[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Hi there Eric. We just found a beautiful farmhouse to renovate that seems close to where this ride took place. We are in Facquier County near the town of Orleans and can attest that for any ride, forecast 100 feet of climbing per mile. I am interested in knowing more about your route, understanding that you did much of it by feel, and not via Strava or RidewithGPS. Similarly, I can attest that using the same triple you formerly employed on your Sam gives me all the gearing needed, but does cause me to do a LOT of awkward shifting. You solution with the compact is intriguing particularly since there is often little need for the higher gears on the large chainring - there are really no gradual hills out here; its either up or steep down. When you write such a great piece it should be expected people will want to replicate it. Thanks for doing it. On Monday, August 15, 2022 at 9:52:21 AM UTC-4 eric...@gmail.com wrote: > Shenandoah Foothills > 47 miles, 5,380 feet > Clear. Low 60s in the morning, warming to the high 70s, humidity at 50% > and below. > > August in Virginia is typically a warm and uncomfortable month with > average temperatures in the mid 80s and often creeping into the upper 90s. > Humidity is unpleasantly high as well. The past few weeks were particularly > oppressive with humidity averaging around 70% (and often much higher) and > temperatures reaching the 90s most days. These temps have forced the smart > riders to depart at first light, drenched to the bone before 8AM. > > We had a break from all of that this weekend with temperatures dipping > into a realm of unseasonable deliciousness. Low humidity, a cool morning > starting in the high 50s and a max temperature around 80º had this Saturday > looking too good to pass by unridden. > > I recently swapped out the drivetrain on my Hillborne. I had been running > a Sugino XD2 with a 48/36/24, a Shimano 11-36 9-speed cassette, a plain > silver Shimano Ultegra front mech and a Shimano Deore XT M771 rear > derailer. These worked just fine but I found the chainrings left me > shifting at awkward intervals and I'd been wanting to try a compact double. > > So I changed in a SunXCD crank with 42/26 chainrings from TA Specialites > purchased from Jitensha Studio in Berkeley. Because I found the Shimano > mechs were too ugly for my liking I sought out a Suntour Cyclone GT rear > and a Cyclone front derailer. These lovely workhorses seemed more > appropriate for the bike. I installed one of the new S-Ride 7-speed > cassettes from Soma Fab Shop, made with input from Rivendell. The movement > and tooth capacity of the rear Cyclone didn't agree with a 9-speed > cassette. And I swapped my MKS XC-III bear-trap pedals for MKS Sylvan > Gorditos specified by Crust. The bear-traps were uncomfortable for my very > wide feet. > > A friend sent me a used set of Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass tires in the > extralight casing, which I hadn't tried before. I'd been running the same > in the standard casing for about a year. The new-to-me tires were buttery > smooth and I had no issues or flats during my ride. > > Lately I have been enjoying Jobst Brandt's alpine tour reports with > sensational views, grand distances and unfathomable amounts of climbing. > I've also been reading Ray Hosler's collection of diaries from riding with > Brandt around the Santa Cruz Mountains in the 1980s. So inspired I made up > a route for myself that incorporated a few tough climbs on some of my > favorite roads. The length and elevation gain of my route doesn't compare > to their marathon rides. > > From the start I began a three-mile climb over loose, unpaved road with > sections pitching up over 16% grade. I enjoy the challenge of making this > climb in one go but there is a shoulder with a wide mountain view that I > always end up stopping for. Pedaling up the climb, and some of the steepest > stuff I know, was manageable with my new gearing. I enjoy dumping the chain > from the 42-tooth to the 26-tooth ring when the going gets going. > Throughout the ride I had appropriate gearing to make it through without > much trouble. > > [image: 20220813A 03.jpg] > > At the top of this hill, at an elevation of 1,300 feet, I took a rest for > some water. Though I had ridden fewer than four miles I decided to have > half of the sandwich I'd packed: peanut butter, banana, honey, coconut > flakes and salt on sourdough bread. As a fat burner I was worried how the > carbohydrates would treat me and concerned they would occasion bonking, > which I don't experience on rides. My engine runs best when I don't eat > bread, sugar, grain and the rest but I'd been craving a sandwich like this > for weeks. It was a pleasure and I suffered no ill effects. > > As I started on my descent, my shirt damp with sweat, I was reminded of > how lovely the weather was. The air was cool and comfortable. Such a gift > and a relief from the weather
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Thanks, Brendon! On Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 9:05:07 PM UTC-4 brendonoid wrote: > Oh man, I almost missed this amazing ride report between all the FS posts. > Such a great write up! Thank you again Eric for all your thoughtful > contributions to this community. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/01844154-cb43-45f7-90c4-b64dfb344f3cn%40googlegroups.com.
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Thanks, Pat! It's lovely and worth working towards :) Scott — Ah, I really did mean to include this info in the ride report. I'm running the S-Ride 7speed 11-32. The max cog size listed for the Cyclone is 34 so I went on the safe side. I'm not sure about the tab extension for the 13-42 and you Altus. My first suggestion would be to call Rivendell. The second suggestion is to start a thread here to field experience. On Friday, August 19, 2022 at 11:51:02 AM UTC-4 greenteadrinkers wrote: > Amazing ride report! > > QQ regarding your drivetrain overhaul, of the S-Ride 7-speed cassettes, > which did you choose? > > I also recently overhauled the drivetrain on my Sam as well from a V/O > wide double to a Sugino XD2 - bash-guard / 40 / 24 with the S-Ride 7 speed > 11-36. The RD is a new Altus. Wondering how a 13-42 7-speed would work on a > Sam, assuming one would need a RD tab extender? > > Scott - Amherst, MA > > On Friday, August 19, 2022 at 10:47:14 AM UTC-4 pbsm...@gmail.com wrote: > >> Incredible report! As a DCist I long to get out to Shenandoah more and >> also wish I had the legs and cardio and endurance to do something like >> this. >> >> Pat in DC >> >> On Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 9:05:07 PM UTC-4 brendonoid wrote: >> >>> Oh man, I almost missed this amazing ride report between all the FS >>> posts. >>> Such a great write up! Thank you again Eric for all your thoughtful >>> contributions to this community. >>> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/0d0b34e3-0d71-4d3e-bc93-c4b1967d1d93n%40googlegroups.com.
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Thanks, Pat! It's lovely and worth working towards :) Scott — Ah, I really did mean to include this info in the ride report. I'm running the S-Ride 7speed 11-32. The max cog size listed for the Cyclone is 34 so I went on the safe side. I'm not sure about the tab extension for the 13-42, my first suggestion would be to call Rivendell. The second suggestion is to start a thread here to field experience. On Friday, August 19, 2022 at 11:51:02 AM UTC-4 greenteadrinkers wrote: > Amazing ride report! > > QQ regarding your drivetrain overhaul, of the S-Ride 7-speed cassettes, > which did you choose? > > I also recently overhauled the drivetrain on my Sam as well from a V/O > wide double to a Sugino XD2 - bash-guard / 40 / 24 with the S-Ride 7 speed > 11-36. The RD is a new Altus. Wondering how a 13-42 7-speed would work on a > Sam, assuming one would need a RD tab extender? > > Scott - Amherst, MA > > On Friday, August 19, 2022 at 10:47:14 AM UTC-4 pbsm...@gmail.com wrote: > >> Incredible report! As a DCist I long to get out to Shenandoah more and >> also wish I had the legs and cardio and endurance to do something like >> this. >> >> Pat in DC >> >> On Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 9:05:07 PM UTC-4 brendonoid wrote: >> >>> Oh man, I almost missed this amazing ride report between all the FS >>> posts. >>> Such a great write up! Thank you again Eric for all your thoughtful >>> contributions to this community. >>> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e16ca54f-e9c0-4e06-a829-11eb6f3c9782n%40googlegroups.com.
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Amazing ride report! QQ regarding your drivetrain overhaul, of the S-Ride 7-speed cassettes, which did you choose? I also recently overhauled the drivetrain on my Sam as well from a V/O wide double to a Sugino XD2 - bash-guard / 40 / 24 with the S-Ride 7 speed 11-36. The RD is a new Altus. Wondering how a 13-42 7-speed would work on a Sam, assuming one would need a RD tab extender? Scott - Amherst, MA On Friday, August 19, 2022 at 10:47:14 AM UTC-4 pbsm...@gmail.com wrote: > Incredible report! As a DCist I long to get out to Shenandoah more and > also wish I had the legs and cardio and endurance to do something like > this. > > Pat in DC > > On Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 9:05:07 PM UTC-4 brendonoid wrote: > >> Oh man, I almost missed this amazing ride report between all the FS posts. >> Such a great write up! Thank you again Eric for all your thoughtful >> contributions to this community. >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/21c53896-797d-47e1-aa33-1b2e2dd919b7n%40googlegroups.com.
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Incredible report! As a DCist I long to get out to Shenandoah more and also wish I had the legs and cardio and endurance to do something like this. Pat in DC On Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 9:05:07 PM UTC-4 brendonoid wrote: > Oh man, I almost missed this amazing ride report between all the FS posts. > Such a great write up! Thank you again Eric for all your thoughtful > contributions to this community. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a468f9bf-4fd0-49b2-8a91-8d3fc0460a8fn%40googlegroups.com.
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Oh man, I almost missed this amazing ride report between all the FS posts. Such a great write up! Thank you again Eric for all your thoughtful contributions to this community. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/28277325-bd3f-4385-aaa1-c1124891bdc7n%40googlegroups.com.
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Great question, John. I did indeed change the bottom bracket. I went from a 117mm to a 113mm. The clearance is pretty nuts, the chainring bolts just clear the chainstay, I can slide an index card between the two and that's it. On Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 3:14:52 PM UTC-4 John Hawrylak wrote: > Eric > > Great ride report. One question: Did you install a shorter BB when you > changed cranks from the Sugino XD2 triple to the SunXCD double?? > > John Hawrylak > Woodstown NJ > > On Monday, August 15, 2022 at 9:52:21 AM UTC-4 eric...@gmail.com wrote: > >> Shenandoah Foothills >> 47 miles, 5,380 feet >> Clear. Low 60s in the morning, warming to the high 70s, humidity at 50% >> and below. >> >> August in Virginia is typically a warm and uncomfortable month with >> average temperatures in the mid 80s and often creeping into the upper 90s. >> Humidity is unpleasantly high as well. The past few weeks were particularly >> oppressive with humidity averaging around 70% (and often much higher) and >> temperatures reaching the 90s most days. These temps have forced the smart >> riders to depart at first light, drenched to the bone before 8AM. >> >> We had a break from all of that this weekend with temperatures dipping >> into a realm of unseasonable deliciousness. Low humidity, a cool morning >> starting in the high 50s and a max temperature around 80º had this Saturday >> looking too good to pass by unridden. >> >> I recently swapped out the drivetrain on my Hillborne. I had been running >> a Sugino XD2 with a 48/36/24, a Shimano 11-36 9-speed cassette, a plain >> silver Shimano Ultegra front mech and a Shimano Deore XT M771 rear >> derailer. These worked just fine but I found the chainrings left me >> shifting at awkward intervals and I'd been wanting to try a compact double. >> >> So I changed in a SunXCD crank with 42/26 chainrings from TA Specialites >> purchased from Jitensha Studio in Berkeley. Because I found the Shimano >> mechs were too ugly for my liking I sought out a Suntour Cyclone GT rear >> and a Cyclone front derailer. These lovely workhorses seemed more >> appropriate for the bike. I installed one of the new S-Ride 7-speed >> cassettes from Soma Fab Shop, made with input from Rivendell. The movement >> and tooth capacity of the rear Cyclone didn't agree with a 9-speed >> cassette. And I swapped my MKS XC-III bear-trap pedals for MKS Sylvan >> Gorditos specified by Crust. The bear-traps were uncomfortable for my very >> wide feet. >> >> A friend sent me a used set of Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass tires in the >> extralight casing, which I hadn't tried before. I'd been running the same >> in the standard casing for about a year. The new-to-me tires were buttery >> smooth and I had no issues or flats during my ride. >> >> Lately I have been enjoying Jobst Brandt's alpine tour reports with >> sensational views, grand distances and unfathomable amounts of climbing. >> I've also been reading Ray Hosler's collection of diaries from riding with >> Brandt around the Santa Cruz Mountains in the 1980s. So inspired I made up >> a route for myself that incorporated a few tough climbs on some of my >> favorite roads. The length and elevation gain of my route doesn't compare >> to their marathon rides. >> >> From the start I began a three-mile climb over loose, unpaved road with >> sections pitching up over 16% grade. I enjoy the challenge of making this >> climb in one go but there is a shoulder with a wide mountain view that I >> always end up stopping for. Pedaling up the climb, and some of the steepest >> stuff I know, was manageable with my new gearing. I enjoy dumping the chain >> from the 42-tooth to the 26-tooth ring when the going gets going. >> Throughout the ride I had appropriate gearing to make it through without >> much trouble. >> >> [image: 20220813A 03.jpg] >> >> At the top of this hill, at an elevation of 1,300 feet, I took a rest for >> some water. Though I had ridden fewer than four miles I decided to have >> half of the sandwich I'd packed: peanut butter, banana, honey, coconut >> flakes and salt on sourdough bread. As a fat burner I was worried how the >> carbohydrates would treat me and concerned they would occasion bonking, >> which I don't experience on rides. My engine runs best when I don't eat >> bread, sugar, grain and the rest but I'd been craving a sandwich like this >> for weeks. It was a pleasure and I suffered no ill effects. >> >> As I started on my descent, my shirt damp with sweat, I was reminded of >> how lovely the weather was. The air was cool and comfortable. Such a gift >> and a relief from the weather we've been experiencing lately. >> >> The sunlight filtering through the trees on this wooded road left the >> surface sun dappled with some obstacles like ruts and fallen branches >> difficult to see in the high contrast situation. I would have ditched my >> sunglasses if they weren't so good at deflecting
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Eric Great ride report. One question: Did you install a shorter BB when you changed cranks from the Sugino XD2 triple to the SunXCD double?? John Hawrylak Woodstown NJ On Monday, August 15, 2022 at 9:52:21 AM UTC-4 eric...@gmail.com wrote: > Shenandoah Foothills > 47 miles, 5,380 feet > Clear. Low 60s in the morning, warming to the high 70s, humidity at 50% > and below. > > August in Virginia is typically a warm and uncomfortable month with > average temperatures in the mid 80s and often creeping into the upper 90s. > Humidity is unpleasantly high as well. The past few weeks were particularly > oppressive with humidity averaging around 70% (and often much higher) and > temperatures reaching the 90s most days. These temps have forced the smart > riders to depart at first light, drenched to the bone before 8AM. > > We had a break from all of that this weekend with temperatures dipping > into a realm of unseasonable deliciousness. Low humidity, a cool morning > starting in the high 50s and a max temperature around 80º had this Saturday > looking too good to pass by unridden. > > I recently swapped out the drivetrain on my Hillborne. I had been running > a Sugino XD2 with a 48/36/24, a Shimano 11-36 9-speed cassette, a plain > silver Shimano Ultegra front mech and a Shimano Deore XT M771 rear > derailer. These worked just fine but I found the chainrings left me > shifting at awkward intervals and I'd been wanting to try a compact double. > > So I changed in a SunXCD crank with 42/26 chainrings from TA Specialites > purchased from Jitensha Studio in Berkeley. Because I found the Shimano > mechs were too ugly for my liking I sought out a Suntour Cyclone GT rear > and a Cyclone front derailer. These lovely workhorses seemed more > appropriate for the bike. I installed one of the new S-Ride 7-speed > cassettes from Soma Fab Shop, made with input from Rivendell. The movement > and tooth capacity of the rear Cyclone didn't agree with a 9-speed > cassette. And I swapped my MKS XC-III bear-trap pedals for MKS Sylvan > Gorditos specified by Crust. The bear-traps were uncomfortable for my very > wide feet. > > A friend sent me a used set of Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass tires in the > extralight casing, which I hadn't tried before. I'd been running the same > in the standard casing for about a year. The new-to-me tires were buttery > smooth and I had no issues or flats during my ride. > > Lately I have been enjoying Jobst Brandt's alpine tour reports with > sensational views, grand distances and unfathomable amounts of climbing. > I've also been reading Ray Hosler's collection of diaries from riding with > Brandt around the Santa Cruz Mountains in the 1980s. So inspired I made up > a route for myself that incorporated a few tough climbs on some of my > favorite roads. The length and elevation gain of my route doesn't compare > to their marathon rides. > > From the start I began a three-mile climb over loose, unpaved road with > sections pitching up over 16% grade. I enjoy the challenge of making this > climb in one go but there is a shoulder with a wide mountain view that I > always end up stopping for. Pedaling up the climb, and some of the steepest > stuff I know, was manageable with my new gearing. I enjoy dumping the chain > from the 42-tooth to the 26-tooth ring when the going gets going. > Throughout the ride I had appropriate gearing to make it through without > much trouble. > > [image: 20220813A 03.jpg] > > At the top of this hill, at an elevation of 1,300 feet, I took a rest for > some water. Though I had ridden fewer than four miles I decided to have > half of the sandwich I'd packed: peanut butter, banana, honey, coconut > flakes and salt on sourdough bread. As a fat burner I was worried how the > carbohydrates would treat me and concerned they would occasion bonking, > which I don't experience on rides. My engine runs best when I don't eat > bread, sugar, grain and the rest but I'd been craving a sandwich like this > for weeks. It was a pleasure and I suffered no ill effects. > > As I started on my descent, my shirt damp with sweat, I was reminded of > how lovely the weather was. The air was cool and comfortable. Such a gift > and a relief from the weather we've been experiencing lately. > > The sunlight filtering through the trees on this wooded road left the > surface sun dappled with some obstacles like ruts and fallen branches > difficult to see in the high contrast situation. I would have ditched my > sunglasses if they weren't so good at deflecting flying insects. Perhaps I > will try some clear, anti-fog safety glasses. I stopped off at an abandoned > homestead to admire the weathered house, cabin and outbuilding with a > chimney built from fieldstone. Throughout the area there are old home sites > where all that remains is the original stone chimney. > > [image: 20220813A 05.jpg] > > Further down I enjoyed a nice, gradual decent
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Thanks, Bob. Yes, right to roam would be lovely and could be really helpful for riders looking to stay off the bigger roads! I've heard that in some Scandi countries (forgive me for not being specific) you can camp in any open space and trespassing is defined as something like "you can get within sight of a home." Corrections and more info welcome. Thanks, Ryan for watchin' and readin'! On Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 1:00:44 PM UTC-4 Ryan wrote: > Yeah...loved the ride reportand , in addition, your build videos are > fun to watch and informative too > > On Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 10:46:29 AM UTC-5 Bob Ehrenbeck wrote: > >> >> Thanks for the superb narrative, gear talk, and beautiful photos, Eric! >> So inspiring! >> >> Now if we only had some right-to-roam laws like in some of the northern >> European countries... >> >> Bob E >> Cranford, NJ >> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/71691835-1206-4e4d-8712-86b87f72ad68n%40googlegroups.com.
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Yeah...loved the ride reportand , in addition, your build videos are fun to watch and informative too On Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 10:46:29 AM UTC-5 Bob Ehrenbeck wrote: > > Thanks for the superb narrative, gear talk, and beautiful photos, Eric! So > inspiring! > > Now if we only had some right-to-roam laws like in some of the northern > European countries... > > Bob E > Cranford, NJ > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/7616aa6a-c8ea-4487-9fd0-0618f894d40dn%40googlegroups.com.
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Thanks for the superb narrative, gear talk, and beautiful photos, Eric! So inspiring! Now if we only had some right-to-roam laws like in some of the northern European countries... Bob E Cranford, NJ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/6f4b8a96-2cad-4831-aa17-5436c36bb8a9n%40googlegroups.com.
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Hi Eric, Nice photographs and sensitively written. Glad you had such a good outing. Since you've been immersed in Jobst Brandt's riding adventures, I'm certain some of your experiences would have been Jobst approved: 1. Unpaved roads 2. The climbs. Not Santa Cruz elevation but climb what you have! 3. Butterflies (Jobst liked to point out birds) 4. Country store 5. Taking a dip wearing your Andiamos. Bonus points for this one! Thank you for sharing your Virginia style "Eric" ride. Well done! Best, Rich in ATL On Monday, August 15, 2022 at 9:52:21 AM UTC-4 eric...@gmail.com wrote: > Shenandoah Foothills > 47 miles, 5,380 feet > Clear. Low 60s in the morning, warming to the high 70s, humidity at 50% > and below. > > August in Virginia is typically a warm and uncomfortable month with > average temperatures in the mid 80s and often creeping into the upper 90s. > Humidity is unpleasantly high as well. The past few weeks were particularly > oppressive with humidity averaging around 70% (and often much higher) and > temperatures reaching the 90s most days. These temps have forced the smart > riders to depart at first light, drenched to the bone before 8AM. > > We had a break from all of that this weekend with temperatures dipping > into a realm of unseasonable deliciousness. Low humidity, a cool morning > starting in the high 50s and a max temperature around 80º had this Saturday > looking too good to pass by unridden. > > I recently swapped out the drivetrain on my Hillborne. I had been running > a Sugino XD2 with a 48/36/24, a Shimano 11-36 9-speed cassette, a plain > silver Shimano Ultegra front mech and a Shimano Deore XT M771 rear > derailer. These worked just fine but I found the chainrings left me > shifting at awkward intervals and I'd been wanting to try a compact double. > > So I changed in a SunXCD crank with 42/26 chainrings from TA Specialites > purchased from Jitensha Studio in Berkeley. Because I found the Shimano > mechs were too ugly for my liking I sought out a Suntour Cyclone GT rear > and a Cyclone front derailer. These lovely workhorses seemed more > appropriate for the bike. I installed one of the new S-Ride 7-speed > cassettes from Soma Fab Shop, made with input from Rivendell. The movement > and tooth capacity of the rear Cyclone didn't agree with a 9-speed > cassette. And I swapped my MKS XC-III bear-trap pedals for MKS Sylvan > Gorditos specified by Crust. The bear-traps were uncomfortable for my very > wide feet. > > A friend sent me a used set of Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass tires in the > extralight casing, which I hadn't tried before. I'd been running the same > in the standard casing for about a year. The new-to-me tires were buttery > smooth and I had no issues or flats during my ride. > > Lately I have been enjoying Jobst Brandt's alpine tour reports with > sensational views, grand distances and unfathomable amounts of climbing. > I've also been reading Ray Hosler's collection of diaries from riding with > Brandt around the Santa Cruz Mountains in the 1980s. So inspired I made up > a route for myself that incorporated a few tough climbs on some of my > favorite roads. The length and elevation gain of my route doesn't compare > to their marathon rides. > > From the start I began a three-mile climb over loose, unpaved road with > sections pitching up over 16% grade. I enjoy the challenge of making this > climb in one go but there is a shoulder with a wide mountain view that I > always end up stopping for. Pedaling up the climb, and some of the steepest > stuff I know, was manageable with my new gearing. I enjoy dumping the chain > from the 42-tooth to the 26-tooth ring when the going gets going. > Throughout the ride I had appropriate gearing to make it through without > much trouble. > > [image: 20220813A 03.jpg] > > At the top of this hill, at an elevation of 1,300 feet, I took a rest for > some water. Though I had ridden fewer than four miles I decided to have > half of the sandwich I'd packed: peanut butter, banana, honey, coconut > flakes and salt on sourdough bread. As a fat burner I was worried how the > carbohydrates would treat me and concerned they would occasion bonking, > which I don't experience on rides. My engine runs best when I don't eat > bread, sugar, grain and the rest but I'd been craving a sandwich like this > for weeks. It was a pleasure and I suffered no ill effects. > > As I started on my descent, my shirt damp with sweat, I was reminded of > how lovely the weather was. The air was cool and comfortable. Such a gift > and a relief from the weather we've been experiencing lately. > > The sunlight filtering through the trees on this wooded road left the > surface sun dappled with some obstacles like ruts and fallen branches > difficult to see in the high contrast situation. I would have ditched my > sunglasses if they weren't so good at deflecting flying insects. Perhaps I > will try some clear,
Re: [RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
Thanks Andy and Steve. Steve: The total mileage and elevation are at the very very top of my post, 47 miles, 5,380 feet. On Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 8:26:34 AM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote: > I also enjoyed your report, do you have total miles and elevation, using > RwGPS recently i find my hilliest rides approach and sometimes surpass > 1000’/10 miles. > Steve > > On Tue, Aug 16, 2022 at 5:36 AM ascpgh wrote: > >> That report makes me want to skip out on my obligations later this week >> and head out on a nice ride. >> >> What makes a bike trip for me is summed up by your recollection and >> appreciation of details of the experience usually lost to those riding pace >> lines, hurrying through similar locales. >> >> I'm less enthralled by the IG feeds of @upland_scuz_contingency who, >> despite the attraction of riding many wonderful places in Virginia, rarely >> appear to appreciate them as they seem bent on segment times and speed. >> Just because your bike has the means to blast through terrain at speed >> doesn't mean it provides the best experience. I have a similar aversion to >> the morphing of otherwise nice trails out in the woods with ramps, created >> drops and jumps because full-SUS enduro bike is able to handle it, (even if >> some riders can't, judging by volume of social media posts) . Not the "hand >> of man" signs I'm interested by when on a ride in the woods. >> >> Riding is a stimulant of all of the senses if you bother. My kind of ride >> report, Eric! >> >> Andy Cheatham >> Pittsburgh >> >> On Monday, August 15, 2022 at 9:52:21 AM UTC-4 eric...@gmail.com wrote: >> >>> Shenandoah Foothills >>> 47 miles, 5,380 feet >>> Clear. Low 60s in the morning, warming to the high 70s, humidity at 50% >>> and below. >>> >>> August in Virginia is typically a warm and uncomfortable month with >>> average temperatures in the mid 80s and often creeping into the upper 90s. >>> Humidity is unpleasantly high as well. The past few weeks were particularly >>> oppressive with humidity averaging around 70% (and often much higher) and >>> temperatures reaching the 90s most days. These temps have forced the smart >>> riders to depart at first light, drenched to the bone before 8AM. >>> >>> We had a break from all of that this weekend with temperatures dipping >>> into a realm of unseasonable deliciousness. Low humidity, a cool morning >>> starting in the high 50s and a max temperature around 80º had this Saturday >>> looking too good to pass by unridden. >>> >>> I recently swapped out the drivetrain on my Hillborne. I had been >>> running a Sugino XD2 with a 48/36/24, a Shimano 11-36 9-speed cassette, a >>> plain silver Shimano Ultegra front mech and a Shimano Deore XT M771 rear >>> derailer. These worked just fine but I found the chainrings left me >>> shifting at awkward intervals and I'd been wanting to try a compact double. >>> >>> So I changed in a SunXCD crank with 42/26 chainrings from TA Specialites >>> purchased from Jitensha Studio in Berkeley. Because I found the Shimano >>> mechs were too ugly for my liking I sought out a Suntour Cyclone GT rear >>> and a Cyclone front derailer. These lovely workhorses seemed more >>> appropriate for the bike. I installed one of the new S-Ride 7-speed >>> cassettes from Soma Fab Shop, made with input from Rivendell. The movement >>> and tooth capacity of the rear Cyclone didn't agree with a 9-speed >>> cassette. And I swapped my MKS XC-III bear-trap pedals for MKS Sylvan >>> Gorditos specified by Crust. The bear-traps were uncomfortable for my very >>> wide feet. >>> >>> A friend sent me a used set of Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass tires in the >>> extralight casing, which I hadn't tried before. I'd been running the same >>> in the standard casing for about a year. The new-to-me tires were buttery >>> smooth and I had no issues or flats during my ride. >>> >>> Lately I have been enjoying Jobst Brandt's alpine tour reports with >>> sensational views, grand distances and unfathomable amounts of climbing. >>> I've also been reading Ray Hosler's collection of diaries from riding with >>> Brandt around the Santa Cruz Mountains in the 1980s. So inspired I made up >>> a route for myself that incorporated a few tough climbs on some of my >>> favorite roads. The length and elevation gain of my route doesn't compare >>> to their marathon rides. >>> >>> From the start I began a three-mile climb over loose, unpaved road with >>> sections pitching up over 16% grade. I enjoy the challenge of making this >>> climb in one go but there is a shoulder with a wide mountain view that I >>> always end up stopping for. Pedaling up the climb, and some of the steepest >>> stuff I know, was manageable with my new gearing. I enjoy dumping the chain >>> from the 42-tooth to the 26-tooth ring when the going gets going. >>> Throughout the ride I had appropriate gearing to make it through without >>> much trouble. >>> >>>
Re: [RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
I also enjoyed your report, do you have total miles and elevation, using RwGPS recently i find my hilliest rides approach and sometimes surpass 1000’/10 miles. Steve On Tue, Aug 16, 2022 at 5:36 AM ascpgh wrote: > That report makes me want to skip out on my obligations later this week > and head out on a nice ride. > > What makes a bike trip for me is summed up by your recollection and > appreciation of details of the experience usually lost to those riding pace > lines, hurrying through similar locales. > > I'm less enthralled by the IG feeds of @upland_scuz_contingency who, > despite the attraction of riding many wonderful places in Virginia, rarely > appear to appreciate them as they seem bent on segment times and speed. > Just because your bike has the means to blast through terrain at speed > doesn't mean it provides the best experience. I have a similar aversion to > the morphing of otherwise nice trails out in the woods with ramps, created > drops and jumps because full-SUS enduro bike is able to handle it, (even if > some riders can't, judging by volume of social media posts) . Not the "hand > of man" signs I'm interested by when on a ride in the woods. > > Riding is a stimulant of all of the senses if you bother. My kind of ride > report, Eric! > > Andy Cheatham > Pittsburgh > > On Monday, August 15, 2022 at 9:52:21 AM UTC-4 eric...@gmail.com wrote: > >> Shenandoah Foothills >> 47 miles, 5,380 feet >> Clear. Low 60s in the morning, warming to the high 70s, humidity at 50% >> and below. >> >> August in Virginia is typically a warm and uncomfortable month with >> average temperatures in the mid 80s and often creeping into the upper 90s. >> Humidity is unpleasantly high as well. The past few weeks were particularly >> oppressive with humidity averaging around 70% (and often much higher) and >> temperatures reaching the 90s most days. These temps have forced the smart >> riders to depart at first light, drenched to the bone before 8AM. >> >> We had a break from all of that this weekend with temperatures dipping >> into a realm of unseasonable deliciousness. Low humidity, a cool morning >> starting in the high 50s and a max temperature around 80º had this Saturday >> looking too good to pass by unridden. >> >> I recently swapped out the drivetrain on my Hillborne. I had been running >> a Sugino XD2 with a 48/36/24, a Shimano 11-36 9-speed cassette, a plain >> silver Shimano Ultegra front mech and a Shimano Deore XT M771 rear >> derailer. These worked just fine but I found the chainrings left me >> shifting at awkward intervals and I'd been wanting to try a compact double. >> >> So I changed in a SunXCD crank with 42/26 chainrings from TA Specialites >> purchased from Jitensha Studio in Berkeley. Because I found the Shimano >> mechs were too ugly for my liking I sought out a Suntour Cyclone GT rear >> and a Cyclone front derailer. These lovely workhorses seemed more >> appropriate for the bike. I installed one of the new S-Ride 7-speed >> cassettes from Soma Fab Shop, made with input from Rivendell. The movement >> and tooth capacity of the rear Cyclone didn't agree with a 9-speed >> cassette. And I swapped my MKS XC-III bear-trap pedals for MKS Sylvan >> Gorditos specified by Crust. The bear-traps were uncomfortable for my very >> wide feet. >> >> A friend sent me a used set of Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass tires in the >> extralight casing, which I hadn't tried before. I'd been running the same >> in the standard casing for about a year. The new-to-me tires were buttery >> smooth and I had no issues or flats during my ride. >> >> Lately I have been enjoying Jobst Brandt's alpine tour reports with >> sensational views, grand distances and unfathomable amounts of climbing. >> I've also been reading Ray Hosler's collection of diaries from riding with >> Brandt around the Santa Cruz Mountains in the 1980s. So inspired I made up >> a route for myself that incorporated a few tough climbs on some of my >> favorite roads. The length and elevation gain of my route doesn't compare >> to their marathon rides. >> >> From the start I began a three-mile climb over loose, unpaved road with >> sections pitching up over 16% grade. I enjoy the challenge of making this >> climb in one go but there is a shoulder with a wide mountain view that I >> always end up stopping for. Pedaling up the climb, and some of the steepest >> stuff I know, was manageable with my new gearing. I enjoy dumping the chain >> from the 42-tooth to the 26-tooth ring when the going gets going. >> Throughout the ride I had appropriate gearing to make it through without >> much trouble. >> >> [image: 20220813A 03.jpg] >> >> At the top of this hill, at an elevation of 1,300 feet, I took a rest for >> some water. Though I had ridden fewer than four miles I decided to have >> half of the sandwich I'd packed: peanut butter, banana, honey, coconut >> flakes and salt on sourdough bread. As a fat burner I was worried how the >> carbohydrates would treat
[RBW] Re: Ride report: Shenandoah foothills
That report makes me want to skip out on my obligations later this week and head out on a nice ride. What makes a bike trip for me is summed up by your recollection and appreciation of details of the experience usually lost to those riding pace lines, hurrying through similar locales. I'm less enthralled by the IG feeds of @upland_scuz_contingency who, despite the attraction of riding many wonderful places in Virginia, rarely appear to appreciate them as they seem bent on segment times and speed. Just because your bike has the means to blast through terrain at speed doesn't mean it provides the best experience. I have a similar aversion to the morphing of otherwise nice trails out in the woods with ramps, created drops and jumps because full-SUS enduro bike is able to handle it, (even if some riders can't, judging by volume of social media posts) . Not the "hand of man" signs I'm interested by when on a ride in the woods. Riding is a stimulant of all of the senses if you bother. My kind of ride report, Eric! Andy Cheatham Pittsburgh On Monday, August 15, 2022 at 9:52:21 AM UTC-4 eric...@gmail.com wrote: > Shenandoah Foothills > 47 miles, 5,380 feet > Clear. Low 60s in the morning, warming to the high 70s, humidity at 50% > and below. > > August in Virginia is typically a warm and uncomfortable month with > average temperatures in the mid 80s and often creeping into the upper 90s. > Humidity is unpleasantly high as well. The past few weeks were particularly > oppressive with humidity averaging around 70% (and often much higher) and > temperatures reaching the 90s most days. These temps have forced the smart > riders to depart at first light, drenched to the bone before 8AM. > > We had a break from all of that this weekend with temperatures dipping > into a realm of unseasonable deliciousness. Low humidity, a cool morning > starting in the high 50s and a max temperature around 80º had this Saturday > looking too good to pass by unridden. > > I recently swapped out the drivetrain on my Hillborne. I had been running > a Sugino XD2 with a 48/36/24, a Shimano 11-36 9-speed cassette, a plain > silver Shimano Ultegra front mech and a Shimano Deore XT M771 rear > derailer. These worked just fine but I found the chainrings left me > shifting at awkward intervals and I'd been wanting to try a compact double. > > So I changed in a SunXCD crank with 42/26 chainrings from TA Specialites > purchased from Jitensha Studio in Berkeley. Because I found the Shimano > mechs were too ugly for my liking I sought out a Suntour Cyclone GT rear > and a Cyclone front derailer. These lovely workhorses seemed more > appropriate for the bike. I installed one of the new S-Ride 7-speed > cassettes from Soma Fab Shop, made with input from Rivendell. The movement > and tooth capacity of the rear Cyclone didn't agree with a 9-speed > cassette. And I swapped my MKS XC-III bear-trap pedals for MKS Sylvan > Gorditos specified by Crust. The bear-traps were uncomfortable for my very > wide feet. > > A friend sent me a used set of Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass tires in the > extralight casing, which I hadn't tried before. I'd been running the same > in the standard casing for about a year. The new-to-me tires were buttery > smooth and I had no issues or flats during my ride. > > Lately I have been enjoying Jobst Brandt's alpine tour reports with > sensational views, grand distances and unfathomable amounts of climbing. > I've also been reading Ray Hosler's collection of diaries from riding with > Brandt around the Santa Cruz Mountains in the 1980s. So inspired I made up > a route for myself that incorporated a few tough climbs on some of my > favorite roads. The length and elevation gain of my route doesn't compare > to their marathon rides. > > From the start I began a three-mile climb over loose, unpaved road with > sections pitching up over 16% grade. I enjoy the challenge of making this > climb in one go but there is a shoulder with a wide mountain view that I > always end up stopping for. Pedaling up the climb, and some of the steepest > stuff I know, was manageable with my new gearing. I enjoy dumping the chain > from the 42-tooth to the 26-tooth ring when the going gets going. > Throughout the ride I had appropriate gearing to make it through without > much trouble. > > [image: 20220813A 03.jpg] > > At the top of this hill, at an elevation of 1,300 feet, I took a rest for > some water. Though I had ridden fewer than four miles I decided to have > half of the sandwich I'd packed: peanut butter, banana, honey, coconut > flakes and salt on sourdough bread. As a fat burner I was worried how the > carbohydrates would treat me and concerned they would occasion bonking, > which I don't experience on rides. My engine runs best when I don't eat > bread, sugar, grain and the rest but I'd been craving a sandwich like this > for weeks. It was a pleasure and I suffered no ill
