Paul

I've always thought Paul Components are awesome. When I was a middle schooler, my dream was to outfit my mountain bike with Paul Components and be awesome. I also wanted to be a professional mountain biker, a DJ and live in Toronto. I guess, I've still got a long way to go with my life. Anyway, that Paul Rasta powerglide derailer was going to be the center piece of my awesome bike. Back in the 1990s, that thing retailed for like $325 or $350 or something like that and at some point between the 90s and now, they stopped making them. According to an ebay auction, it presently goes for $750, which is at the high end of what I pay for a whole bike. It would appear that Paul has gone the singlespeed route these days, since they make things that restrict chain movement instead of promoting it.

So, anyway, my lifelong dream owning some Paul componentry has finally been fulfilled, as a I bought a Paul chainkeeper and now I can carry pasta and 12 packs of Miller Lite on bumpy environs without fear of dropping my chain.

And, this morning I was able to combine my love of putting my lunch in front of my bike and my love of the Census:

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The raggies

I wanted to read about President Obama's budget this morning in the Hartford Courant, but it was on pages A3 & A9. I hate turning pages, so I skipped that. What was on the front page? Even more important news: The Rip Torn saga brewing in Salisbury! As a cyclist, lover of Salisbury and its mountains and daily reader of Bike Snob NYC, there's a strange kismet to all this.

1. I like to ride my bike and hike up Salisbury's hills.
2. Rip Torn likes to hang out around Salisbury and perpetrate bizarre drunken crimes.
3. Rip Torn is linked to cycling because BSNYC has taken to using the RT mug shot when approving of things.

So, I have concluded that Rip Torn is the world's most famous raggie.

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