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| Meet The Riders |
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Mere hours after thrashing himself in the Dirty Weekend 24-Hour MTB race (and coming 5th in teams!), Dan Searson surfaced from a well-deserved Radox bath long enough to answer our patented BMCR Rider Questionnaire. Discipline(s)?Mostly road and a bit of track. Mountain biking for fun.
Funky nickname?
Never had one! Suggestions welcome.
(ed.: Dan 'Dan He's Our Man'? Umm... no.)Your bike stable comprises:A Surly Pacer, Commencal Combi Delux, Hillbrick Pista, and an old Avanti commuter.
Favourite loop?The superdrome? Actually, it's probably Norton-Lobethal-Gorge.
What's your typical training schedule?
A couple of road rides and track training during the week. Usually a race of some description and a beach-cruise-coffee-shop-poser rider on the weekend.
(ed.: you said it, not us.)Pre-race snack?
Banana-banana ba-nana - make those bodies sing!
Any odd pre-race rituals?
Check quick release skewers are tight on the start line. I am paranoid about this for some reason.
When training, I like to listen to...my own singing.
(Nobody else agrees with me.)
Most painful crash?When I was 8 years old and stacked it in my uncle's driveway. I tore a big chunk out of my elbow and cried a lot.
Essential bike accessory?
White handlebar tape (or grips).
Dream riding destination?
Les Alpes!
Most useful riding tip you've ever received?'Don't look at what's right in front of you -- look up ahead!' This works for all types of riding, I think.
Most useless riding tip you've ever received?I don't think I've received any notably useless tips. I'm much better at giving them out.
OK, then; most useless riding tip you've ever given out?
'Pedal faster!'
Motto:WWDJ: What would Jens do?
What's your favourite hobby outside riding?
Between riding and trying to do a Ph.d I have no time for hobbies! Hmm. Eating. I like eating. I'm a vegan, so annoying people who cook for me could be considered a hobby.
If you could possess any superpower, what would it be?
I'd just be happy to be able to adjust my rear derailleur without stuffing it up. As far as I'm concerned, rear derailleur adjustement is roughly equivalent to brain surgery.
We heard a rumour that you pose as a crash test dummy during the day; is this correct?This is a slight exaggeration. My Ph.d work involves simulating an impact between a pedestrian's head and a vehicle bonnet. Basically, this involves using a large slingshot to shoot instrumented dummy heads into cars. It is rather fun at times. It would be a lot more fun if we could use some sort of melon fruit.
Why do you think Tim is so cool?I think I saw him do a nose wheelie on his road bike once, that was pretty cool. If I could do that I'd be doing them at every set of traffic lights just to freak people out and amaze them with my coolness.
And, finally: tubes or tubeless?Tubes because I don't know any better!
Thanks, Dan!  | |
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| Dear Subscriber,
Ah, May! When a bike rider's thoughts turn to leg warmers, and a bike mechanic's thoughts turn to the impending influx of mud-encrusted bottom brackets and shredded rear derailleur hangers.
Yes, we're up to our knees in the winter MTB race season! On that note, if you're planning on blitzing the trails and your suspension hasn't been looked at in over six months, why not book your bike in for some BMCR love? Like so many things in life (e.g. teeth, tax returns, that lump on your back), some issues are better addressed sooner rather than later, because later usually = expensive and painful. And BMCR doesn't want either of those things for you.
Anyway, read on for more products, a brand new special, and a BMCR rider who's put the call out for a nickname. (Best submission gets a prize of some kind. Want the next e.newsletter written in haiku? Rhyming couplets? The choice could be yours, gentle reader!)
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New in store |
You may remember Part One of our Vaude Stock 4 Cheep news. (For those who don't, it can be summed up succinctly: Pants! 40% off! While stocks last! Eee!) Now for Part Two: Jackets. ( 40% off! While stocks last! Whee!) The Casella eVENT ( not a Caps Lock snafu, b.t.w.) is the Rolls Royce of cycling jackets. Fully waterproof, you'll stay dry even up your biggest climbs  -- this material has more than twice the breathability of any other membrane on the market. (Hee: 'membrane.') (Yes, I'm 12.) Add a fold-over chin guard, articulated sleeves, super-comfy adjustable cuffs, a zip pocket, and a partially elasticated hem with extra butt coverage ("Now with EBC©!"), and you're in winter cycling jacket heaven. Are you the kind of rider who likes to point at things? ("Look! A tree! Wow!") Perhaps you just enjoy wind-milling while you ride? Even if you're not a freak, but are looking for a jacket with a bit more movement than usual, the Stretched Reality II is just  for you. Extremely waterproof and highly breathable, it's made from full stretch material and is so silky that you may find yourself being touched by total strangers. Will you let them discover the two front pockets or inside storage facility? What if they want to try on the hood or adjust the fit using the handy hem draw-cord? That probably depends on how attractive they are. Wear it...and see what swings your way! For those who demand a little less from their apparel (or total strangers), the lightweight Spray II is waterproof  and breathable, and has pre-shaped elbows, a fleece-lined chin guard, and, of course, EBC©. The Spray is also 50% more waterproof and around twice as breathable as other jackets in its price range. It works hard for the money. (So hard for it, honey.) Finally, the Dundee - Vaude's windbreaker with a twist.  In addition to being wind-resistant and spray-resistant, it also has zip-off sleeves so you can fling caution (and cuffs!) to the wind should the moment strike. Perhaps you're trying to get someone's attention at a bike rally. Perhaps you merely wish to feel the wind beneath your armpits. The options are endless. |
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Talk about mud-flaps... |
In the spirit of the current weather, what better time to offer y'all a special on mud-guards? "Why, never!" you say, and quite right you are too. Take 15% off all stocked items for this month, and rejoice in your lack of tarmac spray. In the Zefal range, choose from the Classic or Trail front/rear packs, or, for those who just  want to cover their backs, the Swan or Flamingo models. (Presumably the Penguin and Puffin were deemed too short to be useful.) Wistful for the efficient marriage of stainless steel and German engineering? The SKS Chromolyplastics fit a 26" wheel and  come "with traditional and unmistakable decorative stripes." (Apparently.) Running 700C wheels? The Axiom Roadrunner LX Trekk is leaning idly on a fence post, waiting for your call. "But I've got a downhill bike, and dudes will bag me if I have a mudguard." Don't worry, princess: a stealthy Polisport Mudflap II  will hide itself on your downtube and leave you free to divert unwanted attention to the guy wearing last year's Troy Lees. Want something different entirely? Feast your eyes upon the Portable Flinger -- a retractable  fender which even comes with its own carry bag! Don't just believe us? Listen to the packaging: "Dispositif de montage rapide et sans outil." Or, in other words, "SCHNELLE BEFESTIGUNG AN ALLEN SATTELSTÜTZEN OHNE WERKZEUG." But of course. |
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So what else is new? |
The ground may be soggy, but we're not out of three-cornered-jack season just yet. (Or beer-bottle season, if Anzac Highway is anything to go  by. "It's Tuesday! Yay!" *smash* *tinkle*)
Anyway, if your current pump is struggling to get your road tyres up over 100 p.s.i., or taking so long to do so that one of your biceps is now significantly larger than the other, may we suggest the Maxxis Compressor? Compatible with Schrader or Presta valves, this high-pressure hand pump can blow a tube up to 160 p.s.i. and weighs a weenie 93 grams. It also comes with a thumb-lock lever, but don't worry -- you can use any finger. (We checked.)
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In other BMCR news, new Bio-Mechanist Andy's immersion in Pete's Dark Mechanical Arts is almost complete. In return, he's teaching us to speak Construction Worker. (The trick is to ask a question and answer it in the same sentence, so all the respondent has to do is reply with, "Yeah." Par example: "Diggin' a hole, mate?" "Holdin' a stop sign, maaate?" "Eatin' a piiiiie, maaaaate?")
Speaking of roadworks, remember to check your batteries, readers. The roads seem to be full of cyclists with either very feeble rear illumination or no lights at all (triple duh). We want you all alive and injury-free, so please err on the side of excess in your lights and be super-visible.
Keep riding, and stay safe!
Cheers,
Pete & Lia
Bio-Mechanics Cycles & Repairs
Now with added Andy! | |
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