WHAT'S NEW
Comments - A Wintertime Retrospective
February 27, 2012
Pro or no, the Rothko cookies are the bee's knees.
- Rob, Chicago
February 15, 2012
Another great blog post! I have only recently 'discovered' this and have gone back to read previous posts. Great cycling information, and insight. And, frankly, I do not mind the product pitches one bit. Indeed, I appreciate them. Thanks!
- Litespeed, Valparaiso, IN
February 08, 2012
So where, exactly, did you do this cross racing you mention? Certainly not in Utah.
- Mark, Draper, UT
February 06, 2012
Mr. Contador- You didn't eat the WRONG meat you hired the WRONG lawyers! ;-(
- isaac, st. louis
February 06, 2012
@nate Nice!
- Erik, Pitt
February 06, 2012
man, they CLEARLY do not spread salt on your winter roads if you are rocking the DA 7900 on a winter rig. On salt encrusted roads, gates belt drive + internals are the way to go!
- nacho libre, sans-cashville
February 06, 2012
Can't wait to read about your "PRO" reaction to Contador's case. "Meat is murder!" #clenbuterol
- george, north carolina
February 05, 2012
realcyclist called, you have been assigned to drive me around and do the housework...or else. bathroom is getting dirty
- Francisco Mancebo, Domestic Pro
February 04, 2012
Reading your blog is always worth the time. I love the fact that it combines the pitch of sales and the reality of being just another guy who looks as the world with with more than a hint of irony. The earnest complaints in the comments column don't seem to understand that you can want to be PRO, whilst at the same time recognising it to be a totally ridiculous wish. The amusement is having two competing points of view competing in you brain for space. At the end of the day, it all boils down to just riding your bike.
- Justin, Melbourne
February 02, 2012
Gotta say, I always appreciate reading the postings here.
But the comments.............geez people, who shit in your cheerios. Lighten up.
- Big Mikey, TO, frozen white north
February 02, 2012
+1 for D2. A bit of a wait, but well worth it.
- Paul, New York
February 01, 2012
Custon Bike shoes. D2 also makes custom cycling shoes. Don Lamson is a really nice guy and did a super job for and many others. Please add them to your list
However, I like several others had issues with Rocket 7 not being able to create the shoe correctly. I snet mine back 3 times before they remade tehm and the 2nd pair was worse than the first.
- Mike, Palatine, IL
February 01, 2012
@ Dan, Waterloo, Cananda-
Move to Florida?
- S, Colorado
February 01, 2012
Nate, I vote yours comment of the year! your definition is to PRO what Dan Savage's is to Santorum! Brilliant!
- James, Mt. Lebanon
February 01, 2012
A note to readers: Surefoot does indeed make custom-fit ski boots but what so many happy customers forget is that part of that setup is a custom footbed, which they can make for cycling shoes (and running shoes and dress shoes and sneakers). If you find a shoe that fits length and width, it may be worth your while to get it fitted with one of Surefoot's footbeds
- Stefan, Brooklyn
February 01, 2012
Given that a commenter mentioned biathlon, I thought you should know that there is actually a mountain bike/shooting biathlon held at soldier hollow near your home in the summer, its pretty fun actually.
- Ben, Utah
February 01, 2012
Nate is apparently the spokesperson for "cycling" and it has pronounced that the author of this blog is a disgrace to it. As the spokesperson for "bicycling" I state that nate is a disgrace to bicycling. So there.
- JZ, Utah
February 01, 2012
PRO = PRETENTIOUS RAMBLING OLIGARCH. You're a disgrace to cycling.
- nate, tucson
February 01, 2012
I love the line of reasoning in What's New, how you jump from one item to the other. But then again, why do you keep making mistakes like "But nobody offers the full-bore customization of Surefoot,"? Why present matters like you know everything there is to know? You very clearly don't. You're not euro-pro either (long valves in box section rims) nor using optimal solutions (why retrofit a crank into a BB system that's built around a completely different design philosophy). All in all, I like your blog posts, I just don't see them as a positive contribution to your web shop...
- Mano, The Hague
February 01, 2012
Dura ace, carbon frame commuter, I love the site but youre losing touch. Neither if those things go together with a bike that might have to get locked up for 8 hours.
- Grayson, Sd
January 31, 2012
Nice piece - ust curious how you cross train between cycling and DH skiing?
- brian, santa fe
January 31, 2012
I live in MN where getting dressed to ride outside is like putting on a space suit. I can confirm that Hydros are great winter shoes.
After years of snarky comments about the rules of Nordic Combined when you were writing from balmy Arkansas, you have not learned the rules after your transplant. Worse yet you have not (yet) embraced biathilon which combines your fascination w/firearms with really intense aerobic effort (drop your plus from 160 to a rate where you can hit 4 very small targets at 50m). In Germany it routinely draws larger crowds than Cyclocross 30-40K. Ironic when the pic you posted of the Cannibal shows him (classically) nordic skiing.
Nordic skiing especially skate skiing is the REALLY Pro way to cross train in the winter.
Greg LeMond used to complain about bulking up too much.
- Felix, Two Rivers
January 31, 2012
How can you talk about custom cycling shoes and not talk about D2?
- Justin, Lafayette
January 31, 2012
I've been reading your blog (here) for years. Love your POV and your writing style. Also love your company. I routinely buy from you. But sorry to see you've ripped off a recipe for Ribollita, without even giving credit to the author of the book. You might have gotten rights from the publisher if you had asked. If you did, and they said no--you shouldn't have printed it.
- Leo, Santa Barbara
January 31, 2012
rosko dot cc
- Brett, Palisade
January 31, 2012
Ahhh - the Rothko stamp - his exhibit at the Whitney in 1998 (I was lucky enough to be there on Halloween when Frank Stella was present) was 8 years before I started riding. Riding and his art, however, do somehow hit the same nerve - as does his Chapel in Houston. By the way, when I started riding I always left the valve cap on as well as the washer - I have not seen either in a long while - on my bike or others. Any thoughts?
- Bruce, Acton, MA
January 31, 2012
What's that white stuff on the ground? In these parts, the windbreaker comes off when it breaks 78, and the arm warmers get the day off if it's over 84. Of course, that's preparation for the summer months when it can dip into the 90s overnight.
Another custom shoe option is RBC Sport out of Australia. On Facebook: RBC (dot) Sport
- Sean, Murrieta, CA
January 31, 2012
Sacreligous! Why in the world would you treat your BH in that way! I say you get only last row starts next season. Your out of our club!
- Rich, Groveland, MA
January 31, 2012
Ditto on just wearing a warm hat under your helmet.... $15 bucks for a hat vs. $100+ for a winter specific helmet.
- Doug, Atl
January 31, 2012
Actually, there is an excellent custom shoe company! They are call D2 Custom Shoes. They make top-of-the-line road, mountain, and cross shoes. They are located in Eagle, CO an emerging mountain bike mecca (but don't tell anyone about the trails), just down the road from Vail. I've been rocking a pair for a couple seasons, and love them. Their website is d2shoe dot com
- Bo, EagleVail, CO
January 31, 2012
Appreciate the leeds on custom shoes. The insulated helmet argument is moot; the head is not the limiting factor (not the weak link) in -12C. As is pointed out later in the piece, its the feet that cause problems in the cold. Would luv those Sidi's...if I had the bucks. I put so many layers between my Gore thermo booties and my shoes that I rubed the ano off my crank arms. That said, the system works for three hours in -12 (Gore bootie, Castelli BBootie [allows Gore to slide over], cheap wool over-calf hunting socks appropriatly cut, then shoe) As well, I use the Pearl AMfib Elite (not the PRO) tight w/knee warmers. Anybody else have suggestions?
- Dan, Waterloo, Cananda
January 31, 2012
D2 custom footwear makes good custom shoes (crush boxes, measurements, etc). I've got a pair for my brokeass feet and they're like riding with bunnies on your pedals.
- mm, SF, CA
January 31, 2012
Agree on the winter helmet. My Giro ski helmet works weekdays on my bicycle commute, weekends on the ski slopes.
- Eric, Hartwick
January 31, 2012
My Rocket7s are still going strong 9yrs on. I got what I thought was the best option they offered - semi-custom (for some reason they soon dropped this option). You got the custom footbeds via the crush box mold but with stock uppers. For people without specific foot issues, they were great and only a bit more $ than the stock models. Great durability also. Not sure what I am going to do when I have to replace them as I have been spoiled.
- Fournwi, LA, Ca
January 31, 2012
Brad Harper at Riivo while style you out in custom shoes....and he makes them in his backyard. Awesome!
- The Journalist, SD, CA
January 31, 2012
Sorry to hear about your winter CA. Nothing like base training in 3" of snow. It gets you warm in a hurry. Bonus, no need to worry about the head gear.
- Gerry, Detroit
January 31, 2012
I'm spending the year in Sri Lanka instead of Los Angeles. So these days it is high 80's with strong sun. A former Midwesterner, I do at least one or two days per week on the 25 year old rusty stationary bike in the car port in token support of those in winterland.
- Todd, Colombo
January 31, 2012
Whoa, 2 1/2 cups of olive oil in the stew? I can make it with about 1/3 cup of oil.
- Mark, Chicago
January 31, 2012
Quality mail shot
- Scott, Cabris, France
January 31, 2012
That's your commuter, rich kid? You must be part of the 1%.
- Randy, Coeur d'Alene
January 31, 2012
As it turns out, winter never arrived in northern California this year! nothing but warm sunny days and miles upon miles in shorts and jerseys alone! sure, our lawns will all be dead by July, but we'll have base-training in like no others...
- David, Sacramento
January 31, 2012
Dude, you are into the wrong kind of sking, ever heard of the Tour de Ski... why do you think Norway is gonna take over cycling ? Get with it !
- Marc, Montreal
January 31, 2012
The Lazer Helium helmet with the ear covering inserts and plastic shell (available here in the US) work just fine for me when coupled with a neck warmer.
- Neil, Washington, DC
January 31, 2012
Custom cycling shoes? Riivo is doing full custom shoes out in California. A friend of mine who's into speed skating turned me onto them. I don't have a pair. Yet. But I'm dreaming the dream, and hoping my special lady friend won't catch wind of my shoe plans until it's too late.
- Brian, Chicago
January 31, 2012
winter specific helmet???? - that would be your ski helmet. If you ride in real winter weather you wear your ski helmet with a belaclava. Add ski goggles when it gets really cold out. Add winter boots, mitts and layer up properly and you can ride as long as you want even when its -20 degrees celsius or colder. Yes, you look silly. Not sure if this is PRO or not....
- Kim, Canada
January 31, 2012
Winter Specific Helmets? Ever hear of a hat under a regular helmet?
Custom Shoes? Don Lamson (D2)has been making them for >25 years
- Touriste-Routier, Bucks County, PA
January 30, 2012
In your link to the slipstream association to Rocket 7, Timmy Duggan Is actually wearing D2's. A company that has been quietly kicking ass in Colorado for years now. Check out his new offerings d2shoe (dot) com
- Garrett, Denver
January 30, 2012
How "PRO" are 100mm valve stems on a shallow rim? I mean really...
- Anon Amos, Toronto
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