Build Items

Picked up a couple of things for the Pake build.
A MOWA headset.  These seem to be decent enough.  I don't know much about headsets in particular.  I tend to shop by price comparison.  In other words...

"Hey there's a headset that costs $15 but appears to retail for $70, therefore it must be a good headset, especially for the money. I shall buy it."  I am a regular fount of Vulcan logic.

Yup, that's my secret to shopping for some bicycle parts. 

The red will contrast nicely with the frame colour though.

I realize the photo is "flipped" but I am too lazy to set it right!

And I also got a 9 speed short-cage rear derailleur that I am excited about.  Great price, decent shape.  Since I am going with a single ring up front I am told that a short-cage will suit nicely.  Had thought I would go with an IGH but instead I will do that with my aluminum frame, making it even more winter-suitable.  The Pake will be for everything else.

Really all I need now are forks and I am away to the races (figuratively).  Have my eye on the All-City Nature Boy set, which I think will bring things together nicely.

This build should have happened over winter...oh well...its back on the burners again.

Shoulder Training

I watched a video of the P2A and got a little intimidated by what I saw.  I've never really done anything like this before - lots of racing but never, ever off-road.  I think my ride is up to it, but am I?

My reaction was to create a 20km training loop.  The loop is in the countryside (where my house is) and so all the shoulders of the highway are soft - anything from heavy gravel, to grass, to packed dirt.  I decided to do the loop entirely on the shoulders.  Thus, "shoulder training."

Seems to work.

I've only got 23 or 24 days to get "up" for this.  I had been counting on my latent commuting fitness, but my reaction after watching the video was that that would not be sufficient.

Really not certain what my goals are - in my head they range from ultimate glory to, just finish.

I think something in between, like, don't lose to anyone riding a tandem might be reasonable.

I'd push that to, don't lose to anyone riding a single speed but I truly have my doubts.  There are several Olympic class athletes in this thing (that's why ultimate glory really isn't an option outside of my head).

Inspiration Needed

Unmotivated by the cold, windswept darkness of morning these past many weeks I have decided to find motivation in training for something.
So far I have selected two events that get my blood pumping.
The first is the Paris-to-Ancaster race.  It's 60km over a variety of surfaces.  It's pretty popular too.  It'll be my first time in it though. 
That's happening April 15th.

Then, in July, I'll do my first ride assisted long-distance bit from Windsor, Ontario to Toronto.  I think its about 600km.  More on that later.

For Paris-Ancaster I hope I can get my new frame built up.  It won't be quite the way I will ultimately want it but now I'm under the wire to get it done.  I've been held up looking for forks but I think I've landed on something agreeable. 

Just Noticing Some Ugly Components

I don't think I'm snobbish about parts and components at all.  Indeed, I can't afford what I want without spreading the cost over several months for a single item (Brooks saddle is presently a good example of this).  However, I think I do have an appreciation for quality and it occurred to me as I looked at these photo's of my weekend ride that I have one ugly stem!  Can one even still get threaded stems that could replace this adjustable thing I have?  I hope so.
The pics were never intended to highlight this, but it's the first thing that stood out to me.  Anyone know a good and reliable on-line "old parts" seller who could help me replace this thing?

This boardwalk is just over 1km long.

 

As for the ride itself, pretty decent here on most days but the cold had caused some heaving in this boardwalk over the marsh and made for a pretty bumpy ride.  This would have been better suited to a MTB today.

Soup Fest

A fundraiser held in the city each year.
It was my first time there.  You purchase a card that allows four gourmet soup samples - choosing from the 30 or so that are available at the event.
It was really crowded but I managed, in order of my favorites, a mushroom-bacon soup, a yam-apple soup, a curry chicken soup and a seafood offering.  I didn't enjoy the seafood one quite as much but the attraction was more just getting this little critter in the bowl.

"Please don't eat m..."

The whole thing brought to mind Portland's Soupcycle crew.  Wish we had that here!

"The Man Who Lived on His Bike."

Another video piece.  I saw this one at Momentum Magazine. I believe the credit goes to Guillaume Blanchet for this awesome piece of work.
Here's the video.

Sunset

Beautiful but cold.  That is, not really cold but the thing is I dress for the sun and as soon as it begins to set I really notice it.  Better get home fast.