[KayakCyndi]

@DismalScientist 123811 wrote:

And now for some helpful cold weather riding advice from our friends in Gainesville:

“
Cold Weather Riding Advice

by Roger Pierce

On many winter mornings we will get an opportunity to practice our cold weather riding. It is important to know how to dress in order to be reasonably comfortable during the ride. On a typical winter ride we expect temperatures in the low 40’s at ride start, going up into the 50’s before ride end. As spring approaches, starts in the 50’s going up into the 60’s and 70’s will become common.
……..

Winter rides meet at 9 am Saturdays and Sundays. With proper clothing, you can get a good, brisk workout.

Isn’t that cute. Personally, I think if we’re not talking about studded tires, bar mits, and Lake/Northwave/Shimano winter boots versus hiking boots, and how much below zero the windchill will be then we’re not talking about winter cycling!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9579[/ATTACH]
Are you ready?

[KayakCyndi]

@consularrider 123648 wrote:

Get ready! Overnight lows this week down to the single digits! Ok, that’s in Kyiv and in centigrade, but my 26″ studded tires are here for the old Raleigh.

94 degrees and soupy here. I’m ready. Bring on winter (or at least fall) already!

[KayakCyndi]

@ShawnoftheDread 123791 wrote:

You’re all magicians.

Phone returned. Owner had just finished his first bike commute.

Karma boost!

[KayakCyndi]

@ShawnoftheDread 123718 wrote:

I found a white iPhone 5 in a topeak phone case on Washington circle this morning. It’s locked so I can’t get any contact info.

Did you ask Siri who the phone belongs to?

http://www.cnet.com/how-to/use-siri-to-find-a-lost-iphones-owner/

[KayakCyndi]

@KLizotte 123594 wrote:

I may actually be able to make this MMPC. What time is everyone meeting? (please let it not be too early!) Bill’s deli right?

Mike’s deli which is part of Lazy Sundea. I’m only a maybe for Monday.

[KayakCyndi]

@dkel 122496 wrote:

I’m told I have a bike waiting for me at Bikenetic. Maybe I’ll go over there and take a look tomorrow, since…

I just finished the first draft of my dissertation!

I’ll likely have to edit, but for now, the thing is off to my advisor, and I get a break!

I was just there. The bike looks AWESOME!

[KayakCyndi]

@consularrider 121633 wrote:

Well maybe not a world tour but I’ll be taking a few mini-tours and that includes Slovenia and/or the Carpathians so get planning!

[KayakCyndi]

@dbb 121616 wrote:

Huh? Are you getting Mr. KayakCyndi a new bike or trading him in for your new Marrakesh?

Well now that you put it that way …

Alas though no world tour on my horizon so thinking more likely a new bike for Mr. KayakCyndi.

[KayakCyndi]

@mstone 121610 wrote:

I want to try one of these; the price point seems good, I wonder how it actually rides:

http://salsacycles.com/culture/introducing_marrakesh

According to people who know (i.e. those lucky Bikenetic people who got to go the Salsa launch in Ogden a few weeks ago) the Marrakesh is quite a nice bike. It rides really well and is super smooth. Fairly heavy (as expected for a bike decked out like that) but the person who rode it said you really didn’t notice. Think Vaya with even more tire clearance, a built in rack and mountain gearing.

I also have my eye on it as a potential upgrade for Mr. KayakCyndi.

[KayakCyndi]

@GovernorSilver 121384 wrote:

My current bike – Breezer Uptown 8 – is low-maintenance, but difficult to fix compared to other bikes. What I mean is that with its internal gear hub and chain case, I can ride in the rain all day and not have to do much after the ride. But if I ever have to change a tire, then I’ll get into trouble. The rear wheel is especially problematic – after you remove the bolts, you have to disassemble the chain case, and then deal with that internal hub. It’s currently at the LBS because the dyno hub wire on the front wheel was severed, and one of the bolts fell off. I’m guessing it was from when I attended a “how to fix a flat” class, when I unbolted the front wheel, so I could try taking the tube out myself during the class. It’s my bad for not ensuring the bolt was properly secured onto the wheel. One of the reasons the bike is at the LBS as of today is the bolt was a non-standard size so they had to order a replacement.

Thanks for the detailed review and offer to answer questions. Might take you up on the offer for a test ride too if Bikenetic doesn’t have a Viaje of appropriate size. I’m 5′ 8″ with an inseam just under 30″.

Ok all that sounds way more complicated than my Viaje. Simple and nothing fancy means repairs aren’t all that complicated.

Re sizing, sounds like you’ll be a 53, which is what I have. Can’t remember what the shop has so let me know if you’d like to try mine. I’m usually (riding) around.

[KayakCyndi]

@KLizotte 121370 wrote:

As a vertically challenged person I oppose all this Volagi veneration. The smallest bike they offer is a 50 cm. What about those of us who need less than 50 cm!

Causing us to feel envy and self-pity is evil!!!!!! You are all evil. Just sayin’

Not true. The Lisco is available in a 47, just sayin’.

[KayakCyndi]

@KLizotte 121372 wrote:

Our very own KayakCyndi is being used for marketing purposes by Volagi:

[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9263&stc=1[/IMG]

It’s OK. I don’t really mind! I LOVE my bike and LOVE the peeps at Volagi. Someday Robert will send me a carbon Lisco or Ti Viaje right?

[KayakCyndi]

@GovernorSilver 121276 wrote:

Volagi Viaje XL. Don’t think I need a titanium or carbon frame since I’m not a competitive racer, so steel will do. I like their fitting program if you buy a bike from them – you fly over there for a fitting, they put you up for one free night at a hotel, and give you a rebate towards the cost of your flight based on how much you spent on the bike.

I love to travel, so I’m a sucker for this kind of deal, plus I like the looks of their bikes.

Ok, Viaje ….

I LOVE my bike as everyone here knows. The Viaje is performs exactly as it is billed. It is a very comfortable, very stable do most everything bike. I’ve had mine for about 2.5 years now and in that time put over 15,000 miles on the bike. I use if for commuting in all seasons, cyclocross racing, gravel grinding, loaded touring and road riding. The only things I don’t do on it are major mountain biking (I’ve been known to tackle a NOVA Epic or two on it) and road racing (which just scares the livin’ daylights out of me anyway). The only time I get bike lust are when I see SethPo’s Ti Viaje or during silly rides like Kill Bill where a 16 pound bike sounds better than a 21 pound bike.

The Viaje has nice low gears. Compact 50/34 up front and a 11/34 in back. In the 34×34 I spin up most anything (except sadistic combinations of Jay Miller and Tallwood).

The frame with carbon fork and the “longbow flex-stay” design works as promised. The bike is super comfortable and easy to ride all day even on gravel — it doesn’t beat you up at all.

You mention maintenance. A bike is a bike. I don’t think the Viaje requires any less, or any more, maintenance than any other bike. I ride mine in all conditions and pretty much am happiest when the bike is silent and flawless. I recommend acquiring some basic skills and keeping the beer fridge at your local LBS well supplied.

Bikenetic in Falls Church is the local, and generally awesome regardless, dealer. They can hook you up. Always happy to answer more questions or arrange a test ride. Not sure about the Aug happy hour but we’ll see.

[KayakCyndi]

@consularrider 121340 wrote:

You know you absolutely need some Zipps for the Viaje.

Well maybe not for the Viaje but ….

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9261[/ATTACH]

[KayakCyndi]

@vern 121329 wrote:

KayakCyndi said to me this past Friday whilst riding in the convoy, “your rear wheel has a bad wobble. I mean bad, like you’ve got a spoke problem or something”.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9260[/ATTACH]

Oh, you mean this?

Yes, I mean exactly like that. Happy new wheelset day!

I got bubblegum stuck to my front tire this morning and was wondering if that sufficiently warranted a new wheelset ….

[Author]

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