Don't have a cow, man.

Firstly, further to yesterday's (second) post, a commenter said this:

fresquinho said...

"At times, [he] is brilliant, as in his famous bike lane video. Other times, he's kinda douchey"
-- bikesnobnyc, on Casey Neistat.

My thought about this post. What's with the cow dissing?

June 18, 2013 at 8:10 AM 

Did someone really just try to call me out for "dissing" a cow?

I think they did.

Well, not only do I have no regrets about "dissing" that cow, but I also have no problem doing it again. Hey, cow, what do you have to say to this?


Nothing, that's what.

Because you're a cow.

Secondly, further to yesterday's (first) post, let's geek out a little bit.

Here's the original "PressFit 30" to BSA adapter I had in my Fredcycle:

It's a SRAM or a Truvativ or something.  It was working fine, but even so I had replaced it with this because it said "Well that's smart!"

It may be smart but the crank kept wiggle-waggling in there even after troubleshooting with them over the phone.  So after posting yesterday, even though I had more important things to do, I re-replaced it with one of these:

I also moved the compact crank from my plastic bike to this bike.  I installed the compact crank on my plastic bike shortly before the Rapha Gentlemen's Race, and not only was I glad I did, but I am now a compact convert forever.  I used not to like compact cranks, but then two things happened: 1) It used to take me 20 miles of flat riding before I got to the hills and now I live in the hills; and B) I got older and smarter and slower.  They say your body renews itself every seven years.  I don't think that's actually true, but if it is, the person who used to ride around on a 39/23 disappeared about two bodies ago.

Anyway, once everything was done I took the Fredcycle out for a short ride:

The wiggle-waggle is gone and the bike seems to be happy again, but time will tell.  I have decided that I do not like the PressFit 30 at all, though if this particular configuration continues to be satisfactory I will simply suffer the occasional out-knocking and in-pressing of extraneous plastic hunks and continue to enjoy my Fredcycle as long as I possibly can.  Mostly, I just want to be able to retire my old plastic bike once and for all, because the person willing to ride around on a bike that can't fall gently without having to be inspected by a dealer disappeared about a body ago.

Speaking of Casey Neistat (I sort of was earlier in an oblique way), he made a new video and it's a good one:



Though if his own bike is so uncomfortable I'm not sure why he doesn't just change it.

Also, I'm not sure if it's fair to dismiss the New York City subway system by saying, "Generally I don't like being underground."

Really though, I'm just being douchey (remember, I'm the kind of douche who "disses" cows--stupid, fat, dumb, delicious cows) and I liked the video--though not nearly as much as this Daily News story:

But only because the Daily News intern is totally wearing her helment backwards:

This picture tells you pretty much everything you need to know about America, where we can't even get the illusion of safety right.

I'm surprised we actually manage to point our guns away from ourselves as often as we do.  In fact, we're probably better at shooting each other in America than we are at waving at each other:

I mostly mention this article because I'm quoted in it and I'm obsessed with myself, though I should add that even though I'm "pro waving" in the most general sort of way, I don't understand this feeling people have that they're entitled to receiving one.  I mean, sure, if I'm putzing along in the countryside and it's a nice day and my bottom bracket isn't pissing me off and I see someone on a bike coming the other way and I'm in a good mood and they're not a triathlete I'll probably wave to them.  And sure, on the rare occasions I actually pass someone I always wave, because Freds are idiots and if you don't do that they think you're trying to race them and you wind up with a wheelsucker for 15 miles.

But what about those head-clearing rides?  You know, the ones when straining up that climb is the only thing keeping you from committing mass murder?

Come on, you know how it goes.  It's a shitty morning.  You got laid off yesterday.  Your husband, wife, or life partner is angry at you.  There's no toilet paper in the house.  Your child just kicked you in the nuts or the vulva, depending on how you're equipped.  The cat's scratching the arm of the sofa, because cats suck.  The dog's just being a fucking idiot, because dogs suck more.  So you go for a ride. It's the only thing you have left in the world.  It's just you, your bike, the scenery, and your thoughts.

Then some Fred going the other way has the temerity to be annoyed because you didn't wave to him?

He's lucky you didn't kill him!

But yeah, I generally wave, unless I don't feel like it, in which case I generally don't.

As for the cows, you can be sure I always give them the finger.