Thank You Corkers! Vancouver Critical Mass, June 2008

Posted on August 6, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Critical Mass, In-the-news | Leave a Comment

http://lipmagazine.org/ccarlsson/archives/2008/06/thank_you_corke.html

yaman - just look at these evil bastard corking cyclists, out for motorist blood! Violence just below the surface, ready to EXPLODE!

corking-party_3002.jpg

Seriously, look at that guy. He’s totally about to randomly go crazy on some random motorist for no good reason. Dudes clearly a knife wielding psycho (okay, it’s his swiss army knife but whatever). Cars, beware!cm-drummer_2824.jpg

cambie-bridge-arms-up_2882.jpg

Seriously, THIS is Critical Mass. This is what it looks like in Vancouver, and it’s what it looks like in Seattle. This is what corking protects: hundreds, sometimes thousands of cyclists who once a month get together to ride bikes in celebratory demonstration of community. Corking drivers who - when faced with THIS - get enraged and try to drive through them anyhow.

THIS is what they’re attacking.

The thing is, it’s such a small percentage of motorists, but damn it only takes one unfortunately, and suddenly people are hurt or killed and bikes are damaged and destroyed and newspaper articles and blog entries and court hearings and accusations fly and nobody’s better for it when it’s all said and done.

So, to all those motorists who patiently wait or honk and wave and help us as cyclists in our once a month celebration of bike culture, to all of you who daily share the road with us, who take a second and give us more than 6 inches of clearance when you pass us, who don’t speed up to pass us and then stop in front of us to turn, who understand that when we look over our shoulder 2 or 3 times that this is the best we can do to signal sometimes and let us into the lane anyhow, on behalf of cyclists everywhere, thank you.

The above images came from a most excellent blog post HERE at lipmagazine.org. Check it out. Lots more pictures and reading to be had.

This is the end I’m saying on the topic of Mass - until next month.

Onward kiddies.

In other news…

Posted on August 5, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Mechanical | 5 Comments

What the hell is wrong with me?

Before:

After:

I don’t remember if I already posted these pics so here you go.

Tell you what though - this is a fast FAST bike. Holy crap. This configuration, on this bike, is absolutely sick. (I’m referring to the bullhorns and shifters.)

I’ve got too many bikes dammit.

Onward.

LHT ordered

Posted on August 5, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Mechanical | Leave a Comment

Alright, it’s official.  I put the order in today with Nygard at Dutch Bike for a 54cm Olive, Surly Long Haul Trucker.

Bike Fit Calculator

Posted on August 4, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Misc | 2 Comments

BIKE FIT CALCULATOR

In the event you wanted to get/do your own measurements. I’m assuming this is what Nygard plugged in for mine since it came out exactly the same.

From the horses mouth:

Posted on August 4, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Misc | Leave a Comment

From: Scott Gamble
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 9:27 AM
To: surly
Subject: 54cm LHT?

I want to hopefully dispel a rumor. I’m looking to purchase a 54cm LHT in green. I’ve heard from 3 separate bike shops here in the Seattle area that Surly is out of 54cm Long Haul Truckers, and these shops have been back ordered for months. Is this true?

Thanks

Scott Gamble
http://sweetbike.org

Subject: RE: 54cm LHT?
From: Eric Sovern <xxx@surlybikes.com>
To: “Scott Gamble” <scott@sweetbike.org>
Date: 08-04-2008 9:59

Scott,

We have 54cm Olive Long Haul Truckers in stock – both framesets and complete bikes – and they can be ordered any time by your bike shop.

I would recommend Freerange Cycles, Counterbalance Cycles, or Recycled Cycles for all of your LHT needs.

Thanks,
Eric Sovern
Surly Bikes

 

And that answers that. No more worrying on that front.

Incidentally, this is what I wrote back.

—– Original Message —–
Subject: RE: 54cm LHT?
From:  Scott Gamble <scott@sweetbike.org>
To: “Eric Sovern” <xxx@surlybikes.com>
Date: 08-04-2008 10:20

Awesome.  Those are the 3 that told me they’d been backordered for months!  And Greggs of Greenlake.  I’m ordering from Dutch Bike out of Seattle.  Dutch Bike is the new black.

Thanks
Scott Gamble

http://sweetbike.org

LHT - test fit

Posted on August 3, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Misc | Leave a Comment

So, guess what.  I test rode a 56 again - this one was built more for a guy like me.  And you know what?  It was too big for me.  The standover height was too tall - the top tube was right against my junk.  Actually riding it was fine, in fact it felt pretty damn good.  But yeah, that standover was killin me.  It’s not the frame that did it, it was the frame plus 700×36 wheels.

So, a 54 it is.  It’s going to have a damn 120mm stem on it though.  Damn.  Hope this isn’t a mistake.

Oh, and a nasty rumor two separate bike shops have told me.  That Surly is out of 54cm frames.  This sounds totally retarded.  I understand a retail shop running out of this size or that size - but the manufacturer?  COME ON.  Thats fucking retarded.  You mean they didn’t realize that everyone and their mom is buying 54’s (it’s a very popular size) and they just FORGOT to produce that size frame?  Or, are they saying that they produce every other size under the sun but somehow have lost the capacity to build 54cm frames?  Does this make sense to anyone else?  Surly might live in Minneapolis but the mfg plant is in Taiwan or wherever.

Anyhow, I guess we’ll see.  Sounds silly to me.

In other news, because this is my touring bike and because this is insurance money - I splurged a little bit and ordered this:

The Dinotte 200L-AA-S

Product Features

Product Description

Dinotte’s traditional bar or helmet mounted light uses standard rechargeable batteries. This light allows cyclists of all levels to have a high powered solution that is affordable and flexible. Battery flexibility is a big selling point for 200L AA series lights because battery replacement is available from most electronics stores: (2000mAh AA rechargeable batteries or lithium disposable are recommended). O-rings hold the light engine securely to any handlebar, even if it’s not completely round. Helmet mounting is also an option providing the rider will mount both engine (85g) and battery pack (120g) on the helmet.

 

—

 

In other news, Dead Baby was Friday night.  I’m still hung over from it and gathering pictures will be a little difficult since I forgot to bring my phone, I documented with camera phone and Monica’s digital camera, so I have to get them all together first.

 

Anyhow, I’m tuckered out.

 

Onward.

Surly Long Haul Trucker Here I Come

Posted on August 1, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Mechanical | Leave a Comment

So, with my insurance settlement I’m purchasing a Surly Long Haul Trucker - a steel touring bike to carry stuff with. I’m pretty excited. My friend Chris Nygard is the service manager for Dutch Bikes. Dutch Bikes is a smaller younger shop who recently got their Quality Bike Parts vendor certs in place (QBP owns Surly) - and I’ll be their first Surly order.

I went in and Chris took my official measurements just to make sure the sizing was going to be right - as I usually ride 56cm bikes and figured I’d be looking at a 56-58cm (my friend Ro has a couple 59’s that fit me surprisingly well). I’m dropping what I consider serious money on a bike and figured, why not. Could be interesting. And lo and behold it was. This is what he sent me in email:

Your Measurements
——————————————-
Inseam: 80
Trunk: 70
Forearm: 34
Arm: 56
Thigh: 62
Lower Leg: 53.5
Sternal Notch: 145
Total Body Height: 177


The Competitive Fit (cm)
—————————— ————-
Seat tube range c-c: 51.8 - 52.3
Seat tube range c-t: 53.4 - 53.9
Top tube length: 53.2 - 53.6
Stem Length: 10.9 - 11.5
BB-Saddle Position: 68.4 - 70.4
Saddle-Handlebar: 51.8 - 52.4
Saddle Setback: 5.3 - 5.7

The Eddy Fit (cm)
——————————————-
Seat tube range c-c: 53.0 - 53.5
Seat tube range c-t: 54.6 - 55.1
Top tube length: 53.2 - 53.6
Stem Length: 9.8 - 10.4
BB-Saddle Position: 67.6 - 69.6
Saddle-Handlebar: 52.6 - 53.2
Saddle Setback: 6.5 - 6.9


The French Fit (cm)
——————————————-
Seat tube range c-c: 54.7 - 55.2
Seat tube range c-t: 56.3 - 56.8
Top tube length: 54.4 - 54.8
Stem Length: 10.0 - 10.6
BB-Saddle Position: 65.9 - 67.9
Saddle-Handlebar: 54.3 - 54.9
Saddle Setback: 6.0 - 6.4

Now, to explain it all. I lean way more toward the Eddy and French fit than the Competitive fit. The Eddy fit is based on Eddy Merckx’s fitting style. The French fit is based on brevet and randonneuring riding positions. The more being comfortable for long rides is important, the more you should look for a frame sized like the French fit recommends. The more being aerodynamic and going really fast are important, the more you should look for a frame like the Eddy fit recommends.

This said, lets look at the Long haul trucker.
Size Top Tube
(Center to Center)		 Top Tube
(Effec.)		 Stand Over
54 CM cm 54.0 54.95 55.5 79.31
56 CM cm 56.0 56.44 57.0 81.22
           


A quick note about stand over from Surly:

Standover height for the 26″ model is based on a Primo Racer 26 x 1.25″ tire that measures 628mm in diameter.

Standover height for the 700c model is based on a Rivendell (Panaracer) Ruffy Tuffy 700 x 28 (actually closer in size to 700 x 32) tire that measures 690mm in diameter

I mention this because the 54cm uses 26″ wheels and the 56cm uses 700c wheels. You will gain about 1.5cm on your inseam measurement with shoes, but even so, the 56cm is going to be close for standover height clearance. Even so, the 54cm seems like a much better fit for the top tube and stand over height. The seat tube c-t measurement in the French and Eddy fit are comparable to the Size of the Long Haul Trucker. The full specs are here: http://www.surlybikes.com/longhaul.html

So, by the numbers I come out closer to a 54. Didn’t see that one coming. I figure between a 54 and a 56 it’s a wash because I’m sorta inbetween them, so wheel size was the decider. 26in wheels are stronger, but 700’s are standard, and all my other wheels are 700’s. After debating it for a few days, and talking about it over on .83 I think I’ve decided to stick with 56. In green. But I’m going to start exploring smaller frames to see if theres any validity to this sizing. Sorta threw me for a loop.

I dunno. I’m still tossing stuff around about it. More to follow.

So. Full. Of. Win.

Posted on July 31, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Misc | Leave a Comment

It’s going to be one of those days.  :D

Dead Baby!

Posted on July 31, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Dead Baby, Events | Leave a Comment

It is coming.

http://deadbabybikes.org/raceshit/racenow.htm

Start: registration 5:00-6:45pm
El Chupacabra
6711 Greenwood Ave N
High on Phinney Ridge
Race at
7pm sharp!
down to
the Greatest Party
Known to Humankind

Need a bike part made?

Posted on July 28, 2008
Filed Under Bike Kwak, Misc | Leave a Comment

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/07/big_blue_saw_has_a_free_p.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890

Big Blue Saw, a leading online retailer of machining services, announces the first Free Part Day, allowing everyone to receive a custom machined metal or plastic part of their own design. On Free Part Day, August 6, 2008, customers across the Internet will be able to design and create their own custom plastic or metal part.

During Free Part Day, a customer might, for example, order a tailor-made aluminum nameplate, a specialized lifting arm for a hobby robot, or a custom sized plastic decoration. The shape of these parts is limited only by the customer’s imagination.

“This represents a great opportunity for people to find out about Big Blue Saw’s machining services by offering everyone a way to get a free plastic or metal part of their own design,” said Simon Arthur, founder of Big Blue Saw. “We are also proud to present Free Part Day to our loyal customers as a thank-you for their patronage.”

Big Blue Saw is on the cutting edge in the new field of digital manufacturing services. Its customers upload their designs for anything their creative imaginations demand: model aircraft, decorative craft tools, robotic rovers, or movie prop replicas; Big Blue Saw then turns the designs into physical parts using robotic manufacturing machines including waterjet and laser cutters. Customers have the flexibility of having their designs come to life in a range of materials ranging from aluminum to stainless steel to plastic.

keep looking »