Rain Ride 3-29-14

Video from today's ride to Sacramento. About 25 miles in the rain, which seemed better than the 200+ miles in the rain that I had planned to do (a 400K brevet from San Francisco to Hopland).







Here's hoping that the Santa Cruz 400K on April 26 isn't as wet as today's ride.

Cyclists Who Violate Traffic Laws, and the Motorists Who Kill Them

Cyclist Killed in Ohio yesterday, March 22, 2014, while riding a  brevet.

A recent Facebook post by a friend, and my response:

The Post:

John C____: The big problem Steven B______ is that those pissed off drivers never retaliate against the rider that pissed them off. It is always another rider down the road. Another problem is that there are a lot more drivers than there are riders. They have a much stronger voice it getting new legislation that can harm our ability to ride anywhere we like. Public perception is very important to us as a whole.

My Response:

Let me just say that I'm deeply saddened by the fact that John's comment about a motorist retaliating against a cyclist can be made so casually? Retaliate? How? By hitting a cyclist with their car? Running them off the road? Killing them? What a harsh and severe penalty for something as trivial as breaking a traffic law. OK, we shouldn't blow through traffic signals or stop signs. Nobody should. But to say that a cyclist somewhere (maybe your friend, or brother, or father) will be the subject of "retaliation" with a deadly weapon (yes, cars are deadly weapons) is really tragic. Let's put an end to that sort of mindset, starting right here and right now. There is no such this as "retaliating against a cyclist." It's murder (or manslaughter) or assault, and it too often means the death or serious injury of someone we know. 

What do you think? Let everyone know in the Comments, below.

Is Campagnolo Planning to Introduce Low-Priced Electronic Shifting?

A recent court decision out of Canada is shining a light on Campagnolo's plans to come out with a new group of components with the name, "Potenza." According to information available online, the company plans to expand its current line of electronic derailleurs into this new gruppo, which has not been formally announced.

 

The case arose when Bridgestone, which owns the trademark for its line of automobile tires, sued Campagnolo SRL, claiming that consumers would be confused if Campagnolo used the trademark for bicycle parts.

The court disagreed, clearing the way for Campagnolo to use the name.

So, what is "Potenza"? According to court filings, Campagnolo is planning to release a complete gruppo:

"Bicycle parts and accessories, namely, pedals, hubs quick release devices and hubs comprising said devices, rear derailleurs, front derailleurs, crank arms, gear wheels and gear wheels assemblies, crank arms with gear wheels, sprockets, sprocket assemblies, transmission chains, drive or control means for front derailleurs or rear derailleurs (mechanic and electronic), cable guide, knobs and control levers, shafts and bearings for crank arms and for pedals, head sets for steering assemblies and bearings and bushings thereof, cables and casings, fastening clamps, bottom brackets, bottom bracket assemblies, and cycle computers to detect, monitor and display functioning and performance data, but not including tires, brakes, wheels, rims and spokes."

That's all we know so far, but the Potenza name sounds to us suspiciously like a lower-priced gruppo--it just doesn't have the "ring" of Record or Chorus. If that's the case, it's interesting to note that the line is planned to include electronic derailleurs, pointing to an expansion of electric shifting across a wider range of gruppos. Campagnolo, it seems, may see electronic shifting as the wave of the future, and a way to attract buyers away from Shimano, which does not offer a low-priced electronic groupset.

 

Tell us what you think in the comments!

Pi Day Ride 3-14-14 - A New Campy Only Video

Trying out a new video camera for future Campy Only videos:  Pi Day Ride 3-14-14 - YouTube:







Camera is a Garmin Virb, which operates in tandem with my Garnim GPS unit. I've got more electronics on the bike than all of NORAD in the 1960s.

Luxe Gios Could Be Yours!

Reader Fernand is selling this Super Record-equipped Gios from his home in Luxembourg. For info, email him: supervisiontrafic@cfl.lu

Updated 3-16-14: We had mislabeled this machine as a Colnago. Typing a little too fast!

SFR 300K 3-8-14

SFR 300K 3-8-14, a set on Flickr.

A few video snapshots from this past weekend's 300K brevet by the San Francisco Randonneurs. 400K brevet is on March 29--Campy Only will be there!

Today's Video: Time Lapse Cycling

We took our new Narrative Clip camera out for a ride, then used iMovie to stitch together the 660 photos it took. Here's the result:

So far, the Narrative Clip is working well. Watch for more videos from this year's brevet season!

 

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