Age Old Question: White After Labor Day?

I've lived by two fashion mottos in my life: 1) according to GQ, you CAN wear blue and black together, as long as you mean to, and 2) no white after Labor Day. Ok, I really haven't followed the white thing....and the blue and black thing I just found to help cover some fashion faux pas I apparently made.

However, this year, I'm breaking the white after Labor Day rule. My summer project has been to build up a complete road bike from frame up. I didn't want to mess with my main Torelli, but did want to learn a little bit more about how to build and maintain a fully geared road bike. I started out building up a couple single speeds, but those are relatively easy to keep from messing up. Building something with gears, derailleurs and just more stuff in general, seemed a little daunting, but I wanted to tackle it. I can now say that I've completed my summer project.That's my new Cinelli Spirit, put together by...well, me! The white tubing is Columbus Spirit tubing, and the black stays, seat tube, and fork are carbon fiber...which has been scary for a big guy like me. I've seen some ugly pictures on the interweb of the results of CF catostrophic failures. I picked up the frame on a screaming good ebay deal for a fraction of it's retail cost. The Campy Mirage group (cranks, derailleur, brakes, levers, chain) seat, bars, wheels and tires came off a used Bianchi Eros I bought. I had to purchase a new bottom bracket, integrated headset, front derailleur clamp, seat clamp, seat post...and for good measure I bought a new Campy cable/housing kit. Before doing all the work, I started with just this:


My first time working with CF, but I am proud to say I cut the steering tube by myself, although I was a tad nervous. I just went out and got a 32T blade for my hacksaw, used masking tape for a guide and to help with splintering, gently held it in my bench vise wrapped in an old tube, and rotated the tube after cutting down a bit on each side. Then took an emory cloth and polished it down. It wasn't too much more work than cutting a steel tube, just a little more tedious.

Big props also to Tori at Gracie's Wrench. They have bike classes and also do consulting for businesses in all things that have to do with cycling. I took what was essentially a Derailleur 101 and 102 class while wrapping up this bike. I felt like I *could* have knocked it out on my own, but having a pro help point out all the little gotchas allowed me to feel like it actually got done the right way. If you're in need of bike classes, I can recommend them wholeheartedly. As a bonus, GW is located in the shop at Vanilla Cycles, so I got to see some of their gorgeous frames up close as well! I'd be tempted to order one...but the current wait time is 5 YEARS to get one built....yes, I said YEEEEEAAAAAARRRRSSSSSSS........

In the midst of the Torelli 20th madness that happened, this little guy sat waiting, and so I finally got to take it out for a ride on Tuesday, and I was pleasantly surprised. The CF stuff almost feels a little *plasticlike* compared to my all steel bikes, but after a few miles I got used to it. The bike is light, and like the Torelli, climbs pretty well. I threw on some cheap pedals and cages, so I'm looking forward to trying it with some actual clipless pedals and cleats for comparison.

It's both a scary and exciting feeling to wind up a bike to normal speed, clicking through the gears, working the brakes, cutting into corners, and knowing that you put together every part on the bike to make it work that way. Very fulfilling, and a proud moment in my short cycling career so far - riding the bike I put together in my garage. Will it be one of my lifelong bikes that I keep forever....not sure. It could actually be for sale sooner than later, but it'll be fun riding it in the meantime, and looking forward to the next project.

Hasta.

Dang. What A Day.

I should have known the day would be wacky when we walked out to the car to head to school and found 4 of Keizer's Finest patrol cars screeching to a halt to snag a bad-guy-on-foot down at the end of our street. Course, nothing says "I'm Local" like standing there in my jammies, coffee cup in hand, baseball cap covering my Bob Wiley hair, watching the action.

After getting back from playing Mr. Mom Taxi Driver (two movies that should never really be referenced together) I put on our new Share The Road plates that have needed to find their way onto the Honda. Since the Mrs was headed out of town, and I'm pretty sure the temp plate expired, I figured it was a good day to get it done. I'm pretty pumped to see the little cyclist fella on the car, and it's especially ironic since our eldest is learning to drive on this car...but won't set any part of her body remotely near a bike. One bad experience on a dusty trail in LaGrande, and that was the end of the interest in bikes. Sigh.

After lunch I spent some time at South Salem Cycleworks checking into the stuff I'd need for the overhaul of the 20th Anniversary Torelli I've been pouring over in the previous couple posts. After settling on a direction, I headed back to the office, with a quick drive through pit-stop for an iced skinny latte to help get through the afternoon. So far, so good.

Shortly after getting back, we heard the sound of police sirens, and before long we had a whole gang of our office team on the sidewalk that borders our office property looking at this scene:

For those of you familiar with Salem, that's Commercial Street in the background, heading into downtown, just before Applebees. That Neon is parked on Tryon, a little side street that runs alongside our parking lot. Note the smashed windshield, dent in the drivers side fender, and missing hubcap on the front wheel. According to the StatesmanJoural, that's what happened with the driver ran the stop sign at the cross street, and the cyclist you see laying on the ground in the photo ran into her while riding down Commercial. And since the question will come up, no, he wasn't wearing a helmet.

We didn't see the accident, just the aftermath. The cyclist was coherent, and obviously in a lot of pain from his loud groans and screams. I'm happy to read that he appears to be ok, aside from a possible broken leg. His bike was rested up against the stop sign, and the rear wheel was toasted, but hopefully that will all be covered under insurance.

That's the second accident 'in the hood' in this past week. My personal feeling is that Salem is nowhere near a bike friendly town like Portland or other larger areas where more bikes are present, and I often feel like I am taking a little bit of my life into my hands when I ride around here in traffic. Seeing this one today reminded me that as a recreational cyclist who also spends a great deal of time behind the wheel of a car, that I need to be extra careful every time I head out on the road. Please do the same when you head out.....remember, I'm often out there on two wheels and no airbags to protect me!

Hasta.

Torellis and The Tree

I've now had the pleasure of taking each Torelli I've ridden out to The Tallest Black Cotton Wood in North America. (Sounds like a date after I read it back to myself.) Anyway, it's just out about 12 miles from our house and makes for a nice 22 mile loop to Willamette Mission Park and back. Here I am on my lunch ride yesterday with the 20th Anniversary Torelli, still in all it's funky frankenstein-ness, well, here's the bike anyway:

Working back in time one bike at a time, next is my current do everything Torelli shortly after getting it from the shop:


And the original ride that inspired it all, me on Nicks red Torelli, way back in the spring of '07.


It was just after that ride on the Red Gran Sasso that I called up the LBS that built it and said 'make me a twin of this bike,' and ended up with the blue Gran Sasso above. I love these steel bikes!

A couple notes about riding the frankensteined Torelli above. I hate to say it, but it really rode pretty nice. I hate to say it because I just can't get into those wheels, and for sure not on that frame. That frame really deserves some classic Campy. Not necessarily old, just classic...more like the polished group and wheels that are on the red bike above. That change will definitley happen.

I've often heard people say 'that bike climbs like a goat,' and have always thought 'yeah, whatever...YOU either climb like a goat, or you don't...not the bike.' However, yesterday I may have changed my mind. When climbing up Ravena, I was amazed how little effort I was putting into my pedaling. I haven't been riding for over a month (well, aside from my short commute to work) so it's not that I'm particularly strong right now...it just felt like I was on a bike escalator. Pushing down one pedal, but getting two strokes worth out of each one. It was really weird. Good, but weird. I hope I can replicate that when I change out everything.

Still some good riding days left before the rain comes...and really, still good riding days in there too. Get out and enjoy the sun!

Hasta!

Italy, Meet Japan...Japan, Meet Italy

I know what you're saying...you're wondering if it's even still legal for me to be blogging, but yes, they let me out once in a while to spread good cheer to the boys and girls. Don't get all comfy though, it could be another solid month before I make a post...I don't want you getting all spoiled or anything.

So they're still sweeping up the confetti from the closing ceremonies of the Olympics, but here I am to help do my part in bringing about global unification by helping Italy and Japan live alongside each other in glorious harmony. For the time being, I'm riding an Italian thoroughbred frame with top of the line Japanese components on it. Toss in a couple of American branded carbon fiber parts as well and some interesting color choices, and well, frankly it's a complete cycling melting pot. You really should just take a look:

Now onto the details. What you see here is a 20th Anniversary Torelli frame and fork. I've been lusting after these babies since I knew they existed. There were only 100 made, and I wasn't into cycling when they were made, so I totally missed out. I've been left to wandering the Ebay and Craigslist postings for the elusive handful of 20ths that would have been made in my actual size. This week I struck gold when I won one on Ebay...and for a price I was really pleased to pay.

What's crazy -- beyond the 'every color of the rainbow' scheme you see above (please note the purple bottle cages, blue wheels, and red valvestem caps) -- is that someone dressed up the classic Italian frame with Japanese components. Now, don't get me wrong, the Shimano Dura-Ace components that are on it are well sought after, and well respected. In the world of cycling groupsets, you basically have Campagnolo and Shimano, with a little SRAM thrown in to keep it interesting. In the professional 35mm camera world (and now digital) you have you Nikon and Canon. In the political world you have Dems and Repubs....you get the idea.


So I feel a little dirty with these Japanese parts on the Torelli...I'm really a Campy guy down deep, so it's probably bad that I admit that in the past couple days, it hasnt' been all that bad. The shifting is a little funky, since the shifters are actually part of the brakes. On the Campy, the shifters are under the brakes and apart, on Shimano, it makes the brakes feel like they have some side play in them. But other than that, shifting has been fairly crisp and the ride has been smooth.

Ultimately, I'll end up with a compete Campy group on this, and rid the bike of the carbon components in favor of all polished alloy, for a more classic look. I mean really, take a look at these lugs and tell me they don't just cry out for some classic looking gear on the whole bike.

I love polished lugs, and these are really nice. Check back later...more photos as she gets upgraded.

Hasta.

Playing and Putting Like Tiger

Ok, not really like Tiger, but I had one shining moment in today's round at the OGA course. Here it is, in way more information than you're going to care about.

After crossing the crap and landing just over the green of the par 5 nemesis that is the 14th hole in 3 shots, I was poised for a pitch and putt for a par. I had strung 5 pars together at the end of the first nine and was looking to make up a little ground after a couple bogeys in the first part of the back nine. Wasn't meant to be however, as I flubbed a pitch a couple feet forward, then ran the next one past the hole and two putted back up the hill for a double bogey 7. Ugh.

Looking for a little redemption, I cranked on my drive at 15, where the fairway is pretty wide and allows a little grace. Not however, if you hit it into the trees right, which I hardly ever do, but DID do today. I heard the ball play pachinko down between a few trees and hoped I'd have a shot at least somewhere towards the green.

As we reached the ball, I saw my first glimmer of hope. There was a good view of the green between two trees, out about 20 yards from my ball. If I could keep it low and straight, I could get out and up somewhere near the green. I was only about 170 yards out, but didn't think I could hit an iron because of trajectory, so I pulled a 3 wood out to really keep it low, and did a half punch shot / cut shot right towards the green...and kind of closed my eyes. I ducked down between the two trees to look, and watched the ball hit the far left edge of the green, check up, and rest above the hole....75 feet away, but on the green. :)


I hate being above the hole on the 15th. It's usually a quick and nasty putt, and if the pin is anywhere near the shelf in the middle of the green, and you don't slam it into the cup, the ball is going to run away like yesterdays bacon. It doesn't look as ugly in the picture above as it truly is, but trust me, it's WAY better to be below the hole putting back up. Fortunately, I was out on the edge where the shelf isn't quite as steep, but it was still going to be a crazy putt.

I figured I needed almost all the room between the hole and fringe for the break...somewhere around 12 feet of it. I also needed to putt out to the right, just enough to get it to the edge of the shelf, and then let it dribble back down the break to the left and towards the hole. If I could get it anywhere within 5 feet I was going to be very happy. In case that description isn't clear, here's a diagram:

When I rolled it out right, I thought I might have tapped it too light to get it to the shelf, but it hit it just right, then turned back towards he hole and looked like it had enough to get me close. I started walking to the hole, and then stopped because it grabbed the line, kept rolling, and after a few more turnovers.....dropped.

Best. Putt. Of. My. Life.

Carded the bird, and went on to match my personal best of 84 for the round. If you can't play like Tiger all the time, it's at least good to have a putt like that at least once every decade or so.

Hasta.

Monster Cookie 2008

Yesterday, Nate and I got out and did the annual Monster Cookie Ride, sponsored by the Salem Bicycle Club -- a 62 mile metric century. The route travels from the state capitol in Salem, out to Champoeg State Park, and back.

We got there at just a little before 8am for Day Of Ride registration, and the line was already pretty long. But it was beautiful out and no one seemed to mind waiting just a bit. I heard they had received nearly 1000 pre-ride registrations, and I'm sure there were a few hundred more waiting in line before and after us since it was the first nice day in forever. Turns out they had a record 1600+ riders for the event.

Early on, we saw a gentleman down, and wondered if it might have been from the clogged traffic as the cones forced the group into a path over the train tracks. He had several people helping him, and was talking to someone on a cell phone, so we assumed he was doing ok. A couple of times it bunched up like that, but didn't seem too bad overall. (edit - turns out a poster on Bike Forums indicated this IS what happened, someone stopped short on him coming to that spot.) The rest stops were all great, plenty of cookies, fruit, drinks, coffee, bagels, and other assorted snacks. Here's a view of the lunch stop.

The most impressive thing for me was that Nate decided to go last minute with me. He doesn't own a road bike and has never even been on one before. He rides some mountain bike, and used to do some adventure racing, but said "I'd go if you had a bike for me." The only other bike I had that would fit him, was my Redline 925 -- the previously mentioned single speed. He hopped on it Saturday night around 11 pm, took it up the street and back, and said, "Ok, I'm in." Ha! And so he rode yesterday, with ONE gear, 62 miles, never having been on a road bike before. Here's a shot of him rolling along with one gear.

I'm sure they were out there, but we kept looking and didn't see any other single speeds, or "fixies" (one gear, no freewheel - when the rear wheel is turning, backwards or forwards, so are the cranks....crazy on fast downhills!), until we bumped into Michael Wolfe from South Salem Cycleworks on his fixie. He had threatened earlier in the week to do it, and turns out he did. Here's him and Nate cruising at the same stretch, just one gear each - Michael in black, Nate in blue.

I felt bad on hills -- Nate had no option but to crank hard to get up the hill. I tried to shift as quietly as I could...with a tinge of guilt for having the ability to just spin it up. Fortunately there weren't too many on this ride, but even just the few smaller ones are plenty tricky on the single speed. (Especially for a guy on his first road ride.)
We made it back to the capitol 5 hrs and 22 minutes after taking off - 4 hours and 1 minute of rolling time, and the rest was rest stops, and a stop when we saw my family on the roadside cheering us on near the end. I was really pleased with keeping a 15 mph average, especially with Nate on one gear the whole way. Here are a few folks catching some much needed rest at the end.

We bumped into Michael again at the end, so we all put on some cheese for the camera before heading home.
And of course, the reason for the name of the event:

All in all a good day, and a great ride! (you'd really think my cheeks would stop looking so hammy by now with all this biking!)


Hasta!

Take Your Kids To Work Day

I rarely post pictures or names of my family members on my blog, for security and privacy reasons -- to many sickos and stalkers out there...(don't even get me started on what kids are putting on MySpace and Facebook these days)....BUT, how can you not put up a picture from Take Your Kids To Work Day when you happen upon such a proud moment as this???

Some fathers long for the day their kids throw that first touchdown in a high school game, or drop a 5 point buck from 50 yards out, but a tear comes to my eye seeing them all building web pages -- all on Macs. Sigh.

How can you not love Take Your Kids To Work Day?