You know how it goes: Just when you thought you were over your Ex, she turns up wearing a sexy outfit. That's how I felt when I saw this creature in the neighbourhood! Though it wasn't my old bike, the beautiful stranger was not only of the same nationality, but had similar tastes in adornments.
Leather washer grips and a twined coffee cup holder. Not sure what that additional black bracket is on the handlebar - maybe for an extra battery-powered headlight. The Co-Habitant and I were debating whether this is a newer Pashley or one from a few years ago. He thinks it's older, because the frame is muddy and the saddle is well broken in. I think it's newer, because of that Sturmey Archer shifter (didn't these just come out in ?). Also, the tires were not the usual Schwalbe Marathon Plus, but something by Continental.
Close-up of the twined coffee cup holder. I've never seen one that integrates with the overall look of the bicycle more harmoniously! And I think the twine may also solve the loose fit/ rattling problem some of these cup holders are known to have.
Twined cable lock - just one of many locks that were keeping this Princess safe. I am ashamed to say that I never provided mine with this much security!
And the piece de resistance: a Carradician triumvirate, its olive magnificence catching the golden afternoon sunlight just so. The saddlebag is a Barley model, but I have never seen these Carradice panniers before.
The panniers are absolutely gorgeous and use what could be an Arkel mounting system. I wonder whether they are custom made (I know that Carradice will sometimes make bespoke items), or a new model I did not know about. Oh Beautiful Stranger, if only you could speak!
Longing for something lovely, US-made and free to go with your celebration of freedom from monarchy this week-end? How about aPo Campo Spare Pocket fromPlanetGear?This curious item is a water-resistant mini-purse that attaches to your wrist, ankle, or bicycle handlebars. The fabric is a beautiful "contrast damask" with reflective bird detail. I am not one to carry a purse, let alone a tiny purse, so that whole genre of accessories rather mystifies me! I can see attaching this to the handlebars though.
PlanetGear is a women owned retail club offering discounts on gear, clothing and travel destinations, as well as referral programs and monthly specials. I am not a member and am not affiliated with the company, but it looks interesting and hey - if they want to give you free stuff, how can I stand in the way?
If you would like the Spare Pocket, simply post a comment describing your week-end cycling plans (if you don't have any, make some up!) and I will then pick a random entry. US entries only for this one, and please include your contact information in the comment. Recipient will be chosen on Friday July 8th, and you may enter any time up till then. Thank you to PlanetGear for the give-away, thank you everyone for reading, and enjoy the holiday!
There was aninteresting postonecoveloyesterday, where the author compared how he uses his three transportation bikes: aRivendellSam Hillborne, aSurlyLong Haul Trucker, and aCiviaLoring. All three bicycles are set up with upright handlebars and decent load carrying capacity, but the Civia differs from the other two in that it has a fairly low stepover. And according to the author, the combination of its "upright riding position, step-through frame, and internal gear hub make[s] the Loring exceptionally confidence inspiring for riding slowly when in close proximity to pedestrians and automobile traffic." Initially, I read past that sentence with the kind of matter-of-fact acceptance that goes with processing what you already consider to be a given. Butthen later I mentally "rewound" and thought "Wait a minute, he is saying that he finds it more comfortable to ride a step-through in traffic than a diamond frame - Is this a generally accepted notion?"
I used to think the reason I prefer step-throughs for transportation, is that I often wear skirts. But having read the ecovelo post, I realise that even when wearing trousers I feel better on a step-through in traffic. And, assuming that Alan of ecovelo mostly wears trousers, for him there must be other factors involved as well. Maybe for me it's the promise of the easy "hop off sideways" dismount should I need to bail, that makes me feel more secure. But to tell the truth, I am not sure what it is, and whether my preference is entirely logical.
All factors remaining equal (upright handlebars, ride quality, load capacity), what, if anything, would make a step-through bike an advantage in traffic?
The Joke Slinger, on the BD Spinner leash, Jan. , the Cascades.
With the invention and popularity of leashless climbing, a once condemmed and decades old climbing tool has come back. While they are not mandatory, they are in vogue. It has been over 35 years since I saw the first pair of umbilicals in use.
Author's umbilicals of 9/16" webbing being used on a quick ascent of Polar Circus in the winter of 1979.
Gregg Cronn photo
Back in the late '70s and into the early '80s umbilicals were looked upon as a weak man's crutch. Mostly thought of as something the Canadians used (but never really did much) to aid sections of rotten, cold and really steep ice. We can blame all that on Bugs McKeith inventing the idea of ice aid while putting up some of today's modern classics, like Nemisis and Polar Circus. Just two among his many, many difficult ice climbs. Most visiting American climbers thought they were way ahead of the game by not using umbilicals while running up the first "free" ascents of the Canadian test pieces. Few outside Canada really made the "first free" ascents many claimed. Canadians had already been there on most of them and didn't fight back the cat calls.
No Internet back in the day so info was often sketchy and incomplete or just a fubar rumor. It was hard to keep track. Of course not every one used umbilicals even back then. But a few did. 1st and 2nd ascents of Slipstream did.
Jim Elzinga photo of John Lauchlan on the 1st ascent of Slipstream
They were not used for aid or for hanging to place screws. Although when required you could do either. The real use was to save your ass if you happen to fall. Hopefully an umbilical would keep you on the ice. BITD leads were long and run out. Ice screws could be hard, difficult or just plain impossible to get in, depending on the ice and out side temps. Weighting your umbilicals is a way to save the 2nd's strength while pulling screws if you can deal with that idea ethically today.
No one sane thought the idea of falling with tools and crampons OK. Falling on the old gear generally required a hospital stay or worse.
Once I switched from Chouinard curved tools to a set of Terrodactyls for technical ice I seldom climbed without at least one umbilical attached to my harness or swami. As the tools changed the old umbilicals generally went straight on the new tools. Big jumps from Terros, Clog, Chacal, Pulsar.
Pretty simple change as mine were just a set of tied 9/16" nylon tube webbing.
The first manufactured umbilicals I saw..years later ('05) ... where done up by Grivel. The "Grivel, Double Sping Leash" with a mini wire gate "biner" specifically designed for the task. While leashless tools really hadn't caught up with the possibilities yet, Grivel umbilicals were seen on some pretty amazing climbs often used by climbers sponsored by competing tool companies. The umbilical had finally "arrived". But no one outside a tiny circle of hardcore alpine climbers really knew it yet. A quick Goggle Images search will get you photos of Steve House, Marko Prezelj, Raphael Slawinski and a host of others using both the Grivel and BD umbilicals on hard alpine climbs all through the new millenium.
I worry more about dropping a leashless tool, than I do falling off. But when you can protect yourself from both mistakes it makes sense to ante up and use that protection. More than one really good climber has poked fun at me because of my support of umbilicals. More climbs and climbers I admire used umbilicals and have been suggesting you do as well.
Ueli Steck, Grand Jorasses, record speed solo, Jan '09. Jon Griffin photos
Easiest way to get yourself a pair of umbilicals is by reading Dave's web site and making your own. Good stuff!!
http://www.alpinedave.com/leashless_rig.htm
Alpine Dave photo
The second way is buy a pair of the commercially made ones.
Grivel offers several versions, Blue Ice in Chamonix offers a simple version and Black Diamond offers their "Spinner" unit.
For what it costs to make a "good" pair of umbilicals all three, Blue Ice, Black Diamond and Grivel offer real value imo.
Here is some detail on what I use and my observations.
Grivel was my first commercial set. I was lucky enough to get the original Grivel 3KN mini biner version with a girth hitch atatchment. Not a big fan of the mini locking version out now. Or a biner attachment to the harness. Good elastic and webbing that attaches to the harness by a girth hitch (small loop is passed through harness belay loop and tails are feed back through and out the small loop cinching tight on the belay loop) Very simple. Length is shorter than some seem to like but if I sit down on the leashes (6'1 and normal ape index) at full extention for both tools the Grivel leash will allow my tools to be out of reach. Just barely so, but still out of reach. It is durable.
Black Diamond had dozens of Spinner Leash prototypes out the last couple of years for real world testing and feedback. Again I was lucky enough to get a pair of those and used them a lot. Better yet for good feedback, I let all my partners use them.
Only thing I can see that has changed in the Spinner leash is the over all length has been shortened on the current version. I've seen current reviews commenting that the BD Spinner leash set up is now too short. Trust me? The Spinner IS NOT too short for anyone under 6'8" and a huge ape index that I know! The "too short" comment doesn't make sense unless the reviewer is mistakenly writing about a short early prototype? Mine on full extention are a full 2 feet past what I can reach.
If you happen to fall on the Spinner you'll have some work cut out for you getting back to your tools. The Grivel set up is managable but only just. The Spinner will make you work for a living it you weight it unprepared. But if you are using the most modern ice climbing techniques you should be stacking your tools on top of each other which should help. You'll need the extra reach to accomplish that and still have only a short fall for your Spinner to catch. It is a tough balancing act to get the right umbilical length and still get it to do everything required of it.
If you need to weight your tools intentionally, you had better stack them or you'll not be able to reach a tool using either brand name.
While I like simple and wasn't impressed with the swivel of the Spinner originally, everyone else that used mine was. I've come to accept its advantages over time. And no question having a leash set up that avoids all the tangles and twists that will come with umbilicals is an advantage. Grivel no longer offers their 3KN wire gate mini biner version. On the other hand BD took notes and then used them on all the details. BD uses a proprietary hydrophobic webbing, a over built mini swivel and mini wire gate biner that will fit most tools head and spikes. It is a good piece of kit. And would cost a small fortune to duplicate in the same quality.
A reader once again pointed out the Boa Leash from Blue Ice to me today. Thank you! I have not climbed with the Blue Ice version yet but will shortly. It is more akin to what I like generally like in gear, simple, maybe no "biner" required, and easily replaceable if damaged. I'll add more to this blog post once I have had a chance to use a set. $32.00 US seems reasonable though for the effort and materials involved if they attach easily and are the "right size" in actual use.
Blue Ice Boa Leash below:
I try to climb smart and if a technical ice tool goes in my pack so does a umbilical system. See ya out there!
Steve House on the top of the Italian Route, Taulliraju (5830m), first free ascent, three-day roundtrip, with Marko Prezel 2005 (Prezel photo)
Today we drove about 540 miles to our new destination. It took us about 11 hours to get there. We drove through New York, and the scenery was gorgeous. I still was not a fan of being in the truck that long.
Normally I try to catch up on my scrapbooking while we drive, but today I was trying to read instead. That only lasted so long before I was ready for something else though.
Luckily, I have the boys to entertain me. They shared interesting fun facts with me. Like Memaw has mint Tums in the glove compartment of her car. So anytime Austin has a tummy ache, headache or heartache she can fix what ails him. Given Memaw's vast personal pharmacy, it does not surprise me that she has Tums in her car. But mint? I had no idea they made mint tums. Good to know!
Austin just returned from a visit with Daryl and Diana, so he filled us in on all the comings and goings with the family. They had a family get together while he was there, so he had lots to share. He told us about a house that Daryl and Diana want to buy, so we looked online at pictures of that.
Aric shared his talent in taking my brother Steven's songs and remaking them Weird Al style. Or maybe that should be Weird Aric style. For example, one of the lines in a song as originally written is: You've got me locked inside your prison, and I hate everything you do. Aric's version was something like: You've got me locked inside your freezer, and I am slowly turning blue. (Forgive me guys if I have either one of those lines incorrect. I'm going by memory and I'm kind of oldish now so my memory comes and goes) Aric fully entertained us for some time with his brilliance in this area. Ah, my kids are nothing if they are not creative.
The very best of all for this particular trip was a conversation about Austin's now bald head and the moles the shaving of hair revealed. Austin asks how bad it looks that the bulging one shows. Aric: It doesn't look bad from far way. But up close it's scary. It looks like it's giving me the stink eye.
It just doesn't get any better than that kind of live improv that they have going on. Not to mention, that there is a certain interaction with brothers that is fascinating to me. That would be one great example of how guys relate that is totally different than girls. It is hysterical to me to listen to, and as a girl I know I'd be horrified if my sister said that to me. We are more likely to say, the mole...nah, it hardly shows at all. Let me get some concealer out of my purse and see if I can make it go completely away though.
I love having boys for so many reasons but one of my favorite reasons is that on days like this, they make my life so much better.
Living the life while driving through pretty New York!
You know how it goes: Just when you thought you were over your Ex, she turns up wearing a sexy outfit. That's how I felt when I saw this creature in the neighbourhood! Though it wasn't my old bike, the beautiful stranger was not only of the same nationality, but had similar tastes in adornments.
Leather washer grips and a twined coffee cup holder. Not sure what that additional black bracket is on the handlebar - maybe for an extra battery-powered headlight. The Co-Habitant and I were debating whether this is a newer Pashley or one from a few years ago. He thinks it's older, because the frame is muddy and the saddle is well broken in. I think it's newer, because of that Sturmey Archer shifter (didn't these just come out in ?). Also, the tires were not the usual Schwalbe Marathon Plus, but something by Continental.
Close-up of the twined coffee cup holder. I've never seen one that integrates with the overall look of the bicycle more harmoniously! And I think the twine may also solve the loose fit/ rattling problem some of these cup holders are known to have.
Twined cable lock - just one of many locks that were keeping this Princess safe. I am ashamed to say that I never provided mine with this much security!
And the piece de resistance: a Carradician triumvirate, its olive magnificence catching the golden afternoon sunlight just so. The saddlebag is a Barley model, but I have never seen these Carradice panniers before.
The panniers are absolutely gorgeous and use what could be an Arkel mounting system. I wonder whether they are custom made (I know that Carradice will sometimes make bespoke items), or a new model I did not know about. Oh Beautiful Stranger, if only you could speak!
This is Lilly and Joey Bee. They hold hands when going up. Maybe with velcro.
There was aninteresting postonecoveloyesterday, where the author compared how he uses his three transportation bikes: aRivendellSam Hillborne, aSurlyLong Haul Trucker, and aCiviaLoring. All three bicycles are set up with upright handlebars and decent load carrying capacity, but the Civia differs from the other two in that it has a fairly low stepover. And according to the author, the combination of its "upright riding position, step-through frame, and internal gear hub make[s] the Loring exceptionally confidence inspiring for riding slowly when in close proximity to pedestrians and automobile traffic." Initially, I read past that sentence with the kind of matter-of-fact acceptance that goes with processing what you already consider to be a given. Butthen later I mentally "rewound" and thought "Wait a minute, he is saying that he finds it more comfortable to ride a step-through in traffic than a diamond frame - Is this a generally accepted notion?"
Alpine Dave photo
