Won't be Commuting for a While...

I was going strong for the last few weeks. 3 or 4 days on my bike riding to work plus our family Tuesday night ritual of riding to Chik Fil A for dinner and the library for Story Time (me hauling the boys in either the trailer or the Madsen).

However, I was notified Wednesday morning that my position was eliminated. So, now I've got to find another job. Hopefully, I'll be lucky enough to get one close to make bike commuting likely (that or get enough grit in me to ride further for work... my commute is honestly short compared to some).

On the brighter side, I'll have time to just ride while I figure out the rest of my life...

Madsen: Quick Update / Impressions

So, tuesday night, we (I) rode our boys from our house to Chik-fil-A (Family Night) and then by the Library (story time). Here's some various impressions:

1. Ride's great. Very smooth. Weight distribution takes some getting used to, but that's not a big deal.
2. Boy's LOVED not being sheltered away in the trailer. They especially loved being able to talk with my wife (mommy) when she rode behind us.
3. My youngest would occasionally lean back against me as I rode, which was pretty cool.

It's not without some things I need to tweak, though.

• I'm going to be putting Schwalbe big apples on it. More volume + kevlar belted should be nice (more cush + flat resistant).
• I, personally, need a different handlebar. Just felt kind of... cramped... with the default one. Not such a big deal at speed because the normal stabilizing effect of bike wheels at speed, but when going slower I had to consciously tell my self to relax. Kind of hard to explain.
• Need to figure out how to deal with my youngest nodding off. He's 1.5 yrs old, so on the way home he likes to doze... doesn't work so well with him on the bench, he couldn't get comfortable with where to lean against. I'm thinking about relocating the seatbelts lower down and padding the bottom of the bucket and sitting him down in it.

Oh, and the boys got a little chilly after dark. However, that was kind of expected. Apparently, Madsen is working on some sort of weather cover, and I can state without reservation that I'll be ordering one as soon as it's available.

Also, got to ask Madsen about the screws on the top tube and downtube. They aren't spaced for water bottle cages.

Madsen Came In!

Okay, so much influenced by Totcycle's review, I've been wanting to get a Madsen for a while. It showed up. I bought one on the scratch clearance for $200 off. Hard to tell where the scratch was...

Anyhow, we had a couple test rides as soon as we opened it. Handling's a bit "twitchy", some of that is likely because I was riding at fairly low speeds and getting used to it. We'll take a longer ride tomorrow....

Here's a slideshow, the Picasaweb Album has a couple videos...

New Arkel Stuff?

Okay, so I do love my Arkel Commuter, but noticed some new Arkel goodies previewed in Eurobike coverage of Velo-Vision magazine (a publication I enjoy reading and subscribing to via Exact Editions... I hate paper copies of nearly anything). Neither are on Arkel's website yet, and I've yet to see any mention on any other websites either...

Velo Vision

Issue 35 - September 2009

Page 39

Velo Vision

Issue 35 - September 2009

Page 39

Velo Vision

Issue 35 - September 2009

Page 39

Handlebar Reelight?

Yeah, I'm so grabbing this when it's launched for sale. standard reelights are already great. This would be like adding a dyno to any front wheel.

Link: http://www.cyclelicio.us/2009/09/reelight-handlebar-light.html

Me / Family: 1, Virus: 3

Well, the Dark Side Ride was a no-go for me. My boys got viruses this week (their eyes erupted into pink-eye... both eyes... on both of them), which I wound up contracting (strep-like symptoms for me) Thurs Night / Friday Morning (probably because I stayed home with the boys on Thurs). I was in no shape to ride 30-50 miles late Friday night (though I took a small ride around my neighborhood and found a really cool park we didn't know was there Friday afternoon... my back was tired of laying down... but 1-2 miles tuckered me out).

The only upside is that the wife didn't get sick.

KS > MO Dark Side Ride? I'm so there...

Guess what popped up on my reader list today, or maybe yesterday (courtesy of KC Bike Commuting)? A group ride I can actually make it to! 9p-12midnight. I may even "man up" and ride to the 8 miles to the meet point. (which would put total miles awfully close to 50). Depends on when the wife and I get done with the cookout we're going to before hand.

Get your lights charged... it's time for another Dark Side Ride! < KC Bike Commuting

Rain: 0, Me: 2 - Woo Hoo!

So, I was dense enough NOT to check the weather before I headed out yesterday. The sun was still down, so I didn't notice how thick the clouds were. About 1/4 of the way to the office I thought "Hm, I'm pretty sure those weren't headlight flashes". About 1/2 the way, "Yeah, that's definitely not headlights." Grabbed my coffee to go (rather than sitting down for 20 minutes to eat my banana and drink my coffee there, like I usually do), got to the office, sat down... 5 minutes later... KAPOOOSSHH! the sky dumps...

Then, I get out of the office a little (15 min) late... start pedaling... notice the sky "Oh, crap, I should've left on time..."... Lightening, Lightening, Looming Clouds... Pedal Harder... hit all the green lights... it's spitting when I roll into the garage. Dumps about 10 minutes later.

So, I out ran the storm twice on Wednesday.

Of course, now that I've bragged about it, I'll probably get swept away in a flash flood or something tomorrow...

Door Zone Video - Holy Crap!

I suspect that anyone reading this has already seen this video posted on a number of other blogs. However, if you haven't, it's worth passing on / clicking through.

Door Zone - A Real Eye-Opener!

Collegiate Ride Impressions

So, I got around to actually riding the Collegiate more than just around the block. I rode it about 3 miles round trip to the coffee shop and back. Here are my impressions:

1) Wheels are horribly out of true (just one more thing to work on).

2) Ride is super upright (not a bad thing).

3) Can't wait for a rack (holding a book while riding was doable, but not comfortable... should have used a sling bag).

Also, the bottom cable guide slipped, which was a pain because I could figure out why it was hard to ride (stuck in 3rd / high gear). I'm going to get something to help it stay gripped to the frame better.

3 Things Made Me Happy (in the last 24 hours)

1. Twice on my commute yesterday, I tripped the optical sensors at fairly major intersections by myself. Now, I'm not slight, but I'm no clydesdale either. So, it's always fun when I can cast a big enough shadow, or whatever they're looking for, on my bike trip those sensors.
2. On my way home, I heard a a car approach and slow down behind me. A lady in a minivan was, apparently, giving me time to swerve around the parked cars before passing me. She could have passed me safely without slowing. However, I guess she decided it would be nicer not to spook me. When I got around the two cars and pulled back over, she passed me, smiled and waved.
3. Something was waiting for me when I got home. It was the Ex-Officio Trip'r SS (Jade) I had ordered. Fit is good, it's really lightweight, breathes well (wore it on the ride in today) and, I think, looks sharp.

Oh, and a bonus 4th, I found a quarter in my pocket when I got to work.

Kansas Chic? Nah...

In an attempt to cheer up a friend, who recently despaired of the lack of chic in NYC cyclists, here are some pics from my ride to work this morning. Though it is all performance fabrics, it's at least suitable office apparel. Regardless, it's probably as close to Chic Cycling as you'll see in suburban Kansas.


Bern Helmet, Oakleys, Ibex Merino Polo


Nau Wearever Slacks, Pants Clip (the reflection)


Rockports

Khaki Hack Update

So, I added lower snaps and took some still and action shots. the location seems to work fairly well. It seems to be just high enough to keep the hem out of the chain and keep some wind on my legs. Also, an interesting byproduct of the new location (6-7 inches from the hem) is that it allows for extra security if I roll them to my normal knicker-roll height (just below my knee).

Still Shots:


In Action:

Panda Shots

Finally figured out how to hold my camera and ride at the same time, so I got around to taking some Panda Shots tonight. A lot of them were crap, these worked though.



PS - From the Panda Flickr Group "Why are these called "pandas?" Well, ya see, there's this rad chick who goes by the name faster panda kill kill. She takes rad self-portraits while riding her bike. They are so rad, in fact, that a group was formed to record similar self-portraits cuz, really, just about anyone who has a camera and rides bikes also takes these self-portraits."

Trusty Steed

I realized, the other day, that I've modified my Soho S enough that it's worth posting a couple of update pics. This is still the bike I ride to work.

Side View


Front View

Khaki Hack featured by Bike Hacks

FWIW, Bike Hacks featured my Khaki Hack

Khaki Hack

So, I've been brainstorming ways to make my work clothes more biking friendly. I really like by Rail Riders Backcountry Khakis. They fit great, breath great and are pretty tough. I normally roll / fold them to knicker length when I ride. However, sometimes roll isn't good and comes loose, which is a pain. Then, the other day, I stumbled on to the Prana Stretch Zion which have a pretty nice built in snap for rolling them up just high enough to help keep them out of the chain.

This gave me an idea for modifying my khakis to something similar. Using the inseam I was able to attach snaps ($4 total for snaps and setter @ hobby store) pretty well.


Location of both snaps.


Lower snap detail


Upper snap detail


Snapped - inside out


Snapped - right side out


Unsnapped... Using the inseam means the snaps are unnoticeable from the outside

So, how do they work? Pretty well, except that... I believe I placed the upper snap too high. You see, I have very well developed calves. The upper snap is placed between my knee and the swell of my calf muscle. With the pedaling motion, my calves had a tendency to friction-grab the hem. This led to discomfort and the snaps coming undone occasionally.

I believe I need to locate the upper snap just below my calf muscle rather than above.

Collegiate is Re-Assembled.

As I mentioned yesterday, the Collegiate is assembled and working. Here are the promised pictures:

Slideshow:


Pics

It's Alive!!!!!

Okay, so finished getting the '83 Collegiate assembled last night.

I promise I'll get some pics up soon (most likely this weekend).

At present, everything works beautifully.

The coaster brake is about 90% dialed in. I played with it just enough to get it working last night. There's a sweet spot that I'm looking for, too little and there's no power, too much and it drags while pedaling. It's presently on the looser / weaker side of adjustment, BUT it's powerful enough that the rear wheel can skid if done just right(talk about bringing back memories).

I'm pretty sure I'm going to swap the tires for something less basis, but I'm torn between practicality or cool. Since these are 590 rims (remember, this is a Tawain / Giant built Schwinn), there are limited supplies. However, Schwalbe makes a Marathon Plus (imminently practical) in 590... other strong contenders are the Schwalbe Delta Cruiser (Cream, Whitewall or Gumwall), or Panaracer Col de la Vie... decisions, decisions...

New Summer-Weight Bike Hugger / Ibex Wool T's

Summer Wool Tees: unpacking, originally uploaded by Hugger Industries.

I have a suspicion my wife isn't going to like me... My heavier-weight Ibex / Bike Hugger Wool T is, by far, my favorite t-shirt. However, it can get a bit warm (especially if the sun is shining since it's black). I doubt I'll be able to resist buying a light blue...