Saturday brought heavy rain and flash flooding to the city: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da8P89NRAZT/ And, like any sane cyclist (a "sane cyclist" is still barely less than an idiot on the normal person scale), as the storm approached I was out for a ride, heading further and further from home as the situation became increasingly dire: However, once... Continue Reading →

Everybody's got an opinion about what's wrong with the Tour de France and what the organizers need to do in order make it more popular. "More doping controls!" "Fewer doping controls!" "Get rid of the bikes and make them compete in a stadium with a ball!" And so forth. But here's a rather surprising opinion... Continue Reading →

It's hot and the air is thick with the smoke of Canadian wildfires (as well as the usual smugness that wafts in from up there), so instead of doing anything interesting I'm just grabbing the closest Fred bike and sweating on it: Did I mention it's hot? So hot in fact that there was a... Continue Reading →

The Tour de France is one of the most celebrated sporting events in the world--but this is still cycling, the Arby's of sports, and so even in 2026 the riders spend the night in disgusting hotels: Fortunately, teams have access to cutting-edge sleep technology such as "smart mattress cover systems:" Some teams bring their own... Continue Reading →

The world is rapidly becoming one which I no longer recognize. Even the summer bugs are different: While it may look like the gravel version of a ladybug, that's a spotted lanternfly in the "nymph late stage," according to this chart: In cycling life cycle stages, that corresponds to: "Nymph early stage" -- Fixie, sneakers... Continue Reading →

I have the good fortune of being wealthier than I ever imagined. In bicycles. Granted, some of that is inherited wealth: But work is tacky, and the truly rich know that this form of enrichment is the most satisfying. Anyway, given my privileged position, the last thing I need is another bicycle--though how can I... Continue Reading →

Between the Whirled Cup and the Annual Touring of the France there is much to consume the attention of the international sports (or "commie sports" as we call them here) enthusiast, and while as usual I've managed to miss most of the latter event thus far, I did happen to note this story: Firstly, Huub... Continue Reading →

Yesterday I mentioned building illegal mountain bike trails, but you know what's really dumb? Putting graffiti on a rock: Seriously, even for a teenager that's stupid. Speaking of being stupid, yesterday's ride reminded me that I shouldn't turn the Farbman into a Roadini because...I already have a Roadini: And a fine bicycle it is, too:... Continue Reading →

As an inveterate snark purveyor who has made a lifestyle of cutting down others in order to compensate for my own mediocrity, even I enjoyed this interview with Peter Sagan, and despite my best efforts I can't help being happy for him after reading it: Only in his mid-30s, he's already retired, having built a... Continue Reading →

Further to yesterday's post, once I start poking around in the past I can't stop, and as I was perusing old articles I began to wonder about the origins of the e-bike. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF34Z95-Nco Well, the earliest mention I found was from November 12th, 1882, though that was an e-trike: And more interesting than the "electro-motor"... Continue Reading →