Archive for August 2011
The Pinarello Dogma 2 Professional Road Bike: To Be “Born Again”
About two months ago, I posted this article on the 2011 Pinarello Dogma 60.2. I wrote about its geometry, asymmetric styling and the pleasure of riding one on long uphills and steep descents. Little did I know that, within a few weeks, my comments about the Pinarello Dogma would seem outdated – almost antiquated – by a group of cyclists from Perth, Australia. On a trip with Punto Tours in the French Alps, every one of them was armed with the latest Pinarello creation: the Dogma 2.
However, Pinarello had only released the Dogma 2 not even a few months prior to these lads coming on tour. In fact, I got to handle not one, but thirteen fresh and beautiful high quality carbon-framed bicycles. Over our eight-day adventure through the French and Italian Alps, I had plenty of time to study the geometry of the bike. At first its design seemed unappealing (I’m a traditionalist), but then I began to understand the method to Pinarello’s engineering.
The first feature that caught my eye was the oversized head tube/fork crown combination. Pinarello studied the side-to-side asymmetry in this advanced frame. That asymmetry is still present in the Dogma 2 and is primarily focused on the sprinter and a fast transference of energy to the pedals. In layman’s terms, the right side of the bike is engineered differently than the left side, to account for the bike’s drive train. According to Competitive Cyclist in this post, all of this same research is brought to the Dogma 2, but now Pinarello has modified the front symmetry of the bike to make what is considered, “the most responsive Pinarello race bike ever.” As a result, the head tube is much larger and essentially more aerodynamic, and the fork is much larger at the crown. As I mentioned earlier, this is the most eye-catching feature in the new design since this reinforcement of the front-end allows for an even stiffer ride with a “more predictable braking and a more precise steering feel,” according to Competitive Cyclist.
To increase the aerodynamic characteristic of the frame, all of the cables are threaded internally and the tube junctures have been smoothed out. It is a fantastic machine and pricing it here would be useless. It is the newest, professional grade, top-of-the-line race bike from one of Italy’s premier manufactures. Online I’ve seen prices from $5,800.00 USD just for the frame. Of course, you wouldn’t want to put a Beetle engine in a Ferrari, so you can count on another $2,200.00 for a Campagnolo Record 11 transmission. Don’t forget wheels. You can dump another $1,500.00 to $3,000.00 easily. In the end, you get one expensive bike, but one hell of a high performing machine. So, if you are going to invest that much, make sure you’re riding at least 150 miles a week and avoiding the blueberry muffins and chocolate cupcakes. These days when ideologies come with a high price and seem to fluctuate like the market, this enhanced Dogma stiffness will never let you down.
Photo Credits: Brad Jardine
Adventure Travel in Honduras: A New Destination for an Active Vacation
The active travel industry has found its way to Central America, but not many operators work with Honduras: an up-and-coming destination for the adventure travel savvy. Honduras boasts 820 kilometers of coastline and is the second largest country in Central America, bordering Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador. In the lowlands and along the coast, the temperatures remain subtropical, while higher inland the climate is more temperate. The northern coasts are far cooler than the southern rainforests. More prominent geographical features are the narrow plains along the north, and the famous La Mosquita lowland jungle in the northeast. The Bay Islands lay just north of the mainland with the three principal islands being Roatan, Utila and Guanaja. Honduras is home to a number of mountains, with the tallest being Cerro Las Minas – an extinct volcano – in the relatively savage western part of the country at 2849 meters. So with all of this inland jungle and coastal, there are a number of different activities to pursue for travelers on a shoestring looking for adventure:
Diving
Off the northern coast of Honduras and near the Bay Islands, are some of the most intriguing dive sites in the Caribbean, Roatán has many dive sites offering the most entrancing views through clear, celeste water. The El Águila Wreck is one of the most attractive underwater features. Purposely sunk in 1997 for wreck diving, Hurricane Mitch broke the vessel into three parks opening further entrances into the ship. Swarmed with groupers and moray eels, these waters are filled with barrel sponges, hammerhead sharks, strong currents, and adrenaline-filled adventure. Colorful reefs are home to barracuda, sargassum triggerfish and damselfish, adding to Honduras’s submarine treasures.
Rafting
Honduras’s richness lies as much on top of the water as underneath it. La Mostikia (better known as the Mosquito Coast) offers some excellent high class rapids. Along the Cangrejal River for example, are Class III and IV rapids, as well as some astonishing views of this Rio Plátano Bioshphere Reserve. This reserve is one of the few existing tropical rainforests in Central America, with extensive plant and wildlife. Along the Rio Sico, there is th
e possibility to spend a longer expedition of up to 4 days navigating the challenging waters. Views of crocodiles and iguanas are as abundant as hawks and falcons along these fertile banks.
Horseback
The small farming community of Cabañas has excellent horseback routes. Day-long rides through coffee fields and tiny farming communities offer a great opportunity to visit the traditional houses painted with colored mud. Ride underneath a waterfall or along the coast in La Ceiba. Roàtan also offers tantalizing equestrian itineraries alo
ng the western-end of the island through almond groves and under mango trees. When the senses are overloaded in the sunlight, try a nocturnal ride through the jungle. The sounds become more pronounced and the wind and moon play among the shadows. Plan your trip during the full moon and you won’t be disappointed.
Windsurfing
Along the Northern coast and in Roàtan, the winds and waters are perfect for windsurfing. The Roàtan is home to part of the world’s second largest reef protecting the harbor from disturbing surf. It is also home to some of the most diverse coral life. The area also offers opportunities to check out Kite-surfing. The winds form the north are gentle and both sports can be enjoyed from the beginner to the expert level depending on where you go within the bay.