all purpose gear thread

Fair dos re saddle. The point is it's not supposed to make you bounce around but then I've never tried one. Tbh even skinny racing saddles are fine with me so I can probably be fairly unpicky.

Chris, I know, but it'd be a Christmas present so it's all good :)

I am, right now looking for shocking pink components to match my winter trainer

http://dappered.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ShannonWeek7Header.jpg

how about a brown cord suit with a stylish shirt and tie

(and pocket square)

I could rock that, would need a better tie, though, maybe a Pucci one.

Putting a leisure saddle on a track bike is like putting a sofa in a ferrari.

I like sofas and I like Ferraris, so...

rules about "track" bikes is pretty old school ever since lol hipsters, but keep the flag flyin old man

**flies flag high**

http://road.cc/content/news/46989-video-eurobike-faves-pinion-bb-system

rate these saddles: flite vs concor vs turbo

plz

see if there's a dealer near you that has a trial program.

i think race pace has one but i still want to see what iltrmb ppl experiences have been, steven shasta

IMHO this kind of stuff (contact points*) is such a high matter of personal preference, the #lazyweb can't tell you what your own ass on the saddle will.

*saddles, shoes, pedals, etc.

There is a reason why you'll see pros in the peloton wearing/using non-team issued gear (or in some cases, re-branded or brand-camouflaged) and its usually always contact point stuff.

What is your saddle history and what was your experience with each?

not making any choices based on what anyone says here just a curious bro killing time on the internet

i had san marco saddles on the bianchi and cannondale, nice and firm but too narrow. the lemond i have now had a stock bontrager saddle, total throwaway p.o.s. just poorly shaped and soft and cheaply made.

p much decided on flite for the lemond and i need a saddle for my old raleigh. i like the shape of the turbo better than the concor but not into the turbo's suede/nubuck material. i'd rather have a synthetic cover

i love my specialized alias saddle

have yet to ride on a taint cutaway

i've had a brooks, and two selle anatomicas. had a honeymoon period with the anatomicas (which i posted about here, i think), and thought they were the best ever saddles. buuuuuut a couple longer rides disabused me of that notion, and the rails kept bending (hence going through two of them). the wingy things on the back of the alias, coupled with the taint cutaway, do what the anatomica does, and better. i've never had any ~issues~, even on longer (40+mi) rides

fwiw, competitivecyclist.com has a saddle tryout program, but you're limited to high-end stuff

feel like a brooks would get stolen fast in this city but could be wrong

I love Selle italia and Selle San Marco with taint cutaway slits. You can pick up barely used Selle Italia Gel Flows on ebay for around $50 all the time. It is totally subjective though.

for real riding i really like the vanilla selle italia slr (which you cant really get anymore). for crapping around, the mid-upper level wtbs are nice.

man "crapping around" just isn't something i want to see in a discussion of saddles

the best saddles for taking a crap from are flites, but i have a limited sample size there.

The comfiest saddle I have is the POS stock Bontrager throwaway saddle on my old Trek, fwiw.

:O

is it this one?

http://thebikeline.com/images/library/large/bontrager_260398_05_m.jpg

If it's not that one it's pretty damn similar!

So, the temperature is dropping in the UK, and judging by my office quite rapidly today. What are your top tips for keeping riding when it's cold?

good bib tights, gimp shoes, man up

Have a hot bath in the morning before heading out. The bit I hate most about riding in the cold is the first ten minutes - a hot bath raises your core temperature sufficiently to not really notice the cold until you've had a chance to warm up.

In terms of gear:

a decent wicking baselayer
a long sleeve lined (or wool) jersey
a rain/wind jacket
mittens
shoe covers

pair of uggs

Hot water in the bidon before you leave the house, put it in the middle pocket of your jersey, under the wind jacket.

This is awesome, magic light comes with Techno

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dynamodirk/magnic-light-get-new-energy

Yo guys I am SO EXCITED abt my new rack/milk crate setup!!!

So everyone at every bike shop has told me that zip ties are p much the de facto attachment method for milk crate onto a rear rack, which is perfect if you never need to take your basket off ever. But as someone who needs to take his basket off sometimes, this simply wouldn't work. I tried a bungee but it was a pain to attach securely, and I watched it tip over w/ a basket full of groceries when my bike was leaning against a pole. Not cool. So anyway after a bit of research I have found the perfect solution: nylon straps for like hiking and shit! At $10 for two 1m straps they are a bit pricey, but instead of a plastic buckle they have a loop at one end and a v secure steel buckle at the other, and they tighten and loosen really easily, they are pretty flat/not bulky, and also they STAY TIGHT. I just carried a shit ton of shit home from TJ's and they worked perfectly. Y'all should peep this:

http://www.seatosummit.com/images/products/10mm%20hook_accessorystraps.jpg

http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10931257

seriously, sea to summit is one of those companies where when you're like "gee, i wish someone made _____, that would be so convenient," sea to summit just happens to make it. (i don't work for sea to summit.)

A "shit ton of shit". That's for the striking visual imagery thread.

Anyway.

After nine months of not really riding after we moved, I have reinvigorated my enthusiasm in two ways: 1; some work done on the bike to make it smooth and good again (new bottom bracket and headset), and 2; new fancy gear. I got a Kask helmet which is superlight and white w/ red, and I got new shoes (Shimano touring ones, very racy in styling), and, the biggie, some prescription Oakley Fuel Cell sunglasses. Been hankering after these for aeons but I knew they'd be expensive. They were, but the optician did interest-free credit, so who cares. Winner.

Other new gear to prepare for winter: GripGrab shoe covers and gloves. New lights (Lezyne stuff). Solo gilet.

Pondering some new 3/4 bibs, and probably gonna go for DHB Aeron Pro.

How are you preparing for winter? I'm probably going to put the Cube away for winter soon, and get back on the Tricross.

Oh boy winter. I've always biked to work but last year it was 2mi round trip 3x a week and now it is 7mi round trip 5x a week. I am totally not even sure of what to what with snow and fast cars and all

Also COOOOLD!! If you bundle up you are most assuredly stinky sweaty after 5 miles!

one of the BEST things about winter commuting is the very low sweat risk, imo. make sure your ears arms hands and feet are warm. overdress those if you have to do. the rest of you will usually be fine with street clothes and a breathable soft shell on the top. you needn't be stinky or sweaty or stinky sweaty.* if you are breathing harder than you would walking, youre going too hard. you won't be "warm" but you will be ok. because i commute in the morning in street clothes, not sweating is pretty much an obsession for me.

*if your ride includes like, 200 ft+ of continuous vert at 4%+, you may get sweaty if you exert yourself.

I have a serious aversion to cold though

What do people think of Vulpine? I think I am lusting after their jackets.

http://www.vulpine.cc/Shop

I need to buy a winter/rain/wind jacket but where to even start. maybe I'll just buy a gabba
http://www.wigglestatic.com/product-media/5360072722/castelli-gabba-rain-jersey-12-hrs.jpg

will rep the hell out my vaude racecut eVent jacket. no pockets, but really well-made, well-designed, and breathable.

like the look of that vulpine softshell a lot, but i doubt i'd buy a cycling specific softshell. i use a non-cycling marmot gravity for commuting, it's really great if you want a dual duty jacket, but cut all wrong for recreational riding.

Vulpine stuff I've seen in the stores is pretty great. It's cut so it looks good off the bike whilst being still functional on it. I've had the Rapha soft shell for the last 4 years or so and while it's a great jacket it's pretty slim cut and no so great if you want to get a shirt and a jumper under it for when you arrive at work. Depends what shape you are really.

I bought my sister a castellated soft shell last Christmas and that was very nice but I think I'm going off castelli, my latest shorts went baggy in the legs way too quickly and the logos don't stretch well with the fabric. I've lost some weight since I've been here but that shouldn't cause the leg cuffs to roll up.

The cold and rainy season's on its way, need softshell and gloves+shoe covers ... Vulpine (sold out!)+ GripGrab looks like a nice combo.