Brooks Cambium – My Take

It was time to replace the much loved but irretrievably sagging Brooks 17S. I had it transferred to my to my Soma when it was built last year. It was only 4 years old when it developed a very uncomfortable sag. It was fixed once and held up well for about a year. There are many who say Brooks leather saddles aren’t what they once were. Two summers in a row that included week long tours in the rain may have hastened it’s demise. I used a saddle cover of course but after enough days and nights of rain maybe some damage was done. I’d been curious about the Cambium for a while. Given John’s positive experience with it (see previous post) I was ready to give the C17S a try.

I’ve now ridden over 300 miles on it and overall, I like it. I agree with John that it’s amazingly shock absorbing. I didn’t find that it was easy to fit or instantly comfortable though. Part of this might be that the C17S is longer in than the B17S, which changes the feel of the contact points quite a bit. It also made it a little tricky getting the right “fore and aft” position. We couldn’t just copy the positioning of the B17S.

This saddle doesn’t break in. That’s no surprise. What you feel at first is what you get. So I had to toughen up. After a couple of weeks the bruised feeling subsided though was still not entirely gone. I think this was largely due to how long it took me to get the right seat post adjustment.

The Cambium has less height than the B17S. I read other blogs suggesting a need to raise the saddle post .5″ to compensate. That wasn’t the right adjustment for me. After fidgeting with it over a number of weeks (and having the predictable pain behind my kneecaps and then in the muscles around my knee) it dawned on me to look up how to fit the a seat post.

Grant at Rivendell Bicycle Worksg says to adjust the seat post to PBH-4″ from saddle top to the middle of the crank arm. I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. Which way should the crank arm be positioned? My next “aha” was to check this out using my perfectly fitted ANT (thank you, Baltimore Bicycle Works!). It emerged that you position the crank arm to be parallel with the floor. I made the needed adjustment and now I think I’ve got it! It turns out not only does the right seat post height relieve knee pain and give you full use of your quads for climbing, it also relieves undue saddle pressure. I don’t know the bio-mechanics of that, just reporting the experience. Now when I hop on the ANT the B17S on it feels oddly short and lacking in support. I might end up with Cambium on it, too.

If you read John’s review you’ll see he had no fit problems with his Cambium. He just put it on the bike and he was fine from day one. So there you have it. My experience may not indicate what yours would be like in any way.

Verdict: The Cambium may never give your butt the nice custom comfort that comes with a broken-in leather saddle, but it is noticeably better at smoothing out the ride and it is comfortable when positioned properly. Rain is no problem for it. As others report repositioning yourself on it is easy even though it’s not as smooth as a leather saddle. I expect it to be more durable but won’t know about that for 4-5 years!

Vaya Bag Saddle Bag

Vaya Bag Saddle Bag

Tianna Meilinger founder and owner  of Vaya Bags was at Baltimore’s American Craft Council Show again this year. It’s always nice to see her and check out what’s new with her creative recycled-material messenger bags, purses, panniers and accessories. Last year I got a medi messenger bag which I use a lot. It’s comfortable to carry, easy to adjust and for me, the perfect size.  It works well for multi-modal commutes and as an airplane carry-on too. This year I wanted a small saddlebag. I wasn’t sure if she still made them, but indeed she had the cylindrical bag with her, set up as a handlebar bag. She was ready to customize one as a saddle bag, adding on my requested rear light loop. About a week after I sent her the measurements for my saddle’s loops, the bag arrived. It attaches easily, is convenient to open and close, and holds a fair amount for such a compact bag.  My tool roll’s design is too bulky for it so it goes in the rando bag. As it’s made from recycled tire tubes this bag is waterproof, as are all Vaya bags (I think!).

2013 Gift Giving Guide for the Cyclist in Your Life

Time’s speeding like a first-place contender in the Tour de France. I don’t actually know how fast that is, but you know what I mean. Thanksgivingkah is just about here and Christmas isn’t far behind. What to give your favorite cyclist?

First, my gift to you: A trail mix recipe. On the bike it’s a delicious, fortifying, real-food snack. Off the bike it’s just as good. Mix together 1 c dried berries, 1 c slivered or sliced almonds raw or roasted (unsalted), 1/2 c roasted shelled sunflower seeds, 1/2 c roasted shelled pumpkin seeds, and 1 cup of Sunspire candy chips or M&Ms.

Variations: Adjust proportions as you like. You can’t go wrong. Try other dried fruits and nuts.

Keeping in mind the rapid march of time, we’re only recommending things that you can get within the next 5 weeks.

Nancy’s Choices

For Warmth

I’m a big fan of wool when it’s the non-itchy kind. Here are some wool items that I’ve biked with and liked:

Ibex Knitty Gritty gloves $25 — these medium weight gloves have grippy stuff on the palms. They aren’t padded, in case that’s important to the gift recipient. I use them on cool days for non-bike activities and on cool or cold days for biking. When it’s seriously cold they aren’t warm enough though.

Ibex Sport Half Zip $120 — Ibex doesn’t make any petite clothing and this sweater though too long on me. I wear it even so as it makes a versatile, non-bulky layer. I use it on it’s own over a jersey in cool weather and as a layer under a jacket when it starts getting colder. It has a small zipper pocket on the sleeve which can maybe hold some dollar bills or a key. It’s not really a very practical pocket.

Ibex 3/4 El Fito $145 — Love these. I use them when temperatures start dropping below 50 and when they’re as low as in the 20’s. I haven’t tried them in weather colder than that.</p

Ibex Woolies 150 bottoms:  $70 This thin base layer can be worn under bike pants or with off bike clothes, too.

Buff — Start at $33 for the wool version. I have one of these in a tech fabric and one in merino wool. I like the feel of the wool one better but they both are wonderful. This versatile tube of fabric is lightweight and easily stuffed into bike bag or pocket. It an serve as a head cover, ear band, face cover or neck warmer.

Silk Long Underwear – $34 at Lands End. these of course are available from a number of retailers, but I’ve only tried Lands End’s. They have lasted for years. Like most of the other clothing I’ve recommended these are useful both on and off-bikeThey make a great, nonbulky layer under work clothes and bike clothes and they’re great for travel. They can be hand washed and will line dry overnight.

Rivendell long sleeve merino t-shirts – $60 They are made for men and are long and a bit loose on me, but they are so comfortable. In warm weather they are great on their own. In cold weather they make a great, non-bulky layer under a sweater.

Carrying stuff:

Wald Wire Basket $23 — a multipurpose, endlessly useful basic basket

Arkel Tailwind rear bag $115 — Roomy, lightweight, and visible, attaches via sturdy Velcro straps to most rear racks. It doesn’t pair with my Swift panniers though I’m told that it’s possible with some patience to use it with Arkel panniers.

Swift Short Stack Panniers $230 — You can probably get a set of ready-made ones in time for Christmas. I’m pretty sure it’s too late for a custom order, but check with them. I toured with mine this summer and loved them. For an inn-inn summer tour they are more than roomy enough. For entirely self-supported touring or colder weather you might need to add a set of front panniers. They are waterproofed and close with a drawstring, using fabric that is at least water-resistant. The pocket in the removable lids provides extra cargo capacity but is not waterproof. This made me a little nervous so I packed my belongings in water -resistant sacks. We didn’t get much rain on that tour so their water proofness wasn’t put to the test. Outer pockets provide additional carry ing capacity for water bottles and anything else you want to keep at hand.

Vaya Bags Medi Messenger Bag $150 — I’m not a huge fan of carrying stuff on my back when cycling. However for light loads and short trips, a messenger bag can be more comfortable and easier to use than a backpack. This bag is thoughtfully designed, good looking, stable and comfortable. It’s from recycled bike tire tubes and sturdy sun cloth. http://www.vayabags.com.

Brooks B–17S @$100 — My favorite. I presently have 3 bikes and this is the saddle I use on each of them.

Skin Care

Dry, cold winter air can cause chapped lips, very dry skin and patches of eczema. I recommend Burts Bees Beeswax Lip Balm,  about $3.30 at various online and brick & mortar stores, Badger Lip and Body Balm, $3.99 also at many retail outlets, and Extreme Alaskan Mountain Momma’s Balm, $12.00. This last is available through Silver Bear Sundries  for $16 including shipping. It’s exclusively available in the lower 48 at Buffalo Valley Outfitters, Lewisburg, PA. This is my sister’s and brother-in-law’s store, by the way. If you don’t live near there, check out their web site at www.bvogear.com. They are the new owners of this sporting goods shop. I don’t see the balm on the website yet. If you’re interested in getting  it from them you can use the contact info at the bottom of their web page.

John’s Choices

Get Lost Adventure Kit $235 — the Paloma handlebar bag, a couple of water bottles, a Rothera cycling cap (I love his caps very comfortable), and a bandana. Not a bad collection for the price.

Berthoud Touring saddle $209 — I love this saddle. I have been a Brooks fan and remain one. But I bought one of these based on Boulder Bikes 6-month promise that if you don’t like it then you can return it. It is pricey but it is amazingly comfortable right from the start. I would highly recommend it as a perfect gift for the retro-grouch on your list who is not a racer type.

Brooks Swift saddle @$180 — I know I just said that the Berthoud is the best saddle but if you are more of a racer than a tourist type of cyclist. This is a fine saddle. It takes quite a while to break in. I have several hundred miles on mine but it has just begun to get comfortable. But if you have trouble with chafing with a B17 this is a great saddle.

Swift Rando bag $210  I got this bag for my Rivendell Rambouillet rather than a trunk bag. It is made in America (Seattle) and is very well built and reasonably priced depending on which size you get. I have the smaller one (I have a 52cm bike) and it easily holds what you would need for a longish day ride or as a great small bag in a touring set up. It has a great map pocket, a front pocket, and two side slits. I have used it as a century ride bag and have ordered a second one for the Atlantis as a touring bag. Swift has released a new handlebar bag, the Paloma bag that uses the KlickFlix mounting system. I am not a big fan of handlebar bags actually being mounted to the handlebars but if you are okay with that I think this would be a great bag and it is $60 cheaper.

Ibex Duo shorts $120 — I have been a big fan and remain one for Boure shorts but these are very comfortable and work in both Baltimore’s extreme summer heat and chilly fall weather. They are cheaper than the really high-end shorts and a bit more than the Boures at but I have a pair that are two years old and still look great.

Rapha Club Jersey $120 — now this is pricey at regular price but I got mine for $120. Still a lot for a jersey but it is again incredible comfortable and has a lot of thoughtful ideas. It has a zippered pocket that is great for your wallet/phone. You want that stuff close by and safe but you don’t need it during the ride per se. It looks great and feels great and now its on sale for $110 if they have your size.

Rapha Essentials case $65 — this is a good stocking stuffer assuming you are okay with spending $65 for a stocking stuffer. This murse (I am calling it as I see it) will hold your wallet and your phone easily unless you have one of those dorky, giant Samsung phablets. I love mine.

End of summer reviews

Catlike Kompacto Helmet

This is one fine helmet. I have one fat head and this helmet in size large fits, is light and very comfortable, and the straps are very easy to adjust. The helmet is cool in the heat with large vents in the front with a very well-thought out screens to keep out bugs, bees, etc. It does not look as unique as the high-end helmet, the Whisper and the Whisper Plus but it is also half the price.

Backcountry

Swift Industries Roll Top Panniers

These panniers are great looking, very roomy, and very, very well-built. On the 7-day Inn-to-Inn trip, they easily held my bike clothes (2 pair bike shorts, 5 jerseys, socks, rain jacket, and light wool top) in one pannier and my off-bike clothes (2 pair shorts, 4 shirts, and a pair of shoes for off bike) with plenty of room to spare in the other pannier. They easily pack and unpack and considering they are made of waxed canvas they are pretty light. They are lined with vinyl so they are completely waterproof. Nancy has the codura panniers and they are lighter. The front of the bag has a small zippered pouch that held spare tires (2) on one side and a medical kit on the other side. They have a rear-facing pouch that easily held a spare water bottle — Kleen Kanteen. These rear-facing pouches also had a reflective stripe. I would heartily recommend these bags! They also have a ‘notch’ on the front side to avoid heel strike. I have the standard mounting mechanism and they mount and dismount easily.

Swift Industries

Rapha Club Jersey

Somewhere along the route

I am a fan of wool jerseys and shorts but not a fan of scratchy wool. These jerseys are a wool polyester blend that looks great, wicks great in the heat, not scratchy in the least and best of all, has a zippered pocket on the right side. I love by Ibex Duo shorts but don’t think the short-sleeved jerseys are very good looking. These are pretty expensive if you don’t get them on sale and I cannot say at this point how long they last. I have synthetic jerseys going on ten years old that don’t look like they have ever been worn. If I am that lucky with these, they would be a great deal.

Rapha

Edge 810

Garmin Edge 810 Review

I recently upgraded from the Garmin Edge 500 to the new Edge 810. The 500 was a great bike computer on the bike. I loved it. The Edge 500 was the second Garmin I had. I had the original 200 and it was horrible but I think my expectations were unrealistic. The 200 lost signal in Kansas — without a tree to be found and the home state of Garmin — and could not hold a week’s tour worth of data. I was hooked on the idea of not having to screw with a damn bike “computer” again.

Then Garmin released the 500; the 500 was small, worked great, and the battery lasted 10–14 hours in very unscientific testing. I managed to lose one and promptly went out to buy a second one I loved the thing that much. The only thing I hated about the 500 was the need to connect to my Mac. I don’t know who is at fault, Apple or Garmin but the connection between the 500 and my Macbook always sucked. I would alternate between Safari and Chrome, reboot multiple times and maybe every 10 tries, I could get them to connect. Since the only way to get updates onto the 500 or data off of the 500 was that damn connection. if you normally use a Mac, I would pass on the 500. Just my $0.02.

When I saw the news that the new 510 and 810 would connect via iPhone, I was very excited. The one sticking point I had with the Garmin was solved. Due to an unexpected gift at work, I acquired the 810 and sold my 500 via eBay. I have had the 810 for about ten weeks now and I would heartily recommend it. The 810 is very pricey @ $499 compared to the 500/510 price ($249/329 but you get two nice upgrades. The color screen which is quite nice even in direct sunlight and some incredibly detailed maps (assuming that you get the Garmin City SD card $66 — if you got this far in the review, you might as well go all in…)

Last weekend, Nancy and I did Glenwood to New Windsor route from Ride With GPS. Saturday was a beautiful day and it is a 52-mile ride. The GPS worked flawlessly. It successfully notified me of every turn well before the turn both visually and audibly. It also notified me of places of interest (food, etc) as we were passing. This was great.

This GPS is a great upgrade from the 500 assuming you have $570 burning a hole in your pocket. if not, I would look at the 510 or the 500.

For a really detailed review, please see DC Rainmaker.

Update:

This thing ruled on the Adventure Cycling Lake Champlain ride. It accurately called out every turn with plenty of time to spare. Our fearless leader — who was excellent but that is another post — routinely asked me where we were mileage-wise. He trusted my device.

Road ID iPhone App For Cyclists And Runners

Road ID is a great product. See John’s Wrecked! post where he mentions how useful it was in the ER. All Seasons Cyclist posted about the company’s new free app that lets you select others who can track your progress. You can set it to send a alert if you don’t move for 5 minutes. Great idea!

Consulting Commute Via Brompton

My commute is very different now, since my transformation from over 30+ years working full-time to becoming my own boss. As in, most days, I walk across the hall. The up side is the huge quality of life gain. That 3+ hours per day commuting is a thing of the past. One down side is that if I don’t prioritize getting out for a ride, the day can slip away with no bike time at all.

This Tuesday was a deviation from my new routine, with a full day meeting in DC. I decided to build a bike ride into the day, doing my old multi-modal commute with a new twist. This time I would use my Brompton, as I no longer have the bikes I used to use at either end of the train ride.

Acting on this decision involved overcoming several fears:

1. That the Brompton would be too heavy, causing me to fall going up or coming down the train’s steep steps.
2. That the train would be crowded and I wouldn’t be able to find a spot to sit or stand with bike.
3. That I’d have trouble making the very steep hills at the end of the home-bound trip.

As it turned out, there were 2 surprises, one pleasant, one unpleasant, two unfounded fears and one that was dead accurate.

The pleasant surprise: there has been progress apace with the Halethorp MARC station renovations. There’s a raised platform! And a ramp! Happy days.

That took care of worry #1 for the southbound trip. As to worry #2, at 6:30 on a June morning, the train wasn’t crowded. No problem finding a suitable spot for me and the bike.

The unpleasant surprise: the 1-hour delay on the trip in. When we finally arrived it was at one of the low platforms (see fear #1). Turned out I am strong enough to carry the bike down the steps from the train. No problem.

I parked in the office building’s great indoor bike parking. The Brompton looks quite happy here, doesn’t it? Though if doing this again, I would bring the bike in with me. That would let me lighten my bag since I wouldn’t need the lock.

As one of the first passengers boarding the express train home, it was easy to find a good spot. This time, there were no delays. So what about fear #3? To my chagrin, I had to hop off the bike and walk for a few minutes. I can’t blame the bike, as it’s got 6 gears and is intended for hillier and longer rides. Was it due to my lingering leg soreness from the previous weekend’s rides? The somewhat heavily-loaded C-bag? Both of these things? No matter, it was the least problematic of the 3 fears.

Bottom line: I would do it again for occasional trips to DC. I can’t see myself commuting this way on a daily basis, but then I don’t have to. Do you do regular multi-modal commutes with a folding bike? What do you find to be the pros and cons of commuting this way?

Papa got some new shoes

This spring I got new pedals for first the commuter bike (Rivendell Atlantis) and then the roadie bike (Rivendell Rambouillet). They are the VP Components Thin Gripster pedals. In addition to the new pedals, I got new shoes, the Chrome Storm Truk sneakers. The sneakers are made of waterproof cotton duck.

On the Atlantis, I also have the Hold Fast straps. Here is how it looks on the Atlantis. Yes, I did get ‘matching’ strap colors. Sue me…

I love the sneakers and pedals. I cannot say enough good things about them. The sneakers are comfortable, stylish, and very grippy. I used to have the Chrome Kursk sneakers and they were nice but not this grippy. I have ridden in a light rain, I stayed on the pedals, and my feet stayed reasonably dry. It was not a deluge but still, they did as advertised. Staying on the pedals is key since we seem to do the Bon Ton Roulet in monsoon rains every year.

The Hold Fast straps, I have a love/hate relationship. When my feet are in the straps, they work great at keeping the pedal and my foot as one very comfortably. My feet can move around a bit and still maintain contact. My biggest gripe is that my left foot is my moving foot. I take that one out at lights and stop signs and then reinsert it. It is a major pain in the ass about half the time to get my foot back in the damn strap. It collapses and I am stuck in traffic trying to wedge my foot into the strap. Sliding your foot in is problematic since the pedals have spikes to enhance grip and prevent sliding. About 10% of the time, I have to resort to reaching down and pulling it on. It could just be me but it is a pain…

I would give a huge thumbs up to both the pedals and the sneakers. They are amazing. The straps could be me or maybe I am not used to them yet but I keep debating removing them since they can be such a pain and the busier the road, the more likely they will need assistance.

Review – New Handlebar Set Up

This is how it looks:

New Components for ANT

This is how it feels: great! It took a while and I’ll skip the long story. John posted about it previously. The end result is after swapping out my Albatross bars and bar end shifters for this new setup I am a happy cyclist. Actually I very much liked the previous components too but was ready to try a change. The new riding position feels comfortable and seems to give more power for handling our hilly terrain. The brifters offer a comfortable reach to the brake levers and easy shifting. The interrupter levers give easy access when quick action is needed, or when I just don’t feel like reaching forward. The leather handlebar tape looks great and is comfortable with or without gloves.

I’ve found just 1 downside to this change. There’s not much real estate left on these bars. This has caused me to rethink light placement and I can’t attach a handlebar bag or basket. As you can see, I do have a front rack, so the workaround is obvious.

Overall, a successful change. So far my longest ride with the new configuration is about 15 miles. More comments after I use it on a longer ride.

2012 Bicycle Commuter Gift Recommendations

Finishing up your holiday shopping? Here’s some products we recommend:

Light and Motion Urban 200 Combo

I bought this as two items but both lights are excellent for the cycling commuter on your list. Each light lasts @ 8 hours before recharging. The Urban 200 headlight is a very nice ‘to see’ light. My commute involves some pitch black riding with no street lights and the Urban 200 does a very nice job of lighting the road or trail. [jb]

Light and Motion Vis360

I got this when it was on sale locally this summer. For a small and light set up, it does a great job. It does not weigh much on the helmet — I don’t really notice it at all — and throws a lot of light. Either of these combos would be great for commuting in a decently lit area and the two together are unbelievably great. [jb]

Velo-Orange Grand Cru leather handlebar tape

I use this on my a Nitto Dream drop bars on the Rivendell Atlantis. I love the feel of this tape and I frequently don’t use gloves during the summer and it is very comfortable and never feels slimy. It looks great on the bike too! [jb]

Ibex Arrivee bibs

I am not a huge bib shorts fan. I tend to need to go to the bathroom more frequently than most and bibs suck with that. These fit great and are really quite easy to maneuver for going to the bathroom. I have used these all through the summer and now through December. They are great in the heat and as the weather gets cooler they have been nice and cozy. I have used these on 50+ mile days and they are the most comfortable shorts I own. [jb]

Ibex Momentum Vest

I bought this last spring on a blowout sale. In 2011, Nancy and I had done the Bon Ton Roulet and it rained like four days out of seven. I am not a big fan of the full jacket in the summer time since I end up sweating profusely and still end up drenched. This keeps my core warm and is bright orange with reflective stripe in the rear. It has a small ‘phone’ pocket at chest level and one rear pocket on the right side. It keeps you pretty dry considering that it is a vest and it definitely keeps you warm. It is great when the weather turns cooler since it is warm and blocks the wind too. I use it during my winter commute when I need to be seen and need to block the wind. It is amazingly versatile. [jb]

Big Agnes Bighouse 4 tent

While not biking related directly, I got this for the 2012 Bon Ton Roulet. This tour carries all of your stuff so the the weight and size of this tent was not an issue. Having said that, this tent packs up very small and for its size, it is pretty light. This tent is very spacious for two people. We each had a huge bag and two sleeping bags and there was still a lot of room. If you are under 5’8″ or so, you can stand in the tent. We had two huge storms during the tour with 20–30 mph winds. The tent held up great. It bent but did not break.[jb] And it kept us dry! [nls]

Sealline iPhone case

I bought this after the the 2011 débâcle where I submerged my iPhone during a monsoon. This will keep your phone dry whether from a rain storm or from sweat. You can use this inside the case but I don’t usually. I feel completely comfortable sticking this in a back pocket no matter what the weather and knowing that my iPhone is safe from water. [jb]

Arkel Tail Rider Trunk Sack

After the above-mentioned very rainy Bon Ton Roulet tours, I wanted something that would keep my gear dry. My beautiful waxed canvas trunk sack could not stand up to that much rain.  So far, I’ve used it for commuting and local weekend rides.  I haven’t used it in heavy rain yet so no personsal comments on the its waterproof qualities. However it has water proof zippers and an integrated rain cover. It holds a day’s worth of commuting gear nicely  so long as you’re not carrying a laptop or bulky clothes. Because it attaches with strong velcro straps it works nicely for a multi-modal commute. I keep one pannier on the rack of each the 2 bikes that are part of the commute. The Tail Rider fastens over them with a bit of maneuvering and stays securely attached. [nls]

Ibex Momentum Jacket

This is a comfortable,  nice-looking jacket  well suited for on and off-bike use on cool or drizzly days.I’ve used the hood under my bike helmet. It fit fine, didn’t interfere with vision and added some welcome warmth on colder, rainy days. On those in-between 50ish degree days where you start out chilly but get really warm on uphill stretches I’ve ended up removing it. So far we haven’t had any real winter weather, so I can’t comment on how it is as the temperature dips below the 40s.  I don’t know how it would be in a real downpour; haven’t worn it yet in those conditions. [nls]

Topeak Whitelite DX Headlight

This  bright, rechargeable be-seen light lasts up to 100 hours between charges, which is awesome.  The rubber strap is snug enough for my Brompton handlebars and flexible enough for standard width bars as well. Because it’s so easy to remove and attach, this light is great for city commutes when you don’t want to leave lights on your parked bike. [nls]

And finally…

Timbuk2 Pinch Phone Wallet

What a great idea. A water proof phone holder that lets you use the phone without removing it. It has three slots in the back for carrying money, id or credit cards.  Great for cycling and for off-bike use as well. [nls]