The One in Which LeahFoy Races the Carbon Riders Up Killer Hill

[LeahFoy]

*The following contains anecdotes about pretty bikes and cute clothes and girly hashtags. Not suitable for all audiences. Those without sense of humor ought not proceed.*

I was feeling pretty good on this breezy and sunny morning as I biked up Killer Hill on TBBITW. The boys were safely deposited at school, their bikes in the racks and backpacks on their backs. I was unladen and free and feeling the contentment one can only feel after one has been shopping the day before and bought cute new clothes. I had on a simple tee (new), shorts (also new) and my (new) favorite thing (heaven help me, my husband really should make me get a job!), a white, wide-brimmed hat in a style I have coined "outdoor chic." On my lovely bike, sailing along I felt like #thatsdarling and not even Killer Hill could dampen the mood! Towards the worst of the hill I happened to catch something in my peripheral vision. Two riders, donning full lycra on fat-tubed carbon bikes with helmets and helmet mirrors and clippy shoes, were on the other side of the road amidst traffic trying to conquer the hill. I found the whole thing hilarious, as I imagined I looked like some sort of caricature of a "real" rider to them. I don't know what came over me. The Bike Snob has made fun of people who do exactly this, but I lost all control of myself and I did it: I shifted into the granny gear and let my legs fly as I raced those guys up Killer Hill.

The older guy beat me, fair and square, but barely. The other guy pushed his bike up the hill. He circled the roundabout, passed by and said something about "good job on that hill." I told him I do it twice a day, laughed a bit and carried on. Moments later, I was aware of someone behind me on the path. There he was again! And he wanted a word with me.

"How many gears does that bike have?" he asked, pulling even with me.
"I don't know. It's friction shifting."
"What a cool bike! It's an old one!" he exclaimed, riding abreast of me.
"Actually, I got it in 2012. It's a Rivendell - they take all the best things from the past and all the best things from the present, put them together and create this awesome bike. It's lugged steel and perfect and I will be riding it still in 40 years."

He talked bout the touring he does and how he misses biking in CA (me, too) and how he has big plans for an upcoming trip with 38,000 feet of climbing. Then we stopped so he could wait for his buddy and really look over TBBITW. He loved the grips ("Are they wooden?!"), he loved the bars ("Wow, I really like the shape of those!"), he admired the racks ("I love how you have these racks and panniers!"). He asked me all about Rivendell, and I did my best to tell him. He had never heard of it, so I tried to jog his memory (Do you read the Bike Snob? Heard of Bridgestone? No?). I fear we're in different biking worlds, I said. I finally hit pay-dirt when I asked if he's ever heard the term "retrogrouch." Yeah, in fact he had. "Well that was coined to describe Grant Petersen." I hope I told him right; that was my understanding, at least. He continued to notice little details on my bike and I continued to purr like a cat on the inside, because how often does ANYONE appreciate my retro-beach-cruiser-no gears-bike? Finally, someone who was beginning to see it for what it is. A legit bike that is beautiful and functional and can beat you up Killer Hill.

His buddy finally arrived and was so worn out he wouldn't even get off his bike; he rode it in slow circles as he gasped for breath. He gave me the side eye as I stood there in my silly outfit with my silly bike, having beat him by a mile. Oh, I hope he has a sense of humor!

"Come and look at this girl's bike!" said his friend.
"Let's go get Starbucks, " he said, "I'm burning up."

You can't win 'em all, folks! But maybe rivbike.com will get a new visitor, and possibly a new bike order.

Yours, Leah

PS. Two photos for visuals to this zany tale. 1. No one can ignore a bike this gorgeous! Robin's egg blue with red heart lugs, and all the bags you could want, for crying out loud! 2. And this hat, which is 30% off right now and would look splendid with your fancy Rivs. #thatsdarling

[Shoji Takahashi]

Can't help buy smile and laugh. Thanks for this, Leah.

And what a retort: "I don't know. It's friction shifting."

Tailwinds, shoji

[Bill Lindsay]

The Best Bike In The World remains undefeated, and undefeatable.  FACT!

I vigorously approve of the wide brimmed hat, although at your speed, you might find you need a chin strap to keep it on.  Whoosh!  

BL in EC

[Philip Kim]

haha this put a bit of a laugh in my day.

On Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 1:22:34 PM UTC-4, LeahFoy wrote:

[Wally Estrella]

John's Irish Straps.

[Leah Peterson]

Wally, right you are! Were you thinking this or this?

Sent from my iPhone

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[LeahFoy]

I'm glad you guys made it through that wall of text and laughed at the end of it. You guys make my bike life rich indeed! Thanks for the comments.

[Bill Lindsay]

Follow these instructions precisely, carefully, and immediately.

1.  Ride to the grocery store

2.  Buy one can of your favorite canned seafood product.  Smoked salmon is a good choice

3.  Eat contents of can, and wash it out.

4.  Affix these two Irish-strap-hat-configuration photos into the fish can

5.  Mail to Grant at Riv HQ

You will be fish-can wall of fame immortalized, as you deserve.

BL in EC

[René Sterental]

Leah, you are the Biking Queen!!! See that girl, watch that bike, she is the Biking Queen!!!

And that's an awesome Hat!

René 

On Wed, May 24, 2017 at 11:08 PM Ian A <atte...@gmail.com> wrote:

What a great story! It reminds me of a time when I was touring and was accordingly in good shape and was riding along quite happily one day when a person, similarly attired to your carbon racers, but on a fast modern mountain bike, hopped close on my back wheel without asking. I was a little annoyed (I don't mind someone jumping on my wheel if they ask first), so pulled away and heard him breathing hard, I gave that pace a little time then sped up further.  A couple of miles down the road, I stopped (quite winded) and relaxed at a pull out, looking like I was enjoying the scenery. He came by looking very annoyed and didn't return my greeting. So I caught him and passed him! I was on a long tour and was riding a lot of hours a week, so I had an unfair advantage.

IanA

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[WETH]

Great hat and another wonderful narrative!
I do love: "I don't know. It's friction shifting." perfect!!

[Ryan Fleming]

Leah...your writing and sense of humour is terrific as is your BBITW. I like your hat, too...with or without the Irish straps

You should totally do what Bill suggested with the sardine can picture with the hat and the bikes ; it'll be on the sardine can wall of fame for sure.

[Andrew Letton]

Good on ya', Leah! Great story!

cheers from Oz,

Andrew

---

From: LeahFoy <jonasa...@gmail.com>
To: RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 3:22 AM
Subject: [RBW] The One in Which LeahFoy Races the Carbon Riders Up Killer Hill

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[dougP]

You had me at the disclaimer; who could not read what follows?  Too funny!  "...shifted into granny gear....."  I really hope that guy follows thru on his curiousity. 

dougP

On Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 10:22:34 AM UTC-7, LeahFoy wrote:

[Julian Westerhout]

Agree 100%. Hilarious photos with great Riv content. 

[LeahFoy]

René, Biking Queen has a darn nice ring to it! I should have a patch made! Bill, if I can figure out how to print these photos and make them the right size I shall do as you say!

[Broccoli Cog]

Great story! Well done!!

[Ray Varella]

Leah,
If you are a Costco member, just log onto their photo department, upload the images you want to print, choose the size you want, they have a cropping feature so you can set the image up the way you want it.
Place your order and either pick it up at the store or have it mailed to you.
A number of drug store chains also do photos and if you still have a local camera store, they likely offer photo services as well.

Great story! I wonder how the other guy will tell his version. Maybe you will become this racer chick disguised in casual clothes, riding a sleeper bike.

Ray

[Mark in Beacon]

I think Leah should purchase Bruce Gordon Cycles. Now that's a campaign I would donate to...

[Joe Bernard]

Leah, I love this adorable story, but you missed a really clear point which makes your telling of the story even more amusing: The guy who came back to talk more was flirting with you! ;-)

[LeahFoy]

Joe, if that's true it was completely wasted on me! Like, woah, right over my wide-brimmed, hatted head. Worse, does that mean he really wasn't enamored with my bike? Because GEEZ, is anyone in Vegas ever going to appreciate my bike?!? If I see him tomorrow on Killer Hill I'm going to SMOKE him out there, and then we'll see how he feels about TBBITW. Ha!!!

[LeahFoy]

PS I'm gonna do it in a sundress and sandals.

[Joe Bernard]

APPROVED!!!

[Leah Peterson]

Because a lugged steel beaut that is so good that it can - with its rider in a silly sundress - smoke your fancy carbon machine...well, that Roadini order is as good as placed. I won't even ask Grant for any commission.

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 24, 2017, at 8:19 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> APPROVED!!!

[Reid]

My dear Ms. Foy,

From where does one obtain such a hat?

Yrs,

Reid

[dstein]

Great story! I have a version of killer hill that starts close to my house and climbs for 4.5 miles. Used to take me 40 minutes. I'd get passed by the lycra crabon crowd all the time. So i kept pushing and got my ass in shape. I can now get up the hill in about 32 minutes, on par or better than my friends, and my bikes keep getting heavier (gunnar sport to hunqapillar to jones plus). 

The other week I was out on my Jones plus with 2.4" tires (up on roads, down on trails), I passed most everyone I came upon, it felt pretty good, especially considering it's a pretty popular cycling route...one guy insisted I had a motor on my bike as I passed him and was looking for it, maybe I should have just let him think I had one: https://www.strava.com/activities/953448588

Maybe I should have been wearing a nice white brimmed hat for effect;)

[LeahFoy]

My Dear Mr. Reid,

You may find the exact same hat at this link: https://www.rei.com/product/879776/rei-co-op-sahara-hat-womens. There are offerings as well in both men's and children's. Do post your photo if you buckle under the pressure and find yourself in possession of such a hat. You'll note that there is, in fact, a drawstring which negates the need for the John's Irish Strap. Though, how can JIS ever be unnecessary?

[LeahFoy]

Rights to name the hill Killer Hill are yours! 4.5 mile climb? Yikes! Good on you; I can't imagine how strong your legs must be.

[Ed Fausto]

Wow Leah!

I just came back from a bike ride with friends and after reading this really made my day :-)

Can't wait to tell my wife Mabel this story.

Regards,

Ed

PS Keep us updated on the next episode.

On Thu, May 25, 2017 at 1:22 AM, LeahFoy <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

*The following contains anecdotes about pretty bikes and cute clothes and girly hashtags. Not suitable for all audiences. Those without sense of humor ought not proceed.*

I was feeling pretty good on this breezy and sunny morning as I biked up Killer Hill on TBBITW. The boys were safely deposited at school, their bikes in the racks and backpacks on their backs. I was unladen and free and feeling the contentment one can only feel after one has been shopping the day before and bought cute new clothes. I had on a simple tee (new), shorts (also new) and my (new) favorite thing (heaven help me, my husband really should make me get a job!), a white, wide-brimmed hat in a style I have coined "outdoor chic." On my lovely bike, sailing along I felt like #thatsdarling and not even Killer Hill could dampen the mood! Towards the worst of the hill I happened to catch something in my peripheral vision. Two riders, donning full lycra on fat-tubed carbon bikes with helmets and helmet mirrors and clippy shoes, were on the other side of the road amidst traffic trying to conquer the hill. I found the whole thing hilarious, as I imagined I looked like some sort of caricature of a "real" rider to them. I don't know what came over me. The Bike Snob has made fun of people who do exactly this, but I lost all control of myself and I did it: I shifted into the granny gear and let my legs fly as I raced those guys up Killer Hill.

The older guy beat me, fair and square, but barely. The other guy pushed his bike up the hill. He circled the roundabout, passed by and said something about "good job on that hill." I told him I do it twice a day, laughed a bit and carried on. Moments later, I was aware of someone behind me on the path. There he was again! And he wanted a word with me.

"How many gears does that bike have?" he asked, pulling even with me.
"I don't know. It's friction shifting."
"What a cool bike! It's an old one!" he exclaimed, riding abreast of me.
"Actually, I got it in 2012. It's a Rivendell - they take all the best things from the past and all the best things from the present, put them together and create this awesome bike. It's lugged steel and perfect and I will be riding it still in 40 years."

He talked bout the touring he does and how he misses biking in CA (me, too) and how he has big plans for an upcoming trip with 38,000 feet of climbing. Then we stopped so he could wait for his buddy and really look over TBBITW. He loved the grips ("Are they wooden?!"), he loved the bars ("Wow, I really like the shape of those!"), he admired the racks ("I love how you have these racks and panniers!"). He asked me all about Rivendell, and I did my best to tell him. He had never heard of it, so I tried to jog his memory (Do you read the Bike Snob? Heard of Bridgestone? No?). I fear we're in different biking worlds, I said. I finally hit pay-dirt when I asked if he's ever heard the term "retrogrouch." Yeah, in fact he had. "Well that was coined to describe Grant Petersen." I hope I told him right; that was my understanding, at least. He continued to notice little details on my bike and I continued to purr like a cat on the inside, because how often does ANYONE appreciate my retro-beach-cruiser-no gears-bike? Finally, someone who was beginning to see it for what it is. A legit bike that is beautiful and functional and can beat you up Killer Hill.

His buddy finally arrived and was so worn out he wouldn't even get off his bike; he rode it in slow circles as he gasped for breath. He gave me the side eye as I stood there in my silly outfit with my silly bike, having beat him by a mile. Oh, I hope he has a sense of humor!

"Come and look at this girl's bike!" said his friend.
"Let's go get Starbucks, " he said, "I'm burning up."

You can't win 'em all, folks! But maybe rivbike.com will get a new visitor, and possibly a new bike order.

Yours, Leah

PS. Two photos for visuals to this zany tale. 1. No one can ignore a bike this gorgeous! Robin's egg blue with red heart lugs, and all the bags you could want, for crying out loud! 2. And this hat, which is 30% off right now and would look splendid with your fancy Rivs. #thatsdarling

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[Wally Estrella]

Over the chin for the downhill.  The brim wrap for the casual carbon passing.  Great story.

[ascpgh]

Living up to the bike you ride is like a cowboy or cowgirl and their horse.  It's not just about going faster but rather knowing and using what you've got. 

You schooled that guy and lived up to your hat while doing it.

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Patrick Moore]

Cycling became fashionable relatively recently (last 15 years?) and only after the "technology marketing" boom of the post- Cold War era. So I guess many enthusiasts really know little cycling history; know little outside of what is in the big stores and in Bicycling and Velo News and Bike Radar. That's too bad, since the further you go back, the more commonality there is between different sorts of cycling; at least the Clem is lugged steel and friction shifted.

That's not to say that technology hasn't been a good thing. Aero brake levers and clipless pedals are very good things and make my cycling experience much better; most recently, tubular quality wired-ons and effective sealants are even more important, at least to me. 

As to the "attack": It reminds me of my youthful 40s when I would overhaul roadies uphill on my mountain bike and, with such a casual "nice bike" pass them, much to their chagrin. Now I get passed by the fitter and younger women (well, they have 10 or 11 in back, I have 1 or 2).

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****************************************************************************************

[Steve Palincsar]

On 05/25/2017 09:37 AM, Patrick Moore wrote:

Cycling became fashionable relatively recently (last 15 years?) and only after the "technology marketing" boom of the post- Cold War era.

Oh really?  What was the Bike Boom of 1965 - 1975? 

So I guess many enthusiasts really know little cycling history; know little outside of what is in the big stores and in Bicycling and Velo News and Bike Radar. That's too bad, since the further you go back, the more commonality there is between different sorts of cycling; at least the Clem is lugged steel and friction shifted.

Or it could just be that many of the people we're talking about are so young and ignorant they know little about any history.   "Vietnam War, wasn't King Arthur involved in that?"

[Patrick Moore]

On Thu, May 25, 2017 at 7:44 AM, Steve Palincsar <pali...@his.com> wrote:

On 05/25/2017 09:37 AM, Patrick Moore wrote:

Cycling became fashionable relatively recently (last 15 years?) and only after the "technology marketing" boom of the post- Cold War era.

Oh really?  What was the Bike Boom of 1965 - 1975? 

Did you forget about the hiatus ending with the mtb boom and the growth of Trek and Specialized?

So I guess many enthusiasts really know little cycling history; know little outside of what is in the big stores and in Bicycling and Velo News and Bike Radar. That's too bad, since the further you go back, the more commonality there is between different sorts of cycling; at least the Clem is lugged steel and friction shifted.

Or it could just be that many of the people we're talking about are so young and ignorant they know little about any history.   "Vietnam War, wasn't King Arthur involved in that?"

Tell that to the greybeards I see all around me who haven't heard of lugged steel before. 

[Steve Palincsar]

On 05/25/2017 09:50 AM, Patrick Moore wrote:

On Thu, May 25, 2017 at 7:44 AM, Steve Palincsar <pali...@his.com> wrote:

On 05/25/2017 09:37 AM, Patrick Moore wrote:

Cycling became fashionable relatively recently (last 15 years?) and only after the "technology marketing" boom of the post- Cold War era.

Oh really?  What was the Bike Boom of 1965 - 1975? 

Did you forget about the hiatus ending with the mtb boom and the growth of Trek and Specialized?

My point was that cycling had been fashionable before in the 20th.   If, on the other hand, you meant "Cycling once again became fashionable after a hiatus recently" then I'll have to take your word for it as I've not been paying attention to the ebb and flow.

So I guess many enthusiasts really know little cycling history; know little outside of what is in the big stores and in Bicycling and Velo News and Bike Radar. That's too bad, since the further you go back, the more commonality there is between different sorts of cycling; at least the Clem is lugged steel and friction shifted.

Or it could just be that many of the people we're talking about are so young and ignorant they know little about any history.   "Vietnam War, wasn't King Arthur involved in that?"

Tell that to the greybeards I see all around me who haven't heard of lugged steel before. 

Just as some men become bald in their early 20s, some turn grey at an early age: that doesn't signify.  However, if you weren't paying attention to bicycles until the Lance Armstrong era, it would be understandable if you believed bicycles were only made of carbon fibre. 

[Deacon Patrick]

Delightful as always to share the journey with you vicariously after the fact! Isn't it fun to have that wee competitive edge kick in and see what happens next? Grin. Summer after high school I toured Europe (all wrong on way too skinny tires, but that's another story). It was wonderful to crank up hills in France in the bike lane on the right passing mopeds in the motor vehicle lane on the left. Cocky mite that I was, I waved and grinned and they looked in wide-eyed astonishment that a bike loaded with gear could go faster than they. Put-put-put-urp-put-put-put-put-urp. Were it to happen today, I'd still be a cocky mite!

Poor lad #2 deserves pity and prayers, that his self-worth in the future might not require avoiding a bonnie lass on a bonnie bike who bester him on a hill. LCG (lowest common gear) is a perfectly respectable way to get up a hill -- any hill. I do it all the time.

I race trees all the time, and while I always beat them on the out, I never beat them on the back. Wonder what their secret is?

With abandon,

Patrick

[Patrick Moore]

While we're being gleefully snide (I know, the Dn is never snide, but I am), my brother told me how, once, long ago when we were all young and fit and good looking, how he was pulling his toddler son in a Burley up San Vicente Blvd on a fixed gear beater, and passed a (snideness coming) Fred on the latest roadie gofast (probably aluminum, back then). "Hey! Nice bike!" he said, casually, with that oh, so cool flip of the forefinger indicating laid back greeting. The OP threw a sulking fit.

I've just read a review of Evelyn Waugh in the Claremont Review of Books, which has undoubtedly skewed, if not skewered, my charity.

(I also, in re of conv with Steve P, recall one of GKC's more lighthearted titles: "Greybeards At Play.")

[Fullylugged]

GKC would have enjoyed a bike like Leah's I am sure.

[Paul in Dallas]

I too enjoy the accounts of your cycling adventures.

 

Keep'em coming.

 

Way to go up that hill!

 

A few times I have surprised a full kit clad 'clipped in' guy on a high dollar racing bike

over the years with me dressed in cargo shorts and a long sleeve cotton shirt

spinning platform pedals on a vintage bike.

 

I can no longer sustain a high effort like that for too long but it is fun to occasionally

put the leg to the pedal and see what you can do, 'blow out the cobwebs' so to speak.

 

I often wonder if these folks are thinking, " Wait a minute, how can old guy on an old bike without

all the kit and high end bike keep up and/or or pass him." " That's not what the bike shop told me."

 

Of course who knows how much riding or training  they have been able to do

or perhaps health issues any of these folks have.

 

More often than not the really young bucks on high end bikes pass me like I am standing still

but occasionally I surprise one.

 

However, I have been hearing more accounts of surprised racers being passed by folks

who shouldn't be able to

and it turns out they have an electric assist motor on their bike.

 

It was great you were able to have a friendly conversation with one of them.

 

Safe pedaling to all in full kit or regular clothes, steel, carbon or whatever bike.

 

Paul in Dallas