The Winter Bike.

I got a new frame for the winter bike/train-whore bike. Unfortunately the weather has been terrible, so even though I have a beater bike, I haven't had much motivation to get out on it. Its made up mostly of pieces Ive collected over the years working at shops. The total cost is about $400. The Powertap is a loaner. Frame was free

I wish I had a 39/53 crank, but $60 bones for a FSA compact with BB I'll take. Now to find the right front derailer clamp!

Yee haw

France

Well I'm headed to France. Through one of Lucs hookups I'll be on a small team in Saint Lo, by Flers France. Its in North Western France, if my geography serves me right.

I don't know a lot about the deal just yet, but I'm thinking a lot of the nitty gritty will be handled. It doesn't include bikes, but I think a lot of the major expenses are covered. In most cases I would much rather that, than a free bike and no way to a race.

I'm thinking I'll head out around the first week of February straight to the town I'll be living in. In my mind it seems so much easier and straight fore ward, compared to year past where I go to Arizona then have to fly somewhere else and spend so much time travelling just to train/race/live.

I'm excited its all worked out. I've been super stressed as the process took a lot longer than I thought and left me without a team into December, which is getting really late.

I hope some new and exciting adventures lye ahead for me.

Problem

Rub it In

For years I used Bag Balm as my sole reliever of friction. I had tried many other Chamois Cremes, like Chamois Butter, Vaseline, Noxema(good for in a pinch), but Bag Balm seemed to be the most consistent.

It did have its drawbacks though. For one it completely ruins chamois. Over time they become a seeping mess of Bag Balm and leave it feeling like a used diaper. Along with this is also ruins any bike seat you may be using leaving it with a permanent shine that coats any surface it touches. Also, any car seat, deck, other persons bike is ruined as soon as you sit on it with a bag balm chamois. (There are wooden decks that still have a wet-ass stain on them from years before, after I sat on them with an older Bag Balm chamois.)

I lived with this predicament, rather having to deal with diaper ass/ruined seat than be in horrible pain from lack of a lube down there until I came across Assoss Chamois Creme!

UNREAL, is all I have to say. I've been using it all season and I will never go back to anything else. It leaves you with a minty tingling fresh feeling after application and it must be water based or something because it doesn't stain anything, and simply washes out. Unlike other cremes I find it is consistent throughout rides, especially longer ones.

Looking at my season old chamois, they look as though I don't use a lube on them. Its great!

It is a bit pricey though and hard to find compared to other chamois cremes. I see it the odd time at some bike shops, but it seems to be the industry's best kept secret. I think it runs for about $20 American, but I wouldn't mind paying that for a tub of it.

In all my travels I found the easiest way to get it was to ask the BMC/Assoss director for some. Once he gave me like 4 tubs of it....unreal.

It really is the best stuff going.