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VELVET CYCLES: Platform Pedal Palaver

http://velvetcycles.blogspot.com/2012/05/platform-pedal-palaver.html

You know those magazine product "shootouts" that just give you a bunch of specs and dreck from the latest product adverts? This isn't one of those. These are pedals I have used or at least viewed up close and personal, measured, thrashed, and generally abused. No, I didn't compare every. Platform pedal out there, but certainly enough to give you a couple of recommendations and impressions. Well, hopefully this will help you out a little more than just counting grams on a website. I mean really smooth&#46...

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VELVET CYCLES: Big Bike

http://velvetcycles.blogspot.com/2010/10/big-bike.html

Posted by Velvet Cycles. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom). Contact Velvet Cycles ( velvetcycles@gmail.com ).

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VELVET CYCLES: ultra-light pedals?

http://velvetcycles.blogspot.com/2010/09/ultra-light-pedals.html

I came across some adverts for Xpedo pedals. The other day and took a quick look at the CF-1 (a.k.a. C-Force) model on their website. At my door with a padded envelope and a form for me to sign. I handed to the envelope to my wife who said "there are two. I had to admit, they were light. I sliced the envelope, popped open the wee box inside and was immediately struck by the most notable feature of the CF-1s. They're tiny. Narrows down more than usual towards the outboard side. If you have petite feet (an...

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VELVET CYCLES: single speeds for achy knees

http://velvetcycles.blogspot.com/2012/03/single-speeds-for-achy-knees.html

Single speeds for achy knees. My 42nd birthday approaches. At this point I've got well over 3o years of sometimes not-so-smart riding under my belt, up my sleeve, and possibly down my pants. What this means, for all practical purposes, is. Because I was always in just the right gear. Sound crazy? Well, it ain't. Instant shifting into a truckload of different gears means the rider can almost always maintain essentially the same level of pressure on the pedals. Going up hill becomes a lot like goin...When ...

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VELVET CYCLES: A few words about handlebar width

http://velvetcycles.blogspot.com/2010/11/few-words-about-handlebar-width.html

A few words about handlebar width. But recently I saw a fellow cruising through downtown on a fixie with bars so narrow his pinkies were flapping in the breeze. I mean the guy literally couldn't fit his hands between the stem and the outside edge of the grip, which had also been sheared off to fit the tiny remnant of a handlebar. So here's the deal, you're in such a hurry, and such an aggressive god or goddess of a rider that you absolutely must. These days, I like my bars just a skosh narrower than the ...

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VELVET CYCLES: Is cycling dangerous?

http://velvetcycles.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-cycling-dangerous.html

Well, yeah. But dammit, Jim, so is walking. I suspect that along with crumby strip joints, Portland has more sidewalk upheaval per capita than any other city in the U.S. When it's dark out and the ground is covered with leaves, those sidewalks will jump right up and knock the crud out of you. The result, a boatload of broken fingers, toes, and elbows. Some of those fingers look like this :. Yes, that's my swollen paw up there complete with the surgeon's YES. Posted by Velvet Cycles.

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VELVET CYCLES: Rigid 269er Conversion

http://velvetcycles.blogspot.com/2012/03/rigid-269er-conversion.html

So you’ve got an old mountain bike sitting around your house that you used to think was the. Bomb, but now it’s just a. Bomb Sure the frame is great, but the suspension fork has gone the way of my belly. It’s old and saggy and really nobody wants to look at it anymore including you. So it remains hidden from site in the garage or under the basement stairs or maybe on the back porch (your bike, not my belly). What’s a bike lover to do? Enter the 26” rigid fork with a 29”wheel. What? Either way the bike wo...

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VELVET CYCLES

http://velvetcycles.blogspot.com/2012/05/yes-return-of-summer-evening-turbo.html

The return of summer evening turbo sprints. No more living in the equivalent of a well tailored Glad bag. No more vent-less winter helmet. No more double layer face mask. No more low speeds because the brakes are wet and the pavement slippy. Just flying along at top speed past pooping puppies and toiling lawn masters to the joyous staccato of bugs hitting my teeth. I got me a case of the happys. Posted by Velvet Cycles. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom).

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VELVET CYCLES: Winter Special !

http://velvetcycles.blogspot.com/2009/01/winter-special.html

The Community Cycling Center. Does a lot of great stuff. They recycle old bikes and give them new life; they give hundreds of bikes and helmets to low-income kids; they teach adults to maintain their own bikes and become safe commuters. Years ago I even took my first bike maintenance class from them. But I'm not stopping there! In order to encourage others to donate to the CCC, were having a little promotional special. Posted by Velvet Cycles. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom).

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VELVET CYCLES: Halloween Bat Bike

http://velvetcycles.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-bat-bike.html

Posted by Velvet Cycles. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom). Contact Velvet Cycles ( velvetcycles@gmail.com ).