Amazon Prime for Veterans: Don't Bother!

WARNING: The "Amazon Prime for Veterans" program is an absolute joke.

You DO NOT get Prime at a reduced rate ($79 v. $129). Instead, you get to pay for NEXT YEAR'S Prime fee now (e.g. an interest-free loan to Amazon).

First, the registration portal told me I was "not eligible." (I guess 21 years total active and reserve US Army service didn't make the cut?).

So I wrote Amazon "customer service" (ACS). With no explanation I was declared "eligible" (no documents, no proof -- just "OK, you're signed up.")

Fine. I went through the order process and received confirmation. The next day I see two charges for "Amazon Prime Membership" on my bank account. One for $129 (the regular Prime fee now) and an additional $79 (the so-called "discount").

I wrote to ACS: "I do not want to pay for Prime twice."

Amazon Customer Service (ACS) response: "You get to pay for this year and you have a discount for next year."

I replied: "I don't want a discount next year."

ACS response: "But you have a discount next year."

I replied: "I don't want to spend a discounted excessive amount."

ACS response: "It's nonrefundable. But if you cancel the discounted extension, you cancel Prime."

After 4 cycles of this stupidity, I've reached two conclusions:
1. Amazon "customer service" is now merely feeble-minded bots.
2. It's time to move my online shopping experience elsewhere.

Bont Helix Cycling Shoes Review

This is a follow up review to my earlier combined review of several cycling shoes.

I eventually settled on the Lake shoes and have ridden them at least 1500 miles. They're solid, comfortable, and well-made.

I intended to return the Bont Helix shoes but instead they sat in my office. I tried selling them on ebay but no one reached the reserve.

So I decided to give them a try since they were mine now.

As soon as I slipped them on I was reminded of that blasted foam strip on the tongue that presses against the top of the foot. Since it wasn't fair to judge the shoe base don this one feature I put on some Look Keo Red cleats and strapped on the shoes.

Wow -- these felt snug, but not uncomfortably so. The single Boa strap actually works -- the forefoot isn't squeezed but the heel and top of the foot are secure.

Where these shoes really shine are weight and stiffness.

Wow.

These shoes are meant for racing. They are stiff, lightweight, and snug. You will lose no watts to flexy soles or loose connections between pistons and platforms.

On second thought, the Bont Helix is my new favorite shoe for summer riding (they are too snug to fit a thick sock, which is fine).

I only wished I'd chosen white.

 But the black is classy.

Nevertheless, highly recommended!

1500 miles for Water of Life

In June 2017 I was scheduled for heart valve replacement surgery. The Saturday before, I went for a short ride that ended when my front wheel slipped in a wet parking lot. I fell at slow speed, fracturing my pelvis.

Two months later I was back on a stationary bike, the surgery postponed until I was fully recovered.

Four months later I learned my heart condition was no longer an issue and the surgery was indefinitely postponed. There was no medical explanation -- just clearance to resume normal activity.

So I'm riding again, but this time I want to make it count. I'm averaging at least 100 miles a week (October 6th I rode the Seagull century in Salisbury, MD, finishing in 5 hours, 10 minutes). with a goal to ride 1500 miles between August and Christmas day, 2018, to raise money for Water of Life.

(You can donate here: Dan's Water of Life Fundly Page)

Water of Life is a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to serving people in India and West Africa by drilling wells to provide clean water.
It's more than a well, though. Water of Life has 5 "drops of impact":

1. Give clean water
2. Offer education
3. Provide employment
4. Disrupt the statistics
5. Offer spiritual infrastructure

Click here to learn more about the mission and ministry of Water of Life.

Road Shoe Comparison Review: Bont Helix, Fizik Infinito R1, Sidi Millenium Carbon, Louis Garneau Course Air Lite II, Giro Empire, and Lake 237

I replaced my ever-faithful Sidi Millenium Carbon (circa 2014?) shoes last year with the highly-touted Giro Empire.

Giro Empire (2017)

The Empires were attractive as they dispensed with all the lace/clamp/crank silliness and permit straightforward tying of shoes.

Giro Empire

The fit and weight reminded me of my first road shoes: 1980 Detto Pietro all leather, made in Milan Italian shoes, and the replacement Brancalles (also Italian).

Italian shoe lasts seem made for my feet -- snug, yet comfortable.

But despite the Giro Empire's overall fit, on longer rides my toes were cramped. As mileage increased each month I was dealing with ingrown toenails.

So the search began for quality replacement with slightly more toe room without having to settle for a sloppy fit (and the worst -- a loose heel).

Before long it became very clear that shoe sizes for cycling shoes are nowhere near standard. Sizing was inconsistent and completely unpredictable.
.

Iv'e bought dress shoes and sneakers online in US Men's 10.5 D width for years. They arrive, I try them on, they fit.

Not so with cycling shoes.

Fizik Infinito R1
The first replacements I tried was the highly regarded Fizik Infinito R1.

Fizik Infinito R1

These were beautiful, minimalist shoes. Weight was as advertised, sole felt very stiff, and the build quality top notch. These are Very Good shoes.

I really wanted these to fit.

Alas, they did not. A size down would likely not work, as there were snug as well as loose areas.

These shoes just weren't made for my foot. I reluctantly sent them back.

Louis Garneau Course Air Lite II
I like Louis Garneau products. First, he's Quebecois, from Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, a few miles from my childhood haunts in Ste Foy.

Second, I've come to rely on the fit and finish of Garneau jerseys, bibs, and even socks (though Pactimo has my top spot for bibshorts -- Mille pardon, Louis!)

LG Course Air Lite II

And third, Louis Garneau knows cycling. He's an Olympian and continues to ride and support cycling throughout Quebec.

So I had high hopes for LG's high end shoe offering.

Unfortunately, these size 10.5 were too big.

In addition, I was not a fan of the plastic feel of the upper material. I know no one uses leather anymore, but at least try to mimic the soft, moldable feel of leather. Instead, these felt more like ski boots. That's fine, but just not for me.

The color was also off, in a weird lipstick red that just didn't match the catalog image.

I sent these back reluctantly.

The search continued.

Bont Helix
Bont shoes are different. The Australian company's roots are in inline skating, but they saw the need for cycling shoes that connected the rider to the bike. The concept is sound. The shoes have moldable soles that are very stiff and cradle the foot. The uppers are strengthened with Kevlar to avoid stretch.

They were well made but lacked the sophisticated fit and finish of the Giros and Fiziks. The stack height of any cleat would have been the lowest of any shoes (I did not mount cleats but looking at the cleat mount position relative to other shoes it was clear these were meant for direct connection to pedals).

The single Boa strap concept is intriguing, but in trying thes eon I found the top of the Boa tightened long before the forefoot portion. perhaps use and break-in would change this.

The shoes did not fit, and in fact had a rather annoying padd on the tongue that pressed against the top of my foot ("Extensor Retinaculum") and would have been unbearable in short order.

I really wanted to like these shoes. They seemed built for pure speed, and looked slick and did not crush my toes. But they just did not feel good on my feet. So off they went.

Lake 237
My first order was for Lake's high-end shoe in size 10.5 in white. the shoes arrived and looked and felt positively sublime.

White cycling shoes are super classy, but I've never had a pair because I just know they'll get dirty and look awful in a month. The Lake 10.5 was comfortable, but loose. I absolutely cannot bear loose cycling shoes (if I could mount a set of Look red arc cleats to the balls of my feet tied down with 2" steel banding straps I'd be fine).

So -- yet again -- I reluctantly sent these back BUT requested a pair in size 10 D in black.

They arrived. 

I slipped them on.

Love.

These should be described as "Cycling Moccasins."

I finally took them out for a ride (28 miles with a few hills) which is pretty dumb, since every new shoe requires a bit of break in (my set-in-their-ways muscles and tendons get used to position within millimeters and complain about any change).

These shoes felt comfortable, I felt connected, and before long forgot I was wearing new shoes. 

Until I tried to wiggle my toes and I could! I could feel the ball of my foot fully engaged with the footbed. I could shift my foot inside just enough to ensure circulation was uninhibited.

Eventually I will replace the insoles (the Lake-provided insoles are thin).

I was wearing my normal uber-thin socks and the shoes were fine. The Boas were eeasy to manipulate, and I appreciated the micro loosening as well as tightening.

So my new go-to shoes are the Lake 237 in size 10 D, black. They may not be for everyone, but I think these are the best higher-end mass-produced shoes for my feet.

Long term review to follow.

Pactimo Men's Bib Short Review

My mileage is creeping back to normal levels despite continuous rain this summer. I avoid riding on wet roads (especially after last year's crash put me in the hospital), so I work around the weather and ride early in the morning or at lunchtime, if workload permits.

I committed to riding 1500 miles between August 15th and December 25th this year for a worthy charity we support (www.givefreshwater.org). So when I get to ride, I try to log a few more miles to add to the total.

Some of my old tried and true bibs just weren't providing the protection I needed in the saddle. Either the chamois has worn or I have. Either way, it was causing problems (as anyone who's ever had saddle sores can attest).

I have one excellent set of Course ("Race") bib shorts from Louis Garneau, purchased during an end of year sale a couple of years ago that provide the needed protection. I decided to add another to the drawer but was having a hard time finding equivalents.

Then I remembered Pactimo, and did a bit of online research. The price is a bit higher than my normal PI/LG fare, so it took a few days before I hit "Submit Order." When I did, I chose the Summit Raptor RT 2.0 bibs in XL, since the other Pactimo products I have run small.

A few days later the bibs arrived and they fit like an XL on a L body. So a quick return call and a few days after that the L arrived. I tried them on and was very pleased.

The material is soft, and in no way constricting (the trend lately is compression fabrics, which provides dubious benefits for performance). The straps were right-sized and unnoticeable. And the chamois seemed well-placed and soft without being squishy or overly thick -- like a diaper (as so many "long haul" chamois seem to be).

I put them on and went for a ride and was very pleasantly surprised in that very soon, I forgot about the new bib shorts. Which is probably the highest praise I can give to a riding garment.

I've used these shorts several times since then on rides up to 50 miles and I have no saddle sores, no discomfort, and no complaints. In fact, I am so impressed by these sorts I just ordered another pair.

If you're looking for a pair of well-made, well-designed, and effective bib shorts for rides over 25 miles, you can end your search and head over to www.pactimo.com

You'll be glad you did.

--------------------------- Century Ride Addendum ----------------------

In early October I rode the Seagull Century in Southern Maryland. The Seagull attracts  thousands of riders for the metric and real century rides. The roads are lightly trafficked and flat. Really flat (1,000' elevation gain over 102 miles is flat).

So I rode a 5 hour century in spritzing rain and never really thought about the bibs until 10 miles to go when everything's annoying. Then I rolled past mile 100, 101 (wondering what type century I actually signed up for) when the finish came in view.

I felt as good as expected after a century averaging just under 20 mph (riding solo, with no team and only occasional pack rides as they either blasted past or they joined me until dropping off). I didn't have the normal miles in I would have by October so I felt pretty good about this one.

I was also very pleased with the Pactimo bibs and jersey (yes, I wore a matching set because road rules don't go away just because you let your USA Cycling license lapse...)

Great Afternoon for a Ride

Commuting vs Riding

I've had a bit over a year to experience bicycle commuting. I do not ride to work every day for several reasons:

• Weather: I won't ride in snow, ice, heavy rain, high winds, or thick fog -- these roads are fairly busy and drivers are minimally attentive.
• Clothes: If I run out of spare clothes at the office and can't fit a change into my backpack.
• Fatigue: My shortest route is 15.5 miles one way. I always plan to ride at least 16 MPH, while I'm usually closer to 17. Ambling along at a slow pace isn't an option. So after a couple of round-trip days, or extra hard rides due to speed or conditions, I drive in.
• Tolerance: Some days I just don't want to deal with the close calls and other frustrations. These days are rare but they happen.

I'm averaging 3 days a week commuting, 33-39 miles each round-trip day, 17 MPH average over typical rolling terrain (800-1000' elevation gain) while wearing a backpack between 5 and 10 lbs.

Here's what I've learned in the past year:

• Baby wipes are great
• Short hair helps
• Beat the school traffic
• Carry enough food
• Stage one more set of clothes than you think you'll use
• Buy and use chamois cream
• Tough tires are good (my current favorites are Continental Grand Prix All Season, 700x25mm)
• Saddle bags have a place
• Panniers don't
• Headlights are critical
• Tail lights should be as bright as possible
• Ride a few extra miles to avoid busy roads
• Change the route enough to keep it interesting
• Don't be afraid to rest (i.e. "Not Ride")
• Secure your bicycle inside
• Always have a rescue plan
• Don't ride in snow, ice, heavy rain, high winds, or thick fog
• Wave at other riders. Every one.
• Riding for transportation can become a drudge, and rob some of the enjoyment riding brings. Fight to keep the joy.