I don't think it has to be either/or. I enjoy all sorts of riding. Fast pacelines are fun, but they are a lot less fun on the wrong bike. So, I have a Calfee with lightweight wheels, 25 mm tires, Speedplay pedals and a minimal seat bag for riding with the local club. It's a nice bike and doesn't beat me up unduly over our usual 40 - 60 mile weekend rides. Coffee? We always stop mid-ride for that, no need for a Thermos. I don't need wider tires or bigger luggage for those rides. The Calfee is just enough bike for its purpose, which makes it just right.
That doesn't mean I can't throttle back and enjoy riding my old Riv Road with 32 mm tires, or my Kogswell P/R with 38's or 42's. I rode the Kog on a chilly 100k charity ride in February, when it was nice to have a big rando bag for extra clothes. Later this summer I want to take it up to the Sierras to ride some unpaved back roads, and maybe over to Mt. Tam or Diablo for more of the same. The Riv will be my ride for my next couple of 'organized' rides where a meduim sized saddle bag will be perfect. In between, I'll commute on my my racked'n'fendered Miyata 1000, and take a few spins around the neighborhood on my old fixed gear. Each of those bikes has its own purpose, and I appreciate each one for what it does well. Yeah, I'm lucky to be able to afford multiple bikes, but together they cost less up front than a boat, a Harley or a mistress, and the ongoing maintenance is less than any of the above so I'm fine with that investment (and fortunately so is my wife). Bill A bicyclist for over 30 years and counting! On Mar 29, 10:03 pm, Kelly Sleeper <tkslee...@gmail.com> wrote: > Well the winter testing and riding has been spectacular for me. The change > from challenge/workout/fast/race type of riding to just riding has been > great. Now for some more surprises... > > Columbia makes great shirts that button up, wick mositure, and don't smell. > Much as Grant describes the cowboy shirt I am finding the short sleeve large > shirts to dry as quickly, more comfortable and cooler in 85 degree > weather... tight riding jerseys (yes sunburn on the forarms is still > there) > > Found some North Face shorts that felt like the same material as the MUSA's > with a better fit in shorts for me. But still quick drying and reasonably > priced. Also picked up some pants with the legs that zip off. Great but a > pain in that I had to use velcro straps for my pants leg.. forget to take > the straps off.. forget to put them on.. blah blah .. but great as temps > went up and I wanted to be in shorts.. give and take. Loving my MUSA pants > and will be ording more. > > Ordering more wool undies from Riv.. the 3 pair I have are spectacular and > I'm looking forward to them this summer. > > My mental transformation is almost complete as well. I am a strong rider so > it's not like I'm out to crawl. But I'm out for a decent pace while not > making it a work out. To have a thermos of coffee with me. To enjoy lower > gears where no hill really hurts unless I want it to. The little bit here > (dyno hub) little bit there (lbs of steel frame and bags and a little bit up > there (higher riding position) and of course the looser clothes. I can't > feel any one thing... however as an overall accumulation I am slower on full > out efforts.. (oh my) I miss my clipless pedals on occasion.. overall the > tradeoffs have made riding more fun. Yes they are trade offs. If I was > interested in going my fastest Rivendell and the other things would not be > on my list of wants. But that 30 minutes over a 60ish mile day of fun > riding.. it"s 30 minutes more of nirvana. More stops.. more looking > around.. > > But the weight thing.. sorry I add my Stanley thermos of coffee in the > saddle bag and don't notice it. The bike handles and does everything as it > did before. > > My Bombadil tour bike rides as smooth with 75lbs on it as it does with 30 > lbs on it.. and for you saying 75 lbs is to much.. hey.. I like having my > stuff... the gearing and the bike get me there.. not wasted weight either. > It all gets used. > > Take something to extreme and there are trade offs. Take every thing > away from me.. put me back in spandex and a carbon framed bike.. only one > thing I will never ride again.. 700x23's.. > > For me if it's a work out, and extreme climb, and three this or that > challenge, blah blah.. been there done that.. have a closet full of jerseys > and t shirts.. no thanks.. I'm enjoying my AHH and Bomba.. laughing at > those worried about weight .. only now it's those who shun it .. :) > > So I started here ... > http://www.flickr.com/photos/tksleeper/5155759637/in/set-721576252104... > > She was sweet .. but I'm happier now and just as challenged choosing gear > based on different criteria.. > I've ended here.. or have begun > again..http://www.flickr.com/photos/tksleeper/5535822293/ (note that bag is > smallish at times) > > For the riding the Rivendells are sold for and what I bought based on that, > I believe there is no other bike that does it better. The Country Bike AHH > has no match that i've found. the Bombadil as a tour bike / city bike / > whatever has no match for purpose or versatility. > > I still have to be careful not to look down on the clipped in guys, the > spandex, lack of fenders, those enjoying riding thier way instead of my > way. I have to try and not be disgusted when someone says they found a > comfortable 700x23 tire.. ok not disgusted.. just yelled a curse word and > thought what do they weigh.. 50lbs.. here take another 150 off me and see > how those 700x23's feel jerk.. lol > > I drank the koolaid.. oops can't say that anymore (don't hold your breath on > that one) I tried the ideas presented with as open a mind as I could bring > to the table. Gave many things a try and hare gone on a new for me exciting > direction in cycling that continues to suprise and thrill me. > > So weigh it down .. sit up into the wind.. smile.. you're a bicyclist now.. > and those cyclist out there can kiss my rear.. :) oops your rear.. mines > taken. > > Kelly > > PS. I'm not knocking the performance wants in you.. I'm celebrating what > doesn't get mentioned on here much anymore .. the joy of a ride without > concern for performance. Yes I'm as bad as an x smoker (which I am so I > know) but then shrug -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
