We're Heading for 24 Consecutive California Triple Crown Finishes!

Here's something worthy of a few blog words ... Tomorrow, I will ride the Knoxville Fall Classic double century and complete my 24th consecutive California Triple Crown (awarded for finishing at least three California double centuries in one year). Here's a listing of CTC finishers by total years:

2013 California Triple Crown Winners Sorted by Winners by Total # Years:

Note that Chuck Bramwell, who organizes and rides the CTC, is ahead of me only because he's finished 23 times and has a last name that's earlier in the alphabet than mine. Tomorrow, I'll be at 24 CTC finishes, and back on top of the leader board.

Look for me on the road tomorrow aboard my Campy-equipped Rivendell Road.

Ride to Bridge of the Gods, 9-19-13

Ride to Bridge of the Gods, 9-19-13, a set on Flickr.

Photos from Friday's ride--95 miles with 4,000 feet of climbing along both sides of the Columbia River between Troutdale, OR, and Bridge of the Gods.

Stuff We're Using: Magnic Light

Update 12-2-13: We've posted a video of the Magnic Lights. See this blog post to view the video, which shows how bright the lights are after dark.

Update 12-23-13: Our complete review of the Magnic Lights system is now online.

There's a new accessory adorning the Campy Only Rivendell: a set of Magnic Lights, the new battery-, dynamo-, and wire-free lighting system that started out last year as a Kickstarter project. The Magnic system is one of those rare bicycling innovations that seems too good to be true (in fact, some were suspicious that the project was a hoax, since its technical underpinnings seem so far-fetched).
However, fear not--the lights do work, and the almost magic system by which they generate electricity does what it is advertised to.

So, for now, here are a few photos of the lights as mounted on our bike. Complete road test results and some more detailed thoughts on how the system works will follow.

Dual front Magnic Lights

Rear Magnic Light

Magnic Lights can be ordered online from two locations: www.macgniclights.com and www.clevercycles.com Clever Cycles, in Portland, OR, is also (for now) the sole US retail distributor.

What Is A Bike Worth That CHANGES YOUR LIFE?

For reader Barry B, from Houma, LA, riding his Campy-equipped bicycle meant being able to be active after several spinal injuries. He explains how his specially equipped Orbea let him get back on the road:

I am 53 years old with some spinal injuries from a few motorcycle accidents. I finally found a way to exercise. I ride 20 miles each night and shoot for 100 mile weekends. The ThudBuster ST seat post makes my riding possible. It's THAT GOOD at taking the edge off. I have a set of bulletproof Rolf Prima cyclocross wheels and the seat is an SMP "PLUS", the same seat used by "the man who cycled around the world" and "the man who cycled the Americas" (youtube). I rode over 10,000 trouble free miles in less than two years, proof it was money well spent. WHAT IS A BIKE WORTH THAT CHANGES YOUR LIFE? I also have a Campy 80th anniversary group (set #106) waiting till I figure out a bike worthy of it. Love the CampyOnly site.

Congrats to Barry--keep riding!

Today's Reader Bike: Barry's Orbea

Barry B's Orbea Diem from Houma, LA, features a Chorus gruppo, some definitely non-Campy brakes, and a very ... interesting saddle.

Share your Campy-equipped bike with a worldwide audience! Send a photo or two to enorris [at] campyonly [dotcom]  If you can, include yourself in the photo.

SFR Nighttime Brevet 9-7-13

SFR Nighttime Brevet 9-7-13, a set on Flickr.

Some fun nighttime photos from a nighttime ride--the annual nighttime 200K brevet from Hercules to Davis and Back.

Futura 2000 Colnago Prototype Road Bike 57cm with Original Artwork Wheel Set | eBay

If you have $110,000 burning a hole in your pocket, here's your chance to pick up a one-of-a-kind Campy-equipped Colnago: Futura 2000 Colnago Prototype Road Bike 57cm with Original Artwork Wheel Set

For the price, you get the bike, a messenger bag, a T-shirt, and ... a pair of socks.

P.S. This is a "Buy It Now" item on eBay, but the seller is accepting offers. As of this morning, he's declined ten so far.

Campagnolo's 2013 Eurobike Booth!

Thanks to a friend who attended the event, here are photos of Campagnolo's booth at this year's Eurobike event. Fun stuff, including some close-up views of the new derailleurs.

Click here for the photos.

Thanks to Deb Banks for the photos!

More Campy News

More news about Campagnolo's new EPS battery from the folks at the Daily Peloton: Daily Peloton - Pro Cycling News  News flash for today: the updated battery is now cylindrical!

DP notes that the battery's new design allows it to be installed inside the frame, in the seat, top, or down tubes.

We're scratching our heads here at Campy Only World HQ to figure out how you would get this thing into the top or down tubes without building in a large hole in the tubes ... or sealing it in forever. Yet another reason we're not switching to electronic shifting anytime soon.