bikecentric

2012: Bike 180

2012-01-01T04:33:00.000-08:00

It's back, and I'm back to doing it again after taking a break last year. Yup, Bike 180 Version 2012: http://www.flickr.com/groups/bike180-2012/

So if you don't know what it's about, it's a pictorial log for every day in 2012 that you rode your bike. Here's how it works:

Snap a pic during your ride of you, your riding buds, or your bike/part, as long as there is something bike-related in it,
Add it to the 2012 Bike 180 group,
Tag it with "2012bike 180" or "bike180",
Add a title or description that includes what ride # it is, e.g., if it's your 11th ride of the year, you can do something like "Bike 180: Day 11"

To keep the number of entries and volume manageable, just add one picture for each day you ride, no matter how many rides you did that day. This forces you to pick your best picture.

One of my favorite things of doing these is being able to look at the pictures and more easily remember the ride. Another is that it eventually makes it necessary for you to be more creative when taking pictures during rides, unless you don't mind that they start to all look the same or care what the pictures look like. That said, there is no mandate to be creative or fancy. It's your legacy ;)

Picture 1 of Day 1 of 2009's Bike 180

Previous years' Bike 180s if you want to see how it's done or want some excellent examples:

2009 (Year 1)
2010
2011 (I took a hiatus this year, but others still played)

Oh yeah, why's it called "Bike 180"? When I started them in 2009, I was always getting asked how much I biked. I had no clue because I didn't keep any logs and I figured that taking a pic on each ride would be easy. The "180" part came into play because it was a nice round number and a goal that represented (almost) half the year.

Anyways, I've rambled too much. You ramble on the bike instead, join the 2012: Bike 180 group, snap a pic, submit it, and have some fun!

-rickyd

I just need a little something to take the pain away.

2011-08-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

19 miles in and I start my first walk of the day. Wow, this is steep, the sidis barely finding enough grip. There was not much much hope of cleaning this on the fix with 36x15 and with nearly 100 miles still to go it is probably best not to go too into the red.

Yeah. Once a year a stupid challenge comes a calling. I guess i have to take the new Single Speed Outlaw Factory Team jersey for a spin. Two years ago it was a 12 hour solo mtb race, fixed. Last year it was the un-named epic, fixed. Both times I was the only fixie that I saw or heard of. Yesterdays crazy challenge was no exception. D2R2, Deerfield dirt road randonee, 113 miles and 15,000 feet or so of climbing.

The talk on the bike forums was that it would be stupid or impossible to fixie it. With the gear chat centering around, would a 1:1 gearing be small enough? As I pondered the first of many walks I wondered if it was possible, for me, at least. But I kept moving. Walking, crawling, slithering, along the edge of the straight razor. Food stops were just a splash and go. I think my longest rest was to make sure a rider who had crashed was ok. The dirt road descents were so much fun, but loose gravel and stutter bumps are not a good combination. Looked like a broken collar bone for him.

It was actually a lot of fun fixed, yo-yo'ing with some other riders for almost the whole day. The reaction from others was outstanding. I got lots of cheers, you are my hero.... All this by mile 18. Damn. I better finish this and I did. Took me nearly 12 hours. I am feeling a little tender today.

Would I do it fix again? Ask me in 11 months time.

C O L O R A D O !

2011-08-17T22:37:00.000-07:00

It's official, I will be starting the new gig next month... don't feel bad for me, someone has to do it, and I'll step up and take one for the team. Shorts & Flip Flops tomorrow... think they'll mind?

So if you find yourself in the Denver area, look me up. On the upshot for my faithful blog fans, I'll be posting up a bit more often and I'm certain that the picture quality will suck just as bad as it did here in Texas.

Yes, I'm a post whore... so sue me!

My bike tattoo is better than your bike tattoo!

2011-07-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

Be sure to hit the link for the full text translation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93537824@N00/5950401843

Pinoy Pride Jersey

2011-07-15T04:01:00.000-07:00

So a few weeks ago, I entered a jersey design into Voler.com's You're The Artist contest. It sounded simple enough. Once they posted it, if it got 150 Facebook "Likes" they'd do a run of them.

About 10 hours after I noticed them posting my design and I got the word out, it passed the minimum threshold!

I'm stoked. Check the details here and snag one for yourself if it suits ya.

I look to celebrities for sartorial splendor.

2011-06-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

Attractive people on bikes:

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/galleries/TMG8564205/Stylish-celebrity-cyclists.html

Yay!

Oh and more Yay! I just moved to Marlborough MA.

It is about 40 minutes from Boston... The Mid-West feels like a distant memory of some vaguely recollected nightmare. It is only now moving back to civilization that I realize quite how shit it was.

The trails here are awesome, rocky, rooty loveliness. Most everyone is riding some full suspension wonder bike and I seem to get some funny looks turning up on the rigid fixie. "Dude that thing has no rear brake". No shit. I think maybe I will get something a bit less punishing, but looking at those bikes with all the cables and gears, lockouts and seat-droppers makes me think that I would rather be pedaling than dealing with all that crap. Then again I hear that the Outlaw is betraying the SS brotherhood, perhaps I should reconsider? I guess I need to find one of those pictures of the blue-eyed devil giving the two handed single finger salute...

Aaron Ryan Memorial Ride

2011-05-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

On June 18th we will be having a memorial ride at in honor of our friend Aaron Ryan.

"He was a great friend, dedicated teammate, fellow WUSS and most importantly an amazing husband and father. June 17th would have been Aaron's 40th Birthday and June 19th he would have celebrated Father's Day with his daughter Natalie and expecting wife Pavi.

We will miss Aaron tremendously and want to use this day to ride with him in our hearts and minds and remember the great times we had, particularly on the bike whether in group rides or in competition.

We will also use this ride to help raise money for the Ryan Children's Scholarship Fund that has been set up to help his family. Since it would have been Aaron's 40th birthday, $40 a person would be great to raise, but feel free to give more! I will take a collection and cut a check to the Scholarship fund after the event." -Jim Casey

Ride Details:
Location: Wakefield Park (meet in the parking lot by the tennis courts)
Date: June 18th, 2011
Time: Wheels roll at 10:30AM
Level: Ride will be self paced group ride (but please limit any mechanical as it always drove Aaron nuts waiting on someone to fix their bike when he could be riding!)
Route: Will hit Wakefield and Accotink (expect 2-3 hours on the bike)
Donation: $40

Thanks to Jim for organizing the ride.

Wednesday OP Ride

2011-03-18T05:53:00.000-07:00

Untitled by fatbob29r at Garmin Connect - Details

Finally remembered to bring the GPS with me on the OP ride. Of course, had a double mechanical. First my chain kep dropping, N-Gear had gotten loose and my chain kept dropping to the inside. After fixing that, found that my rear hub was super loose, so decided to call it quits. Lost about 10 miles due to mechanicals, worst Wed. ride for me yet.

Airbike

2011-03-14T06:30:00.001-07:00

I don't care how much nerd-cred your lab-grown nylon Airbike has, it still looks like crap.

For the well-funded hipster: a $27,000 fixie

2011-02-11T06:42:00.000-08:00

I think even Lance finds this absurd.

The whole thing is upholstered in hand-stitched water buffalo leather.

The. *Whole*. Thing.

Nice Rack...

2011-01-14T12:38:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of the Frederick Bicycle Coaliton comes the shiny, new, beautifully designed bicycle rack depicted at left. Classy!

According to an article on FrederickNewspost.com, it's Frederick's first (though by first, I think they mean first of its kind).

It comes as absolutely no surprise that the FBC chose the sidewalk outside of Brewer's Alley as the destination for this watershed installation. Well done, folks. Keep 'em coming.

[Above pic pilfered without apology or permission from Bill Green.]

Redneck Advertising...

2011-01-02T13:19:00.000-08:00

The Outlaw turned me on to this over the New Year's weekend. Just passing' it on. Enjoy.

2011: Bike 180

2011-01-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

Ready, set, roll!

2011: Bike 180 Group Pool

My last ride of 2010, tallying up to 233.

Marco gets a lil air under his wheels at Avalon.

True Dat...

2010-12-30T08:07:00.000-08:00

Bicycle wheel sculpture, Parc De La Villette in Paris, France.

Bike shop, circa 1912

2010-12-20T11:52:00.000-08:00

Click the image above to go to the source site and check out the full size, high-res version. If you're so inclined.

Remember, Xmas is right around the corner

2010-11-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

Consider introducing your little angel to the wonders of cycling with a mildly terrifying decapitated-horse-bike-thing:

via boingboing

Had Enough...

2010-11-13T18:34:00.000-08:00

Because all the members of this blog have apparently regressed to the point of being unable to form a coherent sentence, much less express it using something as complicated as a coordinated and meaningful series of keystrokes (it's called aphasia, ok?), I offer the brilliance of Pete Townshend's masterpiece demo of what would become a masterpiece song on The Who's masterpiece album, Quadrophenia. Until someone else posts here (or until Rickyd revokes my posting privileges), this is my (other) blog, and I'll damn well do what I please with it. So suffer or rejoice as you see fit. Even misery is preferable to insentience, n'est ce pas? Without further ado, the rudimentary The Real Me...

Seriously, people, I know you're riding...post some shit already!

Venue's On the Menu...

2010-10-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

For thems what cares, the choice of venue for the 5th Annual Bootlegger's Bliss is a done deal. Email with full disclosure has gone out to all the interested parties whose email addies are in my virtual possession.

If you didn't get an email and have the temerity to read my ramblings with great disinterest and a snide smirk on your chapped lips simply because there is nothing better to do in your pre-planned, ghost-scripted, over-before-it's-biologically-over life, well, get hold of someone who did get the email and show your ass up on the date of this ungodly (unGodly?) Feast of the Immaculate Flocculation, held annually in homage to the sacred yeast-beast, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (with a lesser tip-o'-the-Triregnum to sister Saccharomyces Uvarum), that rules the avenues of escape from this work-weary world.

Hope to see you there, beer, bike, and home-baked grub in hand!

Don't Miss the Bliss...

2010-09-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

This year's Bootlegger's Bliss is tentatively scheduled for Satyrday, November 6. Details coming soon to a blog near you. For the nonce, a little visual roll down memory lane can be found here, and a write-up on a previous Bliss can be found here.

Get brewin'!

What's Old is New Again...

2010-09-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Since this blog is almost as dead as my own (cue the crickets), why the hell not?...

Oh, and if you haven't seen them, check out Mesrine - L'Instinct de mort and Mesrine - L'Ennemi public n°1. Vincent Cassell is the shit. Seriously.

"Nobody kills me until I say so." Aw, hell yeah!

My tastes are nothing if not eclectic.

WTF?...It's Mukluk!

2010-08-05T11:12:00.000-07:00

Salsa reveals its latest brainchild, a burly snowbike all set to compete with half-brother Surly's Pugsley.

Absurdity is drooling over something for which you have almost no practical use. Ponder that little aphoristic tidbit while I mop up the saliva pool at my feet...

Pedaled and Partook...

2010-06-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

To those of you bold individuals who came out for the various rides to the 3rd Annual Northern Virginia Brewfest in Leesburg, Virginia, on Saturday, I say, "Salud!" It was a great time.

To those who missed it, well, your loss. Better luck next year.

Write-up in the works. Keep an eye out here.

(Pic courtesy of Mic.)

BIKES STOLEN FROM MAYOR FENTY'S GARAGE!

2010-06-16T04:59:00.001-07:00

on MY FOX DC
Joel Gwadz talks about stolen bikes in response to Mayor Fenty's garage being robbed of two kid bikes
Joel Gwadz?

Officer 'Followed Procedure' During Bike Theft at DC Mayor Fenty's Home
www.myfoxdc.com

thieves are masters of opportunity
the garage door was open

in the city a leaving a garage door open full of bikes is like leaving a barn door open to a barn full of horses in the country
there is a risk of the stable being a little thinner when you get back

Raystown Lake

2010-06-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

If you live within a few hours of Raystown Lake and don't go there, well, you're a sinner. Go there. Get some. Repent. Make good with nature.

Three Days at Raystown from ricky d on Vimeo.

Bikepacking....

2010-06-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

... to those of you who want to be published, and enjoy bikepacking, here's your chance. From www.bikepacking.net:

Hello Fine Forum Folks,

I'm working on an article for Dirt Rag and am asking for contributions from you, the experts.
(I've already asked some of the more well-known bikepacking experts, who may already post here, but wanted to put this out there in case anyone who hasn't already been in print would like to be.)

Basically this is an article about places to go bikepacking, in the style of our annual Ride Guide collection of "local knowledge" places to ride. There are a few simple questions to answer, in flowery phrases or short and simple style (pasted below). The questions can be answered individually, or together as one narrative.

If you would like to contribute, please answer away and send to me at editor@dirtragmag.com. I don't have much space to work with, but I may be able to use some "extra" contributions online, if that's OK with the answer-er. If you can provide photos of the place(s) you talk about, that's a big help.

The questions:

- What was your favorite and/or most memorable bikepacking trip?

- Total distance?

- What makes the area you rode in special?

- What was your “style” for the trip – as fast as light as possible, slower with more sightseeing, particular destination, etc.?

- Was there a scary or particularly challenging moment? What happened?

Feel free to ask questions of me if that helps.

Thanks!

Curious

2010-05-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

1951 Schwinn with a 96t chainring up for auction. Sadly, the auction has already concluded.

How not to win (automotive) friends and influence (car-driving) people:

2010-05-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

Cyclists in Berlin apparently think the roads are "too black". Fixed!

Link

2010-04-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

I LIKE BIKES MORE THAN...uh, nevermind dude. You got this one.

via Ugliest Tattoos

2010 Greenbrier Challenge race photos posted

2010-04-26T19:18:00.001-07:00

Hey all. I've posted the shots I took at Sunday's Greenbrier Challenge race. Pass the word to other interested parties, wouldja?

http://www.pbase.com/gmr2048/2010_greenbrier_challenge

Web-sized images in the galleries are free for non-commercial use. You want bigger or commercialer (that's a word, right?), email me.

PWI? PUI?

2010-04-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

WTOP is reporting that "The D.C. Court of Appeals has ruled that the city's ban on driving under the influence applies to riding a bike."

We like rocks

2010-04-12T18:50:00.001-07:00

We like rocks
Originally uploaded by sso

and road riding and touring and commuting in Frederick County. Join us and help make the best riding in Maryland even better.

Frederick Bicycle Coalition

Oops, I Did It Again

2010-04-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, ten friends and I flipped our wheels to the disc side, which was preset with a Tomicog or a disc fixie cog of some sort. That's right, another freewheel-less ride out at Gambrill. Stupid? Maybe, but that never stopped me before, and this time I managed to trick a couple handfuls of friends to join me.

Three of the fellas have never ridden fixie before, two others have never ridden fixie off-road, and the balance of us partake occasionally, if not often. Everyone did well, and I think they enjoyed themselves. No massive hematomas or killer crashes happened. Bummer for the footage ;)

Dylan, still not old enough to drive, is a name that'll be big this year and here on out. He easily smoked us, and made it up Stegosaurus Rocks on his first try. If you've ever tried it singlespeed, you know what an accomplishment that is. If you scorch, you'd give nothing but mad props.

At the end of the ride, one of the first-time-fixie-riders asked, "So what's the advantage of fixie?"

To it, I said, "None. You had fun though?"

"Yeah."

Video by Tuba Sean:

Mid-ride:

End o' Ride:

Be safe on the roads....

2010-04-10T18:13:00.000-07:00

Email from Race Pace Bicycles about Memorial Ride, April 12:

April 10, 2010
Greetings!
As many of you know, two cyclists were hit by a car last week. One of our good friends and customers was killed and another is recovering in Shock Trauma with serious injuries. We have a few things in the works to help the families, but we have a last minute opportunity to meet with our representatives in Annapolis to support the house bill 461 requiring motorists to pass cyclists at a safe distance. Monday is the last day of the current session so this is the reason for the late e-mail.

For more info about the memorial ride: http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20100410082631851

Visit Our Website: http://racepacebicycles.com/
Thanks for your support. We can make Maryland's roads safer for all of us!
Sincerely, Marc Lefkowitz

Marc Lefkowitz
Race Pace Bicycles

The Death of Hip.

2010-03-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

While I'm no hipster, that's it for me. I'm out. The gears are going back on everything. *Everything*.

Hipsters Grieve: The $150 Walmart Fixie

Hurry. Buy It Now. Be the first cool, cool cat on your block with one!

Sounds like your average Tuesday Night Swill ride to me.

2010-01-28T06:12:00.000-08:00

Wonder if this guy would be up for a ride...when he gets out of prison.

---
ALEXANDRIA, La. - Alexandria police said man stopped for riding his bicycle at night without a headlight was carrying a weapon made from a butcher knife attached to a pool cue. They said the 51-year-old man also had a razor blade in his hat. He was booked with illegally carrying a weapon, doing so after a felony conviction, resisting an officer, public intoxication and at least five outstanding warrants.

The police report said the suspect originally gave police a fake name. An officer patted him down and found a metal push rod that appeared to be used for smoking crack cocaine. They also found a prescription painkiller in someone else's name.

Information from: Alexandria Daily Town Talk, http://www.thetowntalk.com

The Associated Press

---

History lesson

2010-01-25T09:46:00.000-08:00

I recently came across a few bicycle advertisements in old Boy Scout handbooks I'd inherited. Thought I'd share:

1917:

1929:

Bike: $45. .22 caliber bolt-action rifle: $7. God bless America! Somebody should have talked to the marketing department and done a "Buy a bike, get a free rifle" promotion. What a missed opportunity.

1929:

Bike 180: 226 Rides

2009-12-31T17:01:00.000-08:00

Here on the last day of 2009 looking at the Bike 180 Flickr pool, I'm impressed with the number and quality of submissions. As of this writing, there are 2130 pictures in there, from 54 members, of which I contributed 226. Scanning through gives me a good idea of how and how often my flickr pals utilize and enjoy their bikes.

The whole point of this exercise was to find the easiest way to track how often I ride in a year. The "180" of the title was my goal, i.e., I wanted to do at least 180 rides in the year. I played like this: take a pic of/while on a ride and try to incorporate a bike element into it, then throw it in the pool. For me, that was way more interesting than keeping track through mileage logs or a diary, and in some ways, I think it was more accurate. Just as important, it was fun and others got to see a snapshot of what I saw while on my rides.

It was a good year, 2009, for biking. Photo proof in the pool.

2010: Bike 180 starts in a few hours. Join us.

MORE Needs Your Help Today to Protect Cyclists from Fines at Loch Raven Protect Mountain Biking Access at Loch Raven Watershed

2009-12-10T06:40:00.000-08:00

Ask Baltimore Mayor Shelia Dixon and the Baltimore City Council to work more closely with mountain bikers. We have ridden the trails at Loch Raven Watershed for years, yet an abrupt change in management policies has recently been imposed on our user group, with no opportunity for dialogue or collaborative problem solving.

Take Action!

Recently the Department of Public Works Reservoir Natural Resources Section Police officers have begun ticketing and fining trail users in Baltimore's Loch Raven Watershed. These fines have come without warnings nor an attempt to create a dialogue with the user groups who have been responsible for maintaining the resources for the many years.

More Information

Many similar areas in Maryland and other Mid-Atlantic States welcome trail users as vested partners in management who will quickly alert authorities if something is amiss. At Loch Raven, the lack of adequate storm water management threatens the quality of the watershed, yet trail users -- who volunteer to maintain trails and remove trash -- are receiving tickets.

Baltimore's watersheds, especially Loch Raven, are among the largest open spaces accessible to Maryland residents. We recognize the challenges in managing such a large geographic area with diverse user groups. In order to create a partnership between trail users and DPW, we suggest the following actions:

Immediate suspension of ticketing and fining trail users.
Creation of a map and signage on the existing network.
Begin treating all trail users equally and ensuring all maintained trails are open to all users.
Implementation of a night riding program, similar to agreements the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) has with Maryland DNR and other land mangers.
Creation of a trail maintenance agreement between the City and trail users groups, similar to agreements MORE has with Maryland DNR and other land mangers.
Implementation of the "annual review of mountain biking activities." The Loch Ravenmanagement plan called for this, yet it has never been executed.

Please take action on this important issue!

https://secure2.convio.net/imba/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=289

---

Here is the article from today's Sun:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/b...0,507258.story

Quote from article:
"These are clear guidelines so that you can have recreational biking without degrading the habitat around our drinking water supply," he said. "This international organization doesn't know a thing about Loch Raven. They don't care about wildlife or sensitive plants, they just want to ride. If they were riding over George Washington's grave, they wouldn't care."

Please post comments on the Sun's website.

One Hit, Two Hits, No-hitter...

2009-11-24T12:34:00.001-08:00

Dock Ellis pitches a no-hitter with a little exogenous help. Tip o' the hat to Butch for the link.

sorry for the aspect ratio.

2009-11-12T15:16:00.000-08:00

by bill... from here
www.cxhairs.com

thanks bill

I laugh harder every time I watch it
having a harder time explaining it to my kids why it is funny
or how it is that I can show my middle finger as a joke

reality comes at a young age these days

Beer Necessities...

2009-11-12T11:47:00.000-08:00

Email invitation is out and in your inbox, if you made the list. If you didn't and should have, you know how to reach me.

The 4th Annual Bootlegger's Bliss is on!

Belated Bootlegger's Bliss Beta...

2009-11-03T06:50:00.000-08:00

Okay, the first matter of business comes in the form of an apology to my friends and drinking buddies in the biking community for my self-imposed exile of late, details of which shall remain nebulous, at least for now. Suffice it to say I checked out for a bit and now I’m back. Sort of. I mean, as far as fat-tire rides are concerned, I still haven’t put ass to saddle since SSWC 09 in September (and only a few times before that this year), but that dearth of dirt miles didn’t seem to have much impact on my ability to muddle along with the rest of the pack in Durango. Odd, yes, but I’ll take it.

On to the important stuff. The 4th Annual Bootlegger's Bliss will occur on Satyrday, November 14th, of this very year. Details such as time and location will be revealed shortly via email to all attendees of previous years' events.

For now, and especially for the uniniated, a maniblissto of sorts, to wit:

The history of all hitherto existing cycling events is the history of competitive struggles. Not so with the Bliss.

The Bootlegger's Bliss is a social event, designed to bring together people who share (or are simply curious about) two seemingly disparate passions: homebrewing and mountain biking.

The Bliss is not a race. It does not suffer elitist competition. It begets neither boasting nor bloviation. There are no medals, no podiums, no bragging rights, no prizes. No one's "in it to win it," as the dreadful cliché goes. No one trains for the Bliss. There are no "winners." Or, more precisely, everyone is a winner.

The Bliss is not a drinking contest. It does not engender wanton drunkenness. It is a tasting, and if you don't know the difference between a tasting and a drinking contest, the Bliss is not for you.

The Bliss is about fun for fun's sake. It is the arrowhead forged in the smithy of the soul, honed in secret, dipped in curare, then trained on the heart of the ogre Boordumb. The lifeblood of the Bliss is participation. There are no spectators; everyone is equally a "criminal" and delights in it. Everyone rides, everyone tastes. Participants are encouraged to front their very best brew, in keeping with the concept of the potlatch, whereby prestige is gained not by amassing coveted property like some plutocratic piggy, but by giving it away.

Leave your money at home. The Bliss is not about commerce—quite the opposite, actually. Aside from the homebrew and homecooking you're asked to bring and share, the Bliss is a free event, generously and officially sponsored by Absolutely No One®. That's the point. From a philosophical perspective, the Bliss was conceived as a small step outside of commerce—a tick in the matted hide of mass-production—and as an appreciation of highly personal craftwork against the backdrop of some sweet singletrack. It's a celebration of use value, that immeasurable quality that fills the soul with a sort of natural, ineffable satisfaction too seldom felt in the cold void, the funereal absence, the blanched banality that clings to exchange value like stench to carrion.

As Raoul Vaneigem put it, "We have a world of pleasures to win, and nothing to lose but boredom."

Frederick Watershed Trail Work

2009-10-29T13:41:00.001-07:00

Frederick Watershed Trail Work
Originally uploaded by sso

Trail work. Sunday. Frederick Watershed. 9am. Cool news to be announced on site. Grand opening of the New Blue. More info here.

Bicycle Film Festival DC

2009-10-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/?p=washington

WoooHoooHoooothud

2009-10-19T06:14:00.001-07:00

That's gonna leave a mark:

White-knuckle Weekend*...

2009-10-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Rained out and rescheduled! Details here. (Thanks to riderx for the scoop.)
Rob Harrington, the Leesburg Baker's Dozen race promoter, has come up with a new event, a two-day stage race called "Speed Freaks." Some time back, Rob requisitioned me as the artist for the event, and after dicking around (an art term) forever with a variety of concepts, I settled on the above image as my meager contribution. Simple, straightforward, and anything but elegant. This graphic will find its way onto some very nice long-sleeve jerseys as part of the race shwag and, hopefully, onto the backs of many of the readers of this blog.

If you're interested in doing the race, sign up by October 14th (that's tomorrow!) to save $15 off the race price.

Looks like a great opportunity to get in one more dirt race before the end of racing season. Check it out.

*Phrase brazenly stolen from the song "Sea Foam Green" by Jawbreaker.

The Bike Project

2009-10-08T13:48:00.001-07:00

oct 8 025
Originally uploaded by beckyb3

Art. Words. Film. All about bikes. It's FREE. You should go. It opened today in Columbia, MD. It runs until Nov. 15th. Full info here

Bike 180: Day 161

2009-10-02T04:50:00.001-07:00

Bike 180: Day 161
Originally uploaded by bundokbiker

It's official now. I'm a polo dork. Got the disc cover on front to prevent broken spokes. It didn't help my game though. I fell twice and landed on the end of my bar; once mid-thigh and once on my nipple. I can't decide which hurts more this morning.

"Sort of dumb and super hip"

2009-09-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post (and Urban Outfitters) discover fixed-gear bikes

.

Howe Intense...

2009-09-19T22:19:00.001-07:00

Hammer-ons and pull-offs: Steve Howe of Yes fame bends some serious strings...a classic that still holds up so well.

Ready, Steady, Go

2009-09-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

Seven hours will pass before my Pops picks up Jo, me, Chester, and Quiring and drops the lot of us off at the airport. From there we'll go to Albuquerque to Santa Fe to Durango for the SSWC. Along the way there will be riding interruptions - middle desert - which I haven't done in like, forever. Vast expanses of dirt, cacti, but most importantly, actual mountains.

Tangentially, many have asked, "How're you feeling?" Much better, thanks. Doc says "Cut down on the fried foods and cholesterol, or it's the statins for you!" I hate taking meds. If I start statins, it'll be like, forever. I'll try my best.

Since I last wrote, I've become hooked on something new: bike polo. I've even given up totally beautiful riding days to instead go down to the rink to wack the street hockey ball around with a chopped ski pole topped with a piece of plastic tubing. So fun, sprinting up and down the walled court, twisting/contorting your body to snag and control the ball, shuffle it forward, then take a swing, only to miss. No problem, repeat again and again until you finally get it in, or the other team scores their five goals.

So if you'll be in Santa Fe in the next few days or in Durango this weekend, look for a group of a striped dozen-ish. We'll be the ones laughing ours arse off, hooting and hollering, and altogether having a good time. Say hi. I'll be the one hacking in the back :)

Real Reality

2009-08-05T18:07:00.000-07:00

I wake up yesterday morning with a tight chest. I go to work with earlier mentioned tight chest, when about an hour and a half later, my tight chest turns into a feeling where someone just reached into my chest and is squeezing my heart with all their might for about ten seconds. I set up an appt with my family doc who is across town. I get there, the nurse looks me over, then gives me an EKG. Two minutes later, they are hooking me up to an oxygen machine and are calling 911. They say my EKG looks abnormal and the oxygen absorption rate is ~70% when it should be 98-100%.

I'm whisked away to the nearest hospital via ambulance, less than 10 minutes away, and I'm met by a team of doctors and nurses. They get me inside, start hooking me up to machines, and tell me I'm having a heart attack!!! They're double-checking, but they want to know how to proceed just in case and depending on the severity: taking pills, open-heart surgery, or angioplasty. Doc says he'd recommend doing #3 if I was his brother.

It's too much. I, 37-years old, regular exerciser, but so-so eater, am having a heart attack! Doesn't the biking, at least every other day, count for nothing? Oh yeah, there's the little family history thing. My dad's dad died of a heart attack in his forties (I think) and at least three of my dad's bros have died of heart-related conditions. My dad has had a quadruple bypass, and here I am, still eating fried chicken, greasy fries and burgers with regular abandon. No worries, methinks, since I bike so much. Well, reality don't much care.

I'm rushed to another lab upstairs. They need to shave my nethers, make a cut, and stick a catheter up the hole to go straight to my heart and dye it so they can do more scans. It's surreal, the whole time never less than six people in the ER and now the cardio-scan room (or whatever they call it) are running around, explaining things, and telling me that time is of the essence. I'm freaked, but I go with the flow. They determine that I'm not having an outright heart attack, but they aren't sure what's going on, which means...more big machines and more testing.

They bring me upstairs to my room in the Cardio Unit, and start poking me with all sorts of needles to draw blood. I let them know ahead of time that there are two things that scare me more in the world than anything else: public speaking and needles and that I've even fainted at the latter a few times. It's then they discover that everytime they prick me with a needle to draw blood, my heart rate drops way below "normal", which worries them. They eventually are able to get a few vials of my plasma.

Meanwhile, the cut above my groin is really sore, but I can't move that leg for eight hours. They put a collagen plug in the hole, and if I move funny, it can come out, and it being an artery, I can bleed out. Greaaaaat.

I explain to these cardio nurses that I bike a lot. They realize that may the reason that my heart rate is registering so low. (I later discovered that I scared my night nurse when she peeked in and my heart rate was down to 34 bpm.) My blood pressure seemingly appears too low, but with the knowledge of the "athleticism", they realize that it's really good also, which begs them to ask, "What are you doing here?" They're used to seeing much wider patients, meaning, well, you know what I mean.

I'm kept overnight for observation and more testing. This morning, I'm given a heart sonogram. Good. Clean. Then later, I'm given a VQ scan, which basically meant inhaling and getting injected by radioactive dye to see if I have a blood clot in my lungs. Uh-uh. Nada. Finally, my fourth EKG in two days. Same ol' same ol', i.e., normal.

The cardiologists and other types of docs look at all the test results, and they can't explain my chest pain. I have a little plaque around my heart but nothing that should have prompted a heart attack. My bad cholesterol levels are a little high, and they recommend a heart-healthy, low-fat diet. 'Nuff said, done. They conclude that it might've been acid reflux, but I need to check back next week and three weeks from now.

I'm out of the hospital and back at home now. I'm sore from needles, not being able to move my leg for eight hours, and the cut they gave me above my groin. Selfishly, I'm glad it's supposed to rain and stay hot for the next week so I can't be tempted to get on the bike, which I need to do for at least three days.

Three lessons learned:

Fried chicken ain't the greatest, after all.
Jo, my omnipresent wife, is my rock.
I'm lucky to be alive.

-rickyd

Jesus f*cking Christ what is wrong with people?

2009-07-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

"Firefighter allegedly shoots cyclist in head to teach him not to ride on a busy street"

This guys is a dick. ~~Allegedly~~.

And to think, Asheville NC was on my list of "Potentially cool places that I might want to live". May have to reassess that.

Bee Happy

2009-07-21T19:03:00.000-07:00

My buddy Kathy, the schoolteacher, had an anecdote from a couple of days ago:

I know you all are jealous about me being off for the summer so I thought I'd give you a quick glimpse into my daily activities. I'll share today with you...

Drank coffee and did crossword puzzle for an hour

Went to Wakefield to ride -- best thing about summer is being able to ride during the day

Lube chain, check tires, get on bike

Go into the Bowl

Rippin it up

Something pinches my neck

Grab a bee from my neck

It hurts but I just got there

Decide not to be a whimp and keep riding

Fingers start tingling

Neck hurts but keep riding

Go to the racecourse

Clothes are itchy

Face feels fat

Lips are tingling

Helmet feels too tight

Decide to go back to car

See blotches all over my body

Feel light headed

See guy in parking lot and ask him what I should do

He offers to call 911

I refuse. It's only a bee!

Leave and go to 7-11 for Benadryl.

As I'm sprawled over the counter, lady can't figure how much it costs

Throw a ten at the lady and ask the guy behind me call 911

Slump to the floor

Firefighters and EMTs come

Am totally embarrassed

They tell me I'm going to the hospital

I say I don't want to

They ask why I called 911 then

Get in ambulance and go to hospital

Get IV and a bunch of other stuff injected in me

Lindsay comes

Get released four hours later

Now have to carry an EpiPen

Feel like an IDIOT

I hope you guys aren't too jealous with all of the fun I have during the day! :)

Artistic rendering. May or may not bee actual size.

DC peeps: Metro seeks cyclists' input

2009-07-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

http://wtop.com/?nid=596&sid=1720944

Metro to hold bike access workshop
July 19, 2009 - 3:57pm

WASHINGTON (AP) - If you walk or ride a bike to your Metro stop, the transit agency wants to hear from you.

Metro planners are in the midst of a study to evaluate demand from pedestrians and cyclists and access to stations for those who walk or ride bikes.

Metro says that between 2002 and 2007, the number of cyclists biking to rail stations during the morning rush hour increased 60 percent, to a daily total of more than 1,500. That number is expected to keep rising. The agency has identified $45 million in bicycle and pedestrian improvements it would like to implement before 2020. Likely upgrades include new bicycle cages and double-deck parking for bikes.

Metro will hold a workshop starting 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at its headquarters at 600 5th St., Northwest. Anyone interested in providing input is encouraged to attend.

2009-07-16T20:55:00.000-07:00

I have been suffering from a little East-Coast withdrawal. In particular I enjoyed the ride reports from 12 hours of Lodi and of course I miss all the East Coast riders I used to try and chase like I was a rabid dog...

So I am excited tonight to have booked my flight for SSWC09. I cannot wait to see some old friends again and chase some of you down. I also signed up for half of 24-9, the Wisconsin leg of the 24hour endurance series. My goal is to get 100 fixie miles in the 12 hours. Wish me luck?

Chocolate Factory

2009-07-12T19:26:00.000-07:00

So I got to go to TREK land today. I have been hoping to go for a long-time. It is just up the road from me in Waterloo Wisconsin, about an hours drive or so away. I was not sure what to expect. I guess I don’t really appreciate the whole Lance thing and somehow I still think of the TREK of the ‘90s making worthy but boring bikes (I lived with a guy who got to review and then keep a 930 back in the day, perhaps 95. It was really very nice, but so understated that I cold not imagine who would buy it.) Or bikes on the edge of good taste and usefulness… (Y-bike, Y-foil and early suspension designs that are hard to imagine being a good idea). Remember these?

Besides what kind of mountain bikes can get designed and made in flat Wisconsin? Without some world class trails to test and develop on how can a company make world class bikes?

So driving up to TREK and Waterloo is a tiny town and the TREK building is understated. You would not know it was “that TREK” without seeing cars with lots of bike stickers and racks in the lot. We entered in a side door and immediately there is a bike room. But the kind of bike room I have not seen the likes of before. Lots of Madones and full suspension bikes a Burley tandem, lots of hotness and lots of bikes that look well used. The bike room has an area for bike photography. Today seemed to be the day to photograph the pink girls bikes replete with handlebar streamers. My buddy picks up a prototype full suspension 29er (Damn! It is lighter than my fixie ferrous) to ride for the day. I was allowed a teaser pic:

We sign the disclaimer and get the wristbands and ride off the short distance to the trailhead.

The fixie MTB is a dog on the road, spinning along and getting no-where. We get to the trails and are greeted by a nice looking four-cross track complete with big jumps and massive berms to rail. Luckily everything is roll-able and it is great fun to crawl down safely. I did wonder what it would be like to watch the Outlaw hit some of the doubles.

I guess I have never ridden private trails before and did not know what to expect. A lot of local trails here are pretty dumbed down and not much of a challenge, these were not those kind of trails. As soon as we start we a re greeted by a couple of big rock piles and tight tricky turns. “Nice!” and my buddy replies “I did that!”. This is new trail and still a bit rough and lumpy in spots, not totally ridden in yet, but it is full of little humps perfectly suited for getting mini-air. I am a wheels on the ground kind of rider, but it was so much fun flowing along and watching the rest of our group style it up. As we get further into the trails there begin a series of wooden -obstacles , rock piles and jumps. I was not feeling brave today. I rode a couple of the easy ladders and enjoyed mopping up some rock sections that reminded me of the East-Coast loveliness I miss so much. These trails are some of the most fun I have ridden and could have supplied a challenge for any rider and bike. We rode for a couple of hours or so and did most of the loops twice, so there is definitely not endless single-track, but what there is just awesome. No wonder the mountain bikes are now world-beaters.

We head back to TREK and while some of our party get a shower in TREKS locker rooms (complete with TREK shower curtains), I get a mini tour of some of the facility. What is immediately striking is there are bikes everywhere, all kind of bikes wherever you look. It is amazing the diversity and coolness of it all. Four all XTR carbon full suspension wonders are stacked in the wall of one corridor, head past the paint room and there are some Madones with flashy custom paint jobs. From peoples work-stations you can tell the employees love bikes. I see lots of cool stuff everywhere I look. A carbon fibre bottom bracket shell desk organizer…. A picture of a bike with “my other bike is your mom stenciled on the down-tube. A southpaw fixie with narrow bars….. You get the idea?

Heading back by the paint room I noticed a bunch frames for paint, 2010 madones in there nude glory. I pick one up and it is lighter than any fork I have ever owned. One of those as a fixie might be some fun. Then I spot a rack of my favorite welded on site product, the Ferrous. I really like mine and I am glad it was made here by someone local.

I think I have become a TREK fan. I’ll cheer for Lance on the tape-delayed col de tourmalet on the T.V. in a few minutes.

Ricky's new bike

2009-06-27T14:03:00.000-07:00

... Jones Space Frames are so 2009, for 2010 Ricky will be proudly riding a bike from his Alma Mater... tres chic Ricky, tres chic

How far?

2009-06-18T18:49:00.001-07:00

How far do you go? I don't mean how far you go to end up with 200lbs of drugs: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ifMoaUbKGuxS55TAJ11h1lZ8f4nAD98TB57O0

I mean how far can you ride? Some crazies do the C&O canal in a day and rack up 180 miles or so. I'd like to give it a shot, but the stars never aligned for me. I did do 130 miles of it one day, but it rained so hard for the last four hours that I got sand in my shorts and mangina and it has taken me a while to remember the experience fondly.

This weekend I did get my best two day total. I am pretty sure of this because whenever I have done a century previously the next day I have sat around and "recovered". So I thought it sounded like a good idea to do TOMRV. http://www.qcbc.org/tomrv/route.html Its 106 miles day one and 89 miles day 2. I rode the fixie:

But its all I have. I thought I was making things hard for myself, but one guy was riding on some sort of BMX without a saddle or seatpost.

The first day was fun, I tried to take it easy and we even had a beer stop in Galena.

Surprisingly I felt great the second day. Well I felt great for 50 miles or so attacking the climbs and passing other riders like they were standing still. The last 30 were more of a struggle. I couldn't seem to ride quicker than really very slow. One of my buddys caught me and his computer (which is always over optimistic) said 14 miles an hour. It was fun in a way being humbled by riders who if you looked at them you would really not imagine then making 200 miles a weekend (or possibly a year)

So another challenge ride crossed off. I wonder what the next challenge will be? I better get some miles and fitness before SSWC09.....

Sloppy Seconds...

2009-06-15T03:18:00.000-07:00

We done got 'er done again: Team Fixed Not Broken takes 2nd Place in the Single/Rigid Open category at the 2009 24 Hours of Big Bear. Oh, and 1st Place in the chimerical Fixed/Rigid Open category.

And you thought rain was bad?

2009-06-13T15:41:00.001-07:00

Try this on for size....

No folks, you're not seeing things that's 104*. Where's that baby oil?

Hans Rey aint sh*t!

2009-06-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

One of my hardware vendors constantly sends me classic photo post cards. This one arrived today. I thought it was worth sharing.

The back of the post card reads "Perilous ride down Capitol Building steps, Washington DC c. 1910. Photographer unidentified". So I assume it's in the public domain.

When SS and fixed-gear bikes are just too easy...

2009-05-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

Move up to the new hotness: non-round wheels!

Wonder what kinda gear ratio he's running on that thing. Looks like it's about a 1:1. Ugh!

Bike 90

2009-05-24T22:52:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of the year, I announced that I was going to try to keep track of how many days I spent on the bike this year. My goal is 180. Almost half the year done, and I've wrapped up half the rides. Numero 90:

Still a ways to go. It's not always easy to motivate yourself to buckle up the shoes, throw on the lid and don a pair of green Lycra shorts... then have a butterfly land on your crotch. Anyways, for those of you doing the Bike 180 thing yourself, stay safe, and take some good ones.

Just like the do in DC!

2009-04-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

"Police in Denmark hug bicyclists without helmets, then give them helmets"

via.

Bike Nerdism

2009-04-23T06:03:00.000-07:00

My buddy B1umboy sent me a link to a geometry calculator toy so I can while away the day wondering how my bike will handle if I raked out my fork to ridiculous proportions:

http://bikegeo.muha.cc/

My Redline, She Is No More!

2009-03-31T21:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the crappy pic - a photographer I am not. But if you look carefully, you should be able to make out the crack just to the left of the gusset (you are look at a picture of the underside of the downtube on my Redline Monocog 29er).

I found it on a ride at Patapsco Tuesday as I was riding the "lollipop" portion of the Rockburn Branch trail. The telltale noises that I didn't want to believe were my frame sounded out in the night as I traversed the root infested trail. I had hoped they were from my rear wheel, which I had found a few broken spokes from a previous wreck, but I've never heard a wheel make noise like that!

The group stopped at the 4-way intersection at the top of the waterbar trail, so I took the time to flip the bike and take a look. As I was inspecting the frame, Eric pulled up behind me and pronounced, "I know what you're looking for!". Apparently, he heard the telltale sounds too.

It took a little while to find the crack, but we did find it, thus sigaling the end of a fantastic run of trail rides on my first 29er. I never thought I'd break this bike.

I was ready to just start schleping back to the car, but the crack was only 1/3 the way round, so with the vocal support of the rest of the riders, I stuck out the ride and finished with my bike still in one piece and all my teeth (sorry DKeg). The crack is now about 2/3 the way round the tube and my bike handles pretty funny.

Oh well, guess I'm in the market for a new 29er!

Tap! Tap! Is this thing on?

2009-03-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

Phew it has been quiet here recently. I guess Winter has resulted in a bunch of riding the couch and not a lot of crazy epic rides or anything crazy at all.

I guess if I complain too much about the lack of updates I'll just get called a hypocrite. The difference is I have a good excuse for not posting. I have wanted to post, but it just did not seem like a good idea saying too much before settling up getting hit by a car last summer, remember my last post?

http://bikecentric.blogspot.com/2008/07/forked-too.html

Well the big check finally cleared into my account today and the pink cast(s) are a distant memory. I guess I learned a lot of things about getting hit by a car that I wanted to share.

It hurts, even at slow speed. Then again I did cause $1,400 damage to the car. I am pretty sure I got really lucky that there were no other cars in direct vicinity to roll over me whilst I was on the ground. I was also lucky to agree to have a ride in an ambulance. I think that made the police take it seriously. That in turn meant they ticketed the driver which in turn forced him to admitting liability. With all that in place I could handle the whole thing without a lawyer, I just kept rejecting the insurance companies offers till they stopped increasing the amount. Probably not the best strategy, but I ended up with much more than expected. I got $2,700 for my beater bike alone. All those cool vintage parts cost a lot to replace, I guess. Anyway I the upside is a got a big check and that has to be good "in todays uncertain times", but boy is it burning a hole in my pocket.

I have no need for a new bike or any parts even. I have five bikes, I already got a new beater, and crashed it.... Still I went to the NAHMBS and bike lust kicked into over-drive.

Some of the bikes were just spectacular, totally beautiful works of rolling art. After a while, sometime after examining the 257th lugged seat-tube cluster the whole thing just got too much for me and I started to come to conclusion that it might just all be a bit wanky. All the extra adornment and attention to detail probably does not count for much when your rolling along (or getting nailed by a car). The voice of reason echoes in my head, "I'm not into $400 paint jobs" (thanks Chris), perhaps I am jaded, but I think I am just trying to talk myself out of it.

I do actually really like this, but I cannot imagine riding it.

That is probably the downside of getting hit by a car. It is behind me now but the first few months of riding again were rather nerve-wracking and I am somewhat reluctant to get emotionally attached to a bike. Oh, and I still am not at full strength, my wife has to open the pickle jars in this household.

So should I get a new bike? Or be happy with what I have got? Scratch the Pugsley itch, or get a Superfly? Custom has been calling for a while and a Monster Cross dropped bar 29er would be something new and Vulture cycles has started building again and Dom's bike and fixie skills always impressed me. Or maybe I should save for a rainy day. I guess it is nice to have options.

Woody good

2009-03-12T07:58:00.001-07:00

Not sure if these are certified for off-road use or not, but they sure are purty to look at:

Das Wooden Bicycle

Found via boingboing

(Insert obligatory "Blahblahblah gives me wood" quote here).

Put the Art Pedal to the Metal...

2009-02-24T19:43:00.001-08:00

Culture Is Not Your Friend: Terence McKenna on the evils of culture, consumer mania, squirrely religions, meme processors, gnostic demons, and cannibalistic demiurges, among other things, none of which includes bicycles.

"What'll it be? Alienated cynical intellectual or slack-jawed half-wit consumer of the horseshit being handed down from on high?"

Winter Riding

2009-02-08T19:14:00.001-08:00

When you can't ride the trails - hit the road...

Ricky and Joe - Gravel Road Ride, Frederick, MD. Photo: Todd B.

Kathy, Jo and Julie - Frederick Road Ride. Photo: Jo M.

Cliff bar recall

2009-01-21T12:21:00.000-08:00

Via the MORE list:

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/clifbar01_09.html

Haikus and Yous

2009-01-17T09:28:00.001-08:00

I have a new haiku for you. I entitle it, "I am the New Tony." I don't recommend it for little children.

f_ck f_ck f_ck f_ck f_ck

f_ck f_ck f_ck f_ck f_ck f_ck f_ck

f_ck f_ck f_ck f_ck f_____ck!

Polar Power...

2009-01-09T10:54:00.000-08:00

In case you’ve been living in the proverbial cave somewhere in the Arctic Circle the last two weeks, I’m participating in the national Polar Bear Plunge tomorrow around noon, as part of an ongoing effort to fight global warming. Weather forecast for Annapolis calls for a wintry mix/rain with temps in the mid-30s…yep, true ball-freezing conditions.

The state of the union is this: I’m currently only about $100 away from reaching my target goal of raising $500 (the total represented online doesn’t include $65 worth of contributions already made—the true total is close to $400). If you can spare a few bucks and want to help a good cause, well, click here.

All proceeds benefit the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), a local grass-roots, nonprofit organization committed to making a positive difference in the environment by concentrating on issues affecting the Washington Metropolitan Area. These people are serious about their mission and they work hard to make the world around us a little bit greener. So if you can help with a contribution, they would greatly appreciate it.

And to all those who've already graciously and generously plunged into their own coffers to help with my plunge, thanks again!

T Minus 11 Days

2009-01-08T07:05:00.000-08:00

I know it's been mentioned on other bloggeries, but if you are biking down to the Inauguration, check out WABA's site and this one to figure out the best route and parking spot for your whip. I'd recommend riding the beater.

Another map.

Bike 180

2009-01-06T05:20:00.000-08:00

New goal this year: bike 180 days. No, not 4320 hours on a bike, but spend some time on a bike at least half of the days in '09. Proof will be on flickr, so feel free to jump in the pool and play along. Cross my heart, it'll be fun :)

SSWC09 Registration

2009-01-05T08:22:00.001-08:00

It's out there. Be quick: http://sswc09.wordpress.com/2009/01/04/sswc09-registration-information/

Maybe UPS isn't so bad after all....

2008-12-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

UPS Delivery By Bike! Salem, Oregon from nwduffer on Vimeo.

Oh Ate

2008-12-21T13:40:00.000-08:00

Grab a banana, peck the wife on the cheek, and out the door for a non-agenda ride. Just go as far as I can, push back the biting wind, re-align everything. It's been a great year, 2008. This won't be a recap, I promise, just a group holler at what made it so good.

First off, new job. No more undue and constant suffering. Secondly, friends. East coast, West coast, and all in-between, biker and non-, they're all good. Finally, family. From Jo, brothers, parents, in-laws, and radiating outwards. Always warm, always there.

Thank you.

Ugh!

2008-12-19T13:16:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, we got a nice blast of cold weather. I had to break out the cold weather cycling gear, and as I pulled the bike off of the roof, I felt cold bike tubes, something I haven't felt in quite some time. I was as giddy as a school girl. There was also very heavy cloud cover making it feel like dusk all day long... pure bliss!

Today, a slap in the face called reality! Muggy and down right hot. I broke out the shorts, flip flops, and t-shirt... Oh well, it was nice even if for only a day or two. The sun is out again in full force, almost as if to bully me around... so back to the keyboard. At least I have a new pixel capturing machine...

Inauguration riding?

2008-12-17T09:39:00.000-08:00

"Welcome to Washington. We're WMATA. Pay us rush-hour rates for 15 hours...oh, and don't bring your bike".

Quoth WTOP:

Metro puts the brakes on bikes for Inauguration

and furthermore:

"While bikes will be allowed on the National Mall, the Secret Service has said bikes won't be allowed near the parade route. John Catoe, general manager for Metro, doesn't want your bikes on the buses or trains that day either."

Who's riding down?

Bike parking in Japan

2008-12-16T12:04:00.000-08:00

Kinda puts our piddly little US bike racks to shame, huh.

via.

Rock Star...

2008-12-08T17:46:00.000-08:00

JB vs. JP: Baler emulates Page...well, sort of.

Pic on the left side taken last Saturday at the Brewer's Art Mid-Atlantic Holiday Beer Tasting (good times!); pic on the right side unapologetically pinched from the net.

Memory Lane

2008-12-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

Since I built my latest Wunderfahrrad I can do nothing but ride it and only it. It should be known to may of you that new-bike syndrome is difficult to cure one's self of, but as it happens, I'm enjoying it: no mud, no bone-rattling rocks, no driving to the trail head etc. I have a loop that I have been riding lately with variations here and there, all in all about thirty-five miles. It takes me away from the ennui of apartments (gratuitous Wallace Stevens allusion), past golf courses and batting ranges, to my hometown, Clifton. Or rather the area surrounding Clifton which everyone calls Clifton anyway. As far as I can tell, it was the southernmost entrenchment of the Union army during the Civil War, and, appropriately, it now resembles one of those quaint New England hamlets, even though this is the Old Dominion and not Vermont, say. In town is the Clifton Store (and pub) owned and operated by family friends, the McNamaras.

My father used to tell me bedtime stories about three hobo dogs that caught rides in and out of town on the freight trains that infrequently pass though; they would go dumpster diving and drink chocolate milk. On my way through I sampled the leftovers and fortified my stomach against the climbs that serve as the corporate limits.

Down the road a few miles is my childhood home which was sold three years ago to another family--they have a couple young sons who don't know how lucky the are, though as soon as they are old enough to explore Bull Run Regional Park which borders the property, they will quickly become little Emersons (one hopes).

Anyway, as so often happens, the trip down past roads ends in the painful reawakening into the present, the actual world of trifles--the end of the ride. As I was reaching for a twig that had lodged itself between my skewer and fork leg, my glove got caught in the bladed spokes and my hand was immediately stuffed into the wheel. The bike stopped and I went over the bars in front of a bunch of people--this happened in my apartment parking lot, and I was only going about fifteen miles per hour, but it hurt bad and was embarrassing; my front wheel was too out of true to ride any further, so I considered myself lucky in that respect. The bike suffered only an insult to its carbon fiber brake lever. I didn't make out so well.

The point of all this is that everything in my life is, according to plan, going to change drastically in the next year or so. I may not ride this sentimental route very much longer, and while the memories are good and bad, they are still mine; I've lived here my whole life and so have no other routes. Hope all is well and all are riding well. Thanks for humoring me with this post ladies and gents.

An Old Family Favorite...

2008-12-03T17:37:00.001-08:00

...or two...or three...

Highlife....

2008-11-18T06:37:00.000-08:00

Ever have one of those days....

2008-11-11T17:37:00.000-08:00

... where nothing goes your way? Started off as a great day. It was sunny and nippy. Drove up to Frederick from College Park, MD to join a group ride at Libertytown, opened the truck and realized that I drove off without putting the wheel in the car. Clearly, I had too much on my mind. Luckily, it was still there when I got home.

Rich, Dark, Complex, and Oh So Smooth...

2008-11-10T06:32:00.000-08:00

Congratulations go out to infrequent Bikecentric contributor joyride 1x1 (aka Butch) on snagging the November 8 shot of the day over at DCist. Obama Chocolate Stout, brewed for this year's hugely successful Bootlegger's Bliss.

Well done, Bootch-wah, well done.

Uber Commuter

2008-11-08T03:42:00.000-08:00

Where can it go from here?

2008-11-04T05:10:00.000-08:00

some of the most amazing things I've ever seen, wow.

See more skate, snow, surf, and moto videos at Shred or Die

BB III

2008-11-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

I posted something up on the MTBR 29er forum about the event. Too much editing to get it viewable here, so click here. :)

Slackers!

2008-11-03T15:01:00.000-08:00

So looks like everyone is slowing down on blogging in favor of FB... I saw a bunch of pix of a Derby, so post up here slacker boyz!

Something Must Break...

2008-10-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

Salsa Casseroll gone bad.

How to of the day

2008-10-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder the proper steps for drinking a Lambic?

Venue's on the Menu...

2008-10-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

If you r.s.v.p.'d for the 3rd Annual Bootlegger's Bliss, please check your inbox. The super-secret venue has been revealed!¹

More information will arrive in a follow-up email, the last of the lot. The route is still being mapped, but we're² looking at a 12-mile loop that should please riders of all skill levels.

1. If you r.s.v.p.'d and did not receive the aforementioned email, just let me know and I'll make sure I get it to you.

2. Big thanks to Jon Baler for his help in this endeavor.

Jones Spaceframe

2008-09-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, so like, I'm enjoying the new bike. Make that really, really, really, really, really, really enjoying the new bike. It's tough, supple, and smooth, all at once.

Stoner and I hit Gambrill yesterday. I think he likes his Jones also.

The Fat Front fork swallows up the Endomorph 3.7" tire, which in turn swallows up rocks. In our little part of the world, that's a good thing. I imagine in most parts of the world, it wouldn't hurt either.

I can't wait to ride again.

Endomorphous

2008-09-14T15:02:00.000-07:00

In order to further test the endlessly interesting properties of the Surly Endomorph as a front tire, I went to Fountainhead with the intention of finishing two laps during which I would bleed the tire until it became clear that a point had been reached at which the pressure was no longer appropriate. I am happy to say that I found that tipping point. After completing the first lap at an unknown starting pressure, I decided that I was not reaping much of a benefit from the tire's volume. It deflected off objects harshly--it bounced around too much in other words. At the beginning of the second lap I dropped significant pounds per square inch. I guess now that I was at close to ten. Every two miles or so I dropped another psi or so until, at the end of the lap, the tire was conforming wonderfully to almost every obstruction smaller than two or three inches in height; it also gripped tenaciously, even to loose and wet trail surfaces. The downside is that stability was almost unacceptable. The bike would dive into turns terribly one moment and then refuse to change directions another. The sidewalls seemed to be taking some punishment too, showing their threads. Still, it was amazing to look down and watch the tire engulf a root two inches in diameter with no feedback to the handlebars. I checked the pressure when I got back to the car with a Topeak digital gauge: it read 5.5 psi. I'd say 7 to 10 is optimal considering today's test, but anyone who has ridden this set-up can tell you that the top of that range feels quite different from the bottom in terms of handling and traction. I call for more testing, and a good time doing it.

Jumpin' Jiminy

2008-09-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

Too much bling in my parts. With the addition of my Jeff bike, that makes four Outlaws that are bandwagonesque. 30 minutes ago, I tightened up the last screw and took a micro tour around the darkened 'hood.

Seat position felt weird, as did bars, and oh yeah, feet. This bike is so "way out there", I think it'll take some getting used to.

Anyways, stoked.

Recycling

2008-09-05T15:50:00.001-07:00

Recycling's great, unless...

Glancing through the latest Bicycling magazine (October 2008), I came across the "Master It" article (p. 49). The accompanying illustration looked familiar. Gary took a photo of Campster that eventually ended up in the Reader's Eye section of Dirt Rag. So I went to G's site, drilled through, and I found the pic. Whaddyuthink?

Gary?

Fixie Freedom

2008-09-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

So you like riding fixie, but you're tired of having to spin out for long distances to and from the trail? Well old technology is new once again...

All the info can be found at the Sunrace Sturmey Archer blog, where you can throw your two cents in on how they finish it up.