Back in June 13th, 2007, my life changed forever. Bored at my job and desperate for change, I started a smartass bike blog. People liked it, and I haven't shut up since. And here we are. The Internet has changed a lot since those days. Now, blogs are hopelessly old-fashioned, and today people consume their... Continue Reading →
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Who’s Your Godfather?
Further to yesterday's post, I was unable to return the pad to its carrier despite your helpful suggestions, and so I just stole the pads from this brake instead: They're a little narrower so the little arm thingies stick out a tiny bit, and I could probably fix it with an extra washer or something,... Continue Reading →
What’s The Name Of That Box From The Greek Myths Again?
The weather warmed up quite a bit yesterday, so like everyone else in the city who rides a road bike I headed over the George Washington Bridge: This was my first proper ride on the Vengeance Bike for the first time since overhauling the headset and front shifter, and I was looking forward to finding... Continue Reading →
Out In The Cold
A picture may be worth a thousand words: But no matter how long you stare at this one there will be three words missing from it, and they are: IT'S FUCKING FREEZING! Also, you could contemplate this one for hours, but you'll never feel or hear the howling Arctic winds off the mighty Hudson: When... Continue Reading →
Proceed With Caution Tape
The world is full of beautiful mysteries that were obviously created by aliens. Stonehenge, the Egyptian pyramids, those crop circles that were briefly popular in the '90s...and these swirls I noticed in the street this morning: These were not the work of a child with a piece of chalk, but they were clearly deliberate, and... Continue Reading →
If The Road Were Always Smooth It Wouldn’t Be Very Interesting, Now Would It?
Well fuck me. Yesterday I posted an appeal of sorts to you, my readers, and passed my soiled ball cap down the virtual subway car. I then closed my computer and ran away in shame. But I opened it again this morning, and I'm beyond moved by your generosity as well as the good will... Continue Reading →
Birds Of A Feather
Firstly, Bicycling wrote about my helmet video! [Loving the irony of the Buick ad.] The only thing worse than being talked about is being talked about at Bicycling, but only because they spell your name wrong: It's a fitting adjective, but it ain't my name. Secondly, consider the swan: Elegant yet aggressive, it calls to... Continue Reading →
Just Another Old Crank
Firstly, I've got a new Outside column: In it I make the point that every shoe is potentially a cycling shoe, and that when it gets cold you can save yourself a lot of trouble just riding in hiking boots. Meanwhile, as it happens, I saw this comment on a cycling-related website yesterday, and apparently... Continue Reading →
Cycling Is Only As Elitist As You Make It
It's been a warm January, which has allowed me to partake in more road cycling than I might otherwise do at this time of year: As I've written with characteristic insight, road cycling--much maligned for its perceived wankitude--is in fact our most fundamentally accessible form of riding, and this occurred to me yet again this... Continue Reading →
Moisture Is The Essence Of Wetness…
It's raining today, but I rode anyway, since not only do I have a perfectly good rain bike... ...but thanks to Vulpine I also have an excellent rain jacket: Here's what it looks like on an aging wet schlub: Sure, there are cheaper ways to stay dry, but this is nicely cut and quite comfortable,... Continue Reading →