Comments on: Too Much

By: Unknown

Unknown — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 21:40:13 +0000

"But I wear through the big toe well before I wear through the rest of the sock"Have you tried cutting your big toe nails?Cheers,Chris

By: Loes

Loes — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 15:07:29 +0000

Make a big fire and burn all your useless cycling stuff. And dance around it.For my cycling equipment I prefer quality over quantity.I don’t have a lot of cycling clothes, and if I’d have a lot, I’d probably always wear the same clothes unless they’re being washed. I’ve got leg and arm warmers, 2 pairs of race gloves (one old pair I never use anymore), 3 helmets (okay, one of those is my brother’s but he hardly ever needs it, and another one is my old helmet which I never use anymore), 3 short sleeved jerseys (one for inline skating which I hardly ever use nor for cycling, nor for skating, one CSC jersey I got for free, but it is like way too big, and another one of my club), one long sleeved jersey, 3 pairs of glasses (one really cheap one, one I accidentally dropped which caused the glasses to break, and a brand new pair), some undershirts, I’ve got three bib shorts (one I never use because I don’t like it, one of my club and another one of Giordana). There are still many things I need like winter gloves, but I want to buy too many other expensive things so I’m almost always broke. But I’m getting new clothes from my club anytime soon. At least, I hope so.I keep my stuff in various places, my helmet lies on my computer, my glasses either in my skate bag or on my desk (which is next to my computer), my gloves and my leg and arm warmers I keep next to my wardrobe (I also keep my shin protectors for skating there), the rest of my cycling clothes I do keep in my wardrobe or on the ground. And I keep my shoes in the garage.My helmet is on my computer so I can stare at it (I love my Bell Sweep, it’s just so cool), my gloves and arm/leg warmers are next to my wardrobe so I can easily get them when it’s cold (I don’t only use them for cycling), my glasses are usually in my skate bag because I usually tend to forget them when I go skating and when I’ve gone cycling I usually put them on my desk. My clothes are in my wardrobe because I usually keep my clothes in my wardrobe, but it’s a big mess so I can’t always find my stuff, so I throw them on the floor sometimes knowing that I’d need them anytime soon.I never think when I put my stuff somewhere, they just automatically end up in certain places, or they get lost.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 00:25:49 +0000

*hangs her head in shame* I’m sorry Rocky, I don’t know what came over me. Reading FC for too long must have infected my brain. From now on I will limit my metaphors to being afraid of pine needles and eating disgusting mayo + peanutbutter + god knows what else combinations :)

By: Brie

Brie — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 22:51:41 +0000

This late post is to add to the collectionI have 1 pair of :shoes, shoe covers, knee warmers (though they act as leg warmers because I am so short), arm warmers (had to be replaced after crash – better a hole in the right warmer than my arm), full fingered gloves, bib knicks (a very recent purchase as difficult to find for a girl – want to get more am so hooked!)1 of:wind vest, long sleeve bright fluro ‘rain’ jacket2 pairs of :fingerless gloves5 pairs of: knicks (4 body torque, 1 cannibal – Oz designs – top marks for body torque knicks – if girls are having trouble finding a nice pair give these guys a go)8 of:jerseys – one team replica (and a rather old team I am told), one leaders replica (pretty pink Giro – who could say no), 2 sleevless and 4 non descript ones9 of:tri tops (all from races) – my version of an undershirt for jerseys Then there is the socks…

By: Unknown

Unknown — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 19:47:02 +0000

Fatty–I have been, I feel, maligned as material for your brunt-of-all-the-endurance-racing jokes. In fact, I think I now know how Tonto, Laurel, and Costello all must have felt. Ellie, a first-time commenter said the following: "…kind of like leading Rocky to an endurance race (or a lamb to slaughter, but I repeat myself)." How could something like that be considered funny? Do you feel no responsibility for the minds you are shaping, man? Is this some kind of sick, twisted attempt to goad me into another endurance nightmare? And Ms. Ellie, shame on you.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 18:24:22 +0000

Fatty:Is it possible we’re related? And how can so many people who post to your blog call themselves cyclists when they own so little in the way of critical cycling attire?Before I launch into my list, let me first explain that I’m both a bicycle commuter (about one hour each way) and a long-distance nut (a.k.a randonneur, though I don’t live in Seattle, and I don’t own a blue wool jersey). Plus, I have a thing about wearing dirty shorts and jerseys, so I always carry a second set of bike clothes to work, which means I have an excuse for owning a lot. Also, I’m a wuss when it comes to cold weather, so I own way too much in the way of arctic expedition-style clothing, even though I live in sunny California.Feet. I have three pairs of shoes that I actively use: two older sets for commuting, and one good pair (Sidis) for the weekend bike. To my credit, the commute shoes used to be my good weekend shoes long ago. About six years ago, I made the switch to a mountain cleat/shoe system (Bebop) from my old Look pedal system, so I also have three pairs of road shoes with Look cleats. For some reason, I keep thinking those shoes will come in handy, even though none of my bikes have Look pedals anymore. (And, yes, I still have two pairs of Look pedals in a plastic box somewhere in my garage.) I’m also pretty sure I still have at least one pair of flat, uncleated so-called touring shoes. And if that weren’t enough, I have three pairs of booties, each with one broken zipper; one unmatched bootie, whose mate was apparently lost while traveling; and one pair of "toe covers" that I bought last weekend on a whim. I can tell from the way the toe covers stretch to fit over my shoes that they’re not going to make it more than a couple of months. But last night on my commute I came up with the bright idea of recycling my old broken booties into more durable toe covers by cutting off the heels. Of course, if I do that, I’ll have to buy another pair of booties. Oh, and I have one other pair of booties that are way too small — I think I bought them on sale — so they’re in great shape. They look so darned good I can’t bring myself to throw them away, but of course, there’s no way my feet are ever going to shrink to the point that these slick booties are going to fit. And if they did, I’d need new shoes.Shorts. I really, really like Blackbottom shorts, but the chamois gets mangled in the dryer, so I have to hang them up to dry. This is my excuse for needing the 18 pairs I have. Now, before you declare this excessive, let me explain that I divide my shorts into those that MUST be worn under tights and those that must NOT be worn under tights. I have a theory that wearing tights over shorts makes the shorts wear out prematurely and also causes that ugly sag in the lycra that makes them catch on the nose of the saddle. So, I have 10 pairs of shorts that are old and damaged in some way — tear in the seam, "threadbare" patches, saggy bottoms — and I wear these under my tights in the winter. If I want to, I can commute for a whole week before I need to wash any shorts! I also have eight pairs of good shorts that I use in nice weather and with leg warmers for summer commuting and weekend rides.Leg coverings. I have one good pair of leg warmers. I used to have two good pairs, but I trashed the zipper on one of the second pair in a sleep-deprived moment on the Gold Rush Randonnee last summer, and I’m still heartbroken. I haven’t tossed the bad pair because I keep hoping there’s some way I can have the zipper repaired. For colder weather I also own three pairs of very warm "triflex" tights and three pairs of basic polypropelyne tights. These occasionally develop rips and tears, and I’m pretty good about mending the holes in these, which is probably why I only have six pairs total.Jerseys and undershirts. Like you, I have a pretty good collection of event and club jerseys — maybe 25 or 30. I probably wear about half of them regularly. The other half I don’t really like for a variety of reasons, but I guess I keep them in case I change my mind. I also have about six warm, fleecy long-sleeved jerseys for commuting in the cold before dawn and after sunset. But warm jerseys aren’t enough: I must also have nice, soft undershirts to wear next to my skin. I think I have about a dozen of these. I still own and regularly wear the very first cycling undershirt I bought back in 1988 from the Missing Link bike store in Berkeley. It was made out of this newfangled stuff called "Thermax" and was quite expensive for the time. The undershirts seem to be the worst for collecting offensive odors, but I combat this with an elaborate washing routine involving two rinse cycles, Gain detergent, vinegar and fabric softener. This keeps my dresser drawers from smelling bad, but the odors seem to come back about 30 minutes into any ride. Oh well.Outerwear. I actually prefer windvests to jackets for most situations, but it took me years to figure that out, so I have about four vests I wear regularly along with maybe six windbreakers and three cycling-specific rainjackets. I probably have 15 pairs of gloves when you count padded cycling gloves, liner gloves, thick gloves, and my favorite, "glo-mitts" from REI. These are fleecy short-fingered gloves with a pullover mitten that you can pull back when you need to get into your pockets. They’re a great invention, and I own at least three or four pairs. For the head I have two helmets, one that’s bare for summer/weekend riding, and one that’s got a helmet cover, headlight, fleecy earwarmers and mirror attached for winter riding. I only have three or four warm cycling-specific hats because I don’t like to wear a hat on my commute — I get "hat hair," which for me is about ten times worse than "helmet hair." I could go on, but I won’t. And please, don’t ask me about my collection of bike lights or water bottles or punctured inner tubes or….[screech]Amy

By: Gillian

Gillian — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 17:56:49 +0000

you win the prize for the longest comments. I don’t cycle – the road to work is a highway with no shoulder – and your stinky comments are sort of convincing me that perhaps this is good . . . :) You’re a fun read.

By: Evia

Evia — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 16:54:15 +0000

You know, you could take up sewing and convert those jerseys into a nice useful blanket. You could use the shorts for borders of the squares and only use the most interesting designs of the jerseys. Shoot, why not include pockets and zippers so you have a place to hide your snacks while laying on the couch watching tv. You’d use your old cycling clothes, stay warm inside and have snacks at your fingertips. I may have to make one for myself!!

By: Unknown

Unknown — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 16:38:55 +0000

Hey, great article, Brother.I would love to see those early bicycles.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 16:21:54 +0000

When the Spring riding season begins, I buy a whole new set of riding gear for the year. I then wear the same clothes every ride, whether I have had the chance to wash them, or not. Your little treatise on riding gear funk was fairly lightweight where mutant, otherworldly funk is concerned. But I digress.I store them in exactly the same place always. When I wash them, I never mix them with other clothes. I take them straight from the dryer to back to their place in the car. That way, I am never without them. If, by and by I should lose a sock to DDSS (dryer disappearing sock syndrome–hey, all of those acronyms you have been coming up with need to go into the glossary of mockronyms), I simply discard the orphaned sock and buy a new pair. I ride barefoot until I can actually remember to buy a new pair.I always carry a jacket with zip off sleeves on my Camelbak, and arm and leg warmers in my Camelbak until the weather is not a question anymore.At the end of the riding year, whether they need it or not (?), I have a ceremonial burning of the year’s riding attire. I have actaully been contacted by Air Quality Control inquiring about the "toxic gas" from the fire. I always tell them, "It’s okay, it’s organic polyester."