While searching the innerwebs for a cycling-related Halloween picture to post, I stumbled across this jack-o-lantern created by GamJams.
I also found the stencil they made.
I know what I'm carving for next year.
Have a Happy Halloween!
31 October 2011
26 October 2011
Review: Fezzari Fore CR5
I guess that it's about time that I got around to writing this review, seeing as I returned the bike almost a month ago...
I want to first say that I have no clue about "vertically stiff and laterally compliant", or anything of that sort. I just know if I like the way a bike rides, and I like the way the Fezzari Fore CR5 rode.
I'm jumping ahead of myself. I need to first start off with how I got the bike.
Fezzari is a direct retailer. You can't find their bikes in your local bike shop, you can only get them on-line, or from their retail storefront if you happen to live in or near Utah (which I do).
Unlike some on-line bike retailers, Fezzari asks a few more questions than what frame size you want - 9 questions to be exact. For their 23-Point Custom Setup, they ask your age, riding style, gender, height, weight, inseam, shoulder width, arm length, and torso length. Once they have that information, they will adjust or swap out components until they have a "semi-custom" fit for you. They also can custom-spec components for you. Want Campgnolo instead of SRAM or Shimano? Reynolds carbon wheelset instead of Mavic Kysrium SL's? Just ask.
Since I am local, I went in to their retail store/headquarters and met with Tyler directly. He asked me some questions, took some measurements and put me on the bike on a trainer to see how the fit was. After a couple of adjustments, I was ready to roll.
How did it ride? Like I said at the start of this post, I really liked it. My scale said that the bike weighed 15.75 lbs without pedals (58 cm), which is more than 5 pounds lighter than my current bike. I know what physics says - it doesn't matter whether the weight difference comes from you or the bike, but I swear that the bike just "felt" faster.
I really can't say anything negative about my experience. Once I was out on the road, I found that I needed to rotate the bars down just a little from the position they were set at on the trainer, but that is not unusual.
The "retail" price for the CR5 spec'd with SRAM Red and Mavic Kysrium SL's is $7580.00, but that isn't the price you will pay for it. The other benefit with dealing directly with the manufacturer is they give you a lower price. Their price is $4799.00. If cost is a concern, you can get essentially the same frame (same mold as the CR5 but a unidirectional carbon weave on it instead of a 3K weave. They have the same strength properties, the difference is the 3K weave is lighter) and Dura Ace/Ultegra components for $2999 by looking at the Fore CR3.
Go to fezzari.com and check out the different models available. Along with their road bike line, they have a full range of mountain bikes that include full-suspension and a 29'er.
I tried everything I could think of to convince my wife that I needed this bike, but to no avail. Go check it out, and start working on your own plan to convince your significant other that your life wouldn't be complete without a Fezzari in your stable.
I want to first say that I have no clue about "vertically stiff and laterally compliant", or anything of that sort. I just know if I like the way a bike rides, and I like the way the Fezzari Fore CR5 rode.
Color scheme for 2012 - flat black and silver. I like!
I'm jumping ahead of myself. I need to first start off with how I got the bike.
Fezzari is a direct retailer. You can't find their bikes in your local bike shop, you can only get them on-line, or from their retail storefront if you happen to live in or near Utah (which I do).
Unlike some on-line bike retailers, Fezzari asks a few more questions than what frame size you want - 9 questions to be exact. For their 23-Point Custom Setup, they ask your age, riding style, gender, height, weight, inseam, shoulder width, arm length, and torso length. Once they have that information, they will adjust or swap out components until they have a "semi-custom" fit for you. They also can custom-spec components for you. Want Campgnolo instead of SRAM or Shimano? Reynolds carbon wheelset instead of Mavic Kysrium SL's? Just ask.
Since I am local, I went in to their retail store/headquarters and met with Tyler directly. He asked me some questions, took some measurements and put me on the bike on a trainer to see how the fit was. After a couple of adjustments, I was ready to roll.
How did it ride? Like I said at the start of this post, I really liked it. My scale said that the bike weighed 15.75 lbs without pedals (58 cm), which is more than 5 pounds lighter than my current bike. I know what physics says - it doesn't matter whether the weight difference comes from you or the bike, but I swear that the bike just "felt" faster.
I really can't say anything negative about my experience. Once I was out on the road, I found that I needed to rotate the bars down just a little from the position they were set at on the trainer, but that is not unusual.
The "retail" price for the CR5 spec'd with SRAM Red and Mavic Kysrium SL's is $7580.00, but that isn't the price you will pay for it. The other benefit with dealing directly with the manufacturer is they give you a lower price. Their price is $4799.00. If cost is a concern, you can get essentially the same frame (same mold as the CR5 but a unidirectional carbon weave on it instead of a 3K weave. They have the same strength properties, the difference is the 3K weave is lighter) and Dura Ace/Ultegra components for $2999 by looking at the Fore CR3.
Go to fezzari.com and check out the different models available. Along with their road bike line, they have a full range of mountain bikes that include full-suspension and a 29'er.
I tried everything I could think of to convince my wife that I needed this bike, but to no avail. Go check it out, and start working on your own plan to convince your significant other that your life wouldn't be complete without a Fezzari in your stable.
Part of the Pony Express trail near my house.
19 October 2011
Yehuda Moon on Kickstarter
Good news for those of us who miss Yehuda Moon. Volumes 2, 3, and 4 of the comic strip are coming soon!
Not only will you be able to catch up with the goings on at the Kickstand Cyclery, Rick Smith has been writing some new strips for the books - to tie up some loose ends left in some of the storylines when he set down the pencil.
The books will not be out till March of 2012, but you can preorder them now through the Yehuda Moon Kickstarter page.
Not only will you be able to catch up with the goings on at the Kickstand Cyclery, Rick Smith has been writing some new strips for the books - to tie up some loose ends left in some of the storylines when he set down the pencil.
The books will not be out till March of 2012, but you can preorder them now through the Yehuda Moon Kickstarter page.
What are you waitig for?
17 October 2011
"...and I Shall Call Him, Mini-Me"
We can all see small facets of ourselves in our children, our genetic legacy passed down through our offspring. It could be a feature – such as a nose or a chin – that is similar to ours, or a mannerism or quirk that we recognize as ours.
Sometimes, we see something that makes it seem like we are looking at a small clone of ourselves. This past week I realized that my 9-year-old is just a smaller version of myself.
Monday or Tuesday, he came to the wife and I and wanted $25. A series of questions led to the revelation that he wanted to buy a bike from one of his friends. Further questions revealed that it was a bike without wheels. A bike that he claimed was much better than his current bike.
The wife and I were pretty much against it from the beginning, not wanting to add to the growing pile of “projects” that are cluttering our garage and back yard. The realization of exactly how much like me my son is finally hit me.
When I was a kid, I was constantly taking things apart, especially my bikes. I was also constantly getting in trouble with my dad for taking his tools and leaving them out in the yard to rust. I can’t count the number of times that I have been mad at Jackson because I have come home to my toolbox strewn across the yard, with him nowhere in sight. And not one of Jackson’s old bikes, scooters and skateboards have had a chance to live out their retirement in peace and quiet. Once they are outgrown, or not needed any longer, they are stripped down, with their parts used in one of his Frankenstien-esque “projects” (he once made a trailer for his bike out of a plastic toboggan, skateboard trucks and some old plastic toy golf bag wheels). When I changed my mind about letting Jackson purchase this bike, I pointed out how many bikes, and parts of bikes that I claim as mine call our basement home.
So, Jackson is the proud owner of another bike. It is a decent bike, that is better than the one he currently rides (I am still at a loss at why kid’s BMX bikes weigh so danged much,) We transferred his wheels and chain from his current bike to his “new” one, and after a couple of minor adjustments, it should be ready to ride.
I won’t be surprised at all if he comes home one of these days saying that another of his friends has a set of wheels that they are selling so he can resurrect his now old bike from the parts bin.
Sometimes, we see something that makes it seem like we are looking at a small clone of ourselves. This past week I realized that my 9-year-old is just a smaller version of myself.
Monday or Tuesday, he came to the wife and I and wanted $25. A series of questions led to the revelation that he wanted to buy a bike from one of his friends. Further questions revealed that it was a bike without wheels. A bike that he claimed was much better than his current bike.
The wife and I were pretty much against it from the beginning, not wanting to add to the growing pile of “projects” that are cluttering our garage and back yard. The realization of exactly how much like me my son is finally hit me.
When I was a kid, I was constantly taking things apart, especially my bikes. I was also constantly getting in trouble with my dad for taking his tools and leaving them out in the yard to rust. I can’t count the number of times that I have been mad at Jackson because I have come home to my toolbox strewn across the yard, with him nowhere in sight. And not one of Jackson’s old bikes, scooters and skateboards have had a chance to live out their retirement in peace and quiet. Once they are outgrown, or not needed any longer, they are stripped down, with their parts used in one of his Frankenstien-esque “projects” (he once made a trailer for his bike out of a plastic toboggan, skateboard trucks and some old plastic toy golf bag wheels). When I changed my mind about letting Jackson purchase this bike, I pointed out how many bikes, and parts of bikes that I claim as mine call our basement home.
So, Jackson is the proud owner of another bike. It is a decent bike, that is better than the one he currently rides (I am still at a loss at why kid’s BMX bikes weigh so danged much,) We transferred his wheels and chain from his current bike to his “new” one, and after a couple of minor adjustments, it should be ready to ride.
I won’t be surprised at all if he comes home one of these days saying that another of his friends has a set of wheels that they are selling so he can resurrect his now old bike from the parts bin.
13 October 2011
Product Review - Teva Pinner
Several months ago, Teva sent me a pair of their new commuter cycling shoes for a long-term review.
Since then, I have worn them almost every day – and I’ve even managed to wear them while riding a couple of times.
The Teva Pinner (and its freeride cousin, the Links) was designed to interface with the flat pedal on your commuter or trail bike, giving you a stable platform while pedaling, without sacrificing style or walking comfort. The sole uses Teva’s Spider 365 rubber compound to give you traction in all kinds of environments and a tread pattern designed to give you a secure connection to your pedal or when you have to hoof it. Teva’s Mush® infused insole, which gives you the same comfort that you would find in their flip flops, a Shoc Pad™ in the heel and ample padding in the uppers add up to a very comfortable shoe.
The main difference between the Pinner (the shoe that I have) and the Links is the finish. The Pinner has a synthetic leather and suede upper, while the Link uses waterproof materials with Ion-mask™ technology to help shed any water and muck you may be riding through. The Link also has a heel stabilizer and rubberized toe armor to protect your feet.
What do I think of them? Well, If the second sentence of this post didn’t give it away, I really like them.
I’ve been familiar with Teva since the late 80’s when I had a pair of their original sandals which I wore all the time. I was impressed back then by their durability and comfort, so when they contacted me about their cycling shoes, I was eager to see if they lived up to their legacy.
The styling is very similar to a skateboard shoe – in fact, when I first took them out of the box, my 13-year-old immediately tried to claim them. Fortunately, he wears a larger shoe than me (he’s going to be taller than me before he’s in high-school!). The padding in the upper took me a little while to get used to – it felt tight and restrictive at first, but that is because I was used to wearing Converse All-Stars before this.
How do they work on the bike? Great! I used them on my fixed-gear for commuting, and riding around town with my 9-year-old. The sole flexes for walking comfort, but resists flexing in the opposite direction for stable pedaling.
Like I said, I really like them. They are a great commuter shoe, that combines performance features with a shoe that doesn’t look out of place with your normal clothes. Is there anything I would like to see in the future? A shoe that incorporates a recessed SPD pedal would be my only request,
The MSRP for the Pinner is $80 and the Links is $100. More information can be found at teva.com.
Since then, I have worn them almost every day – and I’ve even managed to wear them while riding a couple of times.
The Teva Pinner (and its freeride cousin, the Links) was designed to interface with the flat pedal on your commuter or trail bike, giving you a stable platform while pedaling, without sacrificing style or walking comfort. The sole uses Teva’s Spider 365 rubber compound to give you traction in all kinds of environments and a tread pattern designed to give you a secure connection to your pedal or when you have to hoof it. Teva’s Mush® infused insole, which gives you the same comfort that you would find in their flip flops, a Shoc Pad™ in the heel and ample padding in the uppers add up to a very comfortable shoe.
The main difference between the Pinner (the shoe that I have) and the Links is the finish. The Pinner has a synthetic leather and suede upper, while the Link uses waterproof materials with Ion-mask™ technology to help shed any water and muck you may be riding through. The Link also has a heel stabilizer and rubberized toe armor to protect your feet.
What do I think of them? Well, If the second sentence of this post didn’t give it away, I really like them.
I’ve been familiar with Teva since the late 80’s when I had a pair of their original sandals which I wore all the time. I was impressed back then by their durability and comfort, so when they contacted me about their cycling shoes, I was eager to see if they lived up to their legacy.
The styling is very similar to a skateboard shoe – in fact, when I first took them out of the box, my 13-year-old immediately tried to claim them. Fortunately, he wears a larger shoe than me (he’s going to be taller than me before he’s in high-school!). The padding in the upper took me a little while to get used to – it felt tight and restrictive at first, but that is because I was used to wearing Converse All-Stars before this.
Teva Pinner
Detail of the sole
Teva Links
How do they work on the bike? Great! I used them on my fixed-gear for commuting, and riding around town with my 9-year-old. The sole flexes for walking comfort, but resists flexing in the opposite direction for stable pedaling.
Like I said, I really like them. They are a great commuter shoe, that combines performance features with a shoe that doesn’t look out of place with your normal clothes. Is there anything I would like to see in the future? A shoe that incorporates a recessed SPD pedal would be my only request,
The MSRP for the Pinner is $80 and the Links is $100. More information can be found at teva.com.
12 October 2011
GM Responds
Yesterday I mentioned GM's excessively lame ad aimed at college students, the one that basically said that if you aren't driving, you are a loser.
Well, according to GM's twitter feed today, they are listening.
Well, according to GM's twitter feed today, they are listening.
The ad was ill-conceived. It's good that they are aware of that, and seem to be willing to make changes to it.
11 October 2011
Reality Sucks? GMC Sucks!
This ad has appeared recently in college newspapers all over the country.
image originally from the bikeportland.org site
Yes, I know that it is an ad from a car company, and they need to do whatever they can to make their product seem appealing - especially in the current market where the automotive industry is taking a beating - but showing the guy on the bike hiding from the cute girl in the car and implying that his life sucks because he "has" to ride his bike to school is just simply lame.
I wish that I would have been into cycling "back in the day" when I went to college. I remember fondly the frustrations of trying to find a place to park - stalking the students coming out of their classes for the prime spots - then running to class, only to show up late because you wasted too much time trying to get a good spot, and still ended up parking out in the boonies. Plus, let's add a new car payment on top of books, tuition, and all the other expenditures that come with college life.
Reality sucks. Sure, whatever. Give me a bike any day.
05 October 2011
Farewell, Yehuda
Yehuda Moon is arguably the best cycling-related comic on the web - or anywhere for that matter.
However, visitors to the Yehuda Moon website on September 27th were greeted with the following instead of their daily strip...
Rick Smith, the creator of Yehuda Moon has set down his pencil indefinitely.
After over 3 years of getting to know the employees and customers of the Kickstand Cyclery, we have to say farewell.
The first strip, from 22 January 2008
Good luck to you, Rick. Here's hoping for smooth roads and tailwinds in your future. Thank you for giving us a glimpse, albeit brief, into Yehuda's life.
03 October 2011
Neglect
The word of the day – more like the past month – is neglect.
I’ve neglected my bikes, I’ve neglected riding, and I’ve neglected this blog.
My basement is in complete disarray, all of my bikes need some kind of maintenance, and they are patiently waiting for me to get around to it. The workbench is cluttered with used water bottles in need of a washing, tools and assorted parts. And, the cycling-related laundry is starting to accumulate.
I’ve only been on one decent ride in the past month and a half. I haven’t even been consistent in going out for the weekly Saturday morning ride with my friends.
Most obvious to you, I’m sure is the scarcity of posts in the past month. I have three blog posts – reviews of products that I have been given or loaned – that I need to write, but haven’t found the will to write them yet.
I’ve fallen into a slump and I’m having trouble climbing out of it. It’s almost like a seasonal depression, brought on by daylight savings, shorter days, and the start of the school year.
Yesterday, the wife and I went for a drive up the canyon to take a look at nature’s palate of fall colors, and all I could think of was how beautiful fall riding is, along a tree-lined trail with the leaves falling from the trees, and the crunch of them under my tires. Maybe that is what I need to lift me out of this slump, Maybe the desire to ride through the changing colors of fall is enough to get me to stop neglecting things.
Maybe…
I’ve neglected my bikes, I’ve neglected riding, and I’ve neglected this blog.
My basement is in complete disarray, all of my bikes need some kind of maintenance, and they are patiently waiting for me to get around to it. The workbench is cluttered with used water bottles in need of a washing, tools and assorted parts. And, the cycling-related laundry is starting to accumulate.
I’ve only been on one decent ride in the past month and a half. I haven’t even been consistent in going out for the weekly Saturday morning ride with my friends.
Most obvious to you, I’m sure is the scarcity of posts in the past month. I have three blog posts – reviews of products that I have been given or loaned – that I need to write, but haven’t found the will to write them yet.
I’ve fallen into a slump and I’m having trouble climbing out of it. It’s almost like a seasonal depression, brought on by daylight savings, shorter days, and the start of the school year.
Yesterday, the wife and I went for a drive up the canyon to take a look at nature’s palate of fall colors, and all I could think of was how beautiful fall riding is, along a tree-lined trail with the leaves falling from the trees, and the crunch of them under my tires. Maybe that is what I need to lift me out of this slump, Maybe the desire to ride through the changing colors of fall is enough to get me to stop neglecting things.
Maybe…
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