Thursday, July 30, 2015

Cruzbike Quest: Flag? Seat Padding?

On Thursday, July 30, 2015, F--- M---- wrote:


Do you have a recommendation for a flag for the Quest?  I am feeling more confident and would like to venture out on the road.

Also I find the padding of the seat is not the greatest.  Any suggestions?  I have made a pad out of an old Yoga mat which has helped greatly.


Hi F---,

Flag: I personally don't ride with a flag, so I can't suggest a solution I believe in.  And I rarely sell flags except to trike riders.

Personally, I wear a high-viz lime green helmet (Bell and Lazer make models) and usually wear high-viz clothing -- a shirt or a highway worker's high-viz safety vest/jacket (avail. on-line) and/or a high-viz "buff" around my neck.  For high-viz gear, here's a link, though I don't know these guys.

Padding.  Again, it seems that different riders have different experiences with the seat padding.  For me, the standard padding is fine but I know others have wanted something softer or thicker.

Yours is actually one of the better solutions I've heard because it's probably closed-core foam rubber, which should be durable.  I'd maybe glue the old yoga mat together permanently and then cut it to shape, or search on-line for closed core foam sleeping pads that I could cut to shape.  If I was to do it properly, I'd also buy some velcro and attach it to the seat.  I have one customer who likes using computer packing foam under the back of his seat.  There's no "official" solution for this one, I'm afraid.


Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Counterfeit carbon fiber bike frames: NY Times article

Interesting article in the New York Times about counterfeit carbon fiber bike frames and components.

http://nyti.ms/1Kf6HEP


Keep it real,
Rob
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Monday, July 20, 2015

whales, dolphin and porpoise, oh my

This morning I got this note from Patricia Sener, Executive Director of CIBBOWS.  She's not biking, she's swimming. But that counts.

I quote....
Did you know there are humpback whales very close to where you swim?  The NY Bight, our backyard ocean, has the largest density of marine mammals and sea turtles in the US--twenty-one species of whales, dolphin and porpoise that come into these waters, frolicking just over yonder.
On July 22nd, I will be swimming 17 miles across the Western NY Bight to bring attention to the Clean Ocean Zone Initiative, which seeks to create the first-ever federally protectedClean Ocean Zone, or COZ. This COZ would be the nation's first-ever pollution-free ocean area where pollution sources such as raw sewage and oil/gas industries would be prohibited.
CIBBOWS is partnering with Clean Ocean Action, the creator of this initiative, in order to bring attention to the importance of keeping our local ocean clean and wild. Funds raised through CIBBOWS will go to two charities—Clean Ocean Action and Gotham Whale, a non-profit that tracks the local humpback whale population. 
This swim will start in Sandy Hook, NJ--the headquarters of COA--then into the wild blue open ocean, no land in sight--and finish around Atlantic Beach, LI, near the site of a proposed liquified natural gas storage facility that threatens to bring pollution to our waterways. 
I’m swimming where no person has swum before to raise awareness of the importance of keeping our backyard clean and swim-able for all.
Please join CIBBOWS and myself in supporting our local charities and consider making a donation for this event to help keep our backyard ocean wild, clean and swimmable.
Follow along on my adventures on Facebook this Wednesday for live updates. 
See you at the beach!
-Patricia SenerExecutive DirectorConey Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers
www.cibbows.org



Eat, sleep, bike, swim,
Rob
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Vege-Carb Trail Soup

I recently got back from a 7-day backpack trip in the Adirondacks.  He asked for my easy, nutritious, ultra-light and delicious soup recipe.  Great for fully loaded bike touring or backpacking.  This is it.


Robert's Vege-Carb Trail Soup
Serves one.

2 cups (16 fluid oz) water
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon dry vegetable soup mix
1 bunch angle hair pasta (apx. 3 oz. dry)
1 tablespoon textured vegetable protein ("TVP")
1 tablespoon olive oil

Add salt to water and bring to boil.  Add soup mix and boil apx. 3 min.  Add pasta and TVP.  Then boil another apx. 5-8 min. (until noodles are soft).  Do NOT drain off the broth in which the pasta was boiled.  Serve with olive oil.

Notes:

You may replace the TVP and olive oil with a can of sardines packed in olive oil.  To preserve the nutritional content of the sardines, I would not them.  Stir them in at the end or in your eating bowl.

TVP comes in various clump sizes.  Use the smallest clumps for this recipe.

If you're cooking for a group, just multiply all the quantities by the number of people (e.g., for 2 people, use 2 tablespoons of vegetable soup mix.).

To make dish cleaning easier, add the olive oil or sardines to individual serving dishes and not the cooking pot.

This recipe is for a vegetarian soup.  For a carne alternative, I'd serve, on the side, sardines, dry sausage or a hard cheese like cheddar.  I'd figure 2 oz. of sardines, sausage, or cheese per person if you use TVP or, if you leave out the TVP, figure 4 oz per person.

You can make an excellent variation on this by using fresh kale or other quick-cooking veggies in addition to the dried vegetable soup mix.  In my experience, kale lasts a one to three days, depending on the temperature, and can be slightly crushed in a pack without turning to green glop, though I try not to crush it.  I've used fresh veggies on the early days of trips or after stopping at a road- or trail-side grocery or vegetable stand.

For best taste, always use high quality, fresh ingredients.

I've used miso soup mix and ramen noodles with unbelievably satisfying results.  Strongly recommended.

This link is similar to the vegetable soup mix I buy.

For those doing cozy-cooking, this recipe almost works, but you'll need to change a few things.  One problem is that big chunks in the soup mix, like peas, must be boiled to rehydrate. Similarly, the pasta is better if it's boiled.
To ensure the soup rehydrates, put the soup mix in a bowl with a quarter cup of boiling water, seal the top, insulate it with your hat and jacket, and give it a few minutes to rehydrate and get a head start.  You could also pulverize the soup mix in a food processor before you start your trip.  This will help it reconstitute faster. (If you're cooking at elevation, this is even more important.)  For the pasta, either "quick" thin ramen noodles or cous cous will rehydrate faster and use less fuel.

I specify boiling the water several times.  The main reason for this is to kill anything in the water, on the dishes, or in the food that could make you sick.  Remember that if you're cooking at elevation, water boils at a lower temperature so merely boiling may not sterilize the water and food.

Stay well and eat well,
Robert

------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Friday, June 12, 2015

Cruzbike: new jerseys and sale on Quest

For the month of June only, take $100-off your new Quest.
This is a cool bike.  Get one, if just for kicks.  I expect these to sell out quickly.


New Cruzbike Jerseys
They're very nice and feature their new logo.


See the email announcement here:
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d220aa789bdee9b5ed0705623&id=c131a0077d&e=56bc681e79





Have fun and keep cruisin',
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

News from Cruzbike: more records set by Vendetta riders

In May, team Cruzbike set three new course records, one UMCA record and took the 12-hour UMCA National Championship titles for both men and women on Cruzbike Vendettas. Join us and the whole Cruzbike community congratulating these awesome racers: Larry Oslund, Maria Parker, Ben Tomblin and Lief Zimmerman.

The links below may get broken at some point, but for now they're good.

At Calvin's Challenge

Course Record: Overall Female
257 miles (in 12 hours)
Rider: Maria Parker
Bike: Cruzbike Vendetta
Team: 3000 Miles to a Cure
Blog entry: http://cruzbike.com/maria-and-larry-go-calvins

First Place: Men
UMCA 12-hour National Champion
264 miles (in 12 hours)
Rider: Larry Oslund
Bike: Cruzbike Vendetta
Team: 3000 Miles to a Cure
Blog entry: http://cruzbike.com/maria-and-larry-go-calvins

First Place: Women
UMCA 12-hour National Champion
257 miles (in 12 hours)
Rider: Maria Parker
Bike: Cruzbike Vendetta
Team: 3000 Miles to a Cure
Blog entry: http://cruzbike.com/maria-and-larry-go-calvins



UMCA Washington State North South

Time: 12:28:00
Rider: Lief Zimmerman
Bike: Cruzbike Vendetta
Team: 3000 Miles to a Cure
Blog entry: http://blief.zwise.net/?p=2649&fb_ref=Default



Assault on Mt. Mitchell

Course Record
Recumbent Male
6:23:42
Rider: Ben Tomblin
Bike: Cruzbike Vendetta
Team: 3000 Miles to a Cure
Blog entry: http://cruzbike.com/ben-tomblin-sets-new-recumbent-record-assault-mt.-mitchell

Course Record
Recumbent Female
6:58:57
Rider: Maria Parker
Bike: Cruzbike Vendetta
Blog entry: http://cruzbike.com/ben-tomblin-sets-new-recumbent-record-assault-mt.-mitchell



Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Frequently, people ask me about the limit, in terms of grade of incline, that a Cruzbike recumbent bike can climb up a steep hill.  I personally have ridden a CB Silvio up short 25% grade sections and recently, during a New York Cycle Club ride, I climbed a fairly long, steep hill with grades ranging between 20-25%.  Skill and finesse are required to prevent the front drive-wheel from slipping, but the technique* can be mastered by most Cruzbike riders.  (*Consistent, slow, steady pressure on the pedals while leaning forward over the handlebars.)

Here in New York City, since few of us carry clinometers, it is useful to refer to a specific hill and incline that many cyclists know in order to explain how steep a Cruzbike can climb.  My hill of choice is the incline on the West Side Hudson River Bikepath, north of the George Washington Bridge, at that place where the path S-curves inland, up and away from the river and begins following right next to the highway.  It's an ugly stretch.  While the hill isn't long, three things make it hard: it's crazily steep, it's very narrow, it curves tightly at the steepest section, and -- four things -- there's a traffic barrier in the middle of the narrow bike path that you have to squeeze past.  Cyclists tend to think it's barely climbable on any bike, let alone on a recumbent bike.

I've climbed this hill on a Cruzbike Quest 20 when the asphalt was slick due to a drizzling rain.  And I did not put down a foot.  So, I can say with total confidence that this hill is climbable on a Cruzbike.  In addition, I point to this example as one of the reasons I like Cruzbikes for extended long rides where you don't have the privilege of choosing your route to avoid the hills.

Several months ago, I was having a conversation with a customer about how the Cruzbike climbs.  This guy now owns a Cruzbike Silvio in addition to a Volae Team rear-wheel-drive recumbent bike he bought from me several years ago.  We were talking about this hill so we'd have a common reference point.  He went out later and measured the hill with a clinometer app that he has on his smart phone.  Here is his note.


L___b

10/22/14

Robert,

Recall that you told me that on your Cruzbike you were able to climb that steep climb on the bike trail by George Washington bridge. I've never been able to climb it on my Volae.

Last weekend I measured that hill with my phone clinometer.

The bottom 20 feet or so are at an 18% grade.
The next 20 feet or so are at a 20% grade.
The next 20 feet or so are at a 12% grade.
The top 10 feet or so are at a 21% grade, going around a sharp left hand turn to the flat crest of the hill, and I measured on the outside of the turn where the bike would be.

Now you know exactly what you climbed.

Even though I ran the App calibration sequence, which is a 2-step process turning the phone 180 degrees to cancel out the phone being thicker at the camera end, I found that the app still measured 2 degrees different on the hill depending on which end of the phone was uphill. I measured both ways and averaged to get the numbers above.

This App from plaincode is the only free clinometer App I have found that has an option (still free) to measure in percent grade (after one-time setup in the configuration dialog to switch from degrees to percent) the way cycling people like to do. Plaincode makes their money on paid upgrades for advanced features.

This app is available on Apple, Android, and Windows phones and tablets. Website with links to each of the three App stores: http://www.plaincode.com/products/clinometer/

My ride was a 90-mile round trip from Yorktown Heights to Stinky Cheese on 20th street and back. Their Caveman Blue is beyond way out there. Just enough daylight for it at my all-day, 11 mph rate.

Regards,
J__ L____


(By the way, this same customer set up his Cruzbike Silvio with a Rohloff Speedhub.  I'll post a note about that sometime in the near future.)



Have fun, stay healthy, and go enjoy yourself on some steep hills,
Robert

------------

Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Extended customer review of a Cruzbike Quest

---------- Original Message ----------

Subject: on-line review
From: "O__ G___
To: "Robert Matson"
------------------------------------------

[Ed. note: this customer wrote an extended review of his experience testing, buying and learning to ride a Cruzbike Quest. I've reprinted only an excerpt here, but it's a useful review for those who want to weed out the real-life experiences of Cruzbike riders from the hype.]

"....I made an appointment with Robert (NYC Recumbent Supply, link below) for a lesson. He starts me out on a Cruzbike Quest, one of those MBB bikes. Mind you, I was prepared for a challenge. I’d read about the learning curve, and was ready for some difficulty. An hour and a half later, white knuckled, the beginnings of blisters on my hands from a death grip on the handlebars, and buzzing on adrenaline from 90 minutes of “OMG doesn’t riding a bike since you were six years old count for anything?” and I’m still riding on the edge between control and wipeout. I felt like a beginner. But you can’t really fall on a recumbent. When you lose your balance the leg on the side your falling towards instinctively goes out to catch yourself. I lost my balance many times, only at low speed, never crashed. During the lesson Robert also let me try a conventional rear wheel drive bent...."


Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert

------------

Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Monday, May 18, 2015

Working with the New York Veterans Affairs Hospital's "Pedals of Honor"

For the past four years I've had the privilege of working with the New York Veterans Affairs hospitals, helping to put wounded vets on recumbent trikes.  For the past three years, in May, New York City Recumbent Supply has volunteered at the "Pedals of Honor" event, which the VA hosts in conjunction with Achilles International.  As an event volunteer, I help set up bikes and trikes, provide maintenance and repairs, fit participants onto trikes and bikes, and support the massive group ride around the park.  It's a thrill to work with these guys and I look forward to it every year.  Neile Weissman, president of the New York Cycle Club, also helps.

I'm consistently impressed by the staff from the VA, who seem to truly love their work.  This year, I was additionally pleased to meet Dick Traum, the founder of the Achilles Track Club, now known as Achilles International.  I admire what Mr. Traum has done for disabled athletes.  CNN produced a video about Mr. Traum that you can watch here.

Have fun, stay healthy, and look for someone you can help,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

HP Velotechnik Grasshopper fx on New York regional buses

Recently, a few customers have written me saying they had absolutely NO hassles putting their Grasshopper fx's on the regional bus between New York and Washington, DC.

One had taken the Bolt Bus, putting his GHfx in the luggage compartment.  The other took Greyhound (also known as Peter Pan).  Apparently the Mega Bus double-decker buses don't have much luggage space and their website says "no bikes."

In one case, the cyclist was told he had to put his Grasshopper fx into a box, but when he told the driver that it folded, there were no more issues.  He also protected the bike by wrapping it in a padded blanket.  I'd presume that the padding is optional as far as the bus company is concerned but that they do want cyclists to put their bike in a bag such as the one HP Velotechnik makes for the GHfx.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Advisory for Brooklyn Bridge Walkway - Good Friday, 4/3/15 10:45 a.m

Avoid the Brooklyn Bridge walkway on Good Friday (4/3/15) between 10:45 a.m and 12:30 p.m.

I've been caught in this procession once in the past and, as the gentleman says, it's essentially impossible to get through.


Mr. Joe Wiener writes:
I am writing to ask you to notify your members about a large religious procession (between 1,000 and 2,000 people) that will be using the Brooklyn Bridge walkway this Friday morning (4/3/15) from about 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be several thousand people walking from Brooklyn to Manhattan, and it will be impossible to even walk a bike through. Please use the Manhattan Bridge as an alternate.

Cyclists heading from Brooklyn to Manhattan should be okay up to 10:45 a.m. if they arrive at the bridge and the procession has not arrived yet. Cyclists heading from Manhattan to Brooklyn, however, should not enter the bike path unless they are sure they can reach the Brooklyn side stairs by 10:45. Please notify your members and forward this notice to other cycling organizations and message boards you may know of.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

-- Mr. Joe Wiener



Have fun and avoid processions,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Spring Sale! Sale ends on tax day: April 15, 2015.

Spring Sale on HP Velotechnik Grasshopper recumbent bikes!

Sale ends April 15, 2015!

HP Velotechnik Grasshopper fx under-seat steering recumbent bicycles, custom built for performance and light weight.

Sale price: US$ 4,399.00. Was $4,564. Save $165.






Configuration:


Grasshopper fx (magic green or dark blue, your choice) with under-seat steering, hardshell seat, carbon fiber front boom, Rock Shox Monarch RL rear shock, MEKS SASO Carbon AC suspension fork, Shimano XT drivetrain with Dura-ace bar end shifters, AVID BB7 disc brakes.

Price includes tariffs and duties. Order and payment must be received by April 15.
Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Cruzbike heavy duty rack modifications

Here’s the rack.


A customer called me the other day about getting some Radical Design panniers. He had made some modifications to the Cruzbike Heavy Duty rack on his Quest 20. Talking to him, I became very curious about the mods because it sounded like he was solving a problem I too had observed: no place to anchor pannier bags on the side of the heavy duty rack and no way to ensure the Rad. Design bags wouldn't touch the rear wheel.

His name is Tor Matson (no relation to me, as far as I know). Here are his notes and photos. He's happy to make the rack for others if you wish.



Hey Robert, here you go…  Here’s my rack, and a shot of my plush air shock, to boot…








This little aluminum rod bit is what makes it all happen; it’s relieved to fit the CB HD rack. Does require drilling and tapping of the rack. I could make these bits if there’s interest…



Here’s the kludge bit. Having the quick-release option is nice, as you can just slide the rack out of the tube, but the hose clamps aren’t so nice. Could TIG some aluminum tube onto the CB rack for a cleaner look, or fab up a better tube-and-clamp system. This is a beta test mule, function only!



Slipped some tubing over the pannier rack, and got a really secure mount. Solid and rattle-free!






I asked him if I could post the photos and his contact info. in case anyone else wants to order one.
Here was his reply:

Bueno! Post it if you like; I could make those pieces if anybody wants one, but I’m happy to just share the idea; it’s pretty simple to fab and is kind of a custom fit thing anyway, but happy to help if I can… If there’s demand, I could make a batch, not totally sure about the tolerances between racks… Mine took a bit of fitting to be perfect…
Cheers,
Tor Matson
Email him at "maryselapierre [AT] gmail"
You'll need to add the extension, etc. to that e-mail address.


Have fun and ride like the wind,
Robert

------------

Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Monday, March 30, 2015

Happening this evening!

David Kroodsma wrote me this afternoon about his slideshow and talk.  It sounds worthwhile.  I realize this is kind of last minute, but here's the info.

The Bicycle Diaries — Slideshow and Book Talk

Manhattan: Monday, March 30th, 7pm -- NYC Velo Hell's Kitchen:
http://www.nycvelo.com/slideshow-and-book-reading-david-kroodsma/ [1]

Brooklyn: Tuesday, March 31st, 7pm -- Red Lantern Bicycles:
http://www.redlanternbicycles.com/weekly-events/2015/3/31/a-slide-show-presentation-with-mark-kroodsma
[2]

Former Stanford climate change researcher David Kroodsma has bicycled from
California to the southern tip of South America, from Turkey to Myanmar, and
across the U.S. twice. Along the way he has talked to hundreds of
people—both laypeople and experts—about climate change, gathering
personal stories about its impacts across three continents.

Join David for a slideshow of his best photos and videos. In addition to
stories of adventure—ranging from fending off a jaguar in Belize to hiding
from police in Tibet—David will share how people across the globe are
currently experiencing climate change, drawing on interviews with people in
28 different countries.

Copies of his recent book, The Bicycle Diaries, a Shelf Unbound Notable Book
of 2014, will be available for purchase.

Visit http://rideforclimate.com/ [3] for more information.

[1] http://www.nycvelo.com/slideshow-and-book-reading-david-kroodsma/
[2] http://www.redlanternbicycles.com/weekly-events/2015/3/31/a-slide-show-presentation-with-mark-kroodsma
[3] http://rideforclimate.com/


Check it out,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Riding across the USA: Tom Braunagel

Tom and I on a weekend trip in 2013.

Tom Braunagel, a friend and customer, is in the final stages of planning his USA cross-country trip.  He plans to leave on May 1, 2015.  The link to his journal is here, on the Crazy Guy on a Bike website. He's riding in part to carry a dream of his father's and also to raise money for the orphan children of a friend. Very cool.

Tom's a good guy and I wish him beautiful weather and a tail wind.


I sold Tom a really neat custom yellow HP Velotechnik Street Machine Gte recumbent bike.


Have fun and go for it,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Sebring 2015: Maria Parker sets new record on a Cruzbike Vendetta to win the 12-hour race.

Maria Parker set a new female record for the 12-hour race at Sebring, riding a Cruzbike Vendetta.  A good number of the Cruzbike crew were present at the race, and I heard from an authoritative source, who was present at the race, but who I will not name, that the diamond frame riders were seriously pissed.  The DF peloton refused to ride cooperatively with the recumbent riders during the race, one of them told a recumbent rider during the race that they "don't want [you] here," and, at the award ceremony, the actual trophy was handed to the top-finishing diamond frame female rider, instead of Maria, who was the female rider who rode the greatest number of miles. Wait, what's that?  Whoever rides the greatest number of miles wins, right?

Maria has a nice blog entry about the day here.  True to her good character, she makes no mention of the unsportsmanlike conduct of the standard frame riders.

Jim Parker won the 100 mile race in 4 hours, 14 minutes on a CB Vendetta.  He wrote an enjoyable blog entry about the Florida HPRA race, which occurred in the days before Sebring.

Charlie Ollinger, riding a Vendetta, broke course records in the 200 meter (36.725 mph) and 1 km (31.129 mph) velodrome events that had previously been set by Mike Mowett on a Morciglio M1 lowracer. Charlie also won the 50-lap velodrome event -- apparently -- "easily."

Interesting side note: a Bachetta rider, who lost the race, bought a Vendetta after the race.

Other fun little tidbit is that another Cruzbike contender, Daryl Hanger, raced his recently acquired Sofrider in the Stock category and scored 7th overall in points out of 15. I love it. The Sofrider is NOT built for speed, but as someone who rides one for city commuting, I have to say I'm not astonished to hear this. I continue to think it's one of the fastest, low cost recumbents available today.

Daryl Hanger
Daryl Hanger shows what a Cruzbike Sofrider can do.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Staying warm when it's cold.

Neile Weissman, current President of New York Cycle Club, leads a tropical ride on an incredibly cool Rans Enduro set up for snow.

I wrote several blog entries about staying warm during the winter.  They remain as valid today as the days I wrote them.



Artist and outdoorsman Mike Clelland drew this awesome illustration
for New Yorkers after superstorm Sandy came through.
10 Tips for Getting Warmer When the Heat Is Off
http://blog.nycrecumbentsupply.com/2012/11/10-tips-for-getting-warmer-when-heat-is.html





Wind chill, warm hands and telemagenta Speed Machines

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Hardly winter doldrums...

Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I've posted, but it's hardly winter doldrums at NYCRS.  There are a lot of exciting developments in the bicycle world.  And, this is the time of year that I get to take some of my own trips!  And build a new website.  Also, it seems that winter is a good time for cyclists to do research.  I have had more long phone conversations during the winter than I have time for during the bike season.

Meanwhile, I've been traveling a lot but, aside from the usual city bike-commuting runs, doing a lot more running, hiking and skiing than bicycling.  And in a couple days I leave for a NOLS field class for winter outdoor educators.  I imagine I'll come back with some new ideas related to winter cycling.

Look for a new NYCRS website soon.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson