( 0 )
Der blinkinlichten ist lookenpeepers goot!
Posted On Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 By David Veatch
Wherein a little cycling gadget history, and new Blackburn Flea 2.0 USB cycling lights are reviewed. With pics!
Twice in Two Days
Posted On Friday, March 18th, 2011 By David Veatch
That’s how many times I was nearly hit by a driver not paying attention. I don’t know that there’s any way to compare that to the average ride for the average rider, but for me, it’s twice the number of near misses I’ve had for the last three four years. My own memory is very likely faulty, but I only remember one other instance. Yesterday morning, I was heading south on Lowell and turning left onto 91st when a woman heading east on 91st Terrace went straight through the intersection towards 91st St after I was already well into my turn. She, in effect, wanted to share precious intersection space with me. I saw it happening, easily adjusted my course and we pulled into the eastbound lane side by side with me in the middle and her next to the curb. She sped ahead with a look of shock (reproach? distaste?) on her face and I moved to the right behind her. I tried to catch her at Foster – you know, for a friendly reminder about paying attention – but the light turned before I got there and she was gone. Oh well. This morning, I was much closer more »
Baffled by Drivers, an Unapologetic Homage to Driving Safely
Posted On Monday, December 6th, 2010 By David Veatch
I’ve mentioned before that riding my bike to work every day for a year taught me more about driving than driving for 20 years did. I may have even mentioned that I’ve mentioned it before, though I can’t find where now. I recently read a post by Dave wherein he basically says he’s going to drive the speed limit and if you don’t like it, then that’s just tough. I read another post by rainycamp over at Bike Noob wherein he marvels at the general looniness of drivers. I’m right there on board with Dave. I drive the speed limit, give (or even take) a couple mph. Sometimes, when I’m passing I even drive the speed limit in the passing lane (note it’s called the “passing lane” and not the “speeding lane”). Yes. I’m that guy. *gasp* The horror! The aggravation obvious in the wild gesticulations, disgusted shaking of heads and clearly mouthed epithets of those behind me wishing to push the limits of officer tolerance do nothing to sway me. Believe me, you’ll get where you’re going, and not only will you do it with less risk of catastrophe, but you’re likely shaving more seconds off the end of more »
Octoginta 2010
Posted On Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 By David Veatch
Wherein 80 miles over Kansas highways and back roads is discussed briefly. There are pictures.
Cycling Safety, Printing with Cups & HPLIP, and Vino
Posted On Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 By David Veatch
All in all, not a bad weekend. I’d fixed our printing issues with Samba/Cups/HPLIP before 11, and I’d slept in until 9:30 (yes, I clearly needed sleep). It was, I think, a permissions issue, but it was a confusing issue. Brokey: lrw-rw—- 1 root cups 9 Sep 24 17:04 ugen0.2 -> usb/0.2.0 crw-rw-rw- 1 root cups 0, 128 Sep 24 17:01 0.2.0 Workey: lrw-rw—- 1 root cups 9 Sep 24 17:04 ugen0.2 -> usb/0.2.0 crw-rw-rw- 1 root cups 0, 128 Sep 24 17:01 0.2.0 Yeah. I don’t see a difference either. Still, I was getting the following errors: prnt/backend/hp.c 745: ERROR: open device failed stat=12: hp:/usb/photosmart_7350?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXX and printer-state=5(stopped) printer-state-message=”/usr/local/libexec/cups/backend/hp failed” printer-state-reasons=paused whenever I tried to print (not the real serial number). Then I chown root:lp both ugen0.2 and usb/0.2.0, and printing was magically working again. And yet, they still show as being root:cups. Go figure. Please. Go figure, because aside from some weird corruption in some place I don’t yet know exists, I can’t figure it out myself. So, that done, I moved myself downtown to the KC Public Library for the first of two League of American Cyclists Smart Cycling KC: Traffic Skills 101 classes. Though there wasn’t anything more »
Bike Week KC
Posted On Friday, May 14th, 2010 By David Veatch
I’ve not been very good about riding my bike to work the last couple of weeks. I was gung-ho the first week, and rode every day. The last couple of weeks, though… I don’t know, I just didn’t have it in me. I caved to the pull of the seat vs. the saddle. I took the easier, more populated road. Can’t say I felt great about it, and though there were only a couple of days where I legitimately needed the car to either be somewhere far away quickly, or to carry something my bike just isn’t equipped to carry (lumber, for instance), I did it every day anyway. Bike Week KC starts up next week, and I joined up on Brent Hugh’s MoBikeFed Wheel Wizards team, for no other reason than b/c I got a mass e’mail from him about it. I couldn’t pick the man out of a crowd, but if it keeps him from buying dinner for other people I don’t know, and helps me with the whole biking thing… Well, why not? So… I’m signed up, and though I’ll need my car at least one day next week, I don’t see why I can’t ride to more »
Predators On Facebook Tough To Track – Kansas City News Story – KMBC Kansas City
Posted On Thursday, February 18th, 2010 By David Veatch
Predators On Facebook Tough To Track – Kansas City News Story – KMBC Kansas City: “KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Your child could be talking to a sexual predator on Facebook and not even know it. Thursday, February 18, 2010.” Just watched this on the television… more ridiculous scare mongering from self-important local news personalities. To be fair, the advice was good, such as “Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say in real life.” and the tips for parents However, they lost me with the bits about the sex offenders and the lack of police manpower and time to check them all was completely glossed over. They ignored the fact that the list is so polluted with people who have no business being there, that the police may miss the real threats In the end, it was irrational fear mongering in the name of ratings without any real perspective on the level of danger. But that’s what I expected to find, so that’s what I found.
Driver involved in [and causes] fatal accident faces jail time
Posted On Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 By David Veatch
WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa – A man faces up to [a mere] 60 days in jail in connection with a November 2007 accident that killed a West Burlington man who was riding a bicycle. A judge found Marvin Oberly guilty last week of driving on the wrong side of a two-way highway and passing a vehicle on the wrong side. Douglas Kenney died of [the tragic and needless] injuries he suffered in the accident on Nov. 9, 2007 [due to Oberly’s utterly irresponsible and reckless actions]. Oberly is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30. He faces [a paltry] 30 days in jail for each of the counts and up to a year suspension [rather than the far more just complete and permanent revocation] of his drivers license. [It is left as an exercise for the reader to rationalize how 60 days in jail and a year's suspension balances out the irresponsibility and recklessness that resulted in Kenney's death.] Prosecutors argued that Oberly drove up behind Kenney in his pickup and collided with the bicycle Kenney, who was riding his bicycle in a manner consistent with safety and law. Oberly testified provided the lame and weak excuse during his trial that more »
Side Effects of Cycling to Work
Posted On Thursday, November 20th, 2008 By David Veatch
Though I be in Texas, far away from home and the bike that awaits me, new and unridden, with virgin saddle, as it were, my thoughts stray now and again, all the same, to the subject of cycling. I think on how nice it will be to once again sit astride the saddle, my arms outstretched holding brake levers and handlebars. I think on how nice it will be to see my waistline diminish once again, rather than continue it’s current trend of slow expansion. I think on how nice it will be to once again stride out the front doors with pride, knowing that I will be making it home on my own power, while at the same time clowning around like a fool for the cadre of lustful (though unfortunately married) women who have come to be a sort of 4:30pm Fan Club for yours truly (I take the ego boosts where I can get them). But lately, one thought presses forward as I spend minute after empty minute in the cabin of an automobile instead of the saddle of a bicycle… that thought is what I will share with you now. And here it is, then. That more »
The Fire Mountain’s Last Ride
Posted On Friday, October 3rd, 2008 By David Veatch
Well, I’m going to have to call it. Time of death: 06:58. Now, a few words… You were a good bike, and carried myself, as well as several others, through some lean times, some fantastic trails, and finally back into the wonderful world of commuting by bicycle. But, as with all things, both good and bad, it’s time to lay you to rest. It’s for the best. You’re simply not safe to ride. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Every full stop is a moment of fear… will your chain slip again this time, throwing both feet, undignified and sloppy, to the ground? Will your cables finally snap with this change of gear? You’ve been fantastic, but your rings are shot, and your cogs are squeaky. Your cables frayed and your headset shows signs of rust. But I don’t blame you. It’s not all your fault. I’ve been woefully lacking in taking care of you. I’ve not held up my end of the deal. You’ve given more than I ever had any right to ask of you, and only recently have you started complaining. I understand. You’re old. You’re tired. You’ve never asked for anything, and to my discredit, I’ve given more »