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maybe it's just me, but...
i've no intention of retreading the well worn travel story from islay to london and back; it doesn't get any easier, though down one day and back the next is always going to take its toll on the elderly. after everyone has visited germany, las vegas, milan and even portland, earls court is more or less last on the list. that pretty much means that everything that's going to be on the menu for next year has already been tasted.
nothing to see here; move along please.
of course, that's grossly unfair on what is a cycle exhibition with a great deal of depth and breadth; take into account that it's not just all roadie stuff, and yet i struggled big time to encompass all set before me. i've never attended on any day other than trade/press day, when few, if any of the celebrities are present (well, apart from brian smith), and the day is geared more towards networking between like or differing minds, and there's a lot more room to move and view the show. since i do not reside in london and surrounds, it's an excellent way to meet and talk to folks who have been correspondents up to that point. i even met michael hutchinson for the first time.
but what might well be the major attraction for visitors to the three public days, is beginning to look like acres and acres of carbon fibre; different coloured carbon fibre, but acres nonetheless. i am not implying that the cycle industry is in any form of the doldrums, or that bicycles of yesteryear were anymore individual than the current crop, but i worry more about the way today's bicycles are portrayed. bicycles are exciting, most of them look fast even when they're standing still: and in this case, they are.
earls court is no worse than any of the others in this way; every cycle show puts bikes on stands and we look. but most cycle shows, as in interbike, milan and eurobike, are effectively trade shows where the spreadsheet is king. they're not meant to be impressing the joys of cycling. london is different. london has only one trade/press day and three open to the public. alberto contador was present today, and cyclevox were due to have a plethora of stars on their stand. doubtless there are/were others.
but plopping bikes artfully or otherwise, in front of a brightly lit backdrop with a logo, seems effort in the wrong direction to implore the visiting public that here, at last, is the very sport/hobby/transport for them. i generalise of course, but adding a wooden mountain bike track for public consumption and some blokes very good at jumping off things did not do it for me. pro-active was never like this.
doesn't somebody have innovate or die as their slogan?
posted friday 9 october 2009
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................sense and sensibility
we are undeniably obsessed.
and the object of our obsession currently consists of sleek carbon fibre, possibly eleven speeds and likely wheels with far fewer spokes than would be considered minimal in respectable circles. it's an obsession born of a rich heritage of european road-racing, of idols such as fausto coppi, jacques anquetil, eddy merckx and of the great climbs of alpe d'huez, the ventoux, mortirolo and others that comprise the three great tours, the cobbles of roubaix and flanders and the falling leaves of lombardy. but we are cliquish in our selfishness; not every cyclist in the world has the same endearing view of their bicycle. for some it is a utility vehicle, a means to an end, not necessarily an end in itself.
the two are, of course, not mutually exclusive; it is perfectly acceptable to have posters of fausto and eddy on the wall, while mudguards and a rack adorn the steel frame parked against the wall outside. a bit of a mixture of both the foregoing mindsets informed the constructors' challenge that was a part of the opening weekend of the oregon manifest. the bikes on offer required to be raced, either by their builders, or by a nominated rider, over a 77 mile (124km) course devised by the twisted mind that is slate olson. but as i have pointed out to you already, the bikes had to carry stuff, and not the kind of stuff that you or i would cheerfully encase in at least a couple of our rear pockets.
of course, the constructors' challenge was judged as a separate entity than was the winner of the race. four judges (rob forbes, founder of design within reach and public bikes), sky yaeger (designer of swobo bikes), ron sutphin (president of united bicycle institute) and bryant bainbridge, (product creation at specialized bicycles) were tasked with the unenviable job of choosing one bicycle out of the 31 presented at the bicycle union on 2nd october.
bryant bainbridge; 'there was a tremendous range of experience at the show, from folks just starting out to someone with experience designing tubing & frame components.
judging the bikes was certainly more daunting than i had imagined. separating the details was easy enough, but knowing how much time, sweat and love had gone into the work really required us to be as thoughtful as possible. the good news was that we were all very much on the same page.
winner of the competition was portland and rapha continental builder and rider, tony pereira who constructed the rather innovative machine you can see in a few of the photos accompanying this article. featuring disk brakes, with the cabling fitted internally through the frame, and likewise the wiring for the front and rear lights, the bike has a commendably enormous front rack carrying a custom bag to die for. and keeping practicality firmly in mind, there are mudgaurds/fenders both front and rear and a fine pair of swept back bars and a real bell.
'in a nutshell it was the completeness of the design that separated tony from the pack. he approached the challenge of 'integration' more thoroughly than anyone else. not only was his u-lock integrated into the frame, the height and orientation was designed to mesh perfectly with portland's bike racks. this level of consideration was carried right through to the smallest details on an aesthetic level. for instance, there were several small rings painted into the top of his stem that were mirrored on the custom tail light. from one end to the other, the bike simply hung together.' bryant bainbridge again.
fellow judge, sky yaeger had this to say, 'the integrated lock was certainly truly innovative and unique and the stem was beautifully detailed. the front rack and the bag were integrated and well-thought out, while the craftsmanship was superb. so overall, we thought it was the the top dog.'
with no disrespect to tony, second place sycip or any of the other entrants, few of the bikes would have inspired sharp intake of breath if placed midst the colnagos, pinarellos and bianchis of this world, but then that's sort of the point. these bicycles were/are intended to provide efficient, quality, practical and aesthetically pleasing travel. let's not kid ourselves, a european style road bike rarely ticks all those boxes, perhaps something we would do well to remember when coming up with reasons to purchase the next matt carbon skinny wheeler. remember that all the bikes that featured in the design challenge required to be raced; perhaps not raced in the manner that mark cavendish would understand, but a heck of a lost closer to the definition applicable to most of us.
i'm extremely fortunate that the island on which i live has very little crime of any description, but i can cheerfully leave a colnago of any hue, outside debbie's cafe without any concern for its safety. however, in this i am very much in a minority. part of the design challenge was to have regard for the security of the bicycle entered at the manifest; tony's idea, as you may have seen in the short video below from jeremy dunn, was to integrate the lock into the bicycle frame itself. a very elegant solution, and one that i hope tony has the good fortune to be able to license to some of the world's larger cycle manufacturers. the little guys can still turn on a sixpence quicker than gargantua.
i can hear many of you murmuring to yourselves that, well, don't they just look like the touring bikes still used by thousands all across the world, that still appear in all four corners year after year? there may well be some truth in that, but it's an area that has all but ceased to innovate, sadly in my opinion, because as global warming and the prospect of a large personal carbon footprint edges ever more into immediate reality, bicycles just could be the saving of us all. and if this turns out to be true, those bicycles are going to have to contend with an entirely different set of criteria and customers. the oregon manifest design challenge may, in retrospect, turn out to be one of the first big steps in the right direction.
prior to the commencement of this year's manifest, there was some dissension in the ranks over the restrictions/opportunities presented by the design challenge, for reasons i don't entirely understand, but on the basis of the entries i have been fortunate to see, through photographs sent from friends in portland, the originators of the challenge should be soundly congratulated. this is entirely what the bicycle world really, really needs, if only at its most superficial level, to show that the bicycle is more than equal to the task of assuming a greater proportion of the planet's transportation needs. carbon, bendy bars and skinny wheels really aren't as persuasive.
so sincere congratulations to tony pereira on his thoroughly deserved win. tony has ridden several times with the rapha continental, and not at the back, so his perspective is probably a lot wider than ours. a colnago is nice, but it won't easily or prettily carry a six pack of beer.
pereira cycles | oregon manifest | sycip cycles
incidentally, i am reliably informed that if anyone wishes to purchase tony's prize winning bicycle, it can be yours for $7000 (£4400)/p>
posted tuesday 6 october 2009
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................oasis in a desert - true story
perhaps those with nothing better to do with their mornings in the office, or those experiencing difficulty sleeping at nights will recall my tale and review of last sunday which included my international jetsetting to the isle of jura, just across the short stretch of water we like to refer to as the sound of islay. related to my musical inclusions which started a lot later than they were intended to, and thus finished correspondingly late, i braved the elements - which were a touch on the damp and windy side - to extend the cardiovascualr system to its sunday afternoon extreme in order to catch the 16:30 ferry back to islay.
of course, if you were paying attention, you will be aware that this simply didn't happen, and nor was it actually likely to, since time trialling is something i read about, but most certainly do not partake in. what i didn't mention at the time was that, in my haste to leave craighouse for the exciting journey south, i left my chris king water bottle sitting next to the array of cooper's tools kept in the corner of, obviously enough, the cooperage. i was several miles out of craighouse when this omission made itself known, as i was now thirsty and needing some form of carbohydrate intake due to not having eaten or supped for several hours. the chris king bottle had been at least half-full of an orange flavoured carbo/protein drink (and you thought i made it all up).
arriving at the pier in time to view the jura ferry sailing towards port askaig, faced not only with the prospect of a further two hours waiting sans food and water, but an 18km, headwind facing ride home in the wet, something to eat and/or drink would have been most welcome. handy then that i had packed a squishy carton of enervit in one of the softshell's three rear pockets, something forgotten until desperation unlocked a failing memory.
these were hardly the conditions that mapei would have experienced in the years of their existence (not sure they ever raced for the jura ferry), but enervit was their sustenance of choice, and i was ever so glad of finding that squeezy in my pocket. i can't promise that i knew exactly what i was drinking (all the contents and instructions seem to be available in every language apart from the one i understand), but not only did it taste convincingly orangey, but time went on to impress that those carbohydrates actually work. the expected light-headedness failed to appear, and despite the rain and wind all the way to bowmore, including that 14% climb out of port, i either lived to fight another day, or even fought to live another day. and all that after only 60ml of cheer.
prendas will happily fulfil the same life saving abilities for you too: an individual pack of enervit costs only £2.50, reduced from its normal £3.00, or if you're a big eater, a box of six costs the price of four (£9.95) or 36 for the price of two dozen (£45). recomended from personal experience.
posted monday 5 october 2009
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................it couldn't happen to nicer chap
i've mentioned the oregon manifest. and in the same breath, mentioned the constructors' challenge in which 31 frame builders entered some very tasty and innovative machines, which then had to be raced carrying a requisite selection of goods.
the requirements were: devise a sensational, unique and innovative bike for transportation use; bikes must handle equally well with and without load. both options will be tested against turning and straight pedaling; solutions should be integrated into a complete and harmonious whole, rather than a checklist of details; fabrication refinement and final presentation are important indicators of skill and thoughtfulness. extraordinary craftsmanship can be displayed in the simplest brazing or the fanciest lug. individual design solutions should build to a single visual and functional whole; bikes must accommodate and securely carry the rider's award ceremony party attire, a provided six-pack of beverage (in glass bottles), and a provided small container of party snacks; since the bikes must be protected from theft while unattended, a smart, easy solution for securing the bike under different conditions is expected; bikes should handle changing weather, lighting conditions, and visibility; if bike components or parts are loose, rattling, or otherwise inoperable at the race finish, points will be deducted for each failure; bikes must be able to be carried by its rider over a section of the constructors' race course.
the winner was a well-deserved tony pereira of pereira cycles, whose security solution borders on genius, as shown in this short video by jeremy dunn. hopefully more about this bike in the coming days.
posted sunday 4 october 2009
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................ecky thump
a working man (or pensioner) needs a hobby. there's either the hours to fill after the day's work down the mine has ended, or the need to fill the empty gap between rise and fall each day. supping pints of cappuccino and a few games of dominoes are all very well, or perchance in a westerly wind, sitting on the bench in front of one's white painted cottage admiring the autumn/fall house and the water feature. but those are time fillers, not hobbies. now, cycling, that's a real man's game.
nipping out for a couple of hundred kilometres before breakfast of a boiled egg and stewed tea, then stripping t'frame to its component parts with us bare 'ands, a worn screwdriver and a cotton bud, then reliving the milan san remo course on a tacx trainer in t'living room after lunch. that's a real man's sport. and if you're a real man, the only way to relax is on the comfy chair in the corner at debbie's, being heckled by the hired help and graciously acknowledging the steady stream of customers from behind your monogrammed mug.
such are the life and times of the mighty dave t, a man who has become a legend in his own lunchtime, and a man amongst the ardbeg peloton who has the gravitas and stature to wear an endura baabaa flat cap while supping and slurping continues all around. but if you tell it to t'kids of today (like that armstrong fella), they'd never believe you.
but true it is, the cap, i mean; featuring a polyester mesh inner for its wicking properties, the outer layer is 100% merino wool. it even arrives with a woolmark tag to prove it. fitting very neatly and subtly under a helmet, the merino flat cap is the ideal alternative for those who feel the more regular casquette is not for them; the domestiques and champions for whom darts and dominoes go hand in hand. naturally, very few will achieve the style and distinction that is the preserve of the mighty dave t, but it's always nice to have some goals in life.
the endura baabaa merino flat cap is easily machine washable, comes in one-size-fits-all at a cost of only £22.99 ($37). and of course, it has the mighty dave t seal of approval. worth bragging about over a cappuccino.
posted sunday 4 october 2009 dexter's an organised sort of chap. during the summer months, assuming it looks like sunshine and blue sky in the early morning, he has his riding kit all neatly laid out at the side of the bed, ready to don at dawn. the breakfast cereal is sitting on the table next to bowl and spoon, while the coffee is in the thingamajig that pops into the espresso machine, ready for a quick boost before the bike is extracted from its overnight stay. then it's off for a quick hour or so before work. as the mornings get darker and temperatures aren't what they once were, thoughts stray from short sleeve jerseys and closer to softshells, overshoes and gloves with fingers. of course, with dexter's careful preparation, one doesn't go straight from track mitts to those sleeping bags for forearms. there's a mid-stage that requires to be catered for, and dexter's got that covered. the chilly weather that, in some cases, seems to suddenly follow summer, requires perhaps less in the way of waterproofing and more in the way of windproofing. actually, i have no earthly idea who dexter is, but he must be somebody special for endura to name a pair of gloves after him. dexter could be the ceo's dog, for all i know, though why a golden retriever would need a pair of windproof gloves is pretty much anyone's guess. however, dexter's loss is our gain; a pair of windproof gloves is just exactly what the doctor ordered for the weather that has roared in from the atlantic over this weekend. while i wish not to portray myself as a paragon of extreme sports, it occurred to me that perhaps the least scientific but harshest way to scare the living daylights out of these gloves, was to wear them while cycling in gale force winds. in one of those don't try this at home moments, i dragged the colnago kicking and screaming from the bikeshed, before risking life and limb for the sake of finding out if dexter's mitts let the wind through. i'd like to say that the foregoing is creative exaggeration on my part, but sadly, no; the wind today on islay cheerfully gusted up to 70kph, and definitely not in a straight line. in order to remain able to complete thewashingmachinepost for the coming months, i curtailed the ride to little more than 18km, before it was curtailed for me. you and i are therefore probably both glad that endura's dexter gloves turned out to fulfil their explanatory title: the wind was held at bay. in appearance, the dexters are not too far removed from endura's deluge waterproof gloves, having a gel zone on the palms for comfort, a grippy pattern on all the fingers, the almost trademark velcro strap that closes on the front, and the orange printed tab that helps pull them on in the first place. while modern bicycles allude to their construction by way of endless acronyms and lettering on every surface, i feel endura spoil their perfectly functional handwear by plastering them with unnecessary text and robocop like cladding. the endura logo is reflective, as are the two lozenge shapes on the outer fingers; the cuff bears the lettering windproof and there's another endura logo on the velcro strap, to say nothing of that gel zone on the palm. these are very good gloves, and in my opinion they would still be very good gloves if their appearance was a tad simpler and less aggressive. however, the one feature of endura's handwear that has me mystified is their siting of the terry snot wipe on the forefinger and not the thumb. again, resorting to my less than scientific methodry, i tried to unconsciously wipe that runny nose before checking which part of the glove i employed for this less than seemly act, and every time, it's the thumb. is it just me? does everyone else use their trigger finger and the logical extension of same? maybe if they extended the terry portion to cover thumb and forefinger, dexter could claim versatility as one of his talents. i do, however, appreciate that this is more a personal and certainly trivial point which in no way detracts from the gloves' effectiveness. maybe dexter could attend some lectures about the bauhaus. to accommodate feet in shoes for this very windy trip, the corporate image was reinforced with a pair of endura's latest baabaa merino socks. i can appreciate that merino wool does not necessarily have the hardwearing features beholden to polyester and kevlar reinforcing, but it does cosy the toes in a manner with which no other material can compete. in a similar manner that you know when you've been tango'd, you will always be aware when those feet are enclosed in soft, comforting merino wool. in deference to the less than aggressive properties of merino, the endura socks are reinforced at toe and heel, and with a curious ribbed section on the bend where the leg meets the foot. somewhat visually reminiscent of those rubbery bits on bendy buses. to help provide the comfort that pervaded both feet, the baabaa merinos are seamless, and, as in the case of all merino products, from whichever manufacturer, they take a long time to reach malodorous proportions and tend to retain their warmth even when soaking wet. thankfully, i only caught the tail end of some horizontal rain today, so there was no need to put that part to the test. endura dexter windproof gloves can be had in sizes from xs to xxl at a cost of £24.99 ($40). the baabaa merino socks retail at £14.99 ($24) and are available in medium or large in dark grey posted saturday 3 october 2009
anybody here called dexter?
