Category Archives: Detour Bags

Heading out to Morgan Hill, Specialized HQ

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I’m on my way to Specialized Headquarters in Morgan Hill, California.  I will be attending a three-day Body Geometry bike fitting class.  I’m very excited to learn new methods from Specialized and hopefully they will have the Retul machine too.

I will have my SPOT transmitter with me.  I was told to pack riding gear so that means discovering new roads — come follow me!

 

AdventureCORPS Fall Death Valley Ultra Century Plus

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Just a quick post.  I completed the AdventureCORPS Fall Death Valley Ultra Century (144 miles) with a few extra miles for good measure.  My ride was 157 miles.  The only section I cut out was the flat section from the Nevada state line to Hwy 95 turn around.  I rode all the climbs which was important to me.

I had a different type of ride.  I’ll explain more on my race report.  I took two hours off the bike and enjoyed the scenery.  I talked to riders and took pictures.  At the finish line I hung out for hours talking to riders and volunteers.  I was surprised to hear from so many riders that they had been reading my blog.  I have renewed motivation to post more often to my blog since someone out there is actually reading it 😉  Please post a comment, suggestion or question- this blog is interactive and I will respond and if necessary write a post on a requested topic.

You can find my ride file at Garmin Connect here

 

Fall Death Valley Double Century Eve

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Hello everyone, I’m back in Death Valley.  I’m here to do the AdventureCORPS Fall Death Valley Double Century.  I like doing the Double Centuries because I am able  to see this marvelous place.  During the Furnace Creek 508 it’s usually night time as I ride through the valley.  It’s been suggested to me that since the tail-end of my season has been a bust that maybe I should take it a little easier and enjoy the sights.  I might just do that.

I will be using my SPOT Transmitter again.  I found out after the 2012 Furnace Creek 508 that my readers were not able to properly track me during the event.  I have been in touch with SPOT and they assure me that tomorrow you will be able to track me just fine.  So we will try it again.  Track me by clicking here

I’ll check in when I’m finished.

 

On my Commute today… wool!

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I get a lot of grief from my co-workers because I go against the grain in most things.  I work in a high end bike shop.  We have the latest and greatest of everything.  Now don’t get me wrong I embrace technology.  But sometimes WOOL AND STEEL can’t be beat.  So “On my Commute today”  I wore Wool socks from ASSOS, Wool shorts from WOOLISTIC (which are freakin’ fantastic!), Wool arm and knee warmers from DEFEET.  Wool short sleeve jersey from BROOKS, and a WOOL cycling cap from CASTELLI (which now my kids want one).  I rode my STEEL FIXED GEAR made by Waterford under the Milwaukee Bicycle Co. badge. 

I also get grief for my DETOUR BAG and my reflective vest from NATHAN SPORTS.  But I don’t care.  As you can see I have a change of clothes, my lunch (mmmm Penne and chicken) cell phone, flat repair, spare batteries for my tail light, cleat covers for walking at the train station and I still have plenty of room left over for my arm and leg warmers when it warms up.  Get a Detour Bag so much less cumbersome than a backpack or courier bag for just a few items.  And why have something on your body causing discomfort when you can put it on your bike and let the bike “carry” it for you?
As the Florida freeway signs used to say “Arrive Alive”.  My modification to that is I’d rather arrive alive and ride again tomorrow.  Don’t let peer pressure keep you from being safe and visible to cars.  Wear reflective gear and put lights on your bike– yes even your “race bike”.  Oh yeah you might not look “cool” to your friends but you’ll be alive to come home to your family.  Now what’s more important?  Go against the grain every now and then—be yourself!

Fixed Gear Century …sorta and new shoes

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Brandy and I went out early this morning with the intentions of riding a century (100miles or 160km).  The plan was to leave in the wee morning hours and have our century done by 11am.  All went to plan except the route was a little short …by six miles.  Well we both thought the extra six miles wouldn’t add any real benefit to our fitness so we called it at 94 miles.  By the way, this was the longest ride for Brandy since April.  I’m proud of her for getting it done.  She didn’t look too bad when it was over either.

The Detour bag was packed to the hilt once the weather warmed up a little. These bags are awesome.  If you are a brevet rider or on a credit card tour you NEED to pick up a Detour bag.  The bag below is the Hightail ULP.

Here’s a short video (90 secs) you must watch until the end.

The weather this morning was just perfect.  I wore my Skins compression long sleeve garment, a short sleeve jersey, arm warmers and knee warmers.  I believe it was in the low 50’s.  It felt brisk at first but about 10 minutes later I thought it was perfect.  The route was coastal without any significant climbs.  We rode at endurance pace and restrained from chasing rabbits. 

On this 6 hour ride I rode a new pair of shoes.  Bont A-One Cycling Shoes.  They are fantastic!  I mean it.  They are the stiffest shoes I have ever owned.  And I’m not just talking about the soles everybody is doing that.   No!  They are stiff all the way up the front, sides and the heel cup.  Even with all that stiffness the shoe is remarkably comfortable.  And my lord are they light!

The toe box is plenty roomy for my feet.  But I think they would accomodate a slightly wider foot without having to buy a “wide” model.  They are heat molded custom shoes and you can mold them yourself at home.  Unlike the Shimano R310 that require all the Shimano doodads (oven, toe caps, bags and suction hoses etc) at an authorized dealer to get the shoe molded to your foot. 

I would strongly recommend the Bont A-One cycling shoe to someone looking for a very stiff shoe. 

Go here for the making of the shoes

More info on the Bont A-One cycling shoe

And finally as far as few I used Prolong Energy for the 6 hours I was on the bike.  I felt great the whole time and I didn’t feel hungry.  Calorie expenditure is higher on the Fixed Gear because you can’t coast which means you spin like crazy on the downhills.  I am doing a product evaluation on Prolong Energy.  Here is a product comparison including some of the iconic brand names of sports nutrition.  John Heiss tells me there is a new production run coming soon where the taste has been modified.  I’m really looking forward to evaluating that formula when it’s available.