Rainy days are with us

On the daily commute, sheltering on platform 14.

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I have frequently inhabited the People’s Republic of Buyxiety. What a great word, as good as ‘beausage’.

J-Bo.net

Buyxiety: Part 2 in a 3-Part Series of my Anxiety.

I get extremely anxious when I buy things. Unavoidable and expensive purchases such as car repairs, cat vaccinations, and tickets to ride a Greyhound bus across the country make me nauseous.

This means I’m good at saving money. I buy things used, never spend more than $15 on any article of clothing, and am driving the same ’98 Mazda I’ve had since before I got my license.

This also means I’m terrible at spending money without convulsing at the register and succumbing to fits of buyer’s remorse that leave me debilitated on my bedroom floor for half a day.

Recently I’ve been trying to decorate my new office at work.

“I bet you have a lot of stuff in your car to bring in,” my boss said on my first day.

Uhhh, not exactly. (You might recall that I’ve…

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Tis Pity He's a Writer

Apple’s iPhone5 went on sale last Friday and sold out within nanoseconds. It does wondrous things, I guess. It must, because 5 million people jumped right on it. It costs $649. We have a phone that’s attached to the wall. It lets you talk on it, that’s about all. We have a cellphone, too. I’m not sure what all it does. It must not do much. It cost $14.99. Chances are I’ll never buy an Apple iPhone5. Technologically, I’m pretty far behind the curve. To give you an example, here’s a piece I wrote back in the 90’s about my first fax. I know, people usually write about first loves, first cars and first jobs, but when you’re hopelessly behind the curve . . .

Fax Me the Pillow That You Dream On

Officially, it’s known as a facsimile communications machine. Those on more familiar terms with it call it…

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Review: Velo Orange Model 5 Saddle

Saddle comfort is undoubtedly the most subjective area of bike ergonomics; an area where no hard and fast rules apply. What is comfortable for one person, in a particular position, doing a particular type of riding, is uncomfortable for the next person. It is with this caveat that I recommend the Velo Orange Model 5.

Velo Orange is a US based company that designs and markets parts and frames for the cyclotouriste and urban cycling markets, producing beautiful retro frames and components which give a generous nod to the French constructeur aesthetic.

A few years ago the company began to market leather saddles in the style of Brooks’ esteemed offerings, made by Taiwanese company Gyes and addressing some long standing gripes with the West Midlands based company’s more famous offerings.

The Model 5 is a sprung saddle with very similar shape and dimensions as
the B17. Indeed Brooks fans will recognise it as a close copy of the Flyer – effectively a B17 with a sprung frame suitable for micro adjust seat pillars.

My need for a sprung saddle came from my Ridgeback’s ultra stiff frame and it’s tendency to kick the rider in the backside over rough roads. The supplied saddle was a narrow plastic model made by Velo (no relation) which, as standard race oriented saddles go, was pretty bearable. But a saddle should be more than bearable shouldn’t it?

The Model 5’s price is similar to the Flyer, at around £65.00 but it terms of spec it’s similar to the much more expensive Flyer Special or indeed Select. The VO saddle has a thick Australian hide top, much thicker and less liable to premature stretch than Brooks current standard line (an issue they’ve addresses with the Select line). The VO 5 also features skived apron edges, a feature only found on Brooks’ higher spec perches, along with a punched and tied apron to further address the dreaded spectre of saddle sag, which normally forebodes the death of one’s Brooks.

The rails are chromed steel, more pleasing to my eye than Brooks’ standard black powdercoat and the rails themselves allow much more fore and aft movement than Brooks, addressing a vestigial design hangover from an era of very different frame geometries which means that many riders mounting Brooks saddles on modern frames with more upright angles will struggle to get the saddle back far enough.

After a week of riding, first impressions are very positive. The saddle shape is perfect for me, being a B17 user for so many years however this comes as no surprise. What is surprising is the out of the box comfort. Although rock hard and allegedly requiring a break in period, I find it perfect from the get go, doing exactly what a saddle should do – supporting the sit bones without putting pressure on the perineum or chafing the inner thighs while pedalling.

I’m not even going to mention saddle weight. Those considering a springy leather saddle are wise to the folly of counting ounces over comfort. Suffice to say that a saddle as comfortable as this will do more for your ability to ride all day than a lighter less comfortable one. I’ve had more rides cut short or ruined by saddle soreness than carrying an extra few hundred grams do I’m not cracking out the digital scales anytime soon.

The Model 5 comes in three colours: black, brown and honey and has a satin finish with a dimpled top, with a tasteful, embossed VO logo on the flank. Mine is the brown model and very fine it is too.

The saddle had loops too, meaning those using saddlebags will be happy. My favourite touch is the black moleskin drawstring bag that the saddle came in. A lovely touch.

I’m hoping that the saddle’s thick hide and laced aprons will result in many years of happy riding. I used to think I was a lifelong Brooks advocate but now a bit of much needed competition in the leather saddle market has shaken things up.