sanesh-iyer profile

I ride clipped as well... It's entirely possible that it's placebo effect as I'm on my first pair of Aluminum cranks in about 6 years and I definitely notice I've gotten generally more temperature sensitive in that time. The bar, however, is immediate.

Carbon bars on in fall/winter are huge. I've got nerve relates grip strength issues in my right hand and I find the carbon bar makes a world of difference with the temperature. My feet also get less cold with carbon cranks... And the weight savings is great value as you said.  Other than cranks and bars I'll probably be off the carbon train thanks to cost for a while though!

Andrew, I absolutely agree with you on public street parking in that area (most of those houses have driveways or are big enough to have one anyways). 
About the places to park, I'm aware of them (even though I don't drive...) but the problem is newer users aren't. There needs to be some sort of signage saying "If full, go to Coleman or Braemar".

This came up in a heated Christmas dinner debate between some experienced North Shore trail users and some people newer to the area. The end result:

1) Parking Lots (Fromme, Lynn Headwaters, Mushroom) need to clearly list alternative parking places. Lots of people (new day hikers) apparently don't know about less apparent lots and spaces.

2) Routing. Newer trail users don't know about the different access routes to trails, viewpoints, attractions, etc. They do their due diligence planning a hike, printing a map, etc. However they're understandably uncomfortable starting from a point different to their plan. The Google search result for most popular routes reinforces stress on certain parking areas. 

So, maps at lots and clearly marked alternative lots should help distribute use, maybe?

Mmmmmm Neoshell. Any thoughts on cycling pants or tights Andrew? I'd love something comfortable for MTB & commuting that doesn't get super heavy when wet (a la Windstopper), but is burlier that a lightweight wool. 

Also, my guess is that the most complicated way to manufacture a brake lever is glass fiber with aluminum core. Metallic cores just add weight and complexity. If you're really hankering for a composite lever, measure it up yourself and send it off to Proto3000 to print one for you!

Also, I've seen a fair bit of Di2 MTB stuff out there on consumer bikes... Some on the shore, lots at BCBR, plenty in Quebec, and an incredible amount in the eurozone. Qualitatively, the people I have met who run it typically lack a decent LBS who do good service. Di2 pretty slick, I just can't afford it!

I can!

In the cycling industry, I actually get a sense that there's an aversion to change based on my time in it. The status quo is generally good, so there needs to be strong reasons to change (boost is actually a good idea, so are tapered head tubes, and I even empathize with press fit BBs because carbon, etc). [Royal] we, or the royal you rather because I'm officially an out of industry keyboard warrior, are generally a mechanically inclined group who know about chasing and facing and taps and threads and carbon paste and why they all do and don't make sense. We understand how to make decisions about mechanical things because bikes are mechanically dominated historically. 

Then iBikes come along. There communications protocols and plugs out the Ying yang. Di2 cross compatibility is new to the last few years, and some how still cannot be charged from ebike power. The 18650 battery  cell is used in Tesla's and Laptops and ebikes, yet we end up with >3 different connectors and chargers for a single iBike if we're lucky. Theres no standard for motor or battery mounts, one cannot even upgrade those parts within the same brand often. What I see with the iBike is that nobody is really working towards it as an ecosystem, just a bunch of independent systems. For the cycling industry electronics are new. There's no status quo, and we're exploring new things (connectors, protocols, battery management, etc) so change happens rapidly for even less significant reasons than boost. The outsider brain trust, i.e. those in motorsport who are brought in to work on bikes, I think may not be fully aware of the good standardization and backwards compatibility in cycling

Awesome Andrew, and I think it hits on a key point in cycling. It almost seems like we're splitting (or maybe it's always been there, and I'm just getting woke). At one end, there's the iBike crowd who write off the cost off their bikes as soon as purchased, compatibility, serviceability, and resale value be damned for the sake of performance. And then there's those who dream of owning Titanium hardtails....

That said, I wonder how much the bike-industry-staff demographic has impacted the relatively good compatibility of mechanical components and terrible compatibility of bike electrical systems. When you look at the cross-compatibility problems of electric systems, they stem from companies like Bosch, Yamaha, and Fox (motorsport), and others which come from the OEM Only happy motorsports industries.

.... Mind blown. There's always another trick. Thanks!

Stans Rims, Tape, Sealant, & Maxxis Exo tires = No problemo w/ a hand pump!

Costco wool shirts is back!