Disposable Crankset

A coworker of mine recently purchased a Giant townie bike for getting a little fitness riding in. He decided that he needed longer cranks. Taking into account his bottom bracket type and current chainring configuration, I recommended these from the QBP catalog:

They arrived over the weekend and we installed them today.

Totally offensive. The chainrings are riveted onto the crank arm. For that matter, so were the nameless ones that came with the bike. That means, if any one chain ring becomes bent or worn, the whole right crank assembly must be replaced. How much more effort would it be to throw fasteners instead of rivets in there?

Review - MUSA Knickers

I finally bought myself a pair of MUSA Knickers. They had gone off the market for a while but when a coworker's search for authentic fabric handlebar tape brought me back to the Rivendell web site, I saw that they were being sold again. I snapped up a pair, not knowing how long the current run would stay on the shelves. I thought about taking a picture of myself wearing them, but not having a convenient tripod, and also not willing to become a groin and thigh model, I chose to steal one from Rivendell:

Please keep in mind, I'd never wear them with those sneakers. The fabric is a light nylon that will be wind proof in winter, quick drying in the rain and not too heavy for spring/fall. The only complaint so far is that the fabric is a little slippery on my faux leather WTB saddle. I'm sure Rivendell would tell me to switch to a Brooks cow hide saddle, but I imagine that be even more slippery. They're less technical and also much less expensive than Chrome Shins and also more outdoor worthy than the Sheila Moon Cotton Britches. However, unlike the Britches or Shins, I will definitely not be stylish enough to ride to the Goldsprints in SF with them on. Up until now, I've been wearing a pair of Endura knickers and have an issue with the sizing. Apparently the British are a little thick in the midlands because my size large fits like a size XL. One other benefit, MUSA stands for Made in the USA. While you can feel good about buying products from Chrome or Sheila Moon, I can't say the same for Endura products. Just read these excerpts from the slip of paper that came with my new drawers:

Very cool.

Wireless Fetish

Why put a wireless cycle computer on a road bike? The front wheel doesn't move much in relation to the handlebars as on a suspended mountain bike, and the thin wire can't possibly weigh more than the battery required to run the transmitter. Trek is now integrating wireless transmitters into the forks of their road bikes. It seems wrong to have to use a screw driver to change the batteries on your bike. Bikes don't need batteries. However, Shimano seems to think so.

I do dig that Gary Fisher road bikes have fender mounts now...

And, what is this? A stealthy pie plate?

Give George Yellow

Hey, I love fair play as much as the next guy, and that's why I can't endorse this project to make a big deal out of George Hincapie not obtaining the yellow jersey on Stage 14 of this year's Tour De France.

Racing's racing and the clock doesn't lie.

I'm reminded of a mountain bike race I entered not long ago where a pro level woman chose to race in my (male, non-pro level) category. She took 3rd, bumping me off the podium. It was a non sanctioned race though so there wasn't much I could do about it except choose not to participate in the next race in the series. Well, spurred on by that disapointment, I trained hard and came back to win the next event. Hincapie has had a long career full of opportunity, being on great teams, surrounded by great talent. Plenty of chances to prove himself.

nippleworks usually covers bike technology, but we've been posting more road race related info on the twitter feed: http://twitter.com/nippleworks

Smart Company for Smart Buyers

I love it when a business treats its customers as intelligent clients, rather than 'consumers'. Cattle are consumers.

Case in point - Look. The page on the KEO pedals gives real details about the reliability testing they perform. It feels good to buy a critical component from a company that brags about reliability.

Lawyer Lips in the TDF

What's this? Do I see Lawyer Lips on the fork of Alberto Contador's Trek Madone? What's going to happen when the Mavic Neutral Support mechanic jumps out of his Saab estate car or off the back of his BMW GS bike, front wheel in hand, and kneels down to quickly change Contador's puncture just to find the wheel caught behind some stupid metal tabs? Lost seconds, that's what.

Proof the 650 area code is a road cycling haven

As seen in the office window of a construction company.

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