BSNYC Friday Fun Quiz!

In many places, this weekend marks the start of the cyclocross season. Personally, I couldn't be less prepared. Not only am I still deeply immersed in cantilever brake adjustment (I'm trying to dial out that barking seal sound), but I'm also using last season's skinsuits:

(Photo via Stevil Kinevil of AHTBM)

It's important to remember though that there are more important things than equipment, even when it comes to bike racing. Cyclocross may involve barriers, but those don't need to include barriers to entry such as costly crabon frames and wheels. Sure, Ben Bernanke says the recession is over, and sure, we're all choking on money all of a sudden, but even so you may be better off just grabbing any bike with sufficient mud clearance and hitting the course. For example, you could just slip this sweet ride spotted by a reader (complete with cantilever brakes) off of this headless parking meter:

Or, if you're too lazy to lift a bike (in which case you probably won't like cyclocross) you could just roll this bike (spotted by the same reader) away, since the only thing keeping it in place is the weight of the u-lock:


Then, just wash it down, tune it up, and count your savings:

Though you may want to work on your bike-handling skills, which you can apparently hone by skateboarding and delivering plants:

Speaking of irritating obstacles, I'm now pleased to present you with a number of formidable mental obstacles in the form of a quiz. As always, study the item, think, and click on your answer. If you're right you'll know it, and if you're wrong you'll see this messenger bike thief beatdown remix.

Thanks very much for reading, ride safe, and watch out for barking seals and portaging chickens.

--BSNYC/RTMS

1) Which celebrity's "on a roll" on the Lower East Side?

--Lindsay Lohan

--Ashey Olsen

--Mary-Kate Olsen

--Soleil Moon Frye

2) This bike is called:

--"The Food Coop Bike"
--"The Yoga Bike"
--"The Smugness Bike"

--"The Organic Express"

3) What's going on here?

--Someone's heading out for some DIY boating in the Tub-tanic

--Smug Xtracycle riders have taken the "Xixi no Banho" PSA to heart and are now carrying portable showers for urinary purposes

--Smug Xtracycle riders are saving water by removing all bathing facilities from their homes

--Cara's movin' a tub

4) GoGirl (exhibiting at Interbike) is a product that:

--Allows women to urinate while standing up
--Allows men to urinate while sitting down

--Allows men and women to urinate in the shower

--Allows men and women to urinate in their bib shorts

(Possible hipster dog team spotted by a reader in Portland, OR)

5) "Urban mushing" may be The Next Big Thing.

--True
--False

6) This may very well be the world's most expensive set of chopped handlebars.

--True
--False

7) "Get with it!" The Cushman trend has been in full swing since at least:

--2007

--2006

--2005

--2004

8) "Who stole the soul?" Which is not a quote from a recent VeloNews article about the Campagnolo factory in Vicenza, Italy?

--"some of the more labor-intensive products...are now made in a 200-person Campagnolo factory in Romania"

--"supply-chain issues require Asian production"

--"the factory exudes Italian passion and pride"

--"there is very little odor inside"

9) What is the price of this "purple awesome fixie" on Craigslist?

--$2

--$20

--$200

--$2,000

***Special Entrepreneurial Bonus Question***

What are "Streetwrapz?"

--A new healthy sandwich offering from Arby's

--Decorative frame wraps for fixed-gear bicycles

--A new line of fixed-gear-themed condoms

--A new line of adhesive bandages designed specifically for urban cyclists