Coffee while working on a Honey Bike. Yes please.
{ 0 comments }
A bit of Saturday morning welding at Seven Cycles. Low amperage welding when I’m still half asleep is not the easiest for me anymore – I’m basically trying to weld two pieces of metal paper together as a test for the Project Forty-Eight.
Regardless, it’s one of the only moments in the past month that I could steal an instant to weld.
It’s quiet and chilly at Seven. The smells of welding ozone and singed cotton gloves always remind me of my bucolic past. And I’m the elf that leaves a mess.
{ 0 comments }
Evening commute.
At least it reads, “Temp,” as in ‘temporary?’
Some great stuff happened last night but both my cameras froze up just after this shot so I couldn’t get any good photos. My camera phone locked up and my camera battery malfunctioned. I’m guessing both issues had to do with the temperature.
It’s only January; I’m sure there will be some subzero days ahead. I can’t wait to see what else freezes up.
{ 0 comments }
Super important: New Studio water bottles!
As we are wont to do, we’ve updated the RSC bottle design. This is a special winter bottle. No, not insulated; why would you want that? This limited edition bottle is winter specific because:
- We placed the graphics out of the way of grimy bottle cages. We find the winter is particularly mean to bottles. Salt and road grim chew bottles apart. This bottle will remain sharp as can be in the winter.
- We made the bottles clear so you can see your ice to water ratio. Or vodka to water ratio.
- It’s the largest bottle of which we know. More water volume means slower freezing – maybe a minute or two.
- Soft rubber cap so it’s easy to unscrew, even while wearing lobster claw gloves.
- First fifty bottles come with an ice pick. Ooops, we’re sold out of those already.
This is our fourth generation Studio bottle. Previous versions are cool, too.
{ 0 comments }
Heavy snow and 4 degrees Fahrenheit this morning. Very unusual combination for Boston.
No cars on the road. Snow seems to slow everything down a bit. So quiet. Only the sound of snow fall and distant snow plows grinding out a path.
It’s so icy that I had to tack across the wind for most of the ride so I wouldn’t slide out. Nella Neve is the perfect bike for today. Studded tires and over-sized fenders are the words of the day.
{ 0 comments }
First light of 2014; seen from Boston’s eastern most point. Overlooking the mighty Atlantic Ocean.
Clear skies and 15 degrees. I had to race to the rise. It was as much a math problem as it was a ride. I was hoping to time it to the minute; I didn’t want to be standing around for more than two minutes in sub-15 degree winds. Still had to plan for the worst – a possible flat, wrong turn, or emergency stop to warm up the toes. Fortunately, no contingencies were necessary. Timing was perfect. Sunrise was perfecter.
Welcome to the New Year! It’s going to be another amazing one!
{ 0 comments }
I’m liking Seven’s latest winter jersey project. It’s a Rapha long sleeve jersey in men’s and women’s designs.
Gotta go ride in it, or three of it. We’re rolling in the Fahrenheit teens this week.
{ 0 comments }
The Ride Studio Cafe has a lot of people participating in Rapha’s Festive this year. Those that complete at least 500km will receive an RSC punch-card for five soups and five oatmeals. It makes me wish I could complete the 500. Maybe the Studio will let me get a few punches for a few kilometers?
{ 0 comments }
Today was the Ride Studio Cafe’s Snowflake Century Ride! I survived it.
- Distance: 101.7 miles
- Total kilometers towards the Festive 500: 336 km. 164 km short.
- Low temperature: 28° F
- Weather: Overcast. Then, finally, the rain came. Last 20-miles in the a nice steady freezing rain.
Ride Notes:
- I am rather glad I completed the entire snowflake. I believe that Don B. and I are the only two to have completed the entire 100-miles. Our secret was to roll out at 6am. It was way too early for me but in looking at the weather report and doing some simple math, I could tell I was going to be riding a lot of miles in the rain if I didn’t roll out, in the dark, at 6 am. The only other wacky enough to ride at 6 am were Don B. and Richard F. Our timing was perfect.
- My Snowflake Century Ride Mantra: “The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts.” Warning: Opens Youtube video.
{ 0 comments }