Legal Crap

Posted on June 30, 2008 -- Edit Post
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Wrecks | 3 Comments

Insurance still hasn’t paid me for the bus wreck on May 05. I’m pretty annoyed, but hopefully am seeing some traction today.

This is all going to be legal junk – emails and the like. Read on only if you’re interested in the stupid details.

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This weekend – SSR

Posted on June 30, 2008 -- Edit Post
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Slow Sunday | 1 Comment

Sunday woke up, rode the squid bike up to B&O for breakfast and then over to Cal Anderson for Slow Sunday. Headed for Lake Washington Blvd and Seward park – stopped to go swimming in the lake (man that water was awesome). Down towards Seward Park the road had been closed to cars for “bike day” – so the whole park was bike access only. Totally sweet. Left Seward park, hit the secret shortcut and jumped over to the Ranier Taco Bus for tacos and Mexican Coca Cola.

From there we pedaled home and over to Lehanna and Greggs place where Gregg, bless his redneck heart, was smoking pork steaks and had made a pool out of the back of his pickup truck (pictures to follow).

PHOTO GALLERY
(incidentally, shot with my new digial camera – the Canon Powershot SD1000 Digital Elph)

It was fucking glorious. Turned out to be an excellent party with many (including Carl) in attendance. It was good to be reminded how small Seattle really is.

Eventually went home when Greggs landlord got called and I was tired of drinking beer – spent a restless night being eaten by allergies and heat, didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. This morning came in bright and early (730!) and here I sit.

Theres more but when isn’t there.

Onward.

Hit and run by minivan on Montlake bridge

Posted on June 25, 2008 -- Edit Post
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Wrecks | 1 Comment

Best wishes Nygard… Damn man.

Suck

So about 24 hours from when jenn flew to Taipei, I got hit by a car riding home from the Point 83 Tuesday night ride. I left the group and had just crossed the Montlake bridge when I got hit by a minivan. They didn’t stop. Police at the scene think they caught them. EMTs walked me from the scene to the ER at UW’s hospital. I have three stitches in the corner of my right eye, and four broken facial bones, road rash on my right elbow which looks more like carpet burn, and no bike. The police took it as evidence. I didn’t get a good look at it, but the rear wheel is broken into pieces, and I suspect the frame is toast too. And I just built those wheels this week. Three fucking rides and toast. I got discharged at about 06:00 and cabbed it home.

I hurt, I am lonely, and I am cranky.

Blah.

Ride careful kids.

Update:

JOURNAL LINK

Pedalpalooza (last weekend) in review – warning: EPIC POST

Posted on June 21, 2008 -- Edit Post
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Events | 2 Comments

Much has happened this week – mostly with me in and out of the ER – and haven’t had a chance to blog about the weekend. I’ll be alright, and now it’s time to blog since I can’t go or do anything anyhow.

Warning: this only goes into the blog because we did all this on bicycles. Theres a lot of drinking involved. A LOT. Alright, caveat emptor – you’ve been warned.

OKAY HERE WE GO – LAST WEEKEND…

 

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Crazy Bike

Posted on June 19, 2008 -- Edit Post
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Bikes | Leave a Comment

—— MMS ——
From: XXXXXX (Nova) /TYPE=PLMN
Sent: Jun 19, 2008 5:03 PM

Seen at Elliott Bay Books.


2005 Raleigh Super Course

Posted on June 13, 2008 -- Edit Post
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Mechanical | 2 Comments

I can’t believe I did it again. I bought another bike. I didn’t mean to. Actually I thought I was scoping out a stolen bike. I mean LOOK at this…

$400 for a 2005 Raleigh Super Course? Riiiiiight.

Now to be totally clear here, I wasn’t going to buy a stolen bike. Under any circumstances. But on the off chance it was actually a killer deal from someone who bought the bike but didn’t want it and didn’t really understand the value of it – well, jeez.

Lucky me, it was the later. It took us a couple days to meet up – busy schedules. In that time a girl I bicycle with posted in the .83 forums that hey her friend Jake was selling his bike, and this was the picture blah blah blah. Turns out, same bike, same guy. She unknowingly provided 3rd party verification that the bike wasn’t in fact stolen, that the guy was on the up and up and he was just selling this bike because it was of no value to him. THEN I got excited. Yesterday after work I went over and purchased it.

This is a NICE bike. Heres the brochure for it (page 8).

2005 Raleigh Super Course. Less than 30 miles on it. 27 speed. It’s a lot of aluminum and carbon fiber. I’m typically a big fan of steel, so this is a big departure. Carbon fork, carbon steerer tube, carbon steerer tube spacers, carbon wishbone seat stays, carbon seat post – I think aluminum everything else. Ultegra rear derailleur, 105 front derailleur. Radially laced front wheel. The thing is FAST.

GALLERY

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I do not know if I’m keeping this bike or selling it. If I keep it I’ll do the bullhorn thing to it. I don’t like brifters, or spring loaded shifters. Too much mechanism and complication. Too much room for confusion. Also need to put real pedals on it – these flats aren’t going to work.

But yeah, it’s a beautiful bike I got at a killer price. Guess we’ll see how it goes.

Onward.


This Coming Weekend – Pedalpalooza!

Posted on June 11, 2008 -- Edit Post
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Events | Leave a Comment

This weekend is shaping up to be something else. Taking the train down with Kav to Portland, racking up with friends Jen and boyfriend Matt. Hanging with Dean and Michelle and Andy, maybe ride with Eric and Kori, meeting Cass and co for drinks and strippers…

And Pedalpalooza itself?

3 ENTIRE weeks of bikey goodness in Portland. Over 200 different events! Holy crap, I had no idea. I was just going down with my friend Kav because it seemed like a good time. Didn’t realize what I’m getting myself into. That silly little nekked ride doesn’t even begin to touch this thing.

What follows is my semi-not-very-serious proposed schedule. I’m sorta bummed I’m going to miss the Bike Porn 2 movie – AGAIN. And in order to do the strip club crawl AKA the Raunchy Ride II, I’d have to show up NEXT weekend. I can only go this weekend. All other weekends are totally slammed.

Dammit. This whole thing looks like a lot of fun.

Pedalpalooza

Pedalpalooza

June 12 – June 28, 2008

  

Pedalpalooza is 2+ weeks of bikey fun. With 212 events, most organized by individuals, bikers of all persuasions are likely to find many events of interest. Nearly all events are free.

CLICK HERE FOR THE WHOLE CALENDAR

8:45pm Bike Porn 2:
9:30pm Train arrives ========
10:45pm 300 Ride === will probably just hang and get settled at Jens, get dinner etc…
11:59pm Midnight Mystery

11:00am Edible Garden tour === HA. Only if I get up and fed in time.
2:15pm Stumptown Joustdown === More observer stuff
6:30pm Criterium Race == I’m only going to watch this
7:30pm RERUN Bike In Movie
9:00pm Dance Party
11:59pm Naked Ride

Wide open.

So much to do. So little time. And today I actually got press credentials for the whole thing (thank you Mehgan) as a correspondent for sweetbike.org!I feel bad I’m only able to come up for the one weekend.

All I can do this year is go down, have fun, ride bikes, and see what happens and take a lot of pictures I guess. Next year: plan better.

Onward.


From Nova: Mustache Bars!

Posted on June 10, 2008 -- Edit Post
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Mechanical | 3 Comments

—— MMS ——
From: Nova 1412xxxxxxx
Sent: Jun 10, 2008 10:46 PM

Moustache ride anyone?!


Portland Weekend Coming up…

Posted on June 9, 2008 -- Edit Post
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Events | Leave a Comment

http://www.shift2bikes.org/wnbr/wnbr.html

So, I’m trying something new and taking the train to Portland this weekend with my bike. I come in Friday evening (the 13th) and leave Sunday afternoon.

Who are my Portland peeps, what are your physical addresses (PM them to me if you like) so I can map this shit out in google maps before I head out there. As for contact info, I think I already have it but if I don’t, be sure to drop it on me.

I’m doing pedalpalooza. I’m even doing the WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE but I’ll be rockin tighty whiteys. Or some underoos if I can find them. Sorry, no naked sweaty junk on my bike seat kthx. I’ll be sporting a cowboy hat and tighty whiteys. Sounds like a win to me. Oh, and I think I’m bringing the Great Orange Monster. I really have a good time riding that bike.

I’m also largely interested in doing alot of food during my stay. I’m thinking Montage (mac and cheese and oyster shooters), Voodoo Donut, Tin Shed, That pizza joint thats only open 3 hours a day and is all nazi about what you can put on it. Whatever else I can think of or that people suggest. Oh, and strippers and beer at Golden Garden (Perl District).

Hooray for new adventures!

More cool Portland bike stuff. More to follow. Theres a bunch to write about here.


Random shitty weather post…

Posted on June 6, 2008 -- Edit Post
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Mechanical | 2 Comments

I enjoy riding the Great Orange Monster (aka GOM), but it really is geared too low. I have like 63 gear inches or something silly. It either needs a freewheel on that 21 tooth cog, turning it into a single speed hill climbing machine, or it needs an 18-19 tooth fixed cog. It’s a Surly flip flop hub, meaning I should be able to put one of each on there. Might try to do that. Problem I’m facing with that is that it’s not a track bike, meaning the drops are considered “vertical”. Though they are long drops with a shallow pitch, chain length is a concern.

Coupled with the fact I don’t have any experience with fixies or freewheels or track hubs in general… yeah. It’s got me going to bike mechanics, which I’m never so hot about.

I rode it to work one day last week. My legs are moving so fast it made for a not-pleasant ride – whole body jerking to and fro. Cruising speed is about 9-10mph. When climbing hills though, it’s awesome.

I think we’re all sick of this stupid weather.

Onward.

EDIT:

So, I bought the 19 tooth fixed gear cog. WAY better. Rode to work with absolutely zero problems.

According to the man, 50/19 gives me 69.2 gear inches, which feels pretty good. Less power, but more speed. I climb most moderate hills with ease (but fucking forget about Lakeview, period). Going downhill doesn’t feel stupid, and my cruising speed is around 16-18mph. My crank arms are 170mm.

But according to the man, gear inches don’t take into consideration crank length which makes a difference in leverage and spin. He recommends the ratio method for measurement instead.

Original: 50/21/170= 4.7 Gear Ratio (more power, less speed)

New: 50/19/170 = 5.2 Gear Ratio (taller, more speed, less power)


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