Sometime yesterday as Brendan and I rode to the top of Mt. Hamilton I realized I'd lost the wheel. I put in 190 miles last week, finished a self-published book on the Ride to Vegas, made progress on the video, and almost completed a mammoth behind-the-scenes post about the shoot and still I fell behind. The gap started to open up after interbike... and try as I might I just haven't had the legs to close it.
There's no shortage of things to write about. There's Rapha's Fall kit in the closet and no fall weather to shoot it in. With the exception of one major storm we're still enjoying a beautiful indian summer here (and I've got some ridiculous helmet tan lines to prove it). I've got three different brands of trousers to review, Look pedals and my first pair of road shoes to test, a helmet, bib shorts, sunglasses, two cycling caps and various and sundry accessories. All there waiting for me.
With my Garmin 305 on the fritz I've not been tracking mileage diligently since early summer. The Tab is seriously in arrears and the photo gallery needs an update. My apologies to everyone expecting a little more content on Velodramatic, I'd like to be back in the race but for now I'm off the back struggling to get back amongst the cars.
13 Comments
Apology accepted. NOW if you could hook me up with some Rapha kit I may truly forgive you!
Hang in there Michael! 🙂
Imagine what it would be like if you didn’t have so many great things to do, read, write, make. Much worse.
I’ve had similar situations (the last few months and just starting to get back on track), and as long as you are still having fun, don’t be too hard on yourself.
Best,
Jon
I really wouldn’t worry about it at all.
You may be a little behind, but to all of us that sit in anticipation for your next installment it really is worth the wait.
I just wish it was an Indian summer here in the rainy UK. Rapha Rain Jacket anyone?!
Many thanks as usual,
Dan
PS I’m with Dan here, wish we were having some sunshine in the UK! 😀
My recommendation… send the Rapha clothes to me for testing. I have plenty of autumn weather. And just like that… you’d be back in the pack. 🙂
Hey Daniel,
Yes, I shouldn’t complain, it’s a good problem to have. Thanks for the offer to take take things off my hands 😉 At least the weather here has cooled down, though no rain in sight.
I’ve got Fall weather in abundance and I’d judge us to be a very similar size. I can forward my address if that Rapha kit’s just gathering dust…
Also, will you be selling the Ride to Vegas book?
Thanks Richard,
Another offer to take the Rapha problem out of my hands. thank you sir 😉
The Ride to Vegas Book will be for Sale but I’m also hoping to do a “Best of 2009” book before Christmas. It might be more interesting given the overall variety. The myPublisher sample books arrived today and I’m very impressed with the quality. I’ll send you a link so you can look at the almost complete project.
::M
You know how it is…. that long climb you start in hard yet still the incline dictates the pace. You cannot always force your will upon the environ.
You settle in a rythm, take a look around and start to notice the grain of the tarmac, the sound of the branches of trees against each other as the winds cadence cause them to bend and release, that wonderful mix of clean crisp air and warm sun.
Click down and enjoy the ride.
I had a great ride this weekend. The Homestead Speedway Century sponsored by the Everglades Bicycle Club. A lap around the track and out into the everglades and countryside you ride. The sun was hidden behind overcast skies which made for a cool comfortable ride.
My regular Saturday guys did a good job of burning me out within the 1st 20 miles as they took the pace from 23 upwards to 27. After “Losing the Wheel”, I caught on to a slower group at 20 and recovered then jumped to a passing group maintaining a comfortable pace at 22.
Unfortunately, I lost that group at a rest stop while in the can and had to play the same catching and passing or losing of groups for the balance of the ride.
It’s tough to find that magical group thats just your pace.
Ride on.
Michael,
I’ve just recently found your site while looking for information/reviews on Rapha apparel, and I am happy to say that I’ve found everything I needed and more. Your reviews are informative and your photos are excellent…now if only I could somehow acquire a Rapha discount token.
Anyways, I was wondering, since you frequently wear caps under your helmet, is your helmet one size larger than you would normally wear otherwise? I am planning on purchasing a Giro Ionos in the near future (Black/Carbon to go with some also soon-to-purchased Rapha kit), and I am wondering whether I should get one size larger to accommodate caps.
I’m looking forward to more updates soon!
Todd
Hi Todd,
I’ve not had any issue fitting a cap under any of my helmets. I suppose it might come up if you were right on the border line between sizes. Your best bet is to take a cap with you when trying on the Ionos (a baseball cap will do fine for testing… just don’t ever wear a baseball cap on the street ;-). Make sure the retention system clears the cap at the back of your head and actually contacts your skin during the fitting. If it gets hung up on the cap it can make the helmet feel tighter that necessary.
Helmets and shoes look better and more proportional in the smaller sizes. Hopefully you’re one of the lucky people that can fit into a small or medium helmet.
Todd, I doubt you’ll have issue fitting a cap. The thinness of the basic cycling cap is akin to going a little longer without a haircut (I apologize profusely if you are bald).
If you were asking about a winter cap, then you might need to choose your size more carefully.
Buying Rapha is almost as addicting as riding itself. You’ll want to wear it on and off the bike. On a recent trip, I required a light jacket (not for riding, but for weather in general). I grabbed my orange stowaway and stuff it in my bag, only to look up and see a look of despair on my wife’s face. “Don’t you have other jackets to wear around town” she said. I am going to use that comment against her when I need a softshell or bomber jacket.
Hi Mike: Boy do I wish I was riding. It all sounds like hard work, but fun. I will expect a copy of the book in my mail. Right. Love to Julie. Love ya Dad.