Just Riding

May 15th, 2010 § 0

I’ve been back on a better riding program recently. When I changed jobs back in Feb….I actually kept basically the same route to work, just made it shorter by about 3/4 of a mile. I even get to avoid a longish false flat that is notoriously associated with goring winter headwinds.

Funny, I’ve been on fixed as a commuter for so long that my latest forays at trail riding have left me a little iffy on freewheeling. When I head out, I have this panic reaction right before I stop pedaling to coast. Once I’ve been riding for a while, especially on trails, it’s not too bad. Kind of a funny feeling to not get that “kick” from the rear wheel forcing the crankarms around.

As time flies towards the end of May I’m excited to get some more miles in. I think this may be a better year for me time-wise than the last few. [fingers crossed.]

Anecdotes from the field:

1. The other night I went for a walk. I saw five cyclists. They all were on fixed, or at least single speeds. It’s getting to the point that I wonder if many folk who actually ride around here use gears. Kudos to all who’ve made the move to single/fixed. [I'm avoiding the strong temptation to lash out at the brakeless/alley-cat-card-though-I'm-not-really-a-messenger-and-don't-really-know-what-an-alley-cat-is/hipsters.]

It’s just good to ride and to see others take the route to durability and simplicity.

Over and Out

G

Sexy Bikes

April 14th, 2010 § 0

It’s not been possible to keep up with the fixed only end of the spectrum in my crazy world.  That said, I seem to have a bit more time this spring for it.

I just spent two and a half sessions getting the Univega running  well.  Still having issues with tires blowing out, but otherwise running well.

I was going through some sexy bike photos in various places this week and thought, probably not for  the first time, “hey….wouldn’t it be cool to have a sexy bike site?”  Well, so I looked for a URL and guess what?  http://sexy-bikes.com !!!

sexy bike with internal hubs

I was actually searching for the .org variation and was kind of surprised this was available.  So, I set it up.  Check it out.

I will start sifting through the last 5 or 6 years of picts and put up what I find that’s got some sexy.

Cheers.

G

Just Because

January 18th, 2010 § 0

There is little that need be said.

sneaker wheels are cool

sneaker wheels are cool

winter updates

January 4th, 2010 § 0

So, I finally put the Nokian studs on, after protecting [by not using], then writing off and attempting to sell on craigslist and failing, then hoarding again. After a couple of commutes where luck was all that kept me from decking, I did what I should have done a month ago. Anyway, to go along with the heavily rim-weighted carbide-spined I put the 21T on the back. That puts me at a nice 46×21. Funny with the heavier tires, I feel like I’m working just as hard as before….but I know for a fact I’m going slower.

The new snow doesn’t help with my speed either:

bike_buried

bike_buried

nokian_traction

nokian_traction

Ice That Won’t Melt

December 15th, 2009 § 0

I know it was  a solid 40+ out there with that warmish-wet feel.  I think that melts snow as fast as anything.  But I’ll tell you that both the bike path and Rose St. refuse to give up their last little patches of ice.  Oh, and before I forget there is a deadly strip of ice on Elmwood by the cemetery.  That one is parallel to the parked cars and crowned in the worst way.  It’s crazy too that it has been there for a week and just won’t melt out.  Only 2 inches thick?

I thoroughly enjoyed yesterday and today, without any major wind or other inclemency.  It seems like I’ve kept up my end of this commuting bargain so far.   Two weeks to go.

Special lunch tomorrow: more on that soon.

G

Uni : 2006 and 2009

December 12th, 2009 Comments Off

More than a few things changed.  I’m a tinkerer looking to come up with the most usable, fun, cool bike I can with essentially no more budget.  It’s pretty sweet right now…rode 4 times this week.  Yeah.

3 commutes this week

December 11th, 2009 § 0

I needed a little extra motivation on Tuesday as the first real snow of the season rolled through. K texted me to say she was putting the knobbies on and had no intention of grabbing the car keys.  I had just sent a message saying I was whimping out to the car.  Well, I took that a bit hard and sucked it up and got the hat under the helmet, and extra gulp of organic free-trade french roast for courage and off I went.  So, I am back to my committed 2 days per week [average] and think I might yet make it to the end of the year.  It  is looking like I will  be mostly working the week between Xmas and New Years, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get in my two days even though that’s a 4 day week.

All in all, glad to be back on the bike and saving “buckets” of cash…well, maybe thimbles-full.

Over and Out

G

headwind in snow took its toll 12/8

headwind in snow took its toll 12/8

Riding in to Work

December 4th, 2009 § 0

Today was a special reward. The testing week has come [almost] to the end and I’m looking forward to a nice, dry ride home…and to starting the weekend. I plan to focus on G2 and some painting. Art painting that is…then with a little luck from above, painting the last of the upstairs at Rose St. for my [soon to be] housemate.

The ride today was quiet, with no winds, but lots of bike commuter traffic. Since the weather continues to be like October and not December, the bikemuters were out in force this AM.

Loving my Brooks.

Here is some scenery from today:

Earth Clock and Berries

Earth Clock and Berries

Berries and Sky

Berries and Sky

Life is good.  Bike riding is also good.

G

wade, seenyourkrash, eugene

November 28th, 2009 § 0

This makes me miss the old crew more than anything.  Handmade bike show in PDX, this fall.

wade, kratsch, eugene

wade, kratsch, eugene

goal :: revised

November 28th, 2009 § 0

Well, one good week of the flu or whatever I had week before last killed my 2 a week commuting plan. It’s not like I have a sponsor to let-down or left prize money on the table, the point was to make the commitment to ride the bike and leave the car. In that respect I’m really off to a good start. I think I will make it 2 days per week on bike ‘average’ to allow for illness, driving out of necessity, ice storms and the like.

December sort of has five weeks of commuting, so I’ll plan for 10 days on the bike. As I sit and nibble my coffee, I’m pondering my studded Nokians. I bought them back in about 2002 I think and they have maybe 10 rides on them. I haven’t had them on any wheelset for a few years and am planning for the best way to use them. I only have on fixed rear wheel at the moment, so I either have to change tires on demand or put the studded tires on one bike and just live with it.

After losing a custom Vulture cross bike to the corrosion of winter riding already, I’m hesitant to expose more than bikes to the crud than I actually need to. I guess I just don’t want to wear out the [expensive] studded tires when in my experience you only need them a few times a month. Hmm, well that was Bend, OR and I probably will regret my commuting life this winter just for writing that.

Oh, here is cuJ0’s picture of the Vulture himself at the NW Handmade Bike Show in PDX last month:

Wade the Vulture in late fall plumeage

Wade the Vulture in late fall plumage

Very happy to report that I got an early Burning Man ticket and cuJ0 did too!  Kippered Martini Camp!  Wade will either be with us or we will make a life size carboard version.  Vulture!

Happy Thanksgiving, if it means anything to you.

G

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