fixed impressions

Here’s the link.

Cacophony Live Tonite!

Cacophony will be off the air at least until Jan. 07, so tonite and next week are your last chances to listen live until then.

Shouts to all at Burning Man.

G

OK, here’s a rough cut on my commuter stats from June 1, 2006.

Work Days: 65
Days Car Driven: 12
Days on Bike: 53
Days on Fix: 36

Executive summary:

$$ saved by not driving: ~$206
$$ spent on extra food needed when riding: ~$50
$$ bike repairs: ~$13
Days soaked on bike in rain: 2
Miles of singletrack while commuting: 26.5
Average minutes saved per commute by coasting: 4
Number of days of brake-squeal avoided by fixing: 35
Number of days brakes used on fix: 1

* * *

It’s the end of the fiscal year at work and I’m doing my final obligation from my previous post at work: inventory. I’ll be two days of dirt, dust, and counting widgets. I’ll be back up for air in time for the long weekend. Pheew.

* * *

Number of tracks on soon to be released Cacophony CD: 9
Price per song, iTunes: $0.99
Price per CD, average, Pure Pop: $13.88
Price to download Cacophony when released: Priceless.

You’ll be able to download an mp3 or full-CD version and then donate what you think it’s worth to you. It should be an interesting experiment.

Over and Out.

G

Ah, it’s too long, it’s too short. Not enough this and too much that.

I put fixed impressions pt 2 up on YouTube to, so far, much less than rave reviews. It’s a little balky…since it’s part of a longer feature that still escapes completion. Ah, the YouTube Public. I suppose I could make 45 second versions for the potentially shorter target attention span. NOT.

I’ve pretty much worn off the rear skid on the Uni. Nano 44/700’s are too soft to cut it on the 3/4 time road use. I’m going to grind it down until its time to put the Nokians on for the winter, but next summer need to get some speedmax or other smoother tire.

It’s late…more beats to make.

G

Wow. The feedback is coming fast and furious. I’m already working on Chapter 2. I’m shooting some more footage of trail riding (and looking for some fixed women) this weekend to fill out part II. I have tons of unused footage that didn’t make part I because I discovered it takes so long to render an 11 minute version (75 mins.) I plan to eventually render all 3 (yes, 3!) chapters into a 35 minute feature.

Keep sending comments (and criticisms) and I’ll try to adjust the end result to match. Imagine that: ask and you shall (probably) receive. No porno though, puleez!

I’ll post my other videos on www.gonterian.com next week so you can laugh at them all in one place. The other videos currently live here: Johnny G Homepage.

Over and Out.

G

OK, you can now see the very-low-fi version of the movie here : fixedimpressions.com!

I’ve been hacking this thing for so long…I thought I’d just throw up some second-draft-esque footage for your work-avoidance or free-time pleasure.

It’s about 11 minutes long.

Lots of things still not final, having lots of issues syncing video and audio, but I’ll whine about that no more.

A great project made with so little.

Enjoy.

G

I’m rendering a higher-fi version, but it looks like it’s going to take a few hours.

When it’s ready I’ll put it up.

A breakthrough at last. After a few months of procrastination, I re-did the FIX Radio Tuner. There is no such thing as a development server for Blogger, so be patient while I get the implementation all styled out. The tuner is back in the side bar, and though it’s pretty much the same as before, I’ve got some new shows.

Also check out www.gonterian.com. I have the tuner up there now, and will be adding shows and original tracks for your IDM pleasure.

Alex, Nat and all who have the old tuner….it’s time I sent you new code so you’ll be in sync. I’m pretty sure those old tuners have broken links. And the new tuner will look real nice with the Blogger layouts.

Finishing public edit of the Fixed Impressions Video today! It could be up on www.fixedimpressions.com as early as tonite.

It’s more jumbled madness, but its great fun.

Over and Out.

G

The first winter I was here I saw a burly looking Karate Monkey in fixed mode with BIG tires and a really rusted chain. I remember making a mental note that maybe it was a style thing with VT fixers. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to hang with that. I was used to desert and White Lightning. Rust just didn’t happen unless I went towards the coast to ride and it rained. Here your shit rusts when it doesn’t rain. And when it does rain, woh! All exposed steel turns burnt orange quick.

So, after two years of slothy self-righteous fixing, I found myself all of a sudden with the “rusty chain”…I promise I’ll lube it sometime soon, if I could just find that lube…maybe some WD-40?

A propos the new trim and banner on the site today.

Mom’s in town for the weekend.

Over and Out.

G

Well, this is a form of homage, a form of therapy I guess. My 40 yr+ Brooks Professional was riding great, but some historical water damage (I think) finally took its toll this past summer on a ride home from the video store.

These are both after-the-fact pics, but you get the idea. There ain’t no plastic underbelly on a Brooks. So if the leather goes, it’s over.

Then, to illustrate the really-after-the-fact…

So, in my unique way, I want to lay this saddle to rest. I guess that means before I recycle it, I wonder if anyone needs those few little parts left that could be used for a repair or something? Does anyone have any need for whats left? The only parts I can imagine are worth anything are the tensioning bolt, nut and the retainer clamp. I’d be happy to send these parts to any fixer (or even a wannabe fixer if your case is great!)….send me an email.

All in a days therapy, I say.

Over and Out.

G

OK, it’s back to fixed for the week. I’m promising myself that I’ll stop to smell the roses so to speak. I’m going to ride more trail on the way home, as opposed to the pave, which is really steep going down and (whining) I’m tired of trying to pedal that fast. So, I found myself writing about not wanting to fool around on the way in to/way home from work. It sounded like such a cop-out. So, the experiment continues with another week on fixed. What’s the rush. It only takes me 20 minutes in on the Uni anyways.

I shot some more silly reverse/fixed intro video for FI and have about a 20 minute version mocked up. I won’t promise when it’ll be ready, since I’ve already missed deadline on:

1. FI tuner (a ways out, sorry)
2. gonterian.com, which has nothing more than a static homepage to show for 4 months hosting fees.
3. fixedimpressions.com, ditto above.
4. framebuilder profiles.
5. riding.

I also did my first “road” ride of the season yesterday, complete with gears and 44/700c knobbies. Ouch. I’m worked. Back to fixed, phew!

OK, I’m out.

G

I wondered off and on the last year, with all the fixed gear riding I’d been doing, what it would be like to umm…..ride a coasting bike for a bit. I mean, I never decided I was giving up freewheeling or even gears for that matter. And I got my new Vulture SS (fixed/free) that’s barely seen its rear brake and freewheel used…so I decided to try an experiment. Last week I rode the Uni (fixed) to work, and on all my errands. This week I’ve been riding the GX (geared Vulture coaster-cross) for all my trips.

A few thoughts after the 2 week trial:

1. Fixed gear riding allows for reverse and instant brakeless speed control.
2. Fixed is like riding a horse, the bike has a mind of its own and requires commitment and understanding to get it to go where you want.
3. The Uni has a trailish 40/21 gear, which is fine for trails and uphills.
4. Riding the long downhill on pavement on the way home is a chore, and works the suppleness (or lack thereof) of my legs.
5. Fixed is pretty slow overall with the 40/21 on my commute.

1. Freewheeling allows you to adjust your shoes, your shorts, even remove your backpack without stopping.
2. Freewheeling makes bunny-hopping natural, as opposed to an iffy-scary proposition.
3. Freewheeling requires less concentration: a mixed-blessing.
4. It’s really hard for me to do a trackstand, at least a good one, on a coaster.
5. Freewheeling overall is really fast for commuting, and gears don’t hurt there either.

It’s been really fun to ride the GX. It allows me to climb up to work without getting too hot. This week, that has been a REAL issue. In commuter mode, I don’t miss reverse so much. I guess I don’t feel like entertaining myself on the way to work and on the way home it seems like I’m in a bit of a hurry to get something done so I don’t play around too much then either. I think for my commute the GX just rocks out, I’ve got somewhere to be and want to get there with the minimum of fuss and maximum speed.

I rode the Uni around tonite to do some errands, with no particular timetable in mind, and I realized (again) how much I really like the direct drive. I love to ride in reverse and I feel so at ease doing trackstands on fixed. I didn’t get onto the trail tonite, but just cruising the Uni around made me want to ride some sweet trails on fixed as soon as I can. When there’s no conflict of interest or deadlines, fixed is really great.

I did one good hard hybrid road/trail ride on the GX, the first real coaster/fun ride I’ve done since I broke my Vulture last summer. It was SO fun. The trails I rode have lots and lots of downed trees and lend themselves to coasting well. It was like a breath of fresh air. I’ve ridden those same trails on the Uni many times and I’ll tell you it’s a big challenge. The GX has skinnier tires than the Uni. But it’s a bit easier to control on the rough stuff. It’s probably not a good direct comparison handling-wise, because the GX was custom built for me by Wade, specifically for hard trail riding (not cyclocross.) The Uni is of course, an early 80’s touring bike that was never intended for what I’ve done with it.

In summary, I’d have to say that I really like both. Each has its charms, functionalities, and shortcomings. Fixed is compelling, requires more skill and strength, and never fails to provide a few surprises on each ride. Coasting is faster, allows for a wandering mind, and is just plain fast on paved downhills.

So, I proved nothing. I had a great time. I’ve ridden everywhere for 2 weeks and not had to move my car or burn any fossil fuels. I got myself excited about my coasters. And I fell in love with the Uni again tonite after a week of freewheeling.

Ride more. Use the best tool you have for the job/task/fun at hand. I will continue to extoll the virtue of riding fixed here on this page, but always with a nudge-nudge wink-wink that coasting is OK too.

Over and Out

G.