Monday, September 17, 2018

Riding Bicycles Is An Enjoyable Recreational Activity

It was, you'll no doubt be delighted to read on a Monday morning as you sidle into your cubicle, a rather fruitful three days of cycling for Jörs Trüli.

I began on Friday with a jaunt up to Stone Barns on my artisanally hewned wooden Fred sled, where I partook once again in a luncheon curated from locally-grown foodstuffs:


Then on Saturday I fired up the flux capacitor for a trip back in time on the Drysdale Special:


I am well aware of how pretentious this is going to sound, but as someone who likes to dork out on local history there is something positively sublime about wending your way down to Central Park on a 70-year old bicycle.  Remember how fixed-gear bicycles were a "zen thing" and you were "totally connected to the bike?"  Well I feel totally connected to history as I lash my perforated leather ballet slippers and glide across the 170 year-old bridge pictured above.  Of course there's no good reason for this, since the bridge is so old it really doesn't make a difference whether I'm riding a Drysdale or a Cannondale, and in order to ride a period-correct bike I'd have to get my hands (and crotch) on a dandy horse.  Still, sitting atop a saddle made from a cow that was born before World War II does put you in a frame of mind in which you're more receptive to the history that's all around you.  (Also, there's an undeniable pleasure in knowing that you're riding the coolest bike in Central Park.)

But the big throwdown happened on Sunday, when--like we did last week--my son and I went do go do the cyclocrossing:


Once again I rode the Jones, and once again I marveled at how perfect it was for the course:


In fact I'd go so far as to say it offered me an unfair advantage over a regular cyclocross bike, and I'd have felt guilty if I wasn't so badly in need of all the help I can get.

And yes, that is my reflection in The Car The Bank Owns Until I Finish Paying Them Back:


(The giant hole in my navel is actually a dent in the car.)

Now you cannot unsee it.

41 comments:

wishiwasmerckx said...

Podium?

Bryant Likes said...

How difficult is it for your son to lift his bike over the barriers?

Watch and Camera Guy said...

Podium?

dnk said...

I'm nonplussed!

HDEB said...

The car/navel dent may be the most unflattering photo of BSNYC ever. My short bike ride this weekend turned into intentional bushwacking and now I have poison ivy.

Serial Retrogrouch said...

...I have a dent in my eyes!!!

Dooth said...

👀!

pbate is nearly done building and is intrigued by crabon said...

cant spell Jors Truli with out Jorts

real bike gear question since you are now an actual reviewer of many bikey things and denim gear:

those wheels on the revovo...you notice any major differences in riding those vs more affordable AlU rims on you milawakkeeee? you feel the extra watts with every peddle stroke or do they all just sort of roll pretty good in a forward direction when directed to do so?

asking for a friend that is building a bike and has never once bought nor ridden the crabon wheels.

InstantPam said...

Getting the Giordana Sagittarius logo in-to your giant navel dent must have been tricky.

BikeSnobNYC said...

Bryant Likes,

The kids raced on a shortened course that cut out the barriers.

--Tan Tenovo

BikeSnobNYC said...

pbate...,

Awhile back I switched some inexpensive Shimano aluminum wheels onto the Renovo. It's been awhile but my recollection was there was a bit of a difference but certainly not an $1,800 difference, which is roughly the price difference between the two wheels. (Also, the metal wheels braked better, which made up for the difference.)

--Tan Tenovo

Anonymous said...

Today;s post makes the perfect argument for owning a few bikes! Each one gives you a different perspective, a different ride, and a different appreciation for the bicycle.

Chazu said...

On Sunday, I felt the asphalt of a National Park Service road thrumming beneath me, and I thought of you. Wait, that sounds creepy. What I mean is that I had a noble goal in a cupholder upon my handlebars as I rolled out at 6:45am. Not exactly Hour of the Wolf, but sunrise is at 6:30am lately.

(23mm tires at 100 psi are thrummy)

Too old to carry the cx bike over any barriers said...

I enjoyed a ride on a steel tandem over the weekend - since I have the eyes I was in the front. I new experience for me as I am new to the bicycle-built-for-two. Downhills were thrilling, uphills...not so much, but it was a charity fundraiser for a local cancer treatment center so I wore my shield of smugnacity with pride.

dop said...

Forget the Jones. Ride an Electric Citibike Great for a little burst in traffic when the bikelane is blocked.

Anonymous said...

Is that an helment spotted on the lenovo ?

blunchbelly said...

For once this old guy is ahead of the hipsters on the next big thing in body ornamentation! In the old days sailors used narwhal tusks segments for naval stretchers but now they are hand crafted ceramic. Get yours at BikesnobNYC.

wishiwasmerckx said...

The bank is going to be pissed when they see that dent in their Hyundai.

Hair Furor said...

Does Stone Barns ever yell at you for wheeling your bike in there?

I had mine propped up against that very wall, and was told off in earnest.

pbate don't own no hos said...

Jors T,

thanks for that feedback for my friend building his bike.

he felt your advice was very instructive because if a dude that can afford: NYC, a wood bike, a subaru AND a garden hose wouldn't pony up that amount of cash, then he certainly ain't gonna either.

BikeSnobNYC said...

Hair,

Nobody's ever said anything to me.

--Tan Tenovo

leroy said...

I saw my first electric Citi bike in the wild today around Astor Place. I asked the rider how he liked. He said it was great.

Blog Drafter said...

There's more bulbous-isity going on in that photo than should be possible, ever.

Anonymous said...

The reflection makes it look like you have a Tony Stark type of implant.

bad boy of the south said...

The carnavel or carnival(??).my eyes.my eyes.just jonesing,i guess.

Anonymous said...

You know, when science succeeds in enabling men to become pregnant, that's exactly what the male birth canal will look like.

Now, your 'ride one bike for a whole year' resolution — you thought we'd forgotten about that, didn't you?

Might it be that you were a tad premature in undertaking that challenge, and had you waited for the advent of the Jones bike with the Jones handlebars and its Jonesy sensibilities, you could've easily (and happily) kept to that resolution on that ride?

Just looking at it, one feels that by just allowing provision to swap out the tyres when urban riding, you could create the "minimal compromise" bike for all seasons and conditions.

Mr Lobstermash said...

ironsnob

The 'dent' is keeping shards of Mavic Cosmic Carbone spokes from spreading through your body following an unfortunate DFU demonstration

cyclejerk said...

Lol, the dent is perfect. I know guy that can fix that.

Some guy from upstate said...


I see that both wee and not-so-wee Snob bikes are sporting bottle cages. Was there no run-up, or did you both just ride it?

It's too bad the kid's course bypassed the barriers - that is by far the most fun part of watching a kids CX race. My favorite technique is the "stop parallel to the barrier, throw bike over, climb over barrier, pick bike up and remount" method.

BikeSnobNYC said...

Some guy from upstate,

There was no reason to remove the cage. I did last week but it was a waste of time since I don't think it's possible to shoulder the Jones, nor would I have even if it was. (In fact in years of cyclocross I found it was almost never *necessary* to shoulder the bike.)

My son was bummed about the no barriers, though I think it was for the best.

--Tan Tenovo

hermit crab said...

Thanks for the bridge update on the bike forecast. Still no path on the TZB, and we don't even have an estimate. I rode to the western side on Saturday, because I'd heard rumors that it might be open, and it looks like they haven't started. I chatted with a construction worker who also had no idea when it would be done. Perhaps they've started on the Westchester side - has anyone had a look?

Robert Gussin said...

Why not review a drasine?

JLRB said...

That navel shot is proof of alien life

JLRB said...

QUESTION: Where did you rent a bike and what park did you visit in Portland?

(I can't find your post where you stated such about your scooter investigation)

BikeSnobNYC said...

JLRB,

River City Cycles/Forest Park!

--Tan Tenovo

JLRB said...

Thanks! Hoping to make it there if this work stuff ends early today!

Anonymous said...

Let's see.
You get paid to criticize a columnist, but get pissy if others criticize your column for free? (You don't always get a hit when you're at bat.)

Excellent work! Keep it up.

I don't think you will EVER be able to achieve Cuozzo's status,
because you have too much logic and sense of humor bouncing around in your head.
Praise Lob.
Of course, maybe the kids and a decade of hard drinking may get you there.

BikeSnobNYC said...

Anonymous 5:48pm,

I get pissy when people come to my blog to criticize the column they read for free because it doesn't happen to be exactly to their taste.

--Tan Tenovo

JLRB (who google is trying to kill) said...

Dear Tan -

As it goes, the shackles of capitalism set me free about 3:00 pm so I decided to just ride a Nike Bike share beast to Forest Park. Unfortunately, Google Maps apparently wants me dead, so it sent me up some windy beast of a climb on a narrow road to the top side of Forest Park. After fighting my way up there in anticipation of a pleasant cruise down through the trees I discovered the trailhead was for a “no bikes allowed” trail. As I made my way back down I was embarrassed to see a sign that marked the elevation at 500 feet. It felt like 3,000 feet of climb on that beast with a backpack.

Next trip I am getting a “real” bike and looking at a “real” map before I head to Forest Park.


However I did find a bar stool and some really good beer so all is well.

BikeSnobNYC said...

JLRB,

The road you want in Forest Park is called Saltzman, it's a gravelly climb and bikes are allowed. This might help you get there. (Yes, I'd use a "real" bike for that. I don't remember how much the Diverge cost to rent from River City but it wasn't much.)

--Tan Tenovo

JLRB said...

Thanks - It looks like you came down the way I went up (and back down).

River city rentals were reasonable - I just ran out of time. Next trip.