Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 4

Sunday, Sep 09, 2007

On the Streets of Los Angeles

Route: Hollywood-Santa Monica-Hollywood

Distance: 74.21 km, Time: 5 hours:54 minutes:58 seconds, Total: 74.21 km

Sight @ Santa Monica Beach

   The bike path beside the Santa Monica State Beach led me to a sophisticated designed skateboard park crowded with beach boys and their boards. Between them I could spot some BMX bikers testing their skills in the some park. The outer wall was sprayed with graffiti art.

Graffiti Artist @ Work

   I've continued to the famous Muscle Beach, closely associated with the current governor (in 2007!) Arnold Schwarzenegger. 
  The original Muscle Beach dates back to the 1930s when the Works Progress Administration (WPA) installed exercise equipment immediately south of the Santa Monica Pier. Popular gymnastic and acrobatic performances were routinely held on city-provided equipment. A platform on the beach with weight lifting equipment provided a workout area for famous bodybuilders. 
   After the closing of the original Muscle Beach bodybuilding attention shifted south to the known Venice Beach Weight Pen, operated by the Los Angels Recreation and Parks Department. A small spartan weight pen was build near Windward Avenue in 1959, later replaced by the larger current facility during a complete renovation and Muscle Beach Venice redevelopment in 1990 which sports a huge concrete barbell on the roof and bleachers (or stands) for spectators (wikipedia).

   When I arrived I had great expectations but even on a Sunday afternoon I could only spot very few body builders. It looked that the golden age of Muscle Beach has already gone or the athletes prefer rather to train in climate controlled gyms than under the hot sun at the beach. 

Beach Cruisers @ Venice Beach

   Continuing riding southwards along the beach front the road became lined with shops (I've seen a Harley Davidson clothing store), snack food stalls and restaurants which even serve cold German wheat beer. It's a nice atmosphere to see and to be seen, a leisurely pace let the weekend fade off in a cooling breeze from the ocean.

Beach Promenade @ Venice Beach

    Even with the many interesting sights and sounds of the American way of life the sun did not want to wait for me; it was time to leave. I did not return on the same bike path I came but rather the next road behind the houses of the beach front, the Pacific Coast Highway. Tomorrow I will ride on it to San Francisco, the actual start of my bike tour. Of course, I was very excited...
   The way back to the hotel in Hollywood was not as simple as I thought. As it was getting darker I've got lost but discovered the famous 'Hollywood' sign on the hill in a distance. I've tried to keep the direction and somehow found the way to the hotel. I was already dark night when I arrived. The night watchman opened the gate and let me in...
   After my first 1/2 day riding the bike on American roads was a very interesting experience.  Flying in from Taiwan I disassembled some parts (handlebar, wheels, saddles) and assembled it after arrival everything worked as expected. My bike passed the test for tomorrow's tour start. 
   Let's hope that the next 4 week will be as smooth as today!

(to be continued) 
     

Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 3

Sunday, Sep 09, 2007

On the Streets of Los Angeles

Route: Hollywood-Santa Monica-Hollywood

Distance: 74.21 km, Time: 5 hours:54 minutes:58 seconds, Total: 74.21 km

   Conveniently the Wilshire Boulevard is meeting with the Santa Monica Blvd. which carried me to Santa Monica. Sunday afternoon traffic was not too busy, on a bike the meaning of 'traffic congestion' has a different meaning anyway. On the way I've stopped at a Taco chain restaurant and wanted to order my afternoon snack. The blond European waitress was chuckling even while I was ordering and she could not manage my order so that I had the impression she might be either on drugs or disabled. Her Mexican co-worker could not stand it and took over. Within a few minutes I had delicious Tacos with vegetables scalloped with cheese.

Santa Monica Pier

   In the already late afternoon I arrived at the Ocean Front and could discover the Santa Monica Pier down below. From the distance the pier looked indeed amusing, I've discovered many people walking between food stalls and the very small funfair. I pushed my bike over the crowded wooden bridge. On my left I discovered a busy DJ entertaining the crowd with African beats. I followed the crowd on the main street, trying not to be in the way of anyone.

   I came to the main attraction, a very small roller coaster. Many children were lining with their parents, waiting for their turn. I continued to walk at the end of the pier and watched the seemingly endless ocean. Taking the mandatory photo I could not help to think that the ocean would be my partner for the next four weeks and my bike journey to San Francisco and beyond. The sun was preparing to set so I should leave!

   I did not want to walk the same way back and tried to leave the pier walking over the beach. There I could discover red and white crosses in the sand, between them coffins draped with American flags. As I took a picture a middle aged lady came to me and explained that this is a peaceful demonstration against the war and for the American soldiers killed in action during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every white cross stood for one, every red cross for ten dead soldiers. Asking her why they do this she answered that they did not get a permission to do this on the Nation Arlington Cemetery. Even here on the Santa Monica Beach they could only get the permission for the day, in the evening they have to move the crosses and coffins and re-arrange them in the next morning!
   I think everyone should have their own thoughts on the reasons of war; for me it is very clear why oil-hungry USA started the war in the Middle East.

Sting sings in his song 'Fragile':

"If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one

Drying in the color of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay

Perhaps this final act was meant

To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star

Lest we forget how fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall

Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are"

Anti Iraq and Afghanistan War Demonstration

   As I have already been here I've decided to wide along the nice bike path between the beach and different houses, shops and places. There were many beach cruisers which can be rented. They look a kind of strange with their long handlebars and are not very comfortable on long tours. Many do not even have gears, a convenience for the renter and not necessary on the very flat bike path. But I was carefully riding between them as there are seemingly no traffic rules and not many are experienced riders. I've shared this path also with pedestrians, joggers and roller skaters. On the beach are several volleyball fields, everyone seems to be sportive in this part of the world.

Member of a Volleyball Team

(to be continued)

Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 2

Sunday, Sep 09, 2007

On the Streets of Los Angeles

Route: Hollywood-Santa Monica-Hollywood

Distance: 74.21km, Time: 5hours:54minutes:58seconds, Total: 74.21km

   

Painting in Hollywood

   Because today was Sunday I wanted to join a church and worship our Lord, wanted to thank God and ask for his blessings for a trouble-free tour. 
   Already yesterday I've noticed a large church, the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, not far away from the hotel. As I stepped through the large gate into a dark church an elderly brother welcomed me with a strong handshake. I looked for a seat in the back and let the surrounding and the atmosphere settle on me. The whole appearance reminded me of the Anglican Church, typically for the United Kingdom. Even the chorus wore long the same purple garment. 

Pastor Michael Morrow read from Luke 4:16-21 

"16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.

     He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
     to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood

   As I arrived in the hotel shortly after noon I wanted to discover more of Los Angeles of my bike. Generally the road design is based on main roads leading straight either from north to south or east to west this makes it very easy for first time visitors. The prominent and from far away visible 'Hollywood' sign on the nearby mountain made the orientation very easy. As the Basque proverb goes "Earth belongs to the brave but heaven those to deserve it" I went on my first bike ride on American soil.

Hollywood

   I cycled along Hollywood Boulevard and turned left into Vine Street. I stayed on this with potholes dotted road until I it became a smooth road near a park-like housing area with beautiful houses. I turned right into Wilshire Boulevard. On a brick colored building on my right I've discovered big letters saying 'Korean Television America Network'. This marked the beginning of the Korean community of Los Angeles. Indeed, the road is lined with Korean shops, services and doctors. One commercial offered the service of a housing agency in Korean.

   I stayed on Wilshire Boulevard until I came to the La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park (https://tarpits.org/), even for America a bizarre and for me unknown place. Many thousand years ago the earth had natural tar deposits covered with water. As heavy animals went for water they got stuck and could not move in the tar until they slowly sank, died and were immediately conserved. The management recreated the events with large animal models with family members of the animal trying to rescue them or stand frozen in fear watching the scene. As the tar pits began about 50.000 years ago their were no dinosaurs to be found... 

   After their discovery the material of the tar pits were used of asphalt of roads; between 1913-1915 around 100 larger bones from mammals have been excavated and examined.

    Considering other visitors I walked my bike through the park and between people in the beginning but the road became too long for me. As I went back on my bike and rode between the museum buildings I was whistled off my bike by a Mexican guard and asked to get off my bike. I was already going to leave the park anyway....

(To be continued)

Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 1

Sunday, Sep 09, 2007

On the Streets of Los Angeles

Route: Hollywood-Santa Monica-Hollywood

Distance: 74.21km, Time: 5hours:54minutes:58seconds, Total: 74.21km

   “The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” 

– Sir Richard Burton

   When I left my hotel (on Hollywood Boulevard)  the 8th annual Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon, according to the organizers “one of the largest and most prestigious  triathlon in the world" already was on its way. As I've heard the competition started  with the swim at the beach of Venice Beach, went through Hollywood by bike and ended with the run at the Staple Center, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon

   Directly in front of the Hotel gate flew the first triathletes by; for a lower wind resistance crouched in their typical position. As I walked along the Boulevard the triathletes become more and more, the professional athletes were replaced by amateurs, families with their children and even groups like firefighters and policemen joined the challenge. It would be another 10 years until I did my first triathlon.

   On the side of the road were policemen stationed in regular distances, securing the scenes demonstratively sitting on their white Harleys. Everyone was at least 1.80 m tall, muscles could be seen over their much too small and maybe even tailored shirts. They wore motor biker slacks, wide on the thigh and tight on the calf in high polished leather boots. At temperatures at around 30 degrees surely not an amusing job but, hey, this is Hollywood!

Harley on Stars

   As I walked by the obviously boring police I’ve noticed a Mexican looking officer reaching in his side pocket and grabbing a sun lotion. I’ve heard him clearly asking his colleague: “Do you want?” As he negated the first offices squirted some in his hand and creamed appreciatively his face with it.

Hello Delicious

  On the crossing to the N. Highland Avenue I’ve notice an African-American female Policewomen controlling the traffic arguing with another female African-American wearing a heavy makeup sitting in her car.

“I want to cross the road, why does the competition take so long?”

“You are an adult therefore you should know that you are not allowed talking on the phone while driving and that you have to follow my instructions.”

After these words the driver become quiet and while she had to wait she slipped seemingly annoyed on her seat forward and backwards.

   Not far away I saw a city cowboy sitting on the side of the road feeding his horse with carrots. “Curious”, I’ve thought to myself and took a picture.

City Cowboy

   I’ve realized that many European Americans in neat Sunday clothes were strolling to Ivar Avenue while others in full bags came from there. I followed them and they led me to the Hollywood Farmers Market. In this certified (!) market around 90 farmers and 30 bakers sell their organic products, around 30 artists their crafts. As I’ve heard later organic products are the hot items in high society, accordingly is the demand and the many people. I personally found the prices astronomically, for a cup of juice with much ice cubes I've paid US$5.00/cup.

    The many people let me recognize that there is a trend away from the in-‘famous’ genetically engineered mass crops to organically produced vegetables and fruits even in the U.S. Visiting the farmer’s market let me experience the ‘alternative’ America which indeed exists.  

(to be continued)

Why do I use Clipless Pedals on my Racing Bicycle?

   Every rider is only connected with the bike by three parts: with the hands, the bottom and the feet, that's it! These three parts play an important role in the comfort but also the efficiency on the bike, they determine the endurance and speed. Previously I've covered the handlebar and the saddle, now I want to continue with the pedals.

   The granddaddy of all bicycles was the 'dandy horse' or 'running machine', a two wheeled human powered vehicle invented by the German Karl Freiherr von Drais (1785-1851). It was made of a beam on a fixed back wheel and a steerable wheel on the front. There were no pedals, the 'rider' was sitting between the wheels on the beam and had to push the running machine with his leg forward.
   It is unclear who fixed the pedals directly on the hub of the front wheel but in the 1886 they were widely popular. An improvement in speed came with the high wheeler or penny farthing bicycle in the 1870s and 1880s. They used the same pedals mounted on the front hub and were not only dangerous to the riders but also to the public. The introduction of the Rover safety bicycle ended the era of the high wheeler. Safety bicycles or safeties have to wheels of identical sized moved by a pedal mounted on a crank moving the rear wheel with a chain; almost identical to today's bicycles.
   Already in 1896, William Reilly of Salford, England, patented an internal 2-speed rear hub with went into production in 1898 and was a great success (wikipedia). Hub gears are still in production today. Derailleur gears are a variable-ratio transmission system outside of the hub containing a chain, multiple sprockets of different sizes and a mechanism to move the chain from one sprocket to another, the rear derailleur. They did not become common road racing equipment until 1938 when the French company Simplex introduced a cable-shifted rear derailleur. In 1949 Italian manufacturer Campagnolo sold the Gran sport, a more refined version of the already existing, yet less commercially successful, cable-operated parallelogram rear derailleurs (wikipedia).

Sprockets (11-32 teeth), Chain & Rear Derailleur

  It can be clearly seen that if the pedal would not have been moved from the front hub to the center of the bike on the chain wheel the development of the rear gears had not been possible and we would not ride the efficient bicycle we know today.
   The first pedals have always been flat pedals, to be be more efficient races mounted cages (or clips) with leather straps on them. Unfortunately it was not easy of fiddle out of these clips. To address this problem clipless pedals were developed. They require special cleats fitted on the sole of the bike shoes. They lock into a mechanism in the pedal which holds the shoe firmly and can be unlocked by an outer twist of the heel.

Chain wheel (50-36 teeth) with Flat Mountain Pedal

   In the beginning I was not very fond of using clipless pedals at all. But one time I've discovered a pair of cycling shoes on sale. The were so cheap that I've decided to buy them without hesitation. I did not use them for a while and stored them somewhere.
   There was a time when I tried to improve my speed by experimenting with narrow tires, higher air pressure, lower bike position etc. but nothing helped substantially. Suddenly I remembered the already dusty bike shoes and hunted down some cheap Taiwan clipless pedals online, patented from the French manufacturer Look. After mounting the pedals and using the shoes my speed improved around 10% right from the beginning!
   I have to admit it took some learning curve and time to get confidence from using the clipless pedals. But I never looked back, especially on my racing bike. My feet are locked on the pedals, I can use all the power I have and will not have to worry to slip from the pedals. I can not only push the pedals upwards but also can pull the upwards which leads to a much smoother or rounder pedal stroke.
   When coming to a standstill it became a natural to clip out. I do this only on with my weaker left foot. I seldom click out of my stronger right foot because I start with my stronger leg to get momentum and after some moments I click onto the left pedal. After a while I did not even look down to clip in, clipping became a smooth movement and even an extension of my body.
   Even touring I don't leave home without clipless pedals. The shoes with the cleats are sometimes inconvenient walking due to their construction but this weights out the advantages of using them while riding. I've invested even in more comfortable neon yellow colored shoes, my carbon clipless pedals are already on the way. 
   Everyone should give clipless pedals at least a try. They make your pedal strokes smoother and therefore more efficient like the pros on TV. There is a learning curve but when a novice pays attention to some details the problems with clipless pedals are not difficult to conquer and become a natural extension of the body over time.
   Take care when riding and obey the rules of the traffic and the wonderful sport of cycling. 

Why do I use a Triathlon Saddle or Split Nose Saddle on my Racing Bicycle?

   When riding there are actually only three different body parts touch the bike: the hands, the bottom and the feet. Together they define how comfortable and efficient you ride on the bike.

   Comparing the general riding position during the history one will notice that the grandfathers of the Tour de France were rather riding on larger bikes in a more upright position while today's riders are sitting in their bikes slicing in a low profile through the air. These changes have technically been possible with the switch from steel to carbon fiber, a very versatile material first applied on a larger scale in the aerospace industry. This martial has high stiffness, high tensile strength, low weight, high chemical resistance, high temperature tolerance and low thermal expansion. I can be layered in different directions and shapes to address complex requirements. Outstanding examples of the possibilities of carbon fiber in the bike industry are today's triathlon bikes with design features unthinkable only until a few years ago. 

   Approaching my 60s I am clearly not a young racer anymore but I am still tinkering about my efficiency and comfort on the bike. When German time trialist Tony Martin switched from Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step to Team Katusha-Alpecin he lost his dominance because the new bike did not fit as well. It was very efficient but not comfortable enough so he lost precious time. A designer must address both issues.

   On my mountain bike I had a hard and narrow race seat which I mounted on my road bike. But because of the lower profile of my riding position I’ve experienced some numbness in my contact area of the saddle and felt very uncomfortable on longer rides. Two years ago I’ve trained with an American and an Australian for an upcoming triathlon. Before the ride and run training I’ve checked out their bikes and notice that the both used triathlon saddles with a ‘split nose’. I’ve discussed with them the saddles and had only positive feedback. Returning home I’ve found a cheap copy of the design with I’ve purchased online.

   After mounting it on my bike my ‘narrow’ pelvis and consequently ‘narrow’ bottom felt immediately much more comfortable even on longer rides. My sit bones are riding ‘on’ and the saddles is not ‘between’ them which might, together with the cushioning, the secret of my comfort. With the comfort comes confidence, with confidence comes speed.

   The other secret of my triathlon saddle is a small but important rise of the profile of the saddle. In racing position I am sitting on the split nose in a forward position. When I want or need more power to push the pedals I move my buttocks slightly backwards into a higher position. I have the same possibilities, I can decide and change between a more forward or backward position, during climbs.

   When adjusting a saddle it must be in done with the hands (handlebars) and the legs (pedals) in mind. Generally every triathlon saddle moves the body forward; to take full advantage of the lower position the rider should ‘slam the stem’, put the stem and consequently the handlebar into a lower aero position. Some riders prefer to mount the saddle in an angle (‘nose down’); for me this position does not offer enough support from the saddle.

   Switching from my former narrow road bike saddle to the wider split nose triathlon saddle offers me a much more comfortable and pleasant bike experience. I can can choose several positions during the ride, have the freedom to move and can find the most comfortable and efficient position for each section of the road. I am more than willing to take the weight penalty of around 150 grams compared to my previous narrow saddle.

   I encourage everyone to think about tinkering with different saddle shapes, materials and positions or even a bike fit; the time and money investing in a proper position may be very worthwhile.

   Please ride carefully!

Growing Up, part 12

A German Youth

Grown up in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s

   As I grew older the relationship between my parents deteriorated even further. The secondary school was very close to my grandmother's house and sometimes I've visited one of my classmates who lived nearby by bike after school.
   As a truck driver my father had a rough schedule, Sunday night he sent good from his company to Hamburg; then he returned with goods from Hamburg or on the way back home. During the week he drove a 2nd time to the north to return Friday afternoon or night. My mother roughly knew his whereabouts, at that time there was no convenient cell- or smartphone. Their communication depended on the old telephone and/or telephone booth. This telephone in our family was 'holy', it was my mother's treasure. No-one beside herself was allowed to answer, call or even touch it.  
   One day, when I rode on my small motorbike to see the classmate, I discovered my father's car parking beside of a house in an alley, not far away from my grandmother's house. At that time he drove a baby blue  Ford Taunus 1976 model; until today I remember my father's license plate. There was no mistake that this was his car parking there! 

   I rode home for about 20 minutes, opened the door and my mother was sitting on her beloved sofa, knitting something while watching TV. I went inside and after a small talk I've asked her if she knew where my father is. She did not pay much attention even I've previously never asked this question before; she just answered irrelevantly "I believe somewhere near Kassel", a city halfway between Hamburg and my hometown Reutlingen. She continued her knitting and turned to the TV, her unmistakable sign to be quiet and leave the room. I was still standing there and wanted to move to the door but I've decided to sit on one of the armchairs. I've never did this so as soon as I sat down I've got her full attention. She was looking at me, trying to read something on my face until I opened my mouth "He is not in Kassel, I've seen his car parking near grandmother's house!"

In my grandmother’s house (1979)

   With these words the hell broke loose! It was not a noisy hell but a very quiet, very serious but nevertheless a very violent storm. One of the view moments in my life she was speechless. She stuttered with her fingers sinking with the knitting needles on her lap:" What did you say"? I've told her all the details including the address of the house, even drew pictured a detailed location how to walk from my grandmother's house to the house where he was.
   My mother looked for my older sister and together they walked first to my grandmother's from there they found the car and after ringing at some doors my father's girlfriend opened the door. I remember later my mother told me that he was still sleeping in her bed. For some men to have a girlfriend during a marriage might be a way to improve their self-esteem, but for a wife and the children it is a disaster. 
   Both of my sister and half-sister were working or learning in the same trucking company like my father, there have been many rumors why my father refused to have an assistant driver on long tours, that many previous co-drivers talked about several girlfriends along his tours, about selling diesel to customers out of the company's truck, about smuggling cigarettes from East Berlin through East Germany, about taking small white stimulant pills while driving etc. But there was the first clear evidence of infidelity not only towards his own wife but also his own the children right in front of them under another woman's bed sheet!
   Even somehow expected it still was a big shock for each and every one of us. The hope of a somehow reunion of my parents went up in smoke and we all realized infidelity is not only the beginning of the end but it is final! At that time I was 16 years old, I haven't finish secondary school yet, did not have a way to support myself financially so we had to deal with the facts every time I went or have been at home.
   The result was that the home become not a 'dwelling-place' but, at least for me, a place of punishment for my existence. I did not understand how a couple could become enemies under the same roof; 'sleeping with the enemy' become a whole new meaning to each and every one of us!
   My grade plummeted not too much, I've tried to be as honest as possible to my situation. I kept on reminding myself that the problems between my parents were not my fault, that the irresponsible father was not the result of me but rather the result of his own education, his childhood during the 2nd Word War and the denial of his own responsibilities. My mother's violent nature was not my fault but the result of her education, her experiences as a refugee and the refusal to see and accept the blessings in her life. 
   But for me both of my parents have one big mistake in common: they see themselves as the 'sufferers' or 'victims' not as it should be as 'committers' or 'offenders'. It is easier to live in denial than dealing with problems head-on; it needs real efforts, wisdom and time which not everyone wants to invest.
   The Bible teaches very clearly:" 24 that is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. (Genesis 1)". The marriage of my parents was their free will, to have their children was their free will, every step of their life and each decision in their life was their own will and decision. 
   You can and should not blame God or others for your own shortcomings; a healthy adult should behave like an adult, should know that every decision has not only consequences for yourself but also for the people around you, you and only yourself (!) are responsible for your life. 

(to be continued) 

Why do I use a Mustache or Moustache Handlebar on my Racing Bike?

   Checking out different homepages of bike part sellers one will notice that there are different styles, materials and finishes of handlebars widely available. Each handlebar serves its own purpose and the needs of bikers. Below I will cover some common styles:
   BMX bikes have their own BMX handlebars which are mounted directly on a stem right above the steering tube and therefore have a high rise. The welded cross brace adds strength and rigidity.
   Comfortable North Road style bars like Townie and Tourist bars come from the roadster bike (today's city bikes) era. Due to their higher rise and swept back construction they offer an upright riding position and consequently a good view on the road. They are designed for cruising along and daily errands like shopping etc.; some styles can be mounted upside down for a slightly aggressive position. Porteur bars are similar but offer a swept back position with grips parallel to the top tube to control heavier loads loads. 

High rise Porteur bar on a roadster bike

   Cruiser handlebars look great on Beach Cruisers but need, because of their size and shape, some time to get used to. They make the riding and steering slow and cumbersome in tight situations. I've struggled to find a comfortable position on longer rides.
   The first mountain bikes (MTBs) came with flat straight handlebars in the late 1970s, from this base developed the more comfortable riser bars with the outer section rising higher from the center of the clamp. Bullmoose handlebars are welded with a 'V' shape onto the stem.
   Drop bars are found on racing bikes, the riding position in the drops creates a low profile and therefore less wind resistance for higher speed. Track handlebars come originally from track bicycles but can also be found on single speed or fixed-gear bikes. A variation is the Randonneur bar with a slight rise in the center for touring and Audax riding, long distance cycling within a predefined time limit.
   According to one source the grandfather of the mustache or moustache bar was developed for the Penny Farthing Bike in the 1870s (http://www.mortaljourney.com/2011/03/all-trends/penny-farthing-bicycle-and-the-history-of-the-bicycle). Watching different designs in my books and online this statement is at least questionable. The riding position on the high wheeler was very different from today's bicycle. The rider was sitting very close to the handlebar which was actually mounted in line with axle directly over the large front wheel. The rider's legs moved the pedals mounted on the axle of the wheel and sat so close to the handlebar that it hardly swept back, a-typical from today's mustache handlebar design. On almost all pictures the steering bars of a Penny Farthing Bicycle were straight like on early mountain bike bars or had a bend to give space for the up and down movement of the legs below (!) the handlebar.
   Growing up in the 1970s mustache handlebars were the choice of some racers on their training bikes and occasionally fitted with bar-end shifters, a big improvement in comfort over the than-common down tube shifters. From the design mustache bars are somehow 'flattened' drob bars; the clamp, tube diameters and the material of both handlebar designs are identical.
   Mustache handlebars slipped out of my mind until some photos of the Bridgestone XO-1 appeared in the 1990s. I did not only like the bike design but admired the bold move to produce a road bike with fast accelerating 26' Mountain Bike wheels and tires with a road profile.
   Some 10 years ago, already in my 50s, I've decided to build my first bike from scratch. Due to costs and availability I chose a Mountain Bike frame with a rigid fork and 26' road tires as a base. The bike came out great but the straight traditional Mountain Bike handlebar did not work for me. Even adding bar ends did not make it comfortable and active enough for me. I've considered several options and came across the long forgotten Mustache Handlebar. Beside a pair of aero brake levers for my linear pull brakes, new brake cables and a set of bar tapes there was not much more to invest. After mounting all the parts I had a very nimble modern day Bridgestone XO 1 with an alloy frame.
   As I’ve progressed to a road bike I wanted to use some of the mountain bike parts incl. the mustache handlebar to keep costs down. As I used caliper brakes I had only to invest in a new pair of brake levers and a new bar tape.

   
   Generally I like the comfort and the versatility of a mustache handlebar very much. I have to admit that it took some tinkering with the bar and the brake levers to find my ‘personal’ position. Some people use a short high rising stem for a comfortable position; I am using a 120mm low rising stem with the outer tubes of the bar parallel to the road for a more aggressive forward position on my race bike. With 54mm they are wider than the widest drop bars (44mm) which give me a nice balance downhill on faster sections or high speed corners.
   To save some physical distance between braking and shifting I’ve cut 4 cm off the length on each side. I still cannot shift and brake simultaneously like integrated STI Shifters do so I have a kind to predict when and where I should shift or brake. 
   A great improvement of the brakes came after the purchase of Shimano Ultegra R8000 caliper brakes. I’ve dialed them so I can either brake with one finger of each hand off the straight handlebar tubes or with a full grip (thumb under the handlebar and the other four fingers on the brake lever) in the ‘drop’ or round shape of the bar.    

   I use a mustache handlebar because it offers me several riding positions; I cruise, tour and even attended races or ‘challenges’, how amateur races are called in Taiwan, with the same bar. It is so versatile that I could call it the ‘Swiss Knife’ of handlebars.

   I encourage every biker to try out different handlebars. It may not only improve the comfort but also the bicycle experience as a whole…

Growing Up, part 11

A German Youth

Grown up in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s

   From a research point of view it is actually very interesting how the different children coped with the facts of constantly fighting individuals as the result of a two stubborn parents who never did fully comprehend the consequences on their children. 
   My father simply lived his own world; as a provider he has done what he should do - to earn money. He was so full of himself that he was not even interested to remember the birthdays of each of his children. One morning my mother reminded him that today it was his son's birthday. He grabbed his wallet, gave me a 5 German Mark coin like he occasionally tipped someone helping him unloading goods from his truck and said, seemingly embarrassed,  'Happy birthday!'         
   My elder sister started to party at a very early age. After finishing the secondary school she learned and work in the same transport company as my father and the elder half-sister. As she had some income she bought her first 2nd hand car and made friends with US soldiers some 70km from home. She dared to bring them home occasionally. While my mother liked the friends she called my sister with very bad names, and, as with my step sister, had occasionally physical fights over trivial matters.
   I stayed mostly in my room, read my books and struggled in school. Generally I did o.k. until the 7th grade (around 14 years of age), from the 8th grade I really had to invest more time on my school books just to pass some tests and get some acceptable grades. My weakness was clearly Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, while the languages and my forth chosen major, Biology, was going acceptable. 
   For one semester the director of the school was our German teacher. He liked to give us us a subject on an essay and let us write for 40 minutes on it while he followed his own interests. As I liked reading I took these essays very seriously and let my imagination run wild. One day he returned me my notebook and said "Correcting your last essay I got interested in reading your other essays again. I've noticed that because of your small handwriting I believed that your contents were more than I've previously recognized. So I've decided to give you higher grades to all of your essays."
   In 8th grade our German teacher let us write an essay about 'evening'. We could freely choose between the form of a composition or a piece of poetry. My classmates started writing immediately while I was just sitting and started to think. Everyone would choose a composition which is much easier to write but would take the hard work of at least one A4 page. A poem would only take 16 lines, and no-one would choose it anyway. It was winter a that time and as I looked out of the school window there was a new snow covering everything. I went to Judo lessons every Thursday evening after training and as I walked through the city street to the bus station it was snowing. So I just wrote this feeling walking the dark streets when I've noticed the snow falling from heaven. I don't remember the whole poem but it finished with ..."falling snowflakes like crystals." I was the first to return in the paper and could leave because it was the last lesson of the day. To my surprise I not only got the highest grade of everyone but every classmate got one copy from my poem 'as an example' after the teacher read it out loud in class!

 A skinny teenager

   It was, looking at the age, a time when I was growing up from boyhood to became a young man. Mostly left alone I did not have anyone to turn to and had to figure out too many things by myself. Some of my classmates already started to experience girl- or boyfriends, I was more a bystander. I was the guy who was all the time the last you think of, or, as Sylvester Stallone said in one of his Rocky movies:" You are invited to a party but it really does not matter if you go or not because no-one will care anyway."
   I've met the nice girl beside the ice skating hall but the situation in my family and the failure of my own parents scared the hell out of me to commit myself into a relationships. So it did not last long because somehow I thought that it would be irresponsible to drag someone cute and innocent into my own confusing, sad and violent environment. At least until I would be independent, having an own income and would be in charge of my own life...
   As my stepsister bought a stereo she gave me her old tape recorder with a radio. I listened constantly to it and occasionally sampled some English songs from the radio on tapes. I've liked many different direction of music only classical music let me fall asleep. Disco was modern but there was a also counterculture like Rock in its different forms (Hard Rock, Heavy Metal), Punk was arriving and even Rock n' Roll made its comeback. The end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s was musically the most interesting era in my opinion. On some school excursions I took my sampled tapes with me and the bus driver was willing to put them in his machine and let my classmates listen to my tapes. In the absence of any studio and only created by a 2nd hand tape recorder they seemed all right, many classmates praised me for my music taste.
   In sports we all played soccer or European football. Because I was never a real sprinter I was chosen to be goalkeeper. I could 'read' the game, could anticipate the direction of the ball and sense when to leave the goal in cases of a high ball or in a one-on-one situation. We even made it into the semi-finals of the school tournament. We could make it into the finals but because the two 'stars' had an argument they rather played for themselves than as a team.

(to be continued)