I would officially become a nerd. At the same time, if I had to negotiate streets with cars and silent hybrids, and bike paths with crazy dogs and even crazier roadies who refuse to announce their passing until they're actually passing, it was something that I felt I really needed to try.

It was Rivendell's product description that put me a little more at ease and prompted me to buy one. It was very easy to install (and remove if necessary), easy to adjust, and stayed put once I got it in the right position. It mounts with a simple flexible plastic band that tightens into a clamp with a brass screw, which makes it adaptable to any handlebar type, as well as other places on the bike, such as a fork leg (seriously!) or even a front rack. The mirror itself is attached to a ball socket joint with a screw clamp for easy positioning.

Although I did have some doubts, it didn't get in the way of my hand placement on the bars. And it didn't look as dorky as I thought it might. It has made my awareness of traffic and surroundings better, with just a quick glance to see what may be coming from behind in the distance. The curvature of the mirror surface is just enough to provide a wide field of view without being too distorted. It is also extremely durable, dare I say "unbreakable" (a good thing with the whole 7-years-of-bad-luck-mirror-breaking problem). I now have three of them, and they have all survived being brutally bashed in doorways, banged on fence rails, and assorted other encounters, with no signs of damage whatsoever. The mirror just pivots on the ball joint and/or handlebar clamp, needing only a re-adjustment back to normal position and I'm back in business.

I still double check by turning my head before I make a move to the left in traffic, just as I would when driving a car. A mirror alone doesn't always reveal everything, and there can be blind spots on a bike as much as in a car. However, the mirror does let me have a more continual awareness of what's approaching behind me and passing. A little extra awareness is a good thing.

If you think a mirror might be your ticket to Nerdville, don't worry. Give this one a shot. It's inexpensive, and easy to remove if it doesn't work out for you ... and who knows, you may just find that you like having a better, faster, wider field of vision without always having to turn your head completely around to see what's behind you!

That's it for today! Enjoy your ride, if you get to go out ... I understand there are some pretty bad storms going on out there, so be careful!

Hunqapillar Touch-Up and Epic Crazy Bobcat Story

As you may recall from a previous post, I experienced the worst horror an owner of a new bike can possibly experience. Yes, my beautiful Hunqapillar was brutally scratched for the very first time. The villain in this most heinous crime, as you may recall from that previous post, was the evil chainsuck, which left behind a most hideous scar:

Damn you, chainsuck!

Fortunately, it's in a place where it would only be noticed if you're really looking for it. Nevertheless, it is still a painful sight.

After giving myself a couple of days to recover from the anguish, I knew I had to look at it again, assess the damage, and push forth with some sort of treatment. You see, the Hunqapillar frame is made from fine quality steel. Fine quality steel provides a wonderful strength, durability, and ride quality that help make the Hunqapillar the amazing bike it is. However fine the quality, though, steel is still steel ... and what does bare steel do when exposed to the elements? That's right ... it rusts. So, to prevent such a calamity, fine quality steel must be covered with a protective coating of paint or powder coat. The Hunqapillar is hand-painted, and an excellent job was done on my frame. I didn't want even the slightest possibility of any scratches to open up the steel to oxidation, especially since I ride near the ocean virtually every day.

So, after sobbing one last time in a fetal position on the garage floor, I picked myself up and begged my better and more attractive half to accompany me to the local hardware store. She had things to get, too ... and our only car belongs to her, since I sold mine to be like David Byrne, who rides bikes but does not own a car (photo courtesy of Bike Snob NYC).

According to Bike Snob NYC, this man does not own a car

The hardware store had a small selection of rust-preventive enamel paints, including one that was labeled "Medium Gray", so I grabbed a tiny can of that, along with a set of artist brushes to apply it.

Yeah, that's right ... I'm gettin' ready to get artistic and stuff

We then got the paint supplies needed for my better and more attractive half's office project, for which she chose a very artistic white primer and fine-bristled foam roller. Then we browsed the tool section to ogle the various socket wrenches, rubber mallets, and bench vises, then checked out and proceeded to the local Ralph's, where we were charged for 3 boxes of Kleenex when we only bought 2, but were not charged for the special bottle of eucalyptus shampoo. We then returned home. Is it just me, or are some of my sentences getting very long?

Well, after sending my better and more attractive half off to the office with a nice snack of organic oatmeal with greek yogurt and blueberries, and providing the hungry dogs with food and a nice walk, I set out to the garage with my paint and brushes to tackle the task at hand ... touching up the Hunqapillar scratches with some rust-preventive paint. I selected a brush, opened the can of paint, stirred well, sobbed one more time while looking at the scratches, and was ready to begin.

My chosen brush and nice shade of medium gray ... stirred, not shaken

I applied the paint to the scratches and admired my work. Perhaps "admired" isn't the right word ... more like saying to myself "It's a good thing you didn't want to be an artist."  In any case, it was done, and although the paint color isn't a great match (or even a good one), the Hunqapillar frame is protected.

After touch-up. Paint always dries darker, right?

Bikes get scratches ... it's just a part of life, unless you never actually ride your bike. Grant Petersen, owner of Rivendell Bicycle Works, who made my Hunqapillar, has said (paraphrased from memory) that a bike with scratches is a sign of a bike that is loved and used well. I believe that to be true, but still this first one was difficult.

Usually with scars, there's some kind of interesting story of an epic event to accompany them. Although I've documented my epic chainsuck incident, I think if anyone asks, I'll offer a more exciting tale ... something like this:

"While riding along the trail one hot summer day, I spotted a crazy bobcat who began to chase me.

No, not this kind of bobcat ...

Yeah ... THIS kind of bobcat!! Look at his crazy eyes ...

I sped up, pedaling as fast as I could around the curve of the trail, heading toward the creek where I knew the bobcat wouldn't follow. He was gaining on me, but I raced on. I could see that he was eyeing my possum wool socks, thinking they might be small animals attached to my ankles, making a nice mid-day meal. Just as he was about to attack, I lifted the handlebars as I shot out over the creek to safety. The bobcat managed to get one razor-sharp set of claws out to my leg, but missed and instead clawed the chainstay of my bike, which resulted in the scratches you now see. I made it safely away on the other side of the creek, but my bike bears the scars of that close call."

Yeah ... that's the ticket ...

See you next time!
 
 

Big Waves and Hunqapillar Love

Given yesterday's mechanical issues with the Hunqapillar, I began the morning with some careful chain cleaning and lubrication. I mentioned in yesterday's post that the chain was relatively new and couldn't really be completely fouled yet. This had something to do with some of Sheldon Brown's sage advice that a new chain is coated with factory lube, which in his opinion is as good as it gets ... and one should be good to go for quite a while with just that. Well ... I would have to say now that, although his advice is generally stellar, in this case I think he's wrong. With not a huge number of miles on it with the factory lube, my chain was thick and rather stiff, and that factory lube seemed like some kind of gel coating that magnetically adhered any kind of dirt that touched it. I've been pretty good about wiping it clean, but this time it looked like I hadn't touched it in months. So I cleaned it thoroughly and applied some more appropriate lube for my conditions here. The chain felt immediately more flexible, looked nice and shiny, and shifted through the cogs and chainrings like butter. Much better.

Having spent a bit of time on maintenance, I lost some of my ride time ... but I felt it was important to get down to the harbor today, as the morning weather people all offered warnings of high surf advisories, which means there might be some good photos to be taken. So I grabbed my camera and headed out.

There was considerable traffic on the way to the Ocean Institute where I thought the coolest photos would be. As I approached the beach and tide pool area, I understood why. It seems my idea of watching the waves and snapping photos was not a unique one ... there were lots of people already there, many camped out in folding chairs:

People, dogs, cameras ... wave watchers, all

I was actually one of the late arrivals, barely getting a good place to park the Hunqapillar and take some pics. Several people rode bikes there, every kind imaginable, including the racy-looking fellow below with his Lynskey Titanium steed and full matched team kit (whatever you do, don't call it an "outfit"). He complained that he hadn't brought his good camera, although I'm not sure where he'd put it while riding ... couldn't see any bags or racks on that very nice bike, and his jersey pockets were already stuffed with stuff. I, on the other hand, had my camera, tool kit, picnic blanket, and coffee ... and had room to spare in my saddle bag. Of course, he did seem to get up that hill on the way out a TINY bit faster than me ... and by "tiny", I mean that he was likely home, showered, eating lunch, and watching soap operas before I actually crested the hill. But at least I had my photos ...

Mountain bikes, cruisers, city bikes ... even titanium race machines!

The object of everyone's attention was the ocean, which was kicking up some pretty heavy swells and waves. The photos below are misleading, because there's no real point of reference to show how big the waves are ... but you'll notice there's no one surfing today, in contrast to the previous posts, where there was always someone on a board.

Normally you'd see some huge rocks where those waves are crashing

Just as I snapped this, the water swelled up around the rock in the distance, which is about  20 feet high

These waves are actually 12-15 feet high, or so the Ocean Institute people told me

Pictures can't talk, but the sound of the water hitting these rocks was AWESOME!

Since I didn't have a lot of time (I do actually work, you know), I headed back home ... but on the way, I grabbed a shot from above the harbor. The arrow in the photo below shows where I was when I took the photos above ... and to the left is a wave crashing over the break wall. Compare the size of that wave to the people standing to the right to get an idea how big the waves are today. Click on the image (or any of them) to get a larger view.

See those tiny people? Compare them to the waves for size ...

That's it for today ... more riding and stuff next week, if not sooner. Hope your new year is off to a great start!!
 

WTF? Or... When Balance Shifts to the Dark Side

Zen (and much of this here blogular posting) is about the pursuit of balance, which by definition, is an even distribution of forces to create equilibrium. Yeah, okay. Since yesterday's post portrayed a most beautiful, nearly perfect day of weather and riding (rather heavy on the NICE side of the scale), I should have expected today's ride would include some not-so-perfect attributes (the NOT NICE side of the scale).

I did not prepare myself.

The weather appeared just as nice as yesterday, dare I say, even better. Little to no wind, sunny, and very warm. Wanting more of yesterday's beautiful ride, I grabbed the camera and shot out the door.

The ride began nicely, and I headed down to the beach to get on the bike path, deciding today to head inland for a change of scenery. I hadn't gone that way for a while, focusing more on the beautiful coastline area of late. As I proceeded down the path, a bit of headwind picked up, making the pedaling slightly harder, but not enough to be unpleasant ... and I figured that would mean I'd have a tailwind for the return trip later. Remember that statement, okay?

As I got to the 5 Freeway underpass, I found this:

WTF?  Someone has a faulty calendar

I checked my cell phone to confirm that it is indeed January 5th.  According to this sign, the path should be open now, since it's AFTER December 30. But still, sadly, the path is closed ... blocked by a concrete barrier ... preventing me from pursuing my chosen route inland to see the cows and horses further up the path. It's not so much that my route was interupted, but that this bike path has had one closure or another since January 2009. It's irritating, because this path, when not closed with construction, provides a continuous 8-mile stretch of riding with no streets or traffic to contend with, and connects Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, as well as Mission Viejo via a secondary connected path. When it's closed, getting from one town to another requires navigating some fairly busy streets with drivers who aren't aware of the no texting or talking on the cell phone laws, always in a hurry, and rather annoyed by cyclists in general. It's certainly possible, but not nearly as pleasant, nor as fun, since the ride is mostly about staying safe and avoiding obstacles, rather than enjoying the scenery.  Anyway ... here's why this part of the path is currently closed:

5 Freeway off-ramp construction and Levee reinforcement

I understand this need to be done ... but does it have to take so long?

Okay ... so I didn't get to ride where I really wanted to go. No big deal. Lots of other things to see. I turned around and headed back toward Dana Point and the beach area. Along the way, I discovered that I was riding into a headwind ... again. Yes, that's right. It shifted while I stopped to take construction photos. Headwind riding inland ... and headwind again riding to the beach. Go figure. Looks like the universe required more effort from me today, since it was so perfect and easy yesterday.

Still being positive, I stopped mid way back to the beach, remembering that one reason I wanted to head inland is to see the mountains. As beautiful as the ocean is, I never tire of seeing this:

Saddleback Mountains in the distance ... on clear days, this is breathtaking

After the mountain viewing stop, I turned around to head up the little hill out of the park where I took the photo. I hadn't downshifted from the big front chainring on the way in, so I pedaled soft and gently moved the lever ... and then something very bad happened.  Chainsuck.  What is chainsuck? It's when your chain sticks to the bigger chainring as you attempt to shift to a smaller one, and then wraps itself around the ring, jams into the chainstay and basically stops all forward motion. There are many causes for this ... shifting improperly, bad derailleur adjustment, generally being stupid about when you shift, dirty inflexible chain, or any combination. In my case, it is fair to say my chain wasn't freshly cleaned ... but it wasn't completely dirty, either ... and the bike is only 45 days old, so the chain can't be completely fouled already. However, I hadn't wiped it down from yesterday, and there was a bit of sand in some of the links. Probably more likely is that I attempted to shift with too much pressure on the pedals while going uphill with a slightly dirty chain, and in a slightly odd combination of middle front ring and small rear cog. I could also just be an idiot when it comes to shifting. In any case, freeing the chain was no big deal. However, it was after freeing the chain that my worst nightmare presented itself. When the chain jammed into my chainstay, it caused ... horror of horrors ... the first scratch on my Hunqapillar. I nearly sobbed right there on the path:

Damn you, Chainsuck!!!

GREAT!!!!! Now I have to go and get some gray touch-up paint or fingernail polish to fill the scratch. Well, there had to be a first scratch, right?  There always is ... and it's painful, but I'll get over it.

I picked myself up off the gravel from my fetal position, and got back out on the path, heading toward the beach and then home. I'd gone a couple of miles and started to shift down to the smallest ring in preparation for the steepest climb when I noticed I could not shift to that ring. WTF?  This is not good. Why can I not shift to the small ring? The shift lever would move all the way down until it could physically move no further, but the derailleur would not move far enough to guide the chain over the small ring.  I scratched my head for a moment as I got concerned about my new bike having issues. I thought perhaps the front derailleur got bent from the earlier chainsuck. Nope ... looks okay, and straight. And it can't possibly be the shift cable. If anything, the cable would stretch, not get shorter. I noticed there was considerable tension on the shift cable with the lever all the way down, and concluded that the only way for this to be happening is that the entire derailleur had gotten shifted up a few millimeters during the chainsuck incident, which would cause the shift cable to to be pulled tighter, which would then cause the derailleur cage to be limited in how far inward it could travel. I took a look ... and sure enough, it was sitting quite high above the chainrings. The clamp had shifted up on the seat tube.

First a huge scratch, and now THIS?  Damn you, Chainsuck! 

I got out my toolkit, loosened the clamp and re-positioned the derailleur ... then I was back on the road. Glad I always carry my toolkit ...

Riding back up through the park hills toward home, I began to relax again, and noticed how blue the sky was ... how clear the harbor view ... the cool trees in the park ... and the ride went from headwinds in both directions, path closures, chainsuck, and derailleur bumping to this:

Bright green sprawling pine

Clear sky and blue water

A wisp of clouds over a clear coastal view

Gnarly tree branches

More gnarly tree branches ... amazing, the shapes they take as they grow

And once again ... balance is restored. In the words of the great philosopher Jed, "Y'all come back, now ... y'hear?"

Great Day in Dana Point!

I mentioned in the last post how nice the weather has been ... well, it just keeps coming. Today was almost 80 degrees at the peak, sunny, and absolutely beautiful. So I grabbed the camera and an insulated Kleen Kanteen full of Stumptown coffee, hopped on the Funqapillar, and headed down to the Dana Point Harbor for a great ride and some nice pics.

Beautiful view at the Ocean Institute with Seagull Fly-By greeting

Surfers were diggin' the higher-than-usual waves

Whoa, dude ... is that a huge rock under the wave ahead of you?

I never learned to surf, myself ... but this sure looks fun

SUP'ers were out in force in the Harbor

The Brig Pilgrim Pirate Ship ... ready to set sail ... take a ride when you visit!

Gotta love the complex sail rigging ...

The Harbor water was absolutely stunning today ... bluer than blue

After a ride around the Harbor, I headed on down the road to Doheny Beach for a slightly different view of the ocean and its visitors of the day:

Another stunning view of blue water, birds, and hazy fog-clouded mountains

Smaller waves here, but the surfers were still enjoying them

More SUP'ers ... I just HAVE to try that sometime ... looks like fun!

I love my copper bell ... hidden in the reflection is me in shorts ... in January!

Lots of people out enjoying the sun today, riding bikes to lunch at the beach

After enjoying some of that Stumptown Coffee (the "Hairbender" blend, with a little vanilla added), I rode back into town, up through the hills in Heritage Park, where I generally get quite tired, since it's fairly steep and always at the end of my ride. Funny today, though, I was about 2/3 of the way up the set of hills when I realized I wasn't breathing as hard as usual, and actually kind of enjoying the climb. Maybe it was the weather ... maybe I'm just getting better at it. In any case, when I finished the set of hills, I decided to continue on to visit one of the many scenic harbor overlooks for a few more photos. I stopped by the Blue Lantern Inn and snapped these:

The story of Dana Point

The Harbor from above ... lots of boats, blue sky, and blue water

When I got home, our smaller dog, Libby, gave me this look:

No, I'm not going to smile ... YOU smile ... and where have you been? I'm hungry!

Non-plussed hungry dogs aside, the day was inspiring. So much so, that I made this little video for you, to document a beautiful day in Dana Point (of course, the blogger video interface has made it into a low-res, grainy-looking thing ... but I was in a hurry and didn't do the YouTube thing ... sorry, but you get the idea) :

Hope the weather's nice where you are ... and that this new year brings you much happiness!!