I've also never experienced dramatic pad wear issues like that on mountain bikes equipped with disc brakes,including in wet 24 hour races

This sounds exaggerated. I have disc brakes on my commuter and, although I don't like them, the pads have survived 2 winters of gritty city riding. I did buy an extra pair after reading about how quickly they wear out, but so far have not heard any metal-on-metal sounds (just squeaking in the rain).

I always liked Magura hydraulic rim brakes....once installed they were super easy to maintain...in fact to put in new pads all you have to do is pull the old ones out by hand. It is a sealed system so mud and water are not an issue (in fact they would work if you submerged them). It seems like hydrualic road brifters are starting to come to maket so you could use hyrdraulic rim brakes on a cross bike....I used to run a straight bar with grip shift and magura's on my cross bike. Yacks

These brakes would be a good option if you want more braking power but don't want to invest in a new frame, fork and disc specific wheels. All you would have to buy is the brakes and hydrualic brifters (not sure who is making a hydraulic brifter but suspect that they will be available soon)...

I wanna buy this: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/ProductDisplay?storeId=10053&langId=-1&catalogId=10052&productId=549750&utm_source=Shopzilla&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=datafeed&cm_mmc=Shopzilla-_-CSE-_-Datafeed-_-Lapierre Xelius ISP Frameset

It matches your FDJ kit!!!

Alyosha I think I know someone with a LaPierre (or two) that might be selling.  What size frame are you?

I like the integrated seat post. i think i want a smaller frame-size that I have, I ride a large look (55cm). I was thinking of getting a 52cm (which has a 55cm top tube...weird sizing by lapierre) if I could find one.
hah no, it doesn't match the fdj kits which I find strange!

Alyosha this one looks more your style...

On today's ride, Alyosha was in his FDJ kit, on his Look, and had a coffee...errr, cafe dangling from his mouth. He couldn't have been more French.

Nice to see a big group in positively FOGGY conditions. For those with cold-riding-aphobia, keep in mind the relative moisture, not just the temps when you are deciding. Because honestly, today, was technically "warm" but the damp air, drizzly fog, made it worse than riding if it were 28 degrees and sunny.

This is a great time of year, no racing conflicts, to get out there with your teammates.

In the final split of the day, through Piermont on the return trip, it was just us bickering mentors JP, Ragot and I with a couple of random dudes who decided we looked like good company. One guy, Marcus, was with us for a long while. The other guy latched on as we were powering through Piermont.  It never ceases to amaze me that guys just latch on without saying anything. Both dudes required other Kissena's to introduce themselves and ask their names. So weird.

Little tempo paceline action home for us. Well, I rode caboose the whole time. Because well, I'm still kind of weak. But the other guys pulled through pretty well for a quick-ish ride home down 9W.

Merida? connais pas...I'll check it out- it does look pretty aggressive- not quite a 'Time' but I like.
not gonna lie though, the lapierre is more up my alley.
also the short seat stay reminds me of BMC, which I find a hell of a lot more attractive than the Merida.

Anybody have issues with their Garmin HR monitor?  I've been through 4 in the last two years.  Even following all the care instructions, resetting, changing batteries, etc, they seem to just crap out after 4-5 months.  Maybe my sweat is exceptionally acidic.

Tips?

Garmin sent me one of these when the one that came with my Edge 500 crapped out from sweat leakage. The busted one was not the 'premium' one.

I've worn it extensively over the past two years and have had no problems with it. I highly recommend it.

I'm like the sweatiest guy I know too.

vlad said:

I'm like the sweatiest guy I know too.

Vlad, meet Jeff W.  Jeff, Vlad.

Ehh hem...
I think

That's one I have. Still sucks. I wonder if my edge 500 would pick up a Polar monitor. It never had this issue even in Memphis heat wave humidity b

Back to the disc brake discussion. Ryan Trebon seems to like them on his Cannondale:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/pro-bike-ryan-trebons-cannondale-superx-hi-mod-disc

Jeff,

Adam said:

About this Garmin strap issue, what are the problems you are experiencing?  I have noticed the following, sound similar?

WIth my strap (the new one Vlad linked) I have serious problems with it when it is dry, which is to day that it really struggles in the Winter when the humidity is around 0% and I sweat less.  I also notice problems when I do long descents in the Summer.  The problems manifest as my HR reading at 250 BPM or there being no reading at all.  

In order to combat this, I need to thoroughly soak the entire strap (here's a trick, make sure you do this with warm water, it makes putting the strap on not an horrendous endeavor) AND I cover the electrodes in aloe vera gel (you can buy 'electrode gel' but aloe vera gel does that same thing and only costs $3.99 per large tube).

You guys just need to shave a bare landing strip on your chests.

I've never had a problem with any Garmin or CycleOps strap. It has worked flawlessly. My current Garmin strap (same as Vlad's) has even been on the same battery for around seven months. I'm a huge fan.

Adam,

(landing strip)

I was about to concur that my Garmin (solid plastic) has never given me trouble and I come back in from a cold (not too sweaty) ride and see a 250 max.  Time to change the battery I guess...

The problems I have are intermittent cutting out, and then random high/low readings.  244 one second and then 57.

Maybe I'll try the aloe.  Thanks, Adam.

Cheaper than aloe? Spit.

Jeffrey White said:

Cheaper than aloe? Spit.

Please...you know, if there's a lotion or potion that involves rubbing said concoction on any accessory and/or body part, this club is all over it.

My spit has excellent conductive properties thank you very much. And no, you may not have any.

trenchant insights, Vlad and Marc

Tried spit. Didn't work. What other jeff fluids could I use.....hmmmmmm