Wordless Wednesday :: Pot of Geraniums

Pot of Geraniums. Columbia City, Indiana. September 11, ...Copyright © .. by Rebeckah R. Wiseman.

A Sign of Summers End

Nature provides us with many signals that the end of summer is near. One of those signals is the fireweed - when the top buds blossom forth and the plant goes to seed.

Climbing Salopettes (bibs) and the "NWAlpinist Salopette"

The idea of a bibbed pant is so old to me now that I am a not sure sure how I came to it.



Some where between a hike out Marble canyon from Deltaform in June of 1975 or coming down the cow path after doing PtarmiganRidge in single boots and the resultingfrozen feet that fall certainly had something to do with the thought process.



I do remember finally taking mywool knickers off and walking in my shorts as my thighs were bleeding by the end of thewet 25k hike out from Deltaform. My feet? Still an issue with cold today.



I've no doubt that the winter gear suggestions of British Alpinists Joe Tasker and Dick Renshaw in MOUNTAIN LIFE, August/September 1975 had a big impact on us after Ptarmigan Ridge.



http://coldthistle.blogspot.com//02/joe-tasker-and-dick-renshaw-english.html



Gwain, threedays out, after a harried retreat down through the ice fall on the north sideof Mt Deborah.

By the spring of 1976 we were kitted in lightly insulated, nylon shelled,ski salopettes with minor modifications to make them climbing friendly. They worked great. Warmer than a normal pant set up while generally enabling you to drop a layer and on long trips and adistinct lack of another "waist". The harness is more than enough there.



By the early '80s many of the professionals working in the mtns around Banff were using a Swiss made wool/nylon blend salopette with cotton canvas reinforcements. The canvas dried slowly and wore quickly so just as common to cut the knee and butt reinforcements off pretty quickly. But the wonderful and warm wool stretchmaterial they used, the chest pocket, internal gaiter (which many just cut out as well) and side zipwere a glimpse as the future in technical mountain pants. It was the '80s so even my shoe laces matched butthese saloppetesreally rocked! Now way to get lost in a white outeither so big bonus points there for pictures.















Take it to the extreme and you get something like our friend Kim wore on the 1st ascent of the East Face of Everest in '83. And hewas back onKanchenjunga with themin 1985. Shown here. Fully insulated and Gortex salopettes by Wilderness Experience. Gregg Cronn photo of Kim on Kanchenjunga. "It's a magical thing with me. It's tough to stay in Kansas when you've been to Oz."(Kim Momb, 1956-1986)





As you might imaginea good pair of salopettes aren't what you would generally see on a day out cragging in Hyalite Canyon for example. The additional warmth and comfort of a pair of salopettes aren't a high priority when some actuallyput theircrampons on at in the parking lot.





The result of the "sport climbing" community inthe ice climbing environment is much of the gear and clothing gets dummied down (and I know people will just LOVE that)to fit the much bigger customer base. No longer a need for double boots, salopettes, or a small, super light weightclimbing pack if you are top roping or leading 50m climbs as the ultimate expression of the sport.



One of the main reasons I write the blog is to make others aware of what is out there for specialised gear and may be even reintroduce some old technology that has gone by the way side. that clearly should not have IMO.



Which is whyI beat the "light is right" campaign, double boots, specialised climbing sacs, better crampon fit/designs and now I am going to get deep into theclothing discussion in a number of up coming blogs posts.



One of the reasons those old red salopettes were so functional is that they were wool, they were a bit stretchy and they breathed well. Sounds pretty modern now for a piece of 30 year old kit doesn't it?



20 years on (2002)and leave it to Alteryx to come up with a better version. Those in the "know" searched them out promptly and bought the Alteryx Gamma Saloppeteand proceeded tolove them to death. Knownbutts I have seen well worn Arcteryx saloppetes on are Cosmin Andron, Steve Swenson, Wayne Wallace, Michael Layton and Bill Belcourt...and trust me I don't make a habit of looking at men's butts! I suspect there are more salopettes out there stashed away for that next "big" project. This was the last time I pulled mine out.











GCC photos below are courtesy of Ken Glover



But the great thing about a correctly designed and sewn set of salopettes is they can be used for cold weather cragging just as easily as on anybig north face..















The Arcteryx Salopette reviewed by John Graham@ http://www.trailspace.com/gear/arcteryx/gamma-salopette/#reviews

January 1, 2002



"This one-piece sleeveless suit has power shield on the lower half and Schoeller fabric on the top, with nylon facing on the upper front. It zips all the way down the front and up the legs. It has removable knee pads that really save the arthritic knees. I wear this instead of bibs and it really comes into its own when exposed to the wind. It can get a little hot climbing steeply below treeline, but vents very well. I wear it with mid weight polypro bottoms and a power stretch top. When I hit treeline, I pair it with the Gamma SV and a balaclava and I'm good to go. Every detail is well thought out and of course the Arc'Tyrex fit is perfect, as usual."



John's comments are prettymuchas I found my own pair of Gamma Saloppetes.





Arcteryx Gamma Salopettes design details:

Designed for mountaineering applications, this breathable garment sheds snow and provides liberating stretch. Special features include removable kneepads and through-the-crotch WaterTight zips.



Features:

Adjustable cuff shock cord

Breathable, wind and water resistant

Four way polyester stretch upper

Internal knee pad pockets

Keprotec instep patches

Removable molded EVA foam kneepads

Stretch woven lower

Two chest pockets with laminated zips

WaterTight side and through-the-crotch zips



Materials:

Polartec Power Shield

Rentex Lofted Lycra

Schoeller Keprotec



It doesn't take much imagination to see that salopettes are a pretty specialised piece of kit and not the best in warm weather. Additionallyif you are using a soft shell material like my original wool blend Swiss salopettes or the more recentArcteryx Gamma how warm do you want to make them, at the risk of making them too warm?



With all the new wonder fabrics and some good design work one would think you could make an almost perfect climbing salopette these days. Likely the biggest *trick* to that would be getting someone that was willing to design with no compromise. No fufu ski fashions or snow board shreddersneeded here. How about for once just a honest to GOD climbing salopette? Justas Tasker and Renshaw first envisionedthem 35 years ago while climbing the hardest North faces in the Alps, mid winter?



I'd pony up some cash for a couple pair of those!



Enter Bill Almos and his start up climbing clothing company NWAlpine. http://nwalpine.com/

Bill is, if nothing else, an alpine climber himself. And willing to take risks.



So when we first talked about light weight pile hoodies and Shoeller style alpine climbing pants we were talking mostly the same language. I'm old so I am not sure what he thought of a "new" old pant idea as a NWAlpine offering. But he didn't say no. So I boxed my last two remaining pair of salopettes up and off to Portland they went. Having never met Bill or owned any NWAlpine clothing (I own several now items now) I wondered for a moment or twoif I wouldever actually see my original and much lovedsalopettes again. Similar things have happened in the past. Same situation and sadly, most unreliable people.



Not so this time!



SoBill and I beganbrain storming via emails,what would we do to make a better *alpine climbing* specific bib? It was a short storm. I wanted a bib that would be warm enough,if a little cool for Alaska in the spring. Hopefully theywouldbe fine for most things if you could move quickly in the Rockies or Alps in winter. And a plenty warm pant for anything in the lower 48. Again, specifically for winter orcold alpine climbs. Ptarmigan Ridge on Rainier or anything in theColumbia Icefields in Oct or Febwas the environment I envisioned.



I am doing much of my own climbing in a pair of Arcteyx Gamma LT pants these days and s single pair of mid weight Costco long johns. I won't kid anyone, at times it is just barely enough when the temps drop below -10C or a nasty cold wind picks up. But going on the theory that cool muscles work more efficiently..so far it has been enough. But for a new pair of Saloppetes I wanted just a bit more. Not as much as the last Arcteryx Gamma MX salopettes mind you. They were more akin to the current Gamma MX pants (Polartec® Power Shield®) which is lightlyinsulated. But I wantedthese to be some where just short of that extra insulationand lighter in over all weight. MUCH, muchlighter,and way less complicated. Less zippers, less pockets for sure, but still a usable. The idea was alwt climbing pant where just the additional bib will add some warmth by design without adding weight. One less belt at the waist line and more comfort was the goal.



Weight comparisons?



ARC Gamma Lt large 12.4 oz

H. Ridge Runner 3/4 16oz

ARC Gamma MX large 19oz

NWAlpine salopettes large 21.6oz

ARC Gamma MX salopettes large 30.4oz



I have to admit "formal", as in basic black, climbing pantsis getting old.





"My" salopettes need to be warm, wind proof, extremely breathable on the upper bib portion, breathable enough in the leg and waistand all made of a 4 way stretch fabric. No baggy legs to snag crampons on, hardcore anddurablepatches of some typeon the lower inside of the calf for when you will eventuallysnag a crampon. Turned over double hemmed cuffs for "gaiter" durability. Simple eyelets for elastic cord to snug down your "pant gaiter". Simple. Succinct. Specific.



Reinforced inside of the leg for cramponsand simple gaiter grommets









Cuffed hems to reinforce the bungee gaiter strap and seal the leg's gaiter, which were designed up front to take a big dbl boot like the La Sportiva Spantik.



A THREE slider, chest and crotch,water resistant zipper. For the call of nature, ventilation and getting in and out of the garment. Easiest pee portal in the world with a harness on. Easy for me and I suspect even better for a woman.







Hey, no laughing here! This is a hard photo topost in public let alone take by yourself! Zipper runsfrom sternumto tailbone.





NWAlpinist Salopette details:

Suggested Retail is $250 sizes XS through XL

The first production run will be presold. via the NWAlpine web site

http://nwalpine.com/





Everyone in the industry these days is using either a proprietary material orsomething from Polartec and/or Shoeller. almost no one is sewing in the USA. These bibs are proudly sewn in Portland Oregon.

The pant material currently in the NWAlpinist Saloppetes is a proprietary material.Bill is already prepared to change the material and still keep the quality if the original supply can't keep up with demand after the first production run.Currently the pant is made of aa high quality four-way stretch, woven, breathable softshell fabric with aabrasion resistant face with DWR coating. The usual suspects use exactly the same material at the moment. Your imagination won't have to roam far to imaginethis material.









The upper fabric of the bibis a "micro denier fleece back lycra". My thought is, it is perfect for the job. And I am reallypicky here because the upper material has to breath extremely well to make the salopette idea work like it needs to. (SAG's)Merino wool hoody shown in the photo as well. More on it lower down the page.







Trust me, this light weight bib top is breathable. It is likely the first thing you'll notice if youtry to use these Salopettes without enough insulation on your upper body as I did. You'll likely not make that mistake twice.



How the upper body fits in the shoulders, armsand around the neck defines how salopettes fit in many ways...these are exceptional on me.











There is a couple of things that become glaringly obvious when you are 50+ and modeling a one piece lycra suit. The first, much to my surprise you know, is I obviously aint a flat bellied stallion no more...no more :) No hiding that one from a camera. But being shaped more like a Pear(as in fruit) also tells me a lot about how well these salopettes might fit, shall we say, amore athleticproportioned climber. They should fit normal climbers exceptionally well. I have a 21" back which is pretty long for my height @ 6'1". So the typical issues andwhere you will have a problem, of not having enough length in the body andhaving "crotch bite" or baggy pants, shouldn't be a problem for most with this pattern. Mine are a "Large" and me fit perfectly..well close, if I suck in the Pear anyway.



This is how I see myself......a long lean climbing machine. It iswhat I can't see that maybe a problem with that glorified self image :)





"A designer knows he has achievedperfection not when there is nothing to add but when there is nothing left to take away" Antoine de Saint-Exupery







Wind, Sand and Stars (French title:Terre des hommes (Land of Men))by Antoine de Saint Exupéry published in 1939



I suspectthe next question is how do you layer under and over salopettes. No question it is a learned skill. The firstpictures of this blog show Gwain in the mid '70s with several light layers inside and a wool shirt on the out side. These days most of our mid layers have snug hems. You don't need to tuck everything in and you'll stay warmer in many cases by not doing so with Salopettes. So nothing has really changed. Just the upper insulation garments have gotten even better and easier to use with Salopettes. My current "go to pieces" for the upper body (with salopettes or pants) are the super light weight Sherpa Adventure Gear (SAG)Merino wool hoody shown in the pictures above, called the "Khushi" (it is a must have). Or the NWAlpine LT Hoody (another must have). Next up is the RI Hoody or the SAG "Tchimi"hoody or again the NWAlpine Black Spider Hoody.



All light weight hoodies suggested here with only the amount of insulation and how well they breath changes for the project, the level of effort involved and temps.



Next up? Lots of mid layer pile pieces to choose from but one I am thrilled with, especially if you are usingsalopettes, is the Sherpa Adventure Gear sweater made of of Merino wool armsand Primaloft One body. It is called the "Mantra".



It adifferent pieceand you'll likely need to figure out if it will work for your system. I really like lightto mid weight Merino wool sweaters with full or half zip for climbings. I buy them at Men's Warehouse on sale and literally wear them untill I have holes in them.So the Matra fits right in and adds some extra warmth with less weight in the Primaloft 1 body. But more importantly the Primaloft One is much easier to dry out than wool and looses only a tiny bit of its insulation values when wet. A hood would make the men's Mantramuch more user friendly for hard climbing. It is a truly dapper casual, around town, garment that I use climbing without a hood. But I'dreallylike to have both as an option! If you think so too let Sherpa Adventure Gear know! I'll buy the first.



I am a big hoody fan. If you are a woman the Mantracomes with a hood in thewomen's verion. I can't imagine a better winter climbing system than a pair of NWAlpinist salopettes and the "Kushi" mated up with Mantra hoody and one or bothof theArcteryx's Atom LT and Atom SV jackets. San's that hood itis my current system. And damn..I'll be looking simply dapper in the Chamonix bar scene in that black (hid the spare tire)Mantra! The woman's Mantra is good enough I bought my wife one...and she is NEVERgoing to alpineclimb. She calls me a "girl" quite a lot so may be I doknow something about women's clothing :)



I'll have to ask.



I have another blog started on hoodies, light and mid weights, and how they fit into my systems along with my pant and base layer choices.But I wanted to give the basics of what I use with salopettes as many have likely never used a pair climbing.



http://www.sherpaadventuregear.com/index.php



http://nwalpine.com/



http://www.arcteryx.com/?EN



And if you wondered? I have no financial connection to NWAlpine but I did come up with the name NWAlpinist Salopettes but only after getting my originals back!

Arte

A better photo of Arte.

Blue Ice, the new Warthog alpine pack!

Finally back to some alpine climbing content! It is almost August after all...skiing has to stop some time right? Well for the moment anyway...I want another run from the top of Rainier beforeI am done skiing for the season!



If you have seen this:



http://coldthistle.blogspot.com//01/my-climbing-pack.html



You know I am into really basic climbing packs. And I continue to use really simple climbing packs. Once in awhile I get side tracked and try the newest options that interest me. Of course I have used the olderBlue Ice packs, the 45, the 30 and the Mono among others. But I am pretty set in what I think works.



The Mono has kept my attention but I've been too lazy to get that review done. Some how it seems a conflict of interest since I sell Blue Ice gear as well. And the fact my wife has stolen my personal Mono. Hard to write it up. I'll work on that review when she is out of town and I have my hands on the Mono again.



But the new Warthog is hard to ignore (as you can see by the color). No way anyone is sneaking this one off without me knowing. So I am going to give you my take on it now before it happens.



If you look at the custom CCW packs I have Randy make for myself(30L) you'll likely notice the similarities of theBlue Ice Warthog (27L)my custom packsand the original, stellarCCW Ozone. First is they are very close in size, with the Warthog being the smallest of the bunch.. Second they are are really simple packs with very complicated and intricate patterns, which takes ahigh degree of skill to sew.



I'd really like to take credit for some of the Warthogs design work. But sadly I can't. Not even a tiny bit. I first saw the early prototypes of the Warthog at the Blue Ice officeslast March. I was impressed then because it is a pack I mighthave designed if given the chance. More impressed now that I have one in hand.



I probably mentioned this once before. Back in Marchone of my partners was looking in Snell's (all over Cham actually) for a new climbing pack. Randy wasn't interested in more pia custom work. So Matt was out of luck on a custom CCW piece. Of the two walls full of new packs at Snells' only oneGrivel and one Blue Ice offering interested him. Which should tell you a lot about the currently available climbing packs. He made a trip to the Grivel factory first. And his choice in packswas eventually found worthy on the Ginat among other climbs that winter and spring.



As good as the pack he has is, too bad he didn't get to see this one.



I try lots out a lot of gear. But having a full set of made to order customsacs kinda limits my interest in other climbing sacs. It isn't easyto live up to my admittedly harsh and very critical standards for a climbing pack. I have put a lot of thought and money into what best works for me. There is no reason to take second best into the mtns.



Enter the newest, Blue Ice pack, the Warthog!



Love the color. I Iikethat the pack issmall, lightand simple. It actually fills the "small pack"gap in my pack line up. Same kind of sac both Randy and I like a lot but no one seems to be able to sell consistently.Good shoulder straps on this one and a easily adjustable sternum strap on sliders.





the Sternum straps misaligned on purpose

Two different thicknesses on the foam used in the shoulder strap. The thicker stuff is set high in the strap where it can take the bulk of the load. Straps areattached to the bagvia small wings sewn tothe pack body. And sewn cord loops on the straps as well. Nice detail.The narrowand unpadded waist belt is tape with a buckle and easily removable. The perfect choice for this pack. The bottom of the bag is reinforced but not dbl. layered. All the tie in points are reinforced and ARE dbl layered. Nice detailing. I'll say that a lot in this review. It is worth repeating.





reinforced sewing and taped seams

All the seams are taped internally. Shoulder straps tighten by pulling them down.There is a full size (water bladder) internal hydration pocket that has been pleated and bellowed. It makes a full badder easy to fit.





Hydration pocket and more taped seams

Again nice detailing. A Velcro hydration hose holder as well.

Thin foam pad is sewn into the pack.Call it a bivy pad or just pack padding. Either would be accurate. But it is not removable.





The packs back has a definitive "S" cut to the back panel. Huge advantage for fit on asimple climbing pack.

The rather pronounced S shaped bottom of the back panel from the side



Single lid strap for hold down. Lid is sewn on tightly to the pack's top hem. And the straps are the right length. Elastic keepers on every strap, shoulders, waist and lid. Another great detail. Lid isperfectly sized to covera fully loaded pack with the skirt drawn tight. None of this stuff is easy to do or more importantly, easy to do right. There is a hole for your hydration hose through both pack and lid. And a single rope strap that is fixed via a Fast Tex style nylon buckles made by Duraflex. Pack is actually sewnin Vietnam under Blue Ice'sand Giovanni's personal supervision..The lid has three (yes three) pockets all YKK zippers Two of them are on the out side and one underneath the lid.



The small back pocket also holds a net of sorts that is easy to deploy or store back in the pocket when not in use. It is made to attach your helmet easily to a full pack. Helmets aren't the only itemthe netwill hold, just the most obvious. Jackets pants, skinsor crampons can just as easily be stashed under the net Slick design work on this one. Did I mention I like the color combo. It is going to be great for pictures:)



The "hair net" on top of the pack



Crampons can go under the lid, with the rope strap holding them in placewith the pack body offering some protection from sharp points.There are two traditional ice axe holders on the pack..both with reinforced dbl layering sewn through attachments. Easy enough to securely lash on a toola little less traditional. A small quick link in place of the mini biners would be evencleanerbut I was going with a quick"green" solution. A little imagination here will go far if you are using the newest technical tools. Should be little worry onthat one.





Wow! Some sweet looking Nomic hammers there :)http://coldthistletools.blogspot.com/





The pack closeson a 3" skirt with a single draw string closure. The haul loop is flat 3/4" nylon tape that is folded in thirds and sewn to make an easier to managehaul loop which can be connected to the axe upper tabs as well for a 3 point lift. Again a nice detail. The backpanel on my early production pack is a full 18". Surprisingly, it is a size I can work with on this pack. Long shoulder straps and a good pattern on the back panel allow it to fit my long back.



Short or tall most will be able to get a good fit with this pack. It is a climbing pack, and there is plenty of head clearance while looking up with the helmet of your choice when the pack is fully loaded up.



Cost: 78 Euro

Directly from Blue Ice (it should be close to that here in the US)

Weight is 1# 10.4oz or 750g...on my digital scale. Right on!

Pack material is Cordura, with a pack cloth externally and a smother material against your back and skin on the shoulders.

I can carry 20 to 25 lbs this one. That is more than Iwant to climb with for weight. Less is always better given the option.





Rope strap, hydration hose hole and short skirt

How big is 27 Liters? The pack will just hold two 60m 10.5 ropes in the main bag. With two ropes you can still get the cuff closed, if only barely. A one liter water bottle, will fit in thetop lid pocket witha tiny bit of spaceto spare for the odd packet of GU to keep you running or the odd bite to eat if you pack small. Pull out the netfor your helmet or other pieces of gear/clothing as required.





John Bouchard BITD with a Karrimore climbing a new mixed route onthe Grands Charmoz, August 1975 withSteve Zajchowski.

I need to add a few words aboutBlue Ice. I am pretty sure everyone in the office climbs. Easy when you live and work in the best alpine climbing environment i nthe world! Easy to see the influence by the design work, like the Boa, the Chouca and now the Warthog that the designers know what they are looking for. By my acocunt some serious energy and effort went into this pack. It is the first off the shelf, production,alpine pack I have seen in several decades that I will climb with. For those that do remember the old Karrimore Joe Brownpackor a Chouinard Fish pack,the Warthogis better done than either and in modern materials but very similarfor what they weredesigned for.It is a simple sac. And for those that actually know what it is to be used for (single push alpinism) it is simply a stellar design, with a great attention to detail and sewn very well. It is obvious to me it comes from a group of climbers serious about making good kit...not just any bit ofkit. Bravo to Blue Ice forthe effort!



http://coldthistle.blogspot.com//02/light-is-always-right-part-duex.html



The party line?



Weight:



720 gr. (mine came out a bit more @ 750g)

Features:

■helmet holder

■top lid with external & internal pocket

■chest buckle with security whistle

■rope attachment under the lid

■dual ice axe holders

■hydration-compatible

■removeable hipbelt

■safety pocket with key holder



Finishing:

■high quality Duraflex buckles

■durable YKK zipper



Fabrics/material:

Main: 500 denier CORDURA®

Reinforced bottom: 1000 denier CORDURA®

Lining: Nylon ripstop 210D



To build a highly resistant pack we have chosen to work with CORDURA®. CORDURA® is one of the most durable nylon fabric manufactured to date and it is widely used for high end applications and for producing gear where tearing and abrasion resistance are crucial. Moreover, the CORDURA® we use, is certified by Blue Sign, which is an important factor for our philosophy of minimizing our impact on the environment. Read more about CORDURA® on our technologies page.



Product overview:Minimalist backpack for fast and demanding one day ascents.





Design & features:The Warthog 26L is a light, extremely resistant backpack with all the essential accessories you need and nothing more. This is the ideal backpack for light and fast one day climbs on technical routes: it is compact to allow freedom of movement and it is super resistant for the most demanding conditions.



As the larger Blue Ice packs the Warthog can hold two ice axes. The simple system of webbing loops and cord locks allows not only a quick attachment but also a steady hold. Additional features are rope holder, helmet holder, exit for hydration tube and a removable hip belt.



Thanks to its stability, shape, volume and comfort it has proven an excellent pack not only for climbing but also for back country days when skis are to be kept on the feet during the whole ascent.

Ideal uses: single day climbs, mountaineering







(Agreed 100% btw on that observation and bet you'll see someCham ski guidesusing the Warthog next winter. Might be a wise color choice if so ; )



No way it could be just this easy though to put ski on this pack...or could it? My Se7en Summits strapped right on like the Warthog was made for them. Next test is to see if the axe loops can haul a 6# ski set up.

KHS Green: The Loveliest Budget Bike

[Edited to Add: There is now an updated review of this bicycle here]



One stumbling block in the purchase of a classic step-through city bicycle, is the shocking price tag. Be prepared to spend upward (in some cases very much upward) of $800 USD for a quality Dutch-style bicycle with 3 or more speeds.



Refreshingly, there is one alternative. During my trips to local shops, online research, and chats with surprisingly bike-knowledgeable acquaintances, I came across the "Green" bicycle made by KHS.





Made especially for stylish and safe commuting, the KHS Green features the relaxed-style frame and handlebar construction and comes fitted with fenders, a rack, and a partial chain-guard. It is a 3-speed, with a Shimano hub. It has both coaster brakes and a hand-brake. And it is priced at $350 USD! As one reviewer put it (I paraphrase, unable to find the original text): This is the least expensive bike worth buying.



The bicycle on the photo above is the KHS Green, ladies' frame, that I rented from Cambridge Bicycle (more on this later).

More On the Road

Above Jemez Springs, NM. A Steller jay which are not common here. A rock called Battleship Rock, and a creek.




















4a

Have Bike, Will Travel?

Earlier, I mentioned thepopularity of folding bikes at Interbike - a trend that can be attributed to the rise of multimodal urban transport. But a related trend was evident as well: full sized bicycles that disassemble for travel. It seemed like every other booth featured at least one model with couplers- a method of construction that allows for the frame to be taken apart and fit into a standard sized suitcase. The separated parts of the tubes screw into the (usually stainless steel) couplers to form a complete frame, and the brake and shifter cables can be similarly separated using cable splitters. Couplers can be installed on all sorts of bicycles, lugged or welded, with thick or thin tubing - including enormous tandem frames such as this Co-Motion. Visually, I think they look best on stainless steel or silver frames - otherwise they interrupt the continuity of the tubing - though others may not agree (Royal H. has managed to pull these off on a small and elaborately lugged frame without making it overly busy).



An alternative method to coupling is the Ritchey break-away system - which I'd heard a lot about, but only now saw in person for the first time. I am not sure exactly how it works in comparison to couplers, but the connecting points are at the seat cluster and on the downtube near the bottom bracket, which has the benefit of making them seamlessly integrated with the frame.

The idea of taking bicycles apart for travel is certainly not new. While it is not clear who came up with the concept originally and when, I know thatdisassembleable military bicyclesfrom a number of manufacturers were used during World War II. And Rene Herse offered demountable models for personal use in the 1950s.

Today, the surge in popularity of such bicycles can be traced to the increasing complexity and expense of air travel. Until 2005 or so, many domestic and international airlines allowed full size bicycle boxes to be checked in as luggage for free, or at a minimal cost. Today some airlines do not permit bicycles at all, while those that do charge fees upward of $200 each way. For a couple of years, the ability to disassemble a bicycle and fit it into a standard suitcase allowed the cyclist to avoid this by simply checking in the bike as a regular piece of luggage. However, as of things have gotten even worse: Most international airlines no longer allow two pieces of luggage per person as before, but limit the amount to one. So even with a disassembleable bicycle, a traveler would have to either check in the suitcase containing it as their sole piece of luggage, or pay an extra fee for checking in two suitcases. As far as I know, no full-size disassembleable bicycle will fit into the overhead compartment of an airplane as carry-on luggage, due to the wheel size.

Even luggage restrictions aside, there is the very real possibility of a disassembled bicycle being damaged as part of a careless security search, for one thing. And then there is the question of the traveler being sufficiently competent to assemble the bicycle upon arrival - as failure to do this properly can result in safety issues.All things considered, is it worth it? As someone who travels fairly frequently, I am not sure whether a disassembleable bicycle would be more of a help or a burden. For the traveling cyclists out there - what are your thoughts?

Spring Weather

Small pockets of sunshine followed by waves of snowy/rainy weather have been passing over the park the last couple of weeks. Winter conditions still persist on the mountain: climbers are still choosing to climb the Ingraham Direct instead of the Disappointment Cleaver, eighteen feet of snow still remains at Paradise, and the snow plows are still hard at work clearing the roads.

Please continue to check back to the Access and Roads thread for the most up to date information regarding White River and Stevens Canyon opening dates.

With Memorial Day Weekend just around the corner, the climbing season is getting into full swing. The Climbing Information Center will be open daily from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm starting Friday, May 27th. Come on up and enjoy the start of the season!

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa

For some strange reason, we have never visited this aquarium before. Even after other people told us how wonderful it was, we still had not made it over to Tampa to visit. This past weekend we decided enough was enough, it was time to see this aquarium. I am so glad we did because it was overall a really nice aquarium.



The exhibits were laid out in zones: Wetlands, Bays and Beaches, Coral Reef and Ocean Commotion. Each area gave information and examples of creatures that would live there.



There was also a Splash Zone and Dolphin Cruise, neither of which we enjoyed. The only downside to this place was it was so horribly crowded that at times it was hard to even see the animals due to people crowding the exhibit. I imagine that weekdays are less crowded so we might have to come back again sometime during the week.



My favorite parts were this:



So cool to watch but no way could I imagine doing that! I did have fun with this guy who came up close and then splashed me:





We had a really nice day here and I do hope we can visit again sometime.