by Velospeak | Apr 17, 2013 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
Spring in Los Angeles translates to cool overcast mornings, with the sun making an appearance around 10 or 11. This makes dressing for a morning ride a bit of a problem. Wearing a jacket over a jersey usually means you are going to have to shed it at some point, and then carry it for the rest of the ride. I like to keep things as simple as possible, so the discovery of the Assos iJ.intermediate_s7 jersey was a bit of a revelation. This jersey is made for cool morning rides, and after spending a month with it, I believe the designers at Assos succeeded. The jersey is made from 6 different textiles and 17 patterns. My favorite textile is the one used for the front panel, the new stratagonUltra airBlock fabric. I find it remarkable that a fabric that blocks the wind so effectively can also be so breathable. Even with extreme effort, I find the jersey wicks away moisture, and when starting a long and cool descent after a hot and sweaty climb, it keeps you perfectly warm. The wind blocking of the stratagonUltra fabric really is that good. As is often the case, I used the jersey outside of its recommended temperature range, and I found the jersey did well at either end of the spectrum. My biggest concern was being too hot if I misjudged how warm the weather would turn, but my fears were allayed. The jersey never felt too hot even when getting into the low 70s. The iJ.intermediate_s7 is a jersey for many conditions, and I believe it should be an integral part of the serious cyclist’s wardrobe. It will help to knock the chills off the morning rides many of us find so enjoyable.
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by Velospeak | Apr 16, 2013 | Uncategorized
Is everyone ready to ride to the beach? Join CicLAvia this Sunday for a 15 plus mile ride from downtown LA to Venice Beach.
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by Velospeak | Apr 16, 2013 | Uncategorized
I’ve always loved Swiss Army knives, but none were geared towards biking until now. Introducing the Victorinox Bike Tool, available directly from the Swiss Army website.
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by Velospeak | Apr 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
Today’s post is completely unrelated to cycling, and instead relates to my other passion, automobiles. Earlier today, I was afforded the opportunity to tour Magnus Walker’s garage. On a small side street in the warehouse district of downtown LA, I met Magnus as he was walking up with a cup of coffee. He took a small remote out of his pocket and opened the gate to the property. We walked in, the door slid shut, and we were standing in a small courtyard. Next sliding door opens, and a collection of beautiful Porsche 911s is revealed in an immaculate room. It is an impressive group of cars that would awe even the most serious of collectors. Each car seems to have its own story, and is completely different from the next. Each has subtle modifications that accentuate the already perfect design of the 911. These small touches make the cars unique and entirely an Urban Outlaw creation. Magnus’s website is wonderful to look through, with plenty of photographs of all the cars. There is also a link to the film that is a 30 minute look into the life of Magnus. The visit with Magnus was inspiring, and I look forward to seeing each and every 911 he creates.
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by Velospeak | Apr 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
Mavic is rolling out their first carbon clincher, the Cosmic Carbone 40 C. To avoid any problems with heat build-up from braking, there is an aluminum spline to hold brake and air pressure. The wheels weigh 1545 grams for the pair, a very respectable weight for a 40mm rim. I look forward to seeing these on the road. Also, Mavic has released their new Spring/Summer range of clothing and helmets. There are some really good looking pieces to check out.
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by Velospeak | Apr 7, 2013 | Uncategorized
Today’s finish to Paris-Roubaix was one of the more exciting moments in cycling, with Fabian Cancellara pulling out a victory over Sep Vanmarcke. It came down to the wire with a track sprint in the velodrome, with tactics by Cancellara giving him the upper hand for a first place finish. Both riders looked exhausted, and Cancellara was leaning heavily on his team to move about the track after the finish. If Eurosport coverage is to be believed, this was the second fastest time in Paris-Roubaix history. Very, very exciting. Photo by Mark Johnson.
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by Velospeak | Apr 5, 2013 | Racing, Uncategorized
Can Cancellara win Paris-Roubaix this time around?
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by Velospeak | Apr 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
A friend visiting from Switzerland passed along this shot of a bike shop in Joshua Tree. He tried looking in the window, but a thick layer of dust prevented him from seeing anything. Ah, Joshua Tree! Photo by Pierre Cedric Vuilleumier.
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by Velospeak | Apr 1, 2013 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
My pair of Chrome Storm 415 shoes arrived the day before my Southwest road trip, so they came along for the ride. Out of the box, the shoes were incredibly comfortable, providing a really stable footbed for all sorts of adventures. As evidenced from the photo above, I took them hiking through the sand and stone of Monument Valley. I was really impressed at how well they fared over these rugged conditions. The shoe is advertised as a work boot, but performed really well on all the hiking we did on this trip. The grip of the soles on the smooth stone of Zion National Park was astounding. Also, the shoes are waterproof, keeping even the most severe rain from soaking your socks. I was lucky enough to try these on a great trip, but now, back at work, I find they are definitely built to hold up to any workload. Standing for long periods of time is no problem at all. The quality of the build is top notch, and I foresee these shoes lasting a long time. On a side note, Chrome has an updated website with a clean and simple design that is worth checking out.
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by Velospeak | Apr 1, 2013 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
The Summit Table Top Digital Scale from Feedback Sports is the perfect addition to the cyclist’s tool arsenal. The scale is able to display weights up to 3kg. (6.6lbs.) in 1g increments. It is super simple in design, with an on and off button, a zeroing button, and a mode button to toggle between grams and ounces. According to Feedback Sports, it is accurate to within +/- 1.0g (0.1 oz.). I am finding it a pleasure to check weights of parts I buy to compare to the manufacturers’ published weights. Oftentimes, these vary widely, and now I am able to determine how off the advertised weight is from the actual weight. At approximately $45.00, the scale is easily justified as a must have accessory. It is available through a variety of online sources, as well as your local bike shop.
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