various topics, rants, questions

dennisn

Am I the only one who thinks that the brand name "Brave Soldier"(maker of various
cycling related balms and creams) is just a little bit corny, cheesy, or something along
those lines????

Whatever happened to leather chamois's??? They just vanished from the scene and
I liked them. I'm not complaining as I have no problem with the new stuff. Just
wondering.

Who knew that "Craft E-Tech fabric creates a stable equilibrium of the microclimate
next to your skin"??? Another miracle of science or miracle of advertizing???

Does anyone think that a pair of "Assos Skinweb" socks at $17.00 a pair is a really good buy??

Is there any brand of road shoe, that has anti-slip heel and toe pads, that actually works?

While there are many "best bang for the buck" items out there, my vote for "worst bang"
goes to FSA's ceramic bearing rear der pulleys for $130.00 or so a pair.

When will we see "aero carbon fiber bar end plugs"??? This is an item whose time
has come.

Just saw an ad for "ultralite" rim strips. I am at a loss for words on this one.

In reading bicycle frame ad's they always say "we've added just the right amount of
vertical compliance". What is "just the right amount"??? .045? 1.62? 16.76? 121.3?
And how, exactly, do they add this "amount"? In any case I'm glad that a good frame builder adds "just the right amount" as opposed to the "wrong amount".

When will the "perfect" seat finally make it's apperance???

What is with all this forum talk about clinchers add their wheels??? I used to think that
they were easier to mount than tubulars, but that appears to be changing, what with
all the rants about can't get them on and broken levers.

Whatever happened to heavy, or heavier, weight lycra shorts??? Do todays lighter
weight fabrics protect your skin as much as the heavier ones of old??? Having the
road peel skin off my hips and a** was never my idea of fun. I preferred a little heavier
fabric, feeling it might give me a bit better chance of saving some hide when the road got way, way to close. Maybe they were deemed as too restrictive or maybe the companies making them wanted to save a bit of money using lighter materials. Now that I would
believe.

comments and answers welcome

Dennis Noward

Nuggs

Whatever

dennisn

Nuggs wrote:

Whatever

Well put. Thanks for your response.
Dennis Noward

Smokin Joe

New frames which are 30% stiffer than the previous model, which were in turn 30% stiffer than the one before that.

The figures suggest that until recently frames were made of rubber.

alan_sherman

If people bought the common sense stuff instead of the marketing hyperbole then there would be a company selling it. The lack of this suggests that the world is full of marketing sheep or people that create stuf in the shed but dont sell to the public at large.

aracer

dennisn wrote:

Whatever happened to leather chamois's??? They just vanished from the scene and
I liked them. I'm not complaining as I have no problem with the new stuff. Just
wondering.

If even you have no problem with the new stuff, then why the mystification? They've gone to the same place as toe clips and straps and downtube gear levers. Lots of hassle to clean and not as comfy, so market forces did for them.

Does anyone think that a pair of "Assos Skinweb" socks at $17.00 a pair is a really good buy??

I'm sure you'll find some Assos addicts on here who do - though they're probably not as good as the more expensive Rapha socks.

Just saw an ad for "ultralite" rim strips. I am at a loss for words on this one.

Why exactly wouldn't you want a lighter weight rimstrip?

In reading bicycle frame ad's they always say "we've added just the right amount of
vertical compliance". What is "just the right amount"??? .045? 1.62? 16.76? 121.3?
And how, exactly, do they add this "amount"? In any case I'm glad that a good frame builder adds "just the right amount" as opposed to the "wrong amount".

The really good frame builder can also add just the right amount of lateral stiffness. If they're a genius they can manipulate these two properties independently to produce the mythical frame which is like an armchair yet transmits every single pedal stroke directly to the rear tyre.

What is with all this forum talk about clinchers add their wheels??? I used to think that
they were easier to mount than tubulars, but that appears to be changing, what with
all the rants about can't get them on and broken levers.

Meanwhile some of us have no problem with mounting our tyres, and don't understand what the advantages are of using tubulars on standard box section rims, as you seem to advocate.

gundersen

peel skin off my hips and a** was

a** - is that arm?
can't be arse because that would have 3 stars.
or are you one of those stupid americans that can't speak english?

geoff_ss

dennisn wrote:

1: Am I the only one who thinks that the brand name "Brave Soldier"(maker of various
cycling related balms and creams) is just a little bit corny, cheesy, or something along
those lines????

2: Whatever happened to leather chamois's??? They just vanished from the scene and
I liked them. I'm not complaining as I have no problem with the new stuff. Just
wondering.

3: Who knew that "Craft E-Tech fabric creates a stable equilibrium of the microclimate
next to your skin"??? Another miracle of science or miracle of advertizing???

4: Does anyone think that a pair of "Assos Skinweb" socks at $17.00 a pair is a really good buy??

5: Is there any brand of road shoe, that has anti-slip heel and toe pads, that actually works?

6: While there are many "best bang for the buck" items out there, my vote for "worst bang"
goes to FSA's ceramic bearing rear der pulleys for $130.00 or so a pair.

7: When will we see "aero carbon fiber bar end plugs"??? This is an item whose time
has come.

8: Just saw an ad for "ultralite" rim strips. I am at a loss for words on this one.

9: In reading bicycle frame ad's they always say "we've added just the right amount of
vertical compliance". What is "just the right amount"??? .045? 1.62? 16.76? 121.3?
And how, exactly, do they add this "amount"? In any case I'm glad that a good frame builder adds "just the right amount" as opposed to the "wrong amount".

10: When will the "perfect" seat finally make it's apperance???

11: What is with all this forum talk about clinchers add their wheels??? I used to think that
they were easier to mount than tubulars, but that appears to be changing, what with
all the rants about can't get them on and broken levers.

12: Whatever happened to heavy, or heavier, weight lycra shorts??? Do todays lighter
weight fabrics protect your skin as much as the heavier ones of old??? Having the
road peel skin off my hips and a** was never my idea of fun. I preferred a little heavier
fabric, feeling it might give me a bit better chance of saving some hide when the road got way, way to close. Maybe they were deemed as too restrictive or maybe the companies making them wanted to save a bit of money using lighter materials. Now that I would
believe.

comments and answers welcome

Dennis Noward

That's a lot of questions, Dennis. A lot of bangs for your buck here

1: Never heard of 'Brave Soldier' but I agree it sound cheesy. I use 'Tiger balm' on my troublesome shoulder/neck pain.

2: We used to tour a lot and chamois shorts liners were a real pain because they took ages to dry after washing. Moreover, when the did eventually dry the got hard. Good riddance, I say.

3: New to me but probably another advertising miracle

4: No. I only wear socks when it's cold. No socks in summer usually and Shimano sandals as often as possible.

5: Never had a problem with shoes slipping. I always take car to put my heel down first when stopping to avoid my shoe plate skidding on the road.

6: There are certainly some silly prices out there. I saw a chain set for over £450 last week. Probably saves 25 grams

7: They're on the way, never fear.

8: What's rim strip? Ultralite or otherwise. Rim tape? I suppose it's a good idea to keep rotating mass to a minimum. Depends on the price of course.

9: The numbers won't mean anything either. I'm of the opinion that hysteresis is what counts - does the frame distortion spring back with no losses. My new aluminium frame is quite stiff when climbing yet is comfortable so I guess Kinesis got it right.

10: It already has. It's called a Brooks B17 (or Professional) leather saddle. I've ridden many, many 1000s of miles on them.

11: Had very few problems fitting tyres by hand (no levers). Mind you I did win the motor cycle club tyre removal/refitting competition IIRC it was less than 2 minutes. Used tubs for racing but I was never convinced that the glue was enough though I know it was.

12: I don't think lycra shorts of any weight are going to be much help when you're sliding down the road. You need leather shorts if you're worried about that. Could start a trend

I assume you're in the USA. We once attended the NE Tandem Rally in Salem Mass (1994). I was expecting US tandemists to be all high tech and certainly there were some with titanium bikes but on the whole they were all just like us with a variety of machines. We had a great time. I particularly remember a stranger we chatted to in a queue for ice cream insisting on buying ours after learning it was our first day in the USA. He wasn't a cyclist - just a very friendly civilian

Gunderson: Americans use a different word which only has 3 letters - a$$. It's a donkey in the UK but we're separated by a common language.

Geoff

meagain

So many questions, so little time...good job that there are more Qs than As.

cougie

Real chamois was cack. Mine always dried as hard as a board, and I'd have to slather them with chamois cream before wearing. So nice to pull on a cold clammy pair of shorts at the weekend - not !

dennisn

aracer wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Does anyone think that a pair of "Assos Skinweb" socks at $17.00 a pair is a really good buy??

I'm sure you'll find some Assos addicts on here who do - though they're probably not as good as the more expensive Rapha socks.

Rapha socks huh. Heard of Rapha but they are not big here in the states(yet).
OK go ahead and scare me. What do a pair of Rapha's cost?????

Dennis Noward

dennisn

gundersen wrote:

peel skin off my hips and a** was

a** - is that arm?
can't be ars* because that would have 3 stars.
or are you one of those stupid americans that can't speak english?

Ya, I'm one of them.

Dennis Noward

gundersen

sorry can't help you there

Anonymous

dennisn wrote:

gundersen wrote:

peel skin off my hips and a** was

a** - is that arm?
can't be ars* because that would have 3 stars.
or are you one of those stupid americans that can't speak english?

Ya, I'm one of them.

Dennis Noward

So am I, and that would be "WHO can't speak english." If you are going to dis people, dis them with respect. Oh wait, I'm sorry, you're British. Sorry for the respect thing. :? Sorry again, I meant English, or something.

Americans may be stupid, but mos a bus hyde.

mackdaddy

I think this one will run and run for the English/US cracks, forgetting that the original post was pointed and funny. I liked it.

And I'm English last time I looked.

Well done dennis.


ps, buying Rapha is like going for a performance that you would never need at a price you would never pay, unless you own a Ferrari.

dennisn

11: What is with all this forum talk about clinchers add their wheels??? I used to think that
they were easier to mount than tubulars, but that appears to be changing, what with
all the rants about can't get them on and broken levers.


11: Had very few problems fitting tyres by hand (no levers). Mind you I did win the motor cycle club tyre removal/refitting competition IIRC it was less than 2 minutes. Used tubs for racing but I was never convinced that the glue was enough though I know it was.


Geoff[/quote]

Is it just me? I seem to see a blog about not being able to get tires on rims almost daily
on this forum. Back in the day when I used them(70's) they were difficult to get on at times but not impossible. Must be a tighter tolerance's sort of thing these days or just not knowing exactly how it's done.

Dennis Noward