Evening Spring Ride on the Clem

[Chris Halasz]

I took advantage of the intermission in rains here on California’s Central Coast for a short and easy trail ride this evening. 

I'd started running again and enjoying something like a 10k loop along this trail for the past year, and recently wondered why I never bother to take a bike here: it's a quicker way to grab the binos and do some occasional birding. A Clem seemed like a good candidate for stepping off in sketchy sections, and for portaging with its low top tube. 

This was its first ride into the trees!  

The trees seemed to be enjoying the frogs making happy noise in the creek, the air was cool, not much breeze, and the (new to me) Clem cruised nicely over the winter’s leaves, the drying trails, and lots of exposed rock from a generously wet winter. Shall I ride the bike when I go hear Suzanne Simard speak in a couple weeks?

Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed the (short) ride, 

Chris 

[DavidP]

Thanks, Chris - very much enjoyed your ride report and always great to see photos! 

I also like to bring binos on bike rides, and find a stem bag is a great way to have them easily accessible (requires folding/pocket bins - I use a pair of Bushnell Legend 10x25 for this).

-Dave

[Patrick Moore]

Yes; please keep them coming.

Aside, to all: suggestions for a usable but inexpensive, small, and easily stowable binocular or monocular for very casual sightings while riding around? For some reason I lost or tossed a nice palm-size binocular and I'd like to replace with with something that easily fits into a rear jersey pocket.

Patrick "I see a Clem in my future, but only after fettling the new M 1:1 knobby wheelset and the beater Libertas build" Moore

[DavidP]

"Palm sized" is how I'd describe the Carson MiniScout 7x18 I take along on trail rides and other rides when I don't expect to be using them much or are too rough to bring more expensive binoculars. Tiny, expendable, very small eye relief, but surprisingly decent handling for the size. 

A 6x18 monocular is smaller but the bins give a better view.

-Dave

[Patrick Moore]

New thread to avoid egregious thread highjacking.

Thanks, David, that's what I'd hope to find. The one I lost/sold/gave away was of a similar size and had what I think was at one point was a reputable name, Bushnell; tho' these days, with selling brand assets, who the hell knows. But it worked fine and was only a wee bit big to slide easily into a jersey pocket.

To all: Monococular: suggestions? If one wants to put a premium on portability at the expense of visual experience -- tho' one wants the device to be useful for casual bird, person, or object observance. I also, long ago, and a cheap monocular, about the size of a test tube, and it did sort of work.

Thanks again.

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[Patrick Moore]

Thanks, Dave, I've looked up the Carson and it appears readily available for $33. It's on my "To Buy" list.

On Thu, Apr 18, 2024 at 5:08 PM DavidP <dphi...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Gordon Stam]

Hello all,

Gordon Stam here. I used to post on this forum, or one like it (I recognize a few names) back in the mid 00s after I bought my Romulus. In the intervening years I drifted away from cycling (I developed a motorcycle habit) but I'm back with the purchase of a 59cm Clem Smith Jr frame which I've built into a parts bin special. I've been lurking for a month or so but this thread has three touchstones for me: the Clem, the Central Coast, and binoculars. Nice shots of your Clem in the trees Chris. I went to school at Cal Poly many years ago,

Here's my Clem out here in Utah:

Regarding binoculars check out the Maven C2 7x28. Maven makes good binos but a wee bit more expensive than those Carson. A better bino though. As far as taking them on a ride I just loop mine over my shoulder bandolier style (see below). With these upright bikes they ride against your chest, or side, pretty unobtrusively and are ready for viewing at a moments notice. I use paracord for a strap with a couple of slip knots for length adustment. This is the Maven B3 6x30. A step up from the C series but a right dandy unit. Costs less than a high end wheelset though!

Cheers all!

G

[Patrick Moore]

Welcome back, congratulations on the Clem, and thanks for the binocular suggestion. I lean toward the Carson since its price is more in line with my very occasional and casual use, and because it's so compact.

On Sun, Apr 21, 2024 at 11:09 AM Gordon Stam <gds...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello all,

Gordon Stam here. I used to post on this forum, or one like it (I recognize a few names) back in the mid 00s after I bought my Romulus. In the intervening years I drifted away from cycling (I developed a motorcycle habit) but I'm back with the purchase of a 59cm Clem Smith Jr frame which I've built into a parts bin special. I've been lurking for a month or so but this thread has three touchstones for me: the Clem, the Central Coast, and binoculars. Nice shots of your Clem in the trees Chris. I went to school at Cal Poly many years ago,

... 

[Gordon Stam]

Thanks. The trails around here have dried out enough the get out and do some mountain bikey stuff and I have say the reports are true that the Clem is a pretty decent off roader. It really does seem to be kind of a do-it-all bike. No pics hower.

[Richard Rose]

Gordon, can you post a close up pic of your shifter setup? Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 21, 2024, at 6:50 PM, Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Gordon Stam]

Sure.

[Gordon Stam]

The housings are the Rivendell thumb mount housing but the fit fine on the stem. Here's a pic with the brass wing bolts installed instead of the D-ring bolts. Plus a rack and a basket. Perhaps unnecessary blingage but I ordered them to get the total of my last order up above $200 for the free shipping. I'm going to hit them with some polish and see if I can get them to really shine.

[Gordon Stam]

Mid afternoon ride. And could someone let me know if these pictures aren't showing up? I'm still trying to figure out the process. Apparently the earlier ones have though.

[Chris Halasz]

Gordon 

Your photos show up, but as attachments, and not as inserts, if that's preferred. 

Here's a couple from me during a recent mid-afternoon ride to a friend's place near Cold Spring Rd and Mountain Drive near the edge of Montecito. 

The ride includes a healthy amount of elevation on a cool calm and overcast day, blue Pacific in the background. 

Weather is warming up now! 

Cheers, 

Chris