Carbo Loading XLX
 

Welcome to June!

I’m riding up to Onyx Summit today, 8,443’ elevation, weather permitting.

And it’s June and I’m in SoCal, I’m tired of saying “weather permitting”!

As you can see I opted to not ride up Onyx. It's pretty cold down here, can't imagine what it's like up there!

I may have stumbled across my new favorite bike brand... Caletti. They make gravel bikes along with the regular assortment but they also have a Road Adventure category which looks intriguing.

This might be the coolest finish I've seen on a Ti bike:
https://caletticycles.com/wp-content...-1500x1000.jpg

@TrojanHorse, the weather was beautiful, cool enough to make climbing comfortable, yet not bad on the descent. I put my light vest on but others just had jerseys and were just a bit cool on the early descent. You’re getting too used to climate controlled cycling on a computer.

it is raining up there this afternoon, but we were off the mountain by 1:15 or so, no problem. @DrIsotope joined us too and he’d brought a gift for you.

Outside is better this time of year, no doubt about it. It is not climate controlled in my house, just have loads of fans, so it can get hot.

Further adventures of the chronically dumb, I got down 38 to Greensport Market, and saw that if I rode straight home I would hit 91.5 miles. This is not acceptable. Looped around U of R, got it to an appropriate number. Regrets are for later.

https://i.imgur.com/q4J6Sli.png

Dang, @DrIsotope, you turned it into a century. Well done! You’ve earned a few donuts!

Trojan, that bike looks really cool. Are those tires like 28s, or like monstercross 50s? I can't tell. And Jones wheels? As in Jones H-bar? If so, I didn't know they made their own wheels.

And finally, I can't decide whether I like that crank. Nope, I think it's ugly.

I remember mentioning to @jimincalif during that slog up the mountain that the weather seemed nice, but was probably the same it had been the other two times we slogged up. So I checked. Now these numbers cover elevations from my house at about 1,350ft to Onyx Summit at 8,443ft, and a ride that takes about 9 hours total, so from perhaps 6am to 3pm. It's hot when I get home. It is June in the desert.

June 01, 2019: Low 50º, High 91º, Avg. 66º
June 09, 2018: Low 53º, High 91º, Avg. 70º
June 10, 2017: Low 48º, High 90º, Avg. 64º

So yesterday was the right in the middle of the three, but at Angelus Oaks was the warmest by about 5º. Also the warmest at the summit. The morning marine layer really evened it out. Beautiful day regardless.

Those appear to be 700x45 WTB Riddlers.

It's a good looking bike, but something tells me it's gawdaful expensive. Like $6k+.

I agree about the crank. I still don't see any reason to go to 1x. Jones is a wheel builder in the LA area somewhere... I looked up his website and it was one of those "send me an email, let's start a dialogue" type things, so I bailed.

The "stock" Ti bike is about 6100 but that one has some extra finishes on it (like the bead blasting to give it that awesome striped look and the anodized logo) that no doubt add another chunk to the total.

24 spokes and disk brakes seems to be a questionable decision. I know with rim brakes, the front wheel doesn't need as many spokes as the rear, how much do disks change the acceptable number of spokes?

I have two sets of disc wheels, and they are coincidentally both 24/24 spokes. From what little I understand, the deeper the wheel, the less spokes required. I've got 15k+ miles on one set (a relatively short 31mm deep,) never even touched the spokes.

@TrojanHorse, I bought a set of RCG 36 wheels from November Bicycles. 36mm deep, carbon disc, they are 24/28 and they say they don’t have a weight limit. So far so good, I got them in December, probably have 1400 miles on them now. For reference I’m weighing in at 202-204 these days.

Interesting.

that bike is HOT, glad I'm a poor guy :lol:

Knocked off a total of about 140 miles during a long weekend tour. Touring bike is being boxed today and shipped to Missoula tomorrow. Excitement and jitters have set in. So much to do.

One of many juvenile, five-striped skinks I saw at the campground this weekend.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...23e484efd7.jpg

You'd be a lot poorer after buying one!

@TrojanHorse dude it's slightly cheaper than the trek Madone 9 disc I saw at the shop last friday with chameleon paint job. I opted for 50% off bibs instead :roflmao:

https://caletticycles.com/product/jk-ti-ar/

Egad! 11k and mechanical Dura Ace? I have no adjectives for that.

I'll stick to my discount Gan I guess... :lol:

first flat with the new rims, folded a 1" brad nail into 90*, scared to pop the tire off and see if it hit carbon. Happened near the work driveway of all places :twitchy:

Ouch!

In other news, my Garmin 830 is winging it's way to me, albeit "late" to use the RubeRad technical term. :lol:

nail didn't mess up the rim, but found out the zipp valve extenders diameter doesn't fit this rim. I may at some time have to file both ends to allow for it to fit. Til than I'll stock up on long valve tubes. Also found out I need two levers to remove the tire. Glad this is all something I'm doing in my office vs on the side of the road :popcorn

Weird. My old skool reynolds don't need any tire levers with my Michelin Pro4 tires. I found that out the hard way... flatted and sitting there looking at my tire-lever-free saddle bag in disgust. It was either do it by hand or make the call of shame.

New ones appear to be different. Probably has to do with "tubeless compatibility"

yah I normally only carry one pedros lever in the bag. I had to go back to the car and get the backup i stick in the door pockets.

Next set of tires after these GK, I'll try to run them tubeless.

I honestly don't think I will be able to change a tube on my new bike's rims. Took me about 25 mins to get the tires on when I got them. They are HED Ardennes+ Black, the rim braking surface is not fun to scrape your knuckles against.

Went for a ride with my new Garmin 830 tonight... charged it, updated it, set it up, loaded the car with my bike, shoes, socks, bottles... donned kit, carpooled with #1 son to water polo practice. Arrived a tad early at 7:45 and thought... (@*&$##, my headlight is still charging. At home.

No ride. Spent the evening crafting a PIP for one of my guys instead. Sigh.

:lol: