Vredestein Fiammante DuoComp review and other stuff...

So, as we are beginning to get back into the swing of 2010, and at the request of what I assume is one of the many pastatrails readers (that's you, Carlos from Houston!)... a few quick thoughts on the performance of the Vredestein Fiammante DuoCompes that I installed a while ago.

Well... after about a month of use, I can state that... I like 'em. They have been ridden in what has been a very wet and windy Rome winter (a joke for some of you, but Siberian-like for us Southern Europeans!). The grip in wet and grimy conditions has been excellent. Absolutely no issues at all. They are holding up quite well (admittedly, I have yet to put a lot of kilometers on them) and I have had no flats, which is always positive.

Coming off cheap Vittorias (Rubinos) I must admit that they roll better (offhand I don't know the differences in TPIs though, so it is simply a sensation that I cannot back up with anything concrete). Ergo, I recommend them highly as a performance oriented training clincher. Although yesterday I did see a pair of the new Vittoria 320 TPI 'open tubulars'... oooohhhh.

On a separate note, I just received a set of Ciamillo Negative G brakes purchased slightly used from a fellow Weightweenies forum member. Ooooohhhhhh (yup, second time I say that in today's post)... beautiful.

And to prove just how light they are, I have added a picture. 192 grams (ok, without pads). Holy moly. Happy Pete... enjoy your riding!

The new arrival...

De Rosa...

Bellissima!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas...

I had an extra special present. I contacted Marcello of Bikeadelic fame when I came across a website almost entirely dedicated to De Rosa bicycles... asking him if he was interested in pictures about my De Rosa Slx.

Well, he was. He actually dedicated an entire blog post to my beauty. Makes me feel extra special!

So, if you have a moment click on over to Bikeadelic and check out some of those beautiful De Rosa bikes! And yes, I have added him to my blog roll (I am not very subtle, am I?)...

Grazie Marcello!

Merry Christmas! Buon Natale!

Just a quick post to wish all of you and your loved ones a very, very merry Christmas.

Or, as we say here... auguri per un buon natale!

May your holidays be filled with happiness and many wonderful kilometers, with a great wind pushing you along!


* Picture borrowed from www.trisanta.com... check 'em out, they have lots of fun stuff.

Family cycling...

I have been neglecting my blogging duties lately, with work and life continuing to get in the way... sorry about that! Time for a quick 'catching up' post.

A couple of weeks ago we got the entire family out for a nice ride on a short circuit that we have that is more or less 'taken over' by cyclists each weekend. Nice wide roads, with good asphalt and very limited traffic (at least by Rome standards).

It was a lot of fun... riding with my eldest daughter on her race bike, along with my wife and second daughter on her Burley Piccolo 'half-bike'. We rode about 30km... then the complaints started and we headed home.

Daughter number one powering along... yes, she needs a new helmet!

The eldest really enjoyed herself - she is now comfortable on her bike (yes, I know, we will raise her seat a bit) and is getting the hang of working the gears. She is also quite competitive and strongly dislikes other riders passing us. Powerful Pete (that would be me) thinks this is a very positive sign.

Keeping an eye on dad...

Daughter number two loves the Piccolo - she gets to pedal her heart out, and yet when she is tired or distracted (as happens to any five year old) she stops pedaling and enjoys herself. Of course, my wife doesn't quite feel the same way on the light uphill on the circuit.

My wife enjoys the riding (or so she tells me!) and we all like the fact that it is a healthy outdoors activity that we are able to participate in as a family.

So, if you had any doubts as a cycling parent, just get out there and do it! The kids love it - just start easy and remember that a circuit is best, as this allows you to cut the ride short if the kids get tired... And I heartily recommend the Burley Piccolo... A solid, well made piece of kit that is easy to use, comfortable for the child, and very safe. Plus kids absolutely love the flag!

Training ride...

Ok, trained on the Fortius last night. Not feeling too great from the flu and all that, so I did a short (and thankfully flat) bit of the Milano San Remo. Tried to keep it in lowish gears as the moment I tried to up the power the legs immediately fell apart.

Here are the stats (at least, the bits I wrote down)...

1. distance: 24.8 km
2. average speed: 32.2 km p/h
3. average watts: 151
4. average rpms: 93

Have to admit that I like the Fortius more each time I use it. Impressive how I am not considering suicide - the 40-ish minutes I spent on the trainer just flew by!

So, it ended up being a nice agility workout... good to get the heart pumping and keep the legs spinning. No soreness in the legs today. Always a good thing.

Should be able to go for a longish ride tomorrow (off work) if the weather holds (threatening rain)...