by Velospeak | Oct 26, 2015 | Uncategorized
Showers Pass consistently designs clothing for the cyclist that withstands the rigors of living in the Pacific Northwest. Their jackets and pants are quite possibly a commuter’s best friend, and now the Showers Pass folks are diving into new territory with the Bamboo-Merino Henley long sleeve shirt. This is a lifestyle piece on a par with the most technical offerings from the company, making it the perfect shirt for getting there, as well as the perfect shirt for being there.
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by Velospeak | Oct 23, 2015 | Uncategorized
It’s been relatively quiet on the pages of Velospeak as I’ve been on the road over the last week. An invitation to visit a lighting manufacturer in New York allowed a day in the Big Apple with quick stops at several museums including the New Museum to have a look at the Jim Shaw show and MoMA to see both the Picasso sculpture show and the Warhol show. In between, I was able to try out, for the first time, the Citi Bike program to navigate the city. (more…)
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by Velospeak | Oct 5, 2015 | Uncategorized
Once in a while, something new comes along that may seem small, but ends up being a huge upgrade. Case in point is a small plastic adapter for the Light and Motion Urban series of lights. As many of you know, Light and Motion makes some of the finest lights on the market, and I have been singing their praises for quite a long time. (more…)
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by Velospeak | Sep 29, 2015 | Uncategorized
One very pleasant surprise at Interbike was the chance meeting with Jörg Schindelhauer of Schindelhauer Bikes. I’ve been obsessing over Schindelhauer Bikes since first seeing them in a shop called Stilrad, in Zurich, Switzerland, so I was happy to meet the man behind the company. The bicycles are beautifully designed and engineered for city riding. All use a Gates Carbon Belt Drive instead of a chain, guaranteeing years of quiet, maintenance-free riding. There are different options for gearing, ranging from single speed to internally geared hubs from either Shimano or Rohloff, to the high end option of a Pinion Gearbox with either 9, 12, or 18 speeds. (more…)
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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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