Pondering Gear Again

First, let me suggest that you go and read the June 17-21 editions of the Frazz comic (direct link here to the first one)


Now...

Pondering Gear Again

Back in the fall I first pondered gear. This was my Kona Dew Deluxe as it stood back then.

Since then I've put on almost 1500km, and I should put on at least that much again before I set out to join Sea-to-Sea in late August. I have to admit that there are still times that I wish for another bike. (This one is a 60cm frame and I'd really like to try out a 62/63cm frame for the longer top tube.) However as long as I'm unemployed, that just is not an option. In the meantime I try, sometimes not very well, to practice contentment, as the Apostle Paul encouraged us. The bike does work, and let's face it, even on another bike I probably still would get a sore butt and tingly hands during a long ride.

Here is the bike as of this morning:

Since October I have made these changes:

1. Added another bottle cage, so I now have two. That should be enough, as there will be SAG wagons along the route with refills
2. Replaced the rear tire and rear rim thanks to the blowout two weeks ago. So yeah, the two don't match. (It's the same rim, but the newer model now has a "racing stripe" on it. Ditto the tire.) I try not to be vain about my bike. Gayle keeps telling me to get kevlar tires for the tour. We'll see if I replace these tires before August or not. I am only going for two weeks after all.
   
3. Replaced the cage pedals with clipless Wellgo SPD (WPD-823) pedals. I like these quite a lot. And sorry Heather F, but I have not yet fallen. I just don't seem to have any issues with getting my feet out of the pedals.
4. Bought myself a nice MEC rackpack for the back rack. It's smaller than the pannier that I used to ride with, but hopefully this is a bit more aerodynamic, and I do like how it is easy to find things in this long/shallow "trunk", rather than the deep/cavernous pannier. I like it a lot.
   
5. Replaced the lousy seat with a thickly padded split seat (Bontrager Sport LUX CRZ). I still get a sore butt after 10-20km. That's what breaks are for, I guess. This is where someone will tell me to get a Brooks B17, but I doubt I will.
6. Replaced the hand grips with tear-dropped shaped grips (Lambert Select)
7. Replaced the handlebar with one with another 1 to 1-1/2" of rise in them. This is harder to judge. I think it works well.
8. I haven't gotten rid of it yet, but the kickstand is on it's way out.

And that is where things stand.

Happy Weekend!