all purpose gear thread

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.

Oy! How do you ride a bike in the winter without having to spend $100+ on a jacket???

just gou out and hardman it. flandrien!

I just got GripGrab hurricane gloves and some shoe covers too. Not used the latter yet, but the former are really good after about five rides. Barely noticed I was wearing them which I take as a good sign.

The Vulpine softshell looks lush, but I'd be wanting to do 40-60 mile training rides in it from time to time, and I'm not entirely sure it'd be best suited to that. Whereas the Rapha seems more like it would...

just had my bike serviced

first ride - everything like butter
second ride - at low speed, there's a weird rubbing sound which goes away when you get rolling again. second ride was in the rain, and the sound was when climbing

what could that be?

I had something very similar a couple of weeks ago, actually, but it vanished after about 30 yards. Never heard it since so forgot about it, and it's been serviced since.

Rapha stuff seems awesome but normally when I buy clothing that expensive I only expose it to the elements when I'm walking from my horse-drawn carriage to the door of Francesca's palazzo.

i always think this thread is about steroids when i see it on sna

Rapha stuff seems awesome but normally when I buy clothing that expensive I only expose it to the elements when I'm walking from my horse-drawn carriage to the door of Francesca's palazzo.

― eris bueller (lukas), Thursday, 17 October 2013 10:56 (3 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Look at some Assos stuff some time, it is swiss and makes rapha look cheap.

It's also all disgusting.

I don't mind assos much; has a nice austere ~swissness~ vibe

I do prefer rapha tho and will probably invest in a rain jacket or race cape / softshell

I still think their bum grease is the best I've tried.

Think I'm definitely gonna get a Vulpine softshell when the new ones come out next month. Green, grey, or claret, though? Or, presumably, original black too?

I am thinking of a balaclava; I like the idea of all in one mouth/hat/scarf thing. I have a fleece one but it suuuucks bcz you cannot breathe in it! Anyone have a good one to recommend for like under 20 or 30? I feel like it might be one of those things where you can just get a regular one for cycling instead of a cycling-specific one but idk

Also I think this is the year I finally buy "gloves for cycling" (but again I am thinking maybe not "cycling gloves" bcz omg ex$pen$ive)

GripGrab god gloves. Rapha snood thing for balaclava.

For, not god. Fucksake.

that stuff is like crazy expensive. $40 for a fake hat!

"the hat can also be used as a collar, or even a headband for that bona fide 'Euro' aesthetic." barf

I mean I am fine w/ wacky multi purpose things but I am trying to score shit on the cheap here

still wearing summer socks w/overshoes and about an hour into my rides I lose feeling in my feet but I'm not sure if they're frozen or just pins-&-needle'd

surely I'd get the same sensation in my hands tho but they're well covered

I should probably invest in winter socks and some proper thermoroubaix overshoes right?

wearing oversocks not overshoes

Was tired of flappy ish wind vest, bought a castelli fawesome. Without tryin it on, hope it fits.

just picked up a capo lombardia jersey for winter. the same material as the gabba/fawesome at a lower price. aero fit & nice long sleeves so no gappy arm-warmers

the front isn't fleece-lined sadly but tht's not fatal