Kevan
journeyman
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 70
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On a lark this past Saturday, I took a short detour off NYC's IRT, better known as the Lex, subway and walked up to 26th St. to the NYC Bike Show. Generally, a disappointing venue, and the charm of the Armory didn't help, I did manage to spy our man Craig showing off some of his beautiful bike frames. I had no idea he'd be there and I took great delight in thanking him for building us one of the best bikes. He shared with me his enthusiasm in marketing his bamboo steed, which was there too for the gawking.
Sunday it seems.. I was to be truely damned. One of the NE's premier cycling events, the Bloomin' Metric, got washed out. Oh, not in the sense that it didn't go on with the show, no... never. We rode out about 15 miles for the intended 100 kilometers and got royally flushed in cold rain. Me and my pal Mikemets had our Calfees and we did have a good old romp out there, just that when we reached the 100/75 split the decision to take the shorter route was very easily made.
It's events and days like this where I might suggest Craig turn his energies to designing a dishwasher-safe frame. The bike cleaning afterwards took about as long as the ride itself.
Good to visit and post here. I've been busy trying to build my weekly miles. The Mrs. has been terrific, dropping me off at work and leaving me to ride home anywhere from 20 to beter than 40 miles an evening. Too much rain is forecast for this week to expect much out of it, but the 2 prior weeks give me 100 miles each before battling the weekends with the other warriors.
Take care!
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Kevan, I'm happy to see you are back. It is nice that Sandy gave you permission to visit from the Serotta Forum. 
There is a key to dishwasher safe. As you know used "stuff" is not ever really worth all that much.
I read somewhere that people in Portland all have their wet weather bike since it occurs so much. This bike has fenders and such wonderful additions to help us stay dryer and the bike cleaner. Plus they carry one of those wonderful PCV ponchos that literally keep you dry all day (except for the sweat being under one.) Their key to the PCV is to cut the sleeves off at the elbow so nice cool air bellows up your arms and keeps you somewhat comfortable. Forearms can get wet and nobody cares.
Sooooo....since my used stuff wasn't worth all that much and I listened to formerly Captain Dave now promoted to Sage Dave and I kept my stuff. I am buying what little more I need including fenders and I am having a Portland bike made up. I can ride on those days that make you miserable because the rain comes for a little and then goes and then is back. I can ride charity rides in some comfort at least. I can't wait to get it. Today is an example of a day I wouldn't take out my usual bikes since it takes longer to clean them than it did to ride them. However my Portland bike will be made for it! 
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Kevan
journeyman
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 70
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Lon,
Good to hear from you and glad to see some people have held fast to this forum.
Yeah, I had intended to buy the Calfee as my bike of a life time, but it isn't working out that way. My outrageously painted Serotta Colorado II has been a complete pleasure to ride. Its character is very different to the Luna and I enjoy the difference. Heck, even its more substantial weight is acceptable. I've resigned myself to the fact that more bikes will be coming into my life, I just don't know how yet to approach my wife on the subject.
I'm fantasizing a cross/rain bike with moustache bars and bar end shifters....
I need help.
Edited by Kevan (05/23/05 09:06 PM)
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Dave_Thompson
prophet
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 717
Loc: Spokane, Washington
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Quote:
Kevan wrote:..........I need help.
Yes, for a long, long time.
--------------------
Steel lover, but then I like Ti with carbon too.
Licensed bike geek.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Quote:
Kevan wrote: I need help.
We all do... 
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Kevan,
I ended up with a different "handle" over at Serotta but I too have crossed over to the Dark Side! However I'm still checking and posting here first.
The Serotta forum gets so many posts you could never read them all unless you made it a job. There is a lot of interesting material going around. The wheel discussion today with ADA and Carbon Sports both on line was cool. I agreed with Dave that some people did not show any respect for well known experts in their field.
Stop back from time to time...we miss you...
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Mike
contributor
Reged: 12/25/03
Posts: 101
Loc: Oregon
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Lon,
You are almost correct. Fenders are a must for commuting in Portland, but I have never seen anyone with a poncho on. That would be like carrying an umbrella, something only the tourists in Portland do. Real Portlanders just get wet.
If you want some real "Portland" fenders, check out:
Full Wood Fenders at River City Bicycles
Hand Made by the owner of River City Bicycles in Portland
Everyone who's anyone in Portland has a pair 
Mike
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Mike,
They are awesome! I'd love a pair. My installation skills would stand in my way big time!
Quote:
Everyone who's anyone in Portland has a pair
With installation I think I'd have to "be somebody" to afford them!
They are neat. Thanks for passing it along.
P.S. If you would like to be a rich benefactor to my Portland bike so it is "done right" I'll let you pay for shipping to River City, buy the fenders, and pay for installation. I will then speak highly of you and your generosity for all to hear in Pittsburgh!
How does that sound? 
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Mike
contributor
Reged: 12/25/03
Posts: 101
Loc: Oregon
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Lon,
Hey, I'm not that rich, but if you're ever in the neighborhood, I'll buy you dinner.
No rain today... First totally dry day in weeks. If you are wondering why anyone would live here:
1) It only snows about once every 4 years, but we are 70 miles from the only ski resort in the US that is open all year.
2) Rarely stays below freezing for more than a day at a time.
3) It dries out in June, and hardly ever rains all summer long. Ave temp in the low 80's, with very low humidity.
4) 70 Miles from the ocean
5) 40 Miles from the premier windsurfing spot in the US
6) Pick an Outdoor activity - We've Got it
7) Portland voted best bicyling city in the US by Bicycling Magazine
When you coming for dinner?
Mike
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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No need to sell me on Portland. I've been there and I like the whole area. Even Chris King moved there! What more can you say?
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flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
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Have to mention fixed gear with fenders as the ultimate rain bike. No pulleys to fuss with, no cables to pick up junk, no freewheel to clean, no wet rims to cause slow braking (front brake for backup - ok). You can see mine in the Calfee photo gallery, I velcro on a front fender to the down tube in the rain, and roll with a rear fender 24/7.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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It is really nice.
With Pittsburgh hills a fixed gear isn't real practical unless you are real young and real strong in relation to weight. I'm not either of those.
I'd love to have one for rides where it would be practical. There just aren't that many.
Take care.
What kind of fender is yours? Did it need eyelets?
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Mike
contributor
Reged: 12/25/03
Posts: 101
Loc: Oregon
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Fixies and single speeds are real popular in Portland. You can ride through a lot of gunk before you have to clean-up the bike. Alas, I suffer from the same maladies as Lon, so for me, its not practical.
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Kevan
journeyman
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 70
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It's not too often my bike gets junked so when it happens I take the opportunity to pull the guts apart.
A fixie could work here depending on the route, but I'm not so sure I'd enjoy having a bike that would limit where I went. Also, I'm using that excuse as a copout when also considering the risks involved using such a bike.
I could however see me opting to have a custom Calfee built with slightly more relaxed handling, and more steel lugged bikes. Ti holds no interest other than Kellogg certainly builds and paints a real beauty.
I need to get my camera out and take a picture of my Serotta Outer Limits and post that bike. You guys would have a good laugh looking at this thing.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Quote:
I need to get my camera out and take a picture of my Serotta Outer Limits and post that bike. You guys would have a good laugh looking at this thing.
Kevan, Sandy is giving you a complex. We on the Right Side and not the Dark Side would never ever consider laughing at you.
It seems we both can come up with a rationale for anything bike related.
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flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
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Quote:
Lon wrote:
It is really nice.
With Pittsburgh hills a fixed gear isn't real practical unless you are real young and real strong in relation to weight. I'm not either of those.
I'd love to have one for rides where it would be practical. There just aren't that many.
Take care.
What kind of fender is yours? Did it need eyelets?
I have planet bike fenders. The rear uses eyelets which work with the Luna's dropouts. The screw that mounts the dropout to the frame is internally threaded so you can screw a screw into it. Totally awesome-cool-neato-keano. The front is a Planet Bike (caps that time) velcro on fender that stops the spray from your front wheel from getting your shins. It is really un-aero so I dismount it at other times.
I've ridden my Calfee Luna Fixie 65 miles with guys on road bikes and only got dropped on extreme hills that take like a 39x23 or more, or when I was way undergeared. If you get a nice 65-70 inch gear you will learn to get over the hills, and believe me, you will get strong in the process. And it will motivate you to ride more, because fixies are fun, and to eat less, because it is hard to get them over hills. Granted I am 35 and fit enough to podium in a cat 4 race, and top 10 in a 3/4 race. If you're overweight and out of shape and have hills to contend with, fixies can suck, but on the other hand don't cop out. You can always run a 65 inch gear for awhile. My fitness went up drastically and quickly after I started riding mine a lot.
People do ride them in Pittsburgh, I've seen people from there post on fixed gear gallery (BTW I met Dennis on Friday).
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Well I'm in decent shape but gravity impaired. I ride 5 to 6 thousand miles a year. I don't race as I have no desire. I'm in sales and get all the competitive juices out at work. My fat percentage is 15 to 16 percent which isn't great but I still have a little ice cream everyday. Pushing 60 means I can sacrifice just so much!
I have one really bad knee and another that isn't great. That is how I got back into cycling as I couldn't marathon train to the distances I needed per week. The knee can't be fixed as it is just not put together correctly. Believe it or not even riding a stationary trainer in a gym can make the knee hurt if I am doing a program of hills. 
I want to get the "Portland" bike done first. Today and yesterday could have been riding days with the right bike. I want to maximize my riding for a variety of reasons. I'm a little over 2,000 for the year so far. With the snow of winter and rain of spring I've been happy with that.
I'd like a fixed gear but I also have a wife. One more could break the proverbial camel's back.
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flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
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Well, as much as we aim for abundance, sometimes we have limitations. Good luck Lon.
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Bruce
contributor
Reged: 12/27/03
Posts: 133
Loc: North of NYC
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Kevan,
A lot of people did the 75 instead of the 100. Hey, I did not even ride my training ride yesterday, and it was only 50 and misting. My 9 year old daughter and I rode the 25. We got rained on for about a mile before we ducked for cover under some awnings for about 15 minutes.
I did the ride on my commuter, so I was fender protected, but you still get wet with fenders. They do keep the bike cleaner, but still it is not fun riding in the rain, and that is the bottom line, riding is fun. Which is why I don't ride in the rain if I can avoid it.
Speaking of fixies, there has been one showing up on the tuesday night training ride. He seems to do all right, but really has to spin on those downhills. Ouch!
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