22 April 2008
18 April 2008
steel is still real, baby
Pretty much all of last year's bicycle commuting was done on my BMC SLT01. It's a carbon tubed, aluminum lugged performance bike. It's as rigid as Charlton Heston's corpse and fast like the wind; all in all a great ride if your aim is to make time. It's certainly the most expensive bike I've ever owned but as of this Spring I'd no longer say it's necessarily the nicest bike I've ever owned.
Last month I assembled a modest assortment of parts onto a Salsa Casserole. Nothing fancy, mostly inexpensive bits with down-tube shifters and Planet Bike full-wrap fenders. I'll probably make a handful of minor changes to it in the short term, but it's more or less going to stay the same for the foreseeable future. I've taken this bike on a dozen good-sized rides and the Casserole has been a pleasant surprise. I'd forgotten how comfortable a steel frame is compared with current high-zut, composite concoctions (like my BMC). Having arrived home from my commute last night, I felt a bit of remorse that I didn't have further to ride; I wanted to keep going for no other reason than simply keep riding. No need for speed, no place in particular to go.
That compulsion reminds of my first foray into serious cycling while in Madison, WI. What I can only in good conscience recall to have been an obsession started with nights spent at Helen C. White library reading through issue after issue of Bicycling Magazine while my friend Majken did enough studying for the two of us. Despite the fact that I've come to regard this rag as fluf for non- and wannabe-cyclists, I am obliged to admit that this is where I got my start.
Soon enough, reading no longer satisfied me and I needed to "feel it to believe it." This is when I took a position selling bikes at Budget Bicycle Center on Regent St. and soon thereafter bought my first "real" bike: a red mid-80's Bianchi Primo with 14 downtube-shifter-actuated gears. Even in '99, this bike was outdated -- we're talking 126mm rear spacing, a 1" threaded fork and heft that would qualify it for a spot on "The Biggest Looser". I "upgraded" it with a brand new red Selle Italia Flite saddle but the rest of it remained unchanged; by any -- save my own -- account the bike was a pile. Still, I loved that bike and rode the ever-loving shit out of it.
Many folks have written about experiences or events that were akin to his or her first ride or first bike. I suppose it's just my turn. I have a new bike in my life and even though it's neither light nor particularly fast, in just 4 weeks it has made itself a nice place in my heart.
Last month I assembled a modest assortment of parts onto a Salsa Casserole. Nothing fancy, mostly inexpensive bits with down-tube shifters and Planet Bike full-wrap fenders. I'll probably make a handful of minor changes to it in the short term, but it's more or less going to stay the same for the foreseeable future. I've taken this bike on a dozen good-sized rides and the Casserole has been a pleasant surprise. I'd forgotten how comfortable a steel frame is compared with current high-zut, composite concoctions (like my BMC). Having arrived home from my commute last night, I felt a bit of remorse that I didn't have further to ride; I wanted to keep going for no other reason than simply keep riding. No need for speed, no place in particular to go.
That compulsion reminds of my first foray into serious cycling while in Madison, WI. What I can only in good conscience recall to have been an obsession started with nights spent at Helen C. White library reading through issue after issue of Bicycling Magazine while my friend Majken did enough studying for the two of us. Despite the fact that I've come to regard this rag as fluf for non- and wannabe-cyclists, I am obliged to admit that this is where I got my start.
Soon enough, reading no longer satisfied me and I needed to "feel it to believe it." This is when I took a position selling bikes at Budget Bicycle Center on Regent St. and soon thereafter bought my first "real" bike: a red mid-80's Bianchi Primo with 14 downtube-shifter-actuated gears. Even in '99, this bike was outdated -- we're talking 126mm rear spacing, a 1" threaded fork and heft that would qualify it for a spot on "The Biggest Looser". I "upgraded" it with a brand new red Selle Italia Flite saddle but the rest of it remained unchanged; by any -- save my own -- account the bike was a pile. Still, I loved that bike and rode the ever-loving shit out of it.
Many folks have written about experiences or events that were akin to his or her first ride or first bike. I suppose it's just my turn. I have a new bike in my life and even though it's neither light nor particularly fast, in just 4 weeks it has made itself a nice place in my heart.
31 March 2008
24 March 2008
For your reference
Yob
Pronunciation: \'yaahbs\
Function: noun
Etymology: backward spelling for boy
Date: 1809
Synonyms: lout; yokel
See: Dude on the right
I will likely be using this word in the weeks and months to come. Now you know what it means.
Pronunciation: \'yaahbs\
Function: noun
Etymology: backward spelling for boy
Date: 1809
Synonyms: lout; yokel
See: Dude on the right
I will likely be using this word in the weeks and months to come. Now you know what it means.
19 March 2008
Oh Snap!! 2 R.I.P.'s in 1 month
I was devastated yet again in the month of March by the tragic loss of one of my favorite characters. As you may or may not know, I am a keen observer of the televised program, "the wire." I had recently completed viewing the last two episodes of season 4 and witnessed the senseless murder of Bodie by Marlo's hit-people (Snoop is a female so it's like saying mail-person...).
Needless to say, I was shocked. Bodie had been with me since season one; he was a mainstay in my Wire addiction. The event rendered me speechless, save for repeated uttering of, "no way!... oh, dude!... NO. WAY."
Bodie, your quick wit, sharp tongue and propensity for spitting will be missed as I move forward into Season 5.
Know dis, brotha.
R.I.P.
Needless to say, I was shocked. Bodie had been with me since season one; he was a mainstay in my Wire addiction. The event rendered me speechless, save for repeated uttering of, "no way!... oh, dude!... NO. WAY."
Bodie, your quick wit, sharp tongue and propensity for spitting will be missed as I move forward into Season 5.
Know dis, brotha.
R.I.P.
Thumbs Way Down
I bought this at the co-op and tried to eat it the other day.
Bad idea.
Them shits is acrid.
Bad idea.
Them shits is acrid.
17 March 2008
03 March 2008
R.I.P. dear friend
We met only some four or five months ago but the time we've had together has been nothing short of wonderful.
Last week, my dubiously acquired FrancisFrancis! espresso machine shat the bed. It would appear that the heating element no longer wishes to heat and "cold press" espresso isn't exactly my thing. Repairs look to be prohibitively expensive (especially considering the "price" I paid for this brilliant machine -- a "King Lines" climbing DVD) as they would entail shipping the little life-giver off to NY and paying 65 papers an hour for inspection and repair, with a minimum charge of 130 papers not including parts.
I imagine that once the grieving process subsides I will find myself a new partner, perhaps of the same breed, perhaps something different. It's too soon to say.
Finally, I'd like to say a few words about this FrancisFrancis!'s history (at least that which is known to me). This machine was originally purchased by a local racer, Adam Bergman, some time ago. After a year or two of service under the aforementioned owner this machine was traded to PrimeTime for a used FSA crankset and other bicycle bits. PrimeTime and his wife used this machine until they purchased a dual-purpose coffee/espresso machine, at which point this FrancisFrancis! began it's stint in the shadows of PrimeTime's basement gathering dust. In the Fall of 2007 the machine was traded to me for a climbing DVD; I cleaned it, decalcified it, and put it to good use.
You have served me well, FrancisFrancis! -- I bid you a fond adieu.
Last week, my dubiously acquired FrancisFrancis! espresso machine shat the bed. It would appear that the heating element no longer wishes to heat and "cold press" espresso isn't exactly my thing. Repairs look to be prohibitively expensive (especially considering the "price" I paid for this brilliant machine -- a "King Lines" climbing DVD) as they would entail shipping the little life-giver off to NY and paying 65 papers an hour for inspection and repair, with a minimum charge of 130 papers not including parts.
I imagine that once the grieving process subsides I will find myself a new partner, perhaps of the same breed, perhaps something different. It's too soon to say.
Finally, I'd like to say a few words about this FrancisFrancis!'s history (at least that which is known to me). This machine was originally purchased by a local racer, Adam Bergman, some time ago. After a year or two of service under the aforementioned owner this machine was traded to PrimeTime for a used FSA crankset and other bicycle bits. PrimeTime and his wife used this machine until they purchased a dual-purpose coffee/espresso machine, at which point this FrancisFrancis! began it's stint in the shadows of PrimeTime's basement gathering dust. In the Fall of 2007 the machine was traded to me for a climbing DVD; I cleaned it, decalcified it, and put it to good use.
You have served me well, FrancisFrancis! -- I bid you a fond adieu.
26 February 2008
boo for dental work
Answer: 3
Questions: How many cavities did I have filled this morning?
Answer: Non-existent
Question: What is the status of "feeling" in the right half of my entire face?
Answer: Lockjaw
Question: To what would you compare the soreness in your mouth?
Answer: Reverse Drooling
Question: What are efforts to drink liquids more akin to?
Answer: F that
Question: What are my feelings on going back in two weeks for 5 more fillings?
Questions: How many cavities did I have filled this morning?
Answer: Non-existent
Question: What is the status of "feeling" in the right half of my entire face?
Answer: Lockjaw
Question: To what would you compare the soreness in your mouth?
Answer: Reverse Drooling
Question: What are efforts to drink liquids more akin to?
Answer: F that
Question: What are my feelings on going back in two weeks for 5 more fillings?
23 February 2008
Some time...
It's been over 2 months since my last post. Many things have transpired in that time, among them a Christmas trip to Detroit City to visit Grandpa and see my nuclear family, a half-n-half training regimen, a half-marathon in January and zero trips on my still-new snow shoes. The next week or two will see a few posts on these and other topics so as to bring you up to speed on what's going on. You will once again have yet another distraction to keep you from getting any actual work done Monday thru Friday.
Don't ever say I don't love you, Tony Cu.
Don't ever say I don't love you, Tony Cu.
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