Round, shallow-drop handlebars. The beauty of round is its infinite hand position possibilities, unlike the circumscribed limitations of ergonomic drops. And shallow? Who doesn’t want nearness to their levers and tops? For those who say “…but my wrists hit the bar when I sprint” I reply, “Move your wrists out of the way.” Show up to a ride with ergo bars and you’ll get a look here akin to wearing a Camelbak. Bars that flare out at the drops? You might as well arrive with clip-ons or try to take that phone call once we roll. When I’m king bars will be round, shallow, and never wider than 40cm and I think maybe we’ll start by refusing to sell anything else.

I love this type snottiness, elitism, or whatever you want to call it. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes ever attributed to Stephen Metcalfe – “Because let’s face it, only one thing is more incorrigible than my snobbery, people, and that’s your indefensibly crappy taste in music.” I use it all the time, it works for so many things – beer, coffee, music, and bikes of course.

Since I bought the CAAD9 back in November I always thought the bars felt wide. I attributed it to being used to the Bianchi which I knew had narrow bars. When you buy a 60cm bike off the rack its just not gonna come with narrow bars. One day after a ride I took the liberty to measure my reach and surprisingly it was about 40cm on the nose. I checked my Azuki and it was too. After confirmation at the LBS of my unconventional measuring methods I made the arrangements to get new bars and finally got the switch on Saturday night. Mr. Prestavalve did the mounting and the taping so I can take no credit for the fine taping job.

Narrow Width – 40cm

Shallow Drop

Not to mention the sweet fi’zi:k microtex Bar Tape that is feels just perfect to hands that prefer to ride sans gloves.

How’s the ride? Perfect…like being home after 800 miles of “this doesn’t feel just quite right…”. I took a 20 mile lunch ride today with some flats and some climbs and like the new setup a lot. Tomorrow I’ll be left to just think about it though as work will prevent me from riding. I hope this weather holds for Thurs/Fri.

House Industries Script Black Jersey

This is one of the best worded product descriptions I have ever read. The most pointed observation is this sentence:

…even if you leave it hanging on that hook with your $300 Assos bibs that your significant other had specific instructions not to wash on the regular cycle lest they get thrown in the dryer and beaten to death by clothes of inferior pedigree…

What’s funny is the the amount of emphasis I have had to place on how I want my cycling clothes washed and more specifically dried. My clothes are mockingly referred to as “the precious”. My weekend routine always includes loads run on delicate and painstakingly hung out to dry so as not to beaten to death by clothes of inferior pedigree.

We arrived to see the Men’s Cat 2/3 about to go off. Here we are at the start line…look at those Junior Cross fans!

Here they are coming out of a tight muddy turn that took many casualties:

In a barrier stretch…

And some other mud soaked part of the course…

I’m looking forward to heading out of town or December 6th to see some more.

I think it looks awesome…

Fortunately our very cool local video store (and how many towns can legitimately brag about a very cool video store these days…) Wild and Woolly Video is owned by a bike geek. He already carries things like A Sunday in Hell and Road to Roubaix. I called to check and he has this one too. I will be making the trip over to pick it up.

If you pass another rider going up a hill, say more than “Hi,” but if it’s a woman and you aren’t, don’t assume she wants to chit-chat. Treat her as you’d have a generic guy-rider treat your wife/daughter/girlfriend.

If you’re a woman and it’s a guy, you can chit-chat all you like, they won’t mind.

Ha! that is classic. Be sure to read the whole list, it is very entertaining and espouses an overall philosophy to life via bike riding that is very appealing to me.

I have also been learning quite a lot about what they call a BOB. Since my friend loaned me a Bridgestone RB-1 I have been researching it on the internet. I have learned that it is a nearly mythical creature of bicycle lore. The BOB philosophy is at the core of the Rivendell thinking which is not surprising since they are born of the same gentleman Grant Peterson. Mr. Peterson has established a beautiful wonderful set of believers and followers. Most of them would be well at home with my previous statements on snobbery. This is the finest type of snobbery as it is based on the love of things that are pure and effective, not just trendy and popular.

Looking forward to getting back on the road tomorrow at lunch. Meanwhile, looking lovingly at Brooks saddles on eBay….