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hardly quotidian

“If you can’t take a joke, you probably are one.” – Anonymous via Scott Rankin

“If they can’t beat your ass, and they don’t pay your bills, why do you care what they think?” – Chris Rock’s Mom

22 September 2009, 20:19 ::

Coffee Cup Poker

I bought a cup of tea at a vending machine at the Erie PA Airport and received a hand of poker as part of a gimmick on the packaging. Three Aces one 10 and a hole card on the bottom of the cup… a Joker.

If I had time between connections you would be reading a haiku and I would be eating a much better sandwich.

7 September 2009, 16:05 ::

poor furry turtle

Spotted by Ces

3 September 2009, 10:32 ::

brakeless trials at pinkbike.com

Remember that old pink performer with the white spoke wheels? I do. But that had brakes and these guys don’t.

P.S. Greg: I hate when all these videos chunk up at crucial moments (skate vids, bike vids etc.) but I don’t know what exactly to do about it. There are lots of things that affect the transmission, buffering and playback so start with minimizing the shit running on your machine and browser and if that doesn’t help, you’re at the mercy of Flash video and the server that’s hucking files and packets your way.

The objects that are hosted on my page could be janky as well, so I try to post a link the original content – which might have some small chance of being better. Try digging it up at another video hosting site if all else fails… or BY THE DVD. Wah wahhhhh.

19 July 2009, 16:12 :: Comment [1474]

pedaling

I actually went for a real ride today on my bicycle and it was nice. Not overly mountainous or even hilly, a few nice climbs on a great, beautiful route on a perfect day and somewhere between 40-60 miles.

A few body issues post-ride but hey… no need to complain when I get to experience the miracle of a really fun bike ride on myday off. It was awesome. Thanks Dave and Brian.

10 May 2009, 23:49 :: Comment

brakeless trials

"Who took my brakes off? That's dangerous man"

8 May 2009, 16:31 :: Comment

on two occasions

“On two occasions I have been asked, – ‘Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?’ ... I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.”

Charles Babbage

7 May 2009, 20:29 :: Comment

clipped? no... clipless!

Banner day. Brought popcap.com to it’s knees and rode my bike to work with honest-to-goodness clipless pedals. (Thanks in part to used bikes I purchased in the past that came with that advanced technology.)

Riding won’t ever be the same. Can’t wait to fall over awkwardly stuck to my bike sometime in the future.

Sidi + Time ATAC was the first experiment.
Sidi + Shimano SPD might be the second… gotta get the cleats.

It’ll take a while to make the clip-in motion automatic.
Though I initially thought otherwise, the amateur, low-float setting seems just fine for me.

RACY!

P.S. popcap.com should be just fine now.

24 March 2009, 14:26 :: Comment

single speed and track bikes

This was originally written in 2008 to compile info on single speed frames and complete bikes. It begins with a focus on affordability but devolves into cool expensive stuff.

Please start here for some 2009 info provided by urbanvelo.org:
http://urbanvelo.org/singlespeed-commuter-bikes-for-2009/

(The years latest links above might get updated in an ongoing fashion, but who knows.)

Every bike manufacturer is packaging up 1-speeds (whether tough/stylish messenger track bike or refined commuter) to feed the market demands, and they’d be foolish if they didn’t. Of course, there are some gross things happening as of a result of fashion and foolishness. To each their own as long as people are pedaling and happy!

I think I prefer coasting and I generally find my geared bikes pretty reliable. Maybe someday when all this hubbub dies down and I wear out my other bikes, I’ll putz around with a build of my own. Until then… here you go:

(p.s. Shout out to Param, Chako and rainy day rides. You guys are a force of nature.)

FAVORITES:
iro angus
pake track frame
soma rush
mercier kilo tt
EAI bare knuckle
EAI brass knuckle
swobo (wild card pick)

UN-FAVORITES:
I don’t like the Cayne Uno or Surly Steamroller dropouts
that have the lip that connects to the seat and chain stays.
Ugly and limits wrench access but maybe an easier weld and strong?

DETAILS:
used track and keirin frames are through the roof due to fixed gear popularity
roadframe conversions with horizontal dropouts or special eccentric rear hub are an options
but dirt cheap, new asian frames are the best bet
definitely check seattle craigslist, local swap meets etc.

figure out your size by riding
(and maybe some rough frame geometry preferences – not totally necessary but keep in mind how slack angles affect ride, track = steep + quick)

biggest costs + complete bike weight contributors…

frame + fork (pay attention to frame weights listed w/out fork weight)

wheelset

parts

frame prices vs. construction…

Lower End:

Higher End:

twiddly bits rare on many track frames, that you may want…
front fork brake mount
rear seatstay brake mount
water bottle bosses downtube/seattube
fender eyelets front/rear
rack mount eyelets

SMALLER BRAND CANDIDATES:

IRO
“build-a-bike” for super custom full bike
“buy parts” for slightly less custom but complete bike
or “buy parts” to get the shit you need, and LBS the rest for better customization
http://www.irocycle.com
(size increments for frames could be an issue)
IRO Angus – classic track steel
IRO Mark V – more affordable steel, more brake mounts and cable stops
IRO Jamie Roy – aluminum slightly relaxed geometry
(not sure I trust the weights but frames should be lighter than most in the price range, heavy forks)
http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/article.php?ID=624&category=stuff_reviews
(personal bike, not production – not available for purchase in exactly this combo)

Soma Rush
Soma Delancey (less agressive angles, fancier lugs, mo money)
http://store.somafab.com/sorutrfr.html

Pake Uno
http://bikecult.com/works/bikesframes.html
http://www.pakebikes.com/picture2.html
(a nice little bikeshop in Fremont near Brouwer’s – freerangecycles – had one of these and others)

EAI Bare Knuckle (steel lugged, comfy, nicer detail, mo money)
http://bikecult.com/works/bikesframes.html

EAI Brass Knuckle (aluminum welded, stiff, utilitarian)
Counterbalance in Queen Anne sold a complete for about $825.
http://www.thebikebiz.com/product_p/bk-trk-eai02.htm

Swobo
swanky and quirky bike line, a little cheapish or heavy but the right mindset, nice styling
http://www.rivercitybicycles.com/bikes/displayimage.php?album=57&pos=2
http://www.rivercitybicycles.com/bikes/displayimage.php?album=57&pos=0
http://www.swobo.com/bikes/collection/
http://www.swobo.com/bikes/collection/

Spicer
Standard Steel Track Frame Set
(supposedly same as Mercier KiloTT below)

Mission Bicycles
https://secure.missionbicycle.com/home
https://secure.missionbicycle.com/blog

NYC Bikes
(a big mystery but a home-designed DIY sorta brand, frames from asia, built up in NY)
http://www.nycbikes.com/item.php?item_id=578
http://nycbikes.com/item.php?item_id=221
http://www.nycbikes.com/

Surly Steamroller
http://www.webcyclery.com/home.php?cat=400
http://www.surlybikes.com/steamroller.html

Cayne Uno
Sun Uno
http://flybikeshop.com/index.cfm
http://www.bikefix.net/2007/11/bikefix-exclusive-review-cayne-uno.html
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/03/fixie-fixations.html

MIDDLE MEN, AFFORDABLE COMPLETES, MERCHANDISERS ETC.

Bike Island and crazy cheap Kilo TT mystery frames
http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=1084

Bicycle Warehouse
http://bicyclewarehouse.com/itemlist.cfm?category=238&catalogId=39
(used to visit these guys when I lived in San Diego)

Bikes Direct (“factory direct” online merchant)
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm
SEE: SSTrack / Touring
Mercier KiloTT
Windsor The Hour
Dawes SST
Surly Steamroller
Motobecane Messenger

Frames, low to high
http://www.thebikebiz.com/Frames_s/127.htm

LARGER BRAND CANDIDATES:

Torelli Tipo Uno

Rocky Mountain Boroughs

Lemond Fillmore

Masi Speciale
http://bicyclewarehouse.com/itemdetails.cfm?id=9988

Raleigh Rush Hour
http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/article.php?ID=810
Raleigh One Way

Redline 925

Bianchi Pista
spita and you’ll have a hard time missing one (pista is def not light)
Bianchi San Jose
Bianchi Fremont

Kona Paddy Wagon (sloped top tube)
http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/article.php?ID=845

Salsa Casseroll

Cannondale Capo (aluminum welded, more tech, fat tubes)

BUILDING YOUR OWN?
I like the idea of finding a vintage italian frame or a dusty NOS unknown sitting in a corner. Maybe a friend in Japan can dig up a cheaper, used keirin frame? Semi-horizontal road bike drop conversions?

COMPONENT RECOMMENDATIONS:
velocity wheelsets (spartacus)
origin8 components (bartape, grips, handlebars, stems etc.)
nitto components
soma handlebars

PRICEY SHIT:

Boutique or custom frames start accelerating prices…

http://njsframes.blogspot.com/
http://njsframes.blogspot.com/2007/07/white-kashima-5gold-7-sugino-seatpost.html
http://njsframes.blogspot.com/2007/07/pink-bridgestone-njs-keirin-frame.html

Panasonic Keirin
http://www.pistoposeur.blogspot.com/

Waterford Track Frame
Ben’s Cycle (Milwaukee Bicycle Co.)
Cream City Track Bike Builder
Frame/Fork starting at: $724.99 (Includes Stainless Steel Badges)
http://www.benscycle.net/
Other Complete Track Bikes
http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=188_451&zenid=165d4c79cb6f17bb390bb0da6c99a0bd

WACKY CONVERSION COMPONENTS
Tr!ckstuff_Exzentriker

MISCELLANEOUS…
http://velospace.org/
http://fixedgeargallery.com/
http://www.fixedgearfreak.com/ (lots of conversions for sale)
http://www.drifla.com
http://www.chargebikes.com/products/bikes/list.php?type=700 (europe)
http://www.gorillabicycles.com/ (italy)
http://www.w-base.com (japan)
http://sfcyclotouring.blogspot.com/2006/07/about-steel-tubing-used-in-bike-frames.html
http://www.cambridgebicycle.com/design/fixed_gear.htm
http://www.grinderbikes.com/pastbuilds.html (conversions, none for sale)
http://www.rodcycle.com/
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fv20071209lb.html

forums
http://www.pdxfixed.com/
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-32341.html

21 March 2009, 23:59 :: Comment

rapha gear, cool hunting videos, audio dregs music

All info from this Cool Hunting site page

(Schoeller NanoSphere fabric is really awesome.)

Rapha website

Flavor Paper website

Mike and Doug Starn website

Melodium

Audio Dregs

Minotaur Shock

20 March 2009, 09:17 :: Comment

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