Within the feedback on yesterday’s put up, a reader talked about this surprising story:
And by “surprising” I imply I used to be shocked it didn’t occur on the Gran Fondo New York:
Clearly, evading doping controls at beginner races is turning into a biking self-discipline unto itself.
As for this newest story, right here’s what occurred:
I after all needed to know extra about Giovambattista Iera, bike owner and former actor. If you consider it, dishonest to win beginner bike races is a pure development after not making it as an actor, since each arenas will let you construct a faux persona round your self, although in case you suck at performing you suck at performing, whereas in case you suck at biking you possibly can cheat and in case you’re fortunate possibly you’ll get away with it for awhile. Actually, he matches the FBI’s Rogue Douche Profile nearly to a T, and the one factor lacking is a stint as a restauranteu–oh, wait, sorry, he did that too:
And sure, I checked photographs from information tales to guarantee that’s him:
Wouldn’t wish to smear an harmless restauranteur.
In the end, I believe his solely mistake (moreover operating down the race director, you actually shouldn’t do this) was not styling himself as a gravel privateer and influencer on Instagram, as a result of that’s the true progress space for bold bike fans with borderline persona dysfunction as of late. Simply ask my new using buddy and life coach Alt Street Overshort:
And his buddy who will need to have laundered his clothes in a detergent that’s actually wreaking havoc along with his eczema:
And sure, because the varieties of people that put on MAAP clothes know, gravel is completely over. Now it’s all about sand, which is simply gravel, solely a lot smaller:
Both that or I assumed I used to be on the MAAP web site however was truly on a web page for the brand new Dune film:
Jesus. Get some solar. Crack a smile. Eat some freaking Chipotle. LIVE, GODDAMN IT, LIVE!
I do actually like that gravel dais although:
The brand new Alt Gravel Dais is simply $2,500 from MAAP and it permits you to put on your Alt biking wardrobe always, even while you’re off the bike, as a result of standing on a patch of gravel will nonetheless maintain your outfit in context and let everybody know you’re a trend sufferer gravelista and simply not somebody from a dystopian close to future who slipped via a wormhole in time. You’ll be able to stand on the Alt Gravel Dais whilst you’re ready for the subway, hanging out on the bar with associates, or struggling via a lecture out of your dad and mom earlier than they lend you $15,000 for that six-month bikepacking journey. (It’s an funding, it’ll create content material, you’ll monetize it!) Or you should use it on the bike too for when there’s no gravel round–simply cease, throw it down, trip over it, and repeat. The Alt Gravel Dais from MAAP, it allows you to take your life-style with you.
As for the forgotten ghost world of non-gravel bikes, as of yesterday I’ve formally taken the rehabilitated ‘Noner for its first trip:
However earlier than going any additional, I’d like to handle the stem. Certain, a commenter yesterday stated I may have chosen a classier one, however this one has totally different settings! It goes from 3 (Slammed) all the best way to 0 (Woosie):
Anyway, in setting out, I donned a jersey to honor the bike’s Canadian heritage:
Between an end-of-the-weekend gastrointestinal freakout and my sundry “tasks,” I hadn’t been on the bike since Saturday, and I discovered that whereas I used to be gone summer season had arrived:
It meant enterprise too, as a result of not solely was it sizzling, however the air was thick with bugs and this cottony crap:
I don’t know what tree or plant these items comes from, however it was completely in every single place:
All of this conspired to imbue the day with a sense of lethargy, and even the bunnies couldn’t be bothered to hop away while you obtained near them:
Each the climate and the bike had come a good distance since our first trip:
The ‘Noner felt nice:
Although after just a few miles I finished to examine it over:
Total, the 8-speed Refrain shifters are working properly, and I hope they proceed to take action for awhile as a result of I like the best way they really feel and it’s enjoyable to have Campagnolo Ergo once more:
There’s a softness right here and there that leads me to marvel how far more life the internals have in them, however it’s arduous to inform how a lot of that’s simply me not getting used to them and paying an excessive amount of consideration to stuff, and for all my troubles with the cassette the shifting is clean* and correct:
*[If you can call Campy smooth; it’s more a “ker-klunk” with Campy, but you know what I mean.]
The hubs nonetheless want service and the underside bracket must be changed, however in any other case the elements appear to be in fine condition:
The headset is clean:
So are the brakes:
And each the Athena “9 pace” (if I’m studying that accurately) rear derailleur…
…and Centaur “10 pace” derailleur are doing what they should do:
Although I do solely consider one factor after I hear “Centaur:”
As for the body, there’s this complete scenario, which looks as if it may have occurred in transit since that’s the place the wheel axle likes to rub in opposition to the body while you pack a motorcycle in a field:
Then there’s the dinged high tube:
And an general smattering of rust:
But it surely’s significantly more healthy than it was when it confirmed up on the Tan Tenovo Residence For Wayward Bikes:
We’ll see the way it holds up.
