Dave’s Good Stuff

So… anyone with me?

What is Mountain Unicycling?

Mountain Unicycling (known as MUni) is an awesome challenge of mastering the skills to maneuver, balance, and react to allow yourself to ride a unicycle over difficult terrain. Mountain unicycling terrain includes but is not limited to single track, rocky slopes, dirt, mud, sand, snow, ice, creeks, roots, logs, ledges, drops, bridges and even walls.

MUni is an incredible workout and a very enjoyable way to enjoy the great outdoors.

That aside, I’m seriously considering getting myself a unicycle… just to see if I can do it.

When you drive to work, unless the weather is seriously severe, you can usually get away with not checking it. After all, you’ll have the benefit of being able to control the conditions within the confines of your car. If the temperature outside is cold… you can turn up the heat. If it’s hot out, you can blast cool air until you’ve cooled down. That is, unless your AC is busted, or the fans don’t work anymore. Even then, you’ll be out of the wind. Unless you’re missing a windshield, or your side windows are stuck down. But if your AC is busted, and the fans don’t work, the windshield is busted and the side windows are stuck down, what are you doing driving that piece of frell to begin with?!

On the other hand, those of us who choose alternate forms of transportation can benefit from checking the weather. In fact, if we don’t make it a normal part of our daily routine, then there’s a chance we’ll pay dearly for it. Or at least pay a little bit, anyway. Over the summer, I’ve fallen out of the habit of checking, since pretty much every day was warm enough not to have to worry about it. On those days it rained, it was pretty obvious from looking out the window and I adjusted accordingly. I was lucky in that there were very few days with dry morning rides and wet evening rides. However, I can’t rely on mornings being warm any more.

Take this morning, for example.

I donned my normal riding clothes… that is to say, those clothes that are normal for me on warm days, stepped into the garage and opened the door. I noted that it was a touch on the chilly side, but I didn’t sweat it too much. I figured I’d be chilly at the beginning, but warm into the ride the closer I got to work. That, strictly speaking, was true. I did warm into it, and went from outright cold, to uncomfortably cold. What felt chilly standing in my garage out of the wind, turned into downright cold once I got going.

But did I turn around immediately and get warmer clothes?

No. Of course not! That would have meant… well… turning around! Turning around means admitting defeat, and I was not going to admit defeat. No way. So, as the temperature hovered around a downright chilly 45°F or so, with my speed pushing the wind chill down into the 30’s (and even the 20’s if that chart is to be believed), I bravely pedaled on in my shorts, sleeveless workout jersey, and thin (but long fingered) gloves.

I saw two others out this morning. Both were bundled up as if facing an arctic morning. Quite the contrast to my free and easy summer gear. “Silly people… I bet they’re hot and sweaty in all that” I thought, shivering to myself.

Looking now at the weather, tomorrow morning appears to be much the same as today. Mid 40’s in the morning, mid 70’s in the afternoon. Maybe I’ll consider wearing something more appropriate tomorrow.

• Temperature: 47.5

Is it just me, or have more and more people gotten up on the wrong side of the bed lately? Last week and today, I’ve had more people honk at me, yell at me, drive within inches of me, or otherwise try to levy some measure of aggression against me while on my commute than in the previous 9 months combined. I really don’t get it. I’ve not been doing anything different. I ride the same line. I ride the same speed. I do nothing different, except perhaps to do it with more confidence, yet it’s a fact that the flak I receive for it is on a dramatic incline.

Are people irritable because of the economy, and the impending election? You know what? That’s not my fault. Don’t take it out on me.

Are people irritable b/c their kids aren’t around anymore having one off to college? You know what? That’s not my fault. It’s what you’ve been raising them for. Don’t take it out on me.

Did they not get that raise? Not my fault.

Did they get chewed out by their boss? Not my fault?

Did they lose money in some ill conceived investment? Not my fault. Don’t take it out on me.

Are people irritable b/c they’ve dried up, or can’t get it up? You know what? That’s not my fault. Don’t take it out on me.

I won’t go into specifics, on account of not wanting to spread any more ill cheer than I already am, but three people honking at me while within inches of me tends to put me a little bit on edge, and reduce my overall charitable attitude. I have to confess… it was an immediate, knee jerk reaction that was out there before I could stop myself… each time they honked at me (again, as they passed me with inches to spare) I threw a single finger salute their way. Hey, I’m not proud of it, but I never said I was an ambassador for the cycling community.

I have to confess, also, that I’ve been on the irritable side lately. Have been for about a week now. I’m not completely against the idea that maybe… just maybe, this is evident in my riding, but I still hold to the contention that I’ve been doing nothing different while I ride. I just figure if I’m irritable lately, perhaps others are as well.

So, is it just me, or have any of you, my fellow bike commuters, also noticed an increase in random unprovoked negativity on the road?

What would possess a dog, an otherwise seemingly intelligent quick learning dog, to eat a box of staples? An entire box of staples? Then, having eaten said box of staples, what would possess same dog to puke them up on not one, but two carpets, as well as the hallway where everyone walks? Then, having puked in the three aforementioned locations, what would possess this dog to puke in his own bed?

The GF has him at the vet right now looking into surgery options. The X-Ray showed two huge clumps of staples bound up in his stomach. They won’t easily or safely pass given that they’re clumped up like that, so surgery is a necessity. It won’t be cheap.

It’s been a great morning.

Update: Surgery is going to be a lot cheaper than we thought, and within reason. He has a fist sized chunk of tangled staples in his gut right now that won’t pass, so it’s either surgery or sleepy time. The GF is opting for surgery.

Just remember what ol’ Jack Burton does when the earth quakes, the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big old storm right in the eye and says, “Give me your best shot. I can take it.”

I love that quote. I love that movie. Whenever it’s raining like it was this morning, I can’t help but think about good ol’ Jack Burton and his shaking pillars of Heaven.

Also, I can’t help but wonder how many other people are out braving the weather to get themselves to work on pedal power.

I saw half a dozen yesterday morning, and more yesterday evening. I saw none this morning.

What I did see, and what I’ve seen every morning for the last couple of weeks, is a parking lot on I435 eastbound. The construction at I69 backs up traffic all the way to the Lamar overpass. I smile a little inside (and outside, truth be told) every time I go over that bridge. It must suck to be parked on 435 every day…

Friday after work, a mere day and a half after posting it on Craig’s List, my 1990 Giant Perigee was sold to a young couple looking for their first road bikes. Before they came over, I took her for one last spin around the block to make sure everything was, in fact, working the way it was the last time I rode it. She felt good, but since I’ve only ridden her about a mile in the last three years, it was time to let go.

I talked with the buyer via e’mail and phone prior to them arriving at around 7:00pm, and then the three of us, the buyer, her husband and I, chatted on the driveway for a time before they took her away. I probably babbled a little in a last minute attempt to prolong the moment. She’s new to cycling, but he has a lot of BMX experience. They’ve both been looking for reasonably priced (cheap) road bikes for a while. I’m glad I could help out.

I was genuinely sad when I watched them drive away. I hope they treat her well, and she comes through for them.

… and this time, I’m going a leaning towards something a little cheaper, but still with everything I want. I got hold of Midwest Cyclery yesterday morning, and asked the nice fellow on the phone about the Jake the Snake, and the Dew Drop. He’s got several Snake’s in already, and in the sizes I’m interested in trying out. However, the Drop isn’t even in the country at this point, so it’s way too early to pull the trigger. I imagine the Drop to be cheaper as well, but again, not in the country… impossible to say.

While the Jake has the road geometry I’m a fan of, it doesn’t have the disc brakes or the triple crank that I’d like to keep around. The Snake also has Shimano STI shifters, which, while nice, would take some getting used to. The Drop comes with Shimano 2203 shifters, which have essentially the same action as the Campi Ergo shifters, if not quite as luxurious. I wouldn’t have to get used to anything drastically new. Both bikes have 700 tires, the Snake with 700×35c and the Dew with 700×37c, so they’re essentially equal on that front. The components on the Dew are slightly lower in the Shimano line than those on the Snake, but how much will that really matter? I can always upgrade piecemeal down the road.

Both are really pretty bikes, and I do like the idea of staying with Kona. After all, my Fire Mountain has really stood the test of time, and I have to admit to a little brand loyalty on this. I don’t have that with… well… come to think of it, any other company right now, so I’m going to allow it, even though I still hold to the idea that corporations are, as a whole, Of The Devil.

The only thing that would make either of these bikes absolutely 100% drop the cash right now perfect is if they had steel frames.

BikeSnobNYC is a blogger I read every now and again. I tend to grow a bit drowsy when he dives into the Craig’s List swamp, but on the other hand, his take on much of cycling culture is spot on, or at least good for a laugh, and his sarcastic, biting, no mercy sense of humor is truly inspiring.

Still, something he wrote recently struck a chord with me, and as such, I’ll share it with you. To wit:

This journal [theridejournal.com] is nicely ecumenical in its approach to cycling, but one theme that came up and made me think was that of looking good on the bike. Not looking good in the sense of looking like a Euro-pro, but rather looking good in the sense of being able to wear street clothes comfortably while riding. In particular, in “Velocouture,” Patrick Barber points out that up until now in the US cycling style has been driven by sport rather than practicality, since riding here is traditionally seen as a recreational pastime and not as a means of transportation. “In a way,” he writes, “thinking about cycling in street clothes requires that you shift your thinking about why you are on your bike. Instead of being in workout mode, you are in going-somewhere-but-want-to-look-good mode: to work, on a date, to the coffee shop.” Ultimately, his point is that by being a normal well-dressed person on a bike instead of a peloton refugee in lycra you inspire other people to do the same and to integrate riding into their everyday lives.

He then goes on to basically say, in many more words than I’ll use here, that cyclists should be able to wear what they want, pretty much when they want. As long as it meets decency laws. Period.

I agree both with his final conclusion (to a point), and the idea that one would make cycling more accessible and agreeable by wearing normal clothes while out doing our thing. It’s obvious, when you think about it…

Seeing us out on the road tricked out in full kit presents an entry barrier. “I could never ride a bike,” one thinks, “because I could never look as good as HE does.” That’s what they think. Mark my words. However, if I were to be seen on a shiny new, say… Dew Drop, wearing what amounts to street clothes, then one would certainly think “I may never look as good as HE does, but I could get close. I think I’ll go out right now and buy a bike. But not like his. His looks way too cool for me. I’ll go dumpster diving for student cast-offs.”

I really don’t care what gets people to ride, so long as people get out and ride. The more people ride, the more we’ll be seen as a normal part of life on the road, and the quieter people like this might be.

If wearing normal clothes will help, I might consider it, but only if I can wear my full team kit underneath.

Early in my ride this morning I hit 4,000 miles for the year. That may not be much to some, but it’s pretty damn good for me.

Yay, me!

I’m looking for a Kona dealer or reseller somewhere in or around the Kansas City Metro area. On Kona’s website, they list two: Freeride Midwest, Inc. and Midwest Cyclery Specialists, Inc.. Freeride appears to be closed (if an empty storefront and a realtor sign out front are any indication). I’ve not been to Midwest Cyclery yet, but having worked downtown for a few years, I *hate* going down there, unless I’m passing straight through. I’ll probably drop by sometime this weekend, but if there are other dealers around, I’d be interested in knowing about them.

Reason I’m asking is that I’m really liking the looks of the Dew Drop and Jake the Snake. Both fit the bill really well, and I’d like to ride them to see how they feel. As for the Portland… just a touch too expensive to justify. I’d feel really bad if I laid it down on the trails… ;)