thewashingmachinepost




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wind in the willows

gales

the current advertising for the snappily named minoura vfs-g turbo trainer heads up with fight that headwind inside this winter..., but i'm not actually sure how that works. i did own a minoura turbo trainer many years ago, and the fan resistance created more wind than the atlantic swell and just about as much noise. however, after a highly unobservant setup by yours truly and a worn hole in the kitchen lino, mrs washingmachinepost banished said turbo to the bike shed and, well, you can probably guess the rest.

but despite the developments in turbo trainer technology (can't believe i just wrote that) which has devolved away from wind resistance towards magnetism and fluids, i'm not really sure that a turbo trainer can simulate a good old-fashioned headwind. flipping down the hill at knocklearach onto the ballygrant - bridgend road, before swinging onto the bruichladdich road and into a stinger of a headwind cannot be beaten. and unless i leave the back door open in a force nine, while the colnago is ensconced in the clutches of a turbo trainer, i'm not sure that the minoura or other could help me fight a headwind.

a few years back the mighty dave t and i experienced an almost perpetual headwind from november through to march, and it's the only time i have outmoaned the mighty dave. however, when the gales finally dropped to severe, we were both flying: it's character building you know.

still, i'm willing to be persuaded.

posted on thursday 18 october 2007.

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now that's what i call a tool

park ct4

does anyone remember those little cyclo chain rivet tools? they were pretty sturdily made, but if the chain link was a bit too stiff, there was a good chance that the pin would be a completely different shape than it was when you started - or it would have broken anyway. the one thing they had going for them was cheapness. i used to keep one in thewashingmachine bike shed to lend to folks who needed to change their chain, since it hardly seemed worthwhile them buying a tool that would probably never get used again.

however, the one thing that they most certainly didn't have going for them was digital comfort. find yourself with a rusty old chain and there was every possibility that you could end up with scarred or bleeding fingers, trying vainly to push a recalcitrant rivet from its sideplates. actually, it's a bit unfair just to level this accusation at the humble cyclo, since i also have one of park tools' lesser models that can be just as uncomfortable.

sadly, rivet extractors may be on the wane, with every tom, dick and sram resorting to those 'clever' links in which i have no faith whatsoever (based on experience, though others seem to have had a more successful time than i). however, if that is indeed the case, nobody has bothered to let park tool know, since they are about to unleash upon the world (december) the sort of chain tool that would likely be used by nasa if they launched bikes now and again.

compatible with all modern ten-speed chains, the aptly named master chain tool has profiled handles for comfortable holding and twisting, a neat lttle 'link pocket' to stop the chain moving upwards as pressure is applied (worth buying for that feature alone) and a replaceable pin. for those of us who have to 'wrench' from time to time, this this is manna from minnesota.

thewashingmachinepost bike shed may need a couple more pegs on the tool board come 2008 (i tend to think that it will be a few months after december before these reach britainshire). cost is likely to be around the £50 mark. (we're into campagnolo territory here).

parktool.com

posted on wednesday 17 october 2007.

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stranger than fiction

rapha condor car

as we wandered aimlessly around earls court last thursday, trying to look blase and even more like we knew what we were doing, a woman in a blue uniform stepped forward from one of the stands and asked if we'd mind sparing a few minutes to complete a survey being carried out on behalf of the show's organisers. now bear in mind that both of us were quite ostentatiously wearing big white badges with the word 'press' (i won't tell if you don't) clearly defined in the centre midst a plethora of sponsors' logos.

since the said organisers had been kind enough to supply us with free passes in the first place, and even provide the members of the press (including us, surprisingly enough) with breakfast, it seemed the least we could do was assist with their questionnaire. and to do so didn't even require a pen - laptops were set out an several tables complete with touch screens. first question: which category of visitor are you? trade, press, visitor. well, since it said press on the badges, that's the category we clicked. at which point, the computer screen stated 'survey complete - thank you for your assistance'

does anyone know what all that was about? why do the cycle show organisers not want to know the press' view of their exhibition?

or did i dream the whole thing?

posted on tuesday 16 october 2007.

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getting cross with simon burney

cycling.tv cyclo-cross

after thewashingmachinepost review of simon burney's 'cyclocross training+technique, and the growing fascination with this part of the sport (have you noticed how many bicycle companies have added a'cross bike to their catalogues recently?), it seemed a logical idea to ask mr burney some questions about the book and about the sport.

so, just as europe and consequently cycling.tv eneters the 'cross season, find out how one of the sport's leading authorities views things as a coach and author.

read more...

posted on tuesday 16 october 2007. cyclocross photo from cycling.tv

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the name game

betty leeds

sometimes it would be really great to be the guy (or girl) who sits in the small office at the back of every self respecting cycle concern, who is responsible for arriving at the name for the latest frame/bicycle to be unleashed on an unsuspecting public. sure, it was a reasonably certain prediction that the c40 would be followed by the c50, and there will doubtless be a c60, though which mountain trek cycles will use for the successor to their madone is anyone's guess. (including lance).

actually, the chances of there being such a person is rather remote (well, maybe not at trek) but it's an idea worth hanging onto. particularly after bumping into the fixie range of bicycles sitting shinily on the mosquito bike stand at earls court - the pure and simple range, subtitled 'the steel collection 2008'. the 'fixie' bit gives the game away slightly, with two of the models being singlespeed/fixed gear models, not only bearing lugged steel frames, but with my beloved external headsets fitted.

and the names? black jack and peacemaker covers the one geared, while the road race model has the quite superb nomenclature, betty leeds, and the cyclocross (with disc brakes) is known as pure blood. but the luxury of the naming takes one further step when you become aware that all names are emblazoned on the down tubes in a wonderful script. then a sharp intake of breath on finding that information can be garnered from their website cycles-for-heroes.com.

the only thing that lets this german duo (Recep and Holger) down are a few of what i take to be less than literal translations in their handy little brochure. phrases such as 'our nature consists in motion. complete rest is death' - hmmm. prices are very encouraging with framesets as little as £415 to as little as £970. complete bike builds are also available.

if the thought of a very cool name applied with style to highly functional and soundly constructed frames, contact phil at mosquito bikes in islington.

posted on monday 15 october 2007.

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pegoretti's progress

while many of us have been concerned over the health of italian frame genius, dario pegoretti, it seems the maestro has been quietly getting on with business. sitting proudly on the mosquito bikes stand at earls court last week was a freshly painted one of a kind bicycle recently arrived from italy. dario seems hellbent on becoming one of the word's foremost painters who just happens to build classic framesets if the paintjob on this one was anything to go by.

unfortunately, being on the olympic talking team, and earnestly discussing the rather abstract markings under the clearcoat, i neglected to take a picture.

and relevant to the article above, anyone who names a bike big leg emma is alright with us.

posted on monday 15 october 2007.

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under pressure

schwalbe gauge

you find stuff when you visit the cycle show. and it was a lot easier to find stuff this year because the space was a lot larger than at the apparently disliked excel centre where the 2006 show was held. now some of the stuff is frighteningly expensive, some of it is verging on the pointless (no names, no pack drill) and some of it you don't even get to because you spent too much time chatting to people you haven't seen since last year (hello brian, simon, peter, chris, rob, diego, graeme, mick, james) and some folks you meet for the first time.

but one bit of stuff we not only got to see, but were given to take home, was a rather handy device from schwalbe for checking tyre pressures. it's not a new idea, and it's not even a well used idea - when was the last time you checked your tyre pressures? granted, some of the available devices are heading towards the £20 mark, and you'd have to be some kind of a fastidious anorak to spend that just to check whether the rubbery bits had enough air in them.

but even so, those of us with skinny wheels and no resemblance to schwarnold arzenegger are likely to own a track pump to reach the upper atmospheres, and that's likely to have a gauge fitted. however, the schwalbe gauge is digital allowing for a greater degree of accuracy, and in use, it seems that it has no need to release air from the tube that's just been inflated (you can see the redundancy of such, no doubt). the gauge can be set to pounds per inch, atmospheric bars, kilograms per cm or, believe it or not, kilopascals (that sounds so cool, that i think i shall quote tyre pressures in kpa from now on). it works with unfailing accuracy - several repeated attacks on the valve returned the same pressure, accurate to two decimal places. and it will not surprise you to know that readings were more consistent and accurate than the gauge on my not particularly cheap track pump.

the gauge will store whatever reading it takes even when the device is turned off, or it can be cleared ready to check the second tyre. after a minute or so of inactivity, the device buzzes a few times, beeps and then turns itself off. to be honest, how much simpler can it get? this is so much fun (especially in kilopascals) that i've started checking pressures before and after each ride, or any other time i happen to be in thewashingmachinepost bike shed.

for a few pounds north of a tenner, check with your nearest schwalbe dealer.

posted on sunday 14 october 2007.

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for the american market only

rapha continental

it may come as a bit of a shock to some of you (me, actually) but the post has a not inconsiderable readership on the american side of the atlantic. this is why, where possible, i try to place the dollar price at the end of a review. and as a cyclist of responsibility, the articles and meanderings are hopefully as relevant to those who cycle on the right of the road as to those who do the opposite. however, this article is american only, so if you're reading in britainshire or any part of county europe, put the computer down, and step away from the browser.

cycling has a past that is based on a large degree of intrepidness, of derring-do of...well, suffice to say that cycling is not today what it was in yesteryear and those of us in the world of lycra and carbon fibre are honour bound to re-discover the past. or at least, some of us are, especially if resident in portland, oregon. those of us in europe probably accept this as part of our birthright, something imbued and absorbed whenever we visit the local bike shop, or on the ubiquitous sunday morning bike ride. america may be a slightly different story, but a story that can be just as inspiring, and informing.

and having already revealed, re-visited and arguably revived the rich and extensive cycling heritage in europe, rapha are set to do likewise across the pond. beginning with a close network of riders based in portland, rapha continental will document the incredible exploits of some through an online journal, combining the literate writing already seen in the features section of the rapha website and rouleur magazine, with the style and quality of photography for which they have become renowned.

if you view the above as just so much repetitive rhetoric, then witness the following: "ira ryan finished second in an unsanctioned raid race from san francisco to portland. it took riding over 250 miles a day for three days in a row. he did it alone and entirely self supported. he stopped only at night to sleep wrapped in plastic, in the bottom of ditches, on the side of the road. he wore the same bib shorts and sleeveless jersey three very long days straight. he ate fruit from trees and candy bars from gas stations. he collected receipts, his proof of completion, from every county he passed through. ira tenaciously and determinedly crushed and spun his bike north for 81 hours straight, essentially".

rather him than me.

so if you're passionate about cycling, and ensconced in the north americas, shift your browser across to rapha continental and perhaps discover a bit more. rides featured on the site are the seattle to portland, nestucca, alsea falls, beach the reach, cycle oregon and the rather nattily named 'lolo'. while all originates in portland for the time being, rapha are in the process of building a similar team in the north eastern united states. read, be inspired and be happy.

ok, european readers can come back in the room now.

posted on sunday 14 october 2007.

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knee(t)

solo kneewarmers

it cannot have escaped your attention that the weather is not as it was. i'm phrasing this carefully because depending on the summer you've either had, or almost had, depends on whether it's better or not. we in velo club d'ardbeg are still in open discussion as to whether it's shiny, or shinier (or not, as the case may be). however certain protocols have to be observed, at least one of which is a seasonal need to cover the extremities with such as kneewarmers and armwarmers.

and where better to source such apparel than the land of lord of the rings and the merino sheep. using the same clothing technology as in their equipe jersey, solo's warmers are constructed using mapp - merino wool mystically joined to an outer of polyester, giving the skin soft and cosiness while shielding it from the harsh, unforgiving elements with a stretchy windproof and waterproof outer.

the initial point of concern was the apparently thick seam at the back of the knee which threatened/promised to make life uncomfortable on every pedal stroke. not so. once on the bicycle, all was warm and comfortable and the seam was forgotten. the arms felt just like your favourite sweater, only decidedly less baggy and whether they impart heat or retain it, warmth is assured.

it's just possible that these are amongst the finest arm and knee warmers this side of easter island, and as it's seemingly just about as quick to order and receive from the antipodes as it is from south of london, what exactly are you waiting for. cost is an entirely reasonable £26 [$48] for the knees and £22 [$41] for the elbows. contact solocc.com

posted on sunday 14 october 2007.

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making an exhibition of themselves - rouleur photography annual 2007 - first edition

rouleur annual

there are three ways to watch a bicycle race, each one more immediate than its successor, but each one more reflective than its predecessor. standing at the side of the road, or with your feet up on some garden furniture adjacent to a large motorhome, the peloton zips past in a matter of seconds - not for nothing is it known as a race. then there's television, giving more of a sequenced view of a race, start to finish, but aside from any commentary, the cameras are but neutral observers.

third in this triumvirate is photography - the most reflective of the three. however and wherever you appreciate photography, there is generally time to investigate the scene that presents itself, and to appreciate the photographer's insight into the pale beyond the lens. it is very much to rapha's, and subsequently rouleur's credit that they have raised the perceived standard of cycling photography in the past three or so years, through both the much sought after catalogues, and more recently the six issues of rouleur that have graced our mailboxes.

rouleur annual

photography such as this can be appreciated on so many different levels, but one thing all these photographers have in common, as stated in guy andrews' introduction is that they '...show the true beauty of cycle racing'. it was a particularly inspired notion to publish a hardback, 239 page book of photography and then try to sell it to cyclists. this is no doubt aided by an eleven day exhibition of some of the works at the host gallery in london (of which more below), particularly when the first edition costs a bit more than an issue of rouleur (£40).

camille j mcmillan, geoff waugh, ben ingham, tim kolln, gerard brown and olaf unverzart are the lensmen featured, but what came as a pleasant surprise were the accompanying words leading us into each section - contributions from will fotheringham, matt seaton, guy andrews, graeme fife and johnny green. so you do get rather a lot for your money. in fact the edition reviewed was signed by all the photographers and presented in a rapha/rouleur cotton musette - much has been thought about and considered here.

the cycle racing has been placed into distinct sections: 6-day; cyclo-cross; courses au soleil; the peloton; flanders fields; land; contre la montre; british racing and le tour. the photography is both in colour and black and white and is, quite frankly, stupendous. rouleur annualwith no intended disrespect to any of the regular monthlies or their photographic contributors who are, after all, fulfilling a different function, this is several orders of magnitude above and beyond. a virtuosity of sometimes eccentric observation, coupled with unassailable technique and an empathy with the men and their machines. the layout is sparse, unadorned and all the better for it - nothing distracts from the image on display.

and so it is with the host gallery exhibition. situated just round the corner in honduras street, london, the gallery also recently presented the works of stephan vanfleteren, a photographer whose work too has graced the pages of rouleur. with so many photographs on pages, it would be unrealistic to feature them all on the walls of such a compact and bijou display area. and it maybe that the works framed and displayed are not necessarily the ones you yourself would have chosen, but that is a choice i am glad did not fall to me. and it is to their eternal credit that one of the largest images on display features a rider wearing a 'prendas' cap under his helmet.

rouleur rapha musette

the photos are well displayed and accompanied by the opportunity to gain 'hands on' experience of the latest and greatest from the rapha clothing range. it must be considered a brave move to eschew a brightly lit booth at earls court and swap it for a seemingly obscure venue on the other side of town where fanfare and glitz are at a minimum. but it seems to suit the rapha philosophy and it was apparently one heck of a party on the wednesday evening (10th) at which time i was exploring the inner sanctum of glasgow central station.

thank heaven for the annual then.

as of friday 19 october, the entire run of 300 for the first edition has sold out. rouleur are now awaiting the second edition (unsigned and with a yellow cover and blue chainring). copies can be pre-ordered from rapha.cc

posted on saturday 13 october 2007. updtaed 19 october

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it's a hard slog, but someone has to do it - the finale

rapha condor at earls court

seems like only two days ago that jez and i boarded the calmac ferry and headed off to euston station via glasgow central. i've sort of got the hang of the underground, but i wouldn't like to do it too often (sorry, london transport). we made it to earls court cycle show which was considerably larger than the excel of last year - and, to be honest, a lot easier to get to.

we didn't take as many photos as i thought we might, but lets be honest, there are only so many pictures of bicycles that you can look at in one sitting. rest assured we bored lots of people rigid about how much fun it was to get there, and didn't once have to explain why it's called thewashingmachinepost. some folks even knew who we were. so there are interesting bits (well we think they're interesting) to come on this page and in societa colnago, plus a review of the rouleur photo annual and host gallery exhibition. the latter runs until october 21, so if you're in london, or visiting - visit while you can.

'working tirelessly on your behalf' - you do believe us, don't you?

posted on friday 12 october 2007.

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as always, if you have any comments, please feel free to e-mail and thanks for reading.

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