Monthly Archives: February 2011

The Handmade Bike Show – I Wasn’t There. Here’s My Report.

What’s that old saw about living somewhere, but never taking advantage of its attractions? That was me this weekend. Austin, Texas hosted the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) and I didn’t go. However, it was hard to miss, even … Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under Bikes

Mountain Bike Shoes for Road Biking?

Here’s an idea I’ve been rolling around in my head for awhile… I’ve been riding my current shoe/pedal setup for over two years now. But I’m wondering if there’s a more comfortable arrangement. Now, I’m not having any major foot … Continue reading

16 Comments

Filed under Accessories

Cassettes – Wide or Tight?

I met up with my biking friend John T after work today. He was excited because he made a major change on his bike: he got a new cassette. He’s excited about it because the largest cog on the cassette … Continue reading

18 Comments

Filed under Components

That Wind Effect

My wife and I headed out for a relatively short ride this afternoon. The wind blew briskly from the south, between 10-15 mph. We decided to head for the Veloway, which is partially shielded from the wind by trees. But … Continue reading

5 Comments

Filed under Odds 'n ends

A Three-Year-Old Noob?

February 18. That’s the day I put up my first post on Bike Noob.  Three years ago. Unbelievable. A blog I started just to get a feel for writing a blog has turned into something that I would be hard … Continue reading

14 Comments

Filed under Blogging

Contador and My Interest in Cycling

My interest in pro bike racing is pretty much confined to the Tour de France. I’ve been watching the Tour for the last four years, attracted mainly by the scenic shots of France – the chateaus, the medieval walled towns, … Continue reading

13 Comments

Filed under Racing

It’s Amazing How Fast You Get Out of Shape

Rode this afternoon with my wife. It was my first ride in a week. In fact, it seems that the only riding I’ve been doing for the last month has been on the weekends, and this week, I didn’t even … Continue reading

9 Comments

Filed under fitness

Tighten Your Cleats!

On a recent ride, I turned into the parking lot of one of those stand-alone Walgreen’s drug stores that seem to have cropped up on every other corner, when something didn’t feel right.  My right foot was looser than it … Continue reading

4 Comments

Filed under Equipment

Triggering Green Lights

When I wrote my last post about getting stuck at red lights, a couple of commenters noted that the bike should be able to trip the green light.  The problem is, a lot of us don’t seem to know exactly … Continue reading

7 Comments

Filed under Safety

Jumping Red Lights

So, I’m on a longer-than-usual weekend ride, and I come to a “T” intersection.  I’m going to turn left, off a narrow two-lane road onto a busy, four-lane arterial.  But I’ve got a red light. I stop, and wait.  And … Continue reading

9 Comments

Filed under Safety