Meet Kuat Innovations.  Founded in 2007 by Luke and Brian, riding partners with a passion for all things bike that wanted to become a larger part of the bike community.  In 2008 KUAT launched their first line of aluminum hanging style hitch racks, the ALPHA and the BETA.  Due to the consumer response Luke pressed on as the company visionary but with a new partner, Guy Mace; engineering genius, manufacturing guru, and an avid outdoor enthusiast who owns more cars than the average car lot. With the new partnership Kuat released more goodness to the public for 2009-10 ( THE NV and SHERPA bike racks).  In all, Kuat’s product line features four bike racks and during the process of writing this review, I learned that they’ve added a roof basket with a built in skewer mounting system…very cool!  I’m intrigued and excited by anything these guys put on the market.  Thule and Yakima be scurd.

I’ve always been a fan of tray racks which are hitch racks where the wheels sit on two trays.  This allows the user to set the bike’s wheels atop the trays, drop a clamp onto the bike frame, and tighten some ratcheting straps through the wheels to secure.  When I originally contacted Kuat, it was in hopes to test their THE NV and SHERPA tray style bike racks.  I had owned Thule’s 990XT Doubletrack bike rack and really liked it, but both of Kuat’s tray style racks appeared to enhance and improve on the things I wasn’t satisfied with regarding my Thule.  I was very much intrigued because I had heard a lot of good things about Kuat’s racks.  Unfortunately for us (and you), both of these racks were in hot demand and they didn’t have any to send for us to review, but they offered to send us their ALPHA bike rack.  Hey, it wasn’t the style rack we wanted, but like any Kuat product it seemed to improve on other bigger brand’s models…we were interested.

The ALPHA rack arrived and it made an immediate impression.  Packaged inside along with the rack were an anodized orange aluminum Kuat bottle opener as well as a Kuat koozie.  In my line of work in sales, we call those items “value added”.  I don’t usually like cheap stuff like this, but I like beer and as you will later learn, I’ve really become attached to these items.  The rack was inside as well and when lifted from the box, I was shocked at how lightweight the rack was.  The rack weighs just 13 pounds!  The wifey isn’t going to be able to sucker me into putting on or removing this rack because it’s (in her whiny Southern belle voice) “too heavy”.  Right from the start, everything to this point was impressive.

Testing has been going on now for about six months and we have been very impressed and satisfied with the ALPHA rack. Innovation?  Plenty of that!  One of the coolest features of the rack is the way it mounts into the hitch.  There is a cam system on the hitch mount that removes all play. Most hitch interfaces have a wobble. The Kuat has a knob on the main tube that you turn to expand a cam on the hitch mount for a tight and secure fit.  There’s also two other anti wobble knobs on the rack to remove all play on the pivoting sections of the rack.

The rack is extremely light and so easy to mount and remove that you don’t feel the need to leave the rack mounted at all times.  Sometimes, with other racks that I’ve used, their weight, ease of mounting, and size for storing have detoured me from removing it once I first mounted the rack.  I think I removed my Thule once and  after remounting, it didn’t seem to fit as securely as it had before…it needed a cam to expand like the Kuat has.

There is also a built in lock included. The lock is minimalist but it’s always there and it only locks the last bike since the other bikes can’t go anywhere with the last bike blocking them.  I can’t comment much on this, as I believe I broke the lock by over tightening it.  It probably would have helped had I read directions.  So…Kuat, please, for people like me add a unbreakable lock.

Typically, the rack is mounted to my lifted Jeep Grand Cherokee or the (future) Mrs.’ Ford Escape, but I did put it on my parent’s Ford Windstar and at certain climbing elevations such as a steep mountain…ha…steep driveway the rack could bottom out.  What rack doesn’t bottom out on a minivan though?  I don’t think that’s a problem of the rack, but more a problem of the chosen vehicle for your outdoor activities.

How does it accommodate bikes?  Quite well, with only a few exceptions. The two main bars which the bikes rest on are closely spaced together which allows for the rack to accommodate a wide array of bikes.  The rubber mounts where the top tube of the bike rests are trigangle-shaped and rotate freely.  The rotation allows the user to fit the bike by adjusting the mounts to give it maximum contact points.  There are two rubber straps on each mount.  Ideally, one strap goes around the top tube and the other goes around the seat tube of the bicycle frame.  The seat tube strap will help stabilize the forward and backward movement of the bike while the car is in motion and the top tube mount…well, that obviously keeps the bike on the rack.  This rack will accommodate just about any bike with a triangular style frame.  What it won’t mount is something like an Ibis Mojo with no front triangle.  For a bike like that, you would need a tray style rack or you would need a frame adapter bar which attaches to the seatpost and the handlebars of the bike.

My only complaint has to do with a pivot point and support pin.  When mounted and you want to fold the rack down for access to your vehicle’s hatch, you remove a support pin which allows the rack to pivot and fold down.  What I didn’t realize is that the support pin in which you remove must be reinserted into another location or the rack will free-fall downward with no support to catch it from smacking the pavement.  This, by all means is a result of user error and it could have been avoided, but something that I would have thought would have been built in.  It is a complaint because what it left me with was a gorgeous rack that I love that now has a scar or blemish reminding me of my stupidity.  As if the broken lock wasn’t enough!

Overall, I am completely satisfied and extremely impressed with the innovation and design of this bike rack.  I mentioned above that I typically don’t like the cheap chotskies as I mentioned earlier, however I use my Kuat koozie and bottle opener frequently because I’m very proud of my Kuat Innovations ALPHA bike rack and as far as I can tell, I’m brand loyal for life.  I strongly encourage you to give Kuat a hard look before making any bike rack purchase.  If you do, you just may understand what “rack love” means.

I’m a reviewer.  I’m no scientist.  I didn’t really apply myself in school…well, at least not at my first university, I was however invited and accepted into an honor society at my alma mater.  The point I’d like to make here is that I’m not going to advocate how these work or get technical about improvements during training or after training during recovery.  Read a review from some nerd in a white lab coat if you want that sort of data.  What you’re going to get from me is my initial reactions and my thoughts about the product.  What you’re going to get is my rave about compression sleeves.

When you put on the compression leg sleeves by Zensah you instantly feel something.  They seem to do what they say they do.  It is said that they increase blood flow to the muscles of the lower leg during training or for recover.  It sure felt as if this claim is what I was experiencing.  Mother concurs.

Without getting too scientific (and borrowing from Zensah’s website)…what makes the Zensah compression sleeves so great?

Zensah developed a special knitting process and fabric unique to their leg sleeves.  The Zensah compression leg sleeves are made with gradient compression which provides wide ribbing in the front for shin support and tight ribbing in the back for calf support.

Zensah compression leg sleeves are made with Zensah Fabric. This means that each pair of leg sleeves has silver ions to help regulate skin temperature and fight bacteria, making them the best leg sleeves available. The compression leg sleeves can be worn during training or for recovery to increase oxygen blood flow to the muscles of the lower leg. The more oxygen the muscles receive the faster they recover, allowing athletes to push the envelope in their training. The compression leg sleeves are ideal for runners, cyclists and triathletes and anyone else who is on their feet. It can be worn during training, recovery or for traveling.

I’m usually pretty skeptical when it comes to stuff like this.  I always keep an open mind and I try things, sometimes I’ll even find myself convincing myself to believe in a concept and product…eventually I trick myself into believing and then later come to my senses.  I didn’t find myself doing that with these compression sleeves.  As soon as I slipped them on I felt different…I felt good…when wearing during an activity; I felt that I could do more and when wearing after an activity; I felt that I was healing.  I didn’t have to try to believe or convince myself in the product…the product did that on its own.  I’ve been utilizing the Zensah compression leg sleeves to train for the upcoming “ride across Iowa” (RAGBRAI) and I’ve been using them at night to help recover and summary of my experience can be made using two words, “they work”.

In closing, I will leave you with the excerpts from a song by the band, The Monkees that pretty much sums up my feelings about compression sleeves and all compression products made by Zensah.

And then I saw her face
Now I’m a believer
Not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I’m in love
I’m a believer
I couldn’t leave her
If I tried

Now that I’ve seen the face of compression by way of Zensah, I’m in love and I couldn’t leave her if I tried.  If you haven’t tried compression sleeves, I strongly urge you to give them a shot.  I do not feel you will be disappointed.

*Not implying that Steve Magness is a nerd in a white lab coat, but if you want to read more about the science of compression sleeves, I found his article informative.

The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) is the biggest bike ride in the world, a moving fesitval whose route from the muddy Missouri to the mighty Mississippi is characterized by hills and heat, pigs and pons, barns and silos, and rows of corn all the way to the horizon.  As one of the 10,000-plus cyclists from all over the world who converge on Iowa every summer during the last week of July, you can expect a step back in time, an athletic challenge, friendly and interesting fellow riders, and all the pie, watermelon, sweet corn and hospitality your Iowa hosts can dish out. 

Before sharing the email with you, here’s a video depicting what one can expect during their RAGBRAI experience as well as the service that Porkbelly Ventures provides.

Below is the email full of a glossary of humorous terms to familiarize yourself with as well as tips from veterans of RAGBRAI.

Dear Porkers,

At long last, here is the update you newbies have been waiting for, a compilation of Tips from RAGBRAI Veterans.  We’ll throw in last year’s tips too, so this is a whopper of an update.  You might want to grab a cold one before you start reading.

But first, something else.  On July 23rd, you will enter another culture with its own norms, its own customs, and its own highly specialized vocabulary.  Last year, we published a Pork Glossary of Terms to help our newbies increase their fluency in RAGBRAI lingo.  With a few new entries, here it is again in random order.

GLOSSARY OF PORK TERMS

Kybo – This common noun, possibly derived from a little-known acronym from the ride’s early days (Keep Your Bowels Open) refers to the ubiquitous banks of porta-potties on RAGBRAI.  An entire seminar could be given on the subject of kybos, but we will confine this treatment to a few main points.  Approach the kybo door with caution.  In fact, knock, even if the thingy says “Open,” as people get in a hurry and forget to latch it, and opening an occupied kybo can be traumatic.  Secondly, while inside the kybo, keep your eyes straight ahead and use your peripheral vision.  Don’t look down.  Thirdly, be very careful about not placing money or cell phones in shirt pockets, or you may bend down and hear an awful plop.  Also, when departing from the kybo late at night, ease the plastic door shut so that the people in nearby tents can get thirty-five seconds of sleep.  Finally, do not set up your tent anywhere near the kybos.

Bag – Soft duffels or other suitably durable and zippable containers, for carrying personal belongings on RAGBRAI.  Strictly defined, a bag is whatever can be zipped inside the bag, not a bunch of stuff loosely associated with the bag, i.e. a soft duffel with a lawn chair strapped to it, a zipper that won’t quite zip over the wadded up air mattress, and a wet towel looped through the handle.  That is no longer defined as a bag.  That is a cluster.

Cluster – Clusters are strictly prohibited with Pork Belly Ventures.  The problem with clusters is that getting loaded and unloaded fourteen times causes them to come unclustered.  Unclustered clusters wreak havok on everyone, but most of all, the cluster owner who’s wandering around searching for his unclustered items, strewn from here to God knows where.

Butt Butt’r – A balm used on an area of the Pork Physique (namely the warm and humid crotch) that is particularly vulnerable to chafing and saddle sores.  Other popular balms and ointments include  Bag Balm, Chamois Butter, Zinc Oxide, and Desitin.  (At least one of these is manufactured for use by animals.)

SaddleContactZone (SCZ) – Where the shorts meet the saddle, or the warm and humid zone referenced above.

Rumble Strip – A rough and bumpy strip of pavement, usually three consecutive strips, that announce an upcoming stop sign.  Riding your bike over a Rumble Strip can be very hard on your SCZ and your body’s loose, moving parts.  If you are caught unawares by a Rumble Strip, stand in your pedals immediately.  Clench your teeth to keep your lowers from banging your uppers, or open wide and say Ahhhahhhahhhahhh, and listen to the bumpy sound your voice makes.  Do not swerve mid-Rumble.  Pay attention to other riders and signal before swerving to avoid the next Rumble Strip.  And the next Rumble Strip.

Porker/s – A proper noun with a highly positive connotation referring to those spending the week with Pork Belly Ventures.  Implies the virtues of good humor and the ability to roll with it. Usage as a term of address (“Dear Porkers”) has no relationship to size, diet, level of hygiene, or appearance of the addressee.

Thingy – Usually refers to a piece of Pork Equipment of one kind or another, i.e. “Let’s drag the Thingy over by the teeter-totter.”  During the hottest part of the day, this term may be used to refer to almost anything, i.e. “Oh crap, I left my thingy in that last pass-through town” or “Ow!  Cramp in my thingy!”  (If you are familiar with Pork Thingys, skip the next three entries.)

Shower Thingy – A table built by Pete, plumbed with five spigots and equipped with a mirror and wringer for bike shorts (watch your fingers).  This cold-water-only Thingy is good for filling water bottles, brushing teeth, and cooling off.

The Juice Thingys – Two Pork Apparatuses, created by Dad and Pete, for charging electronic devices.  The Big Juice Thingy with 260 outlets for inexpensive phones, fans, and lights is usually plugged into the big (quiet) Pork Generator, right beside the Pork Equipment Truck.  The smaller Juice Thingy with about 12 outlets for ipods and more expensive items is ON BOARD the Pork Equipment truck, and the Pork Crew on board will happily get you juiced up.  (We have outlets, not chargers.  Bring the charger for the wall outlet, not the cigarette-lighter kind.)

Pump Thingy – Yet another Pork Apparatus created by Pete, with a pressure regulator and compressor, for the purpose of inflating bicycle tires.  In the mornings from about 6:00 to 7:30, during the busy time, a Pork Crew Member will help you top off your tires.  Simply roll past with valve stems unscrewed, get your pfffffft-pfffffft, and be on your way.

Real Life – The world you left behind when you decided to come do this thing. We have a saying that goes something like this.  “On RAGBRAI, you will set your toothbrush on things you would not step on in real life.”

Real-Lifers – Those who encounter initial difficulties in detaching from real life and embracing RAGBRAI.  You have to face it, dude.  Your egg-white omelette and your carb-free pancake will be waiting for you in real life, but you’re on RAGBRAI now.  (See “Live Like a Pig” at the end of this Glossary.)

Grazing the Venders – Rather than sitting down to a meal, RAGBRAIers sometimes wander among the venders, buying incompatible foods willy-nilly.  Warm salted nuts, frozen ice cream dots, a slice of pizza, a heap of funnel cakes, a few ears of buttery sweet corn, a two-inch-thick pork chop, and a slice of Dutch Apple pie ala mode, for instance.

RAGBRAI Cool1 – Some say that in terms of temperature, anything under 90 degrees Fahrenheit is RAGBRAI Cool.  But actually, there’s no such thing as RAGBRAI Cool.  There’s RAGBRAI hot, RAGBRAI humid, RAGBRAI chilly, and OMG-who-knew-Iowa-c-c-c-could-get-this-c-c-c-old-in-July.

RAGBRAI Cool2 – In terms of aesthetic appeal, things that are decidedly uncool in real life can suddenly become extremely cool on RAGBRAI.  Like the weedy area behind a shelled out car dealership where some kids have been lighting bonfires anyway so nobody really cares.  You could mow that thing and bam!  It’s RAGBRAI Cool.  Similarly, loin cloths and thongs.  Not cool in real life, but you have to hand it to the guy riding across Iowa in a loin cloth or a thong.  On second thought, no.

RAGBRAI Clean – This is a relative concept, relative to RAGBRAI, where conditions can be less than clean.  When someone says, “Is that cup clean?” and someone replies, “It’s RAGBRAI clean,” you can assume that you would probably survive drinking from that cup.

Blue Money – This is currency—bills—that have caused an awful plop.  In other words, they have been stained by the blue chemical that is used in kybos, but their owner apparently has an unusually broad interpretation of the term “RAGBRAI Clean.”  The fabled “Blue Money Mike” was perhaps the first to spend tainted currency on the ride.  Some say that all week long, his arm was blue to the shoulder.

Shift Happens – A brief sentence that encompasses how life can just be that way sometimes on RAGBRAI, and you have to suck it up and stick it out.  You know, like maybe there’s a storm or whatever.  Whether you are climbing a literal hill or a metaphorical one, it’s best to just downshift, metaphorically or literally, and roll with it.

Sag – Verb, noun, or adjective, this term refers to hanging up your bike and riding a motorized vehicle to your destination, i.e. “I never rode a sag (n.) in my life, but hey, Shift Happens, so this Porker is hanging his bent on the sag truck (adj.) and sagging (v.) all the way to Boone.”

Bent – An abbreviation of “recumbent” bicycle.

Live Like A Pig – A PBV team slogan that  encourages Porkers to be content with their circumstances, Think Gravy, find joy in the moment, regardless of sweat and other minor discomforts, acknowledge that shift happens, and roll with it.   It is not uncommon to hear virtuous Porkers praised in hushed tones: “Wow.  The guy really knows how to Live Like a Pig.”

And now, we’ll leave you with a plethora of advice from Pork Veterans, equal parts sane and wacky.  Please be watching for updates on the opportunity to stay in a motel midweek or sleep inside a church.  Next time we’ll have a few classified ads for you.  Stay tuned for more Pork News as it happens.

Best,
Tammy and Pete

VETERANS’ TIPS FOR FIRST-TIMERS

Submitted in 2011:

Steve says: As soon as you smell road kill, close your mouth to avoid ingesting a fly that has been dinning on said road kill.  This is the voice of experience talking.

Jenny says:

1.       There ARE banks & ATM’s along the way, but you can’t BELIEVE how handy small bills are (1′s, 5′s, 10′s, a few 20′s) & how many you’ll go through!  The family farm driveway stop won’t take debit/credit cards.

2.       Take a passport/pouch-type purse or small fanny-pak & HANG IT AROUND YOUR NECK when you’re in the kybo!  (Yes, I lost a wallet ‘down the hole’!)  DO have card # info & bank contact phone #’s stuck somewhere in your bag or programmed in your phone in case it happens to you!

3.       Big bike bags/panniers were a waste of time & money.

4.       Skip your own snacks.  Buy along the way – helps the locals, keeps your bike light, & it’s way more fun!

5.       If you tend to overheat like me, you can’t manage to drink enough to cool down.  Soak down your shirt before you ride, repeat when it dries out – it really works!

6.       Speaking of overheat, a battery-operated fan to hang inside the tent is a lifesaver.

7.       A cave-light (head strap type) is handy IN THE TENT or IN THE KYBO at night, but hold it in your hand pointed DOWN outside!

8.       If you sunburn quickly, wear longer shorts that extend over your knees or be religious about applying full block sunscreen.  My son learned – once you have a burn on the tops of your thighs, no sunscreen will help – you just keep ‘cookin’!

9.       Belgian waffles are worth the wait every time…

10.   If you can manage, keep a little journal – helps later when you’re going through your pictures & have no clue what you’re looking at or where it was!

11.   Even if you’re REALLY tired at the end of the day, join fellow Porkers/RAGBRAI-ers & party a little – it’s the best way to pull you out of a fatigue funk.  After all, you’re ON VACATION!

Phil says: I usually brought my own tent to RAGBRAI.  If so, get one of those nylon mesh bags (with big openings, like you see people carry wet beach gear or volley balls, etc.) and carry your tent in it.  That way the tent – which you will pack wet every day – can dry out during the day and won’t stink when you unpack it every afternoon.

Also, take baby wipes every day in a baggie in your bike jersey pocket.

Mary says: Think plastic.  Plastic bags to store gear in from any water spills, plastic bag to store phone and wallet in from any incidental storm that my blow over us, plastic bag as rain gear, cheaper and easier to pack and replace( 13 gal size fits most people).

Creative use of plastic has been the greatest lessons learned on RAGBRAI.

Bob says: Soft foam Ear Plugs to help you sleep.  Turn the sound of wild bears snoring into peaceful bliss.

Cindy says:

Pack less than you think you need — you’ll just end up lugging it around.
Zip lock bags of all sizes are your best friends.
Bring your own toilet paper during the ride. One day you’ll need it.
Know how to set up your tent!
Stop to visit the towns and locals; that’s what makes RAGBRAI the fun it is.

Chris says:

Communication – If AT&T is your wireless carrier, you may not have connectivity along the route or in some of the host communities.  If you want to connect with others during the day consider purchasing a Verizon phone and purchase minutes for the week.  The phones run $30-$40 and are available at Verizon stores and Best Buy.  If you just want to call home or check e-mail, take advantage of the Iowa Telecom trailers along the route or in the overnight town.

Electronics – lots of people have the same camera or the same phone and the power thingy is filled with gadgets.  To try and make sure no one takes mine by mistake I attach a card with my name on it.  If you are carrying electronics during the day it is useful to do the same and also include a notation you are riding with Pork Belly Ventures.

Saving Money – I always try to support each town along the route but I find the pricing of Gatorade type drinks to vary from $1 to $3 and I would rather spend my three bucks on rhubarb pie.  I buy G2 (no calories) powder packets at Target and carry them in my back pocket.

Julie says: Ziplock bags:  sandwich, quart n’ gallon size – freezer bags (tougher).  Use these for anything you don’t want wet, cell phone, ID/money, clothes, etc.  Assume everything will get saturated and stay that way for hours.  Take the necessary precautions.  Even/especially when riding.  Last year, it rained very hard an entire day, 60 miles worth.  Also grocery plastic bags for your daily trash.

Kevin says: AT&T customers, bring a disposable Verizon phone. Your AT&T phone will not work!

Bruce says: If you can manage it, do some training rides in Iowa before the tour, so as to get used to those Iowa farm-to-market roads and their many cracks, and to the climate you will be riding in for the next week.

Warren says: This may be blindingly obvious, but lip balm.  By the middle of my first Ragbrai (1983), my lips were chapped beyond the ability of all the Chapstick and Vaseline in the upper midwest to rescue them. By the time I came back three years later, the friendliness of Iowans
had faded to a vague memory and I had forgotten how beautiful the countryside was. But I remembered the stinging pain that worsened with every gulp of air or water. So bring it, and put it on before you think you need it. Now would be a good time. After all, someone might want to kiss you and you don’t want to be dreading that.

Dave says: You only need one pair of underwear to make it the whole week: Day 1 normal, Day 2 backwards normal, Day 3 inside out normal, Day 4 inside out backwards, Day 5 commando. OK, maybe 2 pair of underwear.

David says: Over the past 20 years I have ridden many week long bicycle tours and my general guidance to any new rider is, has, and will always be as follows:

(1) Take care of your body first, the bicycle, tents and dirty clothes don’t care when you get to them but you need to take care of number one first.
a. never wear the same riding shorts or socks more than once in a week without them being cleaned and completely dry. No matter how tired your legs might be, you can always make into town by riding slower and using lower gearing. BUT if you can not sit on the bicycle seat for the entire day, you will most likely not be able to complete the daily milage and more then likely the next day’s either. YES wear bicycle shorts without underpants.  They are designed to help make your ride more pleasurable.  Street shorts with riding shorts under is not a good combination for a long day in the saddle.
b. at the end of the daily ride, clean your butt and get out of your riding gear and into dry street cloths.  I like to have small alcohol pads to do a quick bird bath. Actionwipes from http://www.actionwipes.com are a great product.
c. within an hour or less of ending your ride get some fuel for your body.
d. take your shower after eating something and having a short rest
(2) Next get your nightly lodging set up and lay out your next day’s riding gear.
(3) Complete the ABCs quick check on your bicycle and take care of any issues before all the shops close for the evening.
(4) Have a good meal for the evening
(5) Enjoy the night life.

For packing I bring enough riding gear to have clean shorts, jerseys, socks and gloves for every day of the ride.  I am fortunate to have a sufficient quantity of items to do this but if you don’t plan on having no less than 3 days of riding gear for a 6 to 7 day tour.  For packing, I lay out each days jersey and place my socks, shorts and gloves on the jersey and then roll them nice and tight and secure with a rubber band. That way when I pull out clothes for the next days ride it is one item to retrieve from my bag. Also rolling them up takes less space and is an old military packing trick.  In fact all my clothes are rolled and secured with rubber bands.

Bring clothing which can be used for multiple purposes. Nylon bicycle rain pants and jackets work well, are light weight, dry quickly and work not just for riding but at night should it be cold and all you have are shorts and tee shirts. Sweet pants take up far too much valuable packing space, are heavy and won’t dry quickly if they get wet.  Bring a disposable shower cap, the ones from hotels, and carry it with you on the bike.  They are small, cheap and light-weight. If you are riding in the rain put in on under your helmet to keep your head dry and reduce heat loss. Even in 80+ degree weather, riding in the rain at as low as 12 MPH you can develop hyperthermia. Most of your heat loss is from the top of your head so keep it dry and out of the wind to help prevent hyperthermia.  My post-ride shoes are sandals. They are light-weight, pack easy, dry quickly should you wear them in the rain and you don’t need socks which saves packing weight and space.  If you need socks for the evening, wear the ones you will use for the next day’s ride. As it pertains to socks I do pack one or two extra riding socks, just incase.  I also bring riding tights and arm warmers. Again these double up in the evening should it get cold.

I’m a proponent of having good bicycle shoes. You will be on the bicycle more than walking so I prefer to give up on walking comfort to not having hot spots or sore feet because of loose or poor fitting bicycle shoes.  I plan on riding all the miles and would hate to give up on riding due to my feet have blisters or sore spots because I gave up on ridding shoes in place of a few hours of walking comfort. Let’s put this in perspective. If the daily milage is 60 miles and you ride at an average pace of 12 MPH you will be on the bike for no less than 5 hours and maybe you will actually walk for 2 hours or less during the ride day. Or in other words for a combination of walking 2 hours and riding 5 you will be riding a bicycle for 71.4285 percent of the total time.  Yes you might spend more time off the bike in the pass through towns but really how much time is spent walking? Therefore, good bicycle shorts and shoes should take precedence over walking pleasure. RAGBRAI is a bicycle tour not a walking tour.  I have never heard of anyone getting sore feet from walking 2 hours, in short intervals, in their bicycle shoes and bicycle shorts but I have defiantly seen people not be able to ride for several weeks after a single day on a bicycle with poor fitting shoes and no riding shorts.

Because I only bring one pair of bicycle shoes I pack good foot care products. As soon as I remove my riding shoes I put the products in my shoes and on my feet to help prevent icky stuff from developing in places I don’t want things growing.

Pack smart and you can pack a full week’s gear for most all bicycle tours in an airline carry on size bag.

David S. wrote this song to the music of “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music.  Enjoy!

Memories of RAGBRAI and Pork Belly Ventures,
Sweet corn in butter is hard for my dentures.
Up every morning before the dawn breaks,
My poor tired legs will just do what it takes!

Passing through towns that are perfect for postcards,
Flags in the breeze round a freshly mowed graveyard.
Quaint Lutheran churches with spires to the sky,
As we search desperately for rhubarb pie!

Then the rains come, when the storm hits, and we’ve drunk the beer,
The week goes by quickly, we’ll say with a tear,

We’ll see you again—next year!

Submitted in 2010:

From Cristina:

With one RAGBRAI under my belt, I’m hardly a veteran, but here are my tips:

1. EAT. My first day last year was my hardest day, because I tried to treat it like my training ride and suffer through on CLIF bars and electrolyte drink. DON’T do this. Stop and eat and meet the locals. You’ll find yourself eating things you never though you’d eat. It’s okay.  You’re on your bike all day.

2. SMILE. When it hurts, smile. When someone passes you, smile. When the locals are sitting on their lawns welcoming you into town, smile and wave. You are part of a huge parade and it’s awesome, so smile.

3. CRY. It’s okay. I think everyone on my team last year had a point where we cried, whether from happiness or sheer exhaustion. You’ll test your body this week, but you’ll also test your mental status.

4. FORGET WORK. I spent a miserable afternoon in an Iowa Telecom last year trying to “fix” work while still in my bike shorts standing in Iowa. It was stupid and ruined the day a little. Tell them you’re unavailable. It’s okay.

5. PACK LIGHT.  I packed three pairs of regular socks last year and even though it was cold, I never wore them. You really only need a couple of normal clothes. Trust me, you’ll hate all the stuff you’ve over-packed by Tuesday.

6. HAVE FUN. This isn’t a training ride and it’s definitely not a race. Stop and smell the roses (or pig farms), talk to everyone you meet and relax. It’s RAGBRAI!

From Tim:

Protect your electronics (bike computer, iPod, cell phone, gps, etc)  from rain and sweat by sealing them in  plain, unlubricated condoms.  Squeeze out the air and tie a knot in the open end and you are good to go.  For your bike computer just stretch it over top.  Works well and is cheap.

From Gary:

During the Ragbrai week I’ve benefitted from keeping mySaddleContactZone (SCZ)  either clean and dry or slippery. Staying ahead of the rash is better than trying to recover a tender SCZ.  I personally use Tucs, Gold Bond medicated powder and Chamios Butt’r. I carry a few Tucs pads in a baggy always. From a surprise midday movement tohand wipes to first aid they seem to come in handy. The Gold Bond is for after showers and before bed. If you feel the little tingle you know you needed it. Chamios Butt’r for every day’s ride especially the first day. Slick it up good. I’ve stood behind many flaming red SCZs in the shower line, wondering how could they possibly ride tomorrow. The trick is to stay ahead, clean & dry or slippery.

From Bill:

1.  Don’t go too fast!  I tried that the first day of 2008 and missed WAY too much.  Unless you get your kicks watching the “little guy” put up tents, stop and linger a while and enjoy the towns.

2.  Don’t go too slow!  Yes, Goldilocks, you need to do it just right.  I tried this my second day of 2008.  I did the Karras loop, stopped and had a beverage or two offered by locals in grave yard, went to the town offering the best loin (it was, but I HAD to wait in the beer tent until it was ready) and then found myself with 60 miles to go, a belly full of beer, one o`clock, hilliest day of the week, and it was 90 F.

3.  Beware down hills.   Remember from your geography class that most communities are founded around a river.  Last year I was howling down a hill and went around a bend only to find 500 people stopped in the town square.  This can be a real danger.

4.  Go out each night and enjoy the towns.  Remember you have all day on the bike to recover.  Or if that ride was hard, you have all night to recover.  The heck with it – go hard night and day!!!

5.  Say thank you.  So many people deserve it.  (Other than the jerk last year in the Livestrong jersey).

6. Forget about eating Italian, Chinese or Greek.  Count on Lutheran. Catholic, Presbyterian, Rotary, Lion`s.  And say thank you.

7.If you have road cleats, try to bring along with you something to wear during the day as you stand in line for a Kybo, piece of pie or a beer (or lord forbid, dancing with a beer).  You`ll soon wear out your cleats.  My advice: a light sandal that is beer proof.

8.  If you have something gimmicky to wear, bring it!  No better way to break the ice with 500 people all wearing this year’s jersey than to be wearing a three piece suit, Wonder Woman costume , a thong, or (my personal favorite) a zebra suit.  All the previous examples are real.  Names have been withheld to protect the guilty.

9.  Keep a log of names.  I did last year.  This year I hope to remember more names.  Of course two years ago are lost in the sands of Iowa.

10.  Live like a pig!!  And did I mention about saying thank you ?

From Mary:

I know most people start thinking about something to eat the minute they get up.  For breakfast I always stop at Mama Raefael’s.  Their breakfasts consist of burritos if you want, eggs, sausage, pancakes, oatmeal, fruit, coffee, milk etc.  They have a great spread and have already scouted the route and said their site will usually be about 5-10 miles outside of the overnight town.  I happened to have their e-mail address and sent them a message.  To my surprise, I got a call back from them as well as an e-mail.

From Sarah:

My new tip is:  This year, I’m packing each day’s cycling kit in separate large baggies -  it will be much easier to zip open a packet with shorts, jersey and socks than to try to sort through a loose duffle inside my tent.  I may even put dollar bills in the back of each jersey prior to packing. (I know I’m slightly deranged, but being disorganized in the heat makes it worse.)  Be sure to bring a trash bag for dirty clothes.

My classic tip is: Other than cycling clothes, take much less clothing than you think you need – 2 shorts, 2 t-shirts.  You’ll be grateful and you won’t care how you look.

From George:

Tip 1:  Packing the bike
If you are packing your bike in a box, nylon wire ties can be your friend.  I have found it best when packing the bike to take the handlebars off  and use nylon wire ties to attach the handlebars to the frame at the top tube and down tube after both of these frame tubes are covered with pipe insulation.  This prevents the handlebars from possibly banging around in the box and damaging the frame.   The handlebars can be removed pretty easily with the newer stems with the front plate holding the handlebars to the stem.   Even the older stems are not hard to remove and you can still attach them to the frame the same way without removing the handlebar from the stem.

Tip 2: Packing the bike
One of the weak points on a bike to guard when packing the bike in a box is the rear derailleur and the derailleur hanger.  To keep it from getting banged out of alignment during shipping, you can unscrew the mounting bolt, leaving the cable and chain attached.  Put the derailleur inside a piece of pipe insulation, tape it up and then use nylon wire ties to attach it to the chain or seat stay.  Don’t get it too close to the rear wheel where it could get caught between the spokes and the stays.

Tip 3:  Packing Your Stuff
Last year was my first year and I read the advice to pack, take it all out, and take some out so that you are packing with a minimalist attitude.  I took the advice but still had a lot more clothes than I needed.  The best thing I did was to put each days clothes and cycling kit in their own zip lock bag.  I made the mistake of packing clothes for the full week which wasn’t needed with the mid-week laundry service.  This year I’m planning to pack 4 sets of clothes and 4 cycling kits.

Tip 4: Air Mattress
I’m not a camper and so the idea of sleeping in a tent on the ground for seven days and riding each day had me looking for whatever creature comforts I could find.  I read about air mattresses in the forum and decided to get a Coleman air mattress with a battery operated air pump.  The air mattress provided a good, softer sleeping surface and did not leak air overnight.  The batteries for the air pump lasted the whole week without replacement.  I’ll be bringing the same air mattress this year.

Tip 5:  Actually take some time to look around
Take time to enjoy all the pass thru towns, the townspeople who welcome you, and the beauty of Iowa.  As a first time rider last year, I spent the first three days treating each day as a training ride.  I would leave at 7a.m., ride with only one quick stop and show up at PBV’s campsite at 10 a.m. way before anything is ready.  After starting to stop in the pass thru towns, talk to people, enjoy some of the food that they had prepared, their hospitality and just experience Iowa, the RAGBRAI experience became far more than just a series of 7 bike rides.  I’ve never experienced anything like it before and that is what will bring me back each year as long as I’m able to ride.

From Don:

(Don is new to RAGBRAI, but has this checklist from his rides in a colder climate and has made some changes for RAGBRAI)

Things to Take to RAGBRAI, 2010

Bike Stuff

The bike, wrapped up in foam wrapping, or in a bike box (we need this, right?).
A roll of electrical tape (you just never know…..).
A few zip ties.
Headlight and taillight (with new batteries in them).
Helmet.
Helmet visor (in case it rains).
Bike shoes.
2 pairs of fingerless gloves, and/or 1 pair of long-finger gloves (in case of cold weather).
Two water bottles.
Camelbak.
The bike computer.
A bike lock?
A couple of sweatbands.
A foldable spare tire.
2 spare tubes.
3 pairs of cycling shorts.
5 jerseys (including 1 long-sleeved jersey).
3 or 4 pairs of cycling socks.
Bike lube.
A long-sleeved cycling shell.
A sleeveless cycling vest.
Powerbars and Hammer Gel packets.

General Clothing Stuff

Prescription glasses (with clip-on sunglasses?).
Contact lenses (& lens solution?).
Spiffy non-prescription cycling sunglasses.
Toiletries bag (including soap and shampoo stuff).
3 T-shirts.
2 pairs of walking around shorts.
A pair of sweats.
3 pairs of sweat socks.
Running shoes.
Sandals.
PJs.
A facecloth and a towel.
Swimsuit?
A baseball hat.

Personal Stuff

Sunscreen.
Wallet, pared down to essential stuff.
Passport (if you’re from the Great White North).
Driver’s licence.
Proof of out-of-province health coverage (if you’re from the Great White North).
Interac card.
A credit card.
Cash.
Cell phone and charger.
Digital camera.
An i-pod?
Bug repellent.
Various pills for aches and pains, etc.
4 or 5 zip-lock baggies (to put moisture-sensitive stuff in while you cycle).
Something distinctive to mark your bags.

Tent Stuff

Tent.
Tent groundsheet.
Sleeping bag.
Something to go under the sleeping bag.
A pillow.
A multi-tool (hammer, pliers, etc.)?
A foldable chair.

RAGBRAI and Pork Bellies Stuff

RAGBRAI confirmation data/Emails, etc.
RAGBRAI wristband.
RAGBRAI cycling stuff.
Pork Bellies updates and Emails, etc.
Pork Bellies cycling stuff.
Mapquest directions to Dubuque staging area (no GPS: maps don’t break).

That being said, the 355 32-hole ZTRs coupled to American Classic Hubs with double-butted spokes, are probably NOT the wheel for me. Will they do the job? Sure. Problems? Probably not, but maybe. I had zero issues with durability or the tires holding to the rim on my local test track. Honestly, I found them to be stiffer than my in-laws. I felt no flex in the corners even though I was feeling for it. But lo, I am but a lowly writer/reviewer and must occasionally contend with what I am given; these are not the wheels I would have had built if I were keeping them. They are great though, and I didn’t have any problems, but I would have at least opted for straight-gauged spokes given my weight and usual riding conditions. The discriminating consumer must remember that NoTubes is a company that specializes in CUSTOMIZING a wheel build for a particular rider, they do not crank out a million bombproof wheelsets without rider weight limits, such as Mavic. They make educated choices for their wheel component combination based on the size of the rider, their riding style, and their common terrain. Nothing against Mavic, they make great wheels that hold up through nuclear blasts, but they’re not claiming to be the lightest wheelsets on the planet, nor do they have all the tubeless options that you’ll find with Stan’s.

Tubeless tires have gained popularity because they increase the contact patch (the piece of tire in contact with the ground at any given time) while allowing mountain bikers to run extraordinarily low tire pressures (approx. 15-35 psi), which increases traction. Needless to say, if you’ve been riding traditional tubes for awhile, it’s going to take a little experimentation with a tubeless system before you strike gold. Once you do, I’m confident you’ll be impressed.

So here’s the deal: Unless you’re an experienced wheel builder, call NoTubes and rap with them until you both come to a satisfied conclusion about your wheelbuild. I’ve laced a few sets of wheels, and I have confidence in my ability, but let’s face it, I don’t do it for a living. I’ll trust the pros to put together a solid build for me. The cost-savings is not that significant if you buy the hubs and spokes separately, and it’s doubtful you’ll do a better job than the guys at factory. The 355s were perfectly straight right out of the box and the tension was perfect, all I had to do was get the tubeless tires on there (Ravens, also provided by NoTubes–separate review to follow) and I was rockin’. All that AND they look gorgeous on my hardtail. If you’re considering buying a set of Stan’s wheels, here’s the breakdown of their ZTR rims lineup:

• ZTR Race – super, super, super light, quoted 284 gram rim. Do not buy this rim if you’re looking to huck, or if you are fat.
• ZTR Olympic – still super light, quoted “under” 385 gram rim. I repeat, DO NOT buy this rim if you are fat.
• ZTR 355 – very versatile rim, the only one that you can get in 26″, 29″, 650b, Disc or Rim brakes. You can be a little fat and ride these with straight gauge spokes, but ask first.
• ZTR Arch – without too much weight gain on the rim (approx. 50g heavier), this rim boasts a 25% gain in lateral stiffness over the 355.
• ZTR Flow – The Daddy Mack. I put together a set of these for my Yeti 575, super stiff, and I lost over a pound in bike weight after swapping the Mavic Cross Rides that came with the bike.

Another reason these wheels have received some bad press is because tubeless technology has been around long enough for us geeks to get good at going tubeless, but not so long that installation techniques have become common knowledge to the average rider. It’s not difficult once you get the hang of it, but the first time made me cuss. For the latest compatibility and fit tips visit help.notubes.com. And if you’ve never tried going tubeless before, try watching these videos, it helped me understand the process: http://www.notubes.com/support_movies.php. HOT TIP: Use A LOT of lubrication, i.e. soapy water, windex, etc. when getting the rim to seal, and use an air compressor if possible– no matter what they say, trust me, you’ll be glad you did. Have you ever been in a situation when A LOT of lubrication was wrong? Thought so.

Weight as built: 2556 grams (full set, with tires, sealant, no cassette, no skewers, no rotors)

MSRP as built: $720.00

Wheel weight only (as quoted): 1420 grams

In the beginning, no one imagined that RAGBRAI would become the Iowa tradition it is now.

For those of you who have never ridden, this rolling celebration of Iowa attracts participants from all 50 states and many foreign countries. It has covered thousands of miles through the years, and hundreds of thousands of riders have hopped in the saddle to pedal part of those miles. 

RAGBRAI is a bicycle ride, not a race. It started in 1973 as a six-day ride across the state of Iowa by two Des Moines Register columnists who invited a few friends along. It is held the last full week in July. RAGBRAI is planned and coordinated by The Des Moines Register, and riders who participate in RAGBRAI understand that they do so at their own risk.

The RAGBRAI route averages 472 miles and is not necessarily flat. It begins somewhere along Iowa’s western border on the Missouri River and ends along the eastern border on the Mississippi River.  The route is changed each year and we have published this year’s route with links below.

Eight Iowa communities along the RAGBRAI route serve as “host” communities for overnight stays. RAGBRAI is a guest in these communities and riders are asked to behave as such.

The people of Iowa truly make RAGBRAI the special event that it is by opening up their towns and communities to participants. We hope you can enjoy this Iowa hospitality and join us for a memorable trip across the state.

What is RAGBRAI?

Saturday – Day 0

Glenwood, Iowa will be your host overnight town to start RAGBRAI XXXIX! This is their 6th opportunity to welcome you and showcase their beautiful community, nestled in the Loess Hills in Southwest Iowa.

Glenwood
Music Guest – Rough Cut

Sunday – Day 1 — 64.2 miles    4,946 climb

It’s been 10 years since RAGBRAI last rolled through Atlantic, while you’re here, you’ll find lots of “Cokes, Spokes, and Wonderful Folks!”

Atlantic

Music Guest - The Nadas

Monday – Day 2 — 65.4 miles   4,798 climb

“Bet on Carroll – Let It Ride”

Carroll

Music Guest – Johnny Holm

Tuesday – Day 3 — 70.9 miles  1,784 climb

“Chuggin’ Into Boone”

Boone

Music Guest – Hairball

Wednesday – Day 4 — 56.1 miles    1,246 climb

“Altoona – An Epic Ride”

Altoona

Thursday – Day 5 — 57.5 miles   3,294 climb

Grinnell

Friday – Day 6 — 75.3 miles    2,800 climb

Coralville

Music Guest – 38 Special

Saturday – Day 7 — 64.8 miles    2,338 climb

Davenport

The first thing I noticed was comfort, even on longer 5 to 6 hour road rides. The Smith Pivlock frames have enough spring in the temple arms to hold snugly in place, but aren’t so tight that they dig into your head like some glasses do. The ends of the temple arms that rest behind your ears are covered with a pliable rubber material that both cushions and grips. Smith calls this material “Hydrophillic Megol”, but it’s basically rubber to me. The nosepiece is constructed of this same material, and is the most comfortable nosepiece I have ever worn. These glasses are so comfortable that you tend to forget you have them on. 

Lens changes couldn’t be easier. Both temple arms swing up to remove easily, and snap into another lens in seconds. The nosepiece is also easily removed by squeezing the sides together, and snaps into the lens with a confident click.

These glasses replaced some much more expensive glasses I have with interchangeable lenses that are individually snapped into the frame. I found that system, which is common in several high-end brands, to be cumbersome and time consuming compared to Smith Pivlocks. My Black Platinum Mirror Pivlock V90’s came with a dark mirror smoked sunglass and two additional lenses, one a clear mirror lens for riding before dawn or after dusk, and the other a rose colored multi-use “ignitor” lens that I found best for everything but full afternoon sun.

I carry a change of lenses in a jersey pocket, safely enclosed in the lens bag that comes with the system. Showing Smith’s attention to detail, the lens bag is made of a material that lets it double as a lens cleaning cloth. I have often changed lenses mid-ride, on occasion even while stopping at a stop light, literally in seconds.

The Pivlock system is also surprisingly durable. After months of hard use they still clean up to look and work like new. I had my doubts when I first saw them, but I’m a believer. I’m looking at buying a second set in the slightly larger Max size, as a backup and to give me different lens color options.

If you’re looking for some great, affordable cycling sunglasses, check out Smith’s Pivlock system. You’ll be happy you did.

• Outstanding Cycling Glasses
• Comfortable, Easy Lens Changing

What a pleasure it’s been to test ride the Strider Running Bike! Our little Gabriel loves it! Gabriel is 2 ½ but definitely feels like a “big boy” on his “big boy” bike! He has three older sisters and with his new Strider, has joined the ranks of capable bike riders in our family! 

The day his bike arrived, he couldn’t wait to get it out of the box. I was so surprised that the box and bike together weighed less than 10 lbs. The bike came in his favorite color, green, which he promptly named his, “John Deere Bike.” Assembly was very simple (I barely glanced at the directions at all) and using the wrench Strider included, the bike was ready to go in less than 5 minutes. Right away, Gabriel hopped on his bike and started scooting around the house. He used his feet to push the bike forward and slowly found a rhythm to move ahead.

The Strider’s seat height is adjustable from 11” to 16” high. This is a tiny little bike made to accommodate tiny little riders. It’s designed for children ages 1 ½ – 5. The Strider doesn’t have any pedals because most children in these young years aren’t able to coordinate the peddling motion. The bike is designed to be scooted on and propelled by pushing the feet on the ground. Eventually, little riders will ideally be able to glide on their Striders, lifting their feet and resting them on rest pads, comfortably located where peddles would normally be. The idea is that young riders, although unable to peddle, will learn how to balance on this tiny two-wheeler without ever having to use training wheels. When Gabriel’s bike arrived, I assumed that he wouldn’t master gliding and balancing on the Strider for a few more years. I was wrong.

For the first few days, Gabriel wanted his bike to go everywhere he did. This new bike was definitely his new favorite toy! He even insisted that his Strider be parked in his room when he went to bed. Being such a little bicycle, it was easy to accommodate his request. Indoors and out, he wanted to travel everywhere on his Strider!

When he was outside, Gabriel continued to push himself around with his feet and soon found a swift rhythm, accelerating his bike to a speed similar to a speed achieved by peddling. He continued to keep his feet on the ground or very near the ground for balance. The Strider has thick non-pop tires, which also give added stability to this bike. Gabriel definitely took some spills but not nearly as many as I would have expected. The handlebars are thick as well, and very maneuverable. They make big turns in either direction, which again, increases stability and helps avoid falls that come from sharp turns.

Over the next week, Gabriel continued to increase his speed and his love for his new bike continued to grow. Every time he went outside he wanted to ride his Strider. Still, I was very skeptical that he would learn to glide and balance on the two wheels, no matter how stable the Strider was.

About ten days after receiving the Strider, Gabriel was riding it in the driveway. He got up some good speed and suddenly he lifted his feet! He balanced and glided for about six feet! I couldn’t believe it! My tiny two year old was balancing on a two-wheeler! Since then, he’s been all about going faster and farther on his new bike! He can now glide for about 10-12 feet, pushing and resting his little shoes on the resting pads. It’s quite a sight to see! The other day a woman walked by and asked in a shocked voice, “Is he riding on a two-wheeler?!”

The Strider is a fantastic bike and it really works! It meets children right at their level, giving them the opportunity to ride a “big kid bike” without requiring them to peddle. It’s been a very fun and rewarding experience to see Gabriel gain confidence and ability on his Strider. I would recommend a Strider to any family looking to give their toddler/preschooler a very fun and enabling cycling experience!

Below are a couple videos that are also featured on the Strider website.

A quote from Singular’s website tells the following:

Singular Cycles brings you bikes for the type of riding you do. A blend of modern concepts with proven design and materials makes for beautiful bikes, which ride like a dream.

We’ve become disillusioned with ever more fragile bikes and components which offer no real benefit to the everyday rider who wants a bike which rides sweetly, looks lovely, and doesn’t need replacing every year.

Singular Cycles – singularly distinctive bicycles.

When the package first arrived, I remember opening it to find the Swift frame inside, the glorious shade of blue, vintage style logo, smooth welds, and the bling of a Phil Wood eccentric  bottom bracket…an overall classic and clean look.  It was love at first site.  Even today, I own several bikes, but this one is the one that gets a lot of my attention and gets pampered.

The introduction of 29ers to market is still relatively new which lends for increased experimentation to their counterparts.  Nothing is “written in stone” so to say.  Singular’s geometry is quite unique.  The head angle is a bit on the steep side as well as the top tube.  The seat angle is slacker which we really liked because there isn’t much of the bike sticking out behind you when riding.  It sports a Reynolds extra long 485mm axle-to-crown rigid fork with a 48mm offset.

I set the bike up to be fully rigid and have ridden off-road as well as on pavement.  It is a fun bike to ride on both!

Being fully rigid takes a little getting use to when riding off-road…the first couple of times out your arms will be quite sore.  However, after a few outings your arms will become more tolerant and you will find the advantages of a lighter front end providing a very agile bike.  The bike was very flickable over the rough stuff and with the 29″ wheels ironed over obstacles on the technical sections of the terrain.  An unfamiliar feeling was that of the geometry never changing on a climb or descent…this because there was no flex from suspension.  I love suspension, but as much as I love suspension, I loved this feeling as well.  I promise that if you get out on a fully rigid bike you’ll discover this love too!

On pavement…you can’t ask for much more of an enjoyable ride.  I’ve ridden the bike with my girlfriend a few times out on the paved trails and although she is a real head turner as well I’m at a loss for who’s company I enjoy more.  This bike just puts a smile on my face at all times.

If you’re in the market for a cross country trail bike and interested in a bike that can be setup as rigid or geared, then give this frame serious consideration.  It is a real head turner, one that gets you instant respect whether on dirt or asphalt.

Interested in purchasing?  Contact The Prairie Peddler.

Prairie Peddler
theprairiepeddler.blogspot.com

200 West Blackhawk Avenue
Prairie Du Chien, WI 53821-1425
(608) 326-7357

The stand is very lightweight using anodized aluminum tubing, yet still falls into the category of “heavy duty”.  It is portable and easily folds down into a carry case using quick release clamps similar to a seat post clamp. The total weight of the stand is 12.6lbs and with the stand’s large tripod base can hold up to 85lbs of weight and setup on uneven surfaces.  The ease at which the stand can be setup and compacted down combined with it’s lightweight makes this a pro-quality, portable repair stand.

The quick release clamp head is attached to a 360 degree rotating clutch which allows you to work on your bike in just about any position.  This is an excellent feature providing the user to clamp onto the seatpost or bicycle tubing allowing the mechanic to work on the bike from different angles.  The clamp closes using  ratchet-action and opens with a push-button release.  The tri-knob located at the side allows for fine tuning of the clamp jaw’s pressure.  The clamp is made of a plastic composite to ensure the cosmetic safety of your bicycle, however we took things a step further and lined the clamp with a rag when clamping to our bicycle.

Quick release clamps make setting up and tearing down the stand quick and easy.

This is the lightest and most well constructed portable stand we have tested.  If you typically shy away from products that have too many features and moving parts and go for simplistic designs, rest assured we’ve been using the stand now for about a year and the clamp, clutch and everything else still functions as if it were brand-new.  We would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a portable stand and even for those looking for a permanent fixture in their garage or workspace.