You might ask why I’m reviewing a youth helmet.

Simple answer: there are no good reviews out there.

My precious 4 year old was previously sporting a generic Giro youth helmet.  We selected it because it had all of the appropriate certifications, and had cute bunnies on it.  Pretty standard fare, for $30.

She used it last summer and this spring, both on her “big girl bike” and when riding on the back of the Big Dummy, which she frequently does.  Imagine my surprise when I went to put it on her, and the strap pulled completely out of the helmet.

This happened with regular, good weather (never been wet), very light use.  It’s never fallen, never been dropped, never had any kind of adverse incident.  I was really, really upset–thinking what could have happened had she fallen and the strap broken at a time when we really needed it.  I resolved to get her a new, better helmet.  I did some online research and really couldn’t find much.  So I talked to the peeps at North Central Cyclery and asked for some recommendations.

Since this is a helmet and has to fit properly, I wanted to make the purchase at a physical store with many models to try on, to check fit.  NCC had what I needed.  The Bontrager we ended up going with retails for around $46…not much more than the Giro.  They also had other options, ranging up to some pretty darn nice Lazer helmets in the $70 price range (if I recall correctly).  Maybe for our next size up…

Anyhow, the Bontrager Solstice has proven to be very nice.  It’s much lighter than the Giro (even though it is larger).  It has a nice visor that both provides shade and deflects branches–crucial for 4 year olds that like to explore.  There is absolutely no comparison between the venting…the Bontrager is a modern design with modern venting.

It is far more comfortable, according to our helmet model.  The straps are also far easier to adjust, and the helmet sizing band adjustment is far easier to use (and stays in place better once adjusted).  I’ve found the helmet to also easily accommodate pig-tails or other hairstyles that 4 year olds like.

After seeing it on her, I was a bit worried about the sizing…but it fits perfectly, and the way the straps are designed, if she ever did fall while wearing it, the straps provide some initial cushion until your head hits the foam.

Here’s a comparison of the interior and padding.  Giro:

Bontrager:

Which one would you rather wear?  Me too.

Because we love our new helmet and want to keep it nice, Lulu and I decided to store it in the box when it’s not on her head…that way, there will be no unintended drops or scratches, and it will be nice and clean when we need it.

There is a huge difference in the weight, performance, functionality, aesthetics and comfort of the two helmets.  I haven’t done any destructive testing, but the foam in the Bontrager feels to have more give than the Giro…it feels cushier.  For a ~$15 price difference, the Bontrager is a clear winner.  In this case, I’m very happy with the purchase, as is Lulu.  She gives it two thumbs and four fingers up.  (I’m pretty sure that’s a high score).  So if you’re in the market for a toddler bike helmet, the Bontrager Solstice Youth is a good model to look at.

Whew…that title’s a mouthful!

I now have quite a few miles on the ENVEs, so here’s the update:

They’re perfect.

Oh, maybe not perfect, but pretty darn close.  This morning, I did a slightly longer than normal ride.  I did the normal group ride, and then towards the end of it, dropped off, hung a U-turn, and headed back west, into the wind.  For those DeKalb peeps out there, the solo part of the ride involved taking Keslinger until it turned into Gravel, then north to Gurler , then west to Woodlawn, and then a big sweep north, northwest and finally east (mega-tailwind-time) and cranked back into town.

Let me tell you…with moderate wind, on a flat DeKalb road, the ENVEs haul the mail.  It’s kind of hard to describe, but sometimes, when rural roads get a little bit worn, the tar comes to the surface just a bit and the asphalt’s stones wear smooth, and you end up with a hard, glasslike riding surface.  I’m running 95psi front and 100 rear (I could undoubtedly go lower) with Bontrager R3 700x23c tires (23c tires are supposed to have the best aero profile on the ENVEs).  If you catch the wind just right (tail wind or rear-quarter tailwind/crosswind), and can catch a piece of that glass-smooth pavement…it’s one of the best feelings in cycling.  The bike just wants to go.

Lessons I’ve learned in my time with the ENVEs:

1. Check the quick release skewers frequently.  (I’ve had them loosen up on me twice. Haven’t determined why).
2. Carbon clinchers have a hollow body that magnifies sound.  It takes some getting used to.  When you shoot a rock out from under a tire, it sounds LOUD at first.  No harm is coming to the wheels.  Get used to it.
3. I had a weird, severe rattle on chip seal roads.  It scared the crap out of me–because I didn’t know what it was.  It sounded like the front hub going south.  I talked to the folks at North Central Cyclery, and they quickly determined that the problem was the valve stem rattling in the wheel.  A little rubber washer and a valve stem nut, and the problem was solved.
4. Don’t be scared of the wheels.  When I had the issue described in #3, I was terrified that the wheels were going to asplode at any moment.  They didn’t.  I think they’re going to be totally bombproof…and I’m a lot more comfortable with them.  I’ve learned that the sky typically is not falling, and problems are relatively easy to work out.

The wheels have remained absolutely true.  I’ve run them in dry and wet conditions, and the braking performance is great–with ENVE’s pads, the braking doesn’t really feel much different from standard Shimano pads on aluminum clinchers…even in the wet.  I haven’t had any huge mountainous descents on the ENVEs, because we have no huge mountains in Illinois.  The wheels do feel perceptibly lighter and do spin up faster than my former alloy Fulcrum Racing 3s.  I think part of that is because the mass is slightly closer to the center of the wheels.

Power transfer is improved over the Fulcrums too…there is not an ounce of power lost with these.  Between the ENVEs and the Ridley, there’s no loss of efficiency to be had here.

I think these are about ideal for Illinois.  I’ve had them in winds up to 25-30mph, and while you feel them with a crosswind (and get pushed a bit), it isn’t “steer you into the next lane” bad.  I feel comfortable with them on group rides, regardless of wind.  I also think that the aerodynamic advantage is perceptible.  With straight-on head or tailwinds, they feel faster than the Fulcrums did.  Purely subjective at this point…I’m riding faster than I did with the Fulcrums, but that is undoubtedly part physical improvement on my part.  (At least, I’d like to think it is).

Crosswinds are where the Fulcrums seem to really come into their element.  I used to sail quite a bit, and in a 30-70 degree crosswind, you can really feel a sail effect from the wheels…I think that’s probably their sweet spot.  It feels like you’re close hauled or broad reaching…you have to maintain a little counter steering pressure, but the wheels just fly.

I still think the Fulcrum’s hubs had quicker and quieter engagement, but I’m looking at DT Swiss’s upgrade package for the DT 240 hubs…it’s supposed to be stronger, quieter and quicker-engaging…sounds like win-win.

I cannot say anything bad about the ENVEs at this point.  They’re fast, they look great, they ride great.  I love them.

Right now, if all is going to plan, Chad (Hand of Midas) is rocking the Dirty Kanza’s 200+ miles of hot gravel.

Go get ‘em Chad.  When he gets back, I’ll ask him to do a guest blog to talk about the race, his preparation, and his setup.

I’m done dancing in the dark.

I always thought that song was an upbeat song.  Happy music video.  Young Courtney Cox dancing.  Catchy refrain.  I had never really listened to the words until I heard it on the radio today…and even though I knew the words and sang along, it had never really sunk in before what the song was about.

As of June 1, I’ve finally made a major change in my life that will impact my life for the better.  Permanently.  It’s done and done.  Between my “bad mood = bad stomach = bad ride” performance at the Gravel Metric and today, I’m committing to a new perspective.  It may sound stupid, but I’m going to try to smile more.  I don’t want people who meet me to think I look scary or intimidating.  (Unless we’re meeting in an adversarial capacity.  In that case, they’re on their own).  I don’t want family members to ask why I have a bad look on my face.  For that matter, I don’t want to have a bad look on my face.

On the group road ride on Wednesday, I was really happy with my riding.  And except for those times when I was engaged in a gut-wrenching effort, I tried to smile.  That sounds weird, doesn’t it?  Trying to smile on a bike ride?  I’m there.  I’ve put so much pressure on all aspects of my life that I don’t smile.  The ride on Wednesday was liberating.  It was the best I’ve felt on a bike in a long time.  It was fun.  And when I think about the past year, I’m riding so much better—stronger—faster than I was last year that it’s amazing.  Sure, I want to get better yet, but it’ll come.  I’m going to enjoy riding now.  I’m going to enjoy riding well, with great friends.  And if those friends are reading this, I’m not going to be infallible.  I may need reminders from time to time.  But I’m going to have more fun.

I had personal drama on Saturday, poor riding on Sunday, my daughter asked me why I had a sad face at one point on Sunday (and really—at that point I was just tired), a 16 hour work day on Tuesday, a great ride on Wednesday, and finality to a life changing event Friday.  And as that finality sunk in, Dancing in the Dark came on the radio.  I heard it.  It moved me.  The lyrics really cut me—deeply.  No more worrying about my little world falling apart.

It’s a great day to ride.  Tomorrow will be a great day to ride too…and the next day.

I get up in the evening

and I ain’t got nothing to say

I come home in the morning

I go to bed feeling the same way

I ain’t nothing but tired

Man I’m just tired and bored with myself

Hey there baby, I could use just a little help

You can’t start a fire

You can’t start a fire without a spark

This gun’s for hire

even if we’re just dancing in the dark

Message keeps getting clearer

radio’s on and I’m moving ’round the place

I check my look in the mirror

I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face

Man I ain’t getting nowhere

I’m just living in a dump like this

There’s something happening somewhere

baby I just know that there is

You can’t start a fire

you can’t start a fire without a spark

This gun’s for hire

even if we’re just dancing in the dark

You sit around getting older

there’s a joke here somewhere and it’s on me

I’ll shake this world off my shoulders

come on baby this laugh’s on me

Stay on the streets of this town

and they’ll be carving you up alright

They say you gotta stay hungry

hey baby I’m just about starving tonight

I’m dying for some action

I’m sick of sitting ’round here trying to write this book

I need a love reaction

come on now baby gimme just one look

You can’t start a fire sitting ’round crying over a broken heart

This gun’s for hire

Even if we’re just dancing in the dark

You can’t start a fire worrying about your little world falling apart

This gun’s for hire

Even if we’re just dancing in the dark

Even if we’re just dancing in the dark

Even if we’re just dancing in the dark

Even if we’re just dancing in the dark

Hey baby

The cycling community in Northern Illinois is surprisingly strong.  When I started riding “seriously”, I initially rode with several different cycling clubs in the Fox Valley area.  I’ve previously blogged about how I started going to North Central Cyclery after a chance encounter with a Big Dummy in their store window.  For the past two years, I’ve participated extensively in their shop rides and special events, and have gotten to know the staff and owners very well.

North Central has done something that I think is incredibly important for the cycling community: it has supported the creation of Axletree, Inc., NFP, a Not For Profit Corporation.  That’s what today’s blog is about.  I’m proud to say that I’ve helped with the creation and organization of Axletree, and that I support its mission and goals.  (In no way am I fully or even primarily responsible for all of the cool things that it has done, or will soon do.  There’s some seriously talented people involved.  As a general rule of thumb, if it’s cool, it probably didn’t come from me.  If it involves a multi-page waiver of liability, it probably did come from me).

Axletree is a synonym for linchpin—you know, the part that holds everything together.  That metaphor is the underlying motivation for the creation of Axletree, and the driving force behind its operation.

What is the significance of a not for profit corporation, and why does it matter?  It matters for a number of reasons:

1.         Liability:  From a professional perspective, it has to be acknowledged that we live in a litigious society.  As unfortunate as that reality is, any business has to identify potential risks and determine reasonable means of mitigating them.  North Central has, in the past, put on events like the Gravel Metric…amazingly fun, challenging, creative pursuits.  As a rider, I look at the Gravel Metric as something I really want to ride and enjoy.  As a professional, I look at the potential liability associated with running such an event, and shake my head.  Utilizing a NFP to organize and operate events such as this just makes sense.  Anyone is free to sponsor the event, and many organizations, such as Salsa (and North Central itself) have stepped up to do so.  For those companies, they have assurances that the proceeds from the event will be used for non-profit purposes, and they have the assurance that there is an organization out there responsible for the event and responsible for handling the liabilities associated therewith.  When a NFP organizes and runs an event, it removes one potential barrier to the event that companies would otherwise have to give strong consideration to.

2.         Advocacy:  Bicyclists need advocates.  We need people to go out and support the need to create bike lanes, bike paths, mountain bike trails, terrain parks and other cycling related areas.  We need organizations that can do things as simple as remind public bodies to install bike racks that we can lock our bikes to, and as complicated as lobbying the state or federal government to pass laws that protect cyclists, or repeal laws that inhibit cycling.  Advocacy can be a dangerous place for a for-profit corporation to go.  If Ford came into your community and started advocating for the need for more car parking spots, a profit motivation would be clear.  Similarly, no matter how well-intentioned a bike shop might be, when a for-profit bike shop advocates for cycling amenities, they can be subject to the same criticism.  Bike shops may also be concerned about the potential for political or social fallout related to cycling advocacy.  Forming or sponsoring a NFP creates an entity that can be vocal about cyclists’ rights and needs, without necessarily reflecting upon any single supporter.  It gives local cyclists a group through which they can join their voices to create a (hopefully) cohesive platform to advocate from.  It can be used to make clear to local or state governments that there are many people concerned about bike-related legislation…and not merely those who stand to potentially profit from greater bike use.  (Historical note: I use the Ford example above tongue-in-cheek…because that’s exactly what automakers do.  Remember “See the USA in a Chevrolet”?  Automakers used to run ads encouraging post-war Americans to do their patriotic duty by contacting their senators and congressmen, and encouraging them to build more roads, so they could drive more and burn more fuel.  Really.  It gets kind of creepy when you start looking into it.)

3.         Culture:  Fostering a culture of cycling acceptance is incredibly important.  When I started riding, just a few years ago, I remember going on rides wearing bike shorts under running shorts, and wearing a t-shirt on top.  I remember seeing guys in spandex and lycra, and thinking that they were some sort of extremists.  It was only through repeated exposure to those ‘extremists’, through group rides and group events, that I came to see myself in them, and came to understand them better.  It is my hope that Axletree can serve that same kind of role—as a group of mentors for new riders of all ages.  Part of the Axletree culture will be riding, and racing, in events together.  As a team.  As a part of something bigger than us as individuals.

4.         Events:  The Axletree slogan is: “Events.  Advocacy.  Awesome.”  That first point, events, is a key reason for an NFP.  As I discussed above, having an independent organization run events is a major help from a liability perspective.  Perhaps more importantly, when you have an NFP, you have a group of people gathering around a core mission, who are excited and enthusiastic about organizing and hosting events.  Creating the group provides a seed for growing fun events.  Being responsible for the Gravel Metric is one example…hosting weekly group rides in DeKalb is another…and there are many more examples around the bend.  (I’d love to try to organize a group-based gentlemen’s race similar to some of the Rapha events…we’ll see).  There’s BLBBRBK, the Northern Illinois Fatbike Snow race.  There’s the “Night Bison Gravel Nocturne”, coming this fall…details to be announced, but it’s going to be amazing.  There are a number of “Get Off The Road” mountain bike excursions in the planning…hopefully including an overnighter or two.  There are tons of things coming.  Axletree isn’t a one-trick pony.

5.         Awesome:  Creating a new organization, with new, creative and energetic people, unleashes the Awesome.  It’s just that simple.  The Awesome is on the way.

In the coming months, readers are going to have an opportunity to see the great things that Axletree does.  I’m hopeful that many in the area, and in the cycling community at large, see its mission and support it…and mirror its efforts across the country.

To find out more about Axletree, visit its Facebook page, or leave a comment for me or contact North Central Cyclery.  There will also be a forthcoming website…and when it’s up and running, you’ll hear about it here.  If you’re interested in supporting Axletree, either as a volunteer, participant or sponsor, drop me a line.  Truth in advertising: Events.  Advocacy.  Awesome.

I’ve posted of my Big Dummy love before…

I just saw that Xtracycle is pre-marketing their new SideCar for long tail bikes (including the Dummy).  Details at the link.

I’m not sure that it’s a product I have a need for (my Dummy loads tend to fit within the capabilities of the Dummy as configured in the Review, with or without Sideloaders), but it certainly is a neat concept.  I’m really, really curious how it impacts handling, given that it hinges at the bike–you’d think that would make it hard to keep the bike upright with a heavy load…but perhaps not.  Maybe if you put heavy loads out towards the outrigger wheel?

In any event, it’s an interesting idea and concept, and I’ll be curious to see how well it is executed.  For inter-City deliveries (where the bike goes out loaded and returns empty), this may be a great alternative to trailers…since you can fold it up out of the way when you’re empty.

I’m working on a response to Salsa’s postcard project right now, that requires me to go back and look at the year in pictures, as my life relates to bikes…and more specifically, as it relates to Salsa bikes.  So many great memories.  So many amazing experiences.  The past year has been really fulfilling for me in many ways.  A lot of new challenges, a lot of new tests, a lot of success, and a lot of opportunities to try again.

Their project asks riders to talk about where they want to ride–dream trips or special destinations.  If you had asked me that a few years ago, I would have talked about places–like the School of Spearfish Sedona trip.  If you asked me today, I think my answer has changed.  If you ask me where I’m going today, my answer is forward.  I want to keep progressing forward, and I want to celebrate the journey as much as the destination.  If we only enjoy where we’re going, and we don’t enjoy getting there, we will spend a lot of time unhappy and unfulfilled.  I’ve decided that my life goals cannot all be distant targets–I have to enjoy the ride along the way.  And in the great big metaphor of cycling, I’m in love with the simple way that a good bike translates my efforts into forward progress.  So that’s my dream–to keep moving forward, and to share the ride with good friends and family.

In trying to pare down the Salsa related pictures from the last year, I found that I have several thousand images.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

I thought about posting some links to previous posts, but it’s a ton of the blog.  There’s been the Schweet Mukluk review, the Vaytanium review, the Spearfish 1 review, the Spearfish 2 review, the whole School of Spearfish series, tons of talk about Ti El Mariachis, tons of great rides from mud to snow to camping to gravel to the Barry Roubaix to the Gravel Metric, to the just posted El Mariachi Tandem.  I could keep going.  I’m mildly (moderately?) obsessed.

In looking back at those pictures, I’ve noticed a few things.  I tend to like the same bike perspectives.  I take way too many pictures from the non-drive side.  My legs are harrier than I remembered.  I can discern between mud from different states, different rides and different seasons.  Sometimes what makes a picture great is the image…and sometimes, it’s the memory that the image triggers.  I should be sponsored by a company that sells bike cleaning products.  Many of my favorite photos are favorites because of who is in them, not because of what they are.  I have some goofy–and great–friends.

Some of the highest highs, and some of the lowest lows, but always riding against the grain.  To Forward Progress.