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.

Lois Springsteen and Bill Bryant on Lee Mitchell

Lee Mitchell at the 2013 Davis Double Century

More about Lee Mitchell:

It is with great sadness that we pass along the news that Lee Mitchell passed away this morning after a lengthy illness. He was 77 when he died. Lee was well-known throughout the world of long-distance cycling from his many years of supporting participants at brevets, centuries, double centuries, the Furnace Creek 508, RAAM, and other cycling marathons. Lee, a resident of Woodland, a charter member of the Davis Bike Club, an early member of Randonneurs USA, and a recently retired community college instructor, had countless friends made though his years of helping at cycling events around the western United States. 

Lee was a man on the move. He was on the road most weekends, driving to various events in his well-known red Bike Van. A good cyclist himself with several double centuries and Team-RAAM events under his belt, Lee knew that providing effective support during a long race could make the difference between success and failure. Or, when not helping a particular racer, Lee would drive at other events for hours on end, providing roving sag support to everyone who needed it. He helped stranded riders replace or repair their broken equipment, he gave them water when their bottles ran dry, and he ferried exhausted riders back to the start/finish. Lee usually had classic rock blasting from Bike Van’s loudspeakers, something that always lifted the spirits of weary randonneurs in the wee hours after midnight. Even if we didn’t need help, just knowing Lee was out there looking after us was a real comfort. For decades, Lee spent the month of June traversing the country while supporting RAAM riders, and the lengthy waiting list of endurance racers seeking his support showed the high level of expertise he brought to the job. The amazing part is that Lee did all this sag support for free, year after year. Lee sought nothing more than to help riders go far on their bicycles and fulfill their sporting dreams. (Between the cost of fuel and replacing worn-out vehicles, he must have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money to help cyclists.)

In the end, I hope Lee knew how much he enriched the lives of so many people. Indeed, the high regard with which Lee is held by so many people--friends, family, students, and cyclists alike--is strong testimony to how he made our world a better place. Simply put, he was a lovely guy and all of us will miss him terribly. The Santa Cruz Randonneurs, along with riders all around the country, send Lee’s family, and our friends in the Davis Bike Club, our sincere condolences in their time of sorrow.

Bill Bryant & Lois Springsteen

Lee Mitchell Passes

Sad news today from the Davis Bike Club:

Lee Mitchell, a dedicated and devoted friend and supporter of cyclists everywhere, but especially of the Davis Bike Club, died this morning.

Lee will be remembered for his unfailing smile, his signature "Santa Claus" look, his never-changing wardrobe, and his red mini-van blasting music to get you over that next hill. Most of all, we'll remember him for his unfailing SAG support, his generosity of spirit, and his single-minded concern for the safety of cyclists on the road.

I understand plans for a memorial service are pending but no definite date is yet set. As I learn more, I will pass it on.

Our heartfelt condolences to Lee's wife, Shirley, to his family, and to all those who counted him among our friends.

Barbara Anderson
President, Davis Bike Club

You Need a Slimmer Battery

It's 2013, and bicycles are finally entering the space which has up 'til now been occupied mostly by high-end electronics: the "slimmer, lighter model this year" arena. Yes, now that our bikes require batteries to shift (thank you, ShimaNO and Campagnolo), we have the need for ever-smaller and -slimmer batteries (think about every year's refresh of the iPhone). Because nobody wants a heavy battery weighing down their electronic bicycle.

Today's entry from Eurobike is the new, streamlined Campagnolo EPS battery, which is slimmer, lighter (by 50 grams) ... and requires more frequent charging. Seems that even Campagnolo can't change the laws of battery physics.

If only someone would invent a shifting system that didn't need batteries. Oh, wait! We've had that for more than 100 years!

Here's the link for more info: Campagnolo offers streamlined EPS battery | Bicycle Retailer and Industry News