..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
compatibility
in answer to a question over handlebar diameter related to stem clamp diameter, noted tech editor at velonews, lennard zinn pointed out that the apparent difference (31.7mm against 31.8mm) was entirely due to manufacturer interpretation of specific measurements. since translated into british money, the diameter is 1.25 inches, this equates to 31.75mm. since i know not of anyone who quotes any measurements on a bicycle to two decimal places, there's an amount of rounding down or up.
but minimal differences such as this are generally the least of our worries. not so long ago i was ranting about the cassette spline difference between shimano and campagnolo - it's not only me that finds that a piece of nonsense. but instead of making inroads towards a better degree of compatibility, it seems that our favourite and not so favourite cycle and component fabricators are hell-bent on moving further away from each other. at one time you could cheerfully walk into your local lightweight cycle store and ask for a seatpost. brand choice would have been the only other requirement, because every road bike accepted an almost industry standard 27.2mm. and before the advent of the aforementioned freehub, all rear hubs arrived with a threaded section on the drive side, onto which we could screw any make of freewheel.
now before you think that i'm heading off on another luddite recruitment drive, i have no desire to head back in time - freehubs and cassettes are perfectly ok by me, particularly because of the better axle support. but factor in the well documented vagaries of the world's bottom bracket and crank systems, the total mess that is the world of headset incompatibility, and the sneaking suspicion that certain chains might just not work with certain gear systems, and there may well be cause to be concerned.
in the 1950s, british roadies (mountain bikes were not even a gleam in tom ritchey's kindergarten) would buy a frame and the necessary components because there was only purchase tax on complete bicycles, thus saving a hard-earned penny or two. while the advent of value added tax (a complete oxymoron - just like microsoft works or military intelligence) changed this situation, the tried and tested method of cycle purchase remained buried in the psyche (in the uk, at least), the globalisation of cycle manufacture has effectively altered this situation. when your man in taiwan sets up his new year's catalogue, he can purchase components at a fraction of the cost charged to you and i. it's known as economies of scale.
couple this with the growing degree of incompatibilites as ranted against just a few paragraphs north of here, and it becomes easy to see why the newer breed of cyclists prefer to spend their cash on complete bikes. at least they know it's all going to work even allowing for the 'build to a price point' philosophy. and the world's manufacturers have not been slow to realise - you must have noticed a greater number of complete bicycles for sale in the comic and the monthlies? it makes excellent economic sense for at least one of the two parties, and promises to shield us all from those millimetre differences.
however, the demonstrably archaic and pedantic amongst us will always favour a frame and component build. for us, there are hours of homework ahead.
lennard?
posted on thursday 31 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................am i wrong - or am i missing the point?
it's sort of a contentious area in which i usually fear to tread - partly because there are websites set up to deal with such contemporaneous moments in cycle racing far better and with more resources than i, but mostly because it's not really what the washingmachinepost is all about. but this sort of has me stumped at the moment - it's the very thin line between sport and entertainment.
the guys who earn their living by acting as very fast advertising hoardings on the world stage of the uci's choosing, are there to race. that's pretty much what they're paid for, whatever their designation within their respective teams. and if they require to be at peak fitness for certain races, then it seems perfectly understandable that they partake in so-called 'lesser events' in order to set themselves up for the doyens of the season. however, if we backtrack a sentence or two, you may remember my casting of aspersions regarding advertising. those companies who fund each of the top teams do so for reasons other than idealism, altruism or a pure love of the sport (though i can see that the latter may be the starting point). having their names and logos emblazoned on a multitude of lycra is expected, in some way or another, to increase their profile within whichever market(s) they are involved - and it doubtless works that way most of the time, or they'd find other shirts on which to proffer their wares.
but in a similar mode to if a tree falls in the woods, and there's nobody there to see or hear - does it make a noise? if nobody sees your very fast blokes on their carbon fibre finery, is the point being missed, perhaps? the more astute amongst you may havae grasped of which i type, but for those of you blissfully unaware of what the heck this is all about, i'll tell you. the tour of qatar.
cycling.tv have been presciently providing daily coverage of this event since sunday, and it's quite possible that each day brings viewers yet more feelings of deja vu. one, or a few riders about a minute off the front of a chasing peloton getting caught before the final few kilometres, then tom boonen wins. there's nobody watching at the side of any of the flat roads day after day, the scenery is sand and yet more sand, and an absence of anything that could reasonably be described as a topographic feature isn't the best bet for a dose of excitement. unsurprisingly, there isn't a king of the mountains jersey. not really what i'd call entertainment, and surely skimming the outer reaches of sporting prowess?
so what is the point of the tour of qatar?
posted on wednesday 30 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................great what you can find when you try
now before you start reading this, be aware that i'm going to let some of you down by the time we get to the end.
those resourceful chaps at prendas, having just moved home, have turned up some original retro - and retro with a bona fide history. made from a wool/acrylic mix, these gelati sanson campagnolo jerseys are the very same as that worn by francesco moser as winner of paris roubaix in 1980. more stylish than a very stylish thing, it's doubtless the jersey that would let you stand out, for all the right reasons, in which ever peloton you happen to be a member of.
featuring short sleeves (not quite the weather just yet) and manufactured by italian supremos santini, as part of their maglia storico range, there's a 14cm front zip and the desperately necessary three rear pockets, all for a mere £49.95 (around $100). now for the disappointing bit: prendas have stocks of sizes 0 to size 3, and it is my sizist duty to inform that size three equates to a 36 inch chest - i could possibly make it in to one provided i don't breathe too often. you can probably figure out what a size zero is (and yes, you may have to be a catwalk model to fit).
however, if you've ever seen photos in bars owned by former cyclists, where there are framed jerseys on the wall, this would make the ideal framed jersey to hang abiove the mantelpiece in the sitting room (just don't tell mrs washingmachinepost). so if you're waif like, or just fancy a collector's item, check with the helpful chaps at prendas ciclismo.
posted on tuesday 29 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................rapha winter cap
without a word of a lie, if there was an online poll for indispensible cycling item of the century (ok, slight exaggeration - think of it as a literary device) for me it would have to be the rapha winter cap. luke presented me with one of the original black ones at the 2006 cycle show at the excel centre for a washingmachinepost review, and it could almost have been designed for the scottish west coast in winter. yes, i am well aware that almost every cycle clothing manufacturer offers a thermal headwarmer that will fit snugly under a helmet - i own at least three - but what makes the rapha winter cap stand head and shoulders above the others (sorry 'bout the pun) is the peak and the elastic 'cosy' band at the rear.
the first is ideal because, if you have eyewear of any description, let alone prescription glasses, that peak stops the water from your helmet (we are talking scottish winters here) dripping on to the seeing bit. and if the sun does appear at anytime between november and march, it tends to be low in the sky - having a peak can prevent you seeing green blotches everywhere you look for the hours following the bike ride. the bit that covers your ears and the top of your neck while maintaining a high degree of belgian cycling dignity, can easily be rolled up while sitting at debbie's contemplating a double espresso and one of those little biscuits that you can only ever have when drinking coffee, extending this degree of decorum. in fact, should you find your ears burning while out riding - and not because your peloton is talking about you - it can just as easily be moved out the slipstream (not to be confused with david millar's team), to enhance cooling.
it's hard to improve on perfection, but that has never stopped rapha from trying: the elasticated section seems a mite sturdier, but that could just be because my original cap is wearing from overuse. it has also acquired a contrasting stripe - the purple and blue offerings receive a white stripe, and the khaki green gets a black (very cool). other than that, it's still the brilliant winter cap it has always been. wearing one of these i am totally invincible in the face of rain, hail or gale force winds.
and so will you be.
the rapha winter caps are available in three colours plus black, at a cost of £35 ($55) each and can be ordered from rapha.cc
posted on tuesday 29 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................how was it for you?
the advice we've been given for year upon year, is to purchase bicycles and assorted goodies from the local bike shop, advice that in principal, i would wholeheartedly agree with. if you have more than one local bike shop, then you pays your money and you takes your choice. but over the last five or six years, there has been a growing preponderance of websites very keen to make your acquaintance and help you make use of the flexible plastic in your back pocket. it's the hyperspace development of the mail order ads at the back of the comic - indeed many of the latter have joined this merry band of pixelators with websites of their own.
originally sales merely extended to the bits that could either break or fall off your bike, as well as providing shiny pictures to aid the all-important upgrade. not that this was in any way a substitute for gazing longingly at the polished alloy and carbon fibre nestling in a glass case at your nearest retailer, but it could, and can be done from the comfort of your own armchair. over these selfsame years, bicycles have made a larger sales appearance, and often at prices unheard of at the local bike dealer. i think we're all adult enough here to realise that the more business that heads in the way of the website purveyors, the less hard cash comes through the door of the cycle shop down the road - this may be good news for you, but it sure isn't good news for them. and unless you are a dab hand at repairs with a comprehensive collection of park tools in the bike shed, it could also be less than good news for you too. and websites and mail order ads are often fine for those of us who like to think we know what it is we're ordering, but pity the neophyte who can't tell his 105 from his r-sys.
however, quite a substantial range of cycling goodies and bicycles have become more sepcialised over the same years - what to do if the local shop doesn't stock campagnolo? or in amongst the bright collection of pink barbie tricycles, there isn't a colnago extreme power? come to that, those of us who live on the outer edge and have no local bike shop at all. surely we've all had the immense satisfaction of pushing open the front door, to find it partially jammed by a large padded envelope that only just made it through the letterbox? or, perhaps more to the point, coming home to her indoors standing in the hallway holding the very same padded envelope, and not expressing great joy at its delivery.
it seems to be human nature to luxuriate in buying stuff, and if you're in the more remote parts of great britainshire, there's nothing quite like receiving packages like that detailed above - because the post tends to be slightly more erratic in the hinterlands, so there's no determining just when it's going to appear. and if it's something that you wanted, rather than something you needed (there's not the same degree of excitement on receiving a replacement chain, it has to be admitted), so much the better.
therefore, and i apologise in advance for this, i have now presented those of you within striking distance of a 'real' bike shop with a dilemma you may not have actively considered. those of us who must carry out our own technical support, and have to use mail order anyway, can still sleep easily in our beds. but you cannot but admit that those nearer to the great metropolises can just about have their cake and eat it too: there's mail order for the exotica, and the local bike shop for the necessities of cycling life. but be sure to be careful how you balance the two - given half a chance, bricks and mortar can provide the more rarified atmosphere too, if you'd only let them. but once they're gone - they're probably gone for good.
we're relying on you to do the right thing
posted on tuesday 29 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................happy, not s.a.d.
we're probably all agreed that it's winter, at least all of us in the cold, bleak northern hemisphere. in the uk, that effectively means dull, dark mornings when it's a major struggle to drag the weary carcass from its slumber and prepare for another day of grey. and maybe even more of a travail if it means donning sportwool and lycra to get out there and get the miles in. you've probably become infinitely more efficient at inventing excuses not to take the bike out the shed, than you have at completing the sprint training 30 seconds faster than last week. and for those who just find it all too depressing, italian carbon fibre or no italian carbon fibre, you may just be a s.a.d. person.
this play on words - or, to be more precise, play on acronyms - is not to make you feel even worse, but to draw attention to the fact that feeling this way during a britainshire january is not all that unusual. and it is called s.a.d. - seasonal affective disorder. the exact cause of this is not entirely clear, but it seems that the shorter, darker days are almost definitely the trigger, prolonging the production of melatonin which is usually only produced at night to help keep your little head on that soft pillow. wonderful - so now you know why you feel like crap in the mornings, and why your bid for a first tour of flanders may have to wait yet another year.
but it is thought that such a condition may be treatable, and with something as simple as light. since s.a.d. is rarely experienced on those happy summer mornings as the sun's rays sear in through the gaps in the curtains and little birds twitter on the windowsill (this article is sponsored by walt disney), it seems logical that attempting to recreate similar conditions at the worng time of year might just reverse the effect. and even if s.a.d. doesn't affect you to the degree of causing symptoms of daily anguish, wouldn't you just love to wake up on a january/february morning to the heart of the sunrise? (indeed, i used to be a yes fan).
it can be done - or, at least, it can be seen to be done. lumie, of cambridge, england, produce a range of lights that can be effectively used to treat s.a.d., or just to brighten up your life in the mornings, and help you fall asleep at night. they supplied me with a bodyclock sunray 100 dawn simulator to see if it would help me leap out of bed in the morning ready for another punishing 100km or so, rather than pulling the covers up and pretending that the alarm clock was fast.
the light consists of a silver coloured plastic base, and a white, translucent 'orb' under which is contained a 60w lumie daylight simulator bulb. there are radial slots at the rear of the orb which function both as cooling for the bulb and project something akin to sunrays on the wall behind the clock. there's a button to switch the light into different modes, and three other buttons controlling different functions, as well as an led clock that can be set to 12 or 24 hour display. if your usual time for leaping into action of a dull, grey morning is 7am, then that's the time you set the alarm for. at 6:30am, the light will ease into action by producing a soft, warm glow which gradually increases until, at 7:am it's time to put on the ambre solaire and prepare for a tan. there is also a beeper to reinforce its achievement of maximum brightness, but i found that rather destroyed the moment, so i've switched it off.
in the evening, to aid the nogin to drop off to the land of nod, the light can be activated to the desired degree of brightness by pressing the + button, at which point it slowly fades to darkness over a period of time that depends on the intitial degree of brightness. in practice, it works a treat: the weather has been suitably crap here on the outer edge, and the softly increasing glow in the morning has been a very welcome way to exit from a night's obliviousness to the world. the only shortcoming, from my point of view, is the sudden switching off of the light, after about five minutes. it does tend to snap you awake certainly, should you still be swithering, but a more softly, softly approach would be more welcome. however, i am totally besotted with the fade to sunset option at night. i just love that bit. and perhaps unsurprisingly, the bodyclock 100 can also be used as a dimmable bedside light.
price is a not inconsiderable £59.95, and the sunray 100 is the cheapest in the range - it's possible to spend almost £100 on the advanced 200 (which has, admittedly a broader range of features). but if your life, work, training (delete as applicable) depends on getting out of bed fairly smartish when the idea appeals least, a lumie bodyclock could well be a relatively easy solution. it is apparently possible to experience a 30 day home trial of the model of your desire - contact lumie at the web address below.
there will be an update to this review after i've experienced its effects for a wee while longer.
posted on monday 28 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................paying attention
as british telecom (which now may be known as openreach - or not) used to say - it's good to talk, and that's exactly what we were doing yesterday. jez stays in port charlotte and i'm in bowmore - he left home at 10:55 (cheat) heading towards bowmore and i left at 11:00am heading to port charlotte and we met just south of bridgend. this was the start of our joint training regime preparing for this year's london-paris in june. as archetypal tough scotsmen (just ask brian smith) we intend to plough through heaven and the place with the accordions, in order to ensure that nobody laughs at our abilities on the bicycle, come the witching hour.
at my behest, jez got himself a polar heart rate monitor with the idea of following me in my acolyteship (is there such a word?) of thomas chapple's base training for cyclists. as you are doubtless bored of hearing by now, the plan is to complete about three month's worth of base training at an agreed low heart rate, before ramping the pace up a tad, after easter. unfortunately, one of the first parts of the route we chose/had imposed upon us, consists of a steepish climb that tops out at around 20 percent. the chances of keeping a low heart rate and still remaining upright on such a gradient are pretty slim, but since the following kilometres were largely downhill or flat, meant that we would have ample distance to revert to the lower numbers on our respective polars.
only that didn't quite happen. when you're on your own, there's not that much else to do other than watch the aforesaid numbers, and it's an easy enough task to adjust the cadence accordingly. however, put two cyclists such as jez and i together, who both suffer from verbal diarrhoea (don't tell me this comes as a surprise), there's a lot of idle banter that's unheard by either party because of the headwind, but it certainly tends to obscure the numbers that should be paid heed to. factor in that the latter part of the ride was into a rising wind and torrential rain, to heck with a low heart rate - we pedalled towards the coffee for all we were worth (not much by this time).
so here we find the fly in the ointment - mr chapple probably trained on his own, or even wrote the book when everybody was out of the house, while his case studies were likely under the evil eye of a sadistic cycle coach, shouting out heart rates every few seconds, and downloading every parameter to a nearby laptop. so there's only two possible options: train separately, or don't talk to each other when we're out.
answers on a postcard...
posted on sunday 27 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................putting your money where your mouth is
if memory serves correctly, rapha celebrates four years in existence this month, and like them or loathe them (or perhaps more succinctly, loathe their prices), you can't help but admire the profile they've built for themselves in those four years. everytime you acquire an item of their apparel, even the humble casquette, you're effectively buying into the whole black and white, cycling heritage philosophy - something that leaves me, and many like me, with a warm glow inside, while leaving others cold and without a scooby as to what it's all about.
however, it's not all going one way - rapha have put a lot back into cycling via their 'recreational rides' the rouleur photo exhibition, and not least, pouring some sponsorship money into the rapha condor cycle team. between the two sponsors, they've run the latter for a couple of years with remarkable success. but on thursday evening at the singapura restaurant in central london, the so-called 'superteam' was presented to an admiring public by anthony mccrossan - with rapha condor being merged with last year's recycling team. actually 'merged' is a bit of a misnomer - the only surviving member from last year's rc team is dean downing. all the others are from john herety's original recycling team. and as a uci continental team they've already been invited to ride the 2008 tour of britain. as you can probably guess from the jersey, they will continue to ride condor bicycles, though with shimano groupsets this year after madison stepped in as support sponsor. surprisingly though, it's fizik saddles rather than brooks leather.
so next time you stumble across the rapha website or lust after a jersey with a white hoop on the left sleeve, it's entirely possible you may just be assisting britain's chance of having a pro team in the tour in the foreseeable future.
rapha expect to have a range of team clothing available at the end of march this year.
posted on saturday 26 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................singlespeeds with attitude
i'm not sure that it's possible to own a singlespeed that doesn't have attitude, since it seems to be written into the job description of most of the folks i know that own one (or two). and notwithstanding my embarrassing lack of ability to pedal one of these, it doesn't stop me casting admiring glances everytime one appears on the post, or perchance, happens by on a city street (i don't get out much these days). however, the days of a singlespeed being merely a utilitarian mode of transport would seem to have come to an abrupt end - colnago were showing a rather fetching lugged steel, saronni painted version at the london cycle show last year, as well as a complete bicycle at milan, and utilitarian is not an adjective to be found in the same sentence as colnago.
but totally destroying the utility image in a take no prisoners kind of way, are the latest two offerings from fixie inc., exclusively imported into the uk by mosquito bikes. offering a fabulous lugged steel (black jack) and tig welded steel (peacemaker), the attention to detail on these frames is little short of jaw-dropping. finished in ice white with red decals, the peacemaker is the original fixie singlespeed and has polished everything from the stem right down to its forks and rigida rims. frame only is £415 - complete bike build runs to £1050 with the aggressively (but joyously) named car scratcher handlebars.
however, the black jack is a lugged steel frame with the same attention to detail as the peacemaker, and then some. even the polished stem is lugged (i wonder if that's available all on its own - coolness personified). and in a truly retro move, if you opt to run a pair of brakes on the finished bicycle, the cables are held on the top tube by polished cable clips - peachy keen if you ask me. the rear dropouts feature threaded axle adjusters and everything that isn't painted, has been buffed to a finish that would allow you to reflect sunlight into the eyes of harry potter playing quidditch. complete with brooks finishing kit, the whole bicycle costs £1360 (£1190 with standard finishing kit) - frame only is £595.
now that your appetite for one gear has been tantalisingly whetted, just in case you're not completely convinced, have a look at these. then pop over to mosquito bikes and talk to phil about delivery.
posted on friday 25 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................the men down under - updated
while we all cower from the elements in this northern hemisphere of ours, the lucky blighters in victoria, australia are langushing in never ending sunshine, eager to leap out of their beds in the morning and weld some more metal tubing into the the double diamond shapes so beloved of the uci. well, not everyone in victoria, you understand, principally the happy bunch who work at baum cycles.
you may remember poring over some delectable examples of their titanium work last year, not east because of the coffee nomenclature, and probably when the seasons were reversed, but it does thewashingmachinepost heart good to see that for some, even in such faraway places, steel is still real. granted in this case it inhabits a 'lug-free' zone, but i think you will agree that these are some of the finest examples of the builders art to happen this way in many a long pixel.
in the photos sent by jared at baum cycles, it appears that these examples bear witness to steel's reality only in the double diamond - the forks look like carbon to me. however, i have e-mailed all across the ether to find out if this is so, and also to enquire whether a steel fork could be had as an option. if like me, the second question entering the mind, after the 'how come these look so incredibly amazing?' initial reaction, is 'so how much do they cost?' rest assured i am on the case.
baum cycles do publish complete bicycle prices on their website, but kindly supplied the steel, frame + fork prices by e-mail which i have converted into uk and usa prices at current exchange rates: cappucino, with baum carbon fork & ritchey headset - £1267 ($2191). espresso, edge 2.0 or reynolds ouzo fork and ritchey headset - £1603 ($3157). ristretto, with edge 1.0 fork and chris king headset £1871 ($3684). there are listed upgrades too and a steel fork is available on request - if you're interested, or intrigued, e-mail me and i'll pass on a copy of the list. and just to add to the already palpitating credit card, i am assured there is more to come as 2008 progresses.
does anyone have a list of bed & breakfasts in victoria?
steel is real, espresso gallery
posted on wednesday 23 january - updated 24 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................precipitation!
you wouldn't think it so hard to get out in the rain, here on the outer edge, but today i succeeded. granted, everyone thinks i'm off my trolley for leaving the security of a nice warm office for the wind and rain of the great outdoors, but a cyclist's gotta do what a cyclist's gotta do (don't you just love that phrase?).
so i went out and got wet. or rather, i didn't.
it appears that, with the aid of some very cosy, and comfortable wet weather clothing from scotland's endura, it may well be possible to comfortably train/commute in crap weather, for around £300. at least, if you don't count the £4000 for a colnago.
read the update here
posted on tuesday 22 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................not invented here - america only need apply
i was invited to london on january 24th for the official launch of the raphacondorrecycling team, and very grateful i was for the invite. except life on the outer edge has its disadvantages - one being that travel from the centre of the known universe to london takes quite a long time and not an immoderate amount of expense which would stretch the still non-existent washingmachinepost budget beyond its imposed boundaries. so, sadly, i had to decline.
but if it's a long way from bowmore to london, it's an even longer distance from here to portland, oregon in united stateshire where rene and trystan from rapha will be attending the north american handbuilt show from 8th - 10th february. and in a similar vein to last year's cycle show at earls court, rapha will be providing the added extras for which they are becoming quite rightly renowned.
firstly, the highly successful rouleur photography exhibition, straight from coventry transport musem, will be at the crane building on nw 14th street, portland from the 7th-10th february, with an opening night party at 7pm. it's free, and daily opening is 11am - 10pm. and secondly, without which no major event would be complete, there will be a rapha ride, known as the west hills continental. with many of the rapha continental riders based in and around portland, they will host a 39 mile brevet-style ride into the hinterland of the northwest hills. this takes place on 10th february, so if you live in the area, or will be attending the nahbs,
then contact continental@rapha.cc to let them know you are coming, and they will provide a full colour laminated west hills ride guide so that no-one gets lost. and it's free.
and as seems to be customary in the cycling oriented city, there are other cyclie things going on around and about, including teams of portland exhibition featuring 'racing teams, culture squads and goodtime clubs along with their associated bicycles, kits and hangouts.the exhibit is at weiden + kennedy, a portland based ad agency on nw 13th avenue from 6pm on 7th february. you can learn more about cycling culture in portland from www.bikeportland.org
(thanks to chris distefano from chris king components for assistance with the above.)
so now those of us in rain drenched (or not - see article below) britain, can but envy those in rain drenched portland from a distance. life's not fair, is it?
posted on monday 21 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................heavy clouds, but - no rain
you may think it's a glamorous life at the post, dressing up in quality cyclewear, climbing aboard the latest in carbon technology and idly whiling away the days, surveying the estates from a brooks saddle, before concocting a vaguely relevant article in the few moments before tea's ready. then looking forward to more of the same as the week progresses. well, perhaps there's one day of the year when a plan comes together, but the rest is agonising purgatory that only takes place due to my continually selfless nature (you are convinced by now, surely?).
monday morning, still dark, pouring rain outside, that i even get drenched nipping out to put saturday's newspaper in the recycle bin. utterly brilliant. the meteorological forecast warns of torrential rain across northern ireland and southern scotland, placing islay more or less in the middle of that. there are a few tasks that have to be completed in the office, but by lunchtime there should be a large enough work/leisure window to allow for at least an hour's worth of splodging about the countryside on the company colnago, getting thoroughly wet. now why would would i want to do that?
well, if you've read the lengthy review of endura clothing posted on saturday and sunday, you will be aware that i was sent a waterproof, breathable jacket, waterproof bib tights and waterproof neoprene overshoes, the idea being to prove to me and you that they did what it said on the tin (well, cardboard tag, actually). i could just have told you how the manufacturer intended the aforementioned clothing to operate in precipitous conditions of a torrential nature, but where's the credibility in that - how could i possibly expect you to hang upon my every word, if i just read the catalogue, and repeated same, next to the photos?
so while i may well have been the only person in scotland smiling inwardly with joy at the constant downpour outside the window, i felt that the only responsible thing to do for my reader, was to get soaking wet - or, in fact to remain completely dry while attempting to get soaking wet. therefore, quick and nutritious peanut butter sandwich and strawberry and banana smoothie consumed, it was the quickest of changes from civvies into the requisite endura weatherproof apparel, before heading into the morass. except, the rain went off - and as i type this, we have the makings of a beautiful islay sunset, with orange tinged, fluffy clouds, clear blue sky, and a bright orange globe descending behind the rhinns. the law according to sod interveneth once more.
granted, there were stretches of road where the ditches at the side had overflowed, and there were lashings of water heading in an upward direction from the schwalbe ultremos. but gravity brought nary a drop. zilch. so while the stealth tights kept shins and calves perfectly dry through the flooded sections, you and i will have to wait for another day to complete the last part of the road test. however, the forecast is crap for the remainder of the week.
it's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it
posted on monday 21 january
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................where have all the piggies gone? - updated
dunlossit estate on islay breeds pigs - lots of the little blighters, and one or two of the larger chaps too. my 50km training loop (see, i've gone up in your estimation already - i have a training loop) takes me past the muddy fields which they inhabit. only not today, it seems, since their usual haunts were notable by being bereft of piggies. and unfortunately that wasn't the only thing that was bereft - it didn't rain, not a single drop: i didn't even get splashed by a passing car. down south people are having to bail out their homes for up to the third time in a week, and rivers have been bursting their banks in all directions. so when you're testing some of the finest waterproof cycle clothing known to mankind, a lack of rain becomes somewhat of an inconvenience.
however, working on the four seasons in one day principal, it seemed prudent to find out if endura's waterproof clothing had as much going for it in dry weather, as it promised during continuous precipitation. let's face it, a lengthy training ride at this time of year could easily encounter alternating spells of wet, damp and dry and it's not the most pragmatic of solutions to keep changing apparel to suit changeable weather.
so, having top to toed myself in endura's venturi breathable waterproof 'hardshell' jacket, merino baabaa baselayer, stealth waterproof bib tights, neoprene waterproof overshoes and thermal, waterproof lobster gloves, i allowed the colnago to take me out for the day.
posted on saturday 19 january updated on sunday 20th
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