Saturday, December 30, 2006

Dropped for the Last Time

Yesterday I got dropped for the last time this year. I did not REALLY get dropped. A gap opened up I couldn’t close and I had to chase all the way to the finish. Fortunately 2006 has only a day left and I will not suffer that indignity again until next year. I know this will happen many times in the coming year and I will not be able to use the simple excuse of not being able to close a gap.

I rode hard, gave it all I had and met a new friend. Best of all my two good friends I had to chase, waited for me and were commiserate. My new friend rode in with me even though when he flatted I told him to fix it and kept riding.

This brings up a couple of thoughts.

When do you stop for a flat? Obviously, when the bottom edge of your wheel goes horizontal. When someone yells “flat!” and you are nearby you should see if they are okay. When you pass someone on the road with a flat you should should out “Do you need help?” On a Saturday fast ride, as well as any ride, you should have everything you need to fix your tire because no one is going to stop. Maybe on the way back but not on the way out. I’ve missed out on many a splendid ride because I had to stop and attend to a flat and then chase for seemingly endless miles.

Making friends on rides. When you see a new face in the parking lot, by all means stop and make them welcome. Some people size up new people and then test them to see who is better. Try to see them as potential allies, not challengers. When someone posts to ask if there are anyone wants to ride, contact them if you are available. If you see a new rider on the road ride up to them and see what they are up to. The exception? If you have a fast paceline going, a serious challenge, and someone you don’t know jumps in, you have no obligation to be social. After the ride by all means let the new guy know it’s all fun.

In fact, do what my friends did to me today and drop me like a stone. Do like I did and answer the cry of “flat” with “fix it”. But then show camaraderie and friendship. Wait for the laggard and do a recovery pace home. Ride home with the new guy and make him feel welcome. It's the least we can do.

There’s a new year coming, let’s make it a good one.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Clearing the Slate

I want to start the New Year with a clean slate so I am going to let loose all of the vituperous bile I’ve been holding in all year. That stuff starts to rot after a while. Here comes the torrent of ugly.

#1.) Golf Carts on the road. It’s a bad idea in oh so may ways. I used to think that having a golf cart coming down the middle of the road in the predawn dark was bad. Then I saw one weaving back and forth like a drunken sailor and yet another blithely run a stop sign. “It’s not a car and stop signs are for cars.” Once I was riding the sidewalk to avoid suicide by traffic and a golf cart pushed me off the sidewalk. Golf carts are only suppose to be on the golf course.


#2) Bike lanes are not for cars. They are not turning lanes, passing lanes, or parking lanes. They are not for stockpiling broken glass, gravel or construction debris. Shoulders are not turn lanes either, especially when they are 6 inches wide. Sidewalks are just not for cars period.

#3) Cyclists who race and think the rest of us are inferior. Cyclists who think they are racers but are not and think the rest of us inferior. Cyclists who don’t race and think racers are idiots. Motorists who think cyclists should be confined to sidewalks. Cyclists who think motor vehicle laws do not apply to them. Narrow minded people in general annoy me, narrow minded cyclists are anathema.

#4) Make an effort to ride in a straight line, do a pull or two, ride a double paceline and use your head or ride alone until you can. Everyone rides above their ability on occasion there is nothing inherently wrong with this. There is no crime in failing because of fitness but risking everyone else’s safety because of inability to handle a bike at speed is reckless at best and should it cause an accident is criminal.

#5) Drivers without a clue and their evil mirror twins. Motorists who turn left with the right turn signal. Motorists who turn right from the left lane. Motorists who either signal and don’t turn or turn and don’t signal. Motorists who blare their horn as they go by. (Horns are fine, a quarter mile back.) Motorists who feel a need to pass on a residential street. Motorists who insist on staying in the right hand lane to pass you when there is an empty lane to the left.

#6) Hummers, no explanation needed, but what the hell. Gas guzzling, tax evading monstrosities with no practical purpose. 90% of the Hummer owners never take the car off the road or fight in a war zone. They don’t handle well, you can’t see out of them, they are too big on the outside and too little on the inside, for crissakes you have to watch a video to back one up.


So there you have it. My last little rant for the year. I can start 2007 and slowly build up my aggravation to a crescendo. It could be prevented, the world come become a much more caring and considerate place. We, as a society, could become more aware of the world around us and less isolationist. We could strive to be personally better and not better than our fellows. Or, I’ll fill up again and let loose next December. It’s your choice.

Peace be with you my friends.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Who Said You Were Smart?

It certainly wasn’t me. I am hardly qualified. Bless the lord, we are not alone. It is hardly a select club based on meritorious achievement.

#1: Tools that are not always appropriate.
Anything that smashes or cuts.

Sponge Bob has a degree in electrical engineering. He can solder with a hammer. The Big Guy is a magician with a wrench and Puddles can true a wheel with spit. Dwan is an artist who fixed a lot of bikes before he started creating them. It ain't me babe.

#2: Good advise seldom comes at the right time.
Don’t do that next time, is seldom timely advise.

Cutting the spokes on a wheel before you remove the cogs is not a smart thing to do. It would have been a good warning. Before the act, it would have been good advise. Telling someone to remove the cogs before cutting the spokes would have been thoughtful and caring. Admitting the omission of this advice would have been of great character. Letting someone feel like a dweeb is unkind.


#3: Yes I did it. I have a hub bouquet with spokes for stalks and cogs for petals.
This is not, I repeat not, a good thing.


The best thing is hearing from Dwan that nearly every mechanic has done this bonehead mistake in their career. He also suggested that with a steady hand and a Dremel tool I can cut the cogs off and save the rim. It will take an amazing amount of time.

It is good to know that being stupid, alone, does not make you lonely. If you are stupid you are never alone.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Rottenness

Some days nothing seems right in the world. I thought I was having a bad day. My Phil Wood wheel is still fouled up and may be beyond repair. (Note to Self, take cogs off, if possible, before cutting spokes) I had a flat. Nothing bad there in itself but I broke two tire levers and then pinched my tube trying to get the tire back on without levers. Walk a couple of miles in my cleats and tell me that’s right.

So I am sitting here feeling sorry for myself waiting for the Phil Wood guy to call back and I read a letter in Velo News. Jimi Mortensen, a cross Country Mountain Biker got a two year doping suspension for not showing up for out of competition testing. basically he didn’t officially retire and failed to file paperwork and now he’s a doper. He can’t race in NORBA events period and everyone thinks he’s been taking dope. Excuse me, but the guy has a full time job, a business on the side, and a new child. Why should anyone want to race?
http://www.velonews.com/race/mtn/articles/11309.0.html

The weather is pretty good but here I sit indoors. The Phil Wood guy still hasn’t called back and the Gas company hasn’t come by with a replacement oxygen tank and I still have to make another trip to the grocery store since I didn’t want to walk there with a flat tire.

Whine whine whine.
<-- End #footer -->