What’s with the leg warmers on top of bib shorts?  I see a couple photos of guys doing that.  Oh the humanity! »

I say embrace your inner Carbone! I have a set of ENVE 6.7 tubulars which are absolutely amazing.  They are more or less my everyday wheels during the summer and nice weather. I use alloy clinchers during the winter and wet weather to avoid premature wea… »

After some IPA fueled texts between myself, the Dutch Monkey and McSqueak, we decided that it was time to take this whole Cogal thing up a notch. More specifically, we’re aiming for this to be the standard for which all others will be judged by.

The date will be August 16th, 2013. We will roll out from Lower Lewis Falls Campground at 0730 on that day as V after VV will be too late a start. There’s a Cat II 14K in, you know, to warm up. Then we’ll get lulled by the speed of an endless decent some 65K long down to the Columbia River. Short trip up the river to White Salmon WA, then we get to go to “work”. A solid 30K of low angle climbing, except right at the end. Screaming fast decent, and of course, another Cat II. I thought it’d be nice to have a short bit of gravelling at the end. So this route is 210Km long with a solid 2700M of climbing. That’s 130 miles and 8800feet of climbing for us Americans that can’t visualize that distance in our head.
This Cogal is not for the faint of heart, and you REALLY need to assess your ability to finish this during daylight hours. This is truly going to be Rule V/VV stuff. There will be no sag wagon, and while there are small towns to refuel at, the last 60K there’s nothing except the occasional car and no cell service. Run out of gas, and you’ll be sleeping in alone, in lycra, in Sasquatch Country and/or poison oak, with just carbon to keep you warm.
Once we figure out the number of people giving this a go, we’ll co-ordinate getting cars/ camping supplies to the campsite at the end. The site is wonderful, but there’s no 5 star, marble showers to be had. A glacier fed river will wash away the day. There will be a keg of the PNW’s finest, and Mrs Scaler, Ms McSqueak, and any other tag-along’s that just want to camp, will have food waiting.
The route is tough, the views second to none, and the suffering: glorious.

@j-d Try a Big Gulp of lighten up Francis. The Rules are a set of informal conventions which far predate Velominati, and every type of subculture has them, no matter how much they are or aren’t outwardly proclaimed.  One could easily create a list of Ru… »

@Gianni Is it even an option to ask if you did in fact put the foot down?  Totally aside the point, of course.  A cliffhanger if I ever read one… »

@frank Thanks!  I’m home now, on holiday with the family.  The snow should clear soon and I will be back at it! Although I miss my Afghan comrades, it’s good to be back! »

Didn’t get to spend much time on the bike this year!  Me and one of our mercenaries, Aldo the Apache: »

@Marcus Agreed!  Total Anti-V Meter, and flying in the face of proper bicycle porn photography practice.  It’s just a picture I pulled off google. »

Doh!  I should have noticed that the 3rd picture of the reviewed wheels showcases the 1st type of valve tape technique described above.  This probably is the best way to go about it, but it takes a good deal of foresight to remember to do it before gluing… »

@Ron I wrapped a layer of tape around the valve stem before mounting the tires on the Enve’s to head off the rattling issue, but didn’t wrap it thick enough to actually hold the valve tightly in the hole of the rim.  The real solution is to push a small… »

@G’rilla I’ve heard of that kit, but I haven’t tried it yet.  One thing that’s nice about DT hubs is that there seems to be a lot of options available, such as the aforementioned kit and easily swappable freehub bodies. I would love to try the 3.4s with C… »

@Marcus Thanks!  I am thinking about trying Conti Comps next time around.  The Vittoria SCs are really nice but I have already incurred a pretty bad cut on the rear and the wear is showing.  They were super easy to mount though, and I hear the opposite ab… »

Nice review!  The ENVE SES wheels really are where it’s at.  I have about 600mi on the 6.7 tubulars and love them.  Your friend did well to tape the valve stems for you – they have a habit of rattling around the valve hole in the rim.  In fact, I misinter… »

Waterproof backpacks are a bit over-rated in my opinion.  I was car free for 2 years and went through the ringer of all manner of commuting configurations. I do have a set of Ortlieb panniers which I use for touring and grocery-getting, and they are certa… »

@frank Care to expound on the True Way for us uninitiated?  Is it out of respect for the RD spring? »

Good post!  I went gumwalls for my first set of tubulars and I am really enjoying the look, in addition to the fantastic quality tire [Corsa SC]. »

@itburns I use the same pump.  I find it to be fantastic, although I have yet to have to use it in emergency.  In ’controlled testing’ I have found it to achieve 90psi in 200 strokes.  Not too bad.  I am a recent convert from the CO2 world.  The followin… »

@frank “…the balding Pedro Muños who is doing a fantastic job demonstrating the Two-Eyed V-Squint.” »

@Marcus Hah! I suppose so.  Ideally a relocation of some ‘equatorial mass’ a bit more northward, along with an increase in strength.  Perhaps it will make for a more impressive Millarcopter when the time comes… »

Timely article! Is there anything to be said for a happy medium which is not just an excuse for being fat?  I am talking about a more well-rounded appearance, perhaps more Boonenesque than Contadorian. I’m currently sitting at 175cm and 69kg, which I’m … »

@razmaspaz, @Oli Thanks! I’m looking to score a 6600 crank on the cheap to retrofit to the BB30 with an adapter.  A little rub on the small-small gears shouldn’t be too bothersome to get over, but I’m glad to hear about it ahead of time.  »

@Ron Check out the Michelin A1 AirComp Latex Tubes.  They seem to fit the bill. @all Any advice on a cheap crankset that would be a good match for 9sp Dura-Ace?  I’m transferring the components from old #1 to new #3 [CAAD9] but I can’t use the octalink … »

Here’s a photo of the Rule #31 tubular kit I’ve been employing as of late: 1.) Pre-glued and folded tubular inside bag, with Lezyne Pressure Carbon Drive rubber-banded to it. Inside the bag with the tubular I also have a tire lever and the tiny valve… »

@Gianni Awesome. I might have to do that to keep renewing this crazy rocket booster sensation. I do love steel frames. Being new to the carbon thing, I must say I was a bit shocked to unbox the frame and wheels. Surely these wafer-thin plasticy thing… »

@Gianni Truth be told, the entire shebang is brand new to me. Went from 80′s italian steel with 9sp Dura Ace and Open Pros to this. Yeah, upgrade is a bit lacking of a description! It’s a two-wheeled revelatory rocket ship! »