Specialized Allez C2

New bike!

It's been a very long time since the last post and I think it's time I put up an update. I recently bought a new bike, a Specialized Allez C2. It's a great bike and I really enjoy riding it. For an entry level road bike it is very light and handles extremely well. It's stiff and responsive, it flies down hills...And back up. I was lucky to buy the bike during the promotion they were offering and I was able to get over $200 worth of upgrades for free, although they did send me 3 tubes that were the wrong size. I received the Specialized wedgie bag, 2 Turbo elite black with white tires, 2 Rib Cage bottle holders, and 3 pre-talc'd Turbo tubes. On a different note, I've been out with the fixed gear for many rides since my last post and I am currently waiting to fix a spoke that I broke on a very bumpy ride. I switched over my cycling computer on to my road bike and it shows quite the difference in speeds compared to my fixed gear. I will post the picture of my Specialized from when I first bought it, but I will try to post another with the upgrades on it. Till then,

-Gibbs

20k Ride.

Just got back from trying out the tuned up bike. Rode 20k and it was gliding, sprints were so smooth and getting to 40 was almost effortless, well, just about ;). I took the bike lanes to the mall then rode through the park for a while to test it out. I also got to try out the airzound horn when a pickup pulled out from the intersection about 30 feet ahead, cutting me off, while I was cruising in the bike lane pushing 50, then he decided to stop halfway in the lane when he saw me. I was about 3 feet from his bumper when I stopped, thought I was going to have to jump the curb, that would have been great for my wheels that were just trued...Not. Besides the close call, it was a great ride, looking forward to tomorrow, hopefully going for a long ride. Anyways, till then.
-Gibbs

Update

Just got the bike tuned up and I'm ready for a ride. I got some work done on my rear hub, chain tightened, and the wheels trued. It's been a while, many rides, but not a lot of time to update the blog, the bike computer is currently resting at 405 km. I'll be posting again later with an update of the ride I'll be doing in a little while. Till then.
-Gibbs.

30k Adventure

Didn't have time to write about yesterdays ride. We started out on a ride through the streets to the trails. We rode the trails until we got to the beach, we rode down the path at the beach for a while and headed back down the trails. When we got back to the road we passed the 20k mark on the cycling computer and we headed towards the stairs. We climbed the many flights of stairs up the the other trail and path. We followed the path for a while and rode up the nice hill climb to the bridge I've mentioned in the other posts. When we hit this point we headed home, riding back was relaxing (Except when I ran over a snake) as it's mainly downhill and you can keep a 25km/hr pace without even really pedaling. We walked down the stairs and continued on the road until we got home. Bringing the cycling computer up to just over 32 Km. Top speed on road 53.4 Km/hr. Till next time.
-Gibbs

15k ride.

Back from a 15k ride through the same route as yesterday. Was a good ride, had to take it a bit slow, but threw it in for a few hearty sprints, never the less. Kept it under 50 with the sprints today. After we got to the stairs we just decided to call it short and head home.

Going for a spin.

Back from another 20km ride. Was tiring - and relaxing at the same time, if that makes sense. We filled our tires and Air Zound's, and started the ride to the stairs again. Once we climbed the mountain we got back onto the same path as yesterday. We held a good pace, but instead of heading for the falls again, we turned right for a nice hill climb. We ended up on a bridge over the highway. At this point we decided to head on our way back to the stairs. When we got to the bottom, we took the road to the park - (Max speed 53km/hr) We rode around the park for a bit, and talked about dream setups on fixed gear bikes - (Definitely would rock a white carbon or aluminum frame, carbon weave front fork, flip flop rear hub, carbon weave aerospoke in the front, probably geared 50 or 60 x 18, etc). Very cool, but very expensive. After this, we headed home. Till next time.
-Gibbs

Samui Air Zound Cycling Horn - Review

The Air Zound is a must have for all city cyclists and commuters who ride on the road. The Air Zound packs a 120 decibel blast that can be heard from blocks away. It is clearly heard in a car, even if the stereo is going, and they will definitely know you are there. I also tend to use this horn on trails to let people know I'm coming and that I want to pass. It is very easy to install and doesn't have to be a permanent installation, the air bottle can even be stored in a water bottle cage. The kit comes with zip ties, and Velcro to securely attach the equipment to your bicycle. The horn simply clips onto the base, which can be tightened onto the handlebars with a screw and nut. To refill the bottle all you need is a bicycle pump. By flipping up the horn button it reveals a schrader valve to which you can fill the bottle up to the max of 80 psi. At 80 psi you can expect to deliver about 50 blasts from the horn, depending on the length of each blast (can lower volume which requires less air also). In conclusion, I would recommend this horn to anyone who rides on the road regularly. It is simple to install, taking only a few minutes, and is well worth the $20. This horn has helped me out many times, and it definitely has the potential to save lives.

MEC Plasma USB Red LED Taillight - Review

This taillight is probably the best $7 I've ever spent. This taillight is extremely bright and can be seen from about 1 1/2 blocks away, it is extremely noticeable, and I can't even look directly at it from 30+ feet away since it's so bright. The battery life is pretty good, lasting about 1-2 weeks on a full charge (depending on use - 8hrs flashing, 3hrs steady). As this light is rechargeable by a USB port, which is charged in 2 and a half hours, it is very easy to maintain and is very convenient. To install the light you simply pull the rubber piece around the seat post and attach it to the clip on the side of the light, fitting tight, secure, and also looks very sleek. In conclusion I would definitely recommend this light it's small, but very powerful. It is a great addition for any commuters or cyclists who ride at night or if it is dark. I have no complaints at all about it, and for the price, it's unbeatable.

CatEye Velo 5

The CatEye Velo 5 is a great cycling computer for a budget friendly price ($20-25), as an entry level cycling computer. It has 5 main functions, hence the name Velo 5. The different functions are Current speed, Distance done during current ride, Odometer, Max speed, and Clock. I've found that this is a great cycling computer and that it is very accurate. It is very easy to install, the only problem I ran into was that the zip ties that were included weren't the best quality, and they all snapped. Besides that it took minutes to install and program to the proper settings. Since I installed it, (about 2-3 weeks), I've put on close to 300km and it is working better than ever. I don't have anything to criticize except if you reset the distance from a previous trip, it also clears your max speed. Not a huge issue, but still fairly annoying in my opinion. In conclusion this is a great cycling computer for an everyday cyclist or commuter. It is reliable, boasting it's up to 3 year battery life, it is a very simple design and easy to use.

Current Setup

Thought I might as well post an update of the current setup on the bike:

48x18 Gearing
Brooks Vintage Leather Saddle
Raleigh Leather Saddle Bag
CatEye Velo 5
Xenon Headlight
Mec Usb rechargeable taillight
AirZound Bike Horn
Kryptonite Bike Lock

Just A Nice Ride.

Just got back from a nice 20k ride along the mountain. Started off with a nice jog up the stairs up to the path and started off at a nice pace. Along the way we took a few stops for some pictures in the bridge ruins and some other neat areas. We then headed out to the falls after a few fun hill climbs. After racing up the final hill we got to the falls, we took some pictures there and took a short break, before racing down the hill to the path. On the way back we kept a nice pace as it was mainly downhill, and took a stop for a needed drink on the way home. Till next time.
-Gibbs

Supercycle Outcast MC

This is my mountain bike I use on trails, and whenever I want to mess around. It's a decent bike that has failed me a few times, but for understandable reasons. Current configuration is xenon headlight, Schwinn bottle cage, Schwinn dual bicycle grips, and toeclips with straps.

1960's Fixed SuperCycle

Here is my main bike, my trusty sidekick. This is my everyday ride that I can always count on to be riding smooth and fast.