Bit of ‘euro’ style - white Sidis. The funny thing is that more Australians wear white, sharp, matched outfits on the bike than anyone I’ve ever seen in Italy or France - perhaps we call it ‘euro’ style because that is where the brands are located: Assos, Castelli, Demarchi etc.
Hope these shoes join me in the same enjoyable adventures as my previous pair.
Whilst unscrewing the buckles (for spare parts) and the cleats off these 10 - 12 year old Sidi shoes I got to thinking about the places, friends and effort they had seen. Sunshine, mud, sweat, kangaroos and thousands of kilometers of trails.
These Italian made shoes have been amazing - truly a bargain to get 10 years out of a pair of shoes.
I’ve replaced them with another pair, unfortunetly tehy aren’t made in Italy anymore (my first pair of Sidis that aren’t from the factory)….the buckle broke the first time I tried to ratchet them on!!!! People tell me I’ll get 3 years out of the new ones…how is that ecomonical? I’d gladly pay the extra 20-40% to get Italian made shoe that lasts 10 years,
Farewell good friends
The last of ‘the old stuff’ from Qoleum. Great embrocation from Johann in Belgium. Keeps the legs warm and waterproof. I have many collegues that have used it for neck & back soreness as well with great reports. This jar would be 10 years old now and came directly from Johann…now onto the new flash silver ones.
Rubbing this stuff into your legs is one of the simple pleasures of cycling.
Time to get to work on the respray on the steal Independent Fabrications 29 frame and fork.
Thinking Saul Bass - the chunks of purple blue and black on a white frame.
‘Spider’ in the flat gold. The Chris King headset and Thompson post in black will match well.
Have fired off email to Indy Fab.
Sold all the Shimano XTR 970 (with 960 crankset) today…fantastic result of $500…for parts that are between 7 and 5 years old!
Best part about initially spending on quality is that if you do need to sell then other people also value your goods as they last and the duribility ensures the value is retained. Shimano XTR has fantastic resale value: 9 speed shifters sold for $152 on eBay, I think my new 10 speed ones cost $160!
Great weekend too…100km on the Pegoretti down to Sorrento…getting a good base for mountain bike season!
Some good winter gloves for commuting into work.
Thursday CX was 2.6 degrees and Tuesday’s training ride was about 4. Melbourne’s winter is definitely back to cold & wet like it was before the decade long draught.
Burton AK tech gloves…sure they are for snowboarding - but the sports cross over quite well.
93km down to Frankston (Olivers hill x 2) and back home…start making those deposits in the bank for the mountain bike season.
now this is the sort of rider I’d love to be…strong, smooth with plenty of stamina. Epic adventure rides….here’s to summer!
The urban-lumberjack fad of 2009 seems to have diminished however one aspect of the trend I really enjoyed was the fact that financial sense was discussed by young men interested in fashion.
Whilst Red Wing boots and Pendleton plaids may have been put on the back shelves I like to believe that some of those young men realised that buying good clothes that last is effective way to save money in the long term. Some of these young men would have gone on to buy such classics as blazers and cap toe shoes…and those Pendleton flannels will always be ready for winter!
I really like this diagram (and the financial articles) by Carl Richards of the New York Times.
Greatest use of orange since a Rolex explorer 1655 (the hour & minute hand style is actually similar), whilst the markers resemble the Tudor Monte Carlo (another great watch with orange hands!)
The upper left register when set at zero looks like a Public Enemy emblem. Awesome.
The Olympic mtb course ‘dean’s descent’. check the football posts, they are 5º off - that is some steep stuff here.
Glad to see Marco Fontana get the bronze, with his riding style and fun loving nature he represents why mountain biking is so good.
