BICYCLIST Magazine #147

ISSUE 147 - EARLY SPRING 2018

MAGAZINE

BEYOND

AEgritourism in Italy X P L O R IN G T U S C A N Y B Y B IK E HANDS ON

DA ropbars for the Win LT E R C Y C L E S R E F L E X 3 0 0 ALSO

profiles

Frank Schleck

legal cycling

Don’t Get Doored

ask the coach

Crankarms

food & drink

rouleur brewery

gear patrol Jones’ H-Loop

event calendar 2018 recreation & race

BICYCLIST. xyz always free

Contents

Inside this issue

COLUMNS 05 In Practice

Hit and Run is a Felony Consequences for cagers Carl Lawton

07 Maker

Issue 147 Early Spring 2018 Designed and printed in Southern California.

Read and distributed throughout the world.

REGULARS 04 Prologue 05 Analog/Digital 06 Ask the Coach 07 King's Cartoon 13 Legal Cycling 14 Lost Tech 19 event calendar

Paul Components A California Company Rob Templin

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08 Features

Discovering Tuscany Riding the Gravel Roads Kelley O'Toole

14 Food & Drink Rouleur Brewery A Bicyclist's Brewery Kelley O'Toole

15 Racer Profile

Interview with former pro Frank Schleck John Woodson

15

16 Event Profile

18 Cover

Kelley O'Toole rides a Bianchi Intenso 11spd carbon road bike on gravel roads outside of the village of Pogi, in the central region of Tuscany. The small village of Pogi belongs to the municipality of Bucine, a commune in the province of Arezzo with a population of 10,120.

Enchanted Lands Eco Tourism Richard Duquette

17 Gear Patrol

Jones' Loop H Bar Unconventional Design Rob Templin

Photo by Chris Reynolds

18 Hands On Alter Cycles Bike Review Chris Reynolds

22 Last Page

Baltimore Bike Swap Confessions of a Bike Addict Max Van Rees

BICYCLIST.xyz

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B r o ad In v e s tiga tion o f C hallen g in g Your s el f, C ycling L i f e s t y le and In s pir ing S u s t ainable Tr an s por t a tion

Prologue

Early Spring 2018

A

MAGAZINE

ISSUE 147 - EARLY SPRING 2018

EDITORIAL

Chris Reynolds | Managing Director chris@bicyclist.xyz Kelley O’Toole | Managing Editor kelley@bicyclist.xyz

SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS

Bob Becker | bob@bicyclist.xyz Rick Schultz | coach@bicyclist.xyz John Woodson | john@bicyclist.xyz Rob Templin | rob@bicyclist.xyz Carl Lawton | carl@bicyclist.xyz

ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS

Richard Duquette, Jerry King, Max Van Rees

ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP

Chris Reynolds | Managing Director chris@bicyclist.xyz

VITALS & DETAILS

BICYCLIST Magazine publishes stories of experience that fall under our namesake, BICYCLIST: Broad Investigation of Challenging Yourself, Cycling Lifestyle and Inspiring Sustainable Transportation. The magazine serves as an inspirational guide celebrating the arts, skills, events, and culture of the cycling life.

BICYCLIST is a social enterprise promoting bicycle riding for sport, activity, and transportation. We are based in Southern California, an area that accounts for more bike shops, and active cyclists than the rest of the United States – combined. Visit us online at BICYCLIST.xyz.

BICYCLIST Magazine is available in print and digital editions.

Complimenting the magazine is our cycling podcast, The BICYCLIST Experience. We also maintain the BICYCLIST Friendly Shop Locater, and the BICYCLIST Event Calendar, the largest online calendar of cycling events, races and festivals in the United States, all available online at BICYCLIST.xyz.

We have published a print magazine since 1994, distributing to more than 500 bike shops throughout the western US and made available free to the public. We launched our online platform in 2014, and our podcast in 2015 and now reach readers and listeners in more than 72 countries.

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BICYCLIST Magazine is published 10 times per year. The print edition can be found at better bike shops, coffee shops and breweries throughout major metropolitan cities west of the Rockies.

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Art direction, layout and design performed in-house by Chris Reynolds.

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14252 Culver Drive Irvine, CA 92604 (949) 264-3346 BICYCLIST.xyz maildrop@BICYCLIST.xyz Designed and Printed in SoCal, USA Founded by Will Decker Published by Chris Reynolds Copyright © 1994-2017 All rights reserved.

DISCLAIMER Although all best efforts are made to avoid the

same, we reserve the right to publish unintentional mistakes and/or factual errors which may occur on an issue basis. No responsibility is assumed by the publishers for unsolicited materials/articles/letters/advertising and all submissions will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright and/or appropriate licensing purposes subject to BICYCLIST's right to edit and comment editorially. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine reflect the opinions of their respective author’s and are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form [print or electronic] without prior consent of the publisher.

Bicycling can be a dangerous sport and can lead to serious injury or death. Make it safer for everyone and obey all traffic laws, ride responsibly, use common sense, and wear a helmet.

s winter has quickly come and gone, spring presents itself as a season of opportunity. We are excited to see new events make their debut in the 2018 calendar. One such notable ride is the Sagan Fondo, with two events in both Northern and Southern California. Speaking on why he chose the Golden State as a venue, Sagan confessed, "I love California and am never there long enough. My time in the Tour of California is some of the best of my racing season. I try to come here as often as I can. Not only does California provide some of the best roads and most beautiful scenery in the world, the warmth and friendliness of its people are second to none. I really feel at home whenever I'm there." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. Speaking of the Tour of California, spectators will be treated to a start for the men's race in Downtown Long Beach this upcoming May 13th. Following many of the same turns and straights as the Long Beach Grand Prix, the action will be up close with excellent spots for watching the battles on bike, throughout the course. You can catch the first stage of the women's race on May 17th in Elk Grove.

For those that call California home and are looking to get away, as Sagan points out, the bar is high for finding suitable adventures.

Continuing our 'Beyond' series of international explorations, Kelley O'Toole found one such area and documents her cycling and agritourism experience in Tuscany, Italy. As the man behind the lens on this tour, I can attest to the beauty and warmth found throughout this region of Italy. The culture is much more accustomed to sharing the road with bicycles, and the ubiquitous Italian cafe with a range of ride-fueling options are welcoming to cyclists and travelers of all stripes. For those looking for historical enlightenment, look no further than the 500 year old cathedrals and 1000 year old castles dotting the landscape like Starbucks locations in Orange County. Now is the time to plan your late summer or early fall tour to this destination.

If your knees are hurting just thinking about riding up and down all those hills, Rick Schultz reminds you that knee pain isn't normal and shouldn't be a part of your ride. He details a common, but often overlooked reason for knee pain, and we've already found one member of our team who has benefited from this adjustment.

Read more in this issue's Ask the Coach on page 6.

Richard Duquette brings a report from the trails of northeastern Arizona with an epic version of agri-tourism stateside. With a focus on wilderness survival and MTB, this may be just the ticket for someone looking to do something different, but not wanting to take on the logistics of bikes overseas. Additionally, this months Legal Cycling column details the Duquette Law Firm's top 10 ways of how not to get 'doored', the term for running into an opening door by a unaware driver parked adjacent to a bike lane. Very common in coastal California, the list is informed by the 40 years of practice he has defending cyclists who have been injured (and killed) by drivers.

The list is worth reading, even for the seasoned road warrior.

With all the exciting opportunities for cycling for 2018, we must acknowledge the horrific tragedy that befell the Tour of Palm Springs earlier this year. A driver travelling more than 100mph killed event participant Mark Kristofferson, 49, of Lake Stevens, Washington and critically injured Alyson Lee Akers, 50, of Huntington Beach, California. The driver is being charged with vehicular manslaughter and was released the next day on bail of $75,000. According to Riverside County court records, he had been ticketed for speeding 4 times since 2015, 3 of which occurred in 2017. Driverless cars can't come soon enough.

See you on the route. Stay safe. Peace.

C hris R e ynold s

- Chris Reynolds, Editorial Director

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BICYCLIST Magazine

In Practice

Analog/Digital

The BICYCLIST Experience A Weekly Cycling Podcast

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODES AT BICYCLIST.FM - FREE!

T

une in to our weekly podcast where the people who bring you this publication discuss the news and stories behind the scenes. We share our experiences and welcome your thoughts about our discussion. First step? Start listening!

112: The Chain Lube Episode! Plus the Women’s WorldTour Team Bikes, and Cancellara Calls Out Institutions Of Cycling

112 111: Bike Locks, San Diego Makes Gains with Road Diet, and Marginal

111 110: Katie Compton’s Epic Perseverance, Hours vs. Miles, and Precautions for Riding Bikes with Kids

110 109: New Year #BikeGoals, Double Century Resolutions, And A Coffee Interlude with Wacoco

109 108: Playa Del Rey, Mountain Biking and Environmental Groups, and All the Flavors of JoJe Energy Bars

108

How a Hit and Run Gets Worse

By Carl Lawton

112: We cover a lot about chain lubrication in this and tips on how best to lubricate before your ride(s).

We also talk about recent news stories in Pro cycling including Peter Sagan's gift to the pope and Fabian Cancellara calls out cycling leadership and institutions.

111:

We cover a lot in this episode.

Lance Armstrong and Tour of Flanders is in the news, Froome’s camp has a new theory about his positive results, how to not lock your bike and secure your gear, San Diego makes gains with a road diet, and the men’s 2018 team bikes for the World Tour.

110:

We start with a discussion about Cyclocross World Champion Katie Compton and her perseverance through severe asthma to become a champion. We talk about studies that show cyclists break less traffic laws than drivers, and hours versus miles in your goal setting metrics.

109: We ring in the new year by looking back on last year’s resolutions. Plus we talk about the ultimate cycling competition against yourself - the Double Century - and what our bike goals are for 2018. Plus how to do coffee right while touring or before riding.

108:

We recap the saga of the Playa del Rey road diet, plus we talk about how mountain biking in the wilderness is at risk. Also we discuss how bike shops could be better, and we taste test all the flavors of JoJé Bar energy bars.

LISTEN AT

BICYCLIST.FM BICYCLIST.xyz

When Drivers Flee the Scene

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s we enter the 2018 New Year, we hope for the best in the months ahead. We all aspire for some improvement in our lives like a new bike, or maybe something down-to-earth like safer riding for all of us on the road. From the reports on the news, 2017 was a particularly deadly year for bicyclists and pedestrians caused by hit-andrun cagers who did not stop when hitting a riding cyclist or pedestrian. In fact, sixty-two people were killed by cars while riding bicycles in the Southern California streets in 2017*.

However, it becomes a serious felony crime when one person in the accident decides to leave the scene without offering to help the injured person or exchanging their personal information, as is required by law and spelled out in CVC 20001. Stopping when involved in an accident is the first requirement by law and is followed by more duty-bound explicit requirements by law such as CVC20002 Vehicle/Property Damage, CVC 20003 Injury/ Death Req., CVC20006 No CDL Req., and more. You can read about the particulars of these laws at the DMV website.

The big conundrum in these situations is why don't cagers stop when involved in an accident?

There can be a number explanations for the perpetrators who do so, while none of them are any good nor legal. A reason for a hit-and-run can be as clear as the threat of a DUI (a criminal felony conviction for sure) or as arcane as too many parking tickets in the DMV database. In either case the police will use their computers to fully check everything about the driver and their vehicle very thoroughly. This in turn means that a DUI perpetrator, or someone whose DMV or other government legality is in question, will likely not stop. The situation now turns from a traffic stop that at most could result in a simple traffic ticket for something like no driver's license, to a full blown felony arrest warrant and jail for fleeing the scene. In a court of law following the incident, the DA must prove intent to flee and that part can be easy because if the driver did not intend to leave the scene of accident, the driver would still be there when the police arrived. By leaving the scene of an accident the intent to leave is proven, so it is now considered a hit-and-run.

At my past SHSP (Strategic Highway Safety Plan) monthly meets in Sacramento, I submitted my proposal to the State Legislature for a badly needed permanent CA DMV drivers license ban for all felons who are convicted of a hit and run that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury to the victim. The permanent ban will not be rescinded unless future evidence can show and prove in court that the convicted person was not the driver at the time. This means that the convicted felon (after serving a mandatory 25-year jail term for murder or manslaughter) will be reduced to taking the bus or taxi, riding a bicycle or walking for the rest of their life in California. Of course they can leave the state and apply for a drivers license from another state, but it will not be granted as the state database is shared. It is never a good idea to ruin your life by fleeing the scene of an accident (and neglecting others), which in turn means becoming a felon. ▲

Carl Lawton is an active cyclist who rides bikes and works for the Los Angeles

Department of Transportation. The overlap of these two pursuits provides a unique perspective to learn from. You can reach Carl Lawton at carl@BICYCLIST.xyz

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ask the coach

Crankarms Got You Down?

Knee Pain May be Eliminated By Replacing Crankarms ANSWERED BY RICK SCHULTZ, USA CYCLING COACH USAC CERTIFIED

ABOVE Rick owns a plethora of bike fit specialized equipment. These VariCranks are used to adjust crankarm length to find the most comfortable and efficient length.

O

ver the past 18 months, I have collected crank arm length data from my bike fit clients.

During the bike fit interview process, most of my clients volunteer that they have had prior bike fits, and even been to a physical therapist or chiropractor, but that they are still in pain. Most of the issues I have resolved focus on the following (a) wrong cleat placement, (b) wrong saddle position and (c) wrong crankarm length. Both (a) and (b) above can be fixed by an experienced bike fitter, while (c) can be fixed by bicycle and component manufacturers placing shorter cranksets [crankarms] on most bicycles.

her. She was spinning easily at 100 rpm, and that was on her first ride. The next morning, she woke up with no pain. The following Sunday they started in La Jolla and did a 25-mile ride including the famous Torrey Pines grade. Both are now enjoying cycling together pain free.

Knee pain is a common problem. The other problem is that most cyclists believe is that the pain is part of cycling. I partially fault the component manufacturers that aren’t making crankarms short enough and, I fault the bicycle manufacturers for putting on too long of crankarms.

Proof is in the Pudding

Any given frame size (56cm in this case) can come in many different frame sizes. For example, although my preferred frame size is 56cm, I could ride several ‘larger’ 55cm frames. I could also fit on a 57, 58 and even 59cm. But, looking at my general recommendations on crank arm lengths, should I choose a 165, 170, or 172.5 crankset?

The only way to really tell is via a comprehensive bike fit. Most bike fitters will adjust the saddle to correctly determine and set the max extension of the knee. Then, they move on to the saddle fore-aft followed by cockpit controls. But, what I have experienced fitting clients is that the max flexion of the knee is as (or more) important as max knee extension, and this is adjusted by crank arm length.

I have metrics on over 100 cyclists that I have helped by replacing their long crankarms with shorter ones. In every case, knee pain went away. Go to bicyclist.xyz to see a list of crank arm lengths that I have ‘generally’ advised cyclists with knee pain to install on their bikes.

Andy Pruitt is one of the most respected bike fitters in the world and helped to develop the Specialized BG Fit system. Andy also states that cranks that are too long can cause injuries. This is because “the compressive and shear forces in the knee joints ‘go up exponentially’ due to the sharper knee bend. Cranks that are too short are not dangerous, however.” In his book Bicycle Design, Mike Burrows warned against using cranks that are too long to avoid knee problems and Sheldon Brown has written about crank length and how riding with cranks that were too long for him has caused him knee pain.

Cycling is a culmination of micro-injuries and my paradigm errs on the side of caution. Think of your knees during a typical 2-hour ride and spinning at 85rpm. You have pedaled 10,200 circles. Four rides a week and you have pedaled 2,121,600 circles in a year. If anything is out of adjustment, some part of your body is going to absorb it, and that part is usually the knees. You might feel fine at 25 years old, at 35, even 45, but, eventually, this will all catch up to you. ▲

But first, a background story. Two and a half years ago, three best friends, all in their seventies, started cycling after retirement. They have known each other for decades and did everything together. Not long ago, they acquired some shiny new bikes followed by what they thought was a good bike fit. But after riding for several months, they all developed severe knee pain.

Initially, they attributed this pain to not having as much ride experience, but when their pain got worse, they went back to their local shops for another bike bit. Fast forward another month and the pain in their knees continued to get worse. They were thinking of giving up on cycling when they decided to try one more bike fitting. Several of the San Diego teams that I do bike fitting for referred these three gentlemen to me.

When they got to me, there were two major problems I needed to immediately address: (a) their cleat placement was way off and (b) each of their crankarms were way too long for them.

After fixing their cleats, I placed each of them on my Serotta Size Cycle. Using the 140 mm to 185 mm Vari-cranks. On client #1 I switched him from a 175 mm crank to a 170 mm crank, on client #2 I switched him from a 172.5 mm crank to a 165 mm crank. Lastly I took client #3 from a 170 mm crank to a 160 mm crank.

Thirty days later I contacted them to follow up on the changes I made after their fit. They all said that their pain was gone and that they are enjoying cycling with friends, and have even gone on several group rides.

Six months passed since the bike fit, and the crankarm replacement was such a success for client #1 that he called asking if he could bring his wife by for a bike fit. He told me that 3 years ago he bought her a new bike and that the bike shop had done a fit for her. The next day, they had planned a 10-mile ride. Two miles into the ride, his wife couldn’t pedal anymore - her legs had locked up. The next morning, she was in so much pain that she couldn’t go to work. Her wrists hurt, her trapezius hurt, her shoulders, lower back and knees hurt. He told me that he convinced her that her pain was due to this being her first bike ride in 20 years, so they tried it again the following weekend. This time she made it 1-mile before calling it quits. He said that her bike has hung in the garage for 3 years, so he brought her to me to see what I could do.

The Fix

After fixing her cleats, I placed her on the Serotta Size Cycle and adjusted the Vari-cranks to 145 mm from her 165 mm crankarm before. I saw a huge smile! She was suddenly spinning and cycling pain free. He called me the following Monday and told me that after the bike fit, they drove to Dana Point Harbor and rode 20 miles. He said he had trouble keeping up with 6

So, exactly what crank arm should I use?

Coach Rick Schultz Rick specializes in coaching cyclists so that they can achieve their best. He is also a certified bike fitter and author of Bike Fit 101: Your Toolset for a Great Bike Fit He has created his own bike fitting educational processes and teaches skills and handling through his workshops. Rick also owns and operates biketestreviews.com, where he tests and evaluates products for bicycling companies.

Send your questions to coach@BICYCLIST.xyz

BICYCLIST Magazine

maker

Paul Components Blending Passion and Reliability INFUSED WITH SOME CLASSIC ITALIAN STYLE AND CALIFORNIA CONVENIENCE

By Rob Templin

ABOVE Paul Components offers the 'Shimano Thumbies', an adapter that offers a dependable solution for bringing traditional thumb-shifters to a flat-bar handlebar.

I

n the process of completing my road bike makeover, I turned to Pauls Components for braking and shifting solutions since my STI Dura-Ace road levers weren’t compatible with flat, MTB-style handlebars.

Paul Components, based out of Chico, California, is renowned for producing a line of American-made CNC components, accessories, and adapters that can best be described as functional jewelry for your bike. Like Jones Bikes H-Loop Handlebar (see page 17), they don’t always adhere to what the bike industry says is the correct way of marketing or producing product to maximize profit and the bottom line.

They remind me a bit of what Campagnolo was all about back in the dinosaur ages when I first got into racing over 45 years ago – when ‘Campy’ was the only serious component choice for the competitive roadie. Their components had an Italian elegance, style, workmanship and mystique unique to the American marketplace at the time.

When I’ve toured internationally in the past – to places that Paul’s calls the “middle of nowhere”, and before ‘bikepacking’ became its own category - I always preferred ‘simple’ components that were durable, worked well, and wouldn’t be an issue to repair or replace without reverting to an emergency Fed Ex shipment. Probably a reason that Shimano bar end shifters have been a popular choice for adventure cyclists. They would also be a great solution to replacing my STI levers for general road use but you can’t install bar ends on a mtb flat bar, especially something like the Jones Bar. Or could you?

Turns out that Pauls Components makes a 60gr, 6061 CNC bar end aluminum adapter using the highest grade American aluminum available (like much of their product line), and it shows, ‘Shimano Thumbies’ ($81) can be mounted anywhere on the top of the bar and, based on my thousands of miles of use, actually function better than they did on the ends of my drop bars.

They accomplish this while enhancing the ergonomics of your hand placement for shifting.

As for replacement brake levers, Paul’s matches this shifter adapter to several models of brake levers ($130-$165 / pair), including a version that will work with short pull calipers – so you either use your current stock road calipers or purchase one of Paul’s matching caliper sets ($120-$160). I highly recommend their ‘polished’ option offered on most of their components (including the Boxcar stem I mentioned earlier) – just might have you bringing back memories of the long-vanished elegance and workmanship of the days when Campy dominated the component marketplace.

Paul Components is one of those rare bike companies that produce a full line of bike gear where, as they put it, “function, simple innovations, and easy serviceability (that) will always be the basis for (our) product design”. Only a passionate bike company like Paul’s would endeavor to produce components of this quality that other companies pass over because the production numbers wouldn’t justify it.

Visit their website to find solutions or products you didn’t know yet that you needed or wanted at paulcomp.com. ▲

BICYCLIST.xyz

“It's a text from our bicycles.

Apparently, they know we're using our car and they feel betrayed."

Jerry King is one of the most published cartoonists in America, a U.S. Army Veteran, and a graduate of Ohio State University. Go Buckeyes!

SIGN UP FOR THE BICYCLIST NEWSLETTER AND RECEIVE A NEW CARTOON PANEL FROM JERRY KING WITH EVERY EDITION - FREE!

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feature

agritourism tuscany the rural tuscan life on bianchi bikes PLANNING AND EXECUTING A MINIMALIST ADVENTURE IN ITALY Words by Kelley O'Toole, Photography by Chris Reynolds

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received an invitation to a wedding abroad in Tuscany, Italy and decided it would be a perfect opportunity to ride in that region of the country. The dates of the wedding were also in the same week as the annual Eroica festival (October 7th), the celebration and ride centered around vintage bicycles and Italian bicycling culture. It has become a global sensation with Eroica events in places such as California, South Africa, and Uruguay. This could prove as an opportunity for us to attend the festival and get some photos of the riders, and in addition, stay a few days to ride bikes on the famous 'Strade Bianche' roads. My husband and I decided to book an 8-day trip in Tuscany with 5 of those dedicated to experiencing the Tuscan countryside by bike.

In preparation for the trip I explored a map of the surrounding area of the wedding venue as a starting point. The event location was the bed and breakfast “La Selva Giardino del Belvedere” in Montevarchi, a town in the province of Arezzo, 50 miles southeast of Florence. Chianti, the city for which the wine gets its namesake and the site of the Eroica festival, is only about 40 miles away from Montevarchi. Our friend, and the bride-to-be, arranged all of the accommodations for the last three days of the trip in Montevarchi, so we needed to find some budget-friendly lodging if we wanted to extend our trip and include cycling.

Planning Ahead

When looking for lodging, Air BnB was a great resource for finding accommodations at a reasonable price. One option that stood out in my searches were listings for "agriturismo" stays.

Agriturismo, or ‘farm stays’ in English, are usually situated on working farms and are run by a groundskeeper or land owner, like a farmer. Farm stays have been popular for years in Italy for their affordability and location to nature. Unlike a typical B&B or hotel experience, farm stay vacations allow you to enjoy the rural Italian life at a slower pace. Prior to our stay, I was unfamiliar with the concept of 'agriturismo' and learned that it is not yet a popular tourism option in the USA. I came across a highly rated listing for a Madonna di Pogi agricultural farm in the heart of Val d’Ambra, on the Florence-Arezzo line, in a small town called Poggio, or Pogi (po-gee). It’s 12 miles from Monetvarchi and 3 miles from the town of Bucine. The Madonna di Pogi sits on acres of lush shrubbery and farmland and has accommodations for a variety of guests, including wooden caravans and tents. A 2-person caravan was listed for about $20/night, which included complimentary fresh eggs from the farm chickens each morning. This type of self reliance is a little daunting so far from home, but I didn’t want to miss out on the chance for a unique cycling experience. I booked us a 15 sqm caravan that included a room with double bed, living area with stove, table, chairs and small refrigerator. As an additional bonus, the Bucine Train Station is less than a mile away from the campsite, so we’d be able to take the train directly from the airport in Rome to arrive at our destination. By eliminating the necessity for cars or taxis, we were able to cut some costs in our budget.

Most of the work in planning travel of this kind should be done well in advance before

The sign outside the perimeter of the 'Agricampeggio Madonna di Pogi' is framed by rosemary bushes. departure. On the list of important travel tasks, finding out how to acquire a bicycle while in Italy was the next to check off the list. Having heard some horror stories of losing bikes (precious cargo) on planes, I determined that renting some when we got there would be the most convenient option. Our farm stay offered a few mountain bikes for rental, but I wasn’t sure if the bike would fit me properly, and the last thing I wanted to deal with was body pain due to a poor bike fit. I found a bike shop in Chianti called Tuscany Bikes that offered quality bicycles for rent and drop-off if needed. Since our accommodations were in a very rural area, we scheduled for a drop-off on the day of our arrival. The total price tag to rent two bicycles for 5 days, including the price for drop-off, was $370. We paid a 30% deposit up front and were

This wooden caravan was our home base for the duration of our trip, which included a double bed, living area, stove and mini refrigerator. To the left of our caravan, and outside of the photo, the trail lead straight to the main road.

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BICYCLIST Magazine

guaranteed two Bianchi Intenso carbon bikes, equipped with Shimano 11 spd, in the frame sizes 50 and 57 cm - light and reliable.

Lastly, the day before the trip I organized all the necessities needed for a proper bike vacation.

Since I would be biking for 5 days, and we would be in a location that did not have a washer and dryer, I packed 3 cycling kits, 5 pairs of socks, gloves, a cap, waterproof windbreaker, and long cycling pants. Since I would be riding a road bicycle, I packed up my clipless pedals, a mini air pump, and Giro Civila Shoes. Bringing along my pedals and shoes would guarantee that my ride on the Bianchi would be comfortable. And of course, we would couldn't forget our helmets, which we stuffed in our carry-on.

Welcome to Italy

We planned our flight to arrive on the day before the last day of the Eroica festival. Our trains into Tuscany were connected to the airport, so we hopped on after we landed. The flights from Rome airport, though farther to our destination than the preferred Florence (Fiuminco) airport, were considerably less expensive than the alternative. Though, the constant changing of transportation ended up being exhausting. By the time we dropped our luggage in our caravan, we’d only had about a total of 10 hours sleep within a 48-hour period. As much as we wanted to drift into sleep, my arrangements with Marco from Tuscany Bikes to acquire the bikes was within a few hours of arriving.

After a couple of hours, Marco arrived in his van with the Bianchi's. His english is very good (though my Italian is very bad) and it came up in conversation that he has some regular California customers who rent bikes while visiting. He said the Californian's love to ride the hills of Tuscany. We also learned that Marco is one of the founding riders of the original Eroica event. As he explained it, the ride started with a small group of friends who were enthusiastic about vintage bikes and group rides, that would conclude with pasta, vino, and a lively retelling of everyone’s experience. After setting us up with our Bianchi bikes, we planned to meet up with Marco the next day at Eroica. Theoretically, we would wake up at about 6 am the next day and ride our bikes down to the starting line, a seemingly achievable 28 miles. On the contrary, we woke up at 3 pm, the time when everyone was finishing up. Unfortunately we missed the event because our bodies could just not stay awake any longer. We learned the hard way that we should have given ourselves a full day to recover from our hectic transportation experience.

We ended up riding our bikes around the camp grounds and playing bocce ball in the garden (and winning, in my case).

The caretaker of the Madonna di Pogi, Stefano, generously provided transportation from and to the Bucine train station on the tight and winding roads lined with cypress trees. The property looks hidden from the road besides a wooden sign in the bushes, but the land features over 120,000 m2 of forest. It includes a large chicken coop, bocce ball pits, picnic tables, barbecues, and a small lake for swimming in the summers, accompanied by an organic garden with squash and tomatoes ripe for the picking. There are a couple of large public restroom/shower areas scattered around, which were sparkling clean. Our particular caravan was situated in a corner that overlooked miles of hill tops as far as the eye can see. We also learned that Stefano built and designed all of the caravans himself to be eco-friendly. Beyond a wire fence that lines the property near our caravan, was a where a white and chestnut colored pony grazed. He was friendly and eager to nibble on grass and hay from our hands. Every morning I’d walk to the fence and call out the pony and he’d come running to me. It was a great way to start the day if you're an animal lover.

A little bit further from the site of our caravan, past a creek and through the trees, there is a chicken coop where dozens of hens are kept. Stefano feeds them every day, and emphasized to us the importance of feeding the chickens nutritious and organic food. He said that the quality

This pony was a friendly visitor to the farm during our stay, but I've since learned he has found a new home on a larger farm with another pony for company. of the egg depends on the quality of the chicken feed. He spends a lot of the day in the common room plucking feathers and dirt off eggs from the chicken coop, or assisting visitors with their travels and transportation. He shares many anecdotes and wisdom from his years of farm labor and work. If you do visit, you'll be lucky enough to have the pleasure of chatting with Stefano.

On the Bike in Tuscany

For the majority of our visit, we rode at least one nearby trail a day, sometimes the same one.

Near the Madonna di Pogi are a handful of hiking trails that loop around the olive groves and vineyards of Pogi, which are often utilized in national marathons and mountain bike rides. The common room at the farm was fully stacked with maps and tourist itineraries so we were able to plan out our route quite successfully. The week before we arrived, there had been a national marathon for runners in Italy. Luckily, the organizers left arrow posters posted up around nearby trails so we were always able to judge our direction.

Riding in the country was my first experience riding gravel roads on a road bike, it was also the most climbing intensive riding I’ve ever done. In the 5 miles it took to get to the local grocery store we fulfilled 5,000 feet of climbing; the climb alone to get to our campground was 1 km long and 1,000 feet high. My riding goal at the start of the trip was to get up the hill to our farm without falling. ... Continued on page 12

We spent most of our bike experience riding on the gravel roads outside of the Madonna di Pogi. While riding downhill on gravel, I learned it's best to stay mentally and physically relaxed on the bike.

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 Tuscany

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BICYCLIST Magazine

OPPOSITE TOP The small town of Pogi is entered crossing over the five-arch stone bridge build by the Romans in the 12th century. Little did they know, 900 years later, we would be riding over their craftwork. OPPOSITE BOTTOM Dogs are common on the trails that criss-cross the farmlands, though we found they keep to themselves after making their presence known. THIS PAGE Ancient roman roads mark the boundaries for many of the farms and vineyards in this region. They make for great riding, with the march of history under your feet.

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11

Your Turn

Various touring groups offer Tuscany cycling vacation packages. our friends at Dude Girl have put together an 8-day cycling tour of Tuscany on June 5-12 and September 12-19, 2018. They’ll be hitting up some similar spots as we did, check their website for more information. For more photos from our trip go to bicyclist.xyz  Tuscany

ABOVE Roads like these were walked by Roman soldiers on their way to Florence, long before the bicycle was ever invented. We rented the Bianchi Intenso road bikes from Tuscany Bikes.

Italy continued...

The loose gravel that we had to contend with on many of these roads required a lot of technical maneuvering and balance on the bike. I had to work on not riding the brakes or leaning forward on my handlebars. After a pretty rough fall, I really focused on keeping the weight in my legs and leaning back into the saddle. Eventually, I started to feel more confident and comfortable riding on gravel. And not all portions of our ride was on gravel, the roads outside of the forest were paved smooth. Generally speaking, cars were very generous with space and cautious on speed.

We were about 10 miles into one trail ride when we hit a crossroads at which we made a left instead of a right. The path guided us until it stopped at a ledge that sloped down along a creek. While carrying our bikes down the ledge, we walked across the creek to an opening between two trees that seemed to lead back out onto the trail. Coming out the other side of the trees we quickly realized that we had arrived on someone’s private vineyard. It was at that moment that 3 terrier sized dogs came charging at us from out of nowhere. I moved my bike in front in case one of the dogs came at me, but the owner of the property drove up to us in his truck, forcing the pups back. The man, laughing with a hand rolled cigarette hanging out of his mouth, assumed we were “lost” when he saw us in lycra and using our bikes as a shield from his small fluffy dogs. Though we don’t speak Italian and he didn’t speak much English, he kindly pointed us back in the direction of the trail and drove off. Once we were back on schedule and in the saddle, my husband and I wondered how that scenario would have played out differently if we were in the United States and got stuck on someone’s property. Like this gentleman, most of the Italian folks we came across were laid back and hospitable.

Somewhere between mile 15 and 20 on this ride, we spotted a few older men in the grassy fields lining the trail. At first glance, the men swaying in the field looked like they were fishing with boating hats and pocketed vests on, but when we saw the metal detectors we realized they were searching for ancient gold. We would only see these men on one ride, which had me wondering what kind of Roman treasures they uncovered, sleeping underneath the Tuscan dirt.

Though the only sound heard were our chains, the men never averted their eyes from the ground.

The trails were fun, and riding through the neighborhoods was some of my favorite moments.

Not one home in Pogi wasn’t blooming with fruit trees and flower bushes in their front yard.

While mostly empty during the week day, we encountered a lot of the older generation folks hanging around the neighborhoods smoking and chatting. On several different occasions we saw women who looked to be at least 70, pushing wheelbarrows overflowing with cabbages up and down the local roads. I’d guess those wheelbarrows were at least 50 lbs, and the women 12

didn’t even appear to be struggling. Every person we passed by smiled and waved, whether that was because we were obvious tourists or because this is how folks greet each other in a rural town. I waved to a group of elderly woman carrying grocery bags and baguettes, and they shouted back “Ciao Bella!”

At the end of the day, we washed our kits in the showers and hung them to dry outside our caravan. For dinner, we rode 5 miles down to the local grocery store, "Coop", and usually filled up our empty backpacks with dry pasta, arugula, a salami log or two, and a baguette. Back at the caravan, we'd use the utensils available to us and whip up a carbonara style pasta with fresh eggs from the chickens. This meal was great for replenishing after the climbing we'd put our legs through, and food from Coop is sourced from local suppliers, so everything is very fresh.

Sometimes we'd stop in a neighborhood cafe for a sandwich during our rides, or we'd always ride a few miles in Pogi for our morning espresso, always spending less than a few Euros.

Though we missed the Eroica festival, our experiences in Tuscany will not soon be forgotten.

What surprised me the most was how handy paper maps came in when we were lost. These days we’re so used to being able to reach into our pockets and navigate our way by phone, but when you’re in a location without service, a paper map may be your only lifeline. Riding in Tuscany invigorated my enjoyment for cycling and made me appreciate the possibilities available to you with a bicycle. I learned that preparation beforehand is essential for having a smooth cycling experience. Knowing that I had all the gear I needed helped me stay focused while navigating unfamiliar roads, and studying the maps beforehand gave me a better sense of the land. Most importantly, I kept my sense of adventure open for the possibilities while riding in Tuscany even if I had to prepare for battle against a few farm dogs. ▲

A friend to the bicyclist are the ubiquitous Tuscan cafe's that provide all range of sustaining food and drink with a range of sweet, savoury, caffeinated and alcoholic. Buon Appetito!

BICYCLIST Magazine

legal cycling

Don’t Get ‘Doored’ 10 Tips For avoiding pesky car doors AND THE CARELESS DRIVERS WHO OPEN THEM

By Richard Duquette, 911law.com

Getting “doored” or crashing into the carelessly opened door of a parked vehicle while on your bike is no fun, but it is common.

Although bicyclists try hard to avoid this dangerous occurrence, it is in fact one of the leading causes of bicyclist injuries.

Here are 10 tips to both avoid getting “doored” and to protect your rights if an unfortunate incident occurs:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Prevention is the best cure, always.

Choose a safe, wide route, not one that is car-lined.

Slow down and pay attention.

If you can’t avoid a car-lined route, slow down to improve your braking ability.

Pay attention to the parked cars so you can break in time for opening doors.

Choose a route with a bike lane.

This isn’t always possible, but it is ideal.

If a car door opens and hits you which causes destruction to the vehicle and you are cited while riding your bike, please keep this in mind under California law, section 22517 of the Vehicle Code states that "drivers have a responsibility to ensure that they only open their car door when it is safe to do so. No person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of such traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open upon the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers."

Hands on the brake levers, not the bars.

This will help you stop more quickly. Also, avoid using the tricep-bars when riding next to cars. This riding position makes it harder to stop quickly.

If in a group, ride single file.

When you ride 2 or 3 abreast and you are in a position next to the parked cars you have no option to maneuver around opening doors.

Ride at least four feet from car doors.

In California, you must ride as far to the right side of the roadway as practicable, but this doesn’t mean riding right next to a car door.

So ride four feet away from car doors — they swing out further than you think (although this is often cold comfort, the California Vehicle Code 22517 states that a car door can’t be opened unless safe to do so).

Look ahead for movement inside the car.

If you see movement, ride away from the car door or be prepared to brake in time, because many motorists fling open their doors without looking.

Notice if the rear brake light is illuminated.

It will tell you if the car is occupied and running. You could get “doored” if the door is suddenly opened, or even be in for a collision if the car unexpectedly pulls out, so be on alert.

If you are following the law and get “doored”, get pictures!

Whether it is you or your cycling partners, take pictures of the crash site and the location of the vehicles. If possible, include pictures of how far out the door was opened. Your cell phone camera is great for this.

If you’re “doored”, get the driver on record if they admit opening the door.

This helps your insurance claim. If, by opening the door, the driver creates a situation in which it is impossible for you to do anything other than slam into the door or put yourself in certain danger, the insurance company can’t argue that you don’t have a claim.

RICHARD L. DUQUETTE has been fighting for his clients since 1983. His family-owned law firm specializes in providing personal attention and quality representation to the people of San Diego, Riverside, and Orange Counties. Visit and read his blog at 911law.com BICYCLIST.xyz

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Lost tech

PROFILES

MTB Innovation

A Brewery for Bicyclists Rouleur Brewery in San Diego

The Hite Rite Changed how we ride Mountain Bikes

By Bob Becker

J

oe Breeze, the Marin County, California inventor, racer, bicycling advocate and inaugural Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee, is known for many innovations to mountain biking.

These include, but not limited to, producing the first successful production run of modern mountain bikes and developing the Unicrown fork. Arguably his most important, but least remembered contribution to MTB is the Hite Rite, a seat height adjuster that he co-invented with Josh Angell and produced in the early 1980's.

The Hite Rite was a beautifully chrome-plated coil spring that attached to the seat post with a circular clamp and the seat post quick release at the opposite end of the spring. The rider set his seat height then attached the Hite Rite; he would open the quick release to lower the seat, and reopen it for full extension when a difficult section had been negotiated. This allowed the rider to adjust his seat height without stopping the bike first. An additional benefit of the Hite Rite was that it made stealing the seat and post more difficult since the quick release had to be removed first. The product weighed about 100 grams (four ounces), allowed the seat to be raised or lowered as much as four and one-half inches and cost about $15.

The Hite Rite achieved so much early success that Joe had to abandon his other projects for a couple of years in order to keep up with production. Many riders used the product, but it wasn't without challenges. The rider needed to remove one hand from the bars in order to actuate it, the seat didn't always return to its original height, the orientation of the seat could be skewed and dirt or mud interfered with successful actuation since the post would not slide up and down easily.

Accordingly, the Hite Rite disappeared from the MTB scene within a few years. However, the concept was re-introduced about 30 years later with an adjustable-height seat post actuated by a handlebar-mounted thumb lever. Many riders that I've spoken to think this is the greatest invention in MTB history even though it adds about a half-pound (eight ounces) to the weight of the bike and costs $300 or so. This seemingly ubiquitous product is viewed as an essential tool in many MTB disciplines. It's doubtful the Hite Rite will rise from its ashes, but it was the progenitor of a line of products that has contributed to the development of the modern MTB. ▲

ABOVE The original magazine advertisement for Hite Rite from 1986 displays the function of the first component addressing seatpost height for MTB riding.

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By Kelley O’Toole

Brewer Rawley Macias recommends the Domestique Ale after a long, gruelling ride. You can see a full list of what's on tap at rouleurbrewing.com. Photo belongs to Rouleur.

I

t seemed only a matter of time before a cycling-centric brewery made a home in San Diego as it is one of the most popular locations in California to ride bikes. In addition to the great weather and excellent riding opportunities, San Diego has even got an abundant selections of breweries that attract cyclists throughout the week. With the recent opening of Rouleur Brewing in Carlsbad, cyclists finally have a place to gather that combines craft beer and the cycling lifestyle.

Originally from San Luis Obispo, Rawley was an aerospace engineer for most of his professional career, but bikes and beer were always interests he had during college. While studying engineering, he also took on home brewing beer, which he found he was pretty good at. He enjoyed experimenting with the different types of beer, flavors, and methods that create unique brews, and shared them with friends.

He stopped riding bikes for a few years after college, mostly he used his bike for commuting and casual rides anyway. However when the stress of his aerospace job caused him to put on extra weight, he started riding more often. Being back on the bike invigorated him in a new way; he hired a trainer, he started riding longer, and he even completed the full Belgian Waffle Ride.

Throughout this time Rawley continued to home brew craft beer, and getting really good. He entered his beers in craft competitions and won. He was becoming a known California craft brewer with some great beers.

Rawley got word that developers would be building small scale breweries throughout San Diego to eventually offer a public lottery to brewers in need of brewing equipment and a location to serve beer. As brewery equipment can cost well over a million dollars, Rawley entered his name in the lottery as an investment in his dreams of one day owning a brewery.

In 2016, less than two years after entering his name, Rawley found out that his name was drawn as one of the first recipients of a 500 sq ft, fully-stocked tasting room with brand new brewing equipment. So after 5 years of working in aerospace engineering, he left San Luis Obispo to run the brewery full time in San Diego.

To Rawley, there’s nothing better than a cold craft beer after a challenging ride. To encourage the continued pairing, Rawley focused his brewery on the cycling lifestyle. During racing season last year, patrons watched bike racing while they enjoyed their beer. Even non-cyclists (who make up most of their customer base) get a kick out of watching racing, and despite the fact that most people in there aren’t cyclists, patrons in lycra are always welcomed.

Cyclists contributed to the decor of the brewery, using road wheels donated by surrounding bicycle companies, Rawley fashioned a dynamic wheel wall. Masi bikes (their corporate location is near Rouleur) contributed to the decor with a full sized road bike, and photographs of epic cycling races are hung all over the walls.

Rouleur Brewery has its own Strava page with 232 members as of now, and Rawley is brainstorming a way to incorporate a fun competition between riders with rewards from the brewery. Rawley’s plans for Rouleur’s future include branching out into a pop-up location near a more populated downtown area with more food and restaurants. Stop by the Rouleur Brewing tasting room to get your beer and bike racing fix. ▲ BICYCLIST Magazine

PROFILES

Talking with Frank Schleck Former Professional cyclist SCHLECK TALKS ABOUT WORKING WITH MAVIC AND HIS PAST PRO LIFE

By John Woodson

T

he ‘Bucket Rider’ recently sat down with former Pro Tour rider Frank Schleck at the Haute Route Ventoux in France for an interesting conversation about Gran Fondos, Pro Tour racing and more. With 13 years in the Pro peloton and palmarès, including overall victories at Amstel Gold, Tour de Luxembourg, Tour de Suisse, Criterium International and third place at the 2011 Tour de France, plus an incredible stage win on Alpe d’Huez in 2006, he’s the real deal.

In person Frank is very relaxed, humble and easily shares a smile while wearing a t-shirt. Retired from the pressures of Pro Tour racing in 2016 he now enjoys spending time with his children and wife, hiking and yes, riding his bike as an ambassador for Mavic.

John Woodson: What is your role with Mavic?

Frank Schleck: It’s great to be a part of the Mavic legend and help out at events like the Haute Route. As a product ambassador I test all their products and provide feedback. Shoes, helmets, clothing, wheels, I test all. [Their] bibs are the best I’ve used in 15 years. Seriously, they are great.

The UST tubeless tires and wheels are outstanding too, rode them here and they’re like tubulars.

JW: Anything you miss about Pro Tour racing?

FS: The team environment. Camaraderie of training camps and hanging out with the guys. It’s nice to just focus on riding your bike with everything done for you. Wonderful food, support, no drama. Seeing the world at 25mph is amazing.

JW: What don’t you miss?

FS: Crashes. Pressure from media, sponsors. Racing 100 days, training 30,000km year - don’t like cold riding. Being away from family is tough.

JW: Teamwork and camaraderie are a big part of gran fondos. Have you met any riders here?

FS: Yes. I like to meet riders out on the road. I won’t bite. Luckily, I speak multiple languages which makes it easier. I helped a Brit today catch a rider on the climb [Malaucène to Ventoux].

JW: Expect a Christmas card from that Brit. How much do you ride now?

FS: 9,000km year. Just for fun.

JW: Will you ride your namesake Schleck Gran Fondo next year?

FS: Yes. It’s May 26. Last year we had over 2000 riders. I want to help share the experience of setting a goal, riding, suffering and meeting the goal. Gran Fondo mass sport events are perfect – everyone equal and it promotes living a healthy lifestyle.

JW: Favorite beer?

FS: Velosophe, of course. Maybe Stella.

JW: Is it ok to drink a beer at the Haute Route?

FS: Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s ok to have a beer after a tough ride. Everyone earns congratulations climbing to the top of Ventoux. That’s a big deal.

JW: How can we get you to the US for the Mavic Haute Route Rockies or Haute Route Utah, they have some fun dirt sections?

FS: Just starting to ride dirt, trying it out. But I need a bike.

JW: Come on over. I think Mavic might have a spare yellow bike…

JW: Any tips for amateurs to manage the pain of suffering on a climb like Ventoux?

FS: Ride steady. Think about catching someone. Channel emotions into power. Keep negative thoughts away, especially when someone catches and passes you, that’s hard mentally. Everyone (is) at their limit and suffers the same on climbs, Pros just do it faster.

JW: Do you know when you’ll have a good day?

FS: No. You train, prepare, do everything right and feel good. But there are no guarantees it will all come together. Like Forest Gump said “you never know what you’ll get.” Repair, do everything right and feel good. But there are no guarantees it will all come together. Like Forest Gump said “you never know what you’ll get.” ▲

JW: You played domestique for a Haute Route rider?

FS: I talked him through it. Encouraged him. He did the work and caught him.

JOHN WOODSON lives and rides in New Mexico, a legendary character that is always on the lookout for legendary rides. Or even less than legendary. But always a good experience.

Do you organize or participate in a ride that qualifies? Let him know john@bicyclist.xyz

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15

event Profile

Riding Enchanted Lands High Desert Training Meets Ecotourism THE REEVIS MOUNTAIN SCHOOL OF SELF RELIANCE FOR BICYCLISTS

By Richard Duquette, Photography By Kim Duquette

T

he Reevis Mountain School of Self-Reliance (Reevis Mountain) gives the distinct feeling of riding through the desert on a horse with no name. Nestled in the Northeastern corner of Arizona’s Superstition Wilderness at an elevation of 3,300 feet, Reevis Mountain lies to the south of Roosevelt Lake. As you ascend the canyon to approach the school, a greeting party of green Saguaro cacti lines the winding road, waving their arms as if to welcome you back to nature.

Reevis Mountain is owned by Peter Bigfoot, local master of self-reliance. He’s a tall, thin, grey haired gentleman who has owned the land and taught survival skills courses there for many years. He is best known for his solo trek across the Sonora desert in July 1976, in which he covered 85 miles in 15 days, surviving the journey by foraging.

Peter is full of stories and experiences that might have more in common with our ancestors than our daily lives. My favorite is when he was attacked by a hungry mountain lion while sleeping in his yurpee (yurt/teepee combination) one night. Peter shot and killed it. Now a picture of the catch hangs on his wall, reminding visitors that the wilderness can be as dangerous as it is beautiful.

After a long season of bicycling or triathlon racing, it’s often helpful to go off the grid for a while and relax at a training camp. Anza Borrego desert is a popular choice for Southern Californians, but this year I chose a secret land near ancient Indian cave dwellings to set my 2018 race intentions and start to train for Michael Marcx’s famous Belgium Waffle Ride (BWR), and the revived Wildflower Triathlon (WFT) in April and May. As many know, the BWR and WFT both involve not only off-road components, but also camping. So training and living like the Apaches and nearby Salado Indians seemed like the perfect choice to prepare for these exciting challenges. Instead of a nameless horse, I’ll ride my mountain bike on the Apache Trail, or near the Four Peaks mountains where the desert floor rises up from lake Roosevelt to meet the mountains.

When tired of the dirt, there’s 20 miles of views, and quiet paved roads to navigate the majestic viewpoints encircling Lake Roosevelt. There are hills to climb that fill your lungs with the invigorating electric air—necessary preparation to conquer the BWR and WFT. These rides will clear your mind, as the enchanted lands give more than they take.

As I approach 62, a focused mental state is needed to complete the semi harsh BWR and WFT racing environments, including hills, dirt riding, dry heat, and camping with nature.

Mark Allen, six-time Hawaiian Ironman world champion, respects the land and gods.

This makes sense. After all, a major benefit of athletic endeavors is that it allows us to recreate aspects of our primal existence. Overcoming fatigue to conquer a hill is deeply rewarding, even with the luxury of knowing your life doesn’t depend on it.

Training in nature is a big step to getting the most out of the experience, but living close to nature also helps sharpen you and prepare you for its challenges.

One way to learn the land’s secrets after your adventurous workouts is to eat healthy, real food at Reevis Mountain, which includes a selection of locally grown organic vegetables, nuts, and fruits from the nearby 100 tree orchard and gardens. Peter also serves beef, wild turkey, elk, and Apache trout (in season), as well as eggs from his cage free chickens. Your thirst is quenched from a year-round underground spring. We live our daily lives many steps removed from the origin of our food. It’s valuable to occasionally remind ourselves of what it’s like to live off the land. It helps appreciate life itself and the world that sustains it.

So, if you want to ride in the morning, learn from a master in the afternoon, and sleep under the stars at night especially the last two weeks of January 2019, contact Peter at the Reevis Mountain School of Self-Reliance. ▲

Author’s Note: I hope we can spread Bicycle - Eco Tourism into the local and Federal lands.

Kevin Loomis, President of the San Diego Mountain Biking Association (SDMBA) has high hopes to do exactly this in San Diego. This camping trip would fit nicely with the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival in early March.

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The author making his way on the short area of paved comforts while setting off for the Reevis Mountain School of Self-Reliance, training for bicyclists in the desert.

The setting in Northeastern Arizona provides a grandeur that overwhelms the senses and captures the imagination, while providing a suitable backdrop for training.

BICYCLIST Magazine

Gear Patrol

Jones’ Loop H-Bar Handlebar Design Upgrades UNIQUE HANDLEBAR DESIGN MAKES FOR COMFORTABLE RIDING

By Rob Templin

O

ne word consistently comes up when the topic of Jones Loop H-Bars arises: unconventional. For good reason, they are. At first glance, with their 45 degree sweep, it might appear that the bars would be more at home on a cruiser beach bike than a sophisticated upgrade for mountain bikers, gravel grinder riders, or the bikepacking crowd. Jeff Jones, the man behind the bar’s concept and a long-time industry icon, is also a bit like his handlebars in that neither is particularly mainstream. But that hasn’t stopped him from building a cult following around his bike fit philosophy that his unique bars (and custom frames) are designed around.

The impetus for a new handlebar design came from Jeff’s desire to find a way to bring his hands into a more natural riding position. In the process, he tossed out some of the conventional industry bike-fit standards that have been the norm for the past decade or two. Using different tubing materials and various bends, he finally settled on the 45 degree sweep that has been the one constant that hasn’t changed as the bars evolved over the years.

With the various hand positions the Loop H-Bar offers (including having a more upright option), it wasn’t long before road riders – especially those with back or neck health issues that had forced them off their drop-bar bikes - took note. Recumbents had been one of the few choices for these riders before the availability of the Loop H-Bars.

In particular, the H-Bar offers a far more upright position than traditional drop bars when using the ends of the bar’s ‘sweep’. Having broken my neck several summers ago, and having the C1-3 vertebrae fused, the Jones bars offered me the potential of a game-changer in being able to get back on a road bike. But I would have to first re-think all of my ingrained bike fitting and positioning knowledge gathered over 45-plus years of racing, commuting, and adventure touring. More on that later.

A More Natural Riding Position

After thousands of miles on their double-butted aluminum model ($119) and the new-for-2018 SG 2.5 model ($79) - offering a bit more rise/drop than the 13mm found on the rest of the line, I’m an impressed convert. Jones Bicycles also makes the bars in titanium and carbon fiber in the $300 to $400 price range.

It didn’t take many test miles for me to understand why the bars have been become so popular with off-road and adventure enthusiasts. The range of riding positions is significantly increased over standard mountain or road bike handlebars. I found that having better hand and body positions allows for more power, control, and, particularly important in my situation, comfort.

The bottom line is that I found it easier to cover longer distances with less strain and fatigue on my neck and back – I won’t be road racing or doing ultra events like solo RAAM again but at least I can get back on a road bike and complete 50 or 60 miles (if slowly). If you want to climb seated, you can grip the middle crossbar much like you would on a road or mountain bike.

When you get out of the saddle to climb – especially on aggressive terrain - you’ll appreciate the leverage provided using the back portions of the bars. On the downhills, I gained a bit more control and stability with the wider hand placement using this part of the bar. If you start to get fatigued near the end of a long, epic ride you can also use these same ends of the bar, while seated, to gain a more upright position on the bike to take a break. I didn’t miss having ‘drops’ on the bars since I rarely used that position on my former road set-up, finding it uncomfortable for long periods of time as I got older.

When you want to cheat the wind you can extend your arms and place your hands on the front of the loop bar section (much like a regular aero bar but without any ‘cups’ for your forearms). If needed, you can rest your forearms on the middle crossbar section for extra support BICYCLIST.xyz

in this aero tuck. Because of my fusion I wasn’t able to take full advantage of this lower aero position for long periods of time.

Riders won’t have any issues with finding places to hang all their bike toys like GPS units or lighting systems. Bikepackers will appreciate the ability to attach a custom Jones front handlebar bag ($98) using the middle crossbar as one of the attachment points – and several aftermarket bags are now available on the market including Revelate and Ortlieb models. I can guarantee you won’t find any other handlebar allowing this range of flexibility or hand positions. Now comes the challenging part.

Set It and Forget It

Proper set-up of the bars is critical to maximizing their potential benefits. To take full advantage of the multiple hand positions offered, not only will you need to raise your handlebars up (either with a stem riser or a stem with a good bit of rise), you’ll need to switch out your stem to a much shorter length. The shorter stem will allow you to be comfortable in the extreme positions between ‘aero’ (front) and ‘comfort’ (rear) positions of the handlebar. I used a Pauls Components Boxcar stem ($95) with their cool polish finish option for its stiffness, strength, and lightweight that enhances the H-Loop bar performance.

After so many years of road riding using all the conventional fit parameters, these changes were a challenge for me to accept. But if you just slap the bars on your current ride without any modifications you’ll never come close to taking full advantage of what the bars have to offer. The new 2018 SG 2.5 Loop model with its extra rise (matched to a shorter stem with substantial rise) should be enough to avoid needing a stem riser. I wanted the ability to be a bit more upright when needed to give my neck and back some relief (few riders will have this requirement hopefully!), so I installed a stem riser with my SG 2.5 test bars. All H-bars use a 31.8 stem.

Even subtle aspects of proper installation like having the bars angled slightly downward makes a difference in comfort and performance as the miles add up. Following the instructions in the manual meticulously and/or watching the various instructional videos on the Jones Bikes You Tube ‘channel’ will easily get you to the correct set-up.

There are several variations of the H-Bars, including the original design, but the “Loop” configuration is the most popular. The bars come in 710mm or 660mm width, with the 710mm versions laser marked where you would want to cut them later, if needed, down to the 660mm width. I’ve been using the 710mm width bars which tend to be more popular with bikepackers, gravel riders, or former roadies like myself wanting the option of a more upright position for health issues. Mountain bikers accustomed to bombing down narrow single track trails generally opt for the narrower 660mm handlebar width for clearance issues.

Jones Bikes offers many custom accessories for the bars including the highly recommended ESI RCT bar tape ($38) and various padded H-Grip options in silicone, EVA foam, and, new for 2018, Kraton ($20-$28). All items are available on their website with more detailed information. And while you’re checking out the website (or videos), take a look at the custom frames that Jeff builds that are designed around the same concept of the bars: performance, comfort, safety, and power. ▲

The Jones Loop H-Bar is at home on the Bombtrack adventure bike released at the end of last year and previously profiled on BICYCLIST.xyz.

17

HandsOn

Alter Cycles Reflex 300 WE PREVIOUSLY PROFILED THE REFLEX 300 IN ISSUE #145, BUILT AS A FLAT-BAR HYBRID PRODUCED BY ALTER CYCLES. THE COMFORT AND SMOOTHNESS OF THE RIDE OF THE DROP BAR VERSION MATCHED THE FLAT-BAR STYLE AND MADE FOR A COMPELLING COMBINATION.

By Chris Reynolds

A

lter Cycles has worked to highlight the performance of their design putting out only a few sample drop-bar versions that host a variety of components. The drivetrain on the Reflex **300** we tested was comprised of Shimano Tiagra, an excellent choice for dependability, durability and value, and a choice of 50/34t chainrings serves a majority of riders. Matched to the rear 10-32t Tiagra cassette, a combination that offers a healthy range of gearing for the flats as well as steep climbs. The shifters are comfortable in the hand, and shifts are precise with consistent and expected movement.

To keep your speed in check, the Reflex brings 160mm Shimano disc brakes, utilizing their refined hydraulic brake system. The choice allows for a wide selection of tire widths, and in the spirit of adventure, the Dual Action 700x33c tires from Arisun fit the part. They are a grippy set of cyclocross tires that beg to be taken on dirt, gravel or to your local ‘cross race. Matched to Vuelta alloy rims, the assembly is a dependable and bombproof pair. The Shimano hydraulic braking makes stopping consistent and quick, with a healthy amount of modulation that continues even after long descents without fade, or weather when rim brakes would otherwise have a tendency to lose their responsiveness.

Frame Design Separates the Competition

What differentiates the Reflex from other bikes brings us to its frame design. Mark Groendal, inventor of the Reflex, essentially redesigned the classic diamond frame that was designed over a hundred years ago.

By modifying the front triangle into an “modified triangle” that flexes changes everything about the ride and the performance. All of the Alter Cycle bikes have an interchangeable flexible downtube made of curved and compressed .035 wall HS90 steel tubing, a much stronger, more resilient steel than traditional chromoly.

This tube allows and limits the frame flex.

Even the way the frame flexes is different than traditional frames. Instead of thinking about the normal twisting or torsional type of flex, these frames have what Alter calls “linear flex” which, while ridden, is an almost continual stretching and retracting of the frame and wheelbase in small amounts. This motion smooths the ride and helps keeps the tires on the ground significantly better.

The interchangeable tubes, which they call Rider 18

Fit Tubes, or RFT’s, are designed for different weight riders. There is a #1 for riders up to 200 lbs., #2 up to 250 lbs and #3 up to 290 lbs. The surprising thing is that everyone who tested the bike, preferred the most flexible tube for their weight range. Not only is the ride smoother, the bikes actually perform better as they flex.

Rider Fit Tube

The RFT works like a spring but the term ‘spring’ is somewhat misleading. The frame itself is quite firm and there is no 'bouncing. It is a dynamic flex that rebounds energy while pedaling which provides a more efficient transfer of power into the cranks, resulting in faster speeds when compared to traditional rigid bikes.

Reports from the various riders that rode the bike have commented on using one gear higher on the same climbs than they would normally be using. The results on the flats are more difficult to articulate in terms of performance. It feels faster, though this could also be due to the smoothness of the ride. The smoother ride still retains responsive steering and maintains a nice road feel. We noticed the tires really stick to the ground and found this to be a very versatile bike.

BICYCLIST Magazine

Quantifying Frame Flex

More Photos?

Visit BICYCLIST.xyz

 alter

ABOVE All of the Alter Cycle bikes have an interchangeable flexible downtube made of curved and compressed .035 wall HS90 steel tubing, a much stronger, more resilient steel than traditional chromoly. If you want to try one of these bikes and keep the cost down, you can opt to buy one of the fitness versions which share the same frame as the model we tested. These bikes complete are priced at: Reflex 100 $749, Reflex 300 $999 and Reflex 500 for $1399; You can stop at Adrenaline Bike Shop in Orange to take one of the fitness bikes for a test ride or have them build up a frame for you. Keep an eye on the Alter website for dealers closer to you that may begin to carry them.

LEFT We noticed the tires really stick to the ground and found this to be a very versatile bike. The 700c wheels were shod with Arisun Metro Cruiser 38 mm tires. They’re fast and handle really well, in both the dry and the wet conditions.

Specifications FRAME FORK SHIFTERS

HEADSET STEM BRAKES GRIPS

BICYCLIST.xyz

Alter Reflex 300 Full Carbon Fork Shimano Tiagra Flat rapid-fire Optical 2×10 4700 1.125 Sealed Pro Mo Bearings Alter Ride Black alloy Tektro Auriga Hydraulic Disc Leather Ergonomic Grips

TIRES Arisun Metro Cruiser puncture

resistant 700×38 SADDLE Selle Royal Look-In DERAILLEUR CX70 Top Pull 34.9; Shimano

Tiagra 10 spd CASSETTE Shimano Tiagra 10-32 cassette CHAIN KMC CRANKSET FSA 2 pc CK-400 Crank 50/34 PRICE $1,300

Speaking with R ick Vaughn at A lter Cycles, I mentioned our inability to quantify the speed benefit for our readers. Yes, it seems faster and easier, but how would we actually measure in a way that accurately captured a fair comparison? My "daily-driver" is 4 pounds lighter (and 4 times as expensive) so a comparison would always seem to come up short.

To answer, he told me a story of a recent alumni function he attended where he chanced on sitting next to an old college friend who, like most people, was not buying what Rick was peddling, a bike with a frame that flexes that is supposed to be more efficient to pedal than rigid frame bikes. Raising the conversational stakes, he told Rick he had access to the lab at the college physiology department where he worked and offered the challenge for Rick to prove his claims at their facility.

Taking him up on the chance to quantify the per formance of their design is something that the company has always wanted to do. So, seven riders were brought in to test their VO2 (oxygen consumed) while riding on a stationary computrainer for resistance on both the Reflex and an identically equipped rigid frame bike. The measurement gives an idea of how much oxygen your body is requiring while simultaneously measuring how much power you're producing, essentially your efficiency and how hard you are working while riding. This measurement of both the input and output allow for a more complete comparison and the results surprised even Rick.

Four out of seven riders consumed less oxygen on a test with light resistance, but at higher resistance, all seven riders consumed less oxygen to produce the same amount of output while riding the Alter Reflex by an average of 4.6% benefit to the rider. Because this was an ‘after-hours’ challenge between old college friends, there are no published results in a journal to reference, but to this, Rick said Mark would be happy to lend a bike to have anyone who would recreate the test and accurately report the results. The results of the sited test can be downloaded from Alter’s website.

The Alter folks believe people will eventually realize that the right type of flex, linear flex, is valuable to every aspect of performance and comfort, and that having a frame with a mechanical advantage that provides a rebound in its pedal stroke, is much more efficient than trying to get faster by shedding a little weight and is a lot less costly.

The Case For Drop Bars

As a small company entering a new market, Alter has found that requests for the drop bar bikes to have a wide variety of component builds and price points.

They are not a big enough company to provide enough arrows to hit the center of that target. So, to simplify they have decided to provide frames only and let people build up custom versions the way they want for now. Frames are priced at $699, not cheap, but not bad for a revolutionary, high-tech frame. All are matte black with color choices lie in the selection of the down tube. If you want to try one of these bikes and keep the cost down, you can opt to buy one of the fitness versions which share the same frame as the model we tested. These bikes complete are priced at: Reflex 100 $749, Reflex 300 $999 and Reflex 500 for $1399.

Keep an eye on the A lter website for dealers near you that beg i n to car r y them. You can f i nd add it ion a l i n for m at ion on A lt er Cycle website at Fasterbicycles.com. ▲ 19

Event Calendar

GUIDE TO THE CALENDAR

We do our best to comb the wild west of cycling event websites to get the information you need to make the most of your time in the saddle. We provide this comprehensive listing, without endorsement, but we ask that you support the events that support the magazine. To submit your event and view the full calendar, visit www.BICYCLIST.events.

SIGNS & SYMBOLS Date

Day

Event Name Organizer TYPE: length

City, State

FEATURES

Location

February 2018 21 Wed

MAMIL Film Screeing Cycliq MEETUP: Film

24 Saturday

Pedaling Paths to Idependence Bikes & Beers ROAD: 15,30 miles

Nationwide

SCa

Theaters across US ___________________________________________________________________

San Diego

SCa

Green Flash Brewery ____________________________________________________

11 Sunday

Fiesta Island Time Trial UC Cyclery/SDBC ROAD: Time Trial

San Diego

14 Multi

6 Week Velodrome Class Sean Burke/Crank Cycling TRACK: Training

San Diego

17 Sunday

Super Sweetwater Occidental Grasshopper Adventure Series MIXED: 78 miles NCa Occidental Community Center

Stagecoach Century Palm Springs Shadow Tour ROAD: 26-150 miles SCa Ocotillo

24-1 Multi

Death Valley National Park Ride Death Valley The Climate Ride ROAD: 255 miles SCa Stovepipe Wells

26 Sunday

SCPS: Turkey Trot Cross SoCalCross PRESTIGE SERIES CX: TBA

HUNKR Race OC ROAD: 100 kilometers Irvine Lake

___________________________________________________________________

Glendale

SCa CX

Verdugo Park

SCa

San Diego Velodrome ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

SCa

Fiesta Island ___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Strada Rossa V Redlands Inland Empire Biking Alliance MIXED: 100,66,33 miles SCa Redlands Blvd.

____________________________________________________

Silverado

SCa

___________________________________________________________________

March 2018

21 Wed

G2 Hill Repeat G2 Bike ROAD: 2 hours

3-4 Multi

Malibu Gran Fondo Serious Cycling ROAD: 30-150 miles

24 Saturday

Saddleback Spring Classic Renegade Race Series ROAD: 1,15, 35, 50, 100 miles

04 Saturday

So Cal Enduro Series Race #2 Vail Lake Team Big Bear MTB: XC, Enduro, DH SCa Vail Lake Resort

Santiago Oaks XC Non Dot Adventures MTB: XC Course

Desert Triathlon Tri Club Triathlon: TBD

24-25 Multi

Sagebrush Safari Campo Quick n Dirty MTB: 18, 26 miles SCa Corral Canyon Trail

10 Saturday

Solvang Century, Metric & Half SCOR ROAD: 100,75, 50 miles Hotel Corque

Malibu

SCa

Four Seasons Westlake ___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Lake Cahuilla

NCa Tri

Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area ___________________________________________________________________

20

Solvang

SCa

____________________________________________________

Joshua Tree Double Century Mtn High Cycling ROAD: 200 miles El Rancho Delores Motel

SCa Fontana

SCa

____________________________________________________

Aliso & Wood Canyon XC Non Dot Adventures MTB: XC Laguna Niguel Regional Park

SCa

G2 Bike Shop ___________________________________________________________________

Irvine

SCa

Irvine Valley College ____________________________________________________

Orange

SCa

Santiago Oaks Regional Park ___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Southridge Winter Training Fontana Southridge Family Racing MTB: XC, Enduro, DH SCa Southridge Park

Joshua Tree

____________________________________________________

Southridge Winter Training Southridge Racing Family MTB: XC, Enduro, DH Southridge Park

Aliso Viejo

Laguna Niguel

SCa

April 7 Saturday

2018

Ironman 70.3 Oceanside Challenged Athletes Foundation TRIATHLON: 70.3 miles Oceanside Pier

Oceanside

SCa Tri

___________________________________________________________________

Tri

SCa NCa

Nv

MAGAZINE SUPPORTERS support our supporters COMPETITION events with posted participants and results ROAD events with 90% or more paved route MOUNTAIN events with 90% or more dirt trail CYCLOCROSS closed course road/mtb hybrid GRAVEL ďŹ re roads, grinders and adventure rides TRIATHLON running, swimming, and biking BICYCLISM arts, entertainment and BIKES! SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NEVADA

OREGON WASHINGTON ARIZONA

Or Wa

Az

7 Saturday

Chico Wildflower Century San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club ROAD: 100 miles

7-8 Multi

California Classic Weekend California Classic ROAD: 35,50,100 miles

Creston

NCa

Creston ___________________________________________________________________

Clovis

NCa

Clovis Recreational Center ____________________________________________________

Fontana City National Fontana Team Big Bear MTB: XC, Enduro, DH SCa Southridge Park

8 Sunday

Campagnolo SD Gran Fondo Gran Fondo Cycling Tours ROAD: 20-105 miles

___________________________________________________________________

San Diego

SCa

Downtown San Diego ____________________________________________________

So Cal Enduro Series Race #3 Fontana Team Big Bear MTB: XC, Enduro, DH SCa Southridge Park

14 Sunday

Tour de Cure San Diego American Diabetes Association ROAD: 5 -100 miles

___________________________________________________________________

San Diego

SCa

Del Mar Fairgrounds ____________________________________________________

Cinderella Classic & Challenge Pleasanton Valley Spokesmen ROAD: 65 miles NCa Alameda County Fairgrounds

____________________________________________________

Mulholland Challenge Planet Ultra ROAD: 100 miles Hampton Inn & Suites

Los Angeles

Mulholland Double Planet Ultra ROAD: 200 miles Hampton Inn & Suites

Los Angeles

SCa

____________________________________________________

SCa

___________________________________________________________________

BICYCLIST Magazine

Canyon Belgian Waffle Ride Creative Disruption MIXED: 75, 140 miles

San Marcos

Eroica California Eroica ROAD: 40, 70, 87, 127 miles

Paso Robles

15 Sunday

UCC – Fiesta Island Time Trials UC Cyclery/SDBC ROAD: Time Trial

19-22 Multi

Sea Otter Classic Festival MIXED: Road, Cross, MTB

20-22 Multi

Haute Route San Francisco Haute Route TOUR: 194 miles

21 Saturday

Lake Sonoma MTB Grasshopper Adventure Series MTB: 8.1 mile course Occidental Community Center

SCa

Lost Abbey Brewery ____________________________________________________

SCa

Paso Robles Downtown Park ___________________________________________________________________

San Diego

SCa

Fiesta Island Rd. ___________________________________________________________________

Monterey

NCa

Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway ___________________________________________________________________

San Francisco

SCa

Golden Gate Bridge ___________________________________________________________________

NCa

____________________________________________________

Bike Around the Buttes YSCDSG MTB: 17.5,40 miles course Yuba-Sutter Children Center

Sutter

NCa

OC Dirty Trail Fest Dirty Feet Productions MTB: 15k O'Neil Regional Park

5 Saturday

Skaggs and Super Skaggs Grasshopper Adventure Series MIXED: 96 miles Occidental Community Center

Redlands

NCa

Downtown Redlands ___________________________________________________________________

Occidental

NCa

____________________________________________________

SIGNS & SYMBOLS Date

3F Century Colusa Lions Club of Colusa ROAD: 38, 63, 100 miles NCa Colusa OC MTB Fremont XC Race Orange OC MTB Races MTB: 17 mile course SCa Fremont Canyon

5 Sunday

So Cal Enduro Series Race #4 Team Big Bear MTB: XC, Enduro, DH

8 Tuesday

Over the Hump - 1st Half of Series RaceOC MTB: TBD

___________________________________________________________________

Los Olivos

SCa

Los Olivos ___________________________________________________________________

Tri

Silverado

SCa

Irvine Lake ___________________________________________________________________

Event Name Organizer TYPE: length

City, State

FEATURES

Location

____________________________________________________

Day

SCa NCa

Nv

MAGAZINE SUPPORTERS support our supporters COMPETITION events with posted participants and results ROAD events with 90% or more paved route MOUNTAIN events with 90% or more dirt trail CYCLOCROSS closed course road/mtb hybrid GRAVEL fire roads, grinders and adventure rides TRIATHLON running, swimming, and biking BICYCLISM arts, entertainment and BIKES! SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NEVADA

Or Wa

Az

OREGON WASHINGTON ARIZONA

Trabuco Canyon

SCa

____________________________________________________

Sierra Century SAC Wheelmen ROAD: 41,65,102,122 miles

Plymouth

NCa

Amador County Fairgrounds ____________________________________________________

Alpine Challenge Kiwanis Club of Alpine ROAD: TBA

Alpine

SCa

Summers Past Farms ____________________________________________________

OC Dirty Trail Fest Dirty Feet Productions MTB: 15k O'Neil Regional Park

Trabuco Canyon

22 Sunday

Primavera Century Fremont Freewheelers BC ROAD: 25,63,80,100 miles

27-28 Multi

Campo Velo Clif Bar ROAD: various routes

28 Saturday

Finish the Ride, Run, Walk, Roll Finish the Ride ROAD: 6,20,30,50 miles

SCa

___________________________________________________________________

Fremont

NCa

Mission San Jose High School ___________________________________________________________________

Calistoga

SCa

Calistoga ___________________________________________________________________

Redlands Bicycle Classic Redlands Bicycle Classic ROAD: Invitational

____________________________________________________

2-6 Multi

2018

GUIDE TO THE CALENDAR

We do our best to comb the wild west of cycling event websites to get the information you need to make the most of your time in the saddle. We provide this comprehensive listing, without endorsement, but we ask that you support the events that support the magazine.

Los Angeles

SCa

Griffith Park ____________________________________________________

Breathless Agony OC Wheelmen ROAD: TBA

Redlands

SCa

Sylvan Park ____________________________________________________

Ride for Rwanda 50 Mile Ride MTB: 10, 25, 50 miles

Applied Medical

Rancho Santa Margarita

SCa

www.bicyclist.events

Occidental

May

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT & view full calendar

14-15 Multi

BICYCLIST.xyz

21

last page

The Local Bike Swap Perspective of a sixteen year old bike 'addict'

By Max Van Rees

The author, Max Van Rees, (left) and Bobby Phillips AKA the "Baltimore Bullet".

C

onfucius is often quoted as saying, "It doesn't matter how slowly you go, as long as you go to the Baltimore Bike Swap." I made this up, but still, you can't argue with Confucius. So, my grandfather, father, and I— three generations of cycling addicts—cruised up to the mythical East Coast swap, slowly. My grandfather was driving.

The moment I stepped into the 10,000 square feet of Carroll County Agriculture Center warehouse I was stunned to see so many fellow zealots, each drooling over every used bike part displayed, worshipping their carbonfiber gods. Remember those hypnotized, drooling fools in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom? Like that, but in lycra.

It was good to be among the brethren. Actually, the only other time I had conversed with strangers about bikes prior to the swap was when they were yelling profanities at me on the side of the road, but in that room tights and cycling caps were somehow cool. We had a day ahead of us.

We lost my grandfather after about five minutes, most likely stroking some vintage Bianchi, or maybe getting a hot dog. Either way. he was gone. Most of the wares for sale in the massive room was rusty, old crap, but for some reason, still worth a look. With about twenty dollars in my pocket the search began.

After debating with my dad whether I should pop on the Team Velveeta jersey, I ultimately decided it classless. I would instead go with the PopeyesValvoline kit. It was about two sizes too large and the pad in the bibs resembled a wad of toilet paper, but it was ten bucks that I probably would've spent on a cliche Molteni cap like every other dope there. After hours spent combing the isles of derailleurs, reflectors, helmets, and bent wheels, our time was quickly coming to an end.

With about 30 minutes left to go we flew around the last bend and found ourselves looking straight down the last row of cleats and used bottles. And something - someone - caught my eye. The man behind the far-end table was Bobby Phillips, or better known by his racing name the “Baltimore Bullet.” Over 22

Phillips racing career he earned the title of the winningest cyclist in United States Cycling Federation history. I told him that I was a junior racer just starting out and he told me one piece of advice that enlightened me and will change the way I ride forever. The Bullet leaned in real close and got all quiet.

The legend motioned, “Closer. No….closer.”

“Yes, sir,” I responded solemnly.

“The Vaustralia race-day polo is $4.99.”

After a bow and exchange of my fiver we were off.

What a day. I not only came out with my first kit, but landed a stained polo that the great Baltimore Bullet wore (or at least bought on Ebay). I’m already waiting for next year. I have never looked through so many tights in one day, but for some reason I can’t wait to do it again.

Why? Maybe only the tenured methhead can understand. As much as we may hate to admit, we are addicted to the bike: to the pain when on it and the satisfaction off it. Maybe it's the pleasure of being part of something that isn’t mainstream. It’s easy to like football, but it takes guts to like a sport like cycling, waiting up until two in the morning to watch the day’s Tour stage, listening to people mispronounce the word Castelli spread across your chest, being cursed at on the shoulder of the road. As weird as it may sound, this is all part of cycling, and this is why I and thousands of others came to that swap. We didn’t have a choice. The thousands of parts, bikes, and kits is too hard to resist.

Geez. And I’m only sixteen. Hope to see you there! ▲ BICYCLIST Magazine

BICYCLIST.fm socalBICYCLIST.com

@socalbicyclist 23

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