And guess what? This ride was even better--partially because I'd cleared out some of the metaphorical cobwebs from my legs, but also because I finally "donged out" the cockpit on the Marin Pine Mountain 1 by putting on a longer stem, which improved the climbing significantly:
Not only is the front wheel much less inclined to pop up now, but I can also get my considerable weight right where I want it when I get out of the saddle and unleash the full power of my formidable climbing prowess.
Then, after the ride, instead of eating a disgusting gluten-free sandwich I swung by the taco truck:
Weekday rides and taco truck stops.
Now that's just smart cycling.
Indeed, Westchester County could be a recreational cycling paradise--if only they gave a shit about cyclists, and if only the roads weren't filled with SUVs driven by people who moved there for the lovely villages with "walkable downtowns" and then never set foot on the pavement again.
Speaking of giving a shit about cyclists, Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal wrote a nice column about them:
But it’s exasperating to see how Bad Cyclist anecdotes receive equal treatment to voluminous statistical evidence that cycling makes communities better. It’s maddening to watch public meetings where bike lanes are raged over like they’re landing pads for Martian armies. The transportation data is incontrovertible: Streets that accommodate for cycling get safer. Fewer people get hurt. Fewer people get killed. People on bikes and people walking on the street. Everybody. Even people in automobiles.
I grow increasingly less tolerant of motorists as time goes on so I admit to cringing a bit at some of the lovey-dovey stuff, but on balance I think he did a very good job, and by any standard this is roughly a million times better than most of the drivel you'll read in the mainstream media during "Bike Month."
(And lest you forget, I was on his podcast the other day, so if you haven't listened yet please do.)
Penultimately, this is a thing that will happen:
And rest assured details will follow next week.
Lastly, tomorrow is David Byrne's birthday:
And I'm pleased to report I've crowd-sourced him a little present:
This is going to be his best birthday ever.
And now, I'm pleased to present you with a quiz. As always, study the item, think, and click on your answer. If you're right that's fan-freaking tastic, and if you're wrong you'll see fietsacrobatiek.
Thanks very much for reading, ride safe, and watch out for David Byrne because he hasn't been on the road for awhile.
--Wildcat Rock Machine
1) What is this?
--A new bike with an interchangeable downtube
--A new integrated bike-locking system
--A new folding bike
--A new gravel bike with adjustable bottom bracket height
--A convertible upright/recumbent
2) According to a recent piece in the Washington Post, commuting by bicycle is not safe because:
--A rider once fell on her elbow while riding after a blizzard
--It's more dangerous than riding the bus
--Cyclists are inhaling pollution
--All of the above
3) The most prestigious cycling-related accolade in Delaware is the:
--"Yellow Jersey"
--"Golden Bicycle Helmet"
--"Blue Ribbon for Bicycle Tolerance"
--"Joseph Robinette 'Joe' Biden, Jr. Award for Achievement in Scrapple Excellence"
4) The "Bike Mine" security system is a great way to:
--Prank your friend
--Lose a digit
--Give the trigger-happy morons in America's gun-toting states a great excuse to start shooting indiscriminately
--All of the above
(Scourge of the city.)
5) Which is not one of the "Worst things about bicyclists in New York City" according to a newspaper given away free at subway stations?
--They don't wear helmets
--Their bike races cause "traffic nightmares," despite the fact that there are precisely zero (0) bike races in New York City that involve street closures
--They ride in varying weather conditions
--They don't honor the Sabbath
6) Pro cycling saw its second-ever mechanical doping case when a rider's bottom bracket motor caused his crankarm binder bolts to fail during the Tour of the Gila.
--True
--False
7) This fixie comes free with purchase of:
--An Equinox gym membership
--A $7,500 Marc Jacobs messenger bag
--A Hyundai sports coupe
--A million-dollar apartment
***Special "Bike Month Can't Be Over Soon Enough"-Themed Bonus Video!***
She should shove that bullshit "85%" statistic back up her ass from whence she pulled it.
from Bike Snob NYC http://ift.tt/1R137yn
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