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.
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.
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.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
After work I...
Used our shop's "parts washer" to clean some components for Koji's bike I'm working on.
Rode back downtown through the Broadway Tunnel.
Watched a tap dancer in Northbeach get down.
Yyyyyyep.
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.
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.
Here is is. The bearings still feel good even though it was quite dirty. The above picture is post wipe down.
I removed the rear derailleur and will let it soak in some degreaser overnight. The pulleys are shot and will be replaced.
Anyway, I spent some time this evening wrenching on a bike for a friend.
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.
Here is is. The bearings still feel good even though it was quite dirty. The above picture is post wipe down.
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
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.
I'm staring at the marble floor at Embarcadero BART.
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.
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:
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.
Getting mic'd
Half of the crew. Sound guy, one producer, camera dude is stage left with Dane
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:
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.
Getting mic'd
Half of the crew. Sound guy, one producer, camera dude is stage left with Dane
Monday, August 11, 2008
Bar Tape
In preparation for another Alpine [god] Dam[n I have to get up early to do this shit] ride tomorrow morning I decided to re-tape my bars.
One of the perks of working at a bike shop is "take off" parts. Stuff that comes off of new bikes, heavily if not 100% discounted for employees. We have a box full of bar tape in all lengths, colors and brands. Some of it, like the red Fizik I used, has been taken off a new bike at the whim of a customer who may have wanted a different color or brand. In my bike's case, as you can see, it's a pretty horrendous choice, but I've been meaning to try Fizik as it looks like it feels special.
If working on a bike is zen, then taping your bar is especially so. It's something plenty of people pay bike shops to do, but well worth learning, and with some practice, eminently doable.
Finished. The book on the couch is Icon by C.J. Grindly. I highly recommend it. In fact, I recommend the shit out of it.
Been working a lot. Taking BART to and from. Days blur. As long as I am riding my bike, I will probably not lose it.
Usually I get off here, at West O[akland] and ride the
five miles back to my apartment to stretch my legs.
One of the perks of working at a bike shop is "take off" parts. Stuff that comes off of new bikes, heavily if not 100% discounted for employees. We have a box full of bar tape in all lengths, colors and brands. Some of it, like the red Fizik I used, has been taken off a new bike at the whim of a customer who may have wanted a different color or brand. In my bike's case, as you can see, it's a pretty horrendous choice, but I've been meaning to try Fizik as it looks like it feels special.
Starting on the right side.
If working on a bike is zen, then taping your bar is especially so. It's something plenty of people pay bike shops to do, but well worth learning, and with some practice, eminently doable.
Finished. The book on the couch is Icon by C.J. Grindly. I highly recommend it. In fact, I recommend the shit out of it.
Been working a lot. Taking BART to and from. Days blur. As long as I am riding my bike, I will probably not lose it.
Usually I get off here, at West O[akland] and ride the
five miles back to my apartment to stretch my legs.
Friday, August 1, 2008
My elbows are sore
My eyes have been opened a bit. I did the weekly "POO Ride" (Port of Oakland Ride) crit last Tuesday. Ever since high school track and field, I've known I was faster than average, something that's transmitted to bicycling.
That did not mean shit last Tuesday. I was more or less smoked by everybody at that ride, man, woman, child.
I ran into Nick, a CAT 2 or 3 racer who was doing some part time building bikes at Bike Nut last month who was riding with the somewhat famous DFL Brad who took this video during one of the early laps. I can't tell if I'm in it or not, it might have been one of the warm up laps:
I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the next one. And the one after that.
On Thursday I rode up to the top of Mt. Tam with Grey, a long time messenger now at Jetset and ex CAT 2 racer. I'm always amazed at how beautiful the scenery gets after just a few hours of riding in the Bay Area and I'm from here. The ride was mellow, with Grey on a steel frame cross bike probably taking it easy on me. Throughly enjoyable.
Highly photoshopped view from Tam taken from WarzauWynn's flickr without permission:
That did not mean shit last Tuesday. I was more or less smoked by everybody at that ride, man, woman, child.
I ran into Nick, a CAT 2 or 3 racer who was doing some part time building bikes at Bike Nut last month who was riding with the somewhat famous DFL Brad who took this video during one of the early laps. I can't tell if I'm in it or not, it might have been one of the warm up laps:
I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the next one. And the one after that.
On Thursday I rode up to the top of Mt. Tam with Grey, a long time messenger now at Jetset and ex CAT 2 racer. I'm always amazed at how beautiful the scenery gets after just a few hours of riding in the Bay Area and I'm from here. The ride was mellow, with Grey on a steel frame cross bike probably taking it easy on me. Throughly enjoyable.
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