Saturday on Droolside

After missing my first Riverside ride in nearly two months last weekend, I got out Saturday and spun it in reverse. There was a bit of miscommunication on Grant's end to the point where I thought the ride was called off. So when he called at 10am and woke me up I was confused, but still jonesing for some weekend cycling. I quickly showered off sleep and packed my wheels into my car.

The ride in reverse feels a bit hillier and the traffic felt heavier, although that could have been because of the later start time. It was fun to mix it up though. We have been riding the same loop for nine weekends in a row now and it has never felt too redundant. Hopefully our late spring and summer touring rides will break up riverside a bit if it ever does.

Getting three flats in one ride a week ago has left me paranoid beyond belief. Every time I feel my tire wobble a bit I fear the worst. Well, either the new tire I bought is just plain crap (most likely) or my negative energy willed a flat in to existence (least likely). I got another pinch flat! Crossing the wooden bridge from the southern shore to Belle Isle my rear end got loose and I knew what was up.

We pulled to the side and I broke it down pit crew style to get my bike fixed as fast as possible (lots of practice lately). Half way through the repair we heard some movement in the woods. A St. Bernard the size of an elephant came barreling out of the trees covered in sticks, mud and buckets of drool. No owner in sight and tools on my lap I did not want to stand up and startle the dog. So I stayed seated and was treated to a dog drool back rub. Tasty I know.

Eventually the owners came around the corner, their faces a glow from the warm day and their hands happily unencumbered by the weight of a leash. They called "Droolie" away and continued their fitness walk through the urban jungle. Dog drool might not be considered "aero" by the "euros", but it did not slow me down. We made good time back through the city and into the Fan. For a ride that I did not plan to go on this was a great way to start a Saturday. Hopefully next weekend we can put in some miles in preparation for the all day rides of the summer.

P.S. The picture at the top takes you to the album from Saturday, but so does this!

Pants Shirt is Meh

Not the most flattering picture, but it gets the idea across. On a whim I designed a Pants Richmond logo, threw it on my Zazzle account and ordered a shirt.

The shirt arrived two days ago and seemed to have an almost plastic film on it. I washed it to see if I could get the film off and it faded the logo to what you see here. There is also a faint rectangle, only visible in bright light, that seems to be the outer template for the printed space.

Zazzle's description made it sound good...

"The image is soft, breathable, vibrant and durable, without that "decal" feel typically imparted by heat-transfer and screen print methods. There is no overprint around the image area, and images have a “wash fastness” equal to or better than other print methods on 100% cotton."

For a little more than twenty dollars I got a high quality comfy shirt with a two bit print that is ten times the quality of places like Cafepress (glorified iron ons). Ten times the quality of crap is still crap though. Unless the rectangle goes away with some bike sweat or a few washings I don't think this one will make it into my night on the town roster. It makes for a comfy riding shirt though and it is my own design. If you would like one you can find it here, but purchase at your own risk.

Site Watch
Bike Hacks has daily bike hacks, they are straight forward and all look simple enough to tackle on a weekend.

Burnout, Germs and Preachers

You may have noticed the missing post on Monday, if you are one of the four folks that check this site on the regular. I was in DC for the day with my lovely wife. We got up to Georgetown at noon, had lunch walked around and went to Ikea to get new office furniture later in the day. By the time we got home at 8pm I was in the mood to sleep not type.

So to atone for my missed entry I offer a dowry of three different, but equally excellent media selections for you the dear reader.

Guns, Germs and Steel
More reading listening pleasure by way of Audible this month. GGS is the most non fiction book of all of the non fiction books that I have listened to in recent months. It reads like a college lecture or research trade, but explores some fascinating topics when doing so. It attempts to dissuade the notion that Eurasian cultures advances and dominance in the current time frame had anything to do with superior intellect or genetics. GGS offers the alternative answer that over the last 13,000 years those cultures just happened to be in the right place with population, geography and plant & animal distribution. It may seem a bit dull to some, but if history with a twist of science sounds fun to you then please follow up and read this book.

Preacher: Trades 1-9
I wrapped up Preacher about a week ago and I am now officially hooked on comics again. I know I am a bit late to the party (Preacher was completed in 2000), but man oh man is this amazing writing and art. It is not a super hero book and at first that seemed a bit odd to me considering the last comics I read were Darkness and Spiderman back in high school. I think I prefer non super hero comics after preacher though. I have a list of books I want to pick up now and will be going through them for what will probably be years. Preacher is a must read and a great place to get back into sequential art.

Burnout Paradise
I have been itching to play this game since it came out in January. Unfortunately, I was not willing to buy it so I had to rely on my local brick and mortar video store which only stocked two rental copies. I never played any of the previous Burnout games, but the demo for Paradise hooked me. It was a small sample of the open world racing game that had some swooning and others frustrated to no end. I'll put myself in the swooning category because this game has some real meat on its bones. It is a pure arcade racer that has a fully unlocked world available when you first put in the disk.

Every intersection is a new challenge and if you fail you will end up on the other side of town with no way to restart or retry the event. This is feature or lack there of is what had so many gamers fussing when the game first released. To me is was just an opportunity to try something different. Where ever you fail there is always another event right where you stopped or just a few blocks over. The online game play seemed a bit unorganized with strangers, but I had a good time doing some of the challenges. All in it was a killer rental that I probably should have bought, but will most likely end up waiting for the next title in the series.

Site Watch
Bike Snob NYC's blog is the hawtness, smart and dumb humor about the many worlds of cycling. No group is safe from mockery and parody, but it is all in good fun unless your a fashion forward fixie die hard.

27 Miles to Annabelle

This post was going to be titled "40 Miles to Fort Harrison".

Knowing that I had Good Friday off for many weeks I some how forgot to organize a ride. Thursday came too soon and I quickly threw together a cue sheet and invite. Of course no one else had off so I would be riding solo. This will be easier in pictures...

Bright and early at 10am.

I made it all the way to Libbie when I got a flat tire.Easy enough to fix with a patch kit.Well if you have glue it is.No glue means no tube, no tube means a 2 mile walk to the bike store.A new tube a little elbow grease and I am off.To meet Grant for lunch.We ran into Elizabeth.A bike with cool red rims.And one covered in PBR cans.And back to the road.Through downtown Richmond.To Dock St.To my unplanned final destination.Unplanned because I got another flat.A nice view of the city.And a Civil War marker.Back home by way of the city.Main St.Patterson Ave.

And another pinch flat, for a grand total of three flat tires on one 27 mile bike ride. When I was about three miles from home turning right from Patterson to Three Chopt I heard a thump and felt my tire go all goosey. I patched it and cursed and prayed the whole way home. A bit of an adventure, mystery and pain, but a great way to spend a Friday.

By the way all of the photos of the road are by way of the Gorillapod mounted to my handlebar.

Photography Toys

Photography is one of the many hobbies I have always wanted to pursue. Lately I have been taking a little more time with my ride and projects shots. I have also been reading up at some enthusiast sites. I don't think it is getting to point where I would look at taking a class, but it may soon come to that. Besides who needs teachers when you have the internets.

Over the weekend I built a cheap macro photo studio (lightbox). When I say cheap I mean free: cardboard box, duct tape and tissue paper that simple. I need to get some better lighting, but other than that most of the test shots I took turned out better than expected.

Crystal's Old Stock Pedal

New Brooks for the Cross Check

New Crank for the Cross Check

I also picked up a Gorillapod which will now be a part of my riding kit and should make for a better tripod than rocks and twigs. Don't get me wrong twigs and rocks have there place, but balancing my camera on them is not the best way to get a good shot.

Self Portrait (and new bedroom set)

In the Macro Lightbox

Hanging on the Check

Site Watch
Strobist is where I found the macro light box project. It's a good site with some other worth while guides and articles. Just the thing a weekend photographer like myself needs.

Bike Pr0n Coming to Richmond (Update)
I found out that the one showing is at the Byrd Theater at midnight on 3/27/08 (link may be NSFW). Midnight on a weeknight and work the next don't mix so I will have to miss out.

Pedaling With My Lady

During these many years of bicycle discovery, I started dating and eventually married my lovely wife Crystal. Sharing cycling with her has always been one of my goals. How I went about that process was a long road of trials and errors.

When we first meet in high school I was not into cycling yet so there was not much to share. It wasn't until we started dating in college that she started coming out to mountain bike races to cheer me on. After she attended a few races I borrowed a friends bike and took her to Deep Run Park for some intro level single track. Unfortunately the bike I put her on had toe clips. At the top the a hill we had just climbed we turned right into a switch back. She fell, not fast or hard, but she could not get her foot out of the toe clip. We spent the rest of the afternoon at the emergency room for a bad ankle sprain.

A year or two later I bought her a mountain bike, after offering her a road bike and being turned down because "the tires are too skinny". We went back to single track once or twice, but she really had no interest in it. When we would ride on the road she had trouble keeping up with our skinny wheeled bikes. Eventually she ended up buying a Fuji that really fit her cycling needs.

It has been around three to four years since she bought that bike and we have added a Brooks and some large flat pedals to it. Unfortunately she doesn't always ride when I do, but this year I have made it my goal to invite her more often and also set aside time for just the two of us to ride. Last week we rode twice around the neighborhood in the evening and Sunday we went for a ride to her parents and then for some lunch. Here's to more rides with my lady in 2008. We should be out on two wheels this evening.

Riverside Seven 08
More riverside on Saturday, just Grant and I this time and we had lunch with Erin afterwards. Click on the picture below for the rest.

Site Watch
Artcrank is a bike poster show in Minneapolis that I am not fortunate enough to attend. I am fortunate enough to share the pictures from that show via their website though. My favorite and inspiration for a possible painting on my own workshop door is below.


Bike Pr0n Coming to Richmond
It will be here on 3/27/08, but I don't know the time or venue yet. Hopefully I can share the details soon, but I plan to attend for sure.

My History on Two Wheels

I learned to ride a bike 21 years ago. My father does not know how to ride a bicycle or swim, but some how he taught me to do both. After few weeks of attempting to keep my balance my father told me that if I did not learn to ride he would go to my first grade class and tell them of my two wheeled deficiency. I pouted, I stomped, I cried and eventually I stayed in the yard long enough that day to learn.

From age five to age fourteen I had a pure appreciation for the bicycle as a means of transportation. Sure I would ride around in circles in front of the house with my friends, but my bike was the tool that allowed me to chase down the ice cream truck should I miss its siren call. The freedom to pick up and ride across the neighborhood to hang, without asking my Mom to bus me over in the mini van.

At fourteen I shed what I thought was my bicycle husk because my older friends were starting to drive. Skateboarding and cruising around town in a car were the orders of day. That mistake was rectified not three years later in my senior year when I started mountain bike racing. I was introduced to mountain biking by a neighbor and was hooked. Grant and I dawned our spandex and bought intro level hardtails. We raced for almost two years and road single track near every weekend.

Grant eventually lead the charge to what is now the third chapter in my riding story. Road bicycles seemed like a good way to cross train for mountain biking at first but soon became an obsession. Grant sold his first road frame to me (now frankenbike) and got a touring frame. This changed our cycling sense considerably and lead to the formation of pants Richmond (formerly CCP). We made new cycling friends, started touring and some of us started commuting (not me just yet). Cycling is now a way of life not just transportation or a way to get in shape. Although those are nice bonuses.

All this leads to the picture at the top of this post, as it was the inspiration for this light jog down history lane. It is a photo of my grandfather commuting to work that I keep on my night stand. He was a Libyan born Italian teacher turned Governor, once a political prisoner and finally an amazing grandfather. Even though I did not speak the same language as him and grew up in a different country, I like to think that he and I could have enjoyed a bike ride together. I aspire to do as many great things in my life as he did in his and keep this photo next to my bed to remind me of that goal every day.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate
When anime and cycling meet I get a smile on my face!

Site Watch
Fixed Gear Gallery is my daily dose of cycling hardware photography. Pretty pictures from a niche section of cycling that I will never fully appreciate. I like to coast so shoot me!

P.S.
It is Pi Day today, did you grab a slice?

Check Please!

I could come up with these titles all day. Last night my bonus check (too easy) went through the bank and I sat down to heat up some plastic. I ended up ordering from five different sites to get all the parts I need. Below are the changes from my original post:

- I never listed any tires on the build list, but I ended up with Schwalbe Marathons (700x28) from Wall Bike. Thinner than the planned 700x30s or 32s I wanted to run, but easy enough to switch when I need new tires.

- I skipped ordering the cross top brake levers (interrupters) to meet my initial budget of $1,200. I will order them at a later date I'm sure.

- I dropped the Time ATAC Pedals in order to try out flat pedals for the first time in almost ten years. If I hate the flats I can always order some more ATACs.

- I still have no handlebar tape solution, both Rivendell and Velo Orange are out of green. I guess I will go with black or white until they get green back in stock.

- I end up with no orders from Peter White, while his inventory is nice ordering from him seemed like a chore (telephone, how about I telegraph my order in). I had planned to order a front dérailleur and bottom bracket from him and ended up getting them from Universal Cycles instead.

There are a few things listed and not listed that I still need to pick up. While not crucial to the ride they will be soon enough...

- King Waterbottle Cages
- Front and Rear Racks 1, 2, 3
- Fenders 1, 2, 3
- Frame Pump
- Lights 1, 2, 3

Site Watch
Ever since my days of mountain bike racing when I read Bicycling Magazine on my lunch breaks, I have have been searching for something better. Dirt Rag always seemed like a good choice and I just might start up a subscription one day. I just stumbled upon Urban Velo and skimmed some of their articles. I don't know if it is the form or function that is drawing me in just yet, but it seems like it is worth my time.

Rainy Day on the Side

Saturday brought heavy rains and wind gust to our little town of Richmond. Those are two piss poor excuses for not riding though. I was at Grant's place rain or shine for the sixth week in a row on Saturday morning. We chit chatted inside till the rain let up for a bit and high tailed it over to Landon's during a break. About two blocks from our destination the rain reared its head again. We were not soaked, but not dry so we took off our hats, gloves and jackets to let them dry and to let the rain pass.

I had never been to Landon's apartment before so it was treat to be trapped by rain in his engineering lair. The first room you enter is floor to ceiling covered in white boards. You can see the product of many late night study sessions scribed on them. The next room is a more homey study space and hang out. This room leads to a bathroom in one direction and the industrial kitchen in the other.

We sat in the study space letting the rain pass and I showed off what I thought were the shinning stars of the DS to two brothers who are far removed from the world of video games. Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Kirby: Canvas Curse and Ouendan 2. Not the best games there is on the little console that could, but fine examples of games that could have only been accomplished with touch screen tech.

By this time the sky had cleared up a bit so we toweled off the steel and put two wheels to the road. The ground was still very wet, but a cool breeze deadened the humidity that was starting to rise. Belle Isle was a muddy mess, thin road wheels sunk quickly in to the bog and backsides not protected by fenders (mine) looked like the canvas of an abstract art student gone wild. Riverside drive is always the warm port in the cold storm though. Upon exiting the riverside park system the sun came out and warmed us with its rays all the way back to the fan.

Lunch was on deck so we stopped by 821 for a bite only to find a twenty minute wait. So back to Landon's we went , where he treated us to a gourmet scavenged meal. Landon is the pack rat pirate of catered affairs around VCU. Have some extra box lunches you were just going to through away from your conference, nope it is going to Landon. We dined and we dashed back to Grant's to meet the ever present drywalling schedule in Grant's life. It was a wet ride, but a fun time, see you next week.

More Saturday Ride Photos

Site Watch
I have never ventured to far in to the bike repair arena. Always relaying on the kindness of strangers to keep my cycle cycling. Bike tutor changes that though, easy to follow videos get me excited about truing my own wheels and packing my own hubs.

DIY Knickers Part 2

And now for the thrilling conclusion to this two part tale. Nothing to out of the ordinary with the hemming and electronics pocket addition. We decided not to rebuild the ankle draw string because my calves are big enough that it would not get used. Other than that the pictures below tell the story.

Measure twice, cut once courtesy of CrystalSewing also a Crystal production

All hemmed up

Pocket time!

Installed!

DIY Riding Knickers!

On the whole they are super comfy to sit around the house in and my short session on the bike yesterday was just as nice. I hoping to make these a riding must have for the rest of winter and all of spring. I'll make the switch to shorts again when it starts to get hot.

Site Watch
I was just recently introduced to Velo Orange in my search for new bike parts. First they are located in Maryland so props to supporting a neighboring states small business. Second they have an amazing spread of new and old production parts and even create a lot of their own.

DIY Knickers Part 1

My standard riding wear (far right) in the fall/winter tends to be a t-shirt or two with some sort of jacket and arm warmers if needed. My lower half is usually BDU shorts with either bike shorts and leg warmers or tights and leg warmers underneath. It can occasionally leave a bit to be desired, but it gets the job done most days in Richmond.

I have been searching a pair of knickers to add to my roster for a while now. A lot of bike specific shops sell and produce them. They vary widely in quality and price, I'll put a few examples in the site watch at the bottom of this page. Today however, I got the wild hair to try and customize my own knickers. Sure I could just order some, but where is the fun. Plus my standards aren't too high for bike wear so what could go wrong.

Goals
- Custom length legs (I have a wide waist compared to my short legs)
- Velcro outer pockets
- Cell phone/Camera inner pocket (made with scrap fabric)
- Custom embroidered logo (later date, depends on price)

Parts
- BDU Trouser (Tan) - $35.00 local army surplus
- Velcro (Stripes) - $4.00 local fabric shop
- Scrap Fabric - $0.43 local fabric shop

Regular tan BDU trousers.

Leg to be hemmed later and hopefully recreate the draw string.

Buttons to be removed.

Homeless buttons!

Clean pocket.

Velcro!

Some elbow grease and love = new easy access pocket fastenings.

Friday I should have the second part of this mini project up with photos. The only issue I ran into so far was buying Velcro with a sticky backing. It is great for placement, but it gunked up the sewing machine so bad that I'm learning to hand sew the Velcro now. The inner pocket and knicker hem back to the sewing machine with ease, but more on that Friday.

DIY Knickers Part 2

Knicker Watch
Chrome Bags Knickers
MUSA Knickers
Bicycle Fixation Wool Knickers
Portland Cycle Wear Knickers