I’ve moved the blog to a new host. You can find all new posts at the new site, blog.slimdude.ca. I’ve moved all the archived content over as well so all the history is there for reference.

Picked up a pair of classic Blundstones last weekend and tested them out on the commute to work. These boots are incredibly comfortable and are great riding shoes. Unlike my soggy adidas running shoes, the shoe is stiff enough to provide a stable platform for pushing down on the pedals. Your feet will stay warm and dry inside.

I didn’t want to get a pair of ugly mountain biking shoes, because where else would I wear them in the city? The Blunnies look great and you can definitely get away with wearing them with a jacket for business meetings downtown. Just make sure to wipe off any mud splashes after parking your bike.

(photo to come)

Everyone who read the last post will know I wanted to write something about Canberra. To update everyone, I moved to the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) in September for work. I have cycled in the ACT on a number of previous occasions. It is a nice area although it has its issues.

I was put up for 3 weeks in the Pavillion on Northbourne – a motel with Serviced Apartments. It was reasonable but lacked cooking facilities. I took the Green Trek there and began riding to work in my second week. There are more people cycling to work in the ACT than there are in Sydney.  I feel that this is due to their superior facilities. To get to Customs House, I rode down the bike lane on Northbourne Avenue and then went left into London Circuit and then rode down Constitution Avenue. I then took a left into Allara Street and then went up a lane and then rode into the basement car park (there are more bicycles parked there than cars.

While I was in the Pavillion I had to look for permanent accommodation. I found a unit in Mawson and I keep the bikes inside.  I now use the bike path from Mawson to Adelaide avenue where there is on road cycling facilities which I take to State circuit and then ride over the bridge over Lake Burley Griffin. I then ride around a block so I can get to London Circuit and then do as I did before

I have yet to get a locker – there is a waiting list and I am on it. I keep a suit bag with my office clothes in the office. I leave it over night in the locker room and take it with me after I get dressed.

The process is a bit different for the ride home. I ride up Northbourne and then take State Circuit. I then go up Adelaide Avenue and follow it all the way to Woden. I then use all of the on road facilities until I get to Hindmarsh Drive where I go onto the  bike path.  I then take the bike path back to Mawson and from there get back to my unit.

So far the trouble from idiotic motorists has just been the issue of space invaders on the on road facilities and some abuse from idiots. One of which sounded his horn while I was riding up Northbourne Avenue on the way to the Sutton Roadhouse on the Federal Highway (they make good milkshakes!).

I recently joined Pedal Power the local equivalent of Bicycle NSW. I signed up on their website and went to their office and bought the red book which was loaded with some interesting rides. They run a large number of social rides. I went on one last week which left from Acton ferry terminal.

It was quite a mixed group mostly older riders. There was some people my age there. I broke the ice with a few people. I met a couple on a tandem – I enjoyed talking with them. The ride went from Acton around Lake Burley Griffin into Reid, behind the war memorial and on to a cafe in Dickson. It was from there that everyone went their separate ways. It wasn’t quite the training ride that I was expecting but it wasn’t bad.

I went on to a bicycle shop in Lyneham, I was browsing there and saw some single speed bikes. Apparently this shop in Lyneham specialises in single speed and fixed gear bikes. It is quite a good shop. I went there yesterday and got a new seat post for the Shogun Katana. It was fitted and is a vast improvement on the original seatpost. 

I got to test ride one of the SE Drafts they had on the rack. It has been a bike I was looking at ordering off the internet because they are cheap. As with everything cheap there is a reason. In fact I found out why there have been some critical comments on the internet about this bike. It weighed about the same as the Katana (which by the way had 2 chain rings + 7 cogs at the back and 2 bidons with water in them and a wedge pack with spare tube and tools and a rear light!!!!). This was due to the fact that the SE Draft is made of High Tensile Steel and has a number of heavy low end parts. It has a BMX style one piece crank set. This would make it difficult to fit SPD pedals (I would have to get a set of adaptors if I were to make it work). I also eyed up a Mongoose Maurice HiTen- it is a smilar story to the  SE Draft. Unlike it’s more expensive cromoly brother it is 11.25 kgs and and it is made up of low grade parts.  It would make a good project but I will wait a bit more before deciding if I buy a single speed.

I have enjoyed riding in Canberra and will be looking at joining a club soon. I know there are 3 potential clubs that would be good fun to join. There is the Canberra Cycling Club – which is affiliated to Cycling Australia. The Tuggeranong Vikings Cycling Club which is also affiliated to Cycling Australia and the ACT Vets which is affiliated to the veterans cycling organisation. I have heard there are some informal training rides but I will wait and see what happens as regards joining a club.

In any case there is plenty of variety in the cycling events in the ACT. I was able to catch up with Lindsay Munks and some of the people from Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club at Mount Stromlo for the Scott 24 hour race. They had a ball and Lindsay won some good gear. It was good catching up with them. I was interested in the 24 hour race and gave Mountain biking some thought. The race is an event for the Canberra Off Road Cyclists. They are a mountain bike Club with good local connections so it would be useful to keep them in mind should I go in for mountain biking.

I have found the ACT interesting and will post another post soon on the Tour of Canberra’s hills as soon as I find the time.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2239175/great_holiday_gifts_ideas_for_cyclists.html?cat=5

How do you categorize yourself? It is easy to categorize oneself into types depending on the comfort, knowledge and physical attributes. Actually, it is done unconsciously. Try to go over it. Are you petite, medium or has a big body structure? Are you athletic or more of a reserve type? When you group yourself in these ways, you normally stay away from things that are not related to your class. Athletics is one great example. Regardless if you want to belong as casual bicyclist, a cycling guru or a competitive cyclist, it will all rely on how you see yourself. Several cyclists benefit from the proper gears, right training and a healthy dose of eagerness.

No matter what category you belong, you must consider getting your cycling gears from Team Cyclist, which is the leading manufacturer of cycling apparels and other related items. Generally, in this sport you will need the basic gears such as long sleeve cycling jerseys that allow excess moisture to evaporate, cycling shorts and bib shorts that will not give you irritations while cycling and trendy cycling jackets. Items made from Team Cyclist are definitely of good quality and thus they are highly recommended by cycling enthusiasts.

Perhaps you are just new to such physical activity or have thought to ride your bike more often for exercise. Team Cyclist cycling gears and apparels can provide you with enough confidence and motivation due to is reliable reputation. Their clothing line can cater to general cycling, road biking and mountain bike experts. The cycling clothes let all individuals exercise and compete without clothing becoming a problem or restriction. The stylish designs of their items make the wearers comfortable, especially while cycling, which can normally cause the slowing of speed. This is the common problem of cyclist who chooses to put on low quality cycling gears.

Team Cyclist items are made for men and women in several styles and sizes which are readily made available for them. Regardless if you are petite or extra large, the usage and benefits of getting one for yourself with such clothing will develop your cycling experience. The latest colors and designs available are as well varied to promote uniqueness and comfort no matter what kind of cyclist you are.

Even if you are still a rookie or if you have been cycling for almost half of your life, it is essential that you consider your comfort and safety since it is associated to the gears and attire. Clothes that do not perfectly fit your body may result to discomfort during your exercise. Sometimes it can be snagged on sharp edges which can eventually disturb you or put you in danger. Thus, it is definitely essential that you must know how to choose the right gears for you.

Enjoy your experience in cycling and other physical activities to the highest level by giving time and care to invest in high quality equipment and clothes that will help make the activity fun and exciting for months and years to come.

Adora cafe

On Friday I borrowed a camera for Fridays ride to Bronti for a ride to watch the sun rise. Some would wonder why anyone would bother getting up at 4.00am to watch the sun rise. However watching the sun rise over the sea can be a pleasure. I got up at 4.00am and rode Black Magic down to Bronti.

The traffic at 04.30 was quite good. I was able to ride all the way down Unwins Bridge Road and then rode most of the way up King Street. I was able to turn into Wilson street and rode all the way to Little Everleigh street with out any traffic. I was quite fast and it was a bit surreal riding through King Street Newtown.

When I got to Redfern I was able to ride all the way up Redfern Street and followed the Saturday Slowies route to Centennial Park. The thing that struck me about riding at this time was the number of other cyclists out and about at that time. I was followed from Wilson Street through to Redfern Street by a roadie and I met other commuters at Centennial Park.

When I got to Centennial Park I found myself riding to Bronti along the road that goes up from the TAFE opposite the park. I made it up the hill and then rolled through the streets of Waverly. I rode into Bronti after I got lost looking for Gaerloch street. I found myself near Tamarama. I found the spot where I had last watched the sunrise and got myself set up I took some before photos. Yes they are almost useless with the sky still dark. But when considered with the other photos things became interesting. I waited and waited and watched the sky turn from black to grey and then clearing to a beautiful azure.

The running track behind the place where I had set up became busier and I noticed an increase in the traffic on the streets near where I was waiting. Eventually the sun began to rise and I took the photos of Bronti, Tamarama and Bondi. Eventually things got to the point where I packed up and rode to work. I rode through Tama, to Bronti and then went through Charring Cross and Waverly to Centennial Park.

As I got closer to Centennial Park the idiot level of driving grew. I rode into work, through Newtown, Marrickville and used the Cooks River Cycle path to make right into work. I was amazed at the number of riders out and about early on a cool spring morning in Sydney.

In contrast yesterdays ride was interesting ride. I as a prologue I did the Saturday Slowies ride with Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club as I usually do.While I was waiting for the ride to begin I met Simon Sharwood, who told me Mike had decided to have a go at the hands free record. I asked if this would be the world, Australian or club record but was told it was a record. Eventually more riders turned up and we were joined by many a new face. This included a couple who were Audax riders. They were a lovely couple but the reminded me of a power couple for some reason.

We took off for Centennial with just over twenty riders. We broke the group into two bunches. I rode with the last bunch. We had a few riders who were obviously new and in one case was using new cleated pedals which they were not used to. Mike joined us and we stuck at the back after the guy with the new pedals almost came off.  We had to shepherd the riders at the rear when the bunch broke up. However we got the bunch to Centennial Park.  We all went about doing what we normally do but eventually I caught up with Mike and Weiyun opposite the cafe.

Mike took off on his fixie with his hands either by his side or on his hips. I went off to follow him as a witness if required and he dropped me riding on his fixie. Mike made the record or so I am told and he got some photos done. I don’t know if it is official but I would say that it is pretty much up there.

When we got back to the Marrickville Road Cafe we had the usual coffee and raisin toast and other goodies. We also had our good old chat. I found the power couple charming. I was still confronted with what to do for the rest of the day.

 I did not have anywhere to go afterward so I contemplated my options. I had thought about riding to Penrith. It was one of my favourite rides when I began riding but some uncertainty over the diversions to the prospect reservoir ruled it out.

I decided I would go to Olympic Park and have a look at the Newington Armory. I needed a second bidon cage and went to Cell Bikes in Stanmore to get it. I rode to the shop in Stanmore and found myself eying up a pair of shy shorts which I could use for commuting in Canberra. I picked up a bidon cage and went to pay for them and found that I had left my wallet back at home. With the radio story of a female cyclist being struck by an idiotic P plater ringing in my ears I rode back home to pick it up.

I returned to Cell Bikes and completed the purchase. I got lunch at Subway in Stanmore and then headed off to the Cooks River Cycleway, via some of the streets in Hurlstone Park. I took the photo of the Hurlstone Park war memorial after the smoke had cleared from a car hoon’s doughnuts. I then rode on to the Cooks River and rode up to Olympic Park.

When I got to Olympic Park I met a guy who had been cycle touring. He had is bike panniers loaded and was going to head back to Queensland as soon as he could. I rode to the lookout area and took the photos of the surrounding wetlands and how the urban growth encroaches on them. I then rode on to the Newington Armory which is an old munitions depot near Olympic Park. It is now a museum and art space. I took some photos there.

While I was at the armory it turned out that there was an art exhibition on. I decided I would go and have a look at the exhibition after I had a look around. I have been on Army bases before and took some photos of the armory because some of it is extremely old. Some of the buildings were built in the 19th century. I was on my way to the art exhibition when I came off after my wheels got stuck in the tracks. I landed heavily on my right side and have bruised my right thigh and my right shoulder. I was helped up by a couple walking close by.

I went to the exhibition after I had sorted myself out. It was quite interesting. There was an installation and one of the oddest treatments of a drawing I have ever seen. There was a room hived off with black curtains. On the curtains was pinned a sign saying “This exhibition contains material that may offend. Viewing recommended only for those over the age of 15″. Curious I went into the room and found it only contained a large drawing of the female pubic area. In my opinion there are few people who would be offended and many people over the age of 15 have seen this time and again. There was a video installation of a cover of Bette Middler’s “Industry”, which was set in the armory grounds. It was a good exhibition.

I got myself together and rode to Olympic Park which was being set up for the Bledisloe Cup match that evening. I had an iced coffee and headed off. I got back home and got myself together to catch up with Ruth.

Logo and gear for a cycling company.
Produced June 2009 by Cameron Pretsel.

This week I found I have worn the tyres out on the Shogun Katana. They are old tyres. They came with a wheel set that I got from another bike that I bought off ebay and found did not fit me anymore.  They are Michilin Brand tyres and are quite good. They have stood up to on and off wear for about 2 years. Lindsay from Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club noticed the issue and identified the fault. The casing had going in the rear tyre meaning that we had a bulge that made the tyre unstable.

Lindsay recommended Continental Gator Skins. I have had some experiance with Continental tyres before and found them to be reasonable. I ran a Contential Ultra Sport on the back of the Red Hybrid for a number of years and found it to be reasonable. The only drawback to Continental tyres is cost. The thing with good tyres is that they need to have some form of puncture resistance. This is usually in the form of the casing or the bead which on good tyres is usually kevlar similar to that used in flack jackets.

A couple of months ago I found I wore the rear tyre out on the Green Trek, I bought another Schwable tyre from Cheeky Monkey at about $50. With this in mind, I decided to see what I could save on road bike tyres for the Katana by taking a look on the Internet. I would then compare them to local bicycle shops and work out if I am going to get a good bargain. I dencided to limit the amount I would pay for the set of tyres to $75.oo.

Starting with www.torpedo7.com.au  I had a look at the tyres available. They are selling Continental Ultra Sports for $29.95, the Michelin Erilium2 at $32.95 and the Michelin Speedium 2 at $29.99. Theydo not have the Continental Gator Skin. I ordered some stuff of Torpedo7 before and it took about a week to get to me. They are based in New Zealand but do have a presence here.  Postage is set at $9.00, so this will have to be factored in when ording.

Next on the list was Dean Woods Direct (www.deanwoods.com), which is run out of a bike shop in Wangaratta in Victoria. It is owned and run by Dean Woods a former champion track cyclist. They have the Continental Ultra Sports at $59.00 and the Continental Gatorskin Ultra at $75.00. They also offer a Michelin Lithion tyre and Tube combo for $89.00. I have found Dean Woods to be reasonable with the timing of their deliveries although you will pay more to get their gear quicker. However in the words of Ned Kelly such is life.

My next stop was www.cellbikes.com.au which are a site run from a shop in Stanmore in Sydney. I am likely to visit this shop sometime soon and will upgrade the post when I do. They list the Continental Gator Skin at $65 a pop. They also list the Continental Ultra sport foldable road bike tyres at $45 and the Maxxis Detonator road bike tyre at $34.95. I have dealt with Cellbikes before and found them to be reliable. I would also contrast the prices for tyres etc on their website with those in store. Occasionally they have been known to have extra stuff they do not list on their website in store.

The next stop is a new site Probike Kit. This is a site mostly based in the UK that has an Australian offshoot and Australian Prices. Nothing really exciting here, though they do have the Continental Gator Skin folding tyres at $31.14, the Michelin Speedium at $20.41 and Vittoria Zaffiro pro slick tyres at $23.91. I haven’t had much to do with Probikekit but I do know people who have. They are based in the UK and charge a flat rate of 12 pounds. Depending on the exchange rate used it is likely to put the price of the goods up significantly.

Pedals Plus – a website run by a chain of bikeshops in Bondi Junction, Mona Vale and St Ives has Vittoria Zafferos at $29.00. They state they will deliver the goods to anywhere in Australia for $9.95.

I then went to Woolys Wheels which is run by a bikeshop in Paddington. There was nothing exciting here either. I suspect that the sites run by bike shops actually would prefer customers actually come into the shop as opposed to buying on line.

All of this leads me to the my visits to bikeshops in Sydney. Yesterday Ivisited Innercity Cycles at Glebe and found I can get a Specialised road bike tyre for $35.00. I have replaced the front tyre on the Red Hybrid with one of these. It seems that they are just as good as the Continental tyres. 

I have also visited bikerepairs.com.au which are the repair depot for the King Street Cyclery. I found the Vittoria Zaffiros there on sale for $29.95. I am inclined to try the actual King Street Cyclery to see if they do have any more tyres available as the number of tyres there were limited.

The other bike shop I visited was CheekyMonkey/Cheeky Transport in Newtown. They have Schwable tyres there for $40.00 a pop. They are reliable and having used them on the Green Trek I would normally recommend them but they can be problematic.

My position on ordering gear on line is that it has to be compared with actually purchasing gear from the bike shop. The internet has given consumers in general greater choice however it does have some dangerous pit falls related to quality and price. You can get burned on line in the same way as you can get burned in a normal shop. Thre are some people who have some ethical hang ups with purchasing on line putting the Local Bike Shop in jeopardy. However as with all the other parts of the economy the openess to trading online can save you some money and some hassels if you actually do some research. As I have also pointed out the reach of some of the Local Bike Shops has been extended by the internet.

The San Diego Century Bike Ride, the AVIA Encinitas Triathlon and BikeWear World L.L.C….

What could be better than a weekend of sun, surf and sand in San Diego? A little competition… According to the CEO of BikeWear World L.L.C. Sami Tauber, “This event is one of the biggest in San Diego County, which is monumental in kicking the triathlon season off right. The events are directed by world renowned athletes and coaches Paul Huddle and Roch Frey, two of my all time favorites! There are so many events and parties happening during this festival weekend that it is hard to stay focused on exactly which event you would like to participate in.”

Though the Encinitas Sports Festival has been a recent addition to the triathlon, cycling, running and paddle board calendar, it has caused a big stir in the community. More than 5,000 participants, spectators, friends and families will be in the area for this extravaganza. Encinitas is a sleepy beach town that has become the avid cyclist and triathlete’s dream. The weather, surf, sand and people have made this location a premier destination to travel, race and train.

The Sports Festival is comprised of 10 different competitions: there is the family and friends local 5k/1k run race that is an USATF sanctioned race, which features free refreshments, event t-shirt and goody bag for all participants; the San Diego Century ride, which features either a 37 mile, 66 mile, or 103 mile challenging course offering up to 5 aid stations; the AVIA Encinitas Sprint Triathlon, allowing participants to choose between a super sprint distance, sprint distance and beach duathlon; the Moonlight Beach Paddle Board Race, the 1 mile open water ocean swim, and lastly the party at the expo!

According to the race director, “The Encinitas Sports Festival Expo is a two day expo combining fun, food and 40+ booths full of the latest in sports, fitness and health. Try free samples of what’s new in heath and fitness products, buy some local food from one of our vendors or talk with one of our fitness exhibitors about getting or staying in the health you want. And it’s all FREE!”

“These types of events are the biggest reasons to become active and healthy in the community. It is a real bonding experience with friends, trainers, partners and competitors,” says Tauber.

Outfitting one rider at a time, from our community to yours…around the world and twice on Sundays…BikeWear World coming for you!

Keep Pedaling, Keep Dreaming and Ride Hard…

My New FSA OS 115 Stem (110 mm)

My ailment “stems” from stems. If you’ll recall my original setup was w/ Bontrager Bars and a Syntrace F99 Stem (110 mm). I traded that for an FSA OS 99 when I bought my new Zipp Bars. Well the Zipp Bars had a longer reach and I felt stretched out too far on the bike as the FSA stem (110 mm) was a bit longer than Syntrace’s 110 mm. So I switched to a 3T 100 mm stem and still felt that I was stretched too far. On to a 3T 90 mm.

After riding Tuesday’s Crit, now I felt I was crunched a bit when I was on the hoods and certainly to high up for aero purposes. Soooooo….. back to a 110 mm stem from FSA. Turns out the OS 115 is a bit heavier (140 g.) than the FSA I started with (127 g.). But it’s really stong. Here’s the skinny from Competitive Cyclist:

The OS-115 has been around for a couple of years, but we’re falling in love with it all over again thanks to FSA’s bold move to offer it in white. We’re awed at how much pop a white stem lends a bike — but we’re sure it does more than what you get from white bar tape or a white saddle. It sings to us.

Like the standard black OS-115, the white version has length-specific wall thickness and extensive CNC work not just for weight savings, but also for maximum durability by keeping every surface and every edge within strict tolerances. The body of the stem is made from cold forged AL2014/T6 for optimum grain alignment. And before it’s painted white, the stem receives shot-peening to give it maximum fatigue life. The four bolt faceplate is made from carbon fiber and provides you with tons of handlebar security. The titanium hardware helps keeps the overall package superlight. Compatible with any 31.8mm handlebar. Available in 90-130mm lengths, in an 84° rise. 140g.

Also picked up my newly glued Zipp 404’s. Added a new Dura Ace 7900 11-25 cassette. Seems the 7900 will work fine with the 7800 grupo.

BikeWear World L.L.C. will be filming race highlights live in Athens, Georgia at the biggest east coast cycling event in 2009… According to the Twilight Criterium’s race directors; the main event, “Will feature cyclists representing teams from all over the nation and the world. The men’s criterium is an 80-km race around historic downtown Athens. The course start-finish is on Clayton Street at College Avenue. The 1 kilometer course runs clockwise on Clayton, Lumpkin, Washington and Thomas. The highlight of this event, being the 30th year, will take place during the night time and will include incredible high speed action. The women’s field is stacked and kicks off the USA CRITS Speed Week and National Series at the Athens Twilight. With $120,000 in prize money on the line for the USA Crits Series, the Athens Twilight Criterium is dubbed the most insane criterium in the world.” According to the CEO, Sami Tauber of BikeWear World L.L.C., “this is another monumental achievement for uRide.tv to be apart of and for the industry.” According to the Twilight Criterium event directors, “This year’s Twilight BMX Jam competition will feature flatland and street (ramp) classes for both amateurs and pros. In addition to ramp set-up, there will also be the new Freestyle Connection quarter-pipe/box jump set-up with quarters, box jumps, spines, wall rides, and lots more! Last year, America’s #1 pro Terry Adams showed up! This event is promoted by The Freestyle Connection, which specializes in performing BMX Stunt Shows for all ages of kids. Along with performing amazing stunts as seen in the X-Games, The Freestyle Connection also promotes a drug-free lifestyle. Based right out of Athens, Georgia, you will not want to miss this impressive display of stunts and tricks on Saturday, April 25, 2009.” The Twilight Criterium even has a handcycle race series that is quoted to be a “4 corner, rectangular (1k) criterium course. Fast, with a climb on the back stretch and an off-camber turn.” “A handcycle race series…how cool is that!” says Tauber. “We invite and encourage you to watch clips from the Twilight Criteriums’s web community, but make sure to check out uRide.tv’s video of the coolest racing highlights the cycling field has to offer,” says Tauber. Outfitting one rider at a time, from our community to yours…around the world and twice on Sundays…BikeWear World coming for you! Keep Pedaling, Keep Dreaming and Ride Hard…

100mm 3T Stem

Took two bike to ATC this afternoon.  Replaced FSA stem (110mm) that was too long (but super light) w/ 100mm 3T (see above) on my R3-SL.  Heavier but fits better.  Also had new Dura Ace chainrings installed (not cheap).  Had old Richey Bars from R3 put on my Soloist and new white tape as well.  R3 Weighed in at 14.87.  Soloist at 17.14.  Left my old/new Zipp 404’s there to have new tires glued on.  As usual guys were prompt and did great work.  Shop was full and Missy was in high gear.  Don had on his “I’m not a People Person” or something like that T-Shirt , that Missy had just given him.  Saw ATC’s new kit design Adam is working on.  Using the Cervelo Test Team black and red (sweet), but w/ that goofy armadillo in front of shape of TX.  I liked the colors but not the graphics.  Got some great Tri swim fight stories from Corey and George.  Picked off a Schlotzsky drive-by on the way home.

Twin Six is another alternative for those of you who don’t like to go out for a ride looking like a NASCAR participant.

These guys are out of Minneapolis, and they have a firm grasp on their target audience.

Here’s a little taste of how they describe their Category 6 jersey:

For people who don’t want to race, but still want to be racers, there is Category 6 Racing Squad – an ever growing band of average Joes who ride fancy bikes, rock the mid pack lifestyle, and have egos that match their skill level.

Nice casual tone to go along with a brilliantly designed web site that’s not overly slick.

Now, jump over to their Twitter feed and you’ll pick up the same sort of casual tone, and some elements that make a closer connection to the company. Then, run on over to their Facebook page–same attitude, and just by looking at the responses you can tell their fans are loyal customers and good friends.

This is one of the great advantages of being a small business in the time of Twitter and Facebook. You can easily make a more personal connection with your customers/fans. The key is consistency. Being true to your brand and speaking with the same voice, even in areas that aren’t traditionally associated with branding. And, if your business and your brand are born out of something you feel extremely passionate about it’s even easier because your brand is, in large part, you.

Zipp 404 Tubulars

Well I just went on a bike binge.  Seems kinda dumb since all this new gear is being driven by the same old engine.  I know alot of the young racers are like “what a waste, all that dank gear for that old man”.  Yeah, your right.  But hey. it’s the reward for working 20 years. 

 After my slip and slide a couple of 3 weeks ago my bike went in for somke major repairs.  New Dura Ace rear derailer, chain, cassette, small chain ring, new Zipp bars and bar tape & a new Cannondale Synapse Carbon 6 w/ HED Bastogne’s (for my daughter)  Ching $ Ching $ Ching $. One month’s rent at ATC.  Then today cut a deal on Craigs List for a pair of Zipp 404’s.

 Now I had no business buying the 404’s after last weeks spending frenzy.  But, you know, Got’em for a bargain (relatively speaking).  Will all this junk make me faster ?  I doubt it.  If it does, it’s only because you can’t ride on that stuff slow, you’ll look like an idiot.  So, I suppose in actuality it does make you faster….and it’s not just the dimples – stupid ?.