Thanks, Wired!
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/02/gallery-a-tour-inside-the-brooks-saddle-factory/all/1
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
I'm back! (I was gone?)
Hello world, I'm back from an absence I never announced on this blog, hurray.
I was tooling around North Africa for a while there... doing bike research, I swear!
Pictures of some sick bikes I spotted in Tunisia coming soon, plus a feature on how to buy an Indian made chainring from a guy who speaks as much English as you do Arabic in Egypt. All soon, but in the meantime... OUTRAGE
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2010/jan/2/KylePeterShay.htm
What's that a picture of? A bike in a tree? Maybe I've created a meme without knowing it.
Let's throw in Kanye West saying I have the best bike in a tree ever, and a cat saying "can I has bike in tree?" That's the internet!
I was tooling around North Africa for a while there... doing bike research, I swear!
Pictures of some sick bikes I spotted in Tunisia coming soon, plus a feature on how to buy an Indian made chainring from a guy who speaks as much English as you do Arabic in Egypt. All soon, but in the meantime... OUTRAGE
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2010/jan/2/KylePeterShay.htm
What's that a picture of? A bike in a tree? Maybe I've created a meme without knowing it.
Let's throw in Kanye West saying I have the best bike in a tree ever, and a cat saying "can I has bike in tree?" That's the internet!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Or you could just close your eyes...
Finally, a product for the suicidal-academic-cyclist (that was actually my second choice when naming this blog). For $15 you can have the Performance Book Caddy. I suggest wearing a helmet. Clearly, it's not actually intended for your ride into work, but damn -- somebody is going to use it on their ride into work. I guess it's more for the stationary-excercycle-person-who-doesn't-own-a-tv-or-stereo (third choice.)
From:
http://dvice.com/archives/2010/01/book-holder-for.php
Product site:
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1028751_-1_64000_20000_64513?PID=3640241&cm_mmc=CJ-_-2617611-_-3640241-_-NEW+-+America%27s+Best+Selection+At+PerformanceBike.com+#ReviewHeader
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Classified...
He didn't do a good enough job - I can still tell his house his made of brick!
Next time, get in between those spokes - I'd recognize the general darkness of your garage any day.
Next time, get in between those spokes - I'd recognize the general darkness of your garage any day.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Winter vs. Bikes - the battle begins.
The 3 people who read this might have noticed that I didn’t write anything new for about the last month, but it’s the winter and I, sadly, wasn’t riding a bike.
Heavy snow and salt-slushed roads are the largest natural enemy to steel road bikes – chunky, frozen snow along the sides of just about every road turn everywhere a bike would normally roam into somewhere a bike should really avoid. It’s like along the curbs, somebody laid 3 streetcar rails that entwine and randomly end. It’s like you’re falling the whole time, but you don’t – but you’re sure you will. I never did, but that feeling kept me off of it. Also, I love my frame so taking it out to get salted? No thanks.
Last month, I found out that going bikeless wasn’t an option. If I could ride my road bike, but I still needed to ride – the solution was clear.
I was going to have to get a new bike.
Foresaw this problem back in November, as the dread of winter creeping up on my cycle-love only got more intense as it got colder. I scoured Craigslist, because I do anyway, looking for a beater to fix up. And I did. $30 for a piece of shit, it had wheels and tires, and the spin. The problem was that it’s derailer needed to be replaced. Ok, so not TOO big of a problem, it’s something I should practice because it’s something I’ve never done. What the real problem is, is that I’mlazy busy. That bike hasn’t moved since I locked it up out back the day I got it. I suspect I’ll resell it.
I talked to my dad. A few years ago, the first bike I rode around downtown with on a regular basis was his old mountain bike. A 1992(ish) Raleigh Serengeti. I stopped using it because the frame was too small, but it’s small because it’s a mountain bike. It’s made for balancing and driving hard, but not for the city. Rather, not for the city in the summer. It’s perfect for winter, perfect enough. I’ll only use 3 of the 27 available speeds, but that’s ok with me. I just need to fix it up a little – the shifting doesn’t work and the brakes sing like… like brakes that don’t work (hey, I’m out of practice).
I didn’t write, because I didn’t ride.
I’m back on the road, rubber side down and the wind at my back. That cold, cold wind.
Heavy snow and salt-slushed roads are the largest natural enemy to steel road bikes – chunky, frozen snow along the sides of just about every road turn everywhere a bike would normally roam into somewhere a bike should really avoid. It’s like along the curbs, somebody laid 3 streetcar rails that entwine and randomly end. It’s like you’re falling the whole time, but you don’t – but you’re sure you will. I never did, but that feeling kept me off of it. Also, I love my frame so taking it out to get salted? No thanks.
Last month, I found out that going bikeless wasn’t an option. If I could ride my road bike, but I still needed to ride – the solution was clear.
I was going to have to get a new bike.
Foresaw this problem back in November, as the dread of winter creeping up on my cycle-love only got more intense as it got colder. I scoured Craigslist, because I do anyway, looking for a beater to fix up. And I did. $30 for a piece of shit, it had wheels and tires, and the spin. The problem was that it’s derailer needed to be replaced. Ok, so not TOO big of a problem, it’s something I should practice because it’s something I’ve never done. What the real problem is, is that I’m
I talked to my dad. A few years ago, the first bike I rode around downtown with on a regular basis was his old mountain bike. A 1992(ish) Raleigh Serengeti. I stopped using it because the frame was too small, but it’s small because it’s a mountain bike. It’s made for balancing and driving hard, but not for the city. Rather, not for the city in the summer. It’s perfect for winter, perfect enough. I’ll only use 3 of the 27 available speeds, but that’s ok with me. I just need to fix it up a little – the shifting doesn’t work and the brakes sing like… like brakes that don’t work (hey, I’m out of practice).
I didn’t write, because I didn’t ride.
I’m back on the road, rubber side down and the wind at my back. That cold, cold wind.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Worst bell ever?
Yes. It most definitely is.
I don't know why I put a question mark, this post could have easily been called "Worst bell ever." But never "Worst bell ever!"
Alright, BRC, reeeeel it back in here.
I seem to have purchased the worst bicycle bell ever. My old big red one (from now on to be referred to as 'Big Red') broke. It was the kind that made that br-r-r-r-ring! sound, like an old telephone with an echo. It stopped b-r-r-ringing it, it retired to a little 'tik' noise. I figure that's what I get for buying a $3 bell. Whatever, it makes a noise that says 'I'm a bicycle! I'm close to you!' That's all they ever have to do.
I went to Cycle Shoppe on Queen West because I was there anyway with a friend who went in for a repair. Picked up a little black thing (pictured hanging under my bars below). It's the kind you have to rapid fire like a six-shooter at high noon. It goes 'Ding! Ding!' 'I'm a bike!' It's sleeker and matches my bike better than Big Red, so - done. $7 -- that should last exactly 2.5 times longer than Big Red, going exclusively on price.
Cool.
Take off BR (Big Red) and put on the new one, it's attached by a ratcheting plastic loop with a rubber strip to make it stay on. It doesn't work. The tiny amount of force from my thumb it takes to ring the bell, is less than the amount of force it takes to push it down so it's upside down and doesn't ring.
(Green circle added in photoshop, shoelace added by hand - it's load bearing)
weak.
So I have a bell that takes two hands or a very awkward grip with one - I practice those maneuvres every time I have 5 minutes alone, but on a bike I need to ring my bell IMMEDIATELY. I can't brake with both brakes at the same time, so it's a choice when I'm coming by a stretch of cars that I suspect may door me - be safe with my hands on my brakes and shout "I'M ON A BIKE! PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR FOR A SECOND!" OR, hope that one of the first 6 cars in a row 10 isn't one that's going to hurt you. Russian Roulette's no fun without money involved, so forget it.
I realize I'm paranoid about being doored, but it's happened/nearly happened enough for me to be extra careful.
To put it simply:
That's no bell curve!
I don't know why I put a question mark, this post could have easily been called "Worst bell ever." But never "Worst bell ever!"
Alright, BRC, reeeeel it back in here.
I seem to have purchased the worst bicycle bell ever. My old big red one (from now on to be referred to as 'Big Red') broke. It was the kind that made that br-r-r-r-ring! sound, like an old telephone with an echo. It stopped b-r-r-ringing it, it retired to a little 'tik' noise. I figure that's what I get for buying a $3 bell. Whatever, it makes a noise that says 'I'm a bicycle! I'm close to you!' That's all they ever have to do.
I went to Cycle Shoppe on Queen West because I was there anyway with a friend who went in for a repair. Picked up a little black thing (pictured hanging under my bars below). It's the kind you have to rapid fire like a six-shooter at high noon. It goes 'Ding! Ding!' 'I'm a bike!' It's sleeker and matches my bike better than Big Red, so - done. $7 -- that should last exactly 2.5 times longer than Big Red, going exclusively on price.
Cool.
Take off BR (Big Red) and put on the new one, it's attached by a ratcheting plastic loop with a rubber strip to make it stay on. It doesn't work. The tiny amount of force from my thumb it takes to ring the bell, is less than the amount of force it takes to push it down so it's upside down and doesn't ring.
(Green circle added in photoshop, shoelace added by hand - it's load bearing)
weak.
So I have a bell that takes two hands or a very awkward grip with one - I practice those maneuvres every time I have 5 minutes alone, but on a bike I need to ring my bell IMMEDIATELY. I can't brake with both brakes at the same time, so it's a choice when I'm coming by a stretch of cars that I suspect may door me - be safe with my hands on my brakes and shout "I'M ON A BIKE! PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR FOR A SECOND!" OR, hope that one of the first 6 cars in a row 10 isn't one that's going to hurt you. Russian Roulette's no fun without money involved, so forget it.
I realize I'm paranoid about being doored, but it's happened/nearly happened enough for me to be extra careful.
To put it simply:
That's no bell curve!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
