BSNYC Friday Fun Quiz!

Further to yesterday's post about the Marin Pine Mountain 1, you'll no doubt be filled with resentment to learn that I was able to spend yesterday morning riding it:

And then yesterday afternoon drinking beer:

All while keeping a watchful eye on the bike through the front window of the bar:

Had anybody attempted to steal it, I'd simply have rapped on the glass, fogged it up with my breath, and then written the words "!ꟼOTƧ ƎƧAƎ⅃ꟼ"

That usually seems to work.

Inasmuch as it was only one ride I'm not going to draw any sweeping conclusions about the bike or anything like that, but I will say that my first impressions were very favorable.  I certainly appreciated the extra tire volume, and I suspect that once I figure out the tire pressure sweet spot I'll be able to make the most of it.  (If you're want to know "WHATPRESSUREYOURUNNING?," the answer is "I don't know."  I kept lowering it as I rode, and I suspect I could go even lower still.)

As for the particulars, it's a single ring in the front:

And a wide-range cassette in the back:

Which worked very nicely and gave me a sufficiently low gear for everything, and apart from personal stuff like saddle and grips I can't imagine what parts you'd want to change on it unless you were an incurable weenie.

Also, while the Marin website says the bike has thru-axles and Boost-Whatever rear spacing, this is in fact a mistake, and it actually has standard quick-release hubs:

As well as good old-fashioned 135mm rear spacing:

This pleases me, since I like stuff that works with other stuff.

So in all it was a very enjoyable first outing, and I'm looking forward to many more, hopefully also followed by beer:

And now, I'm pleased to present you with a quiz.  As always, study the item, think, and click on your answer.  If you're right bully for you, and if you're wrong you'll see triathlete skills.

Thanks very much for reading, ride safe, and watch out for wet leaves.


--Wildcat Rock Machine

("Ground control to Major Fred...")

1) According to "Bicycling," a pair of Recon Instruments Jet sunglasses:

--"has only about four hours of battery life, which limits its use"
--"blocks a significant amount of peripheral vision"
--Attracts "curious looks and comments"
--All of the above

2) What's at the end of the pole?

--A pitchfork
--A paint roller
--A dead cat
--Peter Sagan

3) What is this?

--A new clipless pedal system
--A new tire tread
--A sticker you put on your car door handle to remind yourself to open the door carefully
--A new massaging chamois from Assos

4) Bike canvassing is the new gravel grinding.

--True
--False

5) Why is this rider stopping?

--He's searching for an energy gel packet
--He's experiencing lower back pain
--He's adjusting his Assos massaging chamois
--He's lost the Bluetooth connection on his "smart suppository"

6) According to "Outside" magazine, the Ridley X-Trail is:

--A road bike
--A cross bike
--A gravel bike
--An ineffable feat of both engineering and marketing that somehow manages to exist entirely within the infinitesimal empty spaces between the above segments

(UCI president Brian Cookson)

7) UCI president Brian Cookson says you can't run pro men's cycling without:

--More sponsorship
--Better bike technology
--Enhanced media coverage
--Dopers

***Special Folding Helme(n)t-Themed Bonus Video!***

Headkayse. The world's first multi-impact, soft, safe, foldable cycle helmet / www.headkayse.com from Headkayse on Vimeo.


Via here.