Thursday, August 7, 2008

Honk If You're Hoary: Riding with the Geese

It may amaze you to learn that I have other interests outside of cycling. For example, I've always been fascinated by fossils, which is why I read the New Yorker. I also really enjoy intentionally irritating myself, which is why I read the New Yorker. So this morning, during the mandatory downtime we all engage in on a regular basis, I pulled the latest issue out from underneath a stack of secret website catalogs, opened it, and saw this:



The Mini Cooper is the Felt Curbside of automobiles in that it's a neutered version of something that was once authentic, it evokes racing for people who will never race, and it's "cute" in a completely derivative and studied way. As a cyclist, I find Minis particularly annoying, because the trendier neighborhoods of Brooklyn are filled with them, and they're generally driven by the sorts of people who text their friends to ask them what kind of wine they should pick up for the party as they roll through stopsigns into busy intersections. It's only fitting then that these rolling graduation presents would be sold as a way to " go green." The people "going green" these days are the same people who did graffiti or experimented with homosexuality at their liberal arts college--they enjoy flirting with a lifestyle they don't understand in an environment where it's looked upon favorably, but as soon as it becomes difficult, unsafe or embarrassing they conveniently abandon it. Fortunately for them, you don't have to give up your car to "go green." Instead, you just need to buy a new one with marginally better gas mileage. And fortunately, "going green" also allows you to measure just how pretentious you are by calculating your "carbon footprint." Or, in the case of the Mini, your "carfun footprint." Hey, if people want to "go green" by buying a car, or they want to go vegan by ordering a hamburger instead of a cheeseburger, who am I to complain? But I still think a much better ad would have been: "Mini: It's Fun-tarded."

Having already sufficiently irritated myself, I figured I'd check in on the local PistaDex, which was a stunning 700 with this lone entry:

NEW Bianchi Pista 55cm Chrome - $700 (BROOKLYN.NY)
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-08-05, 10:41AM EDT

This is a new, size 55cm Pista in the Chrome! this is a stock model. Here is the link to Bianchi's site for all the spec info and geometry:http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_pista.....the bike is comeing from Orange, CA, United States.it's comeing in 5 weeks so feel free to e-mail me ok.thanks.

My irritation turned quickly to fear. A $700 chrome Pista, coming from California in five weeks? This smacked of the supernatural. I knew there had been an earthquake in California, and it was entirely possible that it had freed some demonic harbingers from the molten recesses beneath the Earth's crust. These harbingers could only be harbinging one thing: the Fixed Gear Apocalypse. Was this it? Was the end nigh? Like five weeks nigh? Was it also chrome-plated, 100% chick designed, made in Taiwan, and being sold for well over the full retail price?

Then I had a more horrific thought. Increasingly, I'd been having the feeling something strange is going on. For one thing, recently I made an attempt to get over my fear of Williamsburg by having a drink there with one of the few people who will spend any time with me. As we sat at an outdoor table, I noticed a young man emerge from one of those fancy new condos nearby with a pristine vintage Italian track bike, which he mounted and rode slowly away. I didn't think anything of it--until he passed again a few minutes later. And again. And again. Could it be? Was he simply riding the bike slowly around and around the block? I then noticed a rider on a lime green track bike with lime green rims was doing the same thing--prowling the streets slowly like an ironic dayglo shark in search of equally detached and disinterested bait. It passed by again. And again. And again.

Suddenly I felt as though I was in the "Truman Show," surrounded by extras who were pretending to go somewhere on their bicycles but in reality had no destination. Similarly, I've also been experiencing increased vehicular interference lately. Anybody who rides (or drives for that matter) in New York City knows that drivers love to pull out of parking spaces without warning and make u-turns in front of you--u-turns they are unable to complete due to the narrow streets. Consequently they simply sit there perpendicular to the curb, obstructing traffic in both directions. If you watched it from above, it would look like a marlin leaping from the water only to get his spear caught in a really low drop ceiling. At any rate, this has been happening to me way more than usual lately. Sometimes three or four times on a single block.

Could it be the Apocalypse has already happened? Could it be that some Ed Harris on high is directing all these cars to turn in front of me in an effort to prevent me from going somewhere? Could this same Ed Harris be directing artfully tattooed people on stylized bikes to ride slowly around Brooklyn in order to distract me from some greater truth? Should I probe deeper, or should I simply surrender--perhaps by "going green," purchasing a Mini Cooper, and consequently feeling much better about myself and all I've done for the world by burning vastly more gas than I would on a bike but marginally less than I would in a larger automobile? If I didn't, was I doomed to simply wander the Earth on a bike forever like some sort of Ancient Mariner?

All of this was running through my head this morning when I entered Prospect Park and encountered this scene:

Yes, it was a peloton of geese. Suddenly, a sense of calm overtook me. No Ed Harris could have directed this--I knew it was real. I also knew right away that in order to experience true peace and cosmic oneness I would have to ride among them. To be honest, I was a little intimidated at first--I felt like a Cat 4 riding with the Cat 1s for the first time. But I also had an ineffable feeling that everything would somehow be OK. This was partly due to the intensely spiritual nature of the experience, but mostly because I don't have a pie plate on my bike and I knew they wouldn't try to peck my eyes out.


I've done many group rides and races before. Never though have I experienced the sense of true belonging I felt riding among the geese. I felt like that kid in "Whale Rider," only with water fowl instead of whales. It was truly magical.



I then proceeded to drop their feathery, waddling asses like they were standing still--which, being geese and all, they essentially were.

After I finished gloating, though, I reflected on the experience. I had been made irritable by a car, and I had been made content by a gaggle of geese. And isn't that what "going green" is really all about?

Well, I don't know, but I do know that geese are truly inspiring creatures. Especially when they're nibbling at their undercarriages in front of iconic landmarks.

127 comments:

Anonymous said...

stoned!

Anonymous said...

and winning!

Anonymous said...

jeez

Anonymous said...

piss off!@

Anonymous said...

In there.

Anonymous said...

Top five!!!! I'm sure by the time this posts I'll be in the chase group.

Luck E. 7 said...

SEVEN!!!

Anonymous said...

First!

dddishman said...

yip yip

Anonymous said...

got pushed off the podium by some stoned hippy

Unknown said...

those geese were probably sandbagging.

Anonymous said...

celebrity

Anonymous said...

Damn it I can't breath through my new mask!

Anonymous said...

All that fun and 2 lbs of goose poop on your bike. Thanks Birdy!

Anonymous said...

Schleck's'ss!!!

Anonymous said...

I would like to apologize for wearing a mask to yesterday's comment section. My new blog reading coach told me to do so. I did not mean to insult our gracious host.

Anonymous said...

wut

Anonymous said...

top 20!eat that fuckers!

Anonymous said...

a marlin stuck in acoustic tile. that's freaking genius. you're an artist.

ok, now back to riding in circles.

Crazy Legs Coulston said...

Great post today. Enjoyed the pictures - sweet chrome fenders!

Anonymous said...

And even sweeter balloon tires. What are you riding snobby? A freaking Rollfast?

-d said...

The Phoenix Pistadex is at $600:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/bik/739839705.html

...it even has a painted satin white frame so that the intense desert sun doesn't reflect off the chromed frame up to your buckle on your Chrome messenger bag, then back down to burn a hole through your Chuck Taylors while doing a track stand.

Anonymous said...

Isn't the sound of geese feet slapping along the pavement one of the best things in the world? Like clothes fresh from the dryer, there is no substitute.

thefutureofamerica said...

Damn, dude, but you musta looked pretty crazy trying to draft off those geese with your camera out.

Luck E. 7 said...

The highs, the lows, and dropping the geese. Maybe one of your finest posts yet, Snob. Grazie.

I may have placed my typical lucky 7th, but stoner/drunk mountainbiker storytopper brought me to the money by sweeping the top 2 spots in the same race.

Keep posting late!!



A

Anonymous said...

PS chrome fender, Nimbus armadillo, and is that a canti brake cable I see? Damn, you are commuter-iffic!

Anonymous said...

I notice what appears to be a stainless steel front fender on RTMS's steed. Could it be a Berthoud? Those tires also look familiar; those aren't 700c x 23s for sure.

Inquring minds want to know

anion said...

BIKE STOLEN NIGHT OF AUGUST 6 in FT GREENE BROOKLYN:

very uncommon Look KG 221 Frame Yellow and Black (alu lugged carbon)
Chris King headset
Yellow bar Tape on cinelli bar
105/ultegra mix
carbon seatpost
san marco seat
led lights

Black mildly aero wheelset

PLEASE HELP!!!!

carydaniel@gmail.com
(also let me know if you of any recovery resources)

Mongo Pusher said...

The Mini Cooper is the Johan Bruyneel of Geese.

BikeSnobNYC said...

Anonymous 2:27pm and others,

Fender is plastic and as black as my heart.

--RTMS

Anonymous said...

It is suspected that the population explosion of geese in urban areas over the past decade is due to warmer winters/food abundance/global warming (citation needed), which certainly seems relevant to the greenpocalypse theory.

I suspect it is due to the abundance of pie plates present in the current bike boom.

Anonymous said...

Snob, Did you get a new camera? The picture quality is much better than usual!

Anonymous said...

Mr. Snob,
It seems the high gas prices are really changing the way "those who play on a different team" are finding companionship. Seriously, In downtown SLC, in the late 90s, I would see people sitting in cars, sometimes running when it was cold. They would make eye contact with me and as soon as I realized the eye contact involved quick glances at my crotch, I would turn and try to walk tough like John Travolta. Now people are trolling on bikes.

I was in Sun Valley in July this year. As you may know, Sun Valley is one of those towns where the men shave their legs and the women don't. So, if you play for the other team, one way to fly your flag and distinguish yourself is to dress to the nines and ride your Vespa around in circles.

It made me a little sad to see these two lonely (but well dressed) guys making circles around Ketchem / Sun Valley because they kept missing each other.

broomie said...

The Blog: visual and fun
The Posts: Not so much
BTW: Geese love hamgurer.

Anonymous said...

What is the sound of one Hussein playing the race card from the bottom of the deck?

Merci Beaucoups!

A Southern Racist (Labeled as such for simply living here)

Anonymous said...

Snobbie, be careful with that camera. First it was a dirty fingernail, then a shadowy reflection or two, and now a fender and a tire. That camera is going to lead to your inadvertant unmasking. Considering your history of sloppy camera work, please promise us that you will never take the camera into the bathroom with you.

AnnaZed said...

anion said...(also let me know if you of any recovery resources)

Ah, ... huh?

Anonymous said...

huh? "one of the few people who will spend time with me" dude, i will totally spend time with you. and i can GUARANTEE you that i am more frightened of williamsburg than you are.
j

ps- i love the flash of bike tire and fender, it's like seeing a hot girls bra strap..

Anonymous said...

RTMS/BSNYC,

Yet another critique of advertising copy? When combined with your insatiable wit and mastery of the english language, I can't help but see a connection. Is this magazine ad snobbery perhaps an insight into your identity as a copy writer or a clever ruse to trick poor fools such as I?

-Long time reader, first time commenter

Anonymous said...

Sarah Jessica Parker called, she wants her column back and take off those rediculas heels.

tuppercole said...

anon 2:42
If you lived in the midwest, we'd call you a flyover racist.

bk jimmy said...

broomie,

The Blog: visual and fun
The Posts: Not so much


Uhh, but the blog is posts.

Anonymous said...

flirting with homosexuality!!! priceless. when does something become "uncool""blaise""no longer means what it used to mean", when anyone with two tits and an ass can buy one!

BikeSnobNYC said...

j,

Modest bike porn is the sexiest bike porn. And spending time with me is much more pleasant when it's only a few paragraphs and a comments section, trust me.

Anonymous 2:56pm,

Actually, I think it's just because I've been watching "Mad Men."

--RTMS

Robert H said...

I thought they were stainless too. I figured you might have started hanging out with some dirty bearded rando guys. What's next? A handlebar bag?
Oh well...

Anonymous said...

Hey Snobby,

That fender is so dusty it looks silver! Is that really your Ironic Orange Julius Bike? With those tires, it sure looks like it might just be. (assuming black fender that looks silver = reddish tires that are really orange)

And cantis... very very nice.

Oh and the marlin thing was priceless I will recall that image every time someone tries to u turn directly into me, as often happens here in Chicago as well.

Anonymous said...

Those geese are actually members of Vancouvers Escape/Velocity team...musta taken a wrong turn at the airport on their sunday morning group ride!

Jim said...

Nice frickin' geese, yet I have to wonder how you have missed the phenomenon of ducks attacking white collar roadracers who don't have pieplates on their bike, and wouldn't be seen near a pie plate if it came with peach cobbler on it, even the low sugar variety.

The local lunchtime ride in D.C. at Hains Point has been repeatedly attacked by a gruppo compatto of ducks, which strays in formation into the path of the pack as it is traveling in the mid-20's to mid-30's. This generally results in bloodshed, both avian and homo sapien.

At first I thought this was some insane attempt at transgressive performance art, kind of like an anonymous poster slapping up uninvited and irritating political spam in the comments section of a bike blog. Not seeing any masked cyclists in Mini Coopers, however, I have concluded that this either is Duckdom's efforts to force 40+ Cat 3 & 2 roadracers to hold their f***in line dammit, or an effort by those poor starved creatures to get some food. (The roadracers, I mean... they look awfully hungry and if I see anybody lingering around the dead ducks post-ride, I'll know exactly what's up). But I'd really like a second opinion from somebody with expertise in cycloavionics before I go accusing people who can hurt me of intentionally interfering with Nature's Group Ride Referees.

Anonymous said...

that felt bike is a nightmare. Make it stop. If I was a dog I'd bark at it.

Anonymous said...

aw fuck

this shit is rubbing my ass raw

AnnaZed said...

I think those may be:

http://tiny.cc/thesefenders

SKS Fenders. Not that that tells a person anything.

Just sayin'....

Norman said...

MPG needs to give way to ton/mile, especially for the chubby fuckers who drive BMW Minis. Might compare favourably with a homemade pulse jet. Then again, might not.

Rich Evans said...

Alright that is enough with the mini cooper bashing. It is one of the best cars I have ever had. This makes me realize ust how much hipsters are ruining our world. I don't know if anyone else has experienced buyers remorse after purchasing a good that becomes hipster shieck. I have... but my Mini is the exception.

Astreet said...

I thought I was the only one noticing those damn U-turns... excellent comparison. This is one of the best posts i've read in a while

amazing.

bikesgonewild said...

...methinks someone had a last minute problem & thus rode their "winter bike" in to work today...

...betting a vehicle or a change of bikes, is involved in the commute home...

...something as revealing as that foto would have the "outers" rabidly crashing into each other while franticly patrolling the bridge approaches tonite & tomorrow, searching, searching, searching...

...bsnyc/rtms may be many things but dumb ain't one a' them...

Anonymous said...

**I thought they were stainless too**

Now we know Snob drsses his bike black on the outside, because black is how he feels on the inside.

Anonymous said...

Hey! That's me!

Anonymous said...

I just witnessed one of those marlin u-turns... by someone who was driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

Anonymous said...

No! You FOOL. Tis I.

Anonymous said...

Snobby your showing a bit to much bike there. With that fender and tire shot they will be closing in on you. I say that bike has to go,or just cannabilize it for unphotographed parts.

Anonymous said...

i spy... a 2007 Specialized Armadillo Tire

Anonymous said...

Snobby your showing a bit to much bike there. With that fender and tire shot they will be closing in on you. I say that bike has to go,or just cannabilize it for unphotographed parts.

veloben said...

Well at least the $700 pista boy is consistent with his misspellings.

Nice set of SKS P35 fenders RTMS. Use the same on my commuter.

Anonymous said...

I hate geese and I drive a mini

Michael Cody said...

This has nothing to do with your post but you NEED to read it:

http://www.coloradoindependent.com/view/no-room-for-bikes-at

Anonymous said...

you've gotta love the "Natural Geese Repellent" ad suggested by google.

broomie said...

bk jimmy:

You're absolutely correct.
I meant to say posters

Thanks for taking the time to correct me. Will you go out with me?

Strayhorn said...

anon at 4:04 sez: i spy... a 2007 Specialized Armadillo Tire

Armadillos? Damn. I didn't like mine so I gave them to a pal and installed a set of Conti Gator Skins on my commuter. Now I'm seriously uncool.

Wonder if I can get them back?

Anonymous said...

MCody @4:14 -

That's the democrats for ya' ...
all show and no substance and missing the point as usual. I am not surprised.

Where are the workers at the convention center who ride bikes going to park or will they have to lock up elsewhere and ride a bio-bus to the center ???

tuppercole said...

Seiously,
Why is it that hipsters have to ruin everything. It's gotten so I can barely stand to pull on my tight girl pants, dingy American Apparel t shirt and checkered Vans in the morning, pop in the earbuds from my iPhone and decide whether to ride my fixie Lambretta or longboard in the morning at the local free trade coffee shop.

Sheeesh, I wish they would quit ruining all the cool stuff.

Anonymous said...

That fender has the reflection of several people in it ...anyone capable of enlarging and cleaning up the image ??? Of course that flash could have been Snobby's flash which would block his face partially.

Anonymous said...

and nobody mentioned the conti tires. the floor-pump crowd must be out riding still.

The Green-Pack-a-Lips, or whatever this current greenwashing is, thoroughly offended me a year ago. Having been the commuting outsider, on either a bike or bus for decades, it bothered me that, so many of my 'friends and neighbors' were looking to adopt my 'lifestyle' all of a sudden.

So, I chose to increase my carbon footprint, instead. If I'm gonna be uncool, I might as well go all the way.

I bought a car. Moreover, I bought a Mini.

My conscience got the best of me, in the end, though. I got it used (or in my mind, recycled!) off some blond, who needed cash.

It's a bit disgusting to confess, but owning a Mini is a lot like owning a small dog--they're awful damn cute, but easy to laugh at. What I like best about my Mini is that it makes me look even bitchier, than I already do. It's even worse when I don those gigantic, Paris-Hilton glasses.

But don't hate on me now. I won't be able to hear you through the windshield. You'll have to wait until my chubby ass is back in my lycra with 700c's.

...

...

Okay, now.

Anonymous said...

SD,

This is a guy who stayed in a racist church and stuck by a bigoted reverend for 20 years, is friends with admitted terrorists, grotesquely leaked his Western Wall prayer to the press, and blew off a visit to see wounded troops.

bk jimmy said...

Broomie

Okay then.

Now how come I never score with that technique in bars?

Anonymous said...

Anon 4:35, at least he practices what he preaches. His helmet is plainly reflected in the fender. Somebody help before Snob swears out a restraining order against me.

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:05- apparently you are lost. This is a cycling blog, not a right-wing ranting blog.

Luck E. 7 said...

Anon 5:05, i.e. Political content sprayer,

Stop mixing your peanut butter with my chocolate.

GO AWAY!!



A

Anonymous said...

Enough of the political bullshit. Doesn't Fox News have some sort of message board?

Anonymous said...

we hate your politics & we hate your clothes
& we hate the way you smell
1..2...3!

Cameron said...

Somebody buy Snobby some tires!

Those things look spent.

leper said...

Hey anon 5:05, it's OK if you want to blow the old dude, just do it somewhere else. It's a little embarrassing. BTW, if you're rich, he just might marry you. Good Luck!

Anonymous said...

from all the vivid imagery my guess is that bsnycs "mandatory downtime" also includes consuming mushrooms. i believe his befendered whip to be an ironic psilocybin bike. good choice my friend

also, michaelcody, i hope you are not from the colorado springs, as you are citing one of our cities fine news publication. i think it is to the bicyclist's benefit that they are not allowed near the dnc. the number of police inflicted clotheslines, pile drivers and side checks would be out of control. police here drag old women through the street for wearing peace signs and teargas crowds of 4, i can only imagine what treatment supposed bicycle terrorist would receive

ice cube said...

BIKE SNOB CHECK THIS OUT!


fixed gear track bike...... - $1200 (Salt Lake City)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: sale-784809486@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-08-05, 8:21PM MDT



Looking for a very nice beginner or an upgrade from your current ride? I am selling...
Mercier Kilo TT 57cm frame, Nitto Technomic stem, Nitto B123 drop bars or red Nitto straight bars, Brooks saddle, black rear Velocity Deep-V laced to Suzue 36 hole Pro Max hub, celeste front Velocity Deep-V laced to 36 hole Suzue Pro Max hub, gold Sugino Zen Messenger cranks, Sugino bottom bracket, MKS pedals, MKS large toe clips, white Silva toe straps. It runs smooth and true. Please contact with any questions. Asking $1200 or best offer. Thanks.


MERCIER DEX.........1200!!! PISTAS HAVE NOTHING ON THIS.

broomie said...

bk Jimmy,

maybe you're going to the wrong bars?

You bring the beer, I'll bring the poppers

Anonymous said...

When did the comment threads on BSNYC become clogged with political rants and gay classifieds?

Anonymous said...

Not so fast ice cube:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/787177130.html

$1000. The Pista-dex is closing lower today but I believe your Mercier-dex is plagued with inflation at the moment while the Pista will remain strong.

Anonymous said...

Wind up Clockwork Geese set to activate on the slightest detection of cyclic movement, and that is why you dropped them so easily. The Truman/paranoia conspiracy continues unabated. I am sure that CSI NY could pull a fingerprint off that fender and run it through the system

Anonymous said...

A Mercier is a rolling shit-bomb poor excuse for a ride.

Anonymous said...

A Mercier is a rolling shit-bomb poor excuse for a ride.

Anonymous said...

Geese say: "Honk if you're Horny."

Anonymous said...

"gay? right wing? blow the old guy?" Takes but a few sentences to bring out the best in the self-annointed elite who want to rule everyone else.

Anonymous said...

Artie on a Fixed gear ha !!!

Anonymous said...

BSNYNC,
Moved across the country again and your site still makes me glad I don't live in NYC. Thanks for the laughs.
CHI to DNV

Anonymous said...

"Mini: It's Fun-tarded!" nice

Anonymous said...

7:57, I pity your sorry anonymous ass.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Tex,

Do you think it is ironic that Bill Clinton is in Africa lecturing people on having too many sex partners? Probably not.

Alaska is bigger BTW.

Anonymous said...

7:57, you have also done a poor job of choosing a place to expound on irony. Have another drink. It'll all be over soon.

Anonymous said...

wow... Jessica!

Ironic Psilocybin Bike...

GENIUS!

I need to build myself one of those....

Anonymous said...

sorry don't drink, no drugs, etc... I do have a pie plate but am not named after a state.

veloben said...

Anon 4:35

Optical and computer enhancement of the fender photo reveals the three heads to be Moe and Larry with what looks to be Shep behind the camera.

And I always thought RTMS was thinner.

Anonymous said...

Hey Tex,

Are you um.... available? You sound kind of cute and this place is cheaper that e.harmony. If we could just get rid of this veloben character it would be just the two of us (and the geese). Come on, you know you wanna.

Anonymous said...

I don't know... had a bad experience with geese one time. Besides, I'm tryin' to find out more about this Jessica. Hmmmmm.

Anonymous said...

snobby rides armadillos. i'm surprised

Anonymous said...

First! Yes!!

Oh wait. Ooops. Never mind.

BSNYC -- if that was you at the Bridge yesterday morning snapping pictures, please delete the one of the handsome guy next to the two female commuters, one of whom was riding a folding bike.

They didn't drop me. It was my day to work on building my base. Honest.

Anonymous said...

Shep?

Anonymous said...

Blow me tex

Pai Mei said...

While I was reading snobs post, my sister was watching some fashion thing on the idiot the box.

There was a advert about how peugeots now do 60 odd miles per gallon, not too dissimilar to the mini advert.

Pity it probably only does 60 miles per gallon when it is brand new and not sat in traffic with the engine idling while waiting while they do the school run.

Anonymous said...

Hey Tex,

I know a goose that would gladly do you forcibly with a class A fire extinguisher. Watch your back queen bitch.

Michael Lemberger said...

I ran with that group recently myself. The whole feeling of belonging got lost amid all the hissing and wing flapping though—turns out they're a little touchier on a bike path parallel to a 4-laner with 40 mile per hour car traffic.

Anonymous said...

I love you!

Anonymous said...

Some people's true colors are just plain-ass ugly! What a pity. I guess the sight of a bunch of people having fun is too much for them.

Maybe next life they'll get it together. Or not.

Anonymous said...

Hey Tex,

Make up your mind. First you dis my innocuous non-sequitur about the horny goose in a mean spirited way, then you are part of "...a bunch of people having fun..." Which is it.

I can take the hit, but it seems a bit odd. Off the meds maybe?

Anonymous said...

I am sure a great many things seem odd to you. Deep dark mysteries, and such. Oh well, good luck!

Anonymous said...

same to you beautiful

xo

Anonymous said...

I don't care for the armadillo as a rear tire but it is perfect for the front. The way I see it, I can deal with a flat rear tire, a flat front can seriously hurt. Using a armadillo on the rear seems to effect ride quality too much

Anonymous said...

"peloton of geese"—very nice touch

Anonymous said...

snob, fantastic image of marlin impaling itself on ceiling! thx. thankfully it wasn't one of the many holidays you folks enjoy as the slaughter and carnage within the gooseaton would have been horrific. not to mention the possibility that your very large tires may have lost traction going thru the bits of gore. watching the opening ceremonies this rainy morning reminds me that i have to borrow my friends truck this wknd to haul away several tons of shit that lays broken and embarrassing in my bsmt and garage. oddly, since my moratorium on the evil walmart and careful reading of tags, my home has become downright sleek. almost, well, elegant. as much due to the fact that i can't afford to buy real quality very often but when i can it's with the knowledge that it's with me forever.

Will Potter said...

“The people "going green" these days are the same people who did graffiti or experimented with homosexuality at their liberal arts college--they enjoy flirting with a lifestyle they don't understand in an environment where it's looked upon favorably, but as soon as it becomes difficult, unsafe or embarrassing they conveniently abandon it.”

BSNYC: This is the kind of writing that makes me read this site. F'ing hilarious and also a dead-on accurate statement about this trend. Love it.

Anonymous said...

'The people "going green" these days are the same people who did graffiti or experimented with homosexuality at their liberal arts college--they enjoy flirting with a lifestyle they don't understand in an environment where it's looked upon favorably, but as soon as it becomes difficult, unsafe or embarrassing they conveniently abandon it.'

Right on the spot! This will be an epic quote... This is why I ove this blog.

J.D. Hollerson said...

Was that an unwrapped handle bar in the second goose photo?

Anonymous said...

A fender?! Really! I'm speechless.

Anonymous said...

the mini is not like the curb feltside...built by bmw it is more like late 90s bike with campy titanium... the only drawback are the small rims...your just scrapping now...

Anonymous said...

It occurs to me that I rode past a guy in Prospect Park in the middle of a bunch of Geese taking pictures. He was on a bike! It was by the Lake on the backside of the park. I have a vague shadowy image of that man. Somebody get me a police sketch artist.

Anonymous said...

I was digging this blog until I got to this entry. This is ridiculous. Yes, "carfun" is a marketing ploy, sure, but there are very few cars (if any) on the road right now that get better fuel economy than a mini, a select few hybrids notwithstanding. They're small, lightweight, get at least 7L/100 km in mixed use (closer to 4.5L on the highway), and unlike the original mini, can actually get into an accident without everyone inside dying. As far as cars go, I'd rather see a *lot* more minis than Ford SUVs.

You're too lost to your cause to realize that, *gasp*, not everyone can get everywhere they need to without a car, particularly if they don't live in NYC, or have family/friends who live too far outside of the city to be accessible by bike/public trans.

Anonymous said...

I see your form and Blogging fitness hasn't dwindled as we approach the end of the season. A strong post.

Anonymous said...

you missed the point of the Mini ad. The point is that if have to have a car, and some people do, you don't need to buy some boring POS car to have a smaller carbon footprint.