As a late summer and autumn filled with calls upon my time had done its utmost to keep my bike on the hook, I knew the time had come start the ‘winter’ regime. Having vended my last season’s inclement weather velo, my dear ladyfriend was kind enough to volunteer her old Bianchi for the purpose. Interestingly in a past life, I sold her this very bike some 25 years ago. Its one of the early Japanese made versions. Very nice frame actually…all Ishiwata 022, excellent geometry and long dropouts with fender eyes. Perfect for fenders and a fixed wheel set up.
Looking at the photo some of you may think that this bike appears a bit large for me and well….you’re sort of right. Its actually too tall be maybe 2 cm and a bit short by another two. While Brenda is about 2 inches shorter than I, her legs are about an inch longer. Consequently I had to lower the saddle and put a 13 cm stem on…and its still too short but hey, the price was right. This sort of thing is what underlines my point of the custom fit . Granted not everybody requires it but look at this case. Brenda’s femur is WAY longer than mine requiring a lot more saddle setback. If she rode a bike made for me, the saddle rails wouldn’t have enough range to compensate so she would need a bike with a slacker seat angle. Again if she rode my bike she would require a very short stem and it would not only look totally stupid but it would more importantly, put her weight too far back on the back causing an unstable fore and aft weight bias. The front wheel would be too far in front of her and this can lead to that downhill shimmy many of us have experienced as well as the increased risk of the front wheel washing out when cornering quickly. But WAIT!!….isn’t there a very well known racing bike company that says everyone can ride the same frame geometry and that girls are no different than guys in general proportions? “Bollocks!” sez I. Anyway I digress (typically).
I’ve long been a proponent of a couple of months a year on a small geared fixed wheel…and no, a single speed freewheel does not have the same effect. Its the action of the constant rotation of the pedals that does it….smooths out one’s style immensely. A great example of a fabulous ‘pedaller’ is recent US Pro Crit Champion, Kirk O’Bee. His pedalling style is beautifully fluid and efficient. He spent most of the off season last year riding a 63″ fixed unit around the hills of North Vancouver.
Having cobbled this bike together late last week and committed to using it this weekend, the first day out was a real Belgie one. The temperature was about 4 degrees (38 Fahrenheit), wind was gusting SW across the flat farmland at about 35-50kph and it was raining. Thinking I was manlier than I really am, I had put on a 67″ gear (what does Kirk know huh…actually I needed an 18 tooth which I didn’t have) and back into the headwind it was surprising how that apparently small gear stalled….didn’t really make up for the superhero job on the downwind leg.
As many of you will know there is something oddly great about riding in such conditions. Perhaps its those mental images of those glory days of the Flemish hardmen like RDV pounding their way across the open cobbled roads looking for another victory at Roubaix. It was so good that I did the same thing again yesterday. Had to put on a second pair of tights though.
While I saw a few well dressed others on their bikes, there was one muppet in those 3/4 length lycra tights, bare calves and a light top. What’s with these people? Do they have something against their knees? Last time I checked big knee problems keep you off the bike. There I am in two pairs of tights, five layers on top, two being wool, and he’s dressed for a fresh spring day. Wuddayuhgonnado?
Enough of all that I suppose. Life beckons. But, before we close this post, did you notice the toeclips/straps on the bike? Method to that one. It allows me to use my old Duegi leather shoes with the wooden soles. Not only are they stiffer than my newer carbon soled DMT’s, but the natural materials used in their manufacture retain the body heat infinitely better than the synthetics used in the new ones….and I do like warm feet.