Sunday, June 16, 2019

Tune In Turn On Get Dropped

Well, they haven't kicked me off the radio yet, and today I'll be on at 10am talking about kids, bikes, and kids and bikes:


I'll also be talking to Henry Cutler of WorkCycles, makers of my personal Smugness Flotilla:


Henry was my guide on my trip to Amsterdam, which I wrote about in my third book, and we'll compare our school drop-off routines as well as marvel over the fact that in the Netherlands kids can ride on their own by the time the're like 10, whereas in America you've basically got to lease a Hyundai just to cross the street.

Also, awhile back I mentioned I divested myself of the Ritte Rust Bucket, and I'm pleased to announce that it is now part of the Classic Cycles collection on Bainbridge Island, WA!


This is all true, by the way:


The Ritte and I had a good run, but once my new-to-me titanium road bike entered the stable the trusty Rust Bucket could sense it was now the old nag destined for the glue factory:


Not only is the bike pictured above refreshingly bereft of rust and sweat stains, but it also rides beautifully, and having now logged a few hundred miles on it I've come to the conclusion that all that crap I've been hearing over the years about the marvels of titanium is totally true.  In fact, I like this bike so much it may very well have ruined me for my other road bikes, because my brand-new plastic Fred Sled now feels harsh and jittery in comparison.

Anyway, given the Ritte's storied and dignified history, it only seemed fitting to re-home it with the museum.  There, it joins the Renovo, and just as soon as I earn my first billion I'll endow that esteemed cultural institution with an entire wing in which to house them.

Speaking of my plastic bike, I headed out to race it yesterday in the predawn hours.  It was raining when I rolled out at like ass-thirty or whatever it was, and as I seem to do at least once a year I found myself slipping off the back almost immediately, like an elephant seal slathered in Vaseline and trying to climb a water slide.  This was mostly because, you know, everyone else out there was much stronger than me.  But another factor was that, as I hit the first descent, gritty wheelspray hitting me in the face, all I could think about was Phil Gaimon's recent tweets and how I really didn't want to spend Fathers Day on a gurney.  You know, you can work with not being strong enough, and you can work with bad weather conditions, but combine the two and you're asking for trouble.

After all these years you'd think I'd have learned the most important lesson of park racing by now:

If you wake up and there's any rain at all, go the fuck back to bed.

Oh well, there's always next week.

25 comments:

Diefree said...

Poido? Unlikely

Billy said...

The writing on Classic Cycles is pure gold. You should do a collabo with them.

Anonymous said...

Sunday post. Snuck up on everybody.

Freddy Fredrickson said...

Glad you're enjoying your Tuscany. I had one of similar vintage. It convinced me that titanium was potentially great stuff, but that particular frame was always really noodly. Each to his own, though, and the worst case scenario is you have an upgrade to look forward to.

Andy in Germany said...

"marvel over the fact that in the Netherlands kids can ride on their own by the time the're like 10, whereas in America you've basically got to lease a Hyundai just to cross the street."

I can't speak for the NL, but here there's a test at about eight and after that kids can cycle to school unsupervised and are covered by the schools insurance.

HDEB said...

Cool to hear Snobby on the radio! I'm too scared to let my kids ride in the street. "We do not let kids make mistakes on the streets" -- so true.

Serial Retrogrouch said...

...I finally caught you on the show live! Great show, Wildcat. You're getting better at the radio stuff with each show. Now I gotta come up with an excuse to leave my calendar free of meetings at 10am Mondays.

...I want to know when David Byrne is going to be your guest.

Anonymous said...

Here in Bend, Oregon kids are racing before the age of ten.

Anonymous said...

“I've come to the conclusion that all that crap I've been hearing over the years about the marvels of titanium is totally true. In fact, I like this bike so much it may very well have ruined me for my other road bikes . . .”
Come on, surely there is a bit too much vertical compliance in that description. Where’s that laterally stiff snob attitude?

“in the Netherlands kids can ride on their own by the time they're like 10, whereas in America you've basically got to lease a Hyundai just to cross the street.”
Amazing, isn't it?
In the early 1960s, my friends and I bicycled to school as soon as we could handle our coaster-brake-equipped steeds competently, certainly by second grade and maybe first. The one-way trip was 0.9 miles (just now checked the computer map). If it rained, we walked. Glorious times they were, before the siege of the SUV.

Anonymous said...

Trying to make a one time donation to support the Bike Snob radio show, and the WBAI web site not not let me your show. Tell those commie pinko lefties radio heads to get their act together.

(Also your callers make me feel young.)

wle said...

get DByrne - that kids on bikes thing put me to sleep -

wle

Anonymous said...

"They're not going to get killed unless you kill them."-to Steve from Nyack

GOLD Tan Tenovo, GOLD.

Diefree said...

Did you read? Is it for real?

New York lawmakers to legalize e-bikes, e-scooters

seatosummit said...

At least the Bike Snob does not have to to test ride the dreaded PINARELLO DEATH TRAP--the time trial bike that caused Chris Froome to crash while doing a recon of the course in France and break most of his bones.
The uber-cool racing sites can not possibly talk about how dumb it was, risking the most successful highest paid rider in the world on this piece of CRABON crap.

It takes no account of the need to sit up and still be able to steer and brake.
Check out the video and you can see that the bars and brakes are so low they are too far away from the rider unless he is hunched down in the super scientific aero position.

Hey, you or a kid could have beaten Froome and his mega-stupid bike on this course by walking around the course!
Peter Marsh
seatosummitpm@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Until the introduction of the cell phone one could almost argue the no bikes on Sidewalks thing, but now No one on the streets are safe (even the drivers in their cars!)
I agree! I ride where the most practical (and safe) place is, Street, Sidewalk, Parking lot, trail; whatever. But, honestly I try to ride in a fashion that makes sense to me while still non impeding motor vehicles. every once in a while I get in a jam, but generally it's caused by me reacting to something someone else in a motor vehicle did.
Important thing to remember and as you said try to be considerate of others. When I am riding my E-cargo bike (for example)it goes Double. When encountering other bike path or trail users I generally slow down to a super slow unthreatening speed, wave, say high, etc. All those things that a slightly anti-social person like myself has trouble doing, but I think are important.

As a recovered Crabon bike rider I was really sort of surprised that you bought (acquired) another one!? Honestly, I figured a Stainless steel bike rider was already predisposed to buying a titanium bike!?

Titanium is sweet though; I kinda put it out of my mind when I bought my Stainless Steel bike, but now you've got me thinking about it again. Damn you! You're the Devil!!
-Masmojo

Anonymous said...

love my Moots. Prefer it to carbon and steel and al-lou-min-e-um

Steve Barner said...

Just yesterday, my mind was wandering as I was riding a pre-2000 Litespeed Classic. I realized I was going 16 mph in the big chainring at the top of a small climb for which I typically drop down to the 39. Nothing noodly about that bike at all.

Every roadie should have a carbon bike, for when they need speed; a steel bike, for when they want to keep it real; a ti bike, for when they want to spread it smooth; and an aluminum bike, for when they want life to suck.

Adam said...

Just wanna drop in to say, damn, that's a really good title.

JLRB said...

Firstly, I finally had a chance to listen to the latest ray-d-o show - I miss the days of biking with my son to elementary school. I have mixed emotions about his teenage wanderings on bike with his friends - mostly thrilled that he uses his bike for local transport; minority freaked out that he's going to make a bad decision and get punished by the unforgiving motorized beasts. Fortunately the burbs where we live have fairly calm streets, some bike lanes (and lots of silly sharrows).

Secondly, any plans to race on the new-2-U Ti bikecycle?

Bod said...

Recently got back from a trip to Japan. Cycling on the pavement is de rigueur and no one bats an eyelid. Everyone respects everyone else and it works.

guiatem said...

"now you've got me thinking about it again"

I found a Litespeed Ultimate for a good price and size and pulled the trigger. I wonder if I can make room when your new Jones arrives.

Last time I had someone convince me of getting a bike it was Sheldon Brown. Consider it a compliment.

Chazu said...

Listening now.

Ford will stop making all passenger cars except for the Mustang at some point in the near future. Their reasoning is that trucks and SUVs are in such high demand, and their profit margin is so high, that there is no point in manufacturing cars, even "full size" cars like the Taurus.

I suppose my point is that, as a nation, we're still moving in the wrong direction.

cyclejerk said...

Just took delivery of a Radwagon ebike. Grocery getter/cargo bike. Doin’ muh part, I guess...

courierpop said...

well thanks for putting that image in my head...

James Lantz said...

So what are the benefits of titanium versus aluminum or steel?