I realize that my life as a semi-professional bike blogger seems impossibly glamorous. However, that's only because it is. For example, I recently received a visit from the Shoe Fairy: [The Shoe Fairy, wering a single artisanal cat slipper.] Who brought me not one but two pairs of shoes from Pearl Izumi. Today I tried... Continue Reading →

I'd like to say I finally stopped messing with the Pink Meh-strosity and moved on to other things over the weekend. I did not, so stop reading--unless you have a perverse interest (is there any other kind?) in derailleur arcana, or you're in need of a sleep aid. Okay, now that it's just us losers,... Continue Reading →

This was behind a peewall paywall, now it's not: You're welcome, you cheap bastards. Speaking of garvel, Mazda is harnessing its awesome marketing power with their latest ad campaign: The video features some garvel riding: As well as the riders marveling at how being inside the car feels just like being outside in nature, and... Continue Reading →

At what point do you just pack it in? Whether it's a relationship, or a job, or that guitar you've been trying to learn for the past 14 years, there comes a time when you have confront the possibility that you're deluding yourself, and decide whether it is nobler in the mind to persevere and... Continue Reading →

Further to my last post, on Monday morning I took the Pink Meh-strosity out for a proper ride: The bike felt quick and lively, though I'm sorry to report that I've already broken my resolution and spent some money on it. Specifically, the braking surface on that rear wheel is worn to a degree that... Continue Reading →

Further to a recent post, a reader noted the Silver2 shifters I am employing on the downtube of the Normcore Bike are primarily thumbshifters: And that I could be using the more downtube-appropriate Silver1 instead: [Photo: Rivendell] "Yeah, yeah, whatever, these work great," I replied--which they do. Mechanically they work perfectly on the downtube, ergonomically... Continue Reading →

In my latest Outside column, I attempt to make sense of competitive garvel racing: Yes it's behind a "paywall," yes it will eventually not be behind a paywall, no I don't care if you're annoyed that it's behind a paywall, and no I do not succeed in actually making any sense out of competitive garvel... Continue Reading →

Further to yesterday's post, instead of doing anything important or useful, today I spent some more time on the slightly-reconfigured Homer: I am now fully satisfied that the new bar and shifter positions are significant improvements: Though when it's convenient I will probably change at least the rear shifter back to a Silver2: It's just... Continue Reading →

Way back in 1967 I started this blog to make fun of people who posted pictures of their their fixies on the Fixedgeargallery. Now it's 2020-something (I don't even bother counting anymore), and here I am posting a picture of my own son's fixie on the blog I started to make fun of fixies: If... Continue Reading →

Today I rode the re-cockpitted Normcore Nostalgia Bike in semi-dirtbag mode: I include the "semi" qualifier because clipless pedals really aren't dirtbag. Also, I was wearing special underwears. (It was my first ride in this particular pair, but so far I'd recommend them.) And of course I was wearing a fancy wool jersey, shown here... Continue Reading →