Posted On Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 By David Veatch
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.
Posted On Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 By David Veatch
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 more »
Posted On Monday, September 29th, 2008 By David Veatch
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. more »
Posted On Thursday, September 25th, 2008 By David Veatch
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.
Posted On Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 By David Veatch
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…
Posted On Monday, September 22nd, 2008 By David Veatch
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.
Posted On Friday, September 19th, 2008 By David Veatch
… 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 700x35c and the Dew with 700x37c, so they’re essentially equal on that front. The components on the Dew are more »
Posted On Friday, September 19th, 2008 By David Veatch
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 more »
Posted On Friday, September 19th, 2008 By David Veatch
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!
Posted On Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 By David Veatch
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… ;)