Oh, Silly Craigslist

For all the myriad porn wonders the internet has to offer, there really is no substitute for good old craigslist. I just love it, and can't help but peruse listings for things I have no intention of buying (especially bikes). But sometimes, this perusal, rather than entertaining me, raises questions that need answering. For example, let us take the author of this post:

Raleigh Rush Hour Fixed Gear - $500 (West Hartford)

You're a cool guy, you should have a cool bike. Everyone knows that when you ride a fixed gear bicycle you are a stone cold bad ass. They wonder if it's uncomfortable to ride a bicycle with such enormous cajones*. You answer "Yes, but I have mastered my pain."

This bike will rock your world. Fixed gear means fixed speed: FAST. It also means that if the bike is rolling, you are pedaling. Of course, fine piece of machinery that it is, it comes equipped with a flippy floppy rear hub for all the sallies out there. Turn the rear wheel around it is will allow you to free wheel and coast.

But that's not what this thing is all about. This thing is about feeling the BURN. This thing is about getting somewhere FAST... And in style. Single speed means you even go fast uphill, because you don't need to downshift like a little girl. This bike is about tossing your Macbook into your Timbuk2 messenger bag, rolling up the right hand cuff of your chinos and blasting down to the student center at warp speed. This bike is about rocketing down to Starbucks, parking it next to a Harley, and still having the coolest bike there. Or maybe you're Lance Armstrong, and you're looking for a more bad ass way to train.

Come check it out. Make an offer. Spring will be here soon.

And then there is a picture of the bike, which looks like a fixed gear bicycle, with a cat near it.

So my question, dear seller, is this: Have you determined that this is the best way to move this bike? Or is this a super-duper-meta-ironic post, in which you mimic mockingly the copy that sites like Performance Bike use to sell singlespeed bikes, which copy has been adoringingly crafted to mimic an imagined sense of urban cool that doesn't really exist? I mean, "tossing your Macbook into your Timbuk2 messenger bag, rolling up the right hand cuff of your chinos and blasting down to the student center?" That has to be irony, right?

But seriously, seller of the Rush Hour and all bike sellers, could you please remember two things:

1. Tell us the size of the bike - not the size of the wheels, which is not terribly helpful, but the size of the frame. The key measurement is from the bottom bracket to the place where the seatpost goes into the frame.

2. When you put a single quotation mark after a number to connote distance, you are saying "feet." Two quotation marks means "inches." That's why when I write my height, I put 6'5" - I am six feet and five inches tall. Usually, I know what you mean when you say that the frame is 20', but it is probably really frustrating when someone actually wants to sell a bike that has a 20-foot frame (since everyone assumes it's a run-of-the-mill 20-inch frame), and it's really annoying to me because I hate stuff that's wrong.

Oh, and one last thing: If what you want to sell is clothes that will fit a three-year-old girl, don't post in the bikes section of craigslist!

* I think the poster meant "cojones," which means balls. "Cajones" means boxes, and while it is uncomfortable to ride a bicycle with enormous boxes, I don't think that's what this guy meant. Read more!

The Eel 2, for real

I've done some hard thinking. I've asked smart people some questions. I've looked at a calendar. Now's it's for real!


The Eel 2: starting in Hartford's Goodwin Park and then going to some other places. March 7, 2008 2pm registration and 2:30pm race. Only $5. Incomplete sentences. There'll be some prizes and it'll be on the road this time. I'm still trying to decide if it's going to be point to point or if racers will choose their own order, you know, like a regular alley cat. As you know, I like to make things just slight different. I think there's only going to be three stops/checkpoints with a good amount of space between each one. Also, it won't interfere with Monster Track.

And, if your legs aren't too tired from what happens on Saturday. Opa Opa Winter Cross is on Sunday (hopefully, it's already been canceled twice). Here's an email I got from Don at Danielson Adventure Sports:

IT'S ON!!!! SUNDAY MARCH 8TH.
MORE BEER, MORE CROSS

CROSS YOUR FINGERS.
Register on bikereg.com

DON D Read more!

suenalo!

Life is wonderful! I’m poor as hell, but so is most everyone else here right now. After pedicab shifts several of us walk across the street to the Green Parrot for free popcorn. Hungry, dirty, smelly, bicycle scavengers! Then its off to Cowboy Bill's happy hour for $1 yuenglings and PBR's.

Last Thursday I had a rare day off and went kayaking with the boys from Ohio. We basically just floated around the Gulf of Mexico between Key West and Stock Island, paddled to Cow Key Marina for a sixer and then floated to the Atlantic. A completely lazy afternoon under blue skies. I actually fell asleep in my ‘yak due to the sun and two beers. First time that ever happened. I liked it!

Riding around, both on the cab and my fixie, I see some strange, funny, beautiful, weird things. I most always take the full length of Duval Street on my ride home from the waiting gig. This is the main drag with about a million bars and another million tourist t-shirt shops. Its super fresh to see who’s pedaling and out and about and see how everyone's day went. Truly a wonderful, small town in many ways.


This guy rode up next to me near the end of my shift in front of The Bull. Moped? Check. Spear gun? Check. Time to get some dinner!


Mad props to this dude! I can’t wait to find out the whole story. This bike is flash! Wow. Airplanes can see this set-up! There’s fake fish in those tanks! And also some great beats you can’t hear in the photo!


Close up of the fish; and of course, blurry and out of focus as promised.

My new camera has died. But, as Coreylynn told me, the universe will give you what you need. So my old, dying camera that finally bit the dust when dropped into the water of a drainage tunnel under Oakland, is now working again. Yes, there’s a rubber band holding the battery door closed, but blurry photos are on and poppin’ again! Woo-haa! The Beat Bike Blog cannot be stopped!


Dozens of Civil War reenactment soilders paraded by Perfect Pedicab and the Parrot Saturday afternoon at the end of the dayshift. Amelia, I wish you were here this week. Civil War stuff, the Parrot and yep, it really does happen, Jimmy Buffet did a a very intimate, unannounced show at Margaritaville. Duval street was a mess!


Suenalo at the Parrot. Dang these guys are good. Wow! We caught their Saturday night set and both “soundcheck” sets on Sunday. Both night sets were packed with people dancing to the Latin grooves. The friday set prolly was too! Please, please, please check this 11 piece band out, Hotness! Soooo soooo much fun!


Here’s some randomn shit you see on a pedicab. Surfboard, paddle and snorkeling gear!

much more craziness after the jump...read more!





Here’s the Parrot and an idea of the bicycle situation here in Key West. All them bikes on the right are locked up to simple upside down “U” racks. These racks are everywhere on the island. Don’t worry, that motorcycle is only parking, no Harley Gangs terrorizing pedestrians!


Fellow pedicabbers; Roscoe of Serbia and Roy, a visiting pedicabber from Lauderdale/NYC, in deep conversation on Duval enroute to Cowboy Bill’s.


Between Suenalo sets on Saturday night we headed over to Cowboy Bill’s to see some peoples and check out the mechanical bull. There was some super thick fog smothering the city. This fog has been showing up the last few days and even the Conchs are having a hard time remembering the last time there was thick fog here. Freaky!


Suenalo, second set! What a freakin’ great time dancing and vibing to such amazing music and a great crowd. I can't say enough how much fun they were!


Monster and Roy and a lot of facial hair...I really don’t know what else to say!


Emily busting a few last moves before riding back to Mary Beth’s house. Everyone rides bicycles all the time here. Its beautiful! That building in the background is Perfect Pedicab! I can smell the popcorn at the Parrot when dropping off my trike at the end of a shift…Lucky!

Read more!

Problems

Since America has presidents, America has holidays for its presidents. I get those holiday days off from work. So, over the last six days, I had four of them off. When I have days off and Johanna has to work, I try to go mountain biking or at least hang out in the woods. (America also has trees and a holiday for them, but I don't get Arbor Day off. Too bad.)

On Lincoln's Birthday, I went off to Mt. Riga with my 'cross bike to climb CT's biggest hills. This was a totally failure as these are also CT's only seasonal roads (as far as I know). So, I took a long and snowy/rainy walk, pushing my bike through the highlands of Salisbury.

You cannot ride most bikes, but especially not a 'cross bike on hills that look like this (because of the snow, not the steepness):




On Saturday, I decided to use an actual mountain bike to ride in the snow and went to the reservoir. After about 1/4 mile of riding my chain broke. But, I came prepared. Well, sort of. In trying to fix the chain, the chain tool broke and I couldn't get pin all the way back. It was mostly back in, so I figured I'd probably be alright. I wasn't and the chain broke a 1 1/2 mile later and couldn't be fixed. This is the third cheap Lifu chain broke that I've had break. In fact, they generally are half broken after their first use. I bought a Park Tool now. It'll probably last until my fingers can't turn it.

On Sunday, I went for a road ride with three newly-met-by-me dudes, Ryan, Gabe, and Kyle from UHa. That was totally uneventful and a pleasant ride. I also now know what inland East Windsor looks like. Or, maybe it's inland South Windsor.

Yesterday, with another day off, I tried to ride at the reservoir again. I didn't fail per se, but thawing old snow requires an incredible amount of energy to ride through and has next to no reward.

I did get some cool rewards yesterday unrelated to a bike from my stove.

Home fries and tofu scramble:




Kimchi miso soba with tofu & bok choi:

Read more!

The Shame of Laziness

Everyone who knows me pretty much agrees that I am a dedicated bike rider. I ride in snow and rain and cold and wind (also, heat and gloom of night are equally ineffective in staying me from the swift completion of my appointed rounds, if you were wondering), and routinely get up very very early in the morning to substitute bike and train for driving. But today, I just couldn't do it.

For the second night in a row, the younger of my two terrorists sons was in full, nighttime effect, coming into my room at around 2:00 a.m. to propose activities wholly inappropriate to the hour ("I wanna watch a movie;" "I wanna go for a walk"). When the alarm went off at 5:00 for me to get up and get myself on to train, I just couldn't do it. "I'll drive to New Haven and take Metro North from there," I told myself (naively). So I put the Xootr in the trunk, headed south, and when I got to exit 6 on I-91, the voices that usually tell me to kill told me to keep going, and as usual, I listened to them, merging onto 95 South and driving all the way to my Bridgeport destination.

I know I shouldn't feel guilty about this. It is a 60-mile trip and sometimes it's OK to drive. But damn it, my self-image rests in large part on stubborn dedication to not driving, so I feel like I'm losing my identity.

On the plus side, my new car may not have such luxuries as power windows or any sonic insulation between the engine and the passenger compartment, but it does have a CD player, so I enjoyed some Pharcyde during the drive, which was just what the doctor ordered. Read more!

Space Bikes

So just as so many of us are embracing more traditional bicycle technologies; including but not limited to steel frames, fixed-gear drivetrains, friction shifting (bar-end or downtube), and leather saddles, it is clear that the majority of cycling enthusiasts are moving in a very different direction. While they aren't racing on this quite yet, an article found in yesterday's New York Times describes Shimano's electronic shifting system dubbed "Di2" that will be used in the Tour of California (which started yesterday) by American teams Columbia High Road and Garmin Slipstream, as well as the Dutch Rabobank squad. The componentry replaces traditional cable and pulley systems with battery-operated, motorized worm gears that shift instantly, and allegedly with incredible accuracy. According to reports the rear derailler operates much as the traditional manifestations, while the front mechanism is programmed to calculate the positioning of the chain on the rear gears and automatically trim its location in order to reduce the noise and friction attributed to the rubbing that accompanies a poor chain line, a factor that the Times says can, "drive riders to the point of distraction." The system's proponents argue that this benefit, as well as factors such as reduced maintainance, efficient and consistent performance, and flexibility regarding where shifting buttons may be mounted, can result in the minor advantages that can result in a stage win for a rider.

Both Shimano and Campagnolo think they have solved the errs that plagued systems originally unveiled by Mavic and the fact that several major teams have opted to use Di2 in competition is about as much evidence that one could ask for in reference to its benefits. I however, am less enthusiastic. I am of the same train of thought as Monsieur Henry, the bicycle historian, when he argues that the beauty of the bicycle as technology is that it is powered and operated by the human being that rides it. Indexed shifting obviously limited the human level of control of the shifting process to when and how much yet the action continued to take place without the assistance of an alternative energy source or computerized calculations. Human power remained supreme. In my opinion this technology separates the rider from the bicycle in a way no previous technology has. Don't get me wrong, I find it highly doubtful that these arguments would be enough to restrict the use of any "advancement" that a team felt would give its riders an edge but I do wonder what might come next? What is this technology a gateway to? Call me old fashioned but I don't want to turn on the 2019 Tour of California and see robots operating these electronic shifting systems rather than Christian Vande Velde and big George Hincapie just because the robots proved to fatigue less quickly than their weaker human predecessors. Read more!

Romance

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday. I love love. If you love love or love your love and are wondering what to him with him/her, here are two cool things happening on Saturday:

Sorry about the recycled picture.

Opa Opa Wintercross! There's no reason for me to explain how late season cyclocross and valentine's day are inextricably linked, because it's so obvious.

This guy is going to play one of these things.

This is a reminder and invitation to the second CATALOGUE show at:

56 Arbor Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06116
Suite 216 (second floor)

When: Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 8:00pm (performance)

Rodrigo Queiroz, the Brazilian-born-heavily-and-

awardedly-accomplished
classical pianist from the Hartt School of Music and UConn, will be
performing his current repertoire at 8:00pm for our February installment.
CATALOGUE will take place each month (debuting with Jamie Horgan's
drawings this past January) and is hosted by Joel VanderKamp and Joe
Saphire.

The studio is located at the front of the building (Real Art Ways is in
back). For directions or questions, please contact:

Joe: saphire.j@k-o.org 860.216.3826
Joel: joel_vanderkamp@yahoo.com 773.259.2669

CATALOGUE Ahead:
March will showcase Sam Ekwurtzel, the sculptor, and all-around good guy.

Please pass this invitation to those who might be interested and we might
have missed.

Joe Saphire
Joel VanderKamp

Read more!

Concerning Sunday Liquor Sales

There is no characteristic that inheres in beer or bikes suggesting that the consumption of the former is in any way tied to the riding of the latter. On the contrary, the two activities should probably be segregated for safety's sake (to say nothing of the legal implications). And yet, as our periodic pub crawls demonstrate, a certain cultural link exists between bikin' and drinkin'. (Also, there is an inarguable link between me and drinking.)

So it was with some interest - and some confusion - that I read the piece in today's Courant concerning renewed debate among our state's legislators and boozewallas on the question of whether to legalize the sale of intoxicating liquors on Sundays. Not surprisingly, the proprietors of dram shops near the borders with our more libertine sister states decry the loss of clientele on Sundays, when many a tremor-handed dipsomaniac can be seen piloting his automobile onto foreign soil to spend coveted, highly taxed American greenbacks on the sinful stuff. Some legislators also raise the alarm, noting that Connecticut's treasury should be the first to benefit from her citizens' vile habits. But strangely, the liquor sellers' lobbying group and most liquor shop proprietors in the interior of the state oppose Sunday sales. They think if sabbath booze-purveying were allowed, they would have to stay open that day to stay competetive, which they don't want to do, either because they like having a day off (fair) or fear that the sales would not increase enough to cover the cost of being open (also fair).

But here's what I don't get: If they don't want to be open Sundays, why don't they just, you know, stay closed? I mean, if they're already not doing business on Sundays, they wouldn't be any worse off if they continued not to do business on Sundays, would they? There is no limit on the hours when gas stations can stay open, but I've never heard the argument that all of them should close at, say, midnight so it would be easier to be competetive. You know why I've never heard that argument? Because it's stupid and doesn't make any sense. And who ever heard of a lobbying group for a group of retailers that advocates for limiting their clients' ability to sell stuff? It's like if prostitutes threw a bake sale to raise money for more vice squads, except more boring.

So what gives here? Can someone with more experience in Connecticut politics explain this craziness to me? Just thinking about it makes me need a drink. Read more!

Camera

My trusty new cell phone, with a functioning camera (I'm not ready for a real one yet), and I rode around a bunch this weekend. As you may recall, the weather was wonderful and practically required the riding of a bicycle.

On Saturday, I rode around on the packed plains of the Wethersfield / Rocky Hill sod farms. I'm sorry I didn't go ride the Coffee Cat in New Haven, I couldn't find anyone to come with me. I'm not ready for the big city on my own.




On Sunday, Johanna and I did a loop down to Middletown and back.


I should really clean my gloves more often.

Read more!

CT (and MA) Stage Race

I was just looking at twitter and saw an interesting tweet from "bikeride", who is out of Colinsville. It looks like there's going to be a stage race in May over two days with a time trial, circuit race, and a road race. I might be interested in the road race for some early season humiliation.

Check out the goings on: http://groups.google.com/group/connecticutstagerace?hl=en
Check out the more abstract goings on at: http://www.connecticutstagerace.com/

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Also, have you ever had a headset seize? I did yesterday. I was riding the old stumpjumper home from work and it happened to me. Turning became like getting a cork out of a wine bottle with a car key. It was weird because I'd just fixed the headset a few months ago and got the play out of it. I had been feeling pretty satisfied with myself. The grease was new, so what could be wrong. I opened it up and things looked ok, but I put in some more grease for good measure. It didn't help at all and I realized that problem was coming from the race. I don't know how to grease in the there and I became very depressed.

Then I remember I had a can of WD-40. I sprayed it at the race and now everything's fine- like instantaneously fine.

Damn salt :-( Read more!

Bikes of the future

As Will now pedals around on whatever it is that he's pedaling around on, here's another view of what's to come in bicycles. It's been reposted on a few other blogs and now it's on here.

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Also, I finally got a new cell phone, so I can start putting some "taken by me pictures" in my posts. (Yes, I don't own a real camera.) Read more!

getting’ paid to ride!

Its official! I am a licensed and working pedicab driver...errr rider…make that pedaler! It’s pretty much a really super duper awesome job. I am working for Perfect Pedicab, which as glorious fate would have it, sits directly across the street from The Green Parrot, my favorite bar in the world (think Sully’s, but in the tropics). For the last three days, I have been riding up and down Duval Street picking up people, and pedaling them around while talking about the shitty weather back home and sharing crazy stories of Key West. At their destination, I drop off my passengers and they give me cash money! Money! For riding a bike and talking about interesting shit. I love this job!

Friday, being my first day, started with Kim training me on the trikes and reviewing the rules of the city pertaining to how to park, how to ride, where not to go and other buerocratic and safety type stuff. I also got a playful warning not to hit any parked cars!! (yep, its been done before) Then they let me loose on the streets of Key West. Woooo-haaaa!

My first fare was a mom and daughter from Chicago, who needed to make a stop to shop enroute to their hotel near the Southernmost Point. Another was a couple from Kentucky wanting to stay longer. Three 20somethings working on the Pearl, a rerouted cruise ship, were loving their unexpected trip to the island. Colorado, Australia, Bosnia, France, NYC, people from all over were excited for the ride and really enjoyed themselves. It felt great. I am getting paid to pedal, meet people from all over the world and tell stories. Sweeet! Well, except for the lack of insurance, no medical benefits and the pillaging I am doing to my bank account when grocery shopping. And slow days can really suck because each day starts in the red and only getting enough fares will get you into the black, and hopefully far enough to survive. But still, seemingly a super sweet gig for me, and I am absolutely, totally enjoying it.


"Coco frio!" Saturday’s highlight was meeting Manny, the coconut man. Towards the end of the work day, several of us were hanging out on Whitehead Street behind a pick-up truck full of coconuts and their delicious water. Manny was chopping one end, leaving a quarter-sized hole, perfect for drinking with a provided straw, or just straight up as we were…au natural. mmmm……. sooo fresh and sooo good. He’s a pretty freakin’ funny character. Tourists were all smiles with a well spent $3. Go check him out while in town. Manny, thanks for the hook up, I got you when you need that ride! "Only three coconuts left!"

Sunday. Day three. I now know where all the hills are on Duval, Fleming and Southard Streets. If you’ve been here, you prolly think it is flat. Shit! The highest point on the island is only 18 feet. But trust me, when pedaling three passengers you suddenly notice even the slightest slopes. Now it seems so obvious. Even with 21 speeds, I tend to stay in the middle chainring; occasionally using the large ring if I want some speed with an empty cab. 

Sunday was super slow. So slow, that the bored  strippers ladies from the Key West Entertainment Club, were in front of their building, on the sidewalk, with signs reading, “free hugs.” I love this town! My apologies for the lack of a photo...


click Read More
for some random photos I shot the last few days.




With temps in the 50’s at night and 60’s in the day due to the nasty cold front, I’ve been needing to wear a fleece and scarf with my shorts to keep warm. Very strange weather.


Last week I knew I was tempting fate as the laundrymat would close before my clothes were dry. AndIi was ok with that and prepared to leave with slightly wet clothes. As things turned out, the manager dude pulls up, talks to me and then starts explaining how to lock up the joint after I am done! This does not happen in Hartford...ever! Anyways, here's a pic of the laundrymat and mi bicicleta after locking up. Yeah, there are no windows, just security bars to try and keep it breezy.


A random colorful bike next to mine near sunset! Mallory Square Grouper...


A dude from NYC fishing at sunset. yep, we troll by bicycle in Key West!



My normal commute home from the big grocery store along a waterfront pedi/bicycle trail. 


The southernmost Menorah!


Read more!

Of Coffee, Cycles, and Council

Come check out an alley cat in New Haven this Saturday. You'd think with the coffee theme that it'd be at like 6am, but thankfully it's in the afternoon. We're gonna try to make it down. The Scorchers got more to say on their blog.

Also, for those interested in the saga that is the Hartford City Council, tune into channel 96. I'd live blog it, but that doesn't really have any place on blog about bikes. Read more!

A Message for my West Hartford Neighbors

You know what I would have liked to do on Sunday when the weather was grand? Go for a bike ride. You know what I had to do instead? Drive all over the damn state looking at beat up old cars to buy. And you know what got in the way of getting that miserable task done? Some neighbor of mine called the town to complain about my failure to clear the sidewalk in front of my house, so the cops came and told me to do it, so I had to do it.

Now, I know what you're saying. You're saying, "Cry me a river, El Prez. It is your civic duty to make the sidewalks passable, and as an advocate of non-motorized transportation, you, of all people, should take this sacred trust seriously." To that I say, Fair enough, but peep this: My house in on a corner and there are sidewalks on two sides. On one side, the sidewalk connects to the rest of the block and is used by schoolchildren on their way to, you know, school. On the other side, the sidewalk dead-ends at my driveway and there is no more sidewalk on the rest of the block. (See diagram below; click for larger, legible size.)



So I cleared the sidewalk that goes somewhere and left the sidewalk to my driveway completely unshoveled. Why? Because if that part is unshoveled, you have to walk in the street, but if it's shoveled, you still have to walk in the street, because there are no sidewalks on the block!. But apparently, that's not good enough for some suckers, so I had to spend a couple hours chiseling away at the six inches of ice that had accumulated under the foot and a half of snow. And for what? So that some people get to walk thirty feet more on a sidewalk before they have to go in the street, which, by the way, they can only do by trespassing across my driveway. I am strongly tempted to build a little wall on my driveway at the end of the sidewalk, just to spite the trife individual who complained. But then the mail wouldn't get delivered.

Honestly, I just want to be done shoveling and scraping and buying a stupid car and get to the important business of riding my bike around. I totally need Voltron right now. Read more!

The anti-Wednesday

Rainbow Road and International Drive in Windsor look much better than this now. I think International Drive also has the biggest building in the entire state of Connecticut.

I know people are probably preoccupied with some sporting event right now, so just a quick thought. If you didn't ride today you really missed out. These days are few and far between in winter, but there did not appear to be anybody out on the roads (mountain biking was probably a little impossible). I saw one guy in Tariffville, three kids in Hartford and nobody else. The Tariffville guy was smart; he had fenders. None the less, a little road spray was no excuse to stay in. Read more!

Voltron is Needed Once More

You know what show was totally stupid? Car Voltron. Because seriously, it's like they just drew a big-ass robot and broke it into boxy components that looked only slightly like actual cars, plus there were a bazillion of them, so no character development, etc. But you know what show rocked? Lion Voltron. In addition to having a kick-ass robot made out of five kick-ass lions, each of which had a specific realm of influence, Lion Voltron had the following cool opening narration:

From days of long ago, from uncharted regions of the universe, comes a legend. The legend of Voltron: Defender of the Universe. A mighty robot, loved by good, feared by evil. As Voltron's legend grew, peace settled across the galaxy. On Planet Earth, a Galaxy Alliance was formed. Together with the good planets of the Solar System, they maintained peace throughout the universe until a new horrible menace threatened the galaxy. Voltron was needed once more. This is the story of the superforce of space explorers. Specially trained and sent by the alliance to bring back, Voltron: Defender of the Universe.

I like how fast and loose they play with the universe/galaxy/solar system distinction, but more importantly, I like the notion of a super-powerful force for good that is called upon only in times of extreme crisis. For me, that mighty force is the internet, and it has done well by me. Remember when my bike got stolen from my car in the Dirty Water? I posted about it here, and the internet came through: I got an awesome free bike.

Now, a new horrible menace is threatening my galaxy. To wit, my beloved Corolla has perished, a victim of acute arthritis of the motor. I was driving through North Haven on the Merritt on Tuesday evening when the oil light went on. I pulled over on the snowy side of the road, poured a quart of oil in there, and all seemed well, except that I almost needed Voltron to get me out of the semi-frozen snow beside the parkway (and I didn't even have the Xootr, so I couldn't have ridden down the Merritt to get help, which is almost a shame, because I saw a guy riding a bike on the Merritt once, and he seemed like a total superstar of toughness). Anyway, I was cruising along after getting back on the road when the ol' engine started a knockin' (if this toyota's a knockin', don't come rockin'). I pulled into a gas station almost immediately, but the engine was shot.

I got towed to a garage in New Haven (highlight: we had to cut through one of those emergency turnaround places on the Merritt, and the tow truck driver told me proudly, "I'm an emergency vehicle; I get to do all kinds of crazy shit"), and ultimately learned from the mechanic there that the car was properly dead. Thanks to the magic of craigslist, I found some dude in Meriden who had the car towed and bought it from me for $500. (He also asked me if a friend of his could call me to get legal advice about DCF involvement. I said sure.)

So now I have $493 ($97 went to the garage in New Haven, for the hour of diagnostic work and three (wasted) quarts of oil), but that doesn't go very far when it comes to purchasing an automobile. Case in point: This ad. That's why I need the internet.

CAR DEALERS, I AM SPEAKING TO YOU!!! Do you have some car that you are having trouble moving off the lot? Maybe the sales of this item would increase if you plastered it with advertising and allowed me to drive it all over the state! Have you considered how effective it would be to have a hip and handsome young lawyer like me incorporating your automobile into a complicated, earth-friendly, multi-modal commute? I have considered it, and the answer is, it would be very effective. Many young people would purchase the car. For you, I will do this for no cost at all - all you have to do is let me use the car! I will take good care of it! For you, I will even respect the speed limits.

Seriously. My work requires me to have a car. I need a car. I will take any car. I will take one of those bullshit, boxy, Car Voltron cars. There has to be some kind of deal we can make, right? Read more!

The Eel 2

Cool picture of a double rainbow, huh?

I said at some point that I was going to do a sequeel to the eel. However, we've been getting a lot of snow and the wooded environs are all unrideable. Judging by the weather so far this winter, they won't be clearing up any time soon.

So, I propose a new race for either Feb 21 or 28. It'll be a point to point road race, similar to the eel, but not a loop. You'll choose you're own route to some extent, but it'll be more structured than an alley cat.

What do you all think of this? Good idea? Bad idea? Anybody wanna race? What should it be called?

Ideas for names so far:
the hart
the crow
the squirrel
the least shrew
the Puritan Tiger Beetle (or just the beetle)
the northern harrier
the lynx Read more!

Grossest commute ever!

At one point, I road through this!

I guess there weren't frogs falling from sky or wads of mucus, but today was undoubtedly the grossest commute ever. Everything was six inches of ice-water-slush. Ugh. I guess it could be worse if Hartford didn't have paved roads and there was a monsoon.

Anyone have a pleasant experience today? Read more!

You Can't See Me

As regular BBB readers know, I recently became a fixed gear rider, and I'm lovin' it. But I'm not a messenger and I don't have that messenger Je ne sais quoi. I feel like I need a new outfit to go with my cool new bike. How about this:

Start with one of these great shirts.

Pair the shirt with this.

Then, get these to keep my hands toasty and lively. Read more!

What a joy it is to share the joy of bikes

That's my dad on the right. I don't know who the other people in the picture are.
My dad is, and has long been, a big fat guy. As a youth, I appreciated this quality, because I could playfully punch his belly with surprising force, and he never minded. As an adult, I have mostly been agnostic about my father's rotundity. Sure, I suppose that I'd like him to be in better health, since I want him to live longer, prosper, &c. But realistically, I'm more concerned with getting him to keep a job, manage his money properly, and close his mouth while chewing. (And frankly, I'm not that concerned with any of it. He lives far away, so I don't see him enough to be irked by his faults, but thanks to this modern interweb technology, and the telephone, I get to talk to him a lot, which makes me happy because he is a smart, funny guy.)

Lately, however, my dad has started to do things to slim down and improve his health, and I am delighted. Not because of the possibility for more productive years (he hasn't had one of those in ages), but because he sold his car, bought a bike, and is always conferring with me on two-wheeled matters.

Luckily for my dad, he lives in Portland, Ore., where they practically hit you with sticks if you don't ride a bike, and where public transportation exists and warmly embraces two-wheeled multi-modality. So he went to his local bike shop and they set him up with a used mountain bike outfitted for city riding: Riser bars, slick tires, fenders (a must in the rainy Northwest), etc., and my dad sprung for a Brooks saddle. Now he tells me every day about his latest triumph of mileage, as he does more and more of his commute on the bike and less and less on the train. For his birthday, I am sending him a little must-have kit for basic maintenance: Pump, patch kit, spare tube, tire levers, multi-tool, chain lube, wedge bag to carry stuff, and one of these, because, you know, Brooklyn represent. I almost can't wait to go visit him so I can give his bike a once-over and get more good gift ideas. It's nice. That is all. Read more!

State of the snow

This is not recent snow.

I'm a huge fan of Jill Homer's Up in Alaska blog. I think she's a terrific writer and an inspiring and talented athlete. She also reminds me that the winter in Connecticut is lame and manageable. So, when I think about driving to work, I remember that unless I carrying a large load or am injured, I've got it easy and should ride.




She spends much of her time riding around on the snow, because that's how it is in Alaska, so I also feel that I must continue mountain biking even when the ground is covered. I must admit that I'm totally baffled as to how she rides in deep snow. I went up to the reservoir yesterday and had a hell of time getting around. My singlespeed has 2.3"s and I was doing a lot of walking. This snow has had lots of time to compress and harden, but it's still pretty impassable. I suppose the Pugsley that Ms. Homer rides probably has those 3.7" Endomorphs. However, you'd think that lame Connecticut snow would be rideable with tires that are two thirds the size of Alaska-worthy tires.


So, anyway, that's the best I could do for a post today... How about the decriminalization of marijuana? Read more!

No Parking.... or be careful what you ask for!

I am now living in the Conch Republic, better known as Key West. Yes, technically it is in Florida, but the vibe and architecture is certainly far more Bahamian than American. Moving here after a dozen and a half visits over the last 10 years is a dream come true. The friendly people, the amazing weather, the island's charming general weirdness and the amount of bicycles have drawn me here year after year. So, how's living in a bicycle centric city!?

Lemme tell you, Portland and Berkley ain’t got nuttin’ on the bicycles here. Many people don’t even own a car to get around the four by two mile island. Bicycles, racks, pedi-cabs and trikes are everywhere! Unfortunately, this can actually be a problem when trying to get to work on time. My first waiting job ever is at the Turtle Kraals, right on the water at Key West Bight Marina; and finding bicycle parking at 10AM can be hard!


Here’s the restaurant’s employee only bicycle parking! Almost full! I got a spot this day!


But here’s a shot near the front of the restaurant with no less than seven actual bicycle racks completely full! Overflowing actually!


Even the giant anchor had bikes and trikes chained up to it! Dang! It's not even a bike rack!


This shot is for el presidente de china. Folding bicycles are actually super popular here. And the biggest retailer for such steeds? West Marine, a boating supply store! Why? Many live-aboard sailboats are anchored off shore and the owners will float in on a dingy with their folding bike and then use it to get to work, run errands around town or get to the bar. (or prolly a combo of all three) Now, that's a sweet multimodal commute!

There are many, many sweet rides all over the city and I’ll be posting more pics as soon as I can. There are mostly single speed beach cruisers, but also many mountain bikes with wide slicks. In the mean time, check out Conchscooter's blog, Key West Diary for two recent posts about bicycles: Duval Bikes and More Duval bikes. Great posts!

I met a dude who rides old school fixed gears, I mean OLD school as in pre-1900, but haven’t seen any of his rides yet! I hope to soon. I am told there’s a dude on a blue track bike too, but I haven’t met him or his bike yet. And that’s is for fixies! TJ, come visit and bring the Steamroller!

Its super convenient and really fresh to be in a town where the bicycle is truly the preferred way to scoot around town! Life is good! Ride on!


ps. there ain't no mo' to read!




Read more!