IMINUSD, the fixed-gear bicycle shop around the corner posted this video. I didn’t pay very close attention to the tricks themselves but most of the shots are either right outside our house, or on my commute to work or on my burrito-run route.
Oct 072010
Marc and I set off again today for a 33 mile ride. We both suffered pretty good on the climb, but saw some awesome scenery along the way, including passing some great farm country, large goats, horses, cool barns all kinds of country stuff. You can view the ride here. According to the Garmin it is 4,751 feet of climbing, but Marc, doubts the accuracy of my GPS and who am I go argue? If you click around on the map there is some really nice scenery on the back roads, including this cool building, with “Wells Fargo Express” sign and some neat shutters on the door in “downtown” French Crossing.
Oct 072010
Here’s the map of our (Marc & me) ride from last Sunday:
Click on the picture for an interactive map
According to the GPS it was 43 miles and 5,314 feet of climbing. Marc’s cycle computer said 4400. I choose to believe this one. We are shooting for a repeat again this week.
Oct 052010
Buddy Marc and I rode locally for 42 miles, passing the cool covered bridge at Bridgeport, the South Yuba River, some great horse country, a winery I saw on a reality show and even the county dump. The weather was great, it was really the first fall day we’ve had, high clouds keeping us cool. We worked hard though, Marc says 440o’ feet of climbing.
One of the problems of living in two places is you never have what you need in the right place. Alas, I left the GPS “up-the-hill” so I can’t post the map yet. That will have to wait for the weekend.
Sep 042010
Given my experience with the Dr. last week. This cartoon from the current issue of my favorite bicycle magazine, Urban Velo, is qutie timely:
Aug 232010
Rode a bit of the San Jose Bike Party last Friday. The theme was “Hot August Lights” and riders were meant to light up their bikes for both visibility and fun. I didn’t see a huge number of bikes that were dressed up, but most folks had some kind of light. It was the usual very large turn-out and lots of fun. Great collection of bicycles and almost zero carbon fiber & spandex. The shot below is the gathering at San Jose City hall before the start of the ride:
You can see the San Jose Taiko drum group on the stairs entertaining the crowd
Yes, some people are relaxed enough to trailer a couch around in case the want to emphasize the “party” part.
I like the mix of ages, but actually most of the crowd is pretty young. It’s nice to see them outside, exercising and thinking that bikes are cool.
I don’t really know what this sign is supposed to mean. But that trailer is one of the more elaborate music systems you see along the ride.
Lot’s of fixed gear riders. While I am using all of my concentration to simply stay on the bike and not crash into anything else, other more coordinated riders, are able to perform track stands and tricks.
“Spoke Cards” are are a popular decoration. Many companies and individuals give them out. This one is from a Entertainment Media Company.
This shot is taken near the Metro/Airport light rail station on First Street. This ride is supposed to not disrupt traffic (too much), and here’s a good example of a crowd of folks in the right lane, allowing cars to pass on the left.
If I ever learn Aperture better I’ll dim that big light in the middle so it’s not so glaring.
The New York Times has this article on what it calls London’s “latest hip hangouts”. I’m happy to see cycling getting cooler all the time. Antenna Magazine might just be the Vogue of the twenty-tweens and it shows bicycles in its articles on clothing and style.
May 252010
On my commute home, I usually stop at grocery store or restaurant to pick up some dinner. Back in the day, I didn’t worry about leaving a fixed gear bike by itself for a few minutes, because I figured there were not enough people that knew how to ride one fast enough to get away if I ran after them. These days, especially in San Jose, lots of kids are far more adept at riding fixies then I am, so it worries me to leave the bicycle on it’s own. I don’t travel with a lock because there is no place on the bicycle to carry a conventional one and I don’t feel like reaching in to the Chrome bag, digging out the chain, locking the bike and putting the bag back on. Instead, I would usually take the bike home first and then go out to pick up dinner.
I wanted a lock that was small, storable on the bicycle, and quick to lock, unlock and stow. Security isn’t a huge concern because I only leave it alone for a few minutes at a time. I chose the Kryptonite Evolution Mini, 1.6 lbs, not too heavy, and way more secure than I need.
Mounted it this morning and as soon as I went two feet, I hated the rattling. Rode all the way to work, hoping that like other urban noises, I would get used to it, probably not though.
Worked all day and forgot all about it.
As I was getting all of the bicycle stuff on to leave, I noticed the collar (picture below) rotates to cover the key hole (I’m not really sure why), but as I twisted it, low and behold, the lock part no longer had any play and was firm against the “U” part:
The rattling is gone and now I really like this lock!
At the Safeway today, I locked the bike to itself just inside the door, and it protected the bike! The lock is 1 for 1.
May 232010
Friday night was San Jose Bike Party for May 2010. It was unseasonably cool and windy, but it was well attended and well behaved (as far as I could tell). More police “escorts” than I was used to. They were extremely polite and supportive, rode to our left in cars, motorcycles and bicycles, and reminded us to keep a lane clear for cars.
I stayed with the group through two rest stops, but during the second rest I was ready to head home to OlinaGirl so I took off with about six other guys in a break away, we were down to three when we reached downtown San Jose a little after 11:00PM
I walked around the block to see what trouble was going on in the noisy nightclubs, then headed up for the night.
Apr 242010
Jon, the Bikescape audience hasn’t heard from our ambassador of San Francisco bicycle culture in awhile. Your listeners look forward to more podcasts and hope you are doing well. Of course our lives can get in the way of our hobbies, but when you are ready to cast we are ready to listen. Any chance you can come down to San Jose and do a cast on the Bike Party? Have you been yet? It’s like critical mass without the angst. It also has representation from lots of segments of the bike culture, fancy choppers, BMX, home-made commuters, all kinds of interesting things to look at and people to talk to.
For those of you not familiar with Bikescape, get over to it and listen to a few. It’s fantastic even if you don’t get up to the city that much.
