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Another New Saddle

10.13.2011 by Ray Niekamp // 1 Comment

After being reasonably happy with my WTB Speed V for about a year, it went and fell apart on me. I decided the quick and easy way to repair it was to wrap it with duct tape. Great in theory, but it fell short in practice. The pumping motion of my pedaling legs caused the tape to bunch up. I took one 30-mile ride on the taped saddle, and really felt it afterwards. I figured I’d have to shop for a new saddle.

But then, pulling into the garage, I saw the answer right in front of my eyes. My old Raleigh had a saddle that was almost new. I took pilfered it from the unused 10-speed and put it on the Specialized.

The saddle is a F0rte Classic. Forte, of course, is the house brand of Performance Bicycle, the nationwide chain. I had bought it back in 2007, when the saddle I had on the Raleigh proved to be too uncomfortable. But after riding the Forte on my first metric century, it was evident I’d made a bad move. My bottom suffered during that ride. A few months after, I bought my current bike and forgot about the Forte.

At first blush, it might prove to be a good replacement for the WTB. Performance bills the Classic as “ideal” for long rides. After my metric experience, I was skeptical at best. But I’ve ridden it several times, rides of 15-20 miles, and it seems to be pretty good.

Why the difference?  I believe it all has to do with bike fit. That Raleigh’s frame is a bit too large for me, and I had never been fitted for that bike, anyway. But I did get a professional fitting for the Specialized, and I kept the key dimensions handy just in case I did have to make adjustments to the saddle. It’s amazing how different a perch can feel when the rest of your body is in a comfortable position.

The Classic has semi-soft padding all around, which I like. I don’t do well with the hard, skinny, racing-style saddles. It also has a center cutout, which I can take or leave. I’ve ridden with and without cutouts, and in my case, they don’t seem to make much difference. I think it has only about 250 miles on it, so it’s just like new.

With the weekend coming up, I’ll be getting out for some longer rides than I’ve subjected the saddle to so far. We’ll see if it lives up to its billing as a long-distance saddle. However it turns out, you can be sure I’ll let you know in a future post.

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Categories // Equipment Tags // saddle

Review: The Jersey Bin

10.11.2011 by Ray Niekamp // 2 Comments

Guest poster Jeff Hemmel likes to review things, and he’s found something he likes.

Noob or not, cyclists like their baggies. I’m a little nutty about losing one particular worn, zip-style bag that’s just a little bigger than my iPhone. Inside I tuck my phone, a credit card, ID, and some cash. The small bag fits perfectly in my jersey pocket and keeps things — namely my phone — safe and dry.

Or at least, kept things safe and dry in the past tense. As handy as baggies are, they’re ridiculously thin. After repeated use, mine features multiple tears that no longer allow it to get the job done. And while I’m sure there are people who will now jump in and remind me that baggies are cheap (a whole box for a few dollars!), I like my small, pocket-sized baggie, not some oversize sandwich bag that I have to fold up in my pocket. And even if I didn’t mind the excess, it just seems kind of silly to keep going through sandwich bags repeatedly, let alone trust them to save your pricey smart phone from rain and sweat.

What I’ve really wanted is a heavier duty zip-lock bag little bigger than the contents I wanted to carry in it. That’s when I spotted a tweet from pro rider Ted King featuring that exact thing — a thick, tough, phone-sized, zip-style bag with a Strava logo. Turns out it was a privately labeled “Jersey Bin.”

Like a Ziploc on steroids, the Jersey Bin (www.jerseybin.com) is made from a 10-gauge vinyl that resists the pokes or tears that would bring a standard baggie to its knees. A sturdy zip closure seals everything up inside. Better yet, that “zipper” runs lengthwise. No more trying to cram my phone, and its grippy rubber case, down through the slim widthwise opening of the bag or struggling to extract some cash at a convenience store. The sideways zipper provides easy access. Sizes include mini, trim, and big. The mini nicely fits my iPhone, cash and cards, without excess. Go bigger if you’re the type who wants to carry more.

I’ve ridden with the Jersey Bin for about a week now. Positive marks include the fact that everything within has stayed absolutely dry. You can also easily use a touchscreen phone interface right through the vinyl (in fact, it seems to work better than my old thin baggie), you can make and receive calls with the phone still in the bag, and the bins — available in three sizes — all seem to fit comfortably in a jersey pocket. An unexpected side benefit is that the stiffer bag lays flat against your lower back; my old-school baggie often let items “sag” to the bottom of my pocket.

Downsides? They’re few. Personally I like the suppler feel of the frosted vinyl version, but the clear is easier when you want to view your phone’s screen. And yes, critics will bring up that whole “box o’ baggies” cost issue, but at only about $6 (including First Class or Priority Mail shipping), that’s kind of a silly argument.

A simple idea? Certainly. But one I’ve been looking for a long time…

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Categories // guest post, Review Tags // guest post, Hemmel, Review

The 5 a.m. Ride

10.09.2011 by Ray Niekamp // 7 Comments

Most bikers I know are always trying to find time to ride. I certainly am. Lately, I’ve been limited to riding on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only — my Tuesday evening ride just hasn’t happened in the past two months because I wind up staying later than planned at work.

But one group of cyclists has found a way to make time for their rides. My friend Ramon H. in the Rio Grande Valley of far south Texas and a group of his riding buddies meet for a morning ride. A 5 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING ride! And astonishingly, the number of riders at that hour is growing.

It all started in 2004 when Ramon’s friend Eddie wanted to train for an upcoming ride, but couldn’t do it in the evening. He did 5 a.m. rides until his event came and went, then stopped. But in 2009 Ramon had started riding and wanted to get in more miles. Eddie invited him to come out at 5 a.m.

For awhile, it was just the two of them. But word of mouth spread, and people started asking to join.

Starting out.

“Nowadays, the 5 a.m. ride has become a staple with the local cycling clubs and bicycle shops,” Ramon said. “They send folks our way when a certain rider asks about early morning rides.”

The ride attracts an average of eight to 10 bikers, and what started as a Tuesday and Thursday event has now spread to the rest of the week. Eddie leads the Monday, Wednesday and Friday rides; Ramon Tuesday and Thursday. Eddie said as many as 18 have shown up a few times. In that case, the ride splits into two or three groups — hammerheads and slower riders. Ramon said if people are feeling poorly and don’t want to ride, they come out anyway and drive a SAG vehicle.

“In their eyes, their biological clocks are already used to being up and about at that time, so they might as well come out,” he said.

Waiting at a stoplight.

Of course, safety is a concern to riders and their families. One cyclist (not part of the group) was killed when struck by a car at 6 a.m. near their route.

“When you first ride in the dark, your eyes play tricks on you. You see all sorts of shadows,” said Ramon.

Eddie added, “I find it amazing how many times I did not notice a car coming behind me.” He emphasized the importance of using good lights and reflective gear, and riding defensively.

The rides started out with a 22-mile loop. That’s been extended to 24 miles, but some of the newer riders were not comfortable with that distance, so shorter loops of 10 and 14 miles were added.

“Interestingly enough,” Ramon noted, “24 miles seems to be the ‘magical number’ in that the fast group can finish the distance in about an hour and half, while the beginner group can finish the distance in two hours.  The rides are done by 7 a.m.”

“Plus,” added Eddie, “I get to say to my coworkers, ‘Yeah…I did 30 miles this morning.'”

For Eddie, the quiet and the lack of traffic are highlights of riding that early. Ramon likes the sunrises.

“There is something magical about coming back from ‘the long loop,’ turning to the east and watching some of the most beautiful skies,” he said.  “You definitely are reminded how infinitesimal you, with all of your problems, really are.  It is during these rides that I am most thankful to be alive and to be able to do this.”

Heading home.

You know, I can see the possibilities of a ride like this. There’s really nothing to keep me from getting out at the crack of dawn and putting in some miles. Except, perhaps, my wife. Eddie allowed that there could be a problem. His wife actually comes out for the Tuesday and Thursday rides, but he added…

“Every now and then she says, ‘For once can the alarm not go off at 4 a.m?'”

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Categories // Rides Tags // lights, night

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