Spot the difference

[ posted by Iain Thursday, April 02, 2009 ]

Now and thenThe good thing about a titanium frame is that it will last for year after year. The bad thing about a titanium frame is that it will last for year after year. UCI officials excluded, not many cyclists can deny they get a buzz from a new piece of technology or gadgetry. So, as the proud owner of a titanium Airborne (now Van Nicholas) Komet for the last few years (and some time to come I'm hope) I am contenting myself with slowly upgrading components and dialling in the position rather than forking out for the thrill of a new steed.

The top image is from 2006 and the bottom one was taken recently. So what's changed?

  1. Gradual replacements of the groupset components from Campag Daytona to Centaur. Carbon shifters :-), new style brakes etc.
  2. Replaced the Easton EA70 Fork with a Ritchey Carbon version after a badly fitted FSA headset damaged the steerer on the Easton.
  3. Move to FSA compact chainset. I am very disappointed with this, the FSA bottom brackets have very poor durability and are a pain to set-up. I will be upgrading to Ultra Torque very shortly.
  4. Replaced gimmicky slimline Elite bottle cages with normal diameter alloy cages.
  5. General wear and tear meant a move from the test Flash-Point FP60's to Mavic Ksyrium Elites which have been, and still are, an excellent all-round pair of wheels.
  6. I have found the most comfortable saddle I have ever used in the form of a Fizik Arione and will stick with this as long as they are still around.
  7. Finally, the yellow and white US Air Force style decals were looking pretty hideous, so I set upon the frame with a bottle of nail polish remover (purer acetone is best for anyone else thinking of trying this at home). It took a lot of soaking and elbow grease but I managed to completely remove the offending stickers and with a bit of a polish the frame has come up a treat. You'd never know the decals were there, all that is left is a tasteful white Airborne logo on the downtube.
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What cyclists do in the winter?

[ posted by Iain Monday, March 30, 2009 ]

from Yahoo answers ;-)

the caveThe UK cyclist begins hibernation in early October and rouses himself in April or May. He's usually not holed up for the entire time (it's probably more appropriate to think of winter as a series of very long naps), but the cyclist can go 100 days without really waking up.

The cyclist hibernates in order to evade the deprivations of winter. Traditional windows for ride opportunities dry up, and much-needed shelter can be hard to find. While settling in for his long winter's rest, the cyclist gain pounds of fat a week.

Cruel torture devices have been used to trap the cyclist in his cave, causing pain and suffering. They should be declared illegal but have yet to be outlawed, prolonging the cyclist's suffering throughout the winter months.

It is only in late March as the days get longer that the cyclist (if lucky enough to have escaped the grasp of the "turbo-trainer") finally emerges from the cave.

And so with pale skin and unsteady legs he begins the slow, arduous return to activity and the challenges of life OUTSIDE!

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