Style and attitude

Date: Aug 28, 2007

Style and attitude

Date: Aug 28, 2007

Bring your fat tire beach cruise if you really want to look like a stud. Then you can enjoy drinks with umbrellas

Date: Aug 29, 2007

Since we are talking style I really need some help on the ride. Now I know I look great in Spandex but I have trouble color coordinating my shorts and jerseys. Want to look my best when I stop at a local restaurant for lunch dripping sweat. Anyone want to help me figure out the best outfit to wear each day. Of course the choice depends on the terrain we are riding through for the day and the towns we stop in. Certain outfits go better in some towns than others.

Date: Aug 29, 2007

Claude,

Great question! Bring the carpet-fiber bike and I can draft you all the way to the coast. Bring the touring rig with panniers and I can still draft you, after I put all my stuff in your bags. aww

I'm leaving the carbon bike at home and bringing the Ti Eddy Merckx. It has aero (goober) bars on it that may come in handy as we near the coast.

As for style, it's rural North Carolina so I can't decide between Red Camel or Oshkosh overalls.

Don

Date: Aug 30, 2007

-Since I do live in rural NC, I can tell you that if you want to be in style, you'll wear Carharts, regardless of the bike you ride...............

Date: Aug 30, 2007

Come on now, if you are true rual NC then you would wear Pointer brand overalls, not Carhartt!

Seriously though, bring the bike that you feel the most comfortable on and you don't mind leaving outside for a week.

Who cares if your shirt matches your shorts? If you are hanging out with people on the ride that care, then you need to find a new click to hang out with!

I was excited this year to bring my new carbon fiber bike, but yesterday I rode my cyclocross bike (yes, complete with fenders) and now I am thinking of bringing it instead.

Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy your trip as much as I enjoyed my first CNC.

Date: Sep 3, 2007

That's always a tough choice. I would ride the bike that would be most comfortable riding day after day. The randonnier would be nice if the weather turns out to be rainy, but the carbon bike would definitely be eaiser pedaling on the hillier days.

I wouldn't ride the carbon bike simply because it's faster. I've ridden a number of cross-state bike tours, and you really have more fun if you just take your time and enjoy the scenery and stops along the way. On a fast bike you might fall into the trap of making each day's ride like club race. Almost every tour I've ridden, there are guys who race to the finish each day, and then sit around with nothing to do when they get. Meanwhile, the slow pokes are stopping to eat, take photos and visit sites along the way -- and they have much more fun.

However, if your carbon bike is your most comfortable, best fitting bike, then all means ride it. Just make sure to stop and smell the flowers along the way.