Rubino it is! Also the cheapest of the 4-5 suggestions.

Also, This is on sale:

http://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?page=8&description=Rim+Polishing+Pad+K-141&vendorCode=HOZAN&major=6&minor=2

Total extraneous waste? It looks like a regular spackle sander, except 4x more expensive. I guess I've never cleaned my rims with anything but a rag.

Wow

I don't understand.  Do they just make their own stuff and label it as these other brands?  How do they get away with that??

I don't understand.  Do they just make their own stuff and label it as these other brands?  How do they get away with that??

China is the wild wild west of patent infringement. We had a fake colnago come into the shop creaking from the fork, pulled the headset and the fork crown was debonding from the steerer. Scary stuff.

The imitation carbon wheelsets on that site are hilarious/terrifying.  They have both Shimano and "Campay" styles available.

The widespread and shameless pirating of intellectual property is the reason some US companies are bringing manufacturing back to the US. Google is making some proprietary stuff here now. As cheap as Chinese manufacturing is, it can hurt you in the long run as they will straight up steal your designs and sell them out the back door of the factories.

So - besides flats, I own exactly one pair of pedals for each bike. I shouldn't NEED to change them. However, one pair of SPDs is mia - so I am trying to move the pedals from my mountain bike over to my cross bike.

Breaker bar on the pedal wrench. Don't stab the hell out of yourself with the chain ringwhen it lets go

I have surrendered this job to the LBS several times and I do all my own maintenance, including building bikes. This is the one thing I accept paying the $15 service for. Ironic, as it is conceptually the simplist thing to do too. No shame in giving up on this one.

Also, what Mattie said. Watch out for that fucking chainring if you do persist!

Wd40 allied liberally. Allow to soak overnight. Then try again.

@ josh ... All you need is a longer point of leverage for more torque. If a large adjustable crescent can squeeze in there that's a good start... If that doesn't cut it, get a length of steel pipe and slide it over the crescent and you'll be right as rain.

"You'll feel  right as rain"

According to the oracle, you may have to choose between right pedal and left pedal.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/an-WZsC424Y2hYYt/the_matrix_1999_neos_future_choice/

(wait for second clip to start).

Anybody ever used those solar/sun sleeves? What'dya think?

Just curious. Got some new ink so I don't get kicked out of Williamsburg and wanna make sure it sets proper. Huh?

Anyone got any experience with Dura Ace 7850 hubs?

Owens,

Anybody ever used those solar/sun sleeves? What'dya think? Just curious. Got some new ink so I don't get kicked out of Williamsburg and wanna make sure it sets proper. Huh?

Ask some of the tridorks they seem to love them. Especially with the extra long compression socks.

Um, I refuse to befriend, or even speak to tridorks.  Except for the cute girls on Tri-Life that seem to not notice that I exist.  Duh!

Getting a bit of hand numbness lately, anybody ever use this thick stuff?

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/lizard-skins-dsp-25-handlebar-tape

Comes in pink is the only reason I'm considering.

I have it on my cross road bike I really like it.

word has it the lizard skins stuff loses its stickiness and gets gross within a month or so.  

I have it and think it's pretty neat. I HAD it in orange until I ripped it, and the shop didn't have any orange in stock, so I got black. ho hum, I want orange again, I am gonna get on that.

Jeff Owens or  mugwump - did you guys make the handoff for the sun screens ? Jeff , are you liking them ? 

I have used the white DSP 2.5, and 1.8. The 2.5 is a little more comfy and it stays cleaner longer than the 1.8.

Just buy 12 rolls and re-wrap every month ;-)

PRODUCT REVIEW!!!

Since the Local Doper thread has jumped the shark.

Pearl Izumi solar/sun sleeves. JP donated his long white ones for my tattoo preservation efforts. Thanks JP!

I've worn them 3 days. Once when it was sunny and 80, once at dusk and 75, and once overcast and 85.

It seems the humidity really affects their effectiveness (I know I'm using a/e ffect incorrectly). When I was sweating they definitely got a bit warm, but maybe thats bc my forarms are super hairy. Pouring water on them seemed to help. I'm not sure I was actually any cooler, though the 40 SPF without greasy runoff was good.

The only thing I really noticed was how hot they felt when I was stopped. Then they almost felt like arm warmers.

I dunno, if you're worried about skin damage (and you should be) and don't like the sunscreen sweaty runoff or need new tattoo protection, I think they're probably alright and definitely not any warmer than just bare arms while riding. But you may need to douse them on occasion. I need a bit more practice.

The white ones look pretty good with the new kit though! And yes, Keith made fun of me for going all triathlete.

Does anyone have one of those ugly Selle SMP saddles that I can borrow for few days? If so, write me at normswygert@gmail.com

Norm, I don't have one, but when I was getting fit earlier this year I tested one and it was pretty fantastic. The only reason I didn't end up with it was the costs of the saddles that Chad Butts had in stock.

In other news I read zipp is releasing a 202 Firecrest Carbon Clincher for next year.

 

@Mike - Thanks for sharing your opinion... I had a very brief sit on one a few weeks ago and it felt very different and --as you say-- pretty fantastic. I wanted to give one a good trial before investing because of the hefty price tag. -Norm