Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Back to work

That it now seems colder than it was in New York is a sign that I've adjusted to my return to the west side, packing NYC back in the realm of exotic, far away places.

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Dangling from the basket of a messenger bike in Manhattan

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I saw the Catherine Opie exhibit at the Gugenheim museum. She is tightt.

Now I'm back to job at the bike shop and I can't complain.

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Fast Boots, a.k.a. "Blondie" doing a backwards, no handed track stand on VI's bike:

blondie aka fastboots

Friday, December 12, 2008

Running through traffic in New York

Before I had a chance to borrow a bike and ride in New York I'd gotten so antsy walking everywhere that one afternoon I just took off and started running down the middle of the street in an effort to make it to a meeting with a friend on time:



Wednesday, December 10, 2008

New York Messengers

Come in more varieties than their SF cousins. And they never roll up their right pant leg.


There are guys that get around on public transportation:

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Many bikes have front baskets. Plus there is an entire subsection of messengers who just deliver food. I heard the money's not that bad.

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Most use the diesel chain to lock up:

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Over the course of my visit, I tried to imagine working in this city. I think I would have enjoyed it, though the cold might be an issue.

new york bike messengers

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

New York Messengers

They're different than San Francisco messengers. On the whole they are older and ride shittier more practical bikes. There is also this sort of world weariness about them.

I hope to take some pictures and post them later.

Manhattan is as overwhelming as ever. I love this city.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Skitching - It's Timeless

Today on my way to work I got off at Embarcadero BART again. I was thinking about stopping by a downtown store to buy some more pants for work, but I got got up talking to Jeremiah and "Battle Ax" Mike at the statue. One of those clear, blue, perfect days where messengers don't know how good they have it.

I had some time to kill so I rode all the way up market. Chaz, a messenger transplant from Portland, caught up with me somewhere around 1390 Market and we started racing. Dude is fast, [er than me] but he doesn't have gears, so I had the advantage.

I turned up Van Ness and proceded to catch a few different skitches, just for the fun of it, up Van.

Last Sunday I learned that my late Grandfather used to skitch trucks growing up in Los Angeles in the 20's. Pretty stoked about that.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Sign reads: Bicycle Parking Prohibited

I was running late so I decided to get off at Embarcadero, the first place BART stops in the city, and race to work instead of waiting a few more stops which would put me closer to Bike Nut.

Even though I was late, I swung by the statue after running into Kalman of Spirit Courier, on his fixed gear heading the same way.

Biking to work from downtown was invigorating. I may be missing the messenger job less these days but I'm sure as hell loving city car wrestling more.

Plus the skitch I caught from Broadway and Stockton about a quarter of the way into the Stockton Tunnel was grand. 40mph was fast enough in that decaying tube, wearing sunglasses that blinded me. K-dawg from work told me the other day that the tunnel's full of asbestos. Nice.

I've been taking fewer photos since I switched phones.

I used to work for a translation company in Japan where there are a lot of bicycles:

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Friday, October 31, 2008

Critical Mass / Becoming a Square

I must be turning into an L7. On my ride home from work this evening I ran into critical mass, and "damn" was my first thought.

The almost critical mass of cyclists was careening towards the Broadway Tunnel and I knew I had to beat them in to salvage my commute, which I did with gusto. [By using the word "gusto" my Tycoon Status has been revoked.]

Here's a picture I snagged from John who was apparently in the tunnel:

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Goldsprints Again

Did another Goldsprints last week. I was tired. Saw a bunch of East Bay friends, a bike shuttle buddy, and plenty of messengers I used to see more of though, so it wasn't a total loss.


GoldSprints @ Mike's Bikes Berkeley - 10/16/08 from Mike's Bikes on Vimeo.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

In the Middle

There was a crane in the middle of Montgomery street the other day.

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Thursday, October 9, 2008

Men in Tights / Backhanded Compliments

I'll admit it, I was flattered when coming back from a ride in the city, exiting Ashby BART a woman, worse for wear, asked me "if I wasn't worried about getting raped wearing them tight, tight shorts".

men in tight pants

To be honest, the thought hadn't yet crossed my mind.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Incongruous

I found myself at Walgreen's this evening and was somehow drawn to the "bike section". Hella generic parts and such. Pretty much just "Bike Gear" brand, priced very low. So it was surprising to spot a three pack of tire levers by Park Tool, one of the more well known "serious" bike tool manufacturers.

bike parts at walgreens

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Barely Works Bag

I dropped by Rickshaw today and John was nice enough to make some repairs and subtle upgrades to my Bailey Works bag:

pictures

Man, riding around SF today, wearing my old messenger outfit - cut off Ben Davis with u-lock holster over bike shorts - cutting through traffic - rush hour downtown traffic.

Riding through that city felt so god damned good today.

Friday, September 26, 2008

I'm ridng my bicycle drunk

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And this is my one hundred and fiftieth post.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Punkin' Out

I was planning on doing the POO ride tonight, but I have a pimple on my left ass cheek and my legs are sore from mashing down College at 30 mph trying (and succeeding I might add) to beat automobiles two days ago on my way to Cole Coffee (my favorite place to buy beans in the East Bay). Plus I don't have any clean bibs. And a few more excuses I will think up later.

Got some cool Japanese sock drying hangers last week from my girlfriend. Stoked to use them on this hot, sunny Berkeley day. Yes, you heard me, I'm stoked to dry my socks. This is rockstar living here, people.

I've never been a huge fan of folding bikes - too much compromise - but I got an email about this one from a friend the other day:



Then ran into a nice French dude on BART the following day who was sporting one. If I had to buy one, I'd be tempted to go with one of these. I think the kevlar belt drive is a neat idea and I like the minimalist, functional geometry. The green brakes are pimp, too.

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Monday

Caught up to Jimbo from Godspeed this morning around Civic Center on my way into work then saw Frank Chan of the SFBC a few mintues later heading the opposite direction on Polk Street. Caught a little skitch for half a block after that. Made it to work in under 10 minutes. Hate to break a sweat before work, but it felt good.

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On my way back home, riding down Columbus to BART. These days it is getting dark earlier. Not a fan.

Riding home, for whatever reason, felt especially good this evening. Sometimes it's nothing more than a commute, while other times just riding through the city on a bike is enough to make me euphoric.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

criterium race

Last week I watched a crit that was held around the corner from the bike shop where I work. Dudes were riding very, very fast.


twilight crit san francisco, three photos

twilight crit san francisco, three photos

twilight crit san francisco, three photos

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It was difficult photographing such fast moving objects.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

video from first DFL race



Didn't do race 2 and can't do the finale this Saturday. Might race in the Box Dog Bikes 100km alleycat on Sunday though.

I'm the radicality at 4:14.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

DFL

Did my first DFL race earlier this evening. Jesus Christ. It was also my first time riding on dirt, rocks, pine cones, etc. I did go off road once in jr. high to be fair.

Lot's of fun, crashed four times, nothing serious. Saw a lot of people taking pictures. Waiting for them to appear on flickr.

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The dirt line, taken on the way back to the Beast in Blake's truck.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

3rd Poo

Finally did another Tuesday night Port of Oakland ride. I made it to 8:20 pm, ten minutes short of the last lap. Averaged 26.2 mph for 45 minutes and hit a top speed of 34.3. I mean, I still didn't finish, but damn, that was some hard riding. Hopefully I'll be able to hold on to the end next time.

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As for transporting my bike, I'm still experimenting. If only a device existed that would somehow attach to the back of my car and hold a it...

I've been doing some great rides recently. Had an epic day climbing up Mt. Hamilton two weeks ago. Did "The Bears" last Sunday. Hit 54.2 on Southpark. Goal is now 55mph.

I'm selling a helmet, a Lazer Genesis, size L, as seen below. $80. Just not big enough for my massive, complex head. Used five times. Four by me, once by Raineer last Sunday:

Fwd: "hmmmm. i woke up feeling not quite myself..."

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Beef Jerkey Fix / Dreams of Polo Tattoos

beef jerkey fix

I was riding back to BART from work last week, trying for the life of me to identify a tic-ing sound coming from somewhere on my bike. I first removed the springs from my skewers and greased them which was goggles*. I tightened the chainring bolts, seatpost collar, and some other screws. By the time I got to the gas station at Filbert and Van Ness I realized it was coming from the bolts on my saddle clamp.

I started tightening them - I have a KCNC scandium seatpost with titanium hardware that is a bitch to adjust - then suddenly PING!!! The titanium bolt head snapped off ejecting the seat into the sky and onto the pavement four feet away.

Astonishlingly, I happened to have a spare seatpost in my bag that day. I walked over to the attendent and asked to borrow a measuring tape but the only one he had was broken - why they kept it I do not know.

So I bought a stick of beef jerkey, oddly Nacho flavored, and bit it down to the correct size. While I like beef jerkey as much as the next man, I find it hard to fathom how nasty yet popular Slim Jims manage to be.

beef jerkey fix

bj

On a completely unrelated note, I dreamt I had two tattoos last night. One I forget, but the other was a two foot long outline of the Ralph Lauren polo guy on my right arm. Most of the dream was me looking at it and thinking "damn, why did I do this? If I get lazer removal, how will that turn out? Etc... "

*it did nothing

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

53 / Four days a week

Due to foreseen circumstances, my hours have been cut back at bike nut. Now I'm back to my part time schedule which was cool when I was messengering as my primary job, but now it's like damn, I only have to work three days a week? I need to figure something out, but for now, wow, four days off a week? I'll take it!

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Today I rode up Tunnel and down "Botanical" in Tilden and hit 53.7 mph. I averaged 12.2 climbing up - first time I've had a computer. Now I have a baseline for how fast I can do it out of shape. Hope to get better. Didn't feel like doing the POO Ride this evening. Want to be in better shape.

Monday, September 1, 2008

drying

95% of my bike clothes

I really went a long while before washing my bike clothes this time. Was down to wearing, gasp, regular bike shorts as opposed to bibs.

Note: blogger keeps cutting off the right side of my photos. If anybody, or Lydia, knows how to fix this, please let me know. #wrap2 { width:800px;}
#main-wrapper { width:510px !important;}
#header-wrapper { width:800px;}

Saturday, August 30, 2008

I almost got shot last night / look at the sea lions!

Riding (dirty) back to my boat at four in the morning after a party on Hampshire and 20th, I pulled up to a lone black SUV sitting at a red light. Setting up the skitch, I grabbed the rear door handle and waited. When I glanced inside, I saw a man load a clip into a black handgun, cock it, then turn around and look at me while raising the weapon in one action.

So I missed that skitch, deciding to ride for my life in the opposite direction.

Passed out on the boat. Checked out the sea lions around the corner this morning on the way to work. Now, sweet sleep.


sea lions at pier 39

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Love Boat

Slept on my boat last night.

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Hell yes I brought my bike in.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

After work I...

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Used our shop's "parts washer" to clean some components for Koji's bike I'm working on.

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Rode back downtown through the Broadway Tunnel.

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Watched a tap dancer in Northbeach get down.





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Yyyyyyep.



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Monday, August 18, 2008

Wrenching

Jesus Christ. I can't believe how loud my upstairs neighbor's snores are. Messing with my concentration.

Anyway, I spent some time this evening wrenching on a bike for a friend.

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Popping off the bottom bracket was a bit tricky. You need a lot of leverage and my low-end stand wasn't having it. In the end I used a hammer to bang on the wrench which eventually loosened the drive side cup.

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Here is is. The bearings still feel good even though it was quite dirty. The above picture is post wipe down.

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I removed the rear derailleur and will let it soak in some degreaser overnight. The pulleys are shot and will be replaced.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

I ride this one more

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Trek 5000, DT Swiss 240s hubs laced to DT Swiss rims, KCNC Pro Lite seat post, Selle Italia Gel Flow saddle, Ibis stem, Deda bar ends, and plenty of other innappropirate acessories. Did you know the chain in the background is BART art? Around the corner there is a matching statue made out of filthy rope and other things.

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I'm staring at the marble floor at Embarcadero BART.

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I think that's a blind transvestite. Which raises all sorts of questions.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Lake CX-401 Shoes / Danes

Lee, the owner, president, CEO or something of Lake Cycling flew in from Chicago and stopped by the shop today with a bag of 2009 prototype bike shoes, including the CX-401 road shoe which I've ordered. Two things about it - it's made out of carbon and kangaroo leather, it's about $600. The shit is advanced.

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Lee, with our local Lake rep, Sophie, getting his back talk about shoes with Huseyin

I never imagined I'd buy shoes that cost more than my rent. I'm not sure with employee discounts how much I'll pay in the end, but I can say with confidence, dearly.

These are them:

new lake cx-401 prototype

lake cx-401 prototype

And then a film crew from Denmark stopped by at random and I ended up starring in a minute and half of Danish soap opera.

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Getting mic'd

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Half of the crew. Sound guy, one producer, camera dude is stage left with Dane