Home > Road Rash > Archives > 2008 > December
December 2008
New Year’s maybes
New Year’s goals (some realistic and others, well, not so much). …
For 2009, I will no longer respond to idiots in cars. I mean it. Seriously. No more middle fingers. No more curses. No more Marquess of Queensberry rules standoffs. No more Greco-Roman wrestling matches at the corner of a busy intersection. I wash my hands of all idiots in cars.
I will lose the final 20 pounds and get back to my playing weight. I want to be that scary old guy the young pups hate losing to. I want to show up to the Austin Tri-Cyclist Saturday ride in my Led Zeppelin jersey and tall socks and instill fear and awe in the pros until they bow down and proclaim me the one true hammer (OK, that part will never happen).
I will ride in the Hotter’N Hell 100 this year. I also promise not to yak my guts out and document the experience with a video.
I will cover more local racing. There is a great racing scene in Central Texas and it just doesn’t get much coverage. I will need some help. If anyone has events or races in need of media attention, let me know. I can be reached via email at jwhaley@statesman.com or whaley88@hotmail.com.
I will try mountain biking in 2009. I’m told I will love it, or I will suffer some broken bones and never go back. Does it really have to be all or nothing? It sounds like a blast, but it also sounds like more expenses. I already have to avoid Bicycle Sport Shop on my way home. It’s like going to Vegas, there’s a bunch of shiny, cool things in there and my money seems to evaporate every time I walk in the door. I know if I like the off-road thing, I will have to buy a nice bike. Damn.
I will beat you Jester Blvd. I’m not scared of you anymore. I will make another attempt on your steep, serpentine spine, and this time I will be victorious. My legs will churn like pistons and my mind will be as sharp as a Ginsu. Get ready for an old-fashioned beat down.
I will learn how to fix my own bike. Due to laziness or lack of mechanical ability, I am only licensed to change a flat. I cannot even swap out a chain or put new cables on my bike. That’s pretty lame for someone who professes to love all things relating to cycling. I think it’s about time to head to the Yellow Bike Project and earn some knowledge that could save me some coin down the road.
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Monday, the perfect day
I had a nasty headache, of the sinus variety. It’s the price you pay for living in Central Texas. There will be allergies. Get used to it.
I also was sore, real sore from a brutal ride on Sunday. The kind where your legs and your lungs clock out early and the lower back shuts down until further notice.
There was no way I was riding on Monday. Until I opened the front door.
Perfection, absolute perfection. 68 degrees, check. No wind, check. Low humidity, check. I owed it to all people stuck in northern states to ride and enjoy every second.
This is Austin, Texas, and there’s no place on earth I’d rather be. And it really hit me on Monday. I was in St. Louis for a while in November, and riding there was misery. It rarely got above 30 and the cloud cover was depressing. I felt like Bill Murray in “Groundhog’s Day.” Every day was the same.
You really appreciate living in this climate by traveling north of the Mason-Dixon Line during the winter. A woman at the veloway said it best, “nothing like riding in a water-starved paradise.”
We need the rain. But the yankees can keep the cold and the clouds. You can ride here almost every day of the year. But some days are better than others. Monday was the perfect example, and I hope everyone got to experience even a few minutes in the saddle.
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Trek’s chain replacement
Found an interesting video on YouTube that describes Trek’s new bike, the “District,” which uses the Gates Carbon Belt system that replaces a traditional chain drive. The belt is supposedly unstretchable, won’t slip and never needs to be replaced. I’m sceptical, but I’ll wait until I can ride one for the final word. Check it out here.
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The plastic bottle bike
A team from Appalachian State University’s industrial design department won Juicy Idea’s national competition with a bicycle made of used plastic bottles. They had just ten days to develop something that can change the world using only one item commonly thrown away. They made a video of their efforts, and the end result is pretty amazing. It’s comforting to know there are many organizations that are channeling so much effort into the conservation of our planet.
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Test ride: The best of 2008
I love test riding new bikes. And I’m not just talking new models, but also bikes that are new to me. Give me about an hour and I can begin to truly feel the nuances of the frame material, its construction, its personality. During that hour, I understand the designer’s intent for that machine. Not only the frame and fork combo, but the purpose for the wheels and component selection. For me, there’s hardly an hour better spent.
I also like year-end reviews, so here are some of the best road bikes I tested in 2008. …
ALUMINUM
It’s pretty incredible when you look at the astronomical prices of the frames used by the professionals. But there is a frame you can buy, a complete bike actually, that has been ridden to victories such as Paris-Nice, Criterium International and several others. Its pedigree is ridiculous, and its price tag is under $2,500.
The Cervelo Soloist is stiff, as you would expect from an aluminum machine, but those brilliant designers at Cervelo also engineered some compliance to make this puppy all-day rideable. It also cuts through the wind with its aero tubing. I love this bike, and if you are looking for a good crit bike or just a fast club bike, you cannot go wrong with the Soloist.
Worth checking out: Jamis Ventura Elite, Specialized Allez, Cannondale CADD9 6, Orbea Aqua, Fuji Roubaix, Scott Speedster S10.
STEEL
There are several companies that make custom steel frames, all of which should ride like a dream. But for our purposes, I’ll stick to bikes you can buy off the shelf. One of my favorites is the Serotta Fierte.
This bike from the legendary Saratoga Springs, New York bike maker is simply one of the smoothest road bikes ever made. Steel is real, especially when it comes to comfort and road feel. You feel the bumps and cracks from the road, but the translation is sweet, never rough. The Fierte also steers with no surprises; it flows. Now this baby is not light and not intended for racing or even competitive rides with your buddies. It’s all about comfort and joy.
Worth checking out: Jamis Quest, Colnago Master X-Light, De Rosa Corum, Pegoretti Marcelo.
CARBON
I love carbon and all of its high-tech glory. There are so many great bikes to choose from in this category. I could pick a bone-rattling stiff racer, a light-weight climber or a carbon-titanium wonder bike. But since this is just my opinion and not some scientific study, I’ll go with the bike that had me from the first pedal stroke, the Colnago C50.
This bike does it all and was designed that way. It is stiff enough for time trials, light and nimble enough for climbing and comfortable enough to ride all day. And you’ll want to ride it all day. There is just some type of magic caught inside its high modulus tubes and compression-molded lugs that’s indescribable.
The C50 has the pedigree (ridden to victories in Paris-Roubaix and the Grand Tours) and the heart of an Italian bike master (Ernesto Colnago). And you feel these attributes every second you ride this fantastic steed. I understand that different bikes speak to different people, but for my money this bike is one of the best.
Worth checking out: Cervelo R3, Serotta HSG, Specialized S-Works Tarmac, Pinarello Prince, Merckx AXM, Wilier Izoard, Ridley Noah, Look 595.
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Recharging light promotion
For all you die-hard commuters like myself who also ride in the dark, Light & Motion is giving trade-up credit for your old systems, or you can upgrade from their ARC to the new LED Seca lights.
Through Dec. 31 the company will take your your old Niterider, Cateye, Cygo-lite and Blackburn systems, any rechargeable light system working or not, and give you a credit of up to $50 toward the purchase of a new Light & Motion LED light system.
Call Light & Motion (831) 645-1538 or email at bikesales@lightandmotion.com for more information.
A good lighting system is essential for safe travel during the night. While I am still experimenting with different lights, these systems are supposed to be quite good. I know Dec. 31 is almost here, but this is a good deal on a good lighting system.
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Rides on the horizon
For those of you who need to work off some of that New Year’s Eve sauce, try Bicycle Sport Shop’s Jan. 1 Resolution Ride. It leaves at fairly respectable 10 a.m. from both store locations. There will be route maps available for distances ranging from 25 - 70 miles. If you’re still snookered from the night before, stay at home. I don’t think there’s any kind of vomit support.
January 15 - Hill Country Ride for AIDS kick-off party
In 2008, the Hill Country Ride for AIDS raised over $600,000 for our Central Texas neighbors living with HIV/AIDS. For the 10th Anniversary ride on April 25th, we’re aiming to raise $650,000, and we can only do it with your support.
Join us Thursday, Jan. 15 for the Hill Country Ride kick-off party, 7 p.m. La Zona Rosa, 612 West 4th St. Bring friends, meet other riders and volunteers, and sign up to be a part of this transformational event.
January 17-19 - Scouting Camp
On Martin Luther King Day weekend, Jan. 17-19th, the Super Squadra elite cycling team sponsored by Bicycle Sport Shop will host a cycling camp for Masters and Junior cyclists. The camp will occur in three parts with each day offering different opportunities for cyclists to improve their fitness, racing knowledge and skill. On Saturday a SAG ride will give both Masters and Junior cyclist camp attendees the opportunity to converse casually with Super Squadra team members, special guest lecturers and fellow camp members, while putting in essential winter base miles. The group will ride in a pro-style, two-deep pace line. Distances varying from two to five hours will cater to cyclists of differing ability levels. Cyclists will finish off the day with a post ride party at Bicycle Sport Shop featuring free Chipotle Burritos and complimentary refreshments.
The racing seminar and skills clinic portion of the camp will be on Sunday for Masters cyclists and on Monday for Juniors. Camp participants will gain insight into every facet of road cycling and racing from nutrition to handling skills and team tactics.
Following a lunch catered by Thundercloud Subs, camp attendees will head to the Driveway racetrack for a closed course skills session. On a safe course, riders will receive individual instruction on race skills such as proper bike handling, efficient pack riding, timing attacks and sprinting form.
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Taxes and commuting
An interesting look at what constitutes a qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement from WebCPR editor Howard Wolosky:
“If you haven’t already, you might shortly be asked, “What are the tax implications of riding a bicycle to work.” And your answer will be for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008, under Section 132(f)(5)(F)(i) a qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement fringe benefit will be considered a qualified transportation fringe benefit.”
“And what is a qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement fringe benefit? It is an employer reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred by the employee during the calendar year for the purchase and repair of a bicycle, bicycle improvements, and bicycle storage, provided that the bicycle is regularly used for travel between the employee’s residence and place of employment.”
“The maximum amount that can be excluded from an employee’s gross income for a calendar year on account of a bicycle commuting reimbursement fringe benefit is equal to the product of $20 multiplied by the number of the employee’s qualified bicycle commuting months for the year. A qualified bicycle commuting month means with respect to an employee any month for which the employee doesn’t receive any other qualified transportation fringe benefit, and during which the employee regularly uses a bicycle for a substantial portion of travel between the employee’s residence and place of employment.”
“I can’t wait to see the regulations on this law change and how extensive they will be. Purchase, repair, and storage I think I understand, but I am dying to see what will be considered a valid bicycle improvement. Mirrors or warning lights, I’m sure will be okay, but what about decorative lighting, art work, cards to attach to the spokes of a wheel to provide noise, or a GPS system? More importantly, exactly what type of documentation will be required? “
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Good deals on Zipp wheels
When it gets into the upper 20s and low 30s in Austin, I’m just not motivated to ride. I don’t like the sting that’s associated with really cold temperatures. So instead of riding, I got on the web and got my bike fix from a multitude of bicycle bookmarks.
I came across and interesting story on RaceDay Wheels. As some of you hardcore racers know, it’s a bicycle wheel rental program that uses Zipp wheels exclusively. If you’ve got a big race coming up and want some fast hoops on your bike, just rent any Zipp wheelset you want, from 404s to 808s to 1080s to disc wheels.
You can also get really good deals if you want to purchase Zipps because RaceDay replaces their rental wheels every year, which means there’s plenty of inventory and great prices at the end of the year.
Sounds like a winner to me. So if you dream of flying down the road on a pair of legendary Zipps, but don’t have the cash to make it happen, then RaceDay Wheels is a good place to start.
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Thank you Sidi
It’s in the saddle.
It’s in the bars.
It’s in the body angles.
And it’s also in the shoes. No, really. It’s in the shoes.
I never thought cycling shoes would make such a huge difference in comfort. It’s really hard to notice unless you are grinding away on 60-plus mile rides. For me that’s the magic number when my feet begin to howl. My phalanges, which had been operating in relative obscurity while spinning, begin to act like I’ve abused them one toe at a time. It never fails, and it always happens around the 60th mile.
But those days are over. And the simple solution is buying a high-quality shoe that fits. My first pair of cycling shoes were solid, but nothing fancy. And after three years of a little toe squishing and longer rides, those puppies had had enough.
Enter Sidi. These Italian-made angels are as comfortable as cotton. Plus, almost the entire shoe can be rebuilt. They feel like a good pair of walking shoes, and like any good shoe, they are supposed to conform to the nuances of your feet over time.
Let’s get one thing straight, they’re not cheap. But when it comes to cycling shoes, you really do get what you pay for. And I’m happy to announce that between a gift card to Bicycle Sport Shop and a big discount for being last year’s model, I got out of their with my wallet still halfway full. Not bad.
Now there are plenty of good, respectable cycling shoes on the market that don’t come with the big price tag of a Sidi. But I would recommend slipping on a pair before you purchase something else. They might just be worth waiting a little longer until you have the cash.
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The blame game
A guy hops on his bike for a ride.
A motorist gets in his car for a drive.
Car and bike meet at a four-way stop.
Only the car stops.
Angry driver rolls up behind cyclist and honks.
Cyclist looks back, flashes finger, falls into utility pole.
Driver rolls on.
Cyclist in hospital with severe injuries.
Who’s at fault?
The cyclist who didn’t pay attention when he should have (stop sign) and did pay attention when he shouldn’t have (the honking car).
The driver who lost his temper and lost his nerve.
Let’s run through the scenarios. …If the cyclist hadn’t run the stop sign then the motorist wouldn’t have lost his temper. But if the motorist hadn’t honked his horn right behind the cyclist, then he would not have taken such a nasty spill. But if the cyclist had just ignored the motorist he would not have fallen. If the motorist had stopped to help, maybe the impact of the injuries would not have been so severe.
It all basically comes down to this: Obey the law, pay attention and keep your temper in check and nobody gets hurt. But still, who should really get the blame?
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Meals on Two Wheels
The January/February 2009 edition of Bicycling Magazine has an interesting story about a new twist on the Meals on Wheels program. According to the piece written by Robin Chotzinoff, Austin is the first city to have a bike delivery program, taking hot meals to to those in need. Usually the mode of delivery is by car, but I am proud to read about cyclists taking initiative.
Diane Papillion, Meals on Wheels and More director of nutrition services, convinced her husband, John, to accompany her on a route. They both decided the deliveries might be easier on a bike.
John Papillion proposed a Meals on Two Wheels pilot program, and was awarded $10,000 by his employer to begin the operation. The company debuted last fall.
It’s an interesting story with some local flavor, and one worth reading.
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More TV coverage for cycling
Let’s face it, there just isn’t much cycling on TV. But for those of you who need a video fix, try cycling.tv.com. They show everything, including the Grand Tours, Italian pro racing, MTB, track and cyclocross races. There is a fee, and the price depends on what video package you choose. There are also some interesting articles, blogs, a race calendar and product reviews. If you really like watching the pros do their thing, it might be worth your while to sign up.
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Birthday wishes
I almost forgot. I’ve got a birthday coming up. It’s the beautiful thing about being born in December, Santa delivers the goods on Christmas and friends and family come through on my birthday. It’s usually a great month.
I’ve already turned in a list to the North Pole, but here’s my birthday wish list. …
I wish everybody in my neighborhood who has those dusty bikes hanging in the garage would take them out and ride at least once a week.
I wish for all non-leashed dogs to bow down in my presence. No more chasing. No more furry furies nipping at my heels.
I wish all cars would keep a safe distance, at least three feet on either side.
I wish bike shops would realize how over-priced bike shorts have become, and have an “wallet apology” sale.
I wish I could rent a large, fast dude to ride in front of me for the next few weeks.
I wish I could develop a negative reaction to the taste of Tex-Mex and beer. My gut would thank me.
I wish every driver who throws a glass bottle out of their window would immediately experience flats on all four tires.
I wish someone would develop a bottle that didn’t make water taste like plastic.
I wish there was a vaccine for monkey butt.
I wish to win the big lottery and buy a good commuter for anyone who wants to try it, and then purchase my dream bikes.
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Interesting rides
There are a couple of interesting rides on the horizon, both sponsored by Bicycle Sport Shop.
URBAN FARM BICYCLE TOUR
To kick off Edible Austin Eat Local Week, Bicycle Sport Shop in conjunction with Edible Austin magazine is producing an Urban Farm Bicycle Tour this Saturday.
Cyclists will depart from three starting locations: Downtown farmer’s market, Sunset Valley market, and the Bicycle Sport Shop south location. Led by the Austin Flyers cycling team, cyclists will follow route maps guiding them to several local farms in East Austin including Boggy Creek Farm, Rain Lily Farm, with an optional route extension to Hands of the Earth Farm, site of the Urban Roots Youth Launch farm.
There will also be stop at the Edible Austin Tea Party, hosted at Zhi Tea Gallery, another Eat Local Week featured event, coinciding with the Tour. In addition to directions and maps of the Tour routes, maps will be available that provide route directions to additional area farms, markets, and community gardens via bus and bike or a combination of both. Farms will have active markets at their sites along with farm tours, hen house tours, and a variety of hands on activities, and samplings.
The main event send off is 10 a.m. from the downtown market; 9 a.m. from Bicycle Sport Shop South Lamar, and 9:30am from Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market.
JINGLE BELL RIDE
When: Monday, December 15
Where: Cyclists will stage on Toomey Rd. in front of the ball fields. (1510 Toomey Rd.)
When: Staging begins at 5:30pm We will roll out at 6:15pm Sharp
Please note that cyclists may enter the Trail of Lights until 6:45. After that the gate will be closed to cyclists. Cyclists must exit the Trail of Lights by 7. Join us after your ride for hot drinks and cookies at the MoPac bridge.
Anyone may continue the ride past the Mopac bridge to view Austin’s Xmas light displays but it will not be an organized Jingle Bell ride with police escort or traffic control. Please be sure that you have a white head light and a red rear light that is highly visible.
For more information on the rides contact Bicycle Sport Shop.
