March Begins

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Jeff Moser

March has begun, and the great piles of snow have started to melt. There are storms on the horizon, but the temperatures seem to be on the rise. My bike has been brought back into the commuting mix, and the road bike even came out of the shed this morning. The plan is to go out at lunch for some miles and a little hill climbing. I have a feeling it’s going to hurt!

Muscle Powered at Comma Coffee

I was recently riding by the gas station, and got this photo of the rising gas prices. These prices remind me of the $4 gas from a couple years ago. Demand for simple commuter bikes went up during this time, and the bicycle industry shifted focus from racing replicas to producing full lines of great city bikes. The gas prices went back down again, many people went back to their old ways, but the great selection of bikes still remains. I see this being a great year for the bicycle industry, and I’m hoping we have large participation in May’s Bike Month this year!

Gas prices on the rise – Yet another reason to ride!

I think a lot of people feel trapped when energy prices get so high, often blaming someone else that it’s just not fair. What can we do? Bicycle traffic only accounts for about a percentage or less of all traffic modes here in America though. We need to look at what other cities are doing, especially some of those in other countries.

Bicycle Rush Hour Utrecht (Netherlands) III

Check out this video of rush hour in the Netherlands. Some things to notice: A ton of bikes and people walking. People of all sorts participating. Regular clothes and no helmets. A lot of public transportation. A lot of skinny people. It all seems to work rather nicely!

Hope everyone is getting their bikes back out and enjoying some riding!

Interbike 2010 – Bar Mitts

Posted on November 28, 2010 by Jeff Moser

With the freezing weather we’ve been having, here’s a cycling product you may be interested in. Bar Mitts are a weatherproof covering for your handlebars. The neoprene sheaths maintain their form, allow you to easily slip your hands in and out of them, and still allow you to access your bike’s brakes and shifters. Bar Mitts are even made locally just over the hill in Washoe Valley!

Bar Mitts for Road Bars

From the Bar Mitts website:

BAR MITTS evolved from many years of hang gliding and cold winter rides. Hang gliding mitts are used on a straight steering control bar. During the cold months, I used my hang gliding mitts on top of my bicycle handle bars. However, as one can imagine, not being on the shifter and brake levers had its downfalls especially when it came to descents and emergency braking. For years, I designed various Bar Mitt prototypes that enclosed the shifter and brake levers. I am so pleased that the final product is now available for sale.

Bar Mitts for Flat Bars

The freezing windchill is much greater during the faster speeds of a road bike, making it that much harder to keep your hands warm. There are other bar cover products on the market, but Bar Mitts is one of the few manufactures I’ve seen that creates an application for road bike style drop bars. This is good news for road bikers in Northern Nevada. Even in the dead of winter, we still have many sunny days that melt the ice on the roads and dry off the blacktop. When the snow gets too deep to ride off-road, hopping on the road bike may be our only option available. And since cold hands are one of the number one drawbacks to riding in the cold, the Bar Mitts may help you eliminate those excuses not to get out and ride this winter!

Further information:

The Bar Mitts website is here: http://barmitts.com/

Here’s a video from Interbike, found over on versus.com.

Back in 2008 I wrote more information on similar products over on the Commute by Bike website HERE.

January is Now Complete

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Jeff Moser

Well, we did it. We made it through January! In my opinion, January is the hardest month for cycling. Even though the weather was worse in December, the dark cold days of winter begin to wear down your spirit and motivation after the holidays. It took some discipline to keep riding through January, but strangely enough, January gave me the most miles since last September. Not sure how that happened! Moving into February is motivating. It’s just not very cold anymore, and the extended daylight is very noticeable. Any new snow we get won’t stand a chance of hanging around very long.

Centennial Singletrack

To celebrate the last day of January, Jeff Potter and I did a loop out at the Centennial Singletrack. I got a tip from Big Jon that the mud was drying up, and that the trails were in pretty good shape, so of course we had to get out there before the next series of storms comes through this week. We weren’t disappointed! The ground was wet, but the mud was compacted. There were only a few wet muddy spots, but nothing that bogged you down for more than a few seconds. In fact my bike stayed clean! And by clean I mean that there is no NEW mud on it. I still need to wash off the base layer of Silver City mud from over a month ago in December.

The snow has cleared to the east!

If I remember correctly, this was only my 2nd time riding on dirt in 2010 so far! The sunny days have been few and far between as well. But absence does make the heart grow fonder, and the bike and body were willing to have some fun. I barely felt the rock field at the beginning of the trail I was so excited. Climbing just seemed easier too.

Wild Horses

More often than not, you will see wild horses when riding the hills above Centennial Park, and Sunday was no exception. As we topped the climb, we ran into a herd of about a dozen or more. The final climb up the ravine was a bit slippery and spongy, so it was a perfect time to rest and watch the horses. They paid us very little attention, and kept on grazing.

A little snow and mud on the shady sides.

After thoroughly enjoying the fast swooping singletrack back to the trailhead, we chased the setting sun back to the west. Along the way we returned to the scene of some poor fool’s 4×4 FAIL. Earlier in the day we saw a group of guys hanging around this unfortunate Ford Bronco, but we kept moving. We didn’t want to get involved in a retrieval or vandalism mission, whatever it was they were up to. On the way back though, the Bronco was unattended, so we stopped to check out the situation. The Bronco was beat up. Broken tail light, broken side windows, missing license plates, and up to the running boards in mud. Just completely stuck in the thick marsh clay. Scenes like this really make me appreciate the portability and unstuckability of a sub 30lb bicycle.

Another failed OJ getaway.

Judging by the conditions out at Centennial, Pecos Potter feels it is time to round up the boys for a ride out at Iron Mountain. Stay tuned for dates. Come join the Posse.

Endura MT500 Overshoes Review

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Jeff Moser

A common complaint among winter cyclists is cold feet. Most cycling shoes are designed for fair weather, with copious amounts of venting for maximum ventilation to dissipate all that extra heat. Unfortunately, these qualities are not what you need in a winter shoe. Thankfully, many companies have come out with various forms of overshoes, sometimes called shoe covers or booties.

Endura MT500 Overshoe

SPECIFICATIONS

Endura, a company based out of Livingston, Scotland, has become the largest brand of cycle clothing in the UK, and are known for their rugged and functional products. These are definitely two words I’d use to describe Endura’s MT500 Overshoes. These overshoes nearly convert your summer cycling shoes into a winter boot.

Here are the specs from the website:

Tough Nylon faced Neoprene upper
Rear zip with snap-down puller and Velcro heel tab to ensure snug fit
Molded rubber toe cap with ridged/grooved underside to help when climbing steep and/or muddy slopes
Neoprene meets behind the zip to improve water tightness
Welded center seam for smooth finish and improved water protection
Hard wearing Kevlar faced base and Kevlar stitching
Reflective logo and zip panels at rear
Available In Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Country of Origin: China
Price: About $50 MSRP
Product website: www.endura.co.uk/

Keep your feet warm and dry in the winter conditions

I’ve been using the MT500′s since the end of December, and they’ve been a big improvement over my previous overshoes, the All Terrain Booties from Gator Sports. While my old ATB’s are constructed from a respectable slab of neoprene, the front would constantly slip off the toe of the shoe. I’d often look down to see my shoes exposed and covered in snow, and realize why my toes were getting so cold. Winter riding in all terrain conditions requires you to frequently put your foot down, and even walk your bike on occasion. Overshoes that slip off easily defeat the purpose.

The MT500′s stay in place even when walking through snow

The Endura MT500 Overshoes almost completely cover your shoe, and they do not slip off. Additionally, the overshoe has a rubber toe cap and grooved underside like the sole of a rubber boot. This additional material on the bottom not only keeps the overshoe in place, but also creates a decent walking surface, and further blocks cold air, rain, and snow from entering the shoe. I really notice the wind chill reduction on high speed descents. The rest of the underside is made of a stretchy Kevlar mesh that you can stretch around to expose your clipless pedal cleat and shoe heal.

Another nice feature of the MT500 Overshoes is the Velcro closure strap that ensures a snug fit around your ankle. Whether your cycling pants go over the shoe covers or under them, you’ll be able to keep the cold air out.

Stitching Wear

SUMMARY

After about a month of use through some harsh conditions, some of the stitching around the bottom cleat and heal holes has worn away. Not a lot, but it’s going to have to be restitched soon to prevent further degradation. Even though there is a rubber toe area, most of the wear is directed to the mesh area on the ball of the foot. The stretch Kevlar fabric has held up remarkably well though, considering it has been walked on considerably.

The Endura MT500 Overshoes are the best shoe covers that I have tried or seen. The overbuilt rubber boot front end and mesh underside are what really set these apart from similar products on the market. The overshoes stay put, even after lengthy treks in the snow. This additional protection on the bottom of the over shoe keeps your feet warmer by creating a barrier from the winter wind, snow, and muck. I’ve ridden into places that ended up being a couple mile hike out, and the MT500′s stayed put and made walking easy.

Even though the MT500 Overshoes are shoe-like, they are not a shoe replacement due to durability issues. They are not designed for extended walking, and a little snow still finds its way up under the shoe cover. I still prefer my flat pedals and winter hiking boots for the coldest days and outings that may including a lot of walking, but for the cold days when you want the efficiency and stability of a clipless pedal, and will most likely have to trudge through the occasional patch of snow and mud, the Endura MT500 Overshoes will keep your feet dry and warm. A top-notch product.

Winter Hydration

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Jeff Moser

Have you ever returned from a winter ride and discovered that little or no water was missing from your water bottle? The body mechanism that gets us to reach for the water bottle in the summer heat doesn’t seem to work when the weather is really cold. But even though we don’t feel as thirsty during these winter months, we need to make sure we are properly hydrated. In fact, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as it is in the summer.

Don’t forget to hydrate in the Winter!

I was reading a backpacking guide earlier this year, and I came across some excellent cold weather advice that I tucked away in my memory for winter. In Ray Jardine’s book, The PCT Hiker’s Handbook, he had this to say about cold weather hydration:

In alpine conditions, hikers must be particularly careful to avoid dehydration. As they breathe cold air, their lungs exude additional moisture used to warm the air. And breathing heavily in cold air exacerbates the moisture losses. Furthermore, water’s vapor pressure is lower at higher altitudes, resulting in increased evaporation within the lungs. The resulting dehydration hampers circulation and the body’s ability to warm its extremities. Therefore, drinking copiously is essential in preserving body warmth while hiking in wintry, alpine climes.

The last two sentences in Jardine’s quote above really got me thinking. Keeping fingers and toes warm during winter cycling is tough, but staying well hydrated will help. You can think of water working in your body the same way coolant/antifreeze works in engines. A properly hydrated body will help keep you cooler in the summer, and warmer in the winter.

Snowy bicycle commute

I’ve found that one of the reasons I don’t drink as much as I should in the winter is that water in the bottle gets uncomfortably cold to drink. I can only sip it at best without getting brain freeze. I’ve started thinking of ways I can hydrate better without forcing myself to drink freezing water.

Drinking a lot of water a couple hours before you go out riding would be beneficial. This would prevent you from starting the ride in an almost dehydrated state. There are also a number of insulated bottles and CamelBak style drink systems designed to keep your water cool in the summer. I imagine they’d work in the winter the opposite way, by keeping your water from getting too cold or frozen.

What are your ideas for keeping properly hydrated during the winter?

Louis Garneau T-Cover Review

Posted on October 29, 2009 by Jeff Moser

I’ve been looking for a lightweight shoe cover for cold weather riding. My thick neoprene covers work great when the conditions are wet and really cold, but they can be bulky and cumbersome. Kristy recently brought me home a pair of Louis Garneau T-Covers from the Bike Habitat that seemed to be just what I was looking for.

Louis Garneau T-Covers on the trail

A cold front moved through the area this week, bringing temperatures in the 20s and 30s with freezing windchill. This gave me the opportunity to try the T-Covers for bicycle commuting and a lunchtime trail ride.

Here is what I like about the T-Cover’s.

They cover most of the forefoot, but leave the top two buckles accessible. This makes it convenient to get the shoe on and off without peeling the shoe cover halfway off.
Although they stop the wind, there is still enough airflow to keep your foot dry. One problem with the full neoprene covers is that they get wet from the inside, since the perspiration is unable to vent to the outside.
There is enough material on the toe of the T-Cover to keep it from peeling off. I have problems with my neoprene booties coming off the toe when bumped or if I step in the snow.
Allows me to use my summer cycling shoes and clipless pedals into the winter.
When paired with a thick wool sock, keeps my feet reasonably warm for an hour ride in the mountains.
Logos on the shoe are reflective for night riding.
There are cleat knob openings on the sole if you have toe cleats on your mountain bike shoes.
Reasonably priced at around $25.

Here’s an description from the Louis Garneau website on the material used in construction of the T-Cover:

Stopzone ® – Fabric 80% nylon and 20% spandex . Its coating, perforated with thousands of micropores cross-linked in a honeycomb structure, blocks wind and rain while allowing moisture to dissipate through the fabric. This flexible fabric breathes, is wind and stress resistant even after many washings.

Top buckles are still accessible for easy access

Summary: I still recommend a full neoprene shoe cover that completely covers the ankle if you’ll be riding in rain, snow, and slush, but the Louis Garneau T-Cover works great for dry, chilly rides. When accompanied by a nice wool sock, they’ll help keep your feet warm without adding a lot of bulk and inconvenience.

Update: After a month of continuous use, there are some tears developing on the underside around the cleat holes. Nothing too serious yet, but it does make me think that I need to be more gentle with them. I’ve had to do a fair amount of walking in the snow and mud, so I may have abused them more than what may be typical. They’d probably still be in pristine condition if I used them for road biking.

More on the manufacturer’s website HERE.

Winter Helmets

Posted on February 12, 2009 by Jeff Moser

Back in the Fall, I saw Jesse show up for one of the rides with a Bern helmet. I liked the styling, but really got to thinking it would make a fantastic winter helmet. A few weeks later while visiting one of the local shops, I got one for myself.

The “Watts” from Bern

Getting the helmet in Fall, I was able to try the helmet in a variety of temperatures. With very small vents on the top, the helmet was too hot for my tastes when riding in temperatures that approached 50 degrees and warmer. But when the temperatures really drop, this helmet is superior for keeping you warm.

Regular mountain bike helmets are full of vents, including vents right over your forehead. This channels the cold air, snow, and rain right onto your cranium. The Bern has a little ventilation on top where you need it, but keeps most of the elements out. When accompanied with a head band or skull cap, your head feels toasty. Even on the coldest morning commutes.

The only problem I’ve had with it, is that because of the lack of vents, I’m not able to mount my helmet light on the top. You should also be aware that these helmets are available in two formats, a “hard hat” and a “helmet”. According to Bern’s website, the hard hat version “does not meet the standards for action sport head protection”. I own the hard hat version, and feel comfortable with its protective qualities. You can be your own judge. I’ve seen the Berns in more than one of the local bike shops if you’re interested.

Bonus: The Bern helmet has snaps near the ears for adding optional ear covers, and there is a goggle strap retention hook on the back of the helmet should you want to wear goggles.

Double Bonus: If you get the green one like I did, you can get plenty of “Great Gazoo” comments.

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