RAL color chart just in -- this is fantastic.

OK folks.  Hold on to your hats.  The new RAL color chart from HP Velotechnik is IN THE HOUSE.  Oh. My. Lord.  This is fantastic.  There are colors in here that'll positively knock your neighbors' dentures out.

HP Velotechnik is the only manufacturer I know of who will do custom RAL colors to begin with.  But, get this, it only costs $129 more.  That is an amazing deal.

So, when you buy the bike of a lifetime, you can -- look -- just -- get it in your favorite color, OK?!  If you get that Scorpion fs, order it in Pearl Gold, OK?  Or shocking pink.  Get that Speedmachine in Pearl Violet.  Or the color of the Carribean sun.  Or that Grasshopper -- now the stock green is a beautiful color, don't get me wrong, but why not get it in Pearl Green and really tell the world how you feel?!  Or go with the bright white for pure class.  Oh, that would be sweet.  There's a deep saturated black that is awesome.  Or a purple black.  A day glow orange.  A red more pure than the purest red.  A neon yellow.  A wine red....  A tuscan brown.  Sand.  There's sand color here folks.  Cream.  Mocha.  And cafe au lait.  10 different grays.  Four different whites.  Want olive drab?  Got it.  Olive green?  Got it.  Olive oil?  Got it.  Olive blue so you don't scare the birds??  Got it.

You'll be wanting a different bike for every mood now!  And the fashionistas will want their Streetmachines to match their lipstick. And why not.

The world will be out of control.  Everyone will have a bike.  The sun will shine.  The colors of the rainbow will reign supreme.  Dick Cheney will forswear pants.  And all the world will be a stage for you to perform your individual song of identity and glory.  Hallelujah.

Man, if you thought the kids went nuts before, when you rode by on your bent, that Pearl Bronze Scorpion will put them into fits of ecstacy.  I'm really thinking I may need to buy myself a Pearl Purple Streetmachine, just out of principal.

Miles Davis would've loved this.

Best,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply (TM)
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2010 Robert Matson

Nice website for NYC cyclists, bents and otherwise.

I recently discovered this site published by Ken Roberts and Sharon Marsh Robert.

Found while searching for "steepest climbs" near New York City, they also have some great safety advice and reminders for riders of all ability levels and some maps and routes. Good stuff.

My primary takeaway from the safety tips page is the wise reminder: "Don't do anything beyond your control."

For the nearest steep climb to the city, no surprise, it's Bear Mountain.

http://www.roberts-1.com/bikehudson/

Best,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2010 Robert Matson

The Volae Tour makes molehills out of mountains, using just platform pedals, PowerGrips and sneakers.

Volae 'bents are said to be great climbers.  And I finally got the chance to put a Volae Tour to the test to see if it's true.

It is.  In short, the climbing ability is no exaggeration.  If anything, it's an understatement.  Those stiff frames and comfy, aero, rigid seats are fantastic.

Last Sat., on a beautiful but cold New York Jan. day, a Volae Century-riding friend of mine and I did the following route from the archives of the NY Cycle Club.  If you know the route, then you know it was written by a hill climbing diamond frame maniac (in the best sense).  And you know the hills.

http://nycc.org/rl_db/ride.aspx?id=118
58 miles and 3,200 vertical feet.  (We climbed two of the steepest hills twice, making it 62 mi. and about 3,600 vertical feet.)

If you don't know the route, in summary, it's a constantly hilly and beautiful route with many steep inclines.  If you look at the route map, which includes elevations, you'll get a good idea of the climbing involved.  Total distance from our meeting point at the Soldiers/Sailors Monument was 62 miles, plus the additional 22 miles round trip for me to ride to the meeting spot and back home.  So, 84 miles and none of it flat.

And we did it WITHOUT fancy pedals.  For the trip I was using MKS' inexpensive $40 Touring/Cyclocross platform pedals and $22 powergrips.  And sneakers.  You can buy the pedals and powergrips at Rivendell Bike Works.  Point is, with a good bike, you don't need expensive pedals to climb steep hills.

The entry-level Volae Tour is a great bike, and not merely good.  Positively great.  More people should ride them.

Best,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply (TM)
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2010 Robert Matson