For Sale: Barely used messenger bags

Posted on April 29, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Misc | 3 Comments

So, I’m apparently on the quest for the perfect bag. Who knew. As a result, it turns out I’ve gone a bit bag crazy over the past several months. I’ll buy a bag, try it out for a month or two, find something that I like better, rotate it out, etc.

So, the new plan is to sell these and have a bag custom built. They’re not cheap and they take forever but I suspect it’s the only way I’m going to find the bag I’m really looking for. And lucky you, you get a discounted only slightly used bag out of it.

These bags have seen almost zero action. Like, a month of daily use – maybe. These are all good bags, zero wear, look and feel brand new. All reflective tabs are present.

All bags made out of burly thick impact cordura or somesuch – there’s some strange grafting in my pictures making the fabric here look like thin Nylon which it’s not. Please forgive.

Onto the nitty gritty.

Chrome Citizen bag: $100 – normally $120 retail
Holds 1400 cubic inches. In almost every measurable way this is a better bag than the Timbuk2 bags. Fits better, has a superior waterproof double-bag design, and has their iconic trademark beltbuckle chest strap, which I like a lot (am currently sporting the larger Chrome Metropolis bag until I find a bag I truly like.) SOLD

This guy: $60 – normally $75-$85 retail
This is a Medium Timbuk2. Holds 1450 cubic inches. Good bag, waterproof, has the traditional inside pocket that all timbuk2 bags has.
SOLD

This guy: $75 – normally $95-$115 retail
This is a Large Timbuk2. Holds 2300 cubic inches. Same as before, but bigger. (I actually like this bag a lot.)
SOLD


Freeway Ride

Posted on April 26, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Videos | 3 Comments

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=4NLmiuyLa98[/youtube]

http://www.ibikeu.com/wiki/index.php/The_Freeway_Traffic_Jam_Ride

http://www.midnightridazz.com/forums.php?topicId=2723

I don’t really know how to feel about this, but my blogging has been weak lately – so you get this.


Safety Third! Sweetbike mailing list…

Posted on April 21, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak | 4 Comments

I started a mailing list for bike peeps here in Seattle who like to ride bikes and want to talk rides and routes but don’t necessarily fall into the pointythree crew. Nothing wrong with pointythree and I’m sure theres going to be a fair amount of overlap if this gets going at all, but for instance Slow Sunday has a crew of people of their own. Seems like there are others too.

Send email to safetythird-subscribe@sweetbike.org to subscribe. There’s like 13 people sub’d at the moment. I don’t expect it to be extremely high-traffic but you never know. If you don’t like it send an email to safetythird-unsubscribe@sweetbike.org and voila, you’re out. All automagically.

Once you’re subbed, send email to safetythird@sweetbike.org and voila, you’ve posted.

Have fun.


Can has wheel?

Posted on April 16, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Mechanical, Reviews | 5 Comments

Yowza!

– click the picture for more pics -

32 spoke (DT Swiss spokes)
3 cross lacing pattern
Silver DT Swiss Rims (deep V type)
Shimano 105 Hub
Wait wait wait… Backup.

Anyone who’s been talking to me knows I’ve been yammering on about new wheels. Well, yesterday I wandered down to Mobius Cycles after work for the first time on the hunt for a set of rims.

Only 2 blocks away, the front door is in an alley off 1st ave, up 3 flights of stairs around a freight elevator and into a loft thats half artist space, half bike shop. Was warmly greeted by Niki (sp?) the owner and invited to poke around, talk wheels and bikes and the like. I mean, what do I say? It’s a very cool space and Niki is both friendly and knowledgeable. I pulled a good vibe off the place immediately.

We talked about wheels and prices – her rates seemed good and included such excellentness like: being able to sit in on the building, free wheel truing for life, and more or less a “let’s do it right now” sort of attitude. It’s obvious that Niki is a mechanic who loves what she does. I liked that. I left there with much to think about.

After going over the train-wreck that is my finances today, I ruled out being able to afford both wheels this month, but decided I could afford one of them, so rolled by after work to have my rear wheel built.

“Hey man, wanna build a wheel?”
“Hell yeah, lemme just finish unpacking here.” She says, as she’s unpacking some pretty killer looking anodized blue cranks and matching toe clips.

I pop a squat on the couch, and in 20 minutes she’s like, grab a chair and come on over here and I’ll show you what I’m doing…

And in a little less than 45 minutes, I had a new wheel!

I really enjoyed my time there. I wish I’d have been able to suck up everything she was doing. Going to have to build a couple wheels myself eventually me thinks – it really is an art form.

Anyhow, there will be more later. The short story is I walked out of there extremely happy with my new wheel and eager to get it on the road. I left feeling good about Mobius Cycles, Niki and my time there. Really, I came away with the the best kinds of impressions – and the idea that thats what a LBS should feel like.

Anyhow, I must go to bed but will be back later to edit- my grammar in this really sucks. Thanks to Niki for making a badass wheel, please forgive my shitty writing, and until then…

Onward!


Man

Posted on April 15, 2008
Filed Under Misc | Leave a Comment

I’m dying to sit down and get some blogging done. Tonight, it’s so on.


It’s my birthday today!

Posted on April 11, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Donts, Events | 3 Comments

WOOT

I love my birthday. Good job on not being dead Scott. You’re 32. Don’t fuck up.

Alright, the plan tonight – we’re going to the Eastlake Zoo for drunkypants time around 8pm. After that, all bets are off.

And remember… whos invited?

Hope to see everyone there tonight!


On cranks, wheels, and bags (ramble)

Posted on April 9, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Mechanical, Misc | 8 Comments

Theres no science to this. Just my opinionated one-sided commentary.

On Cranks – I’ve suspected I put the wrong sized cranks on this bike when I built it out. My only guide being my Trek 7.3 I had before and what passed for some logicking. The result of which provided me with 175mm crank arms, which is as long as they make them*. After further reading in an attempt to address some of the fit issues I have with the bike, I’ve come to realize that these cranks are sized for people with really long legs, which I do not have. I’m 5′10″. My inseam is about 30 inches. After more reading and talking with people, I decided to put shorter 170mm crank arms on.

It made a difference almost everywhere, I was surprised. However, towards the last 3/4ths of my last 40 mile ride my right knee hurt considerably. I’m not done futzing with the fit, and will play with the seat-height to see if I can improve on this. My knees have never hurt before, through I’ve heard about them doing this from others. More learning to be had I guess. Stay posted.

On wheels – When building El Rooster around Christmas, by the end of it my budget for the bike was running thin to be honest. And I – like many others – cut a corner a little bit and purchased a set of wheels off eBay from a wheel builder for $175.

Well, they’re okay and they got me on the road which at the time, is what I was shooting for. The hubs are good as far as I can tell – They’re Shimano Ultegra hubs, but the rims on them are shitty Mavic CXP21’s. They’re both 28 spoke wheels – and I’m running 700×23 tires.

In short, after several months of riding I’ve come to the conclusion that these are completely the wrong wheels. I’ve had several flats on the front wheel, and the back wheel won’t stay true. I haven’t busted any spokes but I’m not entirely certain why. However it does appear after taking a closer look that the rim might be slightly dented.

Anyhow, long story short is I’m going in for better wheels. As this guy I know Eric recently said about himself “I’m fat and I run over shit” – I’m a stocky guy at 225lbs and I too run over shit. I’m looking for either anodized red or anodized silver Velocity Deep V’s, some Specialized Armadillo 700×25 or x27 tires, and going to 32 spoke.

Hubs I haven’t decided on yet but Universal has high flange Phil Woods for $120. We’ll see what the budget supports, but all in all I’m sorta excited.

On bags – There’s no such thing as the perfect bag I’ve decided. The Timbuk2 bags don’t do much for me to be honest.

They’re okay. They’re a popular and simple bag that tends to flop around everywhere – and there are some design elements of it that defeat its waterproof status IMO. To change it up I picked up a Chrome Citizen bag which I like a lot better

but within a day of riding realize now it’s too small, and should have gone for the Metropolis or Kremlin (probably Metropolis). Go me.

I like how the Chrome bags hug your body better and doesn’t flop around as much – the downside to this is more sweaty back. I don’t know how to get around that. The buckle up front is cool and looks pretty rad, but really it’s a fashion thing, and it’s heavy.

I feel like the Chrome bags also have buckling where there need not be any. on the chest strap for instance. Things got like two buckles which make it difficult to adjust quickly. It also comes right under your armpit which is swell and all but I prefer it to come a little farther down on my chest. Inside layout is nice, but the one thing I did like about the Timbuk2 bags was the inside zip pocket.

I guess if I had to chose, my ideal bag right now would look and be designed much like a Chrome bag, with an internal zip packet like the Timbuk2 has – but removable and transferrable between bags. So say I swap from my smaller daily commuter Citizen bag and up to a bigger Metropolis or Kremlin bag for a weekend of camping and riding and what have you – I could just unzip the inner bag and zip it into the bigger bag and move out. Mostly it contains tire patching stuff and emergency running around junk anyhow (Batteries, pumps, cables, tires, etc). I’d also like a couple strips of velcro sewn into the inside so you could velcro in a padded laptop container to it, like I carry (almost everywhere).

I don’t know if I’d get rid of the buckle. It does look friggin cool as hell. I would however figure out a way to make that chest strap movable with less buckles. It’s just silly.

Much to learn. Much to do. The more I do this the more my opinions on various topics change with perspective. As it is with anything I guess.

Anyhow – onward!

*Just shaddap already. I know you can get them longer (185-155mm) but conventional crank arms tend to run from 165mm to 175mm and fit the 90 percentile.


Lever powered bicycle

Posted on April 9, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Bikes, Donts | 4 Comments

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPq54OKN95A&feature=related[/youtube]

This one is also being filed under “don’ts” – but its better than the running powered bike. lol!

“will render all other conventional bicycles obsolete…”

HAHA so ossum.


Randys – Slow Sunday

Posted on April 8, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Slow Sunday | 1 Comment

We rode all over. I’m still tired.

From Cal Anderson we rode out to Brandon’s work to pick up cinnamon rolls, and then down to Seattle Center to ride the Ghettodrome, and then over to the Fun Forest for skiball. Afterwards we split to stock up on groceries at Uwajimaya and then hauled ass for Lincoln Park. On the way I got two flats. Very frustrating. After the second we made the short jaunt to Aarons Bicycle Repair to have them check out my mystery flats.

I’ll be honest, I feel dumb taking my bike to a bike mechanic for a flat. It’s not rocket science – somethings compromising the integrity of the tire, find out whats poking a hole in it and remove it. Duh. But here I was in the middle of this ride, I already used up my spare tube on the first flat, and used Ben’s tube for the second flat, and dumbass me left most of my flat-fixing gear in my other bag.

It wasn’t a bad investment. $10 and they pulled a piece of glass out of my tire both Ben and I both missed – right above the stem no less. No doubt it was just a matter of time before I got a 3rd flat. Glad I took it in and glad I got a chance to go my Aarons finally. What can I say about Aarons – it’s a good shop. I know people have personal history with Aaron. I don’t so get to take it on face value. My experience was good. I guess thats the best anyone can ask for.

Leaving Aarons, we then took the steepest most direct route to Randys way out on Marginal Way. There are pictures to follow, but to summarize this place was crazy. Its like a privatized Dennys, but for pilots. Dozens upon dozens of model aircraft hang from the ceiling, the guys there all roughly the same shape, wearing the same meshback hats talking about steep G turns and their suspenders. Place was pretty dope. On the menu it said Beer: $3. Love it.

Now, it wasn’t as cheap as J was going on (and on and on and on and fucking on) about, but it was priced decent and all in all we had a good time. As I said, there are pictures still stuck on my camera and will update this post with them later.

We then left Randy’s and trucked it North for home.

All in all I think the ride could have used WAY more beer (or at least beer stops) between Randys and, uh, everything that preceded Randys – J I’m very dissapointed in you of all people for that, I expected MORE from you, not less. – but it was good to get the miles in after last weeks aborted attempt to get a single ride going.

Three things I’m going to ramble on about… Edit: now in another post…

Cranks
Wheels
Bags

Other than that – excellent if exhausting ride overall. Looking forward to next weeks. As the weather gets nicer these rides get better and better.

Onward.


My new trike! (and Other Signs of the Apocalypse)

Posted on April 4, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Donts | Leave a Comment

Its a running-powered bicycle.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-1xm8415UQ[/youtube]

Thank you gizmodo – you da man.
http://gizmodo.com/376236/the-running+powered-bike-is-pure-ludicrousness

*Ed – please note this has been tagged under “donts”. Serious lolz.


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