6 posts tagged “bicycle”
24Motab last night. Best Motab EVER!
So we are racing in circles around the abandoned factory, that we pretty much are the only ones that ever use the place, and things are getting kinda silly. I found a 20 x 10' frame of chainlink fence and set that up as a barricade and then I was installing a water hazard and a voice from above yells "Hey kid! What are you doing?" First off, I haven't been called a kid in 4ever and yes, it's a compliment because despite my grey hair and achy knees, I still feel like a kid. Secondly, I'm totally busted f*ckin around so, I just play it cool and say I'm getting a drink of water and he says "what are you guys doing riding around in circles?" and I say yes, sir, we are indeed "riding around in circles." I know we only have ten minutes more racing, figure if he calls the cops they won't show before we scramble. He says "the cops patrol here a lot" and to be honest I'm not too worried as we've done this for years and when I've seen cops there while walking my dogs they have cared not a bit what went on back there. Pretty stupid really. The place is a dump! Why anyone would object to this positive use of this negative space is beyond me.
Megan wins the trophy so, once again I am denied what is undeniably mine. That DFL prize should be mine to rock too, but you can't win and lose, or maybe you can because we all won and most of us lost too!
On the ride home I saw some rabbits humping and ate enough bugs to loose my vegetarian status.
Question occurred: What's the most one can spend on a bicycle?
Folks make do with what they got. Sure can't fault ingenuity!
What is reasonable in our consumer rich bigger-better-faster society? Is it a tool or a toy, or a work of art?
Josh Hadar's rides go for up to $35k. What kind of kryptonite lock do you use on that when you zip (plod) to the coffee shop for an Amerikano?
Apparently the Lance Armstrong Foundation sold a gold plated, diamond studded ride in 2005 for $75,000. The bike commemorates Armstrong's seven Tour de France wins. The bike was a joint effort between Trek Bikes, Nike, jeweler Alan Friedman and artist Lenny Futura. Bet it was butt-freakin-ugly! Speaking of Lance and the TdF, I guess the Trek he rode for the victory lap on win 7 auctioned for $35k.
American Manufacturing made (and lost) a beryllium frame set. The pricetag: $23,000. Ouch!
Velo News recently covered the above 7 pound ride. Wheels alone cost $15,000!
Get your carbon 2008 Alpha Romeo Competizione for $8large on Ebay now! Z's in the name cost a thou. Italian, add another. From a car manufacturer, push another three zeros on the calculator.
How bout this $13,000 POS? I'd rather walk thanks!![[LEDEvelo.jpg]](http://bp1.blogger.com/_qS7lWW64y2s/Rillc4BzZQI/AAAAAAAAAP8/MinjJdNP3Po/s1600/LEDEvelo.jpg)
The Guiness Book of World Records lists a Stif "Flipper" from the UK as the most expensive retail mountain bike. Costs $12,025.00. The Flipper weighs 20 lbs., and is designed for off-road racing circuits. Thing better fly up the climbs for that price.
I have friends that think it's criminal to pay more than $100 for a bike. I think you get more trouble than the Huffy is worth. And sure the vintage Black Shadow is the shit, but will it make daily driver status? Cool=fool!
Robin loves his cycles for sure, but they are tools in his house. Most I ever paid was $1100 for my Voodoo and I still race it. My $20 Craiglist cruiser is one of my favorite and most used bikes.
Just make sure it doesn't end up like this
Speaking of white, yesterday while walking my dogs I saw a dude in a wheelchair struggling across a parking lot to the ice crusted sidewalk and I thought That is bold shit! I wouldn't even bother going out in a chair on a day like this. What a brave guy. Suddenly another gentleman comes charging across the parking lot after the wheelchair guy yelling. I'm thinking, whoa WTF! Turns out the guy had stolen the wheelchair from the St Vinnie's drop box and wasn't the least bit handicapped. Guy went from brave warrior to slimebag in one breath. Perspective can sure change in an instant. Black is white. White is black.
That Scream record kills by the way. My original was stolen years ago. Nice to have it back. White vinyl is SO Slick! We're AmeriRockers!
Sorry it took so long to respond on this, we bikers are slow and methodical.
Recently a former Madison mayor and implied bike advocate crossed the double yellow lines and claimed and I quote "The bicyclists who braved the week's second storm should be taken out and shot." He claims to be making a joke and was repurposing a quote by a Milwaukee teacher about the Columbine shootings. None of these are joking matters however. There is enough hostility toward cyclists from motor vehicle operators already and Columbine and teacher attitudes are serious issues.
I'm not going to link to his blog as that would be perpetuating the problem. You can find the hyperbole if you look. Soggy even hypes his own hype in a later post about how his anti-bike post drew more people to his site than anything he has ever written. I hope he has adsense or Google ads enabled as he's making loot off these blatherings:
Dec 08, 2007
How To Write A High Hit Post For Your BlogFor over two years, blah blah blah brought readers insight into Madison and Wisconsin issues. We commented on politics, fashion, sports, more politics, right wing foolishness, and, of course, left wing follies.
The readers of Waxing America s enjoyed:
* Essays on blah.
* Lies that blah.
* Commentary from blah.
* Blah
Needless to say, a post on biking after dark in heavy snow storms crushed them all. It was not even close.It is not about a rant, it is not about biking. It is not about hyperbole.
It is all about telling people that something they consider noble, honorable, and superior to the behavior of mere mortals is stupid.
My response:
Tuesday December 11 Madison got hit by its third storm in 10 days. Seven inches of fresh snow fell throughout the day making the commute home a big challenge. Most schools were closed, college classes cancelled. People that came to work planned hasty retreats as the day progressed. I was excited. I love riding in the snow. It is sport.
Most cagers are idiots though. A cager is someone that sits in the safety of their vehicle (cage) and doesn't experience the elements around them. They are impervious to the sounds, smells and 360 degree panoramas of their daily travels. Once you close that car door, you are in an armored shell and nothing matters except getting from A to B. Safe from harm, sit back, have some coffee and maybe make a phone call. Is that a movie on the dvd player? Fargo? - Awesome!
Cars in storms are stoopid because:
- They are too afraid to come to a complete stop for fear of getting stuck so, they roll through the stop sign (over and over again).
- Don't bother shoveling, just stomp harder on the gas. (by the way neighbors, if you do get stuck, I will help if you SHOVEL FIRST)(a soft touch on the accelerator is a lot more effective in the snow btw). When I get stuck on my bike, I just step off. walk five feet and I'm riding again. I don't need to pack a roadside emergency kit.
- Just because I'm on a bike doesn't mean you HAVE to pass me. (Especially when there is a tow truck pulling a bus out of the ditch and the road is reduced to one lane for both directions) -Yeah give me the finger! U r an idiot Bronco man.
- Clearing the windshield is a great idea lady - really! No your poor wipers can't move that pile of snow. Oh and the ice underneath will require more than your defroster on high for 30 seconds.
- If someone is stuck and gassing it out of the ditch, don't just go racing by ignoring the smoke pouring off the stuck suckas tires. In a second those wheels are going to hook up and he is going to launch into your roadway and smash into your "late for yoga" self. Yes, this happened in front of my house yesterday.
- When the bumper gets ripped off your Ford F150 4x4, don't just leave it laying on the corner of State and Gorham. Kind of a nice memorial, but traffic is already snarled, dodging your body parts, by car or bike, is not ideal.
- You can't drive at your regular speed - really you can't! The brake pedal stuttering and making funny sounds when you come to a stop - that's the cars ABS telling you that you are going too fast.
I continue to ride. This is my 25th year crossing the isthmus on my bike. Rain or shine, summer and winter. These are not the words of a self-righteous freak. I am merely a guy trying to get to work everyday. I save on gas, parking, insurance and maintenance by not driving my car. I am safer than you Paul Soglin because I am acutely aware of my conditions. I know road conditions better than any car driver. I know exactly where you are back there SUV guy. I promise I won't get in your way if I can help it, but I do have a right to the road. Peace y'all. I promise I'll wave to you when you pass at speed and honk while flipping me the bird.
