“Journal from the ride home”
by Charlotte PH on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 3:33pm
Click the image for bikereg link
Brought to you by:
Velomuse, ko:ǝles Cycling Club, and Barb Howe’s new self-initiated team, Ibis & The Danger Twins.
“Cyclocross 101 with Barb Howe”—the aspiring cyclocrosserʼs clinic of the year! In this clinic, participants will learn hands-on fundamental skills of cyclocross racing including ideal equipment, clothing, nutrition, fitness, and more. The clinic will be taught by 2009 cyclocross champion, Barb Howe and USAC licensed coach, Eryn Hughes of Velomuse. Knowing the skills youʼll learn here will improve bike-handling abilities for all types of riding! Proceeds benefit women’s cycling and local trail advocacy.
| Where: | Washington Oval @ Highland Park, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Why: | Teach fundamentals to beginner/aspiring cyclocross racers and spread awareness of the sport’s unique discipline. |
| When: | October 14, 2010, 6–8 p.m. |
| Fee: | $40 Registration |
| Schedule: | 6:00–6:05 Introductions and expectations 6:05–6:15 Equipment, clothing and nutrition 6:15–7:30 Hands-on skills course 7:30–7:45 Fitness guidelines 7:45–8:00 Summary and Q&A with Barb Howe |
Car-Free Friday in South Side!
[Update: 18September 2010 Recap] Bikerator generates power for a number of electrical applications, courtesy of the Kova Enterprises‘ craftiness. Today, we pedaled to light up 5,000 leds and a waterjet that shot a stream into traffic.
Park(ing) Day at OTB Bicycle Cafe
Bikerator: all the better to power leds or a waterjet, with.
Bike Pittsburgh‘s Car-Free Fridays campaign is visiting Pittsburgh’s South side neighborhood this Friday. With it, local businesses are stepping up to coordinate new, interesting ways to support bicycle, pedestrian and otherwise alternative transportation. One installation for the Global Park(ing) Day re-uses a couple of parking spaces in a high-visibility traffic corridor coordinated by OTB Bicycle Cafe, is particularly RAD:
Car Free Friday - Southside Park(ing) Day
This bag was first seen at the “I made it!” market, during the kickoff of BikeFest, this year. I was already looking for a replacement to the wallet thing I had been using, and the zipper had broken off. Over the past several years, I had been through a variety of practical luggage tags that were minimal in size, waterproof and allowed me to carry a couple of keys, id, credit card, and a some business cards. These are great for putting in a jersey pocket or attached to the tether inside a camelbak or timbuk2 bag, and so I had ordered a handful of them in California a few years ago. But the plastic zip-loc part always broke down after a couple months, and when I ran out; I couldn’t find them as easily in Pennsylvania nor online. Besides, they’re pretty ugly.
Unseamly Creations Small Bag
So, when I saw this bag I was instantly reminded of the movie Run, Lola, Run – and how free her arms moved because everything she needed was in this bag – but it wasn’t a fanny pack. No. Much cooler. And yes, sometimes things are as urgent as Lola conveys, in real life.
I talked with Rebecca Susman of Unseamly Creations about her designs, and learned while she didn’t already have a waterproof design, it could be customized with ease and I was able to pick out a forest-olive green corduroy exerior fabric as well. I was very cautious with the whole corduroy thing, because I am so accustomed to the utilitarian plastic luggage tags or zipper sleeves – but this one is great. It doesn’t require a bag to tether into, either! It can contain my Blackberry Curve, keys, favorite spf lip balm, and id, cc, and business cards with room to spare. At first, walking around with just that made me feel like I had forgotten something. No bulky messenger bag. Indeed, what else did I need? I can finally have the wind at my back on the bike. The bag let my arms fly wildly in the wind when I walk, or maybe run. Like Lola. Now, was she running FROM or TO something?
Have I told you yet how much my riding options expanded once I discovered polarized lenses? I had been a regular customer of another brand with interchangeable lenses until they discontinued the only model that fit my face, and all the spare lenses became blurry with scratches. Proper sunglasses for outdoor activities can be quite an investment, and while fit is extremely important (shouldn’t be able to see outside the frame, nor have eyelashes touch the lens); testing out different models inside a retail store is definitely a challenge. In-store demonstrations don’t emphasize the decreased strain on your eyes and the rest of your face, over several hours.
Pepper's Folsom Sunglasses
Fortunately, Peppers Sunglasses come in at much more reasonable prices, fit my small face, are fashionable and even have scratch-proof lenses. A Pittsburgh-local company, the various designs carry an unlimited lifetime warranty, so there isn’t much risk to the buyer. Peppers is no stranger to taking risks, though. They have a rubberized frame in their collection: the Catamaran. I have yet to try these out, and wonder if they are even lighter in weight, possibly stretchy, or get caught on hair – as compared to the Folsom shades I have. Lastly, the megol nose pad found on most models is less of a liability when I land on my face. Thank you for that.
If you haven’t guessed, I’m coming up with 10 things I am grateful to have discovered, this year. Not that hard to do, and a good way to let the bike industry know which ideas are good, and areas for improvement. I’m going to be riding bikes awhile (hopefully forever), so I think this is a small investment towards continued quality products. I’m trying for something different each time, to cover all the bases.
These sandal/shoes came were a treat to wear when traveling in a new destination (previously mentioned Albuquerque trip), in 100 degree heat. As a repeat customer to Keen, I was surprised when I ordered the same size I have in 3 other pairs of regular sandals or shoes, but these came in narrower and seemingly longer. And yet they still fit. I suppose the extra width may be provided so that you don’t hit the crank arm? The shoes are easy to put on and off, especially great for running errands, spending a day on the bike between different facilities.
Keen Commuter Sandal
One distinct attribute that sets it apart from my Sidi Dominator bike shoes, is that it is clearly not a performance shoe. The elastic and neoprene fabric does stretch a bit when you lift up on the pedals, so I wouldn’t recommend to take this mountain biking on technical rocky sections, although its pretty great for hiking with its aggressive tread and toe bumper. It forces you to chill out – which can be a welcome change, sometimes. You get to feel the wind in your toes!
*picture from another review on Road Cycling.
