fixed impressions

Just Because

gonter — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:17:43 +0000

There is little that need be said.

sneaker wheels are cool

winter updates

gonter — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:59:05 +0000

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

nokian_traction

Ice That Won’t Melt

gonter — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:53:03 +0000

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.

Uni : 2006 and 2009

gonter — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:44:41 +0000

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

gonter — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:06:30 +0000

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

headwind in snow took its toll 12/8

Riding in to Work

gonter — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:27:27 +0000

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

Berries and Sky

Life is good. Bike riding is also good.

wade, seenyourkrash, eugene

gonter — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:01:45 +0000

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

wade, kratsch, eugene

goal :: revised

gonter — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:21:42 +0000

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 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.

Plan in Peril

gonter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:31:14 +0000

Well, nothing like the flu to put a wrench in your commuting routine. I’ve missed Monday and Tuesday and though I’m going back to work today, I’m hardly ready to ride in at 24 degrees. I think I might make it Friday, but not sure about tomorrow. I won’t be too disappointed to get knocked off plan in the third week…but it is a bummer. We’ll see how I feel tonite.

Smooth Commuting, November

gonter — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:24:10 +0000

I rode home last nite with just a bit of a chill, but thankful that my renewed effort at bike commuting has been met with decent weather and relatively few incidents. My latest minor irritation is that the beginning of the route home, now everyday in full darkness, is downhill, which does little to generate body heat. I’m pondering the notion of doing a few jumping jacks or sun salutations to get the chi moving before I get out there on the road.

It is nice to feel the legs come back to life a bit. Mine surely have thousands and thousands of miles of muscle memory, but at my age, they seem a bit forgetful, eh? But they are starting to come around. I expect now that it’s dark so early, I’ll be back in the gym fairly soon as well. That will give me a chance to put some real work in on core and legs for skiing [and boarding.]

Pondering the ride today…it’s colder than other days so far and I already have ridden everyday this week….hmm? I can’t even come close to finding a rationale for driving, so fixed’muter it is!

Looking forward to the weekend too, lots of fun things to do this weekend including a bonfire and 40th b-day as well as the Spielpalast Fundraiser.

Cheers

Over and Out