Snow and Rim Brakes, Derailleurs, Etc.

There are good reasons to recommend snow-proof bikes for winter cycling: powdercoat, hub brakes, internal gearing, single speed fixed. However, some prefer to stick with a regular bike through the winter, eitherforspeed, economy or other reasons. That is my situation right now, and so far even limited riding in the snow has given me a pretty good showcase of things to watch out for. Here are some of them:



Snow and rim brakes:

This is an important one for safety. If you ride through snow and it builds up on your wheel rim, you can lose braking power on a bike with rim brakes. After riding through snow, I try to remove it from the front rim as soon as I notice any build-up, before it has a chance to freeze. This can be done fairly quickly: First I bounce the front wheel forcefully, then spin it as I wipe the snow off with a gloved hand.



Snow and the derailleur:

If your bike has derailleur gearing and you get the derailleur covered in snow, it can solidify and impair shifting. I was surprised to see how quickly snow can build up and freeze around that area; I guess there are a lot of convenient nooks and crannies for it to get into. To remove it, I shake off the rear wheel and free the derailleur from buildup with gloved fingers. I also try to stay in a low-ish gear in case the shifting goes. I would be reluctant to leave a derailleur-geared bike locked up outdoors in the snow for any length of time without some sort of cover.



Fender clearance:

This is not a popular opinion to have in transportation cycling circles, but fenders can be a pain. Unless there is a generous (as in vintage 3-speed/ Dutch bike type of generous) amount of clearance between the fender and tire, snow can get in there and does not always want to come out. If enough snow builds up, it can slow down the wheel's rotation or even bring it to a halt. I have experienced this on a couple of bikes now (granted, after intentionally riding them through snow for fun), bikes with what is considered good fender clearance for paved and dirt road riding in normal weather. Once snow gets between the tire and fender, it can be fairly difficult to remove on the road in cold temperatures; it doesn't want to be coaxed out. Better to avoid riding through soft snow in the first place.





Salt and rust:

Bicycles that are finished with anything but the hardiest powdercoat are susceptible to rust from the salted winter streets. The damage starts out as cosmetic - which is in itself sad if you have a nice bike -and can grow to become structural over time. I wipe my bike down after every ride on salted roads to avoid this. I would not leave a delicately finished bike outdoors in the winter for any significant length of time.



While not ideal, it is not impossible to ride a liquid painted, derailleur-geared bike with rim brakes and less than generous fender clearances in the snow, if you take care to watch for build-up en route and if you maintain the bike afterward. Storing such a bike outdoors in the snow is more problematic. Your bike parking situation at home and work could be the determining factor in whether going without a winter-proof bike is doable.

Mr. Nosey

A very curious squirrel checking me out with an intense look as I made this photograph of him.

The La Sportiva Batura 2.0

To my amazement themost often read blog entry on Cold Thistle is the Phantom Guide/Batura boot comparison. The page reads on that one post more than doublethe next most popular blog. The comparison was first posted in April of . Almost two full years later and the same blog entry still gets the highest number of reads month after month.



http://coldthistle.blogspot.com//04/scarpa-phantom-guide-vs-la-sportiva.html












First generation Batura on M6



While I have always had great hopes for the "super gaiter" style single boots I had no idea just how popular they obviously have become. I still think the technology could be bettered with a light weight and low profiledouble boot.The boot manufactures and the buying public seem to disagree with my theory.



Ok, so call me cynical.



I wasn't impressed with the Batura 2.0's name. I mean how different could the "2.0"be fromthe previous 2 or 3 variations or generations of the Batura? Or for that matter from the Phantom Guide or one of my favorites the Phantom Ultra?





I understand keeping the name " Batura" attached to this model.The "2.0" was kinda a joke to me on first impression. How different could the boot really be? In this case a lot different. It isn't the same boot really, or even a variation of the old Batura, if you look closely. If you are like me, I first coughedand muttered BS under my breath when I first heard the rumors of "a much better boot". But I have changed my opinion on that, it is in fact a much better boot..





That was easy to figure out oncethe newest 2.0 showed up on FED EX.



Just pulling the boots from the box was a wakeup call.



For any one who has climbed in a double boot...any double boot and also climbed in a super light Fruit boot you have to wonder why the two technologies haven't merged over the last decadewith better effect.



My idea of a mountain boot these days is the weight and technical ability of a fruit boot like the incredible Boreal Ice Mutant. More realistically a Scarpa Ultra with some additional warmth and lighter yetin weight?The support on ice and warmth of a Spantik or Baruntse would be a bonus. And the over all profile of the Trango series. The Scarpa 6000 comes pretty close to that idea but lacks the support on endurance ice in comparison to the La Sportiva models. And its volume is getting up there in comparison to the Ultra for instance. After all it generally takes more volume in a boot to offer more warmth, right?



But if I make that call on the Phantom 6000then the Batura comes up lacking on endurance ice as well. A real fruit boot on similar terrain? Pity the fool! But a really light weight boot given the right support is such a pleasure to move in on most terrain.



Like the choices made in steel for ice tools, every decisionyou make in design and materials limits the over all use of any product. So you first define the product.



Obviously the Batura is no fruit boot but neither is it a doubleboot.



La Sportiva NA president, Jonathon Lantz calls is a true "1.5 boot". Half way between the bestsingle boot and the bestdouble boot for warmth.



The Baturahas just been defined for warmth.



For difficult technical cold weather ice, mixed and alpine climbing we all know you need a few things incorporated in the design. Low profile and small volume over all. Think fruit boot here to be take every advantage of the terrain. The flip side for technical ground is an awkward and big in volume,ski boot. Which I assume we all want to avoid. Make the sole rigid but no so rigid you can't walk in them. Make that midsole durable so the boots never change in flex. It is a climbing boot so you want a flexible ankle with enough support for endurance ice when required but enough flexibility for hard technical ground with and without crampons.



It is quite a wish list when you write it all down.



If this were easy we wouldn't have dozens of pairs of boots from many different manufactures trying to attain the same goal with varying levels of success.



The Batura has been successful as a "1.5". Nothing new here as the basic designhas gotten better every year since 2007 from my personal perspective. There is so much potential yet in this boot style. The same basic technology can be easily traced back to theearly1970s and Peter Carmen's Super Gator. And it has worked well in the fieldever since. I am thrilledLa Sportiva and now Gore has continue to evolve thisstyle of boot.



So what exactly is different from the Batura Evo?

Tocontinue theevolution of the Batura, a second Gore-Tex membrane was added . Now boththe outer gaiter and in the inner boot have a Gore-tex layer for more complete protection.



The plastic zipper has also been scrapped in favour of a simple zipper with a Velcro hook and loopclosure on the gaiter. I only which they had added another inch or two to the gaiter.



Otherwise, construction appears to be the same as last year’s model, and the boot continues to be built on a Nepal last (i.e. if Nepal EVOs fit you, these should have the same fit). The 2.0s feel seriously light. I mean three-season alpine boot light!



Actual weight on my scale?



1130g one 43 Batura Evo

890g one 43 Batura 2.0



Best thing I can do is make a side by side comparison, Batura Evo to Batura 2.0.



Height of gaiter - same



materials used- lighter in weight for the 2.0









dbl layer Goretex - new to the 2.0



lower profile boot/toe - new to the 2.0






Left to right, new 2.0, last year's Evo and a Ultra




Below, carbon mid sole - new to the 2.0 on the right....earlier Evo version on the left. Thinner for better feel but also warmer.














Above, the additional sole rocker and carbon fiber midsoleof the2.0 is shown on the right.

On the left is the previous generation Batura EVO.




foot closer to the rock/ice - by design in the 2.0



zipper and Velcro closer on gaiter - new to the 2.0



rocker

lace lock

ankle padding and stiffness

tongue bellows

fit and lacing

lighter in weight





Below, 30mm toe rocker on the Ultra, 38mm toe rocker Batura 2. Making the Batura 2 easier to walk in. Much like the rocker profile on theSpanik.








Note the differences in sole thickness with La Sportiva on the left and Scarpa on the right, where you attach the front cramponbail. The Batura sole profile is a much easierfit to any current crampons


The first thing I noticed is the boot's weight. That you notice right out of the box. In a size 43 the 2.0 is a full 240g lighter per boot than the previous Batura Evo.



240 grams = 8.5 ounces per boot



That is a savings of 17oz per pair in a size 43 over the current boot.. You'll save more weight as the boots get bigger. Lack of the boot's tongue and the new carbon fiber mid sole will show there.



Interesting that they new Baturas are so light. A good bit of the weight savings was done by using a super thin, honey comb, carbon fiber mid sole. Carbon is being used in the Olympus Mons, the Spantik and the Mega ice, oh and the Stratos AT boot. My take is the Batura has been bumped into a totally difference class of boot by La Sportva simply because of the manufacturing techniques and costs associated with the new Batura 2.0 design and manufacturing effort.

The new mid sole is now lighter, warmer because of the added air spaces in the honey comb and more consistent in flex. Jonathon Lantz says, "this mid sole is slightly softer in flex but will never get softer, as the previous 9mm Ibi-Thermo mid sole material didin use". You couldn't tell that by my samples. The sole is rigid on these!



The thickness of the insulation has changed. For the moment at least Mr. Lantz wasn't offering anything very specific on the insulation. "Lighter and warmer" was the definition :)



No surprise I like a rigid soled boots and a stiff cuff. Generally I like my boots more rigid than most fabric ankle boots are capable of. Good news here. You have to look close to feel it but the actual boot that supports your foot is now made of a slightly stiffer Cordura fabric. Point is the added stiffness in the ankle was intentional and a good addition imo. Make no mistake though, it isn't a fabric version of the Nepal Evo by any means. And I would still be hard pressed to say the 2.0 is any stiffer than a pair of Trango Extreme Evos. Plenty of support but not so much as it limits your technical climbing ability. The Batura 2.0 still incorporates, "The 3D Flex™ ankle hinge allows side to side movement for better footwork while still providing longitudinal lockout when front pointing."



It doesn't appear the stiffer Cordura material will change the fit. But the super streamlined new bellows tongue design, new insulation material and two layers of Goretx will. That is complete coverage by one 3 layer Gortex on the exterior gaiter and another complete sock liner of 2 layer Goretx on the inside. of the boot.



"To stay warm you must stay dry."



If you have followed the previous blog posts on winter clothing you already know staying dry is the key to staying warm in a cold climate. One of the distractions for me in the olderBaturas is theyheld moisture. You had to be very careful on how you manages the sweat from your feet and if out over night how you kept you boot dry internally long term. I have used both Seal Skinzsocks and Mitchums antiperspirant to lower the moisture coming from my feet in an effort to keep the insulation in the Baturas working at its best.



Boot soles? Lighter weight? One word, traction.

The Vibram Mulaz sole climbs better on technical rock. But the LaSportiva / Vibram claim the Impact Brake System sole is better for long approaches and big days in the mountains.



I'd rather see an additional drop in weight and the Vibram Mulaz sole used on the new 2.0.



Each boot takes 34 days to put together, most of that glue-drying time, and they continue to be handmade in Italy which makes me feel a bit better about the suggested $650 price tag.



We seldom get a view behind the curtain when it comes toresearch and developmentfrom any European manufacture. (Or the U.S. for that matter) But in this case I did get a glimpse of the testing that La Sportiva and surprisingly Gore in Italy did on the newest Batura.



Last year to develop the new technology for the 2.0 version, Gore Italyand La Sportiva did some innovative testing that I have never heard of being done for a mountain boot prototype. Overseveral weeks in the Slovenian Alps, Gore scientists and La Sportiva boot makers collectedthe data from heat and moisture sensors and the personalfeedback from40 pairs of tester's boots and the testers themselves. That datawas down loaded twice a day for weeks.I am impressed!



So when you ask yourself why La Sportiva uses a Gore product in their boots it should be obvious. Both Gore and La Sportiva have developed a mutual trust and both are willing to go to the extra effort to push the technologies availablefor our benefit.



These are comments from others already using the Batura 2.0:



"the new version with GoreTex Gaiter and GoreTex boot"



"They give a snug fit while letting the toes enough spare place to move which I really like for avoiding

cold feet and kicking hard ice."



"Although if wet, for example if you sweat in them too much while

an approach in warm temperatures they are still hard to dry."



"In general I think the made a good trade of concerning the insulation.

The are thin enough, so that you can wear them in the alps in the summer

time without excessively sweating in them, further more they are warm

enough for ice climbing on cold winter days. But I have to admit that it

can get a bit chilly in them on really cold belay days.



I've had cold feet in them while ice climbing on a day with -17°C."



"The Baturas have indeed changed a lot, the ankle is a lotmore forgiving than the old version and I think I could live with them I thatrespect. The last however has changed unless I’m mistaken. They used to feellike a (slightly) roomier Nepal Evo. Now they feel like a Trango. I get aslight toe crush as I do with my Trango Evo which is not good for a warm boot.The heel has also gone the way of the Trangos, I now get considerable liftwhich I never got before. I would also add that we're stiffer

than pretty much any other fabric boot I've seen."





■A six layer fully synthetic boot specifically designed for winter mountaineering.

■Board lasted construction.

■Upper:

- Exceptionally resilient nylon.

- Insulated anti-dragging felt.

- Insulated polyethylene (PE).

- Insulating aluminum layer.

■Gaiter:

- Elastic Cordura® provides waterproof protection, while allowing ventilation for a comfortable environment.

- Schoeller® - Dynamic™ with water repellent membrane.

- Vibram® rubber rand.

- Elastic nylon with impermeable insulating layer.

- Asymmetrical, waterproof zipper for easy, on the go access.

■Lining:

- Polyamide Thermic layer for extra warmth.

- Durable mesh layer extends wear and ensures moisture is transferred away from the skin.

■Insole:

Insulating Ibi-Thermo 9mm.

■Midsole:

-8-9mm TPU.

- PU Inserts.

- SBR Aircushion.

■Outsole:

- 8-9mm TPU.

- PU Inserts.










Previous Evo version with a plastic mid sole and simple gaiter zipper









The newest Batura 2.0 with carbon fiber mid sole and a Velcro closed zipper on the gaiter.









new Batura 2.0 and the new Salewa Pro Gaiter both in a Euro size42

Go Tigers

Wilson's back to school night got off to a rough start yesterday. The doors stood open, and the auditorium was very warm- not having the benefit of air conditioning. The first speaker urged every one to move up as there was no PA system. The principal seemed to be running a few minutes late. Lights kept blinking, and if you looked up, you noticed the large areas of plaster rotting up there in the ceiling. But then, with no press, photography or fanfare, up popped our new mayor, Adrian Fenty. His voice was clear and strong, and he gave the mandatory short spiel on making school improvements. It was such a morale booster that it really didn't matter what he said. The most important thing to me was that he was there-and that it was not the first time he had been here in this auditorium. It is somewhat comforting that he is from this town-generally only people who are from here can understand here, and even we find it A Challenge.
The rest of the night went well. The teachers, for once, were not complaining about a lack of books or other glaring oversights. There was even a glimmer of optimism. The stadium and field have been renovated, and the pool is finally under reconstruction. Wilson was a brand new school back in 1935, when my dad's brother, Nick went. You can literally feel its age going up the stairs which are concave now like the steps of a Roman coliseum. It's still a beautiful building despite its age and deterioration- but it desperately needs improvement- as do the vast majority of our city schools. There is a tiny light now- maybe- just there at the end of this long dark tunnel, but it sure is amazing how fast that new baseball stadium is getting built.

It's enough to keep you guessing.

Stellar weather and long term forecasts

I found this long term forecast from the Climate Impacts Group. They've done a little weather projecting into the fall and winter (and even the spring). Here is an excerpt,

The seasonal outlooks through spring 2007 suggest... a continuation of warmer than average conditions throughout the region for the coming fall, winter, and spring seasons... pointing toward[s] a weak-to-moderate intensity El Niño event for the next few seasons... suggest[ing]... an anomalously dry fall and winter for much of the region.

Of course there were some serious disclaimers, but if you follow this prediction, the forecast doesn't look so hot for skiers.

In the meantime, it's warm and dry on the mountain. Camp Muir enjoyed a balmy low of 49 last night! It's at 59 degrees as of 9 AM.

Image by Rob Veal

It's long overdue-

The SHC website will be up and running by the end of August.

It details all of the services that SHC has to offer for nurseries & greenhouses, architects & designers, landscape contractors & homeowners.

Links to "Offshoots", articles, garden images and the lecture schedule will provide reliable and timely information to the green industry.

I hope that it becomes a resource that is really utilized.

-Kari

Some thoughts on gear..ski specific?

Two pairs of Praxis GPO!




Good gear is a collaboration of the builder, the design team and the end users.



Studying weapons, and climbing gear, which are all just tools really, I've come to one solid conclusion.



The more the end user is involved the better the product. Seems simple but it only takes a few minutes of looking around at any one piece of gear you use to play with or defend yourself with to see just how connected the end user has been to the design team. Doesn't matter if that 'tool" is a season old or a several millennium.



The best designs are built to be used with a LOT of influence by the peoples using them!



The closer your requirements are to the designer's/end user'soriginal applications are the better those tools will likely work for you.



I can think of a half dozen designs just off the top of my head that have stood well over the test of time.



New technology can be a really fun thing and make ushumans much better with less effort at what we do.



In this case skis are on my mind. I've been skiing a long time.The Volant Spatula,DPS 112RP, the Dynafit Broad Peakall come to mind as game changers for me. But there are lots of skis out there I never got on. And lots of skis that likely changed your own skiing. My original fiberglass ski, the K2 Holiday, changed skiing for me :)



The newestCho Oyu, the RPC and the Huascaran are current choices that make me wiggle in anticipation for the first snows of winter while I am out enjoying myselfon sun warmed alpine rock in mid July.



But I have a couple of new toys you'll be hearing about the next chance I get on some snow. (Mt Hood In July hopefully) I'm pretty stoked for the obvious reasons. When the real players are involved, magic happens. Think CCW packs, theNomic, Low tech racebindingsand the newest RebelUltra.



Drew Tabke:



"The story that Praxis Skis has played in my career as a skier cannot be underestimated. Since I started riding their Powder Boards in 2007, they’ve been a steadfast source of support and innovation for me as well as the core group of skiers who support their small brand. Praxis is a puzzle piece that doesn’t always fit in to the makeup of the ski industry. For example, as an athlete it has been difficult to secure sponsorship from binding or boot sponsors without committing to a particular manufacturer’s ski line as well. But I’ve always believed that having access to the innovation and quality that a small brand like Praxis offers is well worth giving up a the visibility and contracts that can come with the bigger brands."



More here:



http://praxisskis.com/custom-skis/drew-tabkes-notes-on-the-gpo/



and here:



http://www.powdermag.com/stories/small-brand-shout-out-praxis/#.Ucjgmy2ygLs.facebook



You can spend a lot of dollars, hire bright new engineers and designers to little avail. The guys that can make the stuff work? Really work for those of us actually using it? It is the guys/gals deep in the game are the ones that will really make a difference. Pity the fool who hasn't figured that one out yet. And trust me...more that haven't, than those that have.