Monday, October 13, 2008

Down With Gears, or Down With Gears: Figuring Out What to Ride

Like the portentous groundhog on February 2nd, I have emerged from my hidey-hole after a prolonged period of introspection.  However, unlike the groundhog, I did not contemplate the weather.  Instead, I looked deep within myself in order to decide which road bike component group to buy for next year.  Each morning I'd awake upon a pile of straw, perform my daily ablutions, eat my one and only meal for the day (a thin gruel served to me in a wooden bowl by a child from the village) and set about comparing the prices and component weights of the various offerings from Shimano, Campagnolo, and SRAM until the sun set behind the mountains.  Finally, on the seventh day, after much soul-searching, the answer came to me like one of those old MTV News updates with Kurt Loder.  The force of the revelation was such that I spilled gruel all over my meditation smock, and I burst forth from my hidey-hole with plastic in hand, ready to purchase the parts that the cosmic Kurt Loder had intoned to me in his smug monotone.  However, upon reaching the spartan bamboo hut which housed the village's only internet cafe, I made the mistake of checking in with Fixedgeargallery first, where I found an image that completely shattered my resolve:


Could it be that the cosmic Loder had misspoken?  He had quite clearly bidden I purchase a Microshift group from the Secret Website (though for reasons he assured me I was not yet enlightened enough to understand he also insisted I use a Modolo Morphos lever for the left only), yet here was this masterfully-executed bicycle beseeching me to "fu¢k gear$."  Confused and disillusioned, I slunk back into my hidey-hole and sulked until I remembered something Sheldon Brown had written in his bicycle glossary:

The "gear" of a bicycle relates to the mechanical advantage of the whole drive system. ... The gear of a bicycle depends on the ratio between the sizes of the front and rear sprockets, and the size of the drive wheel.

So despite the owner's disdain for gears, he does employ them, as you can see below:


Of course, it was possible that the owner simply meant to decry multiple gear ratios on a single bicycle and that he didn't have room for that on his handlebars.  However, upon closer inspection, I realized this bicycle did provide for different gear ratios as well, since it had a cog mounted on the front wheel:


So this bike does have plural "gears," regardless of how untenable some of them might be.  It also has a scorching case of hipster cysts:



Should you encounter this bicycle, I strongly recommend you wear gloves while handling it lest these cysts spread to your own bicycle as well.  (Or, worse yet, to your oral or crotchal region.)

Speaking of which, the giant crotchal region that is New York City is teeming with cyclists of all kinds.  As such, the New York Times has seen fit to wipe its monocle off on its shirt-tail and turn its aging journalistic eye on the city's bicyclists by putting together a whimsical little "field guide:"  



You may remember that not too long ago I posted a mass-email request from a Times reporter who was putting together a piece about "who rides what in the city, and why."  Well, it wouldn't surprise me if this were the very piece that reporter was putting together.  (Especially because it is.)  Here are some highlights:

Andrew Valentine, above, says his look is "kind of very English."  Well, I'm sort of completely nauseous.  He also says that he's an "anachronism," though I'm not sure he's using the word correctly because it doesn't mean "pretentious fop."  Also, his look doesn't evoke Evelyn Waugh (whoever she is) from where I'm sitting (which, since it's Monday, is in a leather massage chair in my underpants).  It does, however, evoke someone else who's not English and who is not so much anachronistic as he is timeless:

You've got to admit, that's uncanny.  I mean, it's completely without can.  (And yes, I know Evelyn Waugh was a man, just like George Eliot and Virginia Woolf.)


Sure, this may be a fluff piece, but the reporter has unwittingly gotten quite a scoop with this profile.  I've long suspected that New York City's seemingly endless supply of overpriced "vintage" bicycles comes from vast crappy bike reserves in the Midwest, and it's somehow vindicating to see this confirmed in print.  I only hope that this supply is being mined responsibly, since should the junky bike fields of the heartland run dry it would be a shame to have to go to war with Canada or something in order to keep the urban cultural elite rolling in squeaky, rusty, steel-rimmed, environmentally friendly style.



Sure, buying a $13,000 Pinarello to "ride in the park on Tuesday and Thursday" might seem excessive, but keep in mind that she also did a "charity ride" on it recently.  She doesn't say which charity ride, but if she used the Campagnolo Boras it was probably the 2008 Bike MS ride where it takes a combination of aerodynamics and light weight to finish with the leaders.  And while one can only hope she was as generous with her charity as she was with herself, I'm certain that she gave no charity or quarter to the thousands of other riders on inferior bicycles she left gasping in her slipstream.

Fortunately, though, it doesn't take $13,000 to experience the unbridled joy of riding a carbon fiber bicycle in New York City.  Thanks to the alchemists on Craigslist, you can simply turn your current steel, aluminum, titanium, or bamboo bicycle into carbon for under $1,000:

TRANSFORM YOUR BIKE INTO A CARBON FIBER ROCKETSHIP for $999! (Douglaston, Queens)
Reply to: [deleted]
Date: 2008-10-07, 12:17PM EDT

New Carbon Bikes are Fast and Comfortable, BUT very expensive ($2,000-$5000)!

Consider the ultimate solution, so you can:

- RIDE FASTER WITH less effort!
- RIDE FURTHER in more comfort!
- AND CLIMB hills better!

...over a steel, composite or aluminum frame bike!

OUR CARBON FRAMES ARE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! CARBONADO MEANING "BLACK DIAMOND", name chosen to represent the look and weave our very special carbon fibre parts.

For $999, WE WILL TAKE THE GOOD PARTS FROM YOUR EXISTING ROAD BIKE (seat, handlebars, wheels and groupset) AND TRANSFER THEM TO OUR HIGH QUALITY MONOCOQUE CARBONADO CARBON ROAD FRAME. This $999 SPECIAL includes a new carbon frame, new matching carbon seatpost and new carbon fork with all the associated "retrofit" labor included.

And..this service includes TUNE-UPS FOR LIFE at our bike shop on your new carbon bike to assure your satisfaction.

We also have a your choice of matching quality carbon stems and handlebars to make your fit just perfect!

Here is also an ideal opportunity to tweak your fit just right if you feel your existing frame is too large or small.
Please use the horizontal tub tube size comparison as your intital fit guide, go to:

HTTP://www.carbonadobike.com/geometry.html

THE ATTACHED PHOTO IS A RETROFIT TRANSFORMATION OF A GIANT OCR3 ALUMINUM BIKE TO A NEW CARBON FIBRE ROAD BIKE.

Thanks for considering,
THE CARNONADO BIKE CORPORATION!

E-mail or Contact 516-[deleted] to discuss your "retrofit" and make an appointment.



Interesting.  I didn't realize that simply moving your parts from one frame to another was considered "retrofitting."  But I do have to admit that telling your friends you're about to do a full carbon retrofit sounds way better than just saying you're doing a parts swap.  It was unclear to me from the ad whether they also offer "crabon" as an option, but judging from the sign-off at the end you can get "carnon."  (I believe the tubing heirarchy is carbon at the top, then crabon, then carnon.)  I'm pretty sure at this point that instead of saying "fu¢k gear$" I'm going to have these guys retrofit my Microshift/Morphos group onto a Carnonado frame.  That should please the cosmic Kurt Loder.

118 comments:

Pavel said...

BANG

ant1 said...

ant1st!

mess talker said...

good post

Critical Ass said...

ass1st

Anonymous said...

welcome back!

ant1 said...

Good to have you back snobby. Work's been all work-y since you left.

Anonymous said...

top 10...

Anonymous said...

HELLOWEEN!

Anonymous said...

Top Ten!!

Nice Long Post.

Yeah!! I crashed.

Anonymous said...

In Ohio we're beginning to notice a drop-off in our supply of Schwinn Varsities but we've still got plenty of early 90's Treks with elliptical chainrings.

Critical Ass said...

29 degrees this morning. My right brifter froze for the first 3/4 of my commute and I only had the choice of 52/19 and 39/19. But I made it here on time. Fuck gears.

Anonymous said...

Don't be such a hater. I love my gears.

Anonymous said...

Damn I didn't realize how much I loved this blog til it was quiet for so long. It's like reading crack.

urchin said...

Ahh, the smell of fresh Snob. I'd almost forgotten.

Why'd you have to put in the spoiler on Evelyn Waugh, though? I was going to enjoy a little wager on how soon and how often his (reportedly tenuous) manliness was asserted by the irony-deficient commentariat...

I'm nonplussed.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! Shimano, Campy and Sram are nice and all, but what about the other major players in the roadbike gruppo world? (Sampson and Sunrace of course!)

http://www.sampsonsports.com/comp_groups.php

http://sunrace-sturmeyarcher.blogspot.com/2007/10/sunrace-driven-2008-product-preview.html

Anonymous said...

I had somehow managed to forget all about Kurt Loder. Thanks, Snob, and welcome back!

Luck E. 7 said...

I love that story...


A

Mike J said...

Great Post. Welcome back.

Mike

www.mikeonhisbike.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Even bikes are gettin' nuck tats, and that front cog is like the saw blade the guy from W.A.S.P used to wear on his balls.

nuck/tats

W.A./S.P.

Unknown said...

What about the new FSA group!!!???!!!

Benzo said...

Thanks for commenting on the hideous Masi Speciale Fixed from the FGG. I own one myself and love my bike, and to see the monstrosity it had become made me vomit a bit on my mouth.

I have a feeling it belongs to a highschool student somewhere who has parents with a little too much money.

Anonymous said...

Dude, that's you in the red plaid shirt isn't it, admit it.

i'm talking to you BSNYC.

Anonymous said...

Good to see that the NYT got that whole cycling figured out with such accuracy.

KanyonKris said...

knuckle tattoos -> sharpie scrawling on bar tape

plastic surgery -> Carnonado frame

(thanks for the lead-out, anon 12:11)

Anonymous said...

That weekend warrior woman... WOW.
She's wearing an assos jacket, which retails for about $385 usd.

BikeSnobNYC said...

Anonymous 11:58am,

Alas, the Sampson and Sunrace groups are just the Secret Website group with some carbon. (Or maybe it's crabon.)

--RTMS

Anonymous said...

Carbonaro - YeeHA

Unknown said...

I wonder if the guy in the plaid from the NYT feature realizes that manual cars have multiple gears.

erik k said...

all hail the cosmic eye of Kurt Loder

Jeff said...

Carbonado means "black diamond"?

...and all this time I thought it was a nasty disease that coal miners die from.

ant1 said...

Kohl just tested positive for CERA.
Dopestrong!

Anonymous said...

I bless your Waugh with my crabon shitter.

kale said...

...On the non-ironic Orange Masi bike, is that the camera angle or the axle spacing that makes the blue Rubino rub against the fork? It must be set up all asymmetrical like a sprint car for making those hard turns on the velodrome possible.

Obviously someone didn't get the memo that there is a difference between a front and rear axle.

Brendan said...

Thx for the laughs! I have to admit that as predictable as the NYT piece was, I really thought it could've been far worse given the request for material you received earlier. Did it look like a catalog (JC Penny, etc.) to anyone else?

Anonymous said...

I actually got rid of my seat and put an expletive along with the word "seatposts" on my handlebars.

Anonymous said...

I just got a razor scooter and put "fuck" on it.

http://www2.jsonline.com/alive/image/scooterbig090600.jpg

Anonymous said...

Snob,

NYT also published "Buried in the Bailout". A peice on bicycle commuting. No comments?

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/buried-in-the-bailout-the-bicycle-commuter-act/

MINGUStheMECHANIC said...

...another example of why the times is crap, glad your back so I can stop reading other blogs that ride your coat tails.

I like the carbonara too, a pork filled frame!, I was imagining some mystical process where the guy with the shrunken head at the end of beetlejuice waves a bone and voila your frame is instantly filled with pork derived products, damn, obviously for you snob and your peeps you can get the kosher frame, I'll have to request the tofu.

Anonymous said...

Very long post, English not so good to read all at one time. Will read later. Until then will go and Fofonov.

See, I make American funny too.

Unknown said...

Actually, "Carnon" is a term that derives from the Spanish "Carne", which means, as any post-ride-burrito-eatin' cyclist can tell you, means it's made out of meat.

Anonymous said...

As one of the rare owners of a Masi Speciale Fixed, I feel the need to apologize for that monstrosity.

Now I know how my black friends feel about OJ.

Scott said...

Fuck multiple gear ratios on a single bicycle

There, I said it

AnnaZed said...

Jesus man, how did the NYT end up with 2 Schwinns in one tiny 4 person look at NYC cycling. That's crazy!

Anonymous said...

Wow, that NYT article was positively nauseating in it's self-importance.

They omitted one important group though: the "Old Guy on a Bike". Strictly a Trek man, matched with the Khaki shorts, white socks, toe clips, fanny pack, helmet mirror and bright yellow windbreaker, the OGOAB just screams cutting-edge style.

Anonymous said...

BSNYC --

Welcome back!

But you know, you're not fooling anyone.

That FGG Masi is obviously a before picture of your ironic Orange Julius bike.

And the epithet scrawled along the bars has nothing to do with cogs.

I mean, why would the scribe use a"$" instead of an an "S" at the end of the sentiment?

It's quite clear that your bike's former owner was a delivery guy for Frederick's of Hollywood.

Or maybe Rock and Republic.

Anonymous said...

I really want one of those carne asada frames, so I did as the add said, got my horizontal tub size. It's 60 inches. I'm not sure how that will help them size my bike, but for that price, I'll get what ever they need.

Anonymous said...

HEY!!! the MASI - those pictures are of two different bikes. The side picture is different from the front view - different handle bars and front wheel. Unless I've grown hipster cysts over my eyes. . .

Anonymous said...

Boxers or briefs, snobby?

And if you're into leather, well I say, 'crack that whip'.

Just maybe not too close to the crotchal region.

Anonymous said...

"I wonder if the guy in the plaid from the NYT feature realizes that manual cars have multiple gears."

That is the first thing I thought of. Many people these days ride fixed for the same reason that they would use an automatic transmission in a car - shifting too daunting.

bikesgonewild said...

...i would suggest, sir, that you save a little money & speak to hans-micheal holczer about buying one of the slightly used gruppos that kohl or schumacher used in this years tour...

...don't imagine they'll be using them for a while...maybe hansy will throw in a case of gerolsteiner...i hear that german water's got some real "get up & go" to it...

ridethewomble said...

Orange Masi - Nice Range Rover behind your fixie. ...and what is that next to it, an Escalade, a high-end GM SUV? A Benz?

Yeah, you're straight from the skreets, homie.

It's tough living in a squat on the mean streets of Annapolis, with only your affectations and a stable of luxury cars to keep you company.

Fu¢k Gear$, indeed.

stream of nothing said...

welcome back snob.

STERLING POST.

I too suspect all orange (coloured) bikes to be yours.

Anonymous said...

I think the Masi is referring to the cog and chainring choice.

Miche indeed...

Anonymous said...

What a week to go away, BSNYC! Have you heard the latest Fofonov news?

Anonymous said...

As a British Cyclist, can I deny that we all cycle round in retro bikes with long scarves and tweed clothes. The most popular bike in the streets is a battered MTB whose brakes stopped working 8 years ago, and the clothes you wear is "whatever you had on at the time". People with money splash out on toys with bisk brakes, but we still avoid the silk scarves as they tend to get caught in the front wheel. As for tweed, it went out of fashion in 1952.

Anonymous said...

That Masi is sooo lame. First off the deep section front wheel would be way more effective on the rear as your legs create turbulence notice the 100mm stem on the 60cm frame??? So typical of the fixie crowd. There always ready to show everyone how little they know about bikes.

Anonymous said...

Fuck gears!

Such an obvious solution for an overly complicated life, why have I not thought of this before?!

This week, I am going to drive my truck all around town in first gear. Who needs the hassle of a variable speed transmission! If the single-speed truck works out, next week I will cut the brake lines so I can arrogantly proclaim to anyone who will listen,"brakes are for pussies!"

Anonymous said...

http://www.uniwatchblog.com/2008/10/13/cant-stop-the-rock/

Run down of all the Rock Racing kits over on the uniwatch blog... pretty awful stuff!

Anonymous said...

another piece of marketing genius:

CANNONDALE TRACK BIKE FIXIE MESSENGER HIPSTER Item number: 120316563586

Description:
- All aluminum tight geometry bike
- 52 cm seat tube center to top
- 53 cm top tube center to center
- Upgraded steel forks ( not drilled for brake )
- Purchased from Junior National champion as his winning bike.
- Track ready hipster ok



ZERO BIDS! HIPSTER OK!

Anonymous said...

dont get the point of trying to fuck gears its like you would get your dick caught in the chainring and it would hurt like hell

kale said...

If you didn't figure out already that the most spectacular bikes on fgg post their evolution:

OG post

Looks like it was brand new 7/08, and that the Dura Ace wasn't good enough for SoCal.

However, I'm not so sure it's the worst thing ever?

It makes me sad because it reminds me how little money I have to spend on my track bike parts. Let alone build something only to destroy it a few months later.

And what's with all the Masi owners (Haro, Inc.) flying the University of Florida colors?

$$$$ > Sense

Critical Ass said...

Kale,

Thanks for the link. Now I can make my bike look all distorted without the nasty side effects from all the PCP.

Anonymous said...

If anyone knows how to build a wheel with those kind of spokes let me know.

Drew said...

Kale,

I think Masi's trying to evoke the brand's relationship with the powerhouse Molteni team, whose bikes were painted orange and blue. When Masis were actually made in Italy. And ridden by Merckx and Motta and the like.

Anonymous said...

While the ad copy for the Carbonado is a joke, its most egregious fault is the price. Now that we all know that all carbon fiber comes out of the same factory in Southern China -- just go here:

http://www.pedalforce.com/online/

Camp Cupboard said...

What a poser. If he really meant it, "Fu¢K Gear$" would be tattooed on his knuckles/thumb.

Anonymous said...

As the furry old fella said once he had parted the clouds.... May those without guilt cast the first stone. That fixie boy should be pelted into oblivion. Hed wheels, batshit orange bike, drop track bars, incorrect seat angle considering bar angles. At least he will be sufficient numb that the concept of propagation is beyond his dulled brain and equipment. Is a fedora a female version of the fofonov.????

Wow I am about to stalk the weekend warrior, Bora wheels on a Pinarello Prince clad in Assos and if those shoes are white sidis then the deal is over … be quite my beating heart. Frills you might have lacy under garments but this gal has hard curvy sexy carbon

Anonymous said...

Mr. Pandy:

I hope that cougar knows how to use her claws...
...sugar mama prospect?

Anonymous said...

She could call that Prince her Little Red Corvette…. Just hoping… gggrrrh. Watch for me in the charity rides coming through the pack in search

Anonymous said...

Wow... $13,000 USD for a bike you only ride 2 days a week. That's about $700,000 of our recession dollars! She could buy a couple of small European countries at that price nowadays.

Anonymous said...

AP, I'm crushed!

Truth be told, if I thought she'd let me ride her bike every once in awhile, I'd consider making a play for it.

That thing is almost worth more than my bike AND car.

Anonymous said...

Hey Frills even a gal with your undeniable assets can see that she has all of the right equipment… it is all about havin the right gear for the occasion as wasn’t that the gist of today’s topic

Anonymous said...

Pinarello = bonus prize for whoring your soul as a pharmaceutical rep.

Anonymous said...

Geez, then I must be a one trick pony cuz admittedly my bike's a total POS. I can't imagine it being right for too many occasions.

Anonymous said...

Truth be told, it was probably the Treviso Mafia that placed that advertisement in the NYT. See what happens Snob? You see what happens when you turn down a "legitimate" news source (NYT Style Section)? They went down their list of sources until they got someone willing to do it, Bicycling Magazine! The author still had some credibility by not putting something about a Land Rover in there somewhere.

Anonymous said...

“[B]y and large," the fixed-gear flannel guy tells us "I’m a loner.” How he reconciles that with moving to the largest and most densely populated city in the country---where he joins a white-hot trend---is beyond my ability to understand.

billy said...

You mean you are completely nauseated, not completely nauseous.

Anonymous said...

http://carbonadobike.com/cages.html

Anonymous said...

POS? that was my bike last year, now I have a POS-SL, and looking at POS Red for 09, but I can't decide between crabon, carnon, or carpet fiber. Since it's all made in south China, it's really calbon fibel anyway.


Thanksgiving in Canada today, followed by national idiots eve to night and full morons day tomorrow, also known as the national election. I can't sleep in anticipation. We had roast beaver today in the great tradition, then we re-enact the war of 1812 in full costumes with staplers. I tell ya, almost 200 years later, and Americans in Buffalo are still frightened of guys in red coats and beaver pelt hats with loaded Slimline executives. Don't tread on us, please.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Valentine is a notable case.

Anyone else thinking he's more PG Wodehouse than he is Evelyn Waugh? Wooster incarnate. Even Wodehouse admitted that the world he wrote about never could have existed.

And by the way I would have podiumed but it's Thanksgiving in Canada. Burp. Excuse me. Pass the turkey carbonara.

Unknown said...

Can whoever murdered the front wheel on that Masi please learn what a "Dishing Gauge" does, and why one should use one.

Anonymous said...

Frilly, with undergarments such as those, you are forgiven a POS bike.

Anonymous said...

The things you learn on this site. This is what keeps me coming back. I now know the difference between ablution and ablation. Thanks, Snobbie.

Anonymous said...

I'd hang around longer, but I need a good night's sleep. I gotta go pick up my new bike tomorrow morning.

Like around 20 minutes before sunrise.

Anonymous said...

pasta-

thanks, another park tool I don't have...

Advocato said...

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/877714478.html

Anonymous said...

Fuck gears

Anonymous said...

Andrew Valentine needs a Rapha silk scarf to complete the Brit in NYC uniform, then he could be classified as a FOB...fucking obnoxious Brit

Commie you're another politically apathetic Canuck, get out and vote, if you don't you can't complain for the next 4 years, even if Jack is your hero.

Anonymous said...

Oh Snob, how I missed you.

Critical Ass said...

Ah, yes...whoring for Pinarellos. I scored this one
while working as a child prostitute back in the 80's.

Philip Williamson said...

Ah, erudition and pedantry, the Bert and Ernie of education.

My favorite thing about Masi Boy is the fake graffiti on his mom's house.

Ev said...

You just did me a solid, dude. Great post after a week of inactivity. Vacation is awesome.

Anonymous said...

stevel@3:40

There's a name for the silk-scarf-in-wheel injury: Isadora Duncan Syndrome.

streepo said...

A cosmic Kurt Loder? I think i just puked on my crabon carne asada. I will however be in Central Park 20 minutes before sunrise. New Prince, here I come!!!

Etoro said...

Kim on The Pinarello rode the "Tour de Pink" sponsored by Hershey's to raise money for the Young Survival Coalition. An organization that supports and raises awareness of the ever rising rates of Breast Cancer for women 40 and Under.

No race, but Frankie Andreu and Mari Holden rode it this year as it started in Hershey, PA and finished in NYC

kale said...

mela 10:49-

Sold, I'll take it!

It better have at least 8 hotdogs in the seat tube, because it looks like it might smell that way.

On the other hand, I'll just come down there and steal it...

Anonymous said...

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/878155782.html

....I can't tell if this is fake or if it's in recession dollars...

cp said...

Time off has served you well, BSNY-San. This post is a gold mine.

Anonymous said...

Vote Jack Layton? oh please. It's ironic you consider me apathetic and then assume I'll vote for either Curly, Larry, or Moe -there are more than three parties on the ticket. I'll enjoy that extra freedom until the inevitable Harper majority. Because eight years of right-wing rule in the south was such a good idea.

Ellie May at least rides a bike, sure, it's the three-wheeled adult "special person" bike, but at least she has the proverbial balls to be seen on TV, unlike our buddy Jack, a closet bike rider who knows that to win the 905, one cannot appear to be bike-friendly in any way, and even consider a national bike registry.

kale said...

Century!

Anonymous said...

Rather than F*CK gears, I'm thinking F*CK environment would have been more appropriate: Check out the Land Rover in the background of pic #2.

ice cube said...

Nice Land Rover and thanks for leaving dad's boat shoes in the pic! I guess I can understand, somewhat, of where this guy is coming from. An obviously affluent residence in a neighborhod no doubt chalked full of Madone, Cervelo and the rest of the lot and in an attempt to stand out this harbinger of gears struck out against the flock. The front wheel with gear is really something else though...Perhaps this is our friends way of holding onto a little something from the past? I wish a SRAM cassette was lodged in there instead. Or better yet a Campy.

bk jimmy said...

And in a vain attempt to reconcile the fuschia diamonds on the front wheel with the otherwise orange bike, he has added additional garish pink accents. Which makes for an eternal squid/whale struggle, aesthetically speaking.

But who doesn't love a "9/11 Truth Now" spoke card!

Jim said...

Eudora Welty!

Anonymous said...

I'm a day late due to the observance of whatever holiday yesterday was, but this carbonara retrofit issue has caused an existential crisis b/w me and my bike. Snobby, if I can swap out the frame for some meat/pasta product and still call it my bike, what is it that makes a bike a bike? If just one part is the same does that mean my bike is still my bike? Does that mean my bike can somehow reproduce by recombining with other parts and somehow all of these new parts will still be my bike? Can I go reclaim other "bikes" that have parts from my bike and rightfully assert that they are my bike too? In short, what makes a bike a bike? Is it the frame? The seat? Help!

UpstateMTB said...

It's surprising that the Giant ocr3 "Carbondo" is the same shape as the original Giant OCR3 frame? did they perhaps plaster it with some Bondo that looks vaguely like "carbon"? Hmmmm?

Mark Featherman said...

I think that dude on the Bike is Floyd!

Anonymous said...

Commie

Jack is a closet bike rider? He makes a better used car salesman in my mind.

Ellie May gets my vote, strategic or otherwise.

Anonymous said...

That Pee-Wee dude is too much.

Good enough for "Nuts in NY"...

http://www.nutsinny.com/all-nuts/pretentious-cyclists-i-know-you-are-but-what-am-i

Thanks,

DD @ NINY

Anonymous said...

front cog... speechless

Toby - Northern Light Blog said...

I'm English, live in a foreign city and ride my bike to work, and I most definitely do not look like that arse!

Anonymous said...

Its a cane creek track v. a set of wheels where the nipples are at the hub not the rim. next time dont make assumptions about my bike asshole.

Anonymous said...

Whats's Up i'm fresh to this. I stumbled upon this site I find It positively useful and it's helped me loads. I hope to contribute and aid other people like its helped me.

Thank's, Catch You Around.

Anonymous said...

Hey i am fresh to this, I came upon this message board I have found It extremely accessible & its helped me out tons. I should be able to contribute and aid other users like its helped me.

Cheers, See You About.

Anonymous said...

Greetings i'm fresh on here, I came accross this website I find It amply accommodating and its helped me tons. I hope to give something back and help other users like its helped me.

Thanks, See You Around

Anonymous said...

Whats's Up i'm new to this. I came accross this forum I find It positively helpful and it's helped me loads. I should be able to contribute and assist other users like its helped me.

Thanks a load, See You About.

Anonymous said...

Hiya i'm new on here. I stumbled upon this chat board I find It absolutely accessible and it has helped me loads. I should be able to give something back & guide others like its helped me.

Thanks a load, See You About.

fredericksof said...

Whether you’re feeling spicy or good this season, Fredericks of Hollywood lingerie, sexy costumes, jewelry and a lot will add a spiciness to your vacations. Fredericks of hollywood