Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Double Drive
Who hasn't yearned to do this? It'd be rad to do an equivalent ratio double, like 25/9 and 50/18.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Critical MASH
A conversation with wifey last night had me thinking about critical mass. About how we get to enjoy a ridiculous street party, thanks to the work of the pioneers of bike advocacy in Vancouver. The Bicycle People. These may be the raingear wearing chanters that everyone loves to hate.. but they really helped us out. Imagine how hectic those early bridge takeovers were!
It just makes me want to mash it up even more. Take over the streets. Prove the superiority of the bicycle. control the cars. establish dominance.
For this I'll need a tool. It will be honed. A cunny. some bullhorns. some oil. Fresh M540s on lockdown.
This month we've got a special guest star, Timmy TimTim Wyatt!
Not to mention TanikAlexis riding for Lance!
I'm riding for the hooligans and rudeboys.
See you out there, bicycle people=]
It just makes me want to mash it up even more. Take over the streets. Prove the superiority of the bicycle. control the cars. establish dominance.
For this I'll need a tool. It will be honed. A cunny. some bullhorns. some oil. Fresh M540s on lockdown.
This month we've got a special guest star, Timmy TimTim Wyatt!
Not to mention TanikAlexis riding for Lance!
I'm riding for the hooligans and rudeboys.
See you out there, bicycle people=]
Monday, April 14, 2008
Cause I'm talkin' about the road
I have found the FGG of touring bikes, with much stricter restrictions and therefore a higher average quality ratio:
Have a look at the regulations and see if you've got anything that fits. Unfortunately, it looks like "fully loaded trailers on fixed gear bikes" doesn't qualify.
Fully Loaded Touring Bicycles - On Tour
Nick B, do you desire a tie and solder job?
Have a look at the regulations and see if you've got anything that fits. Unfortunately, it looks like "fully loaded trailers on fixed gear bikes" doesn't qualify.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
The Way Way Back Machine
One year ago, on April 4, 2007, I rode my KHS with Nitto B123s up Mount Seymour - 1000 metres of elevation - with local fixed-gear climbers Andrew and Rich. I used my normal street "short" gear of 42/16 gear; that's about 71 gear inches for those who care.
Andrew on his Marinoni conversion, Rich on his Cramerotti track bike, both running reasonable gears in the mid-60s. And brakes. Yes, I was doing it dumber, and these guys could kick my ass at climbing. That wasn't really the point.
Louise joined us on her Devinci, keeping it in the middle ring the whole way up in the spirit of the fixed climb. When we made it to the top, I didn't feel all that bad, but had much respect for Andrew and Rich.
The ride down was another story altogether. It was one of the most intense experiences of my life, and I say that a year later. Mount Seymour Road is steep enough that even if you wanted to resist the pedals all the way down, you couldn't do it on a 71" gear.
Hard braking with legs for the 12km descent. It was a case of resist until your legs can't take it any more, spin up to terminal velocity as determined by said jello legs, and then lock in to a skid at 50km/h. Over, and over, and over.
150rpm. Skid. Half rotation. Skid. 100rpm. Resist. Resist. Resist. 150rpm. Over, and over, and over. Team Mountain Goat followed behind to watch the spectacle that was my brand new Soma Everwear being smoked and squared.
There you go. One year ago, I did it dumber. Climbing a vertical kilometre on track bars, and coming back down without brakes. I wouldn't recommend it.
The snow-capped peak between the towers is the destination, Mount Seymour.
About half way up. You can see the Burnaby Velodrome bubble way down there across Burrard Inlet.
Morgan, Andrew, Louise, and Rich.
Parking lot elevation: 1020m.
Andrew on his Marinoni conversion, Rich on his Cramerotti track bike, both running reasonable gears in the mid-60s. And brakes. Yes, I was doing it dumber, and these guys could kick my ass at climbing. That wasn't really the point.
Louise joined us on her Devinci, keeping it in the middle ring the whole way up in the spirit of the fixed climb. When we made it to the top, I didn't feel all that bad, but had much respect for Andrew and Rich.
The ride down was another story altogether. It was one of the most intense experiences of my life, and I say that a year later. Mount Seymour Road is steep enough that even if you wanted to resist the pedals all the way down, you couldn't do it on a 71" gear.
Hard braking with legs for the 12km descent. It was a case of resist until your legs can't take it any more, spin up to terminal velocity as determined by said jello legs, and then lock in to a skid at 50km/h. Over, and over, and over.
150rpm. Skid. Half rotation. Skid. 100rpm. Resist. Resist. Resist. 150rpm. Over, and over, and over. Team Mountain Goat followed behind to watch the spectacle that was my brand new Soma Everwear being smoked and squared.
There you go. One year ago, I did it dumber. Climbing a vertical kilometre on track bars, and coming back down without brakes. I wouldn't recommend it.
The snow-capped peak between the towers is the destination, Mount Seymour.
About half way up. You can see the Burnaby Velodrome bubble way down there across Burrard Inlet.
Morgan, Andrew, Louise, and Rich.
Parking lot elevation: 1020m.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
The line.
There's this weird line between an urban/park'd out freeride MTB, and a 26" cruiser class BMX. The foot hits the unicrown, and the two worlds split apart from there. N1ck knows this better than all of us.
south parc session from Vincent Allard on Vimeo.
The perfect blend DOES exist though.
Its like, in some strange dimension, my kitten chopper is that bike, and instead of mowing through fountains, I'm slidering out of a big wallride 180°. That bike will probably just remain a unicorn.. so I'll have to be content with the fountain.
south parc session from Vincent Allard on Vimeo.
The perfect blend DOES exist though.
Its like, in some strange dimension, my kitten chopper is that bike, and instead of mowing through fountains, I'm slidering out of a big wallride 180°. That bike will probably just remain a unicorn.. so I'll have to be content with the fountain.
ÆROHEAD 2 IS DOWN!
The warranty Aerohead that Velocity sent me last year, is on its way out. Both brake surfaces are splaying outwards at the bead seat.
The wheel is still true, but braking is terrible now, grabbing every revolution as the rim width changes.
Morgan has offered to loan/sell me his Mavic Open Pro, radially laced to the same Dimension front hub that I have.
But whats this, the brake surface has never seen wear.
Are you sure you want this Morgan?
The wheel is still true, but braking is terrible now, grabbing every revolution as the rim width changes.
Morgan has offered to loan/sell me his Mavic Open Pro, radially laced to the same Dimension front hub that I have.
But whats this, the brake surface has never seen wear.
Are you sure you want this Morgan?
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