CicLAvia 10.5.14
It will be hot, but it will be spectacular. The Heart of LA edition of CicLAvia is today. I hope to see everyone out there.
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Scott Addict SL
At the top of my “wants” list is the new Scott Addict SL road bike. The color combination teamed up with the insanely light build make for a very appealing package. I have not ridden a Scott as of yet, but hope this changes soon. More later.
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Chrome Warm Work Shirt
At Interbike, Chrome showed their commitment to their clothing line with a sneak peak of upcoming releases. The first off the line is the Chrome Warm Work Shirt. This is a water resistant, reversible, quilted jacket made from rip stop nylon. There are plenty of features to satisfy the cyclist, such as reflective detailing and a ventilated yoke. The fit is slim with a longer torso and arms for riding. The sneak peak I got at the trade show whetted my appetite for this jacket. It appears to be a rock solid design, and is available now online and in store.
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How To Clear The Mind
You may have noticed a lack of posts as of late. This can be attributed to the fact I’ve been working overtime on an installation. The opening date is October 1st, so life should regain some sort of balance then. In the meantime, over the weekend, I needed a bit of an escape from the apprehension of opening night. What better way to ease the nerves than go for a bike ride. Saturday morning I did my usual loop through the park. It felt amazing, but I still wished for more. On Sunday, the opportunity for a long ride presented itself, and I took it. I had heard there was to be a bike swap meet at Pedalers Fork, so a destination was set. I’d ride through the valley to Calabasas and have a stop at the swap meet. There, I met up with Gregory White of Magic Cycle Works. He had two of his beautiful bikes on display as well as miscellaneous items to sell. It was a quick visit, as I was determined to ride over the hills to the coast. I took Old Topanga Canyon Road and headed west. The weather, the lack of traffic, and the beautiful Calfee Manta Pro combined to make for one of the most pleasurable rides I’ve had in a long time. I wish the road had gone on for much longer, because as I rode, all my tension released, and I could only think about pedaling and taking in the smells and the sights. Cycling has always been incredible relaxation therapy for me, and I think if more people started riding, we would have a little bit more calm in the world. The photo above was taken when I reached the coast, a picture perfect Southern California day. All told, I put in a hair over sixty miles, and as each mile passed, I became happier. I will keep pedaling.
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Another Non-Bicycling Related Post
This may not be bicycling related, but it at least involves two wheels. The Bonhams Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction is coming January 8th, 2015. As per usual, the Bonhams catalog is chock full of gorgeous photographs of the wonderful motorcycles to be auctioned. Above is a photo of a 1972 Harley-Davidson XR-750.
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Three Feet For Safety
Today in California, cyclists will get a bit more protection on the road. The Three Foot Law goes into effect on this wonderful September day. The law requires motorists to stay at least three feet away when passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction. I like to think drivers already follow this simple guideline, but starting today, the new law fines those motorists that do not observe the three foot clearance. This is a step in the right direction, and I look forward to more conversations about how to protect the growing ranks of cyclists in California.
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The Pros Closet
There comes a time when a new bike starts calling your name. Unfortunately, this usually means having to sell an older bike to come up with the starting funds for the newer bike. If this situation should arise in your life, and you need an easy way to sell or consign your bike, there is a place for you: The Pros Closet in Boulder, Colorado. The idea behind the shop is to provide an easy way to sell or consign well loved bicycles and other cycling related gear. A friend alerted me to this establishment, so I thought I’d give it a try with an older Ellsworth Truth that saw little use in the last few years. The process starts with a simple online form asking for the details and a photograph of the bicycle. In my case, a response came within 24 hours of my submitting the form. A cash offer was made for the Ellsworth, and shipping was arranged. I needed a bike box, so I headed over to I.Martin to obtain one. As luck would have it, the mechanic in the shop had just unboxed a new bike, and the bike box was available for me to take. The packing didn’t take long, and the next step was sending the measurements of the box to the Pros Closet. They generated a shipping label, and I then took the box over to my local UPS. I got an e-mail within a few days saying the bike had arrived, and that everything looked in order. The check was then sent my way. The entire process took about a week and a half from when I first contacted the Pros Closet to when I received the check. At no time did they drop the ball in communication. Everything was clear and upfront. This was an exceptionally easy way to turn an older bike into cash for the purchase of a new bike. I am a convert to this Boulder institution, and will use them again next time another bike starts calling my name.
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Cole Haan ZeroGrand No Stitch
Today I had the chance to check out the new Cole Haan ZeroGrand No Stitch shoes. I was intrigued by these as the ad copy states they are the “lightest and most flexible shoe Cole Haan has ever created.” Now that I have seen a pair in person, I can soundly state the shoes live up to that claim. They are ridiculously light, yet have the feel of a proper shoe. The EVA midsole with rubber outsole is the key to the flexibility of the shoe, and the ripstop and nylon uppers help to keep the weight down. This Oxford shoe has the look of business attire, yet has the feel of the lightest weight running shoe. I imagine these shoes would be perfect for all day adventures, and the extreme comfort would help mitigate the stress of being on your feet all day. I would like to try these shoes for a long term test to confirm what I suspect might be true: Cole Haan may have created one of the best shoes possible for all day comfort. I also imagine these would be perfect for the traveler, as I’m sure you could walk for miles with nary a complaint. Cole Haan has always been at the forefront of shoe making, and these are just another example of their cutting edge design.
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1973 Fiat Abarth 124 Rallye
Yes, this is a cycling blog, but once in a while I need to show my love for the automobile, especially for vintage rally cars. This 1973 Fiat Abarth 124 Rallye will be available through Bonhams at the Goodwood Revival Sale on September 13. A quick look through the online catalog is worth the time, as there are other great automobile related finds.
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Donkey Label
While visiting Bicycle Haüs in Scottsdale, Arizona, I stumbled upon a company I had never heard of called Donkey Label. The good folks at the shop steered me toward their socks, and in a bit of a frenzied shopping spree, I bought several pairs. I was struck by their design, the left and right specific fit, and the fact that they are made in Minneapolis. I reached out to the company to learn more, and discovered they have been around since 2010, and, as is the case with many cycling brands, they started the business out of their love of cycling. The line has expanded over these last few years, and now includes bibs, jerseys, shirts, jackets, and other miscellaneous items. I really like the design and ethos of Donkey Label, and recommend having a look at their site to see what they are up to. On my birthday wish list, I have a Donkey Label Merino Jersey sitting in the top spot. Here’s hoping.
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