David Bernstein of the FredCast talks with Cannondale Brand Manager Scott Struves during the day one of the Outdoor Demo, Interbike 2009.

Arleigh is my old partner in crime from the Crooked Cog Network days. She’s now Bike Shop Girl. Go say hello to her!

In case there’s any question at all, I’m the dummy.

My old friend Kirk in Indiana has turned into an exercise nut over the past couple of years. He asked me where he can find a good deal on a new bike. After I pointed at the usual suspects, he told me he’s training for a triathlon and he wants something that “I won’t be embarrassed to be seen riding.”

The Tri guys and girls have their own unique style when it comes to bike tech. I’m secretly jealous of some of their cool toys like the on bike hydration systems, but some of it is a bit much for me.

Does a triathlete bike review ever mention “vertical compliance”? Do they train on the same bikes they race on?

I’m obviously unschooled on the whole triathlon side of bicycling. Why the extreme angles on their mounts? Is there such a thing as an entry-level triathlon bike (like what Kirk wants)?

Last week it was cold and rainy I was thinking about writing a winter cycling primer. Today, we’re supposed to be over 40° C (about a bazillion degrees F) in some parts of the San Francisco Bay Area.

It’s a dry heat, though, and it really isn’t too bad. Keep yourself well hydrated and you should do fine while cycling. In last Friday’s heat I even set a new personal best for my Menlo Park to San Jose bike ride, making the 24 mile distance in just 70 minutes (that’s wall time, not cyclocomputer time), for an average speed of 20.6 mph. This is with traffic, stop signs and red lights, and for me that’s pretty good since I generally average in the 17 to 18 mph range.

My cyclocomputer was really flaking out on me Friday evening. I must be in downtown San Jose at 6:15 to catch my bus to Santa Cruz, and I know an 18 mph average speed will get me there on time. Since my cyclocomputer was busted, I had no idea how fast I was going or even what time it was, so I just put everything I had into the ride and showed up 20 minutes early.

Back to the heat: Since the mornings are still relatively cool, you can probably get away with wearing your office clothes to work, especially if you keep the going slow. Be prepared to wash the sweat out after your evening commute, though.

The Dutch are known for their very practical and somewhat klunky bikes with fenders, but they know how to build slinky race bikes, too, and have a rich history of race bikes.

Rih Bicycles — named for a fictional race stallion — was started in 1921. One time apprentice Wim van der Kaaij continues the business of creating road and track bikes under the name RIH Sport.

In this video, you can watch van der Kaaij braze, filet, bend, cut, grind and assemble a new steel frame.