[sethpo]

I have four friends coming in from Phoenix for this big event. We’re hosting two but could use some help finding the other two a place to stay. Jan 20-22.

[sethpo]

I think I’m going to pass on BAFS this year. It’s gotten a bit…overwhelming.

I’ll still ride my normal winter rides and thank Freezing Saddles for pushing me through that first winter.

Have fun!

[sethpo]

@hozn 147060 wrote:

I stopped checking chain wear since it didn’t matter — just run until it skips — BUT for my next road bike config, I am probably going to start measuring and changing chains in short intervals since I am looking at more expensive ($160-180) cassettes.

I get 4000-5000 miles from a chain and cassette now (replacing the first time it skips), so the OP’s experience sounds pretty good/normal. (When I measured and changed chains I got maybe 1000 more miles from a cassette but it cost me 3 additional chains which made no economic sense.)

Yeah but that new chain feel!!! (smell???) I dunno. I like replacing my chains when that little tool tells me to. It makes me feel engaged with my bike’s core being.

[sethpo]

This is a pretty good deal. Volagi Liscio road bike. 57cm.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VOLAGI-LISCIO-2-HiMod-Carbon-fiber-Disc-Brake-Road-Endurance-Adventure-Bike-57cm-/381791815827?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368#viTabs_0

Looks like 105 group w/ unknown mechanical disc brakes. Claims to be under 500miles.

[sethpo]

I’m probably the only D-backs fan on this group but alas I already have plans to attend. I’ll be the guy in the purple Randy Johnson jersey….unless I decide to wear my vintage BK Kim (props to you baseball fans who remember that guy!)

This is my desk as of 3 minutes ago.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12493[/ATTACH]

(The Jets helmet isn’t mine)

[sethpo]

@huskerdont 145601 wrote:

The towpath has about the worst mud ever. Too much sand in it. Really is nasty stuff for the drive train, so I always go other routes when it’s wet.

To add to the towpath mud report, while the mud is nasty as described I rode in heavy rain last year and never found traction to be an issue. I was riding on 37mm gravel tires (file tread) with a heavily loaded bike. The mud doesn’t tend to be deep or thick and the puddles might look menacing but mostly are firm beneath the surface and never that deep. You are also not trying to corner on the towpath unless the endless lonely flat miles have driven you mad (a real concern). The roots you find popping out of the path in the hinterlands tend to be more bothersome and imo definitely lend themselves to wider tires.

On a related note, I’m planning a C&O camping trip later this month. Thinking about Sept 22-25 and going from DC area to Connellsville and then taking the train back. Slowish pace. 250 miles / 3 days. I’ll be riding my gravel bike and pulling a trailer for gear. I’m only going if the weather is nice though. I have no desire to suffer through excessive heat and/or rain. If weather is bad I’ll push to October.

[sethpo]

@Crickey7 145334 wrote:

A couple of observations about getting pulled over by MPD on your bike (It’s happened to me more than once). First of all, you will know in the first 5 seconds if they are going to write you a ticket, or not. If they do, no talking you are going to do will change that. If they do not, the reason they pulled you over is to give you a hard time, then let you on your way.

Let them. Any talking you do will only delay going on with your life, and might actually convince them to write you a ticket. It costs you nothing to get chewed out. And, really, even though their assessment of the danger they think they are saving you from is way off, I take them at face value when they tell me they are doing it for my own safety.

Finally, be aware that they may tail you for a surprisingly long time after they let you go. Do not break any traffic laws for the entire remainder of your ride.

I will admit to spending a considerable amount of daydream time thinking about how to avoid getting caught should I ever decide to ride away from a police attempt to “pull me over”. Especially in Georgetown.

The situation has yet to present itself so I can’t say how that would play out.

Who am I kidding. I would obviously stop and hang my head in shame like the good citizen I am….but it sure is fun to think of all the ways to evade pursuit while on a bike!

[sethpo]

@Crickey7 145241 wrote:

Even though I don’t (usually) run red lights, I actually might be regularly triggering one of those cameras. They mention a red light camera Eastbound at 27th and K. I think that’s right where Water Street comes up and joins with the Whitehurst Freeway to become K Street. Going east from Water Street, there is a long cycle where Eastbound traffic off the Whitehurst proceeds and left turns off K Street Westbound are not allowed. I’ll often scooch over from Water to the median strip on K, across the red, since I know there is no chance anyone can cross my path and I can simply wait out of the path of legal traffic.

That specific light on K is one of two I regularly run on my commute. Both cases are irregular three-way intersections that are far safer for me to run the light (at the right time) than go with the flow of traffic. Needless to say, no drivers are put in harms way by my actions.

[sethpo]

I’ve done it twice including last year in the rain and the year prior in the heat. I didn’t notice or hear of any problems with the markings and never really had issues with navigation. I believe I used a cue sheet. A couple of thoughts…

The ride starts with a very long climb which is no fun if you like to warm up a bit. Definitely think about getting in some pre-start riding around the start area/around town before if that’s a thing for you. I think it’s about 5-7 miles but not very steep. Mostly about 5-7%.

The weather is key. Two years ago it was very hot and I didn’t drink enough water. The first rest stop is about 25 miles in and there’s a ton of climbing before that. I was through my two bottles before that and should have drank a couple of extra before hitting the road again. I ended up cramping bad between miles 40 and about 60 which was kinda of brutal. Really think hard about your hydration and force yourself to drink and drink and drink if it’s hot at all.

Oh yeah, I did have a problem the first year with a wrong turn. There’s a bail out route around mile 60 or 65 that takes you down the hill back to the start. I was following some people that took that and ended up riding about 3 miles down before realizing and then had to turn around and ride back up to re-join the course.

There’s a rest stop before Gettysburg around mile 70 or 75. If you make it there you are good to go. The final 25 miles or so is pretty much just mild rollers all the way in.

Good luck and have fun! It’s a great ride. Beautiful roads. There’s tons of people so you never feel alone but without a mass start it also doesn’t feel crowded except maybe that first rest stop.

[sethpo]

@Mario20136 143682 wrote:

Hi –

What was your gearing like and the ratio when you climbed the 31% ascent.

-M

I was riding a road bike w/ standard compact 50/34 up front and 11-28 in the rear.

[sethpo]

There’s a road out of Fredrick that I rode once that hit 31%. It may not be as long as you are looking for but it sure felt like it at the time

Jackson Mt Rd.

https://www.strava.com/activities/193966837/segments/4560989305

[sethpo]

Pretty happy I’ll be out of town so I don’t have to make a decision on this.

[sethpo]

I’m in need of some new bar tape but can’t find the Fizik “microtouch” you guys are talking about. Is it sold under a different product name?

[sethpo]

@Steve O 141918 wrote:

First question for Seth – Why? Such a nice bike. Almost new. Why are you selling?

Now for everyone; help me think this through.

Like Cyndi said, I already had the Ti version of the Viaje when I came across this lonely bike on eBay where it was unsold stock from a small shop in Montana. I rescued it from that fate at a pretty decent price. I honestly wasn’t sure what I’d do with it when I bought it but it needed saving so there you have it.

I’ve come to find out that the overlap of functions with the Ti bike is just too great to justify riding this one. The only thing I like it more for is CX or single track. It’s super light and responsive but I don’t really do that much serious off-road and what I do my Ti can handle just fine. It’s also great for on road and gravel too just not as great as the titanium version.

It’s been about six months of deliberation to reach this point. I really love the steel Viaje. So much fun. But like Cyndi also mentioned, I came across another great deal on carbon road Volagi Liscio that arrives tomorrow It has less overlap with the Ti.

There’s a not small chance I’ll end up keeping the steel Viaje anyway if I can’t find it a good home. I feel bad for not riding it but I’ll missing having it.

Are bikes like pets? My column.

Oh, and Steve, what if you sold your current steel bike and used that money on an inexpensive suspension MTB?

[sethpo]

@Steve O 141845 wrote:

ooo..ooo…ooo. I’d be tempted to give this a test ride (maybe a tad big for me), but then I would probably buy it. I have a friend who says, “Just lie down until the feeling passes.”

Come on over, Steve O. Free beers with every test ride! What could go wrong?

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