Friday, July 31, 2015

Pinched Moon



I was leaving work today when I noticed the full moon rising over the Pigeon River. The moon was so big and clear that I had to take a picture of it. This Birch tree is right behind our visitor center at work and I noticed that the moon was lining up with the tree and it looked like two fingers "pinching" the moon. Pretty cool :-)

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Variations on Red and Green

Early Production Mercian

Growing up, red was my mother's favourite colour. And my mother was a tirelessly creative woman back then. She sewed, she knitted, she made things. Consequently I was dressed in red sweaters and coats. I slept under a red patchwork quilt. You get the idea. I did not know how to communicate my dislike for this colour. When I was 3 years old, I was gifted a red tricycle and stunned my parents by breaking into tears at the sight of it. I loved riding that trike. But when no one was looking, little by little I began trying to scrape the paint off. My parents grew concerned and eventually got rid of it. They must have thought I was eating the paint.




As a teenager, I gravitated toward all things drab. This was the '90s grunge era, so that was easy enough. Army-navy stores, denim, plaid, combat boots. I rode a matte black bicycle then, and even peeled off its bright decals. When asked what my favourite colour was, I did not have an answer. In college I wore black. I made large charcoal drawings. I took black and white photos.






Sometime in my twenties I saw a weathered old bicycle locked up to a farm gate by the river. It was a lady's bike in the signature English shade of bottle green, and the weak East Anglia sunlight was hitting it just so. The enamel paint had a special quality to it that made it resemble an aged candy wrapper. I saw it and I knew right away that I liked it. As an adult, it was a thrill to learn that I had a favourite colour after all. I began to experiment, to chase after the perfect green. Somewhere between sage, chartreuse and olive, this ideal shade existed and was waiting for me.




After that I relaxed about colour. Blues and lilacs began to sneak their way into my surroundings, mingling nicely with the greens. Accents of pinks and reds appeared.



A couple of summers ago, I was staying in Vienna and looking to buy a vintage racing bike to bring home. A friend found me the perfect one and took me to see it. It was a bright red Moser. I remembered the trike of my childhood and laughed. "I love the bike, but I hate red." I got the Moser anyway and rode it for two years. It wasn't just red, but an unusual shade of strawberry with a subtle golden sheen to it. Everyone complimented the colour, protesting when I revealed my plan to eventually repaint the frame. "But the red is great, and it's so you!" Soon I began to receive red articles of clothing as gifts. I remembered how, as a child, I hated being known as the girl in the red coat, the girl on the red trike. But now it just struck me as funny. I still dislike red, but I guess I no longer think that's important.




I talk to lots of people about their fantasy bikes, or bikes they are nostalgic for, or bikes that simply stick in their memory for some reason. Red bikes and green bikes are mentioned more than any other kind. The colours play an important role in the story, but for reasons the story teller cannot clearly express. They will just keep repeating that it was a red bike, or a green bike, stressing the colour as if this information is pertinent to how special the bike was. It's not always a straightforward, cohesive story, just like mine is not. I suspect a lot is left out, possibly the most relevant parts. Of course we could break it down to the basics. Colour, motion, emotion. Excitement, tranquility. Stop, go. Red bikes, green bikes. But who wants to see it like that.

Surviving a Paceline Training Ride



[image via alharbiseye]



Well, I did it. I showed up at the weekly women's paceline training ride that is organised by a local cycling team. The very same one I've been talking about forever. It was the first ride of the season and I figured that I should just go, before I lose my nerve and spend every week telling myself "maybe next time" while the entire summer goes by. So I went, and apparently survived - though just barely. Let me tell you about it from the beginning...



It was overcast and threatening to rain all afternoon, but I checked the team's website before leaving the house, and the ride was on. The meeting point was in Lexington, MA - which is 10 miles from where I live. I rode my bike there, taking care to go at a leisurely pace so that I wouldn't already be tired upon arrival. I was so nervous, that I needed all of those 10 miles just to calm down.



I spotted the meeting location immediately. There was a crowd of several dozen women in roadie attire and as many bikes lying on the grass and propped up against trees. My heart sank as I saw them. I guess I had expected more of a mix: Some women on modern carbon fiber and others on old 10-speeds; some in clipless shoes and others not; some in lycra and others in gym shorts. But no: Every single person there had a super-light modern roadbike with "brifters." Every single person there was wearing clipless shoes. Not a soul had a kickstand, fenders or racks on their bike but me. Not a soul had a bag attached to their bike. No one else had, um, a twined stainless steel water bottle. And all wore lycra - the club-affiliated cyclists readily distinguishable by their team kit. Thankfully, at least I wore my wool cycling knickers and jersey and not something more casual. Reluctantly, I approached.



Greeted by a woman in team kit who looked like she was in charge, I was pointed to a bench where everybody was signing waivers. I made the mistake of starting to read the waiver, but the things described there were so horrible that I stopped and just signed it. When I returned to the spot I'd left my bike, two other women-in-charge were gathered in front of it. Was this my bike? Yes... The one I was planning to ride? Yes... They examined my Rivendelltouring bike as if it were a 100-year-old antique or a creature from outer space. There was some debate as to whether it would be allowed: My bicycle was extremely heavy, the tires were too wide, and I did't have the right shifters. I would have trouble doing the ride. Was this even a roadbike? Only roadbikes were allowed. Finally, the senior-most woman was called to resolve the issue. In the end my bicycle was deemed allowable, but I was warned that I might have trouble doing the ride; in the long run I would need a different bike. I tried not to get too intimidated by this. The group I planned to join was described as "paceline learning skills for beginners, 12-15mph." I could ride at that speed with my eyes closed (just a figure of speech, don't worry), so all I had to do was focus on the skills. So I stayed.



The crowd was split into groups and the beginner's group consisted of eight of us: six newcomers and two leaders. The leaders gave us a brief explanation of what it meant to ride in a paceline: The group cycles in a single-file procession, staying close to each other's wheels in a straight line. When the person in front gets tired, they move over to the left and drift to the back of the line, then merge with the paceline in the rear. This gets repeated every few minutes. One thing that makes perfect sense but I hadn't realised in advance, is that you cannot coast in a paceline. Whether going fast or slow, cyclists must keep pedaling at all times, because that is how members of the paceline are able to maintain uniform speed - they synchronise their leg movements. So, coasting is forbidden. Hard braking is also forbidden, as it can cause the person behind to crash into you. To slow down, you need to keep pedaling while "feathering" the brakes. Finally, there is a system of signals that members of a paceline must use - from the person in front indicating that they will move to the left now, to warning about potholes, to asking to merge into the middle of the paceline if you are drifting back on the left and there is a car coming. We were quickly shown all of these, and without further ceremony we set off on our 20 mile ride through rolling hills.



Apparently I am an extremely poor judge of my own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to cycling. I had thought that my biggest problem would be technique. I expected to experience debilitating fear when cycling 6" behind someone's wheel, to be dangerously clumsy at executing paceline maneuvers, and to be slow on the uptake whenever instructions were given. On the other hand, I expected myself to have no problem at all with the pace and terrain of the ride: I mean, 12-15mph? Please!



Instead, the exact opposite happened: I found the paceline training itself to be natural and had no problems with technique. I behaved predictably and signaled appropriately. I didn't coast and I feathered the brakes, modulating my speed smoothly (having ridden fixed gear made this pretty intuitive actually). I reacted quickly and calmly when instructions were given to me. I never once swerved or did anything crazy out of fear or incompetence. In short: all my worries about being poorly coordinated and getting flustered around other cyclists were completely unfounded.



On the other hand, keeping up with the pace proved to be challenging and I wishI could say it was the bike's fault. I don't know how to explain it. Maybe it was the no-coasting thing that did me in, combined with the fact that 15mph was the typical speed on flats, with 12mph being the uphillspeed and 25mph the downhill speed (while still trying not to break the paceline). Anyhow, I felt extremely unfit on the uphill portions of the ride, huffing and puffing as I struggled not to lose the wheel of the person in front of me. On these occasions, the leader cycled alongside attempting to reassure me: "You see now?... You're at a real disadvantage with that bike... But you're doing well... Breathe... That's right... Good... Next time, different bike..."



Truthfully, I don't know whether it was the poor bike's fault or mine. All the other girls on the ride were athletes of some sort - runners or "spinners" (i.e. at the gym, on stationary bikes), looking to transition to roadcycling as a new sport to try. My background is very different. I am not an athlete and have never been an athlete. And I have done zero exercise all winter other than riding upright bikes for transportation. So maybe it's really a case of "next time, stronger leg muscles." I would be curious to try the same ride on a modern roadbike and see whether it's any less difficult, but I am skeptical.



There were other problems with my bike on this ride: Namely, the shifters, brake levers and possibly even handlebars. With my friction bar-end shifters, I was at a distinct disadvantage to the other girls, who could shift instantaneously thanks to their indexed "brifters." It was a little ridiculous actually. Moreover, moving my hand to the edge of the right handlebar in order to shift was problematic, because it is a similar gesture to the signal used for indicating pulling over to the left (you have to wiggle your right elbow). In that sense, using bar-ends in a paceline where no one knows what they are has the potential to cause an accident if the person behind me interprets my changing gears as inviting them to move forward. Do I want to be responsible for that?... As for using the drops: I cannot modulate my brakes well from that position because of how my handlebars are shaped and set up, and so I only brake from the hoods. When going downhill, the leader wanted us all to get in the drops for maximum "aerotuck." She kept telling me to do this, but I refused because it wasn't a safe position for me to feather the brakes from. So I stayed on the hoods, but bent my elbows so much that my chin was practically on my handlebars, achieving the aerodynamic positioning they wanted. They were okay with it under the circumstances... but it was yet more evidence of my needing a different bike - with shallow drops and with brake levers I could modulate from all positions.



If all of this sounds like a miserable, degrading struggle, then I've done a good job of describing it. It went on for an hour and a half as we cycled past farms, forests and highways practicing paceline maneuvers. But there were a few minor advantages to my bike as well. At some point it began to rain, and the group leaders grew alarmed - contemplating shortcuts back in case the rain continued. At first I could not understand what the problem was, but eventually realised that their bikes were prone to "wiping out" on wet terrain. Thankfully, that is one problem I don't have on my own bike. There was also a fear of sand. Sand on the road was signaled down the paceline as if it were a pothole to avoid. Not something I normally worry about. While these advantages were fairly minor compared to the disadvantages I experienced, they provided at least some relief.



We arrived back at the meeting point just as it was growing dark, and the girls began taking their bikes to their cars. When they learned that I had cycled from Somerville and now planned to cycle back, several of them offered to give me a lift. But I opted for a quiet ride home on the (now pitch-black) Minuteman Trail, to review the evening'e events in my head and relax. I cycled slowly as the lights on my bike illuminated my path. It was a beautiful night, and when the rain started up again the smell of the surrounding meadows grew pleasantly strong. I never, ever had to do the paceline ride again if didn't want to, but could just quietly cycle in the dark like this on my own forever. And yet?...

Monday, July 27, 2015

Two Boston Beauties: Rare Vintage Raleighs

Today I visited the bicycle collector Neal Lerner and photographed some of his beautiful bikes. I am posting pictures of these two in particular - not only because they are rare and stunning, but because the owner is offering them for sale [note: both bicycles are now sold].Here is more about the bicycles, for your viewing pleasure and for longevity:



The loop-frame bicycle is a 1938 Raleigh Lady's Tourist.This model was the predecessor to the DL-1. The frame is 22" with 28" wheels. It is a similar bicycle to the one I wrote about here; only this one is in ridable condition.



The main difference between the earlier Tourist and the later DL-1, is that the older bicycles are not quite as long - meaning that there is less distance between the saddle and handlebars. At the same time, they look "taller" than the DL-1, because the head tube extends quite a bit higher. Another difference, is that the older Tourists have a lugged connector between the downtube and the "loop" top tube which is absent from the later DL-1 model.



The handlebars on these older models are quite short and narrow - which makes sense, because of how closely the rider is seated to the bars.



The bicycle is in ridable condition androlls surprisingly nicely (I've ridden it for a short distance).The shifting needs to be worked on (the gears slip) and the rod brakes need to be adjusted, but it is a stable and buttery-smooth ride. Sadly, there is a piece missing from the rear of the chaincase; it is so difficult to find these chaincases intact. The shifter, saddle and grips are replacements and are not original to the 1938 model.



Being from the WWII period, this bicycle has some "blackout" components - including the headbadge.



The second bicycle in the pictures is one I'd never heard of before: It is a 1948 Raleigh Dawn Tourist. The Dawn Tourist was apparently the predecessor to the Sports.It was lighter and more agile than the original Tourist, and featured a straight step-through frame instead of a loop frame. The frame size of this bike is 21" with 26" wheels.



Unlike the later Sports, the Dawn had rod brakes, just like the Tourist did. However, its handlebars were wider and had considerably more "sweep".



The seat-cluster of the Dawn looks just like that of the later Sports (whereas the seat clusters of the original Tourist and the later DL-1 were bolted together).



The rear fender with original glass reflector are in very clean condition on this bicycle. These reflectors are highly thought after (both of the bicycles pictured have them).



The middle bit is missing from the original full chaincase, but otherwise it is intact.



"The all-steel bicycle" is written on the downtube. The pain on this bicycle is in very nice, even glossy, condition throughout.



It is rare to see even one of these bicycles "in the wild", let alone two - so I felt privileged to take these pictures before these beauties go to new homes. Hope you enjoyed the show and tell.

Assateague Island :: The Beach

Seeing these hoof prints in the sand gave me hope that I'd actually see the "wild" ponies on the beach.


But those tracks were from horses brought in by some campers. The big black ones are Percheron horses. Really big ones.



Sunday, July 26, 2015

Dinner at our hotel camp near Wadi Rum

As we drove back to our hotel camp at Bait Ali Camp, just a few kilometers away from the Rum village, we were looking forward to an evening of chilling out.



Caught this postcard foto of 2 camels from the moving car.





Took a quick video as we leave the protected area of Wadi Rum back to our hotel camp.



We were not really sure what to expect for dinner that night but we were told there will be a buffet at the restaurant for all guests. I’m looking forward to some real Jordanian fares, I hope.



I heard that if you are staying at the Bedouin camps you get to see how they cook their meat traditionally. Under the ground! Wow, that would have been a very cool experience to witness and taste the actual food but I doubt if the hotel camp would be similarly showcasing this traditional aspect of Jordanian culinary.



When we arrived at the hotel camp, the first thing we did was to order a glass of drink. Red wine for me obviously. I need my spirits to help me relax and feel at home.



As for the dinner buffet, it was nothing that spectacular but it was OK.



I loved the ‘Arayes’ though. This is a typical Middle Eastern meat dish mainly found in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria—grilled pita bread stuffed with minced meat mixed in spices and herbs. It was really, really good. If the whole meal were to be based on the Arayes only then it would have been 5 stars.



Blondine liked the dessert. I think it was called ‘Basbousa’, a crumble cake sprinkled with coconut strips on top.



The only thing we didn’t like during dinner was the music. They were playing some American pop music that does not really fit to the ambiance of the place. I made sure I communicated my displeasure when I submitted my hotel booking review.



Green salad, different types of Arabic dips and sauces, pickled vegetables and pita bread.



Couscous, lamb and chicken barbecue and the arayes.



Arayes, grilled pita bread stuffed with minced meat in spices and herbs. 5 stars!



For dessert, Basbousa.



There were quite a number of guests that evening at the hotel camp.


Friday, July 24, 2015

Happy Birthday, Dean!

Rich and Donna arrived here this week, and we are thrilled about that since we haven't seen them since Peace River. Donna is the one who kept encouraging me to get out there and play pickleball and I'd have most likely quit if it weren't for her and Karen.



She said something yesterday about it probably being too late to do a Happy Hour this week, but maybe next week. I told the guys that while we were on our way to grab some groceries for the week. The Happy Hour King (Austin) thought it was no problem to do one this week.



Since I'm crazy, I agreed. So Austin invited everyone to come to one THAT DAY...and everyone of course pulled it together with no problem. Even a bit of rain didn't slow us down. We just moved to the Rec Hall and did it there. The ladies amazed me with all of their goodies that they brought even with the "no notice" ahead of time. Especially Vicki and Margie.

We've been to lots of Happy Hours, but this was one of the most special ones because it was also Dean's birthday party. Dean is the Grandparent to the really cool kid, Gavin. You know, the one who is a falconer. If you know Dean, it isn't a surprise that Gavin is so cool. It runs in the family.



Dean is one of those sunny people that just brightens the world. You can't help but be in a better mood after hanging out with Dean. His smile alone will warm you right up. (Why do I hear Bob cracking up as I write that?) He's also one of those people that you feel sees something good in you, so when you spend time with him you begin to believe it yourself.



His wife Margie is pure sweetness, so they make a great pair.

Hope your birthday wish comes true, Dean!

We had a great time, surrounded by some of our favorite people!



Living the life in friend filled Florida!

Aphix Hoodie.the Atom LT but different?







Chris Denny pretty much hits on all the high points of the new Arcteryx Aphix Hoodie in the video above. But you need to listen closely to what Chrisis saying and pay attention to the detailing he points out in the video to get the best impression from that 1 minute Arcteryx ad.



I am the first to tell you, I LOVE this new jacket. That doesn't happen often. I see a lot of expensive clothing. Few pieces really impress me or will I ever climb/ski in very much. The Aphix has impressed me. And I will be doing both climbing and skiing in this jacket. Not a common feat for any jackets I own.But I am also the first to tell you that the Aphix isNOT an Atom LT.I don't down hill ski in an Atom LT. It is not warm enough. I do use a Patagonia Nano Pullover skiing often enough though. Not being an Atom LTis both good and bad from my perspective depending on how you plan on usingthe Aphix.



There is no doubt the Aphix was specifically designed for something. You need to figure out where you canuse it best and if it was actually designed for you. Weird as that might sound. Unlike the Atom LT which just about anyone can appreciate right from the get-go. The uneducated (more like anyonepaying retail) might well hesitate on the Aphix for a few reasons.



This is what Arcteryz says on the hang tang if you bother to read it. "Intended use: a very warm mid layer for active use on frigid days."



Other tags say, "made in Bangladesh" and "this article contians NEW MATERIAL ONLY"."DWR treated for stand alone use." Seriously. Made in aMiddle East sweat shop by some really poor folk may be, but no recycled Primealoft Eco, milk bottles or pillows here!









"Lightweight insulated hoodie that can be used as a stand alone piece or as a cold weather mid layer. Inset panels of stretch fabric under the arms stop just above the hip for extended range of motion without compromising warmth. Stitched insulation is radiant Coreloft™ that traps heat. Well suited to cold dry conditions. Dropped hem positions jacket for maximum core protection; collar and hand pockets are insulated. Proficient at warmth and weather resistance."



From Arcteryx:



Technical Features


  • Breathable

  • Insulated

  • Compressible and packable

  • Wind resistant


Design


  • Stretchy side panels


Patterning


  • Articulated patterning for unrestricted mobility

  • Gusseted underarms


Hood Configuration


  • Insulated hood


Zippers & Fly Configuration


  • Webbing zipper pulls

  • Full front zip with insulated wind flap

  • Metal zipper pull on main zip


Cuff & Sleeves Configuration


  • Stretchy cuffs (ya, not really)


Hem Configuration


  • Drop back hem

  • Adjustable hem drawcord


Pocket Configuration


  • Internal chest pocket

  • Two hand pockets with zippers




But the REAL question is, "What specifically was the Aphix designed for?"



Arcteryx sez:




Style:

Mid-Layer-Sweaters Cold Weather



Funny how Arcteryx has finally adopted the term "sweater".

http://coldthistle.blogspot.com//12/climbing-sweater.html



Activity:

Ski/Snowboard


But I do see how the Aphix would be a good ski sweater.



Slim fit with alonger body and arms. All seem to be perfect for under a shell.



Atom LT Hoody compared to a Aphix Hoody?



Atom LT, Men's Large 416g / 14.5oz

Aphix, Men's Large 540g / 18.5oz



In a nutshell Dane sez:



* Aphix is longer (body and arms) than Atom

* Aphix is a slightly trimmer fit than Atom

* Aphix is more breathable than the Atom

* Aphix is NOT as stretchy as the Atom

* Aphix is 80g Coreloft, the Atom LT is 60g Coreloft



More from Arcteryx:

"At the heart of the Arc'teryx Men's Aphix Insulated Hoodie lies Coreloft insulation. This jacket compresses down easily so as not to waste valuable pack space, and side stretch panels give you ultimate mobility so you can reach for holds or reach out to plant a pole in deep powder."


  • Coreloft synthetic insulation is lightweight, and the insulation compresses and regains its loft quickly so you won't have to worry about cold spots after tightly packing this jacket

  • DWR coating shrugs off light moisture and precipitation so you can depend on this hoodie as a stand-alone jacket or a cold-weather mid-layer

  • Stretch side panels allow full range of motion at your core and underarms so you can reach or stretch without feeling held back

  • Cuffs stretch over light gloves in order to seal out the elements (good luck with that as there is no stretch in the cuffs)

  • Insulated hand pockets (the collar is not lined)




Aphix shell is: 40D nylon, lightweight, wind resistant mini ripstop taffeta



Atom Lt shell is: Luminara™—Stretch nylon ripstop fabric with wind and water resistant, air permeable PU coating and DWR finish.



Atom shell stretches. The Aphix shell does not. It is a big deal in these weight jackets. And the Luminara is likely one reason the Atom Series is so durable. I am not expecting much of a "mini ripstop taffeta". There is a spin on the language, "mini ripstop taffeta " :-) Who exactly in the Arcteryx marketing department came up with that copy after a longlunch? Either way don't expect the taffeta on the Aphix to shrug off the abrasion like the Atom Series of garments do. The Aphix you'll rip holes in undersimilar circumstances when you snag things on the shell. But the taffeta of the Aphix will make it easier to layer over. The slick taffetashell is a definite bonus if you are going to use it that way.



Aphix is 80g Coreloft, the Atom LT is 60g Coreloft



Vents on the Atom LT are made from Polartec® Power Stretch®

Vents on the Aphix are made from Helius™ a lightweight, breathable, stretchy, plain knit textile



Most importantly I think is Helius seems to breath better than Polartec Power stretch. But not becausethe Helius is a more breathable material it is not. Simply because the Helius is a lot thinner.

Likely 1/2 the thickness of the Polartec material used.






All the photos above and beloware of the Aphix Hoodie




The Aphix has 216 square inches of the vent material, from your wrist all the way down your side to just short of belly button level. 36"x 6". The Atom LT uses 156 square inches of vent material, arm pit down to waist level. 24"x 6.5"






The model's pants are the bright blue here.









Imagine the width of the stretch material under the arm on the Aphix from this picture.










There is a BIG difference in the amount of surface area coveredwith a breathable fabric on these two jackets. Fully 1/3 of the length of each arm is a breathable soft knit, Helius™, on the Aphix. The Atom Lt is full insulated 60g Coreloft in the arms.






Same side vents (dark blue material) on the jacket version of the Aphix




What ever the Aphix gained inwarmth with 20g more of Coreloft on the Atom LT it also gained even more in ability to vent/breath by the extra square inches in venting material. I noticed the lack of insulation in the arms during my first use of the Aphix on a mid 30F degreeday. It is easily noticeable just how much better the Aphix breathes than an Atom. If for no other reason that there is a lot more surface area not as well insulated on the Aphix. Great from technical climbing or a skin track...not so good for skiing down hill imo. Unless of course you added a shell.



For warmth? Until you cut the wind with a shell...it is going to be a toss up imo between an Atom LT and a Aphix. Add a shell and no question the Aphix will be warmer.



The Aphix's side panelstretch insulation islikely more wind resistant than the Atom's Power Stretch.But the Aphix material is also likely half the actual thickness of the Power Stretch. In the real world I find the Aphix material breathes better. And you'll feel the out side temperature/wind through it easier. There is more breathable material in the surface area of the Aphix to "breath better". Your arms aren't likely to ever over heat in the Aphix.The "hard finish" of the Helius material also seems to shed snow and rain better than the Power Stretch. But that observation is really a push. That difference is slight.









By comparison the hoods are the same in size andwith no adjustments. They work well enough with helmets. But it could easily be done better. They do make a wonderfully warm and puffy collar though when fully zipped up and the hood down.









Arcteryx makes the hoods all the other makersare judged by. I have to wonder how they can make such terribly fitting stand alone collars on their other jackets? Seriously, what is up with that?









The jacket's bottom hem draw strings are the same. Two, one on either side. Same nicely done wind baffles behind the main zipper on both jackets. The front zipper isn't. The Aphix zipper locks in place any where along the zipper line. The Atom's intentionally does not lock.













Pockets arepretty much the same. Two on the outside that are zippered, with one sided, back of thehand, hand warmer liners. And one internal chest pocket that is zippered. The Aphix has sewn zipper pulls.



Really long sleeves, no stretchy cuff on theAphix. Be sure to catch that typo in the Arcteryx ad if you are buying sight unseen because you'll be disappointed if you did not.Atom Lt has a normal length sleeve and nice stretch cuffs with a snug fit at the cuffon most anything. I like the Aphix cuffs but Arcteryx missed the detailing there imo. If I am wearing glovesthe cuffs just bunch up against the glove, may be not the best seal on a jacket/glove combo, unless you have a shell and Velcro cuffs over the top of both. My answer without a glove is tosimply roll them up. Yes, I roll them up, seems to work OK as hard as that might be to believe. Not the best solution on a expensive, nicely tailoredjacket.If theyhad beenstretchy even that long they would be golden, but they are not stretchy. Not a deal breaker but annoying enough everyone seems to have already noticed. The jacket is good enough though that some are simply having the jacket custom tailored with a new cuff. Costly at best, ugly at worse! No matter your ape index you won't pull these cuffs off your wrists once spread out to full extension.









The jacket 's hem is really long front and back. Below the tail bone in the back. Long enough in the front that I worry about ripping the zipper out skiing. Thankfully the elastic on the hem allows you to move the hem up a bit. But a snap and reinforcement there would have eliminated that worry. I have no doubt the Aphixwas intentionally designed that way. Seems I amobviously missing exactly what this jacket was specifically designed for. Under a shell most likely. And I do really like this jacket. But it will seldom go under a shell when I amusing it. It fits my needs well as a stand alone climbing piece in my "action suit". The over all fit in the body is almost perfect for me. That might have you ignoring thefew unmistakable nitson the design.



It works as a stand alone garment so well in the right conditions climbing. May be even better than the Atom LT. But, thankfully, it is not an full blown Atom SV either. So may be some ofthe Aphix design details are simply lost on me. And likely almost everyone else. Which begs the obvious question?



The long hem does make it really easy to tuck into a harness and keep it there though. I like that. The slim fit on the Aphix is perfect for me. Slimmer than the Atom LTs' cut for sure. The fit is what makes the other small issues, "small" for me. I really like the, hybrid "heavy sweaters" available in combos of 60/80/100g/m synthetic insulation weights with the morebreathable fabricssewn in where appropriate.



Aphix is one of the best yet even all the while being just a tiny bit funky. But then the Atom LT wasn't designed to use as the top of your cold weather "action suit" either. The Aphix might even do the job better. My bet is it will.



If you like what you have read and want to know morecheck out the detailed pictures and reviews on line here and else where:



http://www.arcteryx.com/Product.aspx?EN/Mens/Mid_Layer-Sweaters/Aphix-Hoody



I'll be writing about the Aphixagain.



My guess is Arcteryx will clean this jacket up a bit at some point. They willshorten the body some, fix the cuffs and shorten the sleeves. Not everything I'd want in a jacket that I climb or skiin. I'd like a slightly shorter body, a sturdy snap closure to beef upthe zipper. Atom LT cuffs added to the long sleeves and some lining at the collar for my chin. A slightly bigger hood with some adjustment would be on my wish list. How about moving those pockets up 5 inches or so to clear a harness completely or ditch them all together for Napoleon pockets instead since I am asking?



So before they mess this jacket up...my suggestion is if you like climbing in an Atom LT...check the Aphix out before Arcteryxchanges it drastically or simply ditches it completely.


Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Inglourious Basterds in summary

Watched Quentin Tarantino’s new movie yesterday – Inglourious Basterds and I’ll have to say that if you have watched Pulp Fiction then this is about the same caliber, as fiction as you can get yet with the right prudence of seriousness, extremely funny scenes with equally funny characters, violent as usual, and with a storyline that has different plots crossing and locking into each other. Typical Tarantino brand.

I’ll leave you to go over at the official website of the Inglourious Basterds to watch the trailers. Make sure you watch the different trailers they have. I think the International version is the best although these trailers will never do justice to the film. Then traverse over at Youtube and do a search on the movie’s name. Read the comments as they are just hilarious. You will also see remnants of the neo Nazi propaganda, posts from anti-Jews and anti-Americans fighting for comment space in there.


We watched the movie in Pathe Rembrandt Theater in Utrecht. Good thing that the conscientious always-a-boy-scout Dutchman bought the tickets online because when we got there 15 minutes before showtime, crowds were packing like shrubs at the cashier with a long tail of people queuing up all the way to the cobbled street outside in Oudegracht. This is probably the first time I have experienced in my going to the movies in the Netherlands that the cinema is full.

Cinemas in the Netherlands are tiny and Rembrandt Theater probably has the biggest seat capacity in Utrecht. The Dutch are really not avid cinema goers as many of them are so cheap (and proud of it) they just watch movies downloaded free from the internet at home.

The film has a very impressive international casting. German, French and English were spoken all throughout the movie. It really gives you the feeling of transcending boundaries, cultures and languages, and it’s inspiring to see actors such as Christoph Waltz (Lt. Landa in the movie–I was quite enamored by his charismatic yet stealthy performance but I can understand why some people find him irritating haha) who spoke fluent German, French, English and Italian!

One of the funny scenes in the movie is when Brad Pitt aka Lt. Aldo posing as an Italian escort to German actress and spy, Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) at the Nazi film premier spoke Italian with a very, very, very thick American accent, “Buongiorno!”

The rest of that scene was just frickin hilarious.

On the other hand the movie has a tragic Romeo and Juliet effect with the characters, Shoshana Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent), the French-Jewish survivor turned Theater owner and Fredrick Zoller (Daniel Bruehl), the Nazi soldier hero. There was momentous heartbreaking gravity there when they both killed each other.

Another favorite character is Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz (Til Schweiger), the ex Nazi who became famous for killing Gestapo officers and recruited into Lt. Aldo’s the Barterds team. His character in the film is so mean, unyielding and driven that it’s almost and insanely bordering comic. It is strange but so true!

3 hours long. Worth it. Watch it.

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Greetings from... California!!

I am sitting in the "Park Rock Cafe" at Joshua Tree National Park in southern California, using their free wifi - which is the first wifi I've found in over a week.

I gave up finding warm weather in Texas. The further north I went, the colder it got. It was nice (50s and 60s) during the day but at night the temperatures were still dropping into the lower 30s. Not too bad but just cold enough to make it uncomfortable when the sun went down.

I also realized that if I were to visit Joshua Tree and Death Valley in a few more weeks, it might be somewhat uncomfortable the other way - too hot. So I buzzed through New Mexico and Arizona. But I'm going back. In a few days I'll be going to Death Valley, and then I'll return to New Mexico and Arizona for a while. At least that's "the plan" for now. I didn't make it to Guadalupe National Park. High winds and colder temperatures didn't make it sound too inviting. Perhaps another time.

There will be a few more posts on Big Bend and then I'll update you with where I've been since leaving there. But that's dependent upon internet access. I'm a bit further behind with posts than usual - it's difficult finding internet access in remote locations!

Taken at Picacho Peak State Park.
The stereotypical image of an Arizona Sunset!