Hats

Hats, what can I say? I like them. Not just any hat. One that must fit well and usually in the form of a cap. I am especially fond of cycling caps to help keep the cold off my head and the sun out of my eyes. My favorite Bowery Boy cool weather cap is tucked away till fall. It is now time to release my spring wear. My favorite over the last few years has been Headsweats Spincycle cap. Good fit with great wicking ability and just the right size bill to keep the sun out of my eyes and off my forehead. Unfortunately it has streched and no longer fits. The new version comes in white only and at $20 is a bit rich for my taste. I have tried other caps, but, find the longer bills do not allow my favorite Smith and Wesson sunglasses to fit properly. After researching and with the help of Alan from Ecovelo, I came across Walz Caps. They are moderately priced, have a great selection, come in 2 sizes and have great reviews. I decided to go with the basic cotton cap and have it personalized. While waiting for my cap to arrive, I found Pace Caps. A well known name also with a great selection and reviews, but, one size fits all. I found an especially good deal and purchased a basic black cap which I received in 3 days. After all the hoop la, here is what I found.

Price being relatively equal, the Pace cap has a much better fit for my small head. In addition the Pace cap has a slightly larger and stronger bill. The Walz cap which I purchased in a small medium size is a bit big for me. Having some cotton in it, I tried to shrink it a bit with almost no effect. I fear this cap has the potential to blow off my head on a good fast downhill. The bill also does not flip up crisply and has a tendency to wrinkle. Some people find this a unique quality. Both caps are excellent quality and made in the USA. For me the Pace caps work better. Like buying a recumbent you have to try it on for size to see if it works for you.

KEEP RIDING!!!

LOGROLL

I have been doing some interior work on my house and decided it was time for a change. This winter has taken it's toll on my front garden. My landscaping ties have disintegrated. As they are on sale today for $2, I decided to take my trailer with some bungee cords and strapping. I purchased 5 of these 8 ft monstrosities. These things are heavier than I thought. It became quite a challenge and I was about to call for some help, but I was determined. The problem was trying to get the weight towards the front. Not an easy task. Finally, I was ready, and rode the 3 miles back at 7.5mph. Slow and steady wins the race. For S__ts and giggles, I weighed the ties and found each was 25lbs for a total of 125#. The trailer is rated at 90 kg, so I was well under the weight limit. I love riding and I get a kick out of what I can accomplish with the trailer. I got many thumbs up on my ride back, but, most of all it gave me another excuse to

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A Short Story

Like most people, I started enjoying cycling when I was just a kid. A group of ten or so would take long tours from Queens, NY to Long Island and back. We would ride anything we could find including small unfitted bikes. I even made a tandem, buy filing the rear drop out of my bike and attaching the front wheel of my friends bike. Wobbled at slow speeds, but stayed the course. Bikes turned into cars and marriage and kids. Moving to NJ over 20 years ago renewed my interest. I bought a Mongoose for $225. I saw a Zzipper fairing in one of my bike magazines and thought how cool. I also added fenders and panniers and began using the bike for shopping and errands. Thanks to the net I became fascinated with recumbents and bought a Bikee in 2000. I have experimented with different recumbents, but have now settled on my ICE T trike. I still have a few folders and a retro urban tourer I built up inspired by Alan of Ecovelo. I have learned to do my own repairs and upgrades. I leave my car at home when possible. Cycling has become my Olympic flame that I hope will never extinguish.
KEEP RIDING!!!