City wandering. No map, since it wouldn’t really be worth it. Over Stanton Avenue, into town, back up Penn, then a few laps around Highland Park. Good news: the legs felt pretty okay after yesterday’s thrashing. Bad news: the drivetrain sounds worse. So much for the fancy carbon cranks. I’m resurrecting the Truvativ ‘cross cranks with a new ($20) bottom bracket and bigger chainring. I’m sure the frame will appreciate the non-carbon cranks, too–those things, with the MASSIVE axle, caused the frame to flex like a wet noodle.

Additionally, the Surly has gone through another round of changes.

Gone is the basket, hopefully to land on a winter beater. I purchased two Banjo Brothers pannier (waterproof and market models) for my stuff and the laptop case. We’ll see how I like not having the weight on the front wheel.

Posted on 7 October 2007

Smackdown!

Yeah, so the temperature is hovering in the mid 90s, and Stuart and I are riding mid-afternoon, so what do we do? Ride four Dirty Dozen hills. Whee! These were all new to me (with the exception of Tesla/Flowers, which I’ve ridden down). Let’s break them down by hill, eh?

High Street/Seavey
I didn’t have much of warm-up heading into this, and I could feel it. The hill itself isn’t terrible, but I was working my upper body far too hard–my arms were more tired than my legs. But really, it wasn’t bad. The switchbacks give a bit of respite, and allow a slight break in effort.

Logan
My riding partners said this often considered the most difficult hill (Canton, of course, is steeper, but is also very short). Logan starts with a “gentle” pitch that then suddenly gets steeper. And steeper. Despite being not much more than a goat path, there was actually traffic on it, and because of it, I simply flat-out lost my concentration on the steepest bit, and had to stop. It was odd, really–it wasn’t as if I was completely knackered, but suddenly my mind veered just enough for legs to say “m’kay, we’re done here.” I assumed this didn’t bode well for the remaining two hills.

Suffolk/Burgess
I’ve driven up this particularly nasty stretch before, and I really wasn’t thrilled. The bottom bit is the steepest, and approaching Burgess, there is a brief flat section. This proved critical, as I focused my way up the bottom, then slooooowly bounced over the cobbles to the top. Things definitely clicked during the climb–I managed to keep my upper body movement to a minimum and stayed focused on the bit of tarmac in front of my wheel.

Flowers/Tesla
This hill was going well, until in my oxygen deprived state I nearly didn’t see a car coming (I was weaving across the steepest bit) and had to ride into the weeds. Ooops. I was close enough to a side street to push a few feet then remount and continue. I wouldn’t put this scalp on my mantle, but at least I didn’t have to shoulder my bike as on Logan.

My legs are tired.

Posted on 6 October 2007

Posted on 5 October 2007

Interbike 2007, the bicycle industry tradeshow, has just finished, and there has been much discussion about what the industry will be releasing in the coming year. As expected, there is a growing niche market for commuter or utility, with Quality Bicycle Parts leading the way with their Civia line. The Alfaline-equipped build (which, as far as I’m concerned, is quite a nice bike) will apparently retail for roughly $1000, and this upsets some people. Doug Fattic posted a message to the BOB mailing list praising QBP for producing the bike, as it is a fine commuter with everything a rider would need to commute year ’round (dynamo lights, full fenders, internal gearing, disc brakes). Some folks, however, don’t like the bike, saying that $1000 is a lot for a bike, and that a nice used bike can be found for under $300 and work just as well.

I am very much in Doug’s corner. First, not every city has a quality used bike shop. Pittsburgh lost PA Mountain Exchange many years ago, and while we have Free Ride, it’s unlikely that you can walk into Free Ride and find a “quality” used bike that doesn’t need a bit of love. Additionally, spending $1000 on a bicycle that would likely replace either a public transportation pass or a car is nothing. Keep in mind, the cost is front-loaded, so it seems like quite a bit of money. But consider, if you drive daily, the cost of gasoline, insurance, parking, and routine maintenance. Suddenly, $1000 isn’t much. In fact, assuming that bike will survive at least a few years of regular commuting (even with shop maintenance, which might add an additional $100 a year), you will clearly come out ahead.

One response pointed out that many companies (KHS and Kona, for example) are offering inexpensive “urban” commuters for under $500. Indeed. These bikes may be perfect for a year ’round commuter, and would be perfect for, say, a fair weather commuter, but they are less expensive than a Civia (or a Breezer) because they are not kitted as well. Say you spend $500 on one of these models. Most lack a rear rack and a lighting system. A dynamo system, if you build/rebuild your front wheel, will still cost at least $200, if not more. Add a rack, and the various costs (both tangible and intagible) of maintaining a derailleur’ed drivetrain, and you’re approaching $1000.

Again, this isn’t to say a bike like the KHS Urban X-Press isn’t a good buy for the average commuter. In fact, it is a very good buy. For under $400, you get a bike with a rack and fenders. But, consider this. In parts of Europe, specifically the Netherlands or Denmark, where a greater percentage of the urban population gets around by bicycle, the average classic Dutch city bike is nearly $700. Yes, that isn’t small change for most of us, but again, consider how the costs should be compared to driving or even paying for public transportation.

Posted on 3 October 2007

I was recently invited by the editors of Comment to join a symposium offering advice to recent college graduates on being called to live and work in the city. My contribution can be found here, and the entire collection is here. I am humbled to be included in a by-line with folks like Calvin Seerveld, David Miller, and Al Wolters, and I am grateful to Gideon and Dan for the invitation.

Posted on 29 September 2007

It’s raining at the moment, and we’re sitting in Miguel’s taking advantage of the free internet access. The current gallery of photos is available here

Posted on 27 September 2007

As expected, the USADA found Floyd Landis guilty of testosterone doping during the 2006 Tour de France. Landis can still appeal the decision to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport, but at this point he must be thinking “why bother.” The UCI acted swiftly today, stripping Landis of his Tour victory, thus passing that mantle (whatever it is worth a year after the fact) to Oscar Pereiro. This, of course, means that we must listen to Pereiro lament that he couldn’t wear the yellow jersey in Paris:

Upon the announcement that Floyd Landis had lost his arbitration and received a two year suspension for testing positive for exogenous testosterone in the 2006 Tour de France, the soon to be declared winner of that Tour, Oscar Pereiro told Radio Marca that he hoped to get official documentation of his victory.

Pereiro said he hoped to get the official notification “witnessed by notary public” since he was not able to “leave Paris with the yellow jersey”. Pereiro said he was “very content with the news after fourteen long months of delay”.

Pereiro did not want to belabor the point, but mourned the many beautiful moments he could have had if he would have been crowned the victor in Paris that July. However, he said “it is necessary to be positive and to see that within ten years it will be wonderful to remember it”.

It should be noted that the only reason that Pereiro is in this position is due to, well, stupidity on the part on the peleton, as they allowed the Spainard to get 30 minutes (!) up on the road on them. Had it not been for Landis’ “miraculous” ride, Pereiro’s win would have likely been asterisked with a big “D’oh!”

Landis is facing a minimum two year suspension (and possibly two more). Is he guilty? Humm. It is apparent that the French anti-doping lab may have played a bit fast and loose, but several witnesses (among them Greg LeMond) painted a dark portrait of Landis.

Posted on 20 September 2007

Short Kittanning Loop

A blown tube just past the 62nd Street Bridge cut the ride short a bit–my intention was to ride out Middle Road. I seem to be drawn to hills when I ride the geared bike. As I approached the intersection with Kittanning, I thought, what the heck? and pointed my bike up the hill. It felt pretty reasonable, what, two miles in the ride, and I spent most of the time grinding out of the saddle. The Bianchi still has an annoying knock in the drivetrain (I was apparently awaiting a miraculous fix, since I haven’t done a bit of work on it), which I am now convinced is the crank set. I suppose I’ll live with it though, since the rear wheel needs to be replaced in the very near future. I’d also like the swap the stem, and perhaps the bars. The stem is just too long, at least for my tastes. I’m also considering using a moustache bar with bar ends, since I need to replace the cables anyway.

Posted on 17 September 2007

(No map, since I’m lazy)

Out Freeport, to Fox Chapel Road, up Squaw Run and along the length of Old Mill. I went with a bit of Rivendell-ish setup–the fixed gear, with basket and Carradice saddlebag, plus flat pedals instead of the usual clips ‘n straps. Generally not bad, but without foot retention it was difficult keeping up the spin on the downhills. I think the ideal lazy-ride setup would include the clipless pedals. I could see sticking with the platforms if I could coast, but again, it was difficult to control the drivetrain on the descents.

Old Mill is a swell road. Narrow, twisty, rolling, plus a section of gravel at the end. Definitely worthy of inclusion on a longer ride.

Posted on 16 September 2007

For an upcoming piece in Comment (hopefully). For the record, this is the first time I’ve actually worked in a cubicle. And we’ve started to use Picasa to hold some of our photos since we’ve maxed out our Flickr account.

Posted on 8 September 2007