Bicycling Geeks's topics - tribe.net

performance

2009-08-13T23:53:00Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn29DvMITu4

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 1 reply

Anybody do this Ride?

2009-06-21T18:25:49Z

http://www.smwbike.org/cherohala/ccMain.htm

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

Specialized Rockhopper Pro verses a Trek 8000 Disc

2009-06-12T10:19:00Z

Hey

I am looking at getting a new hard tail and would like your views on yhe two bikes i am looking at Specialized Rockhopper Pro veres a Trek 8000 Disc . The Specialized i was looking at if i went that way i was looking at upgrading the brakes. I have only owned treks but the price on the Specialized and with what comes with the bike is not bad. Whats your veiws on these two bikes?

Naveen

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

Cleat position

2009-06-12T10:05:30Z

I was riding on my around town bike today doing some hill work, I didn't have my road bike with me; the bike has no cleats or a cage. I was messing around with foot positions since the bike is not geared for what I was doing. I tried positioning my heel all the way forward and then precede to move them back , And I got to say I felt more energy when my foot was positioned with the arch and heal over the center of the pedal than I did with normal foot position.

Has anyone tried to move the cleat back and what results have you noticed?

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 1 reply

So are you itching for Spring and a long long ride?

2009-03-11T22:26:09Z

this group appears dead. Just pinging it to check for vital signs.

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 3 replies

SEEKING: MUTANT PEDAL POWER BICYCLE CREATORS, DESIGNERS, & ENGINEERS!

2008-12-31T00:52:15Z

ECCENTRIC BICYCLE SHOP AND COMMUNITY CENTER IS SEEKING BIKE ARTISTS TO COMMISSION A BICYCLE SNOW PLOW AND OTHER ARTFUL BIKE CREATIONS
Looking to find someone who can create a functional bicycle snow plow. If you can create a mutant bicycle that is functional or know someone who can please have them contact us at bikejoan@gmail.com ANY PEDAL POWERED CONTRAPTIONS shoveling snow or otherwise artful bike creations are also appreciated. If you know some one who would love this job please spread the word. Were located in Brooklyn Ny and have a variety of used bikes and parts for sale and trade and available for mutant bike assembly. Thanks-Joan

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

Philly Bike Message Board? If not...let's start one

2008-08-09T21:20:49Z

Mike---26, Rittenhouse Square, loves bicycles (especially my old Raleigh) Looking to talk to others who like to ride aimlessly around the streets of Philadelphia, looking for things of interest. E-mail me, or just post here

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 5 replies

The Biking Geekness

2008-06-23T23:35:02Z

What gadgets do you have on your bike?

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 3 replies

Come race with us!

2008-06-20T22:49:13Z

www. quakecityrumble. bravehost. com

QUAKE CITY RUMBLE V
July 3rd-6th 2008
San Francisco

QCR FREE HOUSING
If you are coming and you need a FREE place to stay with SAFE BICYCLE PARKING! Then send me your info and I will add you to the list!
If you have room to put up people and their rides please send me your info as well! Please include how many you can house, your name, email, phone # and address....I am the only person with this info for the QCR, and it will never be made public!
You can email me: anitathrill@gmail.com

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

Newbie seeks advise

2008-05-27T17:50:07Z

Hello all, I just found y'all. Stoked!

I have a couple of bikes (and no car) and I use my Schwinn cruiser for shopping, trips to the beach, etc. In other words, it's the one bike I don't abuse on the trails. Today I was riding down a wee hill and two spokes on the front wheel just broke in half. The air pressure is fine...I am at a loss..........any thoughts/hints/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks folks!

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 7 replies

Head Lamp Mounts?

2008-04-08T15:01:13Z

I live in the desert where plastic cannot withstand the heat.

Both of my headlamp mounts have deteriorated and bit the dust.
I have a Blackburn and a SUNLITE Powerlite Series.
Does anyone have an extra clamp for either?

I'm kinda lucky, I lose headlamps less frequently than i lose the clamps.

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 2 replies

Shimano!

2008-04-07T14:41:07Z

Shimano is an amazing bike parts maker!
The company's first rear derailliur(that I remember) in 1970 was a stamped-steel campy Critterium-ish copy called the "Eagle". It shifted nicely and was Bomb-Proof! It also weighed in at around 2 Pounds!
Your basic dual flat (straight in)parrallelogram(the body moved down and back) as the cage climbed the rear freewheel sprockets.
Then came Suntour with the V-GT and smaller cage Honor all stamped steel rear changers,theirs was the first to use the "Slant-pantograph" design. Somewhere in here Shimano changed the design about two points and nearly duplicated Suntour's design and went on to become King of the multi-speed Drivetrain.
Over the decades wev'e seen the "Titleist" all alloy model,The Sante' designer series(very "pretty stuff!)
leading to the 105,Ultegra and the venerable Dura Ace.
Even Shimano's entry-level stuff (Sora/Tiagra)although heavy,works nice if kept clean and maintained. Too bad Suntour got lost in Shimano's wake,becuase they made some nice stuff as well.(Suntour SRX).
Shimano has been in the cycling forefront with such inventions as STI integrated Shifter/brake levers(wich Campagnolo then copied..poorly with it's "Ergopower" Unit).
I guess Shimano just makes bicycles Better,especially in the price range of the average rider!

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 13 replies

New bikepacking tribe

2008-03-31T02:38:41Z

I recently started a new tribe specifically for bikepacking: put your backpacking gear on your mountain bike, peddle away into the great outdoors.

If this sort of thing interests you drop on by:
http://tribes.tribe.net/bikepacking

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 2 replies

Tire recycling?

2008-03-30T18:06:34Z

Lately, among the fixed gear riders I know, I've been hearing lots of talk about skidding and wearing out tires - "buy cheap ones and get new ones when they wear out" - has lately made me wonder if there's a smart way to dispose of the old ones (or if all these folks just burn through tires like cigarettes, tossing the old ones into landfills like butts out of a car window).
Has anyone here ever heard of a bicycle tire recycling program?
Thanks,
Alex

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 2 replies

advice on bike purchase

2007-09-08T01:03:02Z

I haven't ridden a bike in over 10 years...and I want to start riding again as a cross training effort. I am looking to purchase a bike so I can ride with my fellow marathon runners on Sundays. Usually ride on paved bike paths, or some trails.

What should I be looking for? Road or hybrid?

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 7 replies

Dealing with "Others" on our Bicycle Paths.

2007-08-28T04:58:29Z

We all love a nice smooth paved bicycle path
In the 1970's when the first of these paths were built,it was wonderful to zip through the heart of a City on a Bike pathway free of the dangers of intersections and motorised traffic.
Today we as cyclist's have "adversaries" using OUR bicycle paths,in the 1970's they were Skateboarders,now,these punks on skateboards were easy to deal with,there were no headset radios,so at least they HEARD you coming when you yell out "ON YOUR LEFT". Most of the time if a skateboarding punk would yield,wed just unclip a foot and shove em out of the way!
Today it's vastly different,we now have Rollerbladers with music on their heads,who's "wide swing" skating stance puts THEM clearly IN our foreward path. Most bike trails are only 6' wide with the yellow line down the middle,Skateboarders need 4 feet of "swing",so you cant even go around them IF they heard you(wich they dont!) The last thing we want is to wipe out a 15 hundered dollar road rocket,because a path hog on rollerblades isn't paying attention! Iv'e had more than a 'few' near total wipeouts from rollerbladers!
Another "Path Hazard" is Women pushing babies in strollers! Their "focus" is on the baby,and not their surroundings. Runners and power walkers are not a hazard becuase they are only using a "small part" of the width of a path...and these folks ARE aware of the bike path and what it's main purpose is.
Bike paths were built for a single purpose,to get a Bicyclist from one place to another safely. What do you others think of this? Is my rant here justified..or not?

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 20 replies

Thoughts?

2007-06-15T23:09:21Z

My legal settlement is finally coming in this week, meaning my long time off the bike is at last coming to an end. Now the fun part: getting a new bike and heading back onto the road! I'm looking for a high-end bike built with the endurance-cyclist in mind. I don't want a typical race or crit geometry. I'm leaning toward the Time VXS or the Kuota Khan.

Any thoughts?

I also realize that custom frames are a possibility, but timeliness is an issue since I'm going to be shooting to complete the Cal Triple Crown series before this year is out.

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 15 replies

Portland Joust?

2007-06-09T03:59:55Z

Anyone going to the joust tomorrow?

FIRST ANNUAL STUMPTOWN JOUSTDOWN
SE 20th and Belmont (Col. Summers Park)
2:00pm
The First Annual Stumptown Joustdown is a call to arms seeking the Pacific Northwest's finest bicycle jousters. The day long tourney will be open to all bikers, and all types of bikes; tall bikes, road bikes, fixed gears, mini-bikes, choppers, unicycles, etc. Each style of bike will joust in it's own class, with trophies and glory going to the best of each division. Think you're tough? Grab a bike, grab a lance, and get bruised.
Solid Gold, see7e at yahoo daht comm, www.zoobomb.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3011

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

Old Sovereign bike

2007-04-28T17:19:24Z

I am having an impossible time getting the crank off of my old road bike. My hope is to convert to fixed gear, but I am getting nowhere. It is pretty much this exact bike, but in more beat up condition: http://a.im.craigslist.org/gu/1V/xip4l26kbsggEbcK6no2Q9RS5CWi.jpg any advice on how to dismantle it, and how to convert to fixed gear would be appreciated. Thanks!!

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 1 reply

Why magnesium tubing?

2007-04-04T02:45:47Z

Is magnesium tubing a good thing? I noticed a bike on the Pinarello web site that was magnesium tubing. I was wondering if this is the next best thing some Carbon Fiber?

http://www.pinarello.com

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 10 replies

Cannondale/Saeco opinions wanted, HELP ! ! !

2007-03-07T19:12:19Z

I could sure use some help on this one, guys! Here's the deal...

Found a 1999-2000 Cannondale/Saeco CAAD4 road bike, BRAND NEW, HAS NEVER HAD PEDALS PUT ON IT ! ! ! Has a full Campagnolo Record group (C-dale supposedly spec'd a bunch with Chorus brakes but not this one!), Cippolini "Lion King" saddle, 1" threaded Slice carbon fork. The only modification noted was the replacement of the Spinergy Rev-X "lawsuit" wheels, being replaced by a set built with Mavic CXP30 rims and Dura-Ace hubs (I didn't think Dura-Ace hubs/freewheels could even be used with Campy shifters, but there it is). Bike is immaculate, in same-as-new condition.

Retail on this bike, best as I can recall, was about $4300 back in the day.

What do you think it's worth today?

Thanks for your input, I'm sure I'll post how it turns out (probably accompanied by a plea for donations...lmao)

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 8 replies

inexpensive bike tour/vacations?

2007-01-25T03:46:04Z

i've never done one before. does anyone have a suggestion for a week long bike trip, something eco-friendly and off the mainstream and not too expensive? looking to get away from the city (NY) and be somewhere beautiful, possibly in Mexico or overseas - Ireland or England, I'm open to ideas. Something mildly challenging but not preposterous, in which the focus would be the journey/exploration and not athleticism. i don't currently own a mountain bike, just an old hybrid.

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 1 reply

Intro and Request for Help

2007-01-12T08:49:56Z

Hi, All. I live in San Jose, California, and just joined the tribe. I am an endurance-cycling enthusiast who loves double centuries and is trying to gear up for the Furnace Creek 508 road race (and Race Across America qualifying event). A year ago, on the 17th of January, I was hit by a 16-year old girl driving a Chevy Tahoe. My bike was shattered, and my body, while things could have been much worse, took a beating as well. I had shoulder reconstruction in August and I've just been cleared to ride again. I've been off the bike for some time now, and I'm itching to go.

There's just one major hurdle here. I don't have a bike. Until all the legal stuff is settled, I won't be able to replace my high-end road bike. So I'm looking for someone not too far away who is either selling a 56cm or 57 cm road bike, or knows someone who is. I'm joining some cycling tribes tonight in the hopes that somewhere along the line, someone will be able to point me in the right direction. My core group of cycling friends here have been trying to help with loaners, but the fits aren't that great and I could never do much on them except tool around the neighborhood for short 40- or 50-mile rides.

Thanks, and I look forward to meeting a lot of you here on Tribe, and hopefully out on the road in the very near future!

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 2 replies

bicycling is not a crime

2006-12-28T01:24:10Z

a new tribe, please join, esp. if you're in NYC:

http://tribes.tribe.net/bicyclingisnotacrime

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

BAD SRAM Freehubs

2006-08-25T14:07:09Z

I got my first taste of what SRAM Components are like yesterday.
LOVE the way my rear derailliur shifts...crisper than my former Shimano's however! my new Recumbent is in the shop already(not yet 2 weeks old!)...why? becuase the SRAM 8spd Freehub fucked up already! it "clicked" while not pedaling,a LOUD "click-click-click!" can you say Defective Pawls?
Sure the shop will gracefully replace it today BUT, Is this a sign of things to come?
This is the first bike Iv'e ever had with an "all SRAM Drivetrain"(their entry-level 3.0 series)
No entry-level Shimano stuff Ive ever had failed this quickly.
A freehub with less than 200 miles on it...defective?
Raises the question: are SRAM's Components any good?

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

Labor Day Food Drive Alleycat

2006-08-14T16:36:05Z

http://tribes.tribe.net/alleycat/thread/3485c400-092b-4dc8-9e46-68e7447ef82a

Where: Central Park, Rochester, MN

When: 9:00am Labor Day, Sept 4, 2006

What: It's an alleycat race. Riders will be given a manifest with a list of items to purchase from various local grocery stores. First rider back with all items and thier receipts is the winner.

Prizes donated from: Masi, Rochester Cycling & Fitness, Chicago WIG, One Less Car, iHeartBikes, Island Triathlon & Bike, and TheBikeBiz. Hopefully more to come. If you want to donate a prize, message me.

Riders just need to show up at Central Park, with a bike, a bag and some money (about $20 to purchase items) at 9:00am. Please let as many people know about this as I would love to give a huge amount of food to donate to Channel-1 this year.

Spread the word. Forward to all your friends.

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

Recumbent Bikes

2006-08-14T04:33:42Z

Fellow Tribesters..
After 38 yrs of riding multi-speed "Road Rockets" I bought my first Recumbent Bike this past Saturday!
A 2006 Sun EZ-1 SX long-wheelbase Recumbent.(see Photo's on here)
Iv'e had a bad back the last 17 yrs or so,so I thought the design of a Recumbent would be more comfortable.
Going from a 19 lb Road Bike to this was "Radical"! Recumbents are heavier,and frame geometries and seat design TOTALLY Different than a Road Bike! I considered the Under-steering designs,but thought for my first "Bent Bike" an above steering configuration would be easier to ride.
The EZ-1 SX is a Nice Entry-level Bike! Components that work well(SRAM) and a nice seat,and well balanced machine. being entry-level it Is Heavy at 35 pounds BUT..It "feels light" and is a fast cruiser and good hill climber! As for my bad back? NO problems there at all, it IS vastly better for my back than the Drop-Bar position on a Road Bike. I think I am going to LOVE this Bike,and it will be a great gateway beginner Recumbent for my future purchase of a Lighter higher end model. lets hear from other "Bent Bike Riders"..I'd love your opinions and Ideas about Recumbents!

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

Rapid Rise-Like it or hate It?

2006-07-05T21:38:34Z

Shimano now has 4 Rear Deraillurs on the market that use "Rapid-Rise" shifting technology or what is basically a "Backward-shifting" rear changer.
XTR
Saint
Hone
and CF 301(for hybrids)
Personally? After pulling the lever to shift UP the cogset for more than 30 years..I find Rapid-Rise a confusing and clunky way to shift a bike.
What are your thoughts on Rapid-Rise?

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 2 replies

Once upon a time, innna land far from here, I loved bikes.....all bikes, all shapes, colors, and makes....I was...a .BIKE SLUT! yeah!!!! LOVE riding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-06-22T15:49:09Z

Some old scribbles from a bike-thing I wrote several years ago....ya'll might dig 'em; hope so!

The Dishon. Mungo K.,Cross of Mush speech, Dec.’99, Joni’s Lounge, about 4am

Ladies, gentlemen, mountain bikers, we all wanna eat and drink and drink, so I’m gonna get right to the essential utensils; down to the brass tacks, titanium bolts, knives, forks, et-damn-cetera.
Forks; in the bike world, the only significant world, forks are suspension pieces that attach the front wheel to the bicycle to take the the edges off the trails of one's life. Ya got several different ways of going about this, the basic motorcycle-type telescopic slider being by far the most common. Travel varies from ‘bout two/three to maybe gittin’ on 10 inches, most being from 2.25 to 7-ish inches. Downhill forks are usually in excess of six inches these days; posing a new challenge for the framebuilders, namely, how to design a frame for that extra travel that won't pig-wallow when you’s try to peddle the sucka. Assuming that a DH fork will be used on a DH frame, that is, a like amount of rear trav, the total wallow factor at toodlelooin' speeds is gonna be high. So, kids, we need handlebar-dialable rate , or lockout, at least. Come on, we’re talkin’ a halfa pound/pound of extra hardware here, so that the bicycle can be ridden.
You come blasting down that rocky road, snarlin' an' gnarly, pedal with smooth fury up the beginning of the incline, get most of the way up, and just cannot maintain. The bike's a frickin' mushpot under you; ahh!.. should have insisted on some simple lockout system... What intrigues me about the forks/rear shocks available is the uniformity of this lack: Cannondale has their fork lockout dial, their locking rearshock; who else in this country? why? Any intelligent person who's ridden a full suspension bike on other than a pure downhill reaches intuitively for some mechanism to restore his ability to crank that sucker. Yeah, yeah, yeah; "spin", right...bullshit. The lack of lockout on general-use bikes is a handicap. We're not fifty-horse motors, able to spare a few percent on suspension mush. We've a brief half -horse if we're bike gods, and much less in the main; and, no, buddy, I can't spare a dime of that precious juice.
Seems a simple thing; it is done, there seems to be no patent problem(wordplay unintended, but appropriate), why oh why? weight? a few ounces at most, I would bet- come on, Risse, Rock Shox, Sunn, Noleen, Manitou, White Bros, Marzocchi, RST, all ya other folks; gimme somethin' good, give us what we need! I say to you, you will not press down upon the brow of the Biker this crown of lactic acid, you will not crucify Mankind upon a cross of mush!

Kiss My Ass And Buy Me Dinner!

So howsabout these internal trannies? pretty effing cool, eh? ideal for mud n’ stuff, minimal maintenance, neato if ratio-limited at this point. Seven speeds is just a trifle short...but, honestly, ya’ll, if you ain’t racin’, seven speeds are probably sufficient, and certainly all you need for the putzin’ ‘bout that one does as city-area transportation. What? you is a jammin’ fool, requiring all the options possible? Right; lemme introduce you to Curtis, riding his splendid old monospeed...aw, did he make oo feel bad, kickin’ yo silly techno-butt like a crusty Bud can? sorry, kid, that’s the way the wombat warbles.
Why does Man ride? for fun, for exercise, for transportation; all of which are readily provided by a few gears and good brakes on a comfortable frame. Titanium? kiss my ass, and buy me dinner, ya rich bastard. Later we’ll ride...
“Confess”, you say, “confess that you have ti, love and fondle ti, that you are a sad and thoroughly addicted ti-sucker! CONFESS!”
Well, I ain’t as bad as all that...but, yeah, it’s pretty cool shit; although after snapping a titanium pedal spindle on a vicious cross-city run and nearly getting munched by a United cab one scary night, I’m less inclined to drool than I was prior.
What can one say? everything breaks...what can one say?...the sound of rent metal is the savage biker’s coda...I hear it in my dreams, and sometimes wake up smiling...you know the dream? Yeah, thought you might have...

‘Tween Saddle And Oblivion...

Goddamn seatposts, anyway...was reasonably happy with my MobyPost, we rarely fought over anything important, seemed to like the same music, she went anywhere I wanted to go...until she cracked on me...until...she...wahhh...
There’s an interesting strap arrangement that holds the head together on the Ringle’; removed my Flite one day to glue the cover back on(did ya’ll know that you can do that? well, ya can, dumbo; ya dasn’t have to toss out another 80 bucks just ‘cause of such thangs: Contact cement works great; actually, you can do a fine job of completely re-covering your seat with your favorite tough fabric and c.c.); anyway, noticed that innovative ‘lil strap thang was bastardly cracked. Took bike/post to Ringle’s office, where the nice Ringle’ folks offered to replace said post...could not get the motherfucker out of my steel Bontrager. Geoff Ringle’ and I spent a couple hours trying damn near everything to extract the recalcitrant little fuck, until it was way past time for all good folks to get the hell somewhere else. Left the bike there, went to visit my sweetpea in Mass.; came back and Geoff had gotten the mangled remains of the post out, Knapp’s(W.Trenton) owner Pete Garnich had reamed the seat tube and life was rather rosy. Geoff puttered by on his hog with the new MobyDeuce, and I was a happy clam; thanks much, Geoff, Pete, for efforts way beyond any reasonable call of duty. The new post seems to have a slightly thicker, wider strap and a thicker through-pin; Geoff say’s the Easton mast is butted a bit differently to slightly reduce it’s weight as well as increase strength. We shall see...it’s as beautiful as are all Ringle’ components, and positively buttered with anti-seize...
Attached to saddle/seatpost is a Mountainsmith/Cyclesmith Mud Puppy R; a rather nicely thought-out seatpack, just big enough for essential tools, a tube and maybe a couple Powerbars. The saddle-rail strap design allows you to securely strap a shed shirt or gloves underneath. Durable, quite versatile for it’s size; we like.
One more thing to stick on that MobyDeuce; the Vistalite Cuelite. Takes a pair of triple A’s and a shitload of use/abuse; if you can find it, I reccomend the strap-on model(“oooh! for me?!)(nudge, nudge, eh?). There may be others of this quality, but I don’t know of them. Anywho! we done page, go zoom, ja?

A bit of the Book…..

A foamcupshred blinks slowly across the autumnal slate, tinking with a sound like that of a bar on a balsa xylophone. Henri smiles; he smiles a lot, he thinks; he frowns now, perhaps he smiles too much these days, too easily maddened, p’raps, by absurdity’s charm. It is despair, really, transmuted with schitzoidalacrity into helpless joy... indifferences which become some sort of instantlove, which rather like instant coffee, can work only as adrenaline and do nothing to sustain. Her cheek, he thinks, h__er sweet....

Fucking Lucy always made him laugh, she twitched so sweetly and moaned with such absurdly pornographic fervor; not to laugh in her face, Mama had not raised a boy quite so cruel, but a smile... she caught him occasionally, and then more often as she began to be irritated by these amuses, these small howls at her humanity, these mockings of her abandon. He would kiss her then, caress her face, touched again by the wincing delicacy of her flush. Henri loved her in those hours as honestly as an old man can, with the overwhelming despair of something that can remember the structure of emotions; also, perhaps, the stricture of emotions. She loved him too, much, evidently; this made him feel not dead, stirred plump rats within the skeleton of ____that which may have been his joy...

He chuckles inside; Henri doesn’t know which of the memories he craves, knows that shortly after the restoration of one of these craved that he’d be mad for a new and sending anothersame away confused. Confused no more than himself, he chuckles deliberately; a little grimly, a little sadly. He smiles, he looks into the long-rippled little garden pool, sees his face, a momentary flutter of wrinkles, tired hints of laughter and embedded passions, cowardice and exhausted deceit, oh, other squiggles of characteristic, tiny quickglimpsed sillysuperstring pixels of the portrait. Ruefulsweet, awfulsweet leaves of memory...
Stepping down from the train, Henri toes the wet wood landing firmly, thrusts the bike forward with _smooth violence and slides aboard, rides curbhopping into the night, no lights, hunched and catpowerful, eyesclosed for a moment in the rawrush of damp countryair. A hill, curved, a line through accellerando, appropriate ratio diminuition, fullplump into the apron of the incline, cresting and fierce rhythm found, the wind alone a fine constant on this reveling night; he thinks of power, smalljoys, grins slightly, exulting. This is godliness, something; he leans hard, inside knee cocked, rotating back in and down, around, round da Vinci circles rollong rolling off to the queens lips... later she will kiss his thighs, his hips, his cock, lick his knees, “how is your little chippychip, your patelliana, is it being not cruel this week”, she kisses his chipped kneecap so softly that he shudders withthe nicest pleasure, she smiles, runs her tongue along his thigh, so softly takes his glowing head into her mouth, bites a scraping instant, he moans, she smiles, he strokes her face, caressingly catches back her wildi___ng hair. Curvetting fingers distract; he draws her hand to his mouth, kisses each waiting digit, moans again, he takes a finger between his lips, laves it, sucks upon it, she pulls it slowly away, slides it down to his ass, slithers a slow nail across, touches with a moistip, ahh, the delicate as swirling increases, fierce catstretching caress, ahh, ahhtth, OOoooo and AAAAHHHH!!... Long blissed and abstracted moments later, she lastlicks, kisses his belly, nipples, one, and two, take shis head in hands, kisses him with salt and pleased triumph as he squeezes her waist, swell of ass, in small judders of basking ecstacy. She bites his ear a moment, asks, “everything is skiing or biking, yes? everything?” she bites again, he smiles says nothing, kisses are better than words; he says nothing. Ah, another night; he steps down from the train, smiles at her, brushes forehead, temple, curl of ear with warmtricking fingers, she smiles a touched instant, looks away as he kisses her cheek. He smiles sadly, looki___ng at her firmly averted melancholy; for moments gently vacant, truly cannot remember her name.
The amoral mind, considering these instances, these humans, says so?; some other portion of the man replies NO!, this emotional maelstromming is not good, these dissipations, there must be a strength!: Speaks to the mind; do you think that reason can survive the tear of this staccato loneliness?! it cannot!...not, and stay human. Henri thinks suddenly that the thing, perhaps, is to discard reason; the smaller, and, ultimately, less human part of the beast. What is this cortextual demand that it should doom a race to manque’ at every motion? The merely occasional grace of the man that the cat, the eel, the wren know as their nature we must worship longingly and scarce ever make cognate with that thin liquor we call reason. We are struck dumb by the singing of a grace beyond artifice, a sublime mellifluity denied by the clumsy selfawareness that we know as supreme intelligence... and we need ___only to sing, full throatedly, that lushness; unabashedly, for ourselves, oursouls, for those whom we love -

“ Allright, so two men walked into a bar and the girl ducked.” The woman who has spoken bends, staggers with laughter. Yanked, Henri looks a perplexed moment at her, brought fom intent obliviousness back to the chilly sunnoon of brick and roses, and a tattered madwoman now chuckling at him, sidelookingwith an old amused thoroughness. He smiles perplexedly at her, having absorbed the text of the purported amusement, but not the - “Oh, you! arggh!” he says, delighted at being taken, sharp boy that he is, “The third is always the smart one, eh? I’ve heard that before, and ya still got me: You changed the ducker to a female-type person from the version I heard from my housemate’s tenyearold, though; is that your improvement?” She replieth not, she points at him, ostensible smart boy, lacking the psychologists brand; turns, chuckles away, swinging her Gucci bag, dragging a blackened doglead ___sans dog mildgrindclattering like a perfect storyending, stout darkleather and freshsharpened brass.

Of course, Henri begins to sing, sharp boy; light and silly operaesque trills, “She ducked, she ducked, la-la, la-la, la-la!” the woman looks back, as wise as anything, waves him, waves him. He smiles, he smiles too easily; he frowns, he smiles, schitzoid twist of humanity that he must be: If this is Tuesday, boy, you must be Belgium... or is it France?... another, ah, another; smiles again at his own lapse of attention. To have missed his own expression, to wander away from awareness into the realm of rock and lichen; we assume that the stone in it’s stoicism does not quiver at a loving touch, that this primitive pseudo-vegetation wouldn’t be likin’ a smooch... we assume too much, thinks Henri with a chiding inner grin, having kissed the stone before. Singing an obscene invention of a libbretto, “She ducked! she ducked! and then she -” etc., he contemplates madness, his habitual schitzophrenia; everyone ___not of at least two minds concerning this mad age is crazy... modern life is too complex to be treated fairly by the stolid simplicity of a single viewpoint. Oh, may the gods bless us, every ones; all contradiction, unable to dependably contain our multitudes, we point with unconvincing fierceness at those who allow their selves freedom... the fingers tremble as they train outward, and we swallow our souls awkwardly; employing however, some arbitrary correctness in choice of fork.

Henri waves to the fading chuckle of ragged Gucci Girl, pirrouettes, stoops to shoo the ghost of a canine companion back to mama. “Why, thank you, ma’am!” he says softly aloud, the splash of gratitude is ridiculous, he, yes, smiles, chides himself. Refused again to take humanity seriously; and why should he? have they ever really taken themselves as worthy of sincere treatment? “what is wrong with that species is low self-esteem!” damned silly creatures... mankind carries it’s own relief upon its riddling back; each stumbl__estep denotes a new version of shining, and every puff of genteel coercion loses another universe. This is what is meant by the dissolution of the individual... “We would know mankind better were we not so anxious to resemble one another.” sagt Goethe: does this mean that those attempting to be other possess greater potential to understand this erect ape? or merely that the desire to meld, for camouflage, is an overwhelmiong distraction?... and that dissolution can lead one into Schiller’s drunken truth, an abandonment that produces from this muddied backpack its own clarified sobriety.

Henri looks ay his thoughts, finds them gently absurd, nearly appropriate. I am a writer, oh ja, and a writer thinks. Among the literary creamiest cream the converse of the Shavian “for art’s sake alone I would not face the toil of writing a single sentence” has become the law, the highest art so amorphous that if there are truths within, they are impossible to discern. And I am creamy, he thinks, soooo crreeamy, singin___g a new song, “what can I tell you, my brother , my killer? what can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive you, I’m glad that you stood in my way?” Leonard Cohen chuckles now, with a tired mirth as wet as the ass of a baby Jesus and dry as a good god’s eye. Joy in the struggle; who invented that idea? like... where is there food, or... which precise shade of magenta to wear. Just thought, he thinks, snuck through in the tremulous midst of this odd intellectual fashion dilemma, all of it, just thought.

And where is Henri’s little head now, having been waved away, waved into the ridiculous world where the pus runs so cartographically? where all his wings, where all the feathered catholic realizations, and where the splendidly indigenous portion of his rightful neolithic brain? so Kreemy, yes, yes, he thinks: He thinks of Joaquin, odd citybred, young by the clock, and somehow imbued with obscene philosophies too erudite, reasoned and original to allow the simplicity of any metered me___asure. Henri felt, not younger with Joaquin about, but more inclined to accept age as the mere consequence of too many saturated moments. Ah, mayhap our playmate is not busy; hmm... fat old paint-spattered wallet extracted, numbers flipped - ahh! beeper, a quarter fumbled forth; slight stretch and hop down steps, blink of disconcert from approaching office man, answering smile from accompanying office woman; he lighttrots by bothglancing bangs his slalom left through the wrought gates and pitters to corner phone to beep Joaquin.
Lounging, watching, smiling, “Hell-oh!”... he is always delighted at the people, their snap from the grimgrind to uncontrollable joy; they want to smile, to laugh and to be happy, so desperately. Now can one not love that sweet perversity? Oh, my species, my species, he smiles again sweet perversity thinking of Almost Sophia, his sweet; the phone rings, he calculates himself through noonthrong to “Ppprruhhrrrru?” into the receiver. Joaquin laughs “Heymon, where you be? go__t sumtime tweenruns, meetcha we’ll burn one, ‘kay?” “At ye old Hrrosse Jardin, 6th n’ Walnut, six minutes?” “Shureya! howsabout, um, five and forty-two? only ‘bout, oh, seventeen blocks away - time me! ZOOOMM!” Click, and Henri shakes a chuckle at the abandoned phone.

He’s taking a break from a bicycle trade show, which is, in general, much less fascinating to those mired in the business than to the average person off the street. As a journalist, the contrast between his perceptions and thos__e of the real attendees is intriguing. Why the hullabaloo over a certain part or process, how do the obvious contradictions between competing manufacturer’s claims get resolved in the heads of those paid to repeat them; does all this fervid commerce really advance the species? Nietzsche’s early mentor, Jacob Burckhardt, wrote somewhere that “Neither the brain nor the spirit of man has visibly developed in historical times, and his faculties were in any case long complete before then.” Perhaps, but we have certainly produced an astonishing variety of things to trade our labor for; that must count, Jacob, for something, thinks Henri. So here he is, contemplating some of the myriad objects and services proposed this year to tempt the ostensible cyclist, the wacky little geegaws and brilliant innovations that keep the industry industrious. What a waste of time, Henri thinks, former bike courier that he be. A techno-bike is to fun what a Porsche Carrera is to happiness...unlikely to correlate.

Reader, if ya made it through all this; thanks, hope ya gotcha money's worth.

Ciao-ciao!
_________________________

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

Helmet.

2006-06-20T00:52:45Z

I could be a spill from vegetable soup..

Its not vain but I like the wind on my head a little fear in my heart.

Helmet or no??

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 17 replies

Multi-speed lightweights from yesteryear.

2006-06-03T06:24:13Z

Who of us in here remembers the first big glut of European ten speed road bikes imported into the U.S. in the late 60's to early mid 70's? I sure do. Peugeot's,English Raleighs,Atalia's,Flandria's,tour'de avenur's and other foreign imported bikes?
The only American tens speed bikes at that time were the Schwinn's,and unless you had the BIG bucks for a "Paramount" all the rest were heavy as army tanks! Huffy also made a dirt-cheap ten speed called the "Scout",sold in department stores.
Most of the Eurpean bikes under 600:00 featured Simplex Prestige drive trains,made of "Delrin"(Plastic!) and weren't very durable(especially those "Plastic" downtube shifters!)
The cheap Shwinns used steel plated Huret "allvit" derailliurs,and the Huffy's had the 2 pound all steel "Shimano Eagle" derailliurs. These machines were heavy but they got Us around!
Who else remembers these heavy hitter dream bikes?

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 3 replies

gitane?

2006-05-18T03:01:34Z

your not so humble opinions please.............

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 3 replies

Portland Bike to Work Day Celebration

2006-05-16T03:11:33Z

The Portland Transportation Options is hosting a Bike to Work Day celebration on May 17 at the Pioneer Courthouse Square. Check out the web site for details. Lindsay and I are leading a small ride from Duniway Park, meeting at 7:30am. Very short ride, but I think the goal is to get a bunch of riders downtown at Pioneer Courthouse Square for a celebration starting at 8:00am. I'm hoping for free food.

Come and join us or head downtown for the celebration.

www.shift2bikes.org/index.shtml

PS: There are led rides from all over town that day. Make sure you take advantage and get out and bike!

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

New Tribe!

2006-05-14T22:06:22Z

BIKE PORN!!!!!

http://tribes.tribe.net/bicycleporn
please send me a private messege and i will add you. (but give me a moment to figure it out)

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 1 reply

VERY SAD

2006-05-13T16:48:32Z

Yet another cyclist in the City streets was left dead after the careless, clueless and cruel driver caused her death and just took off.
It just seems like this type of incidents are becoming more and more common around here. Very unconscionable.
Hope they catch the moron who commited this terrible crime!

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 8 replies

Black Crow Bicycle Collective

2006-03-04T10:31:39Z

I am starting a world wide bike gang, the Black Crow Bicycle Collective. There will never come a time when you will be called on to do anything outside of riding responsibly, for this collective. I am only hoping to unite the masses of like minded people in an attempt to personally effect positive change in the world regarding bicycles. If you are interested in joining you are simply accepting to ride responsibly and spread the message that bikes are tranportation too. I hope to be able to gather enough people to support a quarterly zine reporting on current member status, critical mass events, laws, etc... If you are interested please e-mail to calltoarms@mail.com. Thanks for your time

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 3 replies

fixie frame

2006-02-21T20:56:24Z

If you could build a bike from the BB shell up, what would it look like? OK, a fixie for the street, something that really wouldn't see track time.
I've been pondering the Dream Bike for a while and may find some change between all the lint in my pocket to fund it this year.

what would you do? what woudl your fixed ride look like

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 16 replies

fixedgeargallery.com

2006-01-27T15:47:08Z

this is a great site!

the forum rox and is very informational

check out this awsome thread and see for yourself

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4685

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 2 replies

o ive got it BAD

2006-01-27T15:43:35Z

so yesterday it was really slow at work and i went out and stood on the front steps. I often like to do this because our location is right on sixth and congress, middle of downtown austin and i just love to bike watch. Theres always lotsa sexy bike messengers that pass by on thier custom fixies which are even sexier. So i see this gorgeous black bianchi pista concept gliding past and just creamed my jeans. Then the rider lox up right in front of me and i didnt even realise it was one of my best friends , Rigo!

he laughed " YOU were lusting after my bike b4 you ever lusted after me!"

ya i got it bad and that aint good....or is it? hmmmm

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 1 reply

feelin some tribal love right now

2006-01-25T22:24:20Z

http://www.myspace.com/SweetSerendipity

gosh im glad i found this place

hi im kelly and im bike obsessed

there i finally admitted it

:D

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 15 replies

IN RICHMOND VA PLEASE READ

2006-01-24T23:00:16Z

Posted: Jan 21, 2006 5:13 PM

Earlier tonight me and Julie were attacked, confronted and assaulted by two cars. After trying to run us over, the people got out of the car and jumped me and also punched Julie and pushed her to the ground. I don't understand what kind of people would do this and why? The main point is I only got one of the licsence plate .. is (GOD CIV) if you see this .. please contact the proper authorites or non-authorites. As a cyclist and, what I see I as, a moral person I bealive in justice. with this said I have faith in the bike community and hope too acheive justice in what is truely a "punk-ass" act. thanks for everyones support and as of tonight me and julie feel okay besides the expected bruises. Anything anyone can offer in the means of information or help in apprehending the ass-alants would be greatly appreciated.
"Never Give In, Never Give up!"
-This is our right of way, and I WILL defend it the best I can!!!

----------
REPOST FROM JULIE:
last night stu and i were attacked on our way home. there was a conflict over who had the right of way.. we did of course but they made an issue of it and tried to run us both over. there were two cars which stopped on floyd and laurel and at least six guys got out and proceeded to knock stu over. they started punching him and when i got on the mix they punched me and threw me to the ground.

the shit was fucked up... bottom line is if you see a liscense plate that god civ please contact the right people. this was the car that was DIRECTLY involved in our assault.

we are okay... i have a busted lip and a couple of bruises.. i think they kicked me while i was down and stu has a wounds and lots of bruises they definately were kicking and punching him while he was down....

thanks to everyone who has contacted us about the incident....
one last thing if you drive a car please be aware of cyclists around you ..... thanks... -julie

------------------
repost from a bystander:

"My gf and i just rode by and stopped towards the end of a hit and run/jumping in Richmond VA. A girl and her boyfriend got into a confrontation with a car over the right of way. It ended with the wanna be ganster getting out and jumping the couple, stomping the girl while she was on the ground. We called the cops and gave them any info we could. If anyone sees a silver honda civic with Virginia tag number "GOD CIV" please blow the car up and kill all who are in it...not really but do what u feel is necessary to justify this incident"

the two kids were on bikes, the car cut them off, they yelled, and the get rich or die trying types stepped out of the car and proceeded to beat them up. the cops have been informed...

but don't be afraid to deal out some serious ulock justice if you find this car. i'm so ready to smash their windows and slash their tires. i will total that car with my adjustable wrench if i have to. seriously. if you know who owns this car, fucking tell someone. don't be a pussy. this shit can't stand.

do me a favor and repost this.

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 3 replies

link

2006-01-23T18:42:32Z

Hi there,

I'm a lurking newbie (*wave, wave*)!

I'm training for a triathlon - I bought my first "real" bike a month ago, and got it on the road for the first time last weekend (and I have the scars to prove it!). It was pretty trying, but I think I'll get back out again this weekend (weather permitting).

I found this link and thought this venue was the perfect place to share

http://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm

please enjoy, fellow geeks!

j

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 5 replies

Seattle Biking

2006-01-13T22:51:18Z

I'm heading up to Seattle and would like to know of any good bike riding around town...or better yet IN town.

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

Crank arm length

2005-10-27T11:05:04Z

Anybody ever play with crank arm lengths and gearing...

you know to push the envelope a little?

I posed this question in another cycling tribe and the members weren't cerebral enough to get the idea.

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 9 replies

ALASKA TO FLORIDA

2005-10-18T12:52:18Z

Come check out my updated site for the trip this summer!

www.myspace.com/Coenen

Thanks a lot!

- Aaron

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 2 replies

Stolen Turner!!!!!

2005-06-19T04:10:28Z

Stolen Turner!!!!!

My Turner 5 spot, size small (2003 Red) was stolen Saturday, June 18 in Oakland around the Lake Merrit area. If anyone tries to sell you one or you see one posted anywhere that looks too good to be true, please contact me asap. 510-421-1597

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

Mechanics Unite

2005-05-18T15:19:20Z

Former shop guys against current shop buttheads who wont even loan a tool here and there.

Its not my fault your pretentious and mail order kicks your ass.

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 1 reply

Pedal Power

2005-05-18T15:14:50Z

I just had a chance to visit this crazy organization in Guatemala... Bike power blenders, water Pumps, generators, coffee de-huskers, etc etc.

http://www.mayapedal.com/

-niko

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 1 reply

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-01-13T23:34:18Z

Hi, my name is Aaron and I'm just looking for people to help the Lance Armstrong Foundation and possibly me on my 6,000 mile trip on my road bike.

You can read more about it and HELP by going to my other website through myspace that's listed in my personal section. OR just go directly to:

http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=7296499&Mytoken=20050113123752

PLEASE HELP MAKE THE DIFFERENCE...

Thanks a lot,

Aaron

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 0 replies

relying on two-wheels

2004-07-16T21:47:21Z

glad to see this tribe. im a geek, i geek on bikes, i geek on history. recently i started looking with the backwards glasses at bicycles. i started uncovering awesome stories ov bikes being used in exploration expeditions, mail delivery. for instance: during the austrailian outback goldrush (late 1800's?) a bicycle courier service capitalized on the isolated gold mining communities that were springing up by setting up a private mail system. this was quickly shut down as the national mail service caught up but man, how cool!

any other stories, interests?

posted in Bicycling Geeks - 3 replies