When parked with a dual-legged kickstand, my road bike usually rests on the front wheel, but sometimes, Trucker wants to settle on the rear wheel, lifting the front wheel off the ground. If I’m not attentive, the wheel swings until the barcon (aka bar-end shifter) smacks against the top tube. I needed a quick solution to avoiding marring the top tube’s finish, so I rummaged in the tool kit until I found a small hook-and-loop strap, originally designed to corral loops of electric cord or computer cables. Wrapped around the top tube and positioned properly, the strap is enough to pad the tube and prevent the handlebar from scratching the paint job. It ain’t elegant, but it was handy and will do till something better comes along. I’ll probably pad the tube with a wrapping of leather which I’ll sew on using a herringbone stitch, being careful to slip the leather under the rear brake cable.

Tags: & How-to, Let's Bike! Cycling, make-shift adaptations, outfitting

Hauling things on a trailer with a bike is a great way to combine exercise and chores in one go. Take the recyclables on the trip out and bring groceries back to double the efficiency of your journey. But what kind of trailer? Two commercially available designs are available — one-wheeled (or in-line) trailers, and two-wheeled trailers. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The single-wheeled designs are preferred by cyclists who travel off-road, while the two-wheeled trailers are a favorite among parents who transport their kids in them. For shopping, the two-wheeled bike trailer is a winner. It’s stable when hitched or unhitched, it’s easy to load, and it distributes weight well.

Shopping with a trailer instead of panniers makes sense for bulky loads and for trips when more than about 40 pounds will be hauled. But shopping with a bike and trailer isn’t exactly like shopping with your car. With a little thought and adaptation, however, it’s a satisfying and economical way to do this necessary chore. Read more…

Tags: bikes, cycling, outfitting, shopping, trailering

I recently decided to buy knickers for cycling round town, but was astonished by their high prices. I compromised and found two pair of knickers which aren’t made specifically for cycling, and the combined cost was less than the price of one pair of the great-looking purpose-made knickers. One of my new pair of knickers is made of nylon and was designed for climbing, and the other is made of a cotton blend for general wear. I’ll give them each a try on my bike. When I need extra padding, I’ll wear them over bike shorts. I’ll be especially interested to find out how the cotton and synthetic fabrics compare.

If you’re old enough, you’ll probably remember when synthetic clothes were universally derided. No more. High-tech man-made fabrics have been popular for some time now. They come with a caveat, however. While I may be a convert to twenty-first century engineered fabrics (at least for some uses), I’m still hedging my bets. As I watch the cost of oil surge upward, I’m reminded that the price of synthetic fabrics will go over the top someday, too — sooner rather than later, I expect. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to outfit myself in synthetic cycling and paddling clothes as long as the price is right, but I’m not about to throw out my serviceable wool sweaters and pants. Getting fleeced is one thing, being fleeced is something else. I don’t warm to that idea at all.

Tags: cycling, gas, hiking, Hubbert's peak, oil, outfitting