Conference noted::bicycle

    	>I'm aware of the various catalog options, but I don't like
	>buying clothes that way, as there are no standard sizes.

    	?????	Say who?
    
    	That's all they carry is standard sizes...
    
    	You talkin' 'bout Performance? Or Nashbar?
    
    	There's a Nashbar outlet in Needham Mass., down Rt. 128, at the
    	Highland Av. exit, on the opposite side of the highway from Muzi Ford.

Buchika's in Salem has a pretty decent selection -- or at least they did during 
the summer. 

	What I mean by no standard sizes is I have tried, e.g., in 
	shorts
		HIND size small - way too tight in the waist
		DESCENT size small - fits fine
		DESCENT size medium - fits same as size small
		PERFORMANCE size small - loose in the leg elastics
		Bell Wether size small - short leg length
		Tinley size sm - fits fine [but seat liner wrinkled,
			and you know what that can cause!]

	Yes, there are standard names of sizes (small, med, large), but
	each manufacturer has its own idea of what this means.   

	-Tom

No standards - hear hear!

The only way I can get what I want is to try shorts on.  Here in France they 
are normally numbered 1 to 6 rather than S M L XL etc, and depending on the 
maker I need 3 or 4 or 5.  Seeing this probably corresponds to a waist size 
difference of 6" or 14 cm, there is considerable difference.  Other 
industries don't work to these (lax) standards, why should clothing be any 
different?

While on the subject, is this a good place to start a note for or against 
elastic in the bottom of shorts legs?  Virtually everyone I speak to here 
hates it, but it's almost impossible to buy without.  My solution is to go 
for a leg length which is too long and get my wife to cut off the elastic and 
remake the turn-up.

    Re: .0
    
    	"As an aside, anybody know of a good cross country ski shop,
	one that carries the Fisher Revolution short ski?"
    
    REI in Reading, Massachusetts has them.  Supposedly most of the other
    manufacturers are copying this idea and coming out with their own
    supposedly new design short skis this year, too.
    
Lew Lasher

I was at REI last weekend.  The short skis are only available in
skating form, they did not have any with a grooved bottom.
Speaking to the people there, the short skis will only be useful
in tracked areas.  They will not float enough for soft stuff 
and off track conditions.

steve

	Right (.6), the short skis require packed snow, but that's 98%
	of what I encounter.  I'm looking for a ski that's good in
	snowmobile tracks, and I should be able to skate these in
	a single-wide snowmobile track.

	But note that Fisher makes a crown base short ski also, even
	if REI doesn't carry it, and that the skating version has been 
	kick-waxed with success.

	For more info, see latest and coming issues of Cross 
	Country Skier magazine.  They say the crown base version is fast!

    Tom,
    
    
      I have a catalog from Eagle River Nordic which has an extensive
    selection of skis, boots, clothes, etc.  I will try to remember to
    bring it in.  If others have interests, I'll place a phone number
    so you can get your own catalog...
    
    mark 

    Any suggestions on where to find a well-made, yellow GoreTex jacket
    for bicycling?  I have a 10-year old Early Winters one that is no
    longer waterproof.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Patrick

    If you're a Medium (38-40), Performance currently has their yellow
    Goretex Century jacket on sale for $102.95, reg $149.95 (part #
    L16-1103, phone 800-727-2453).
    

    Goretex states that you can iron the old jacket and that will restore
    the waterproofing. Makes sense since the Goretex is actually nylon
    impregnated with teflon (or close equivalents).
    
    Paul
    

RE: <<< Note 2692.11 by SOLVIT::MEREDITH "another hill? ugh" >>>

>    Goretex states that you can iron the old jacket and that will restore
>    the waterproofing. 

Never heard that one. I can believe it would make it waterproof, by virtue of
making the nylon impervious; it would seem to be no longer breathable, however.

>    Makes sense since the Goretex is actually nylon
>    impregnated with teflon (or close equivalents).

FYI, Gore-tex fabric is a three-way laminate, with the neat-o semi-permiable
membrane in the center any anything for looks and protection on the outsides.
The valuable membrane works by having very small holes in it, too large for
liquid water but large enough to let vapor through (in theory).
						-- Tom

    Actually GoreTex is an expanded sheet of PTFE (teflon) that is bonded
    to a nylon shell.   An iron may work if it is leaking at a seam - most
    of the seam are sealed with an iron-on sealant.   If the GoreTex itself
    is damaged this will not work.
    
    ...Jeff (who used to work at Gore and actually made the GoreTex)

    I understood that ironing the fabric flattened the fibres on the
    surface, so making the surface more likely to shed droplets of water.
    If the droplets wet the surface and build up a film of liquid water, it
    blocks the fabric's breathability.

    -Les.

    Possibly the aforementioned theories are correct. However, next time
    you can read a Goretex tag, look at the "care" instructions. Low temp
    ironing might not hurt the fibers and redistribute the teflon. I
    haven't ironed mine (and don't plan to for the next few years).
    
    Paul