A virtual museum with lots of nice pics of classic, drool worthy road bikes from the early 1900’s to the present. Plenty of detail shots for the equipment geek and bicycle history buff. Not much verbiage and only a bit of historic perspective on some bikes. Just the facts ma’am.
“Gears are for queers.” ~ unknown but oft quoted source.
How many gears do you have?
One gear, dingle, three speed, 1×6, 1×9, 12 speed, 18 speed, 21, 27…
No, no. I mean how many gears do you have? Is the answer diluted by the gearing options on your bike? Is the reduction induced by a single speed the quickest path of inner gear awareness? The perfect platform for experimentation in output and recovery?
Or lack thereof.
Am I sorely suffering for the inner gearing choices I’ve made the last few days? Am I ready for the dilution of options?
You bet I am…
There can be only one... Or can there?
Managed to roll out by 7 this am. Headed out to the Manville Loop. Pulled out 50 miles in 3 hours and 17 minutes. A little slow, but I’m running a 48 x 19 gear at about 68 inches so there’s a limit to my high side. I’m pretty happy with that time but I’d like to break the 3 hour mark for this loop on a single speed. I’m not sure why…
As for bird watching, this area of eastern Travis county is a good place to spot the Crested Caracara.
Popularly known in the U.S. as the national bird of Mexico (see comments for more) and often called the Mexican Eagle, we’re on it’s northern most range. Though a bird of prey, the Caracara most often feeds on carrion. Watch for them in open fields east of Austin. Once you find a field that attracts Caracaras you can expect to see them there from time to time in the future. I spotted seven in two fields this morning, the most I’ve seen in one outing.
“Run to the hills. Run for your lives.” – Iron Maiden
The Heavy Metal Fitness Ride Does The West Side.
But first…
Here’s the deal.
All hype and scary graphics aside.
Anyone who wants to get in a good, couple hour workout with a great group of cyclists should come on out and ride this Monday. Riders range in age from 18 to 44. Some serious. Some not so much. Some finish. Some don’t. However, all are welcome. Road bikes, mountain bikes, bmx, fixed gear, single speed, hybrid and cruisers.
What’s that? You don’t think you’re in such great shape? No problem. We’ve got a couple of folks showing up every Monday, seeing how far they can make it, and meeting us at the springs and/or bar afterward.
Oh. You’re a super fast badass? A real Hard Man? Good, learn the route, then push the pace all you want. We’ll do our best to keep up. It’s up to you .
Lycra?
Fine.
Cutoffs?
Fine.
Just as long as I don’t have to sit through a long winded description of your leaking saddle sores as I’m communing with my free beer and being serenaded by Ronnie James Dio you do what you want.
Southside hipster?
Good.
Westside roadie?
Great.
Cyclocross season’s coming soon. Why not show up and practice turning your lungs inside out. You’ll be glad you did.
Bring water, patch kit, pump, spare tube and lights. I promised myself I’d wear a helmet on these rides as they’re fast and end in the dark but that one’s up to you. Just try not to slow the ride down with any traumatic head injuries.
We meet at the Lamar Street Pedestrian Bridge. Leave at 7:30. Ride. Swim at Barton Springs about 9:00. Hit the Jackalope around 10:15 and enjoy the traditional 100 Free Beers and Half Price Pizza along with Heavy Metal Music.
Ok. Back to the scary graphics.
As mentioned previously and often, it’s hot here in Austin. Real hot. And, of course, it’s not just the heat. It’s the humidity. Even my six a.m. rides leave me completely soaked in sweat. And the sweat soaked t-shirt on my back?
The Patagonia Wool 2 T-shirt.
The Wool 2 is my favorite wool t-shirt. Actually it’s my favorite t-shirt period. This is the one I wore everyday for a week in the Yucatan. Passed the “sit down and have dinner with the family on day seven test” with not a wrinkled nose.
The Good: Super lightweight for those record breaking stretches over 100 degrees. Comfy and very soft with no discernible itchies on my skin. Looks decent. Not techie. Just kind of plain t-shirt look. Fits about like a t-shirt should and true to size. You don’t have to wash it every time you wear it. Merino doesn’t retain odors.
The Bad: Once again, price is tough to swallow. In justification, I’m figuring each wool t-shirt amounts to at least four or five cotton ones at wash time or while traveling. Watch for close outs. Will shrink. Best if hand washed and laid out flat to dry.
The Ugly: Like the Ibex jersey, the lightweight material had some problems. I noticed a hole worn through the body after the first wash. Yikes! Fortunately, Patagonia customer service is the tops and the shirt was exchanged with no problems at the store here in Austin. This version has been through several washings with no evidence of wear.
A great shirt at a not so great price. Though the lightweight wool may have longetivity problems if machine washed, my experience with Patagonia customer service gives me confidence they’ll take care of any problems that arise. Beyond this, the Wool 2 gets my top score in the summer weight wool t-shirt category.
Just so you know, Danny learned his lesson…
No wonder the public is so surly towards cyclists. Danny screwed it up for all of us…
Remember ya’ll. Courtesy pays.
“How can I convey the perfection of my comfort on the bicycle, the completeness of my union with her, the sweet responses she gave me at every particle of her frame? I felt that I had known her for many years and that she had known me and that we understood each other utterly…
I passed my hand with unintended tenderness – sensuously indeed – across the saddle… It was a gentle saddle yet calm and courageous… Her saddle seemed to spread invitingly into the most enchanting of all seats while her two handlebars, floating finely with the wild grace of alighting wings, beckoned to me to lend my mastery for free and joyful journeyings, the lightest of light running in the company of the swift ground to safe havens far away, the whir of the true front wheel in my ear as it spun perfectly beneath my clear eye and the strong fine back wheel with unadmired industry raising gently dust on the dry roads. How desirable her seat was, how charming the invitation of her slim encircling handlebars, how unaccountably competent and reassuring her pump resting warmly against her rear thigh.”
From the novel The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien, 1967.
One of my favorite bike shops is moving to new digs. The Peddlar will be relocating to 5015 Duval St. in the former Storyville Vintage location. They should be in their new location by the first of September if not sooner. Congrats to A J and the crew for the added elbow room and central AC.
Look for a BMX exhibition of some sort at the new location this Saturday the 25th at 1 p.m.
…or at least mild contusion.
In an unanticipated experiment in metal fatigue, hex tool failure and thematic coincidence, my pre-Heavy Metal ride excitement was only slightly cooled when, in a vain effort to remove a very stuck pedal, I sent this flying into my calf muscle:
Ouch.
Hard Men With Soft Bellies 