Part II in a III part blog.

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Equipment

At the very least, I need to take a my laptop computer, charger cord, cell phone and  the latest monthly special catalog.  The best way I have found to move these items around with me on bike has been a backpack with a padded computer sleeve (I guess I’m not hipster enough to have a Chrome bag).  It allows me to carry all the other essentials (glasses, car keys, Tic-tacs, pen, wallet, dry storage for cash/boat tickets and Innovations Alloy Mini Second Wind).  Spare tube, Soma tire lever and Topeak Mini 9 tool go in an Avenir Pod bag on the bike.

Clothing can be an issue.  I don’t like looking too sweaty/messy even though my accounts know I’m on a bike and would not really care.  Cotton is out.  Bike jersey choice can be tricky.  Do I offend one shop by wearing my jersey for the bike brand that they don’t carry?  Are the sponsors/brands  out of date and end up making  me look like some retrogrouch?   I can’t wear a jersey with a competing shop logo on it.  I did wear my South Park jersey (Thanks Warren) one time that has a picture of Cartman and “Oh, man, You guys suck”.  I don’t think some of the customers  or people on the boat really liked it.

I guess a sales rep. on a bike can only wear black baggy shorts.  Enough said. 

Bike Porn (apologies to G4)

For the past few years, my commuter bike for the island was a 2004 Raleigh Team Cross that I built up.  It is fast and comfortable and I especially liked that it had enough clearance for fenders and  Michelin Jet tires when the road and bike path got sandy and wet.  For years before that, I used a Univega Alpina Pro that I had put some slick tires on.  It was just not geared high enough to put that many miles a day on.  

 

Last winter I bought a 07 Raleigh Cadent Carbon.  It is a great looking bike with the right geometry for me.  I did a few upgrades  Ultegra SL compact crank (going from triple to double forced me also to change FD), FSA OS115 stem and K Force Light carbon seatpost, FSA RD-400 wheelset, Michelin Pro2 Race tires and latex tubes, Vetta TT Trishock carbon saddle and Shimano R650 long reach brake calipers.  Pedals were not quite as easy.  I needed a clipless system that I could really walk around in inside a shop (or for that matter, a boat).  That eliminated SPD-SL and SPD-R.  A SPD pedal would work, but look a bit out of place on the road bike.  Most SPD compatible shoes would be a bit heavy.  I ended up with Shimano PD-6500 SPD pedals.  They use a SH-71 cleat that has “pontoons” that allow me to walk, not clomp or slide around.

I ended up doing my fit with Roy at Grace Bicycles.  He uses the Retül motion capture system.  It was a great experience.   He lowered my saddle position and put me on a longer stem.  The changes made a huge difference.   I was a bit skeptical about whether a couple of small changes would could be that dramatic, but I am convinced.  If you are serious about your ride, I highly recommend a fitting.  I suspect it is as much art as science on a production bike, so find a shop you trust and a personality you can feel comfortable doing whatever they suggest, despite what your experience tells you .

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Final post…the actual day…