Further to Thursday's post, Tom Boonen has apologized for his Colnago comments: Actually, he didn't so much apologize as he did repent and genuflect: Though he also included this highly ironic photo, so perhaps his "apology" is more subversive than it seems at first glance: When you consider how much dope they were on, attributing... Continue Reading →
BSNYC Friday Fun Quiz!
There's a lot of bad stuff on Twitter, but maybe the worst thing is this account: https://twitter.com/ShouldIBike/status/1634174795838377984?s=20 I mean how stupid and wrong could that advice be? I did "bike" today and it was great. GREAT! And not just because I had a great bike: But it didn't hurt: The Homer looks rather genteel, and... Continue Reading →
Getting A Grip
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's--oh, dear God, it's some dirtbag on a Softride: https://videopress.com/v/sK5fNkGE?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true I know I'm not exactly tearing it up, but the sun hits that spot directly so it was actually super greasy and slippery on that turn, I swear. But yes, as you know, my latest mission as the Classic... Continue Reading →
That’s More Like It
After enduring 30-ish miles of this... ...I was badly in need of a perineum palate cleanser yesterday, and so I headed out on this: I chose this bike because it seemed the perfect counterbalance to the Softride. Both bikes were high-tech for their day, but this one is fully rigid, has skinny tires, sports a... Continue Reading →
Soft Rides Demand Hard People
Further to yesterday's post, this thing just happened to me: Like the band Phish or the movies of John Waters, these bikes have something of a cult following, but it's a cult I've never been inclined to join: Nevertheless, like a "virgin" venturing forth to the "Rocky Horror Picture Show,' shortly after signing off yesterday... Continue Reading →
Classic Cycle Thursdays: Beam Me Up, Scotty!
While I may joke about being a "semi-professional bike blogger," I do have a full-time job, and it's one I take extremely seriously. That's my position as the Classic Cycle Old Crap Test Pilot: There are certain cycling media outlets I won't name were the vintage bicycles are far more photographed than they are ridden.... Continue Reading →
BSNYC Friday Fun Quiz! (And New Outside Column!)
Firstly, I've got a new Outside column, and it's about why bike advocacy isn't for everybody: Seems to me the best thing about bikes is you can use them to follow any path you want, both literally and figuratively. Secondly, I've been tweaking it ever since I received it, and I'm pleased to report that... Continue Reading →
We’re Headed In The Wrong Direction
I've seen the future of road bikes and it's ugly as shit: That's obviously a gigantic chainring, and it's used in conjunction with a two-speed rear hub hub instead of a front derailleur: Then of course there's the increasingly popular teeny-weeny-handlebars-with-turned-in-shifter thingy he's also doing: That used to meant you were a noob who dropped... Continue Reading →
How To Stretch Out An Errand
Back in 2015 I received a Milwaukee road bike: It quickly became probably my most-ridden bike, and it spent time as sort of a gravelly all-rounder: A be-fendered rain bike (though what other kind of rain bike is there?): And I even raced it in the park once or twice during my brief comeback: Most... Continue Reading →
You Can’t Spell “Conspiracy” Without “Con” or “Racy.” Think About It.
I was reading Streetsblog this morning and this jumped out at me: Wait. Roads are a car metaphor? We shouldn't be on them anymore??? I thought maybe it was a joke, but in addition to myself at least one commenter seemed to take it seriously: This is a great point. Paths indeed existed for millennia... Continue Reading →