Firstly, should you look within the right-hand margin (or scroll right down to the underside should you’re on a cell system), you’ll see a brand new advert from the great individuals at Merry Gross sales for the IRD WayBack Compact Seatpost:

Right here’s the story on that:

So should you’re in search of extra saddle adjustment vary then you should definitely help the individuals who help the individuals, these individuals they’re supporting being me.

Secondly, talking of me, yesterday I discussed that Bicycling had lastly printed my Vengeance Bike journey story, and like anyone coming back from a lavish trip (even when it was nicely over a yr in the past now) right here’s the half the place I bore you with my pictures.

As I discussed, the invitation got here simply as I started my annual upstate household trip:

And fell deep into Sandal Mode:

Nonetheless, nearly instantly upon returning dwelling I bubble-wrapped the Vengeance Bike and flew to Zurich:

I used to have a correct journey bag however I both gave it away or offered it way back, so I ordered a $30 bike bag off a web-based retailer named after a river, bubble-wrapped the bike like a drunken aunt mailing a Christmas reward, and additional protected the bike by reducing a foam mattress topper in half and making a classic crabon sandwich out of the entire thing:

I’d by no means been to Zurich, and I used to be shocked to search out that apparently individuals simply cling round all day swimming:

Like most provincial Individuals I affiliate Switzerland with banks and watches, so this bohemian state of affairs fully confounded my expectation that everybody over there would have watertight sphincters. I imply certain, they most likely do have watertight sphincters, however solely as a result of they spend a lot time within the water, not as a result of they’re uptight:

Bicycles had been additionally in proof:

I missed the exhibit (which I didn’t even know was an exhibit till simply now once I plugged the phrases within the poster into a well-liked search engine):

However I did conduct an anthropological examine of the native velocipedal fauna:

There have been a number of older race bikes repurposed as metropolis bikes, which suggests a complicated biking civilization:

The night of my arrival there was an enormous dinner, and right here’s a blurry image of Pogačar seated simply behind me:

Since this was mainly a super-elite company charity journey they auctioned off a bunch of signed jerseys and stuff on the dinner, and in contrast to lots of the individuals there I didn’t really feel pressured to bid on one thing as a result of my boss was sitting there judging me–although I used to be tempted to place in for the Colnago since I might have used the additional gears:

I ought to have expensed it to Bicycling.

The following morning was a blur of riders and vans during which I ultimately managed to lose Pogačar:

I additionally started to cement my repute as the author man who introduced the loopy bike:

To be completely sincere I used to be glad to have misplaced Pogačar as a result of I might benefit from the journey with out feeling like I needed to sustain with anyone:

Having simply left a lake in upstate New York it was surreal to be amongst extra lakes, solely ones that seemed like somebody had been messing with the colour settings on the TV:

Principally I’d left a trip solely to fall right into a deeper, rather more intense trip–like a type of goals the place you suppose you’ve woken up however you’re truly nonetheless dreaming and you haven’t any concept what actuality even is anymore.

When you’ve by no means been to Switzerland, there are many cows:

I used to be lucky to not run into any douchebags, however there have been some Brobags:

And likewise the occasional Merbag:

See?

The primary day was largely flat till the top, and right here was my first style of Swiss climbing:

I truly took an image of myself the second I noticed what I used to be in for and nervous that I’d possibly ruined the journey with my bike selection:

Over the course of the journey the climbs solely acquired longer and extra dramatic:

Once I borrowed the Vengeance Bike from Basic Cycle I did so to journey it on the 5 Boro Bike Tour, and I by no means guessed that a couple of months later we’d each wind up right here:

It truly is otherworldly up on these mountain passes:

The valleys aren’t too dangerous, both:

The Children At the moment™ appear to like the bikepacking, however I’ll take luxurious inns over sleeping exterior any day, and even the bike loved first-class lodging:

You recognize it’s a flowery lodge after they’ve acquired dry-aged meats within the minibar:

Every evening we’d additionally eat a lavish meal, and at this specific lodge they set my desk with a small rock in order that the servers knew about my wheat allergy:

It was my very own private Stone of Disgrace:

I used to suppose skilled cyclists should have it fairly arduous, however let me inform you that you simply get used to a lifetime of climbing, consuming, and sleeping fairly rapidly:

As for Switzerland, it’s just like the wealthy neighborhood in your space was its personal nation;

Even the porta-potties had been charming:

And that’s to say nothing of the tremendous eating:

They could have to show you away should you don’t have a reservation, however a minimum of they allow you to down gently:

Talking of returning to Earth, the top of the journey was bittersweet:

I’d knew I’d miss probably the most lovely using I’d ever skilled, however I used to be additionally relieved to be completed, and total I felt like I’d simply gained the Tremendous Barbecue Prize:

Again on the lodge I repeated my insane giftwrapping job:

It is probably not fairly, however the bike made the return flight simply tremendous:

And I acquired proper again on it the very subsequent day:

For the following a number of weeks I had (for me) superhuman health, although ultimately it light like a suntan in winter.

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