ProTec Ace Helmet (Chris Doyle)

Not one who likes to wear hats or helmets, I wanted something low-key. All the helmets I’ve seen are always really long, and shaped rather silly. I wanted a regular shaped, nice fitting helmet. I think I got that in the ProTec Ace.

Serfas RX Lycra Lite Cycling Gloves

Having good grips is one thing, but having your skin rubbing against them for 20 miles is another. These gloves fit very nicely and even have “pull cords” so you can get them off quickly. My hands haven’t hurt me in over 80 miles.

Bulletproof BMX Pedals

Pedals are one of the three contact points of the bike, along with your grips and saddle. The pedals that came with my Townie were small and plastic. I needed a much larger pedal and certainly wanted metal. These pedals are everything I wanted, and have adjustable hex pegs that keep your foot on the pedal. They feel great and make riding much more enjoyable.

Ergon GP1 Grips

Another important part of the bike. There are a million different styles of grips, and a million more levels of quality. The stock grips were alright, but without gloves I’d kill my hands. The GP1 grips I could safely use without gloves and still feel very comfortable. These grips are divine. The shape of the grip contours to your hand while riding. Once you adjust them to the proper angle (so your wrist stays comfortable and without bending) you can lock them into place. They don’t move if installed properly. If there is a more comfortable grip out there, I’d be hard-pressed to find it.

Serfas E-Gel Cruiser Elastomer Saddle (EG-8966)

Along with grips, the saddle is the most important part of a bicycle. This is where you really feel it in the morning. Some people like firm saddles, some like soft. I really like the Serfas gel saddles. They provide a very nice cushion and it provides a buffer between your body and the hard seat beneath. The saddle I got is a bit wider, more for comfort/cruising. But I get my speed up there above 20 MPH without having any problems with the saddle. I usually average 12-13 MPH and this seat is very comfortable. Since I’m just getting back into riding, it’s going to take time to get used to it, but a good saddle makes all the difference.

Trik Topz Blue Glitter Dice Valve Caps

I had some when I was a kid, and they look good on my bike. ‘Nuff said.

CamelBak M.U.L.E. Hydration Backpack

Do you think a water bottle is going to hold you over for 10 miles? Think again. I never heard about CamelBak until I bought my new bike, but it only took me my first long ride to realize that these things are such a blessing. You can store up to 3 liters (100 oz) of liquid, and there is enough room for ice. The easy drink tube works wonderfully and the reservoir is easy to clean. There is even space for my iPhone, gloves, bungie cords, lights, and a few other things.

Schwalbe Marathon Supreme Tires (HS 382)

Seeing as I popped my stock back tire on my maiden voyage, I was led to understand that tires are very important. A small piece of glass put a split in my tire about a half-inch long. I wanted a set of tires so I wouldn’t have to worry about carrying a patch kit or fear of being stranded 10 miles in the middle of nowhere without a spare. These tires let me rest easy. In doing research online, these are one of the best brands of tires you can buy. The inside of the tires are lined with all kinds of goodness, some high-tech woven fabrics, Vectran I believe. They ride great and I’m not worried about glass anymore.

Pletscher Zoom ESGE

A cool-looking bike needs a cool-looking kickstand. This is it. It does what it’s supposed to– but in style. Not much more to say about a kickstand.

Sigma Wireless Bike Computer (BC 1706 HR)

If you do a lot of riding and want to keep exact figures of your times and distances, this is a device you need. The Sigma bike computer keeps track of MPG, average MPH, distance per trip, total distance, as well as a host of other time/distance functions. This one also has a heart-rate monitor which will let you know your heart-rate and pulse, and let you stay within cardiac or fat burning zones.

Blackburn Flea Combo Lights

The first thing I did when I got my new bike was remove my reflectors. I figured, “I’m not riding at night so I don’t need them.” Bad call. I’ve done about 75% of my rides at night, albeit on bike trails. These front/back lights are great. They are LED and you get 3 hours front light on one charge, and 6 hours back light. Also, the charging system is ingenious. You can hook it up to any battery off the shelf, from AAA to D. The charger comes with magnetic connectors that attach to the battery. Good show!

Nitto Seatpost (S-83)

This one is a biggie. The first thing I noticed on my new bike is my saddle was moving. It was moving up/down, and side to side. To save on money, manufacturers will often give you a cheap seat post, then attach a post clamp so the rails of your saddle can be fastened to the clamp. It works, but it adds one more point of failure. Also, setting the angle of the saddle with these clamps is clumsy at best. This post remove the clamp as a point of failure and incorporates that into the post. The result is no movement of the saddle and much easier adjustment of the saddle angle.

Nite Ize SpokeLit LED Safety Light

These LED lights go on the spokes, and take the place of the reflectors that were there. It has two modes, always on and flashing. I like the always on because with that and the flashing back red light, it looks like a police light.

I checked out several stores from South Eastern Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island. These were not department stores, although I did check out Dick’s Sporting Goods, but rather bicycle specialty shops. They carried a higher class of bicycle, thus the higher prices. I was delighted to see some innovative new designs. Obviously, bicycle technology has come a long way since my bike riding days.

Click to zOOm Image

The bicycle I decided upon is the Electra Townie 21D. The Townie uses a new technology, interestingly enough, called “Flat Foot Technology.” In short, the bicycle has a lower center of gravity, so you are sitting lower and able to put your feet flat on the ground at any time. It also pushes the pedals several inches forward so you are using less downward force and more frontward force. Lastly, the normal riding position is rotated 23 degrees backward so you can ride in a more comfortable position, and not have to lean forward when riding. You have to try it to feel the difference!

About Electra

Think of our bikes as vehicles for discovery. If you let them, they will transport you to places beyond your average spin down the road. Even if your mission is nothing more than riding to a friend’s house or stopping by the corner cafe to grab a latte, Electra bicycles fill the experience with memorable moments that really define you — because we design our bikes as extensions of your imagination, style and sense of adventure. With excellence, expression, innovation and progression as our driving forces, Electra bikes speak to your individuality and quest for quality, while their smooth, efficient ride allows you to kick back, relax and enjoy the free flow of a lazy afternoon along the bike path, a free-parking evening pedaling around downtown or an energizing commute to the office. Whether you ride for fitness, fun, convenience, conservation or recreation, the Electra experience is offered in an assortment of flavors to suit your style. Try a Townie, Cruiser, or Amsterdam on for size, and experience the Electra Way to Roll.

www.electrabike.com

What drew me to this bicycle was it’s brilliant curves, nice matte blue finish, and the Flat Foot Technology. Also, this bike has front shocks which make the ride so much smoother than traditional forks. I tried bikes back-to-back, and the Townie (with shocks) beat out a nice Royce Union, without shocks.

The Townie was by far the most comfortable bike I’ve ever ridden. The saddle, or seat as we non-riders call it, is very comfortable with a generous seating area. It’s a 21-speed and uses high quality hardware. I’m looking forward to taking this bike for a spin along one of the many bike trails in South Eastern, Mass.

I placed a deposit of $100.00, which is 20% of the cost and the bike should be delivered within the next week or so. That will give me enough time to go and sell something to cover the balance due.

I’ll be sure and write a full review once I get my hands on the bike and give it a good test drive. I’m sure I’ll be very happy.

As promised, George W. Bush vetoed a proposed stem cell bill. The bill would have eased limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. It was his first veto in his 5 1/2 year Presidency, although not the first stupid decision he has made.

It has been reported that Bush is all in favor of idiotic stem cell research– something he has benefited immensely from!

The veto came a day after the Senate defied Bush and approved the legislation, 63-37, four votes short of the two-thirds margin needed to override.

Junk Reasoning

“This bill would support the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others,” said Bush. Well, he’s sort of half right. This bill would have supported the use of unused and discarded human embryos for the benefits of people with afflictions such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. And let’s say for the sake of argument that this was “human life,” as we all know and experience. It wouldn’t be moral to sacrifice the lives of a few to save the future of the masses?

Wasn’t that why we dropped “the bomb?” To save the eventual deaths of millions of Japanese and tens of thousands of our troops? Why did it work back then? Why was the taking of 100,000 innocent lives better than shedding the blood of millions? Because it was the right thing to do.

Oh Grand One… We Salute You

“As science brings us ever closer to unlocking the secrets of human biology, it also offers temptations to manipulate human life and violate human dignity. Our conscience in history as a nation demand that we resist this temptation. America was founded on the principle that we are all created equal and endowed by our creator with the right to life. We can advance the cause of science while upholding this founding promise. We can harness the promise of technology without becoming slaves to technology. And we can ensure that science serves the cause of humanity, instead of the other way around.”

George W. Bush

Sorry Georgy Boy. In this life, nothing is guaranteed– and that includes the right to life. Once you invoke the “creator” line, you lose all credibility in your argument. Argue the facts of the case. Argue the scientific reasons behind your decision, but don’t invoke some stupid creator who didn’t have the foresight to create a healthy race and doesn’t have the balls to fix it. We now live in this mess.

What The Dilly Yo?

Where was Bush’s scientific gripe with stem cell research? Did I miss something? And why wasn’t he consulting Bill Frist (R-Tenn.)? After all, Bill Frist is the Senate Majority Leader and a doctor. Bush held his views in high esteem in the Schiavo case, so why isn’t he listening to Frist this time, now that Frist is in favor of stem cell research?

In announcing the veto, Bush was surrounded in the East Room by so-called “snowflake” families– those with children born through embryo donation.

Lab Rat

“They remind us of what is lost when embryos are destroyed in the name of research. The remind us that we all begin our lives as a small collection of cells. And they remind us that in our zeal for new treatments and cures, America must never abandon our fundamental morals,” Bush said.

That is fine and dandy. If people want to donate their embryos to infertile or otherwise incapable couples, I’m all for that. However, there are thousands of frozen embryos that are sitting in labs across this country. These will never be used and eventually will be destroyed? Why? Are you so proud that you would rather let these embryos die for nothing, rather than using them to advance cures for the world’s most horrible illnesses? I don’t see the logic.

Jesus Christ, My Lord, Savior, And Pain In My Ass

Bush’s veto was based solely on his religion’s beliefs and not that of any scientific logic. That makes Bush a fanatic. Plain and simple. People who can’t put aside their religion to intelligently and genuinely come to an understanding about issues they may not agree with for themselves, and solely base their feelings on what the “creator” told them should not be making decisions of this magnitude.

Or maybe there is an argument to Bush’s “human life” reference. After all, he has about as much sense as an embryo– a frozen embryo at that. [Conservatives won't laugh at this, but I can assure you, it is funny]

The Final Frontier

This reminds me of an episode of Star Trek (original series). In this episode, Nomad, a robot/spaceship of sorts, went around the universe looking for less than “perfect” specimens to destroy. He called Kirk the creator, and would listen to everything he said. Kirk eventually used this trust to the demise of Nomad.

For all you religious “Nomads” out there… did you ever stop to think your “creator” was leading you down the wrong path? After all, you’re all just a bunch of monkeys!