by Velospeak | Sep 22, 2015 | Uncategorized
Sunday was a good day. I was invited to join a ride to the Emmys hosted by Tom Smuts of Mad Men fame. My connection to the event came through Rapha, the purveyor of fine cycling apparel, both technical and casual. I had a loose understanding of what the event would be, but my expectation was a simple ride to downtown LA. Little did I know this would be a bit more than that. In addition to two wonderful rides, we were able to hear from Councilmember Mike Bonin about the Los Angeles Mobility plan that is in the works. This took place at Tom Smuts’ home between the morning ride up to Mandeville and the afternoon ride to the Emmys. It was the perfect way to frame a discussion that needs to take place in LA. I am a lifelong resident of this wonderful city, but seeing the increase in traffic has convinced me there needs to be another way of doing things. The roads are completely clogged, and as more people move into the city, it is only getting worse. (more…)
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by Velospeak | Sep 19, 2015 | Uncategorized
Interbike 2015 has come and gone, and for me, this was one of the most pleasurable editions of the show I have attended. I was able to cover most of the show floor, and in doing so, had the chance to really dive into the newest offerings. It’ll take a while to digest all I saw, but I thought I’d share a few photos to whet your appetite starting with the OPEN U.P. seen above. (more…)
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by Velospeak | Sep 11, 2015 | Accessories
Interbike is around the corner, and for some of us, it’s hard to contain our excitement. I’ve been attending the show for many years now, and each time I look forward to it. This isn’t to say the show is a walk in the park. Navigating Interbike is an exercise in planning, and a strict appointment schedule can easily be derailed. (more…)
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by Velospeak | Sep 6, 2015 | Uncategorized
A common question I am asked is how, as a cyclist, is it possible to be enamored of the automobile. Most non-cyclist folks seem to think we cyclists are obsessed with the bicycle as the sole means of transportation. This is, of course, completely false. From a practical standpoint, the automobile is an absolute necessity for shuttling the family from point A to point B. (more…)
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by Velospeak | Aug 11, 2015 | Bicycles, Uncategorized
Here are two new BMC bicycles worth a look. First up, the Alpenchallenge AC01 IGH. This is a city bike, with Gates belt drive running a Shimano Alfine 11 speed hub, that could very well be the perfect city bike. (more…)
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by Velospeak | Aug 7, 2015 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
Whispbar is a division of Yakima, specializing in high end solutions for carrying your cargo. I had spied them early on, and was immediately drawn to the sleek design of the different carriers. A little research revealed their design philosophy: to make a simple and easy to use rack that is the quietest on the market.
I’ve used many different rack systems on the roofs of the different VWs I’ve owned, so I went into this knowing the turbulence that can be created by these racks. I reached a point where I no longer opened the sunroof. The crazy amount of noise from the different setups I’ve tried is the unfortunate by-product of wanting to carry my bicycles on the roof of my car, and I am forced to forgo using one of the best features an automobile has to offer.
When I read about the promised benefits of a Whispbar rack system, I was a bit skeptical since for many years I have tried different methods of quieting down the rack, and all failed. Nevertheless, I was going to give the Whispbar a try, if for no other reason, because the rack and accessories look gorgeous. (more…)
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by Velospeak | Aug 7, 2015 | Events, Uncategorized
CicLAvia is happening again this Sunday, the 9th of August. I am looking forward to seeing you all there.
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by Velospeak | Jul 30, 2015 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
The Assos T.rallyShorts_s7 are the company’s first foray into the mountain biking domain. The line consists of one pair of shorts and two jerseys. I received the shorts some time ago, and it’s time to give some insight into this top end offering from Assos. To begin, I admit I no longer have a mountain bike, but I do have a wonderful gravel grinder, as they seem to be called these days. In other words, a road bike that can handle just about any fire road you can point it down. I figured these shorts would be ideal for this type of ride, so off I went in search of the dirt roads of the Santa Monica Mountains. (more…)
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by Velospeak | Jul 28, 2015 | Accessories, Uncategorized
Hiplok is an English company specializing in bicycle security. As the name suggests, these are locks meant to be carried around the waist. The newest offering from the company is the Hiplok Gold. This is their highest rated lock, with a secure gold rating. The chain is 10mm hardened steel while the padlock is 12mm hardened steel. The lock weighs 5.3 pounds, and ships with three replaceable coded keys. This is serious security for those wanting to keep their rides safe from the hands of bike thieves.
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by Velospeak | Jul 25, 2015 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
The cross country trip afforded the opportunity to try out several different products, and now that I seem to have settled back into life in LA, I thought I would begin highlighting a few that were standouts. At the top of the list is the Therm-a-Rest Vela Double Down blanket. As we are fortunate to have the VW Camper, a full bore sleeping bag is not really necessary. Instead, I had wanted some sort of blanket that would work well in the van, and that would suit a variety of temperatures. The Vela is that blanket. The first night of camping in Arizona was on the cool side, and the blanket was perfect. (more…)
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