About

I am not a professional cyclist, a journalist, or a photographer. I do not fancy myself an advocate or a racer. I commute to work by car. What I am is a recreational cyclist who has been riding bikes for mental and physical health since the early 90s. There was a time when I raced mountain bikes, both as an independent amateur in South Carolina and for Louisiana State University's intramural team. I have bike toured Burgundy and Louisiana. I have stood on the side of the road and cheered on the riders in the Tour de France.

I love bikes and appreciate them for their mechanical beauty. To me, a good bike is like a fine timepiece or a precision made firearm. All of these require attention to detail, fit, and finish in order to perform at their best. Each requires proper cleaning, lubrication, and frequent use. Corrosion is a death sentence to each.

Cycling today has become more complicated than it needs to be. Every year bike prices rise touting new materials, new designs, and new gadgets. Do not take this to mean I am a luddite. Some of these improvements are exactly that. Suspension improvements have made it possible to ride trails that would be a near certain death on a rigid bike. Shifting technology has improved the reliability and durability of many components.

However, not everything that is new is improved. Increasing rear gear selections from 9 speed to 10 speed to 11 speed seems to have created more problems than it solved. Sure there are more options to choose from but those options are incremental at best. Now, chains are thinner which makes them both more expensive to produce and purchase as well as weaker. So now you have a chain that you have to replace more often and it is going to cost you more to do so.

Yes, I admit that I saw an improvement in shifting performance when I switched from 8 speed to 9 speed but there are many factors in that and I do not believe that merely going from 8 to 9 speed was by any stretch the most influential. What is more likely is that I was replacing a drive train that was 10 years old and had seen substantial use.

These drive train increases serve another purpose other than just marketing more gears. This now creates a system of planned obsolescence. An example can easily be found on my Bianchi. When Campagnolo switched its base groups from 9 speed to 10 speed, the company produced a much more ergonomic shifter lever. In order for me to replace my 9 speed Mirage shifters with a new generation 2 ergo shifter, I would have to upgrade my cassette, chain, crankset, and front derailleur at a minimum. While this is a brilliant marketing strategy for the company it is painful for the customer.

I intend to incorporate reviews in this blog in an effort to stay relevant with modern equipment but rest assured, I will provide this information based solely on the value of the improvements and not recommend products simply because they are new and shiny. In that same vein, I do not intend to disparage a product simply because it is new and shiny either. My goal is to provide fair and accurate information that you can rely on when making decisions.

I have set a goal for myself this year. By the end of 2014, I hope to have completed 3,500km. I apologize to my fellow countrymen for the use of kilometers but there is a reason behind this. As stated above, I have no desire to race anymore. This does not mean that I do not value a good challenge. I have become intrigued by the notion of randonneuring. For those who do not know, randonneuring is non-competitive, self supported long distance cycling. Instead of racing against other riders, participants race against the clock. These rides are mapped in distances of 200km to 1,200km or more.

As I progress through the year (and hopefully beyond) I will chronicle my rides here. I intend to incorporate ride reports, photographs, and gear reviews throughout the process. I look forward to this journey and I am happy you have taken the time to join me. Feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions you may have.

 Jack Ingram recorded a song whose refrain is most fitting for my future endeavor: “The road goes on forever and the party never ends.” Take care my friends and I hope to see you on the road!