Tour of California

[frylock]

This was passing pretty close to my house, so I thought that I'd load up my pack chair and a couple beers and ride down to Jackson Dr. I flubbed the camera work and started filming too late to catch them coming around the first bend. This is a 7% grade, so these guys were hauling the mail!

[frylock]

1. Vanity shot of my Krampus

[TexasProgresive]

3. I see I'm not the only one to use a Brooks.

Is that a B17? I still have an ancient one on my MTB but the one on my road bike broke. I thought the leather would give out first but one rail broke where it bends up to the rear of the saddle. Pretty good for 20+ years. My butt misses that saddle. It was a perfect fit to my less than perfect butt. I put the OEM Cannondale saddle back on my road bike. After a little more than an hour in that saddle I have to take a rest from it. I've been wanting to get a B17 Imperial but I have spent so much money on bicycles this year that I can justify it.

[frylock]

5. Selle Anatomica NSX saddle

Made in Wisconsin. It's the first leather saddle I've ever owned. I was incredibly surprised at how comfortable it was out of the box. I've been mulling over getting one of the Brooks springer saddles to run on this.

[happyslug]

6. Do you know Brooks sell parts for their saddles?

Go to the Brooks web site and you can order parts. I use a B-190 and broke the metal arms and had to buy a replacement.

http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/saddles/

Parts:

http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/spareparts/

Brooks sell the replacement "Frame Assembly" for 22 pounds:



http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/spareparts/frames__+brackets__+etc_/B17+Standard+Frame+Assembly+-+BYB+297/

if you want to you can buy the frame in Titantium for 150 pounds:

http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/spareparts/frames__+brackets__+etc_/B17+Titanium+Frame+Assembly+-+BYB+347/

You still have to pay for shipping but Brooks will ship and the cost is NOT that high, when I went on their web site they stated 6 pounds for shipping. One Pound equal 1.45 dollars today, thus 6 pounds is $8.68, 22 Pounds is $31.91 or a total of $40.59 approximately. It is NOT that hard to replace the frame yourself.

[TexasProgresive]

7. Well I was amazed that the leather didn't break first.

It was in bad shape. The bike had been in storage for 15 years with no attention given to the saddle. The holes were elongated at the rivets and I had to lace the sides together to get it in better shape. I am glad that I got several months of use out of it. It was a real surprise that the rail broke and where it did. I have seen saddle rails break fore or aft of the post clamp and that makes sense.

Anyway if we don't have too many medical expenses this year I will look into a new B-17 Imperial or just a B-17. I think I have one more Brooks break in left in this butt.

[frylock]

8. FYI Bike Bling is having a sale on a lot of their Brooks saddles..

including the B17. I bought a Flyer Special. I don't know how it's going to look on my Krampus. I may get laughed off the trails!

http://www.bikebling.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=brooks+b17

[TexasProgresive]

9. Get behind me,frylock aka Satan. LOL

I never heard of BikeBling before. In looking around their site I found a frame that made my mouth water. My credit card was warmed up and ready to go. Maybe I will just go with a Brooks. You know the formula for bike ownership of n+1? There's always room for one more.


$1040.00

Litespeed T7 Frame 2015: Ride Litespeed's legendary titanium quality and craftsmanship right off the dealer floor. The Litespeed T7 is offered both as a frame or a complete bike with Shimano Ultegra or 105. The T7 frame is made with 3/2.5 titanium and has less aggressive geometry for optimized for comfort and ride fit, thanks to the taller head tube and longer chainstays. Additional frame features such as PF30 BB, 1 1/8' head tube, and the coveted Litespeed head badge, will make you want to ditch carbon for a titanium classic.

or the 2016 built bike for $2,700

Litespeed T7 Rival Bike 2016: The T7 is optimized for performance and comfort, with a taller headtube and slightly longer chainstays. Our Super Sportive geometry, the same that’s found on the T5, allows for a broad range of riders to find their perfect fit. But it’d be wrong to label this as a bike build solely for gran fondos and sportives. It shares the same legendary attention to detail as the rest of our T series, and it could line up for a race at a moment’s notice.

A seamless, cold-worked 3Al/2.5V titanium variable-tapered top tube starts the build. It has our size-specific tube set, so each T7 shares the same great ride characteristics. The PF30 BB is stiff, hassle-free, and compatible with almost any crankset on the market. And finally, the 1 ⅛” head tube is appointed with the artfully machined Litespeed head tube badge -- a symbol of quality for three decades.

[frylock]

10. Sadly, I am all too familiar with the formula for bike ownership.

Currently have five in my stable, and every time I add one, I tell myself THAT'S IT! Yeah, well, now I'm actively searching for a 2014 Surly Pugsley Ops in Canvas Green.





I don't know if I'll find one, or where the hell I'll put it if I do, but the hunt is half the fun!

I LOVE Bike Bling! They're like REI for me. I'll go there intending to pick a specific item, and then end up spending more than I wanted. I was really surprised at the price of some of those saddles. I'm a trails guy, but those Litespeeds are real nice. Good luck in whatever decision you make!

[TexasProgresive]

2. That was fun

Once the lead motorcycle was gone it was amazing to hear the sound my bike makes magnified by all those bikes. And what is that can holding up you bike, a beer can?

[frylock]

4. It was a lot of fun, and the first race I've ever watched.

I cannot believe how fast these guys move. I thought I had given myself enough time to ride down, get set up and settled down before they would ride past, but it was maybe 5 minutes after I arrived that they were zipping by.

Yep yep, beer can. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.