Thoughts On Cat6 Racing

Cat 6 racing defined, ( Cyclists have a joke about “racing in cat 6,” which, despite the name, is not exactly a race nor does it refer to an official category of cyclists. Cat 6 refers to commuter cyclists, and racing each other to work is their sport. Also called “the great commuter race” and “hipster racing,” cat-6 racing is the unspoken urban tradition of trying to go faster than, and not get passed by, a stranger on your bike. )


I would tend to agree with Rivendell Bicycle Works article Tips for Happy Riding  " If you see another rider approaching you from the rear and trying to catch you, let it happen. Fun is more important than fast."


Truth is that we should not be strangers and there is a place to race, I have had an experience like this here 


Check out more of the list here , I personally copied it into a document and checked off what I have done/know.

First Impressions (Free Spirit)

Today it felt like riding a BMX bike the way to work and back, it felt like I was doing the grasshopper.
I should have taken a longer test ride.
Alas, this bike has great potential inside, and hopefully I will unlock it within the next couple months.
This bike was definitely worth the $20 that was paid for it.
I could see some bar-end shifters, a brooks, and a brake upgrade in the near future.
Still rides better than the crap you buy at Sprawl-Mart or Bullseye.

My Christmas Bike

This is a bike I got for Christmas from my wife.
It is a Free Spirit , distributed by Sears.
If I were to guess I would say it's late 70's early 80's.
This is a lugged steel frame, north road bars, ten speed.

Needs a tune-up bad. Found on Craigslist $20

Winning Best Comment

I was sooo excited that I won the best comment left from the Kickstand virtual alleycat, It was very fun
the most fun I have had on the web since Charlie the Unicorn.
Still more, Rick Smith himself emailed me.

Riding In Snow

I have a Raleigh DL-1 that I lovingly call Victor. He is only bike that I have with fenders, So it is the only one that I ride lately.
This bike has Rod Brakes  these suck, especially in the cold and snow, if you have a rod braked equipped roadster don't ride it in the snow PLEASE! 
If you are indeed crazy like me be prepared to not stop.
However there are some benefits of riding a bike like this, i.e. these bike are dead smooth and really stable. It is so beautiful riding on an empty road covered in snow.
I do recommend taking your bike out on a fresh snow covered road or path, this is an experience I would love to share.

One More Creation

This is my latest creation, Aaron. Aaron is actually older than Victor but he doesn't look that old. Tell me what you think, did I pull off the pathracer look?

Meet Aaron

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before you ask, yes it's fixed.

Heart Song

It is that perfect cup of coffee, that first breath you inhale when you step outside, it is taking the moment to stop and appreciate simple things and find joy in them, it is the sound of your breath, your heart beating, it is your heartsong. That inspired me to create the headbadge for my wife's bike.

Sometimes I Never Learn

It happened again after my own math lesson I have managed to rip my chaingaurd off again! URGHHH!
If anybody has a solution for solving this please let me know.
Oh, and Happy Hanukkah for any of my Jewish readers out there.

Puddles and Ponds

I was riding to work, I got to one of the roads I turn down, and....
    When I ride in the wet I don't avoid puddles that often, I don't get wet!
My light is not good, and if it was I don't think it would have helped much.
So splash, the puddle was actually a pond! This body of water slowed me so
much I almost fell. This body of water also managed to soak me right before work, in Converse no less.

Victor Has Company

I was shocked, the large bike rack at work has been pretty much empty all summer and fall, except today.
Today I noticed another bike, a department store model yet another bike. Whoever rides it must work second shift. They let out at 12:00 AM and no lights so I think that their car broke. Sad but more than likely true.

With all that said here is a pic of tonight.

a little grainy.

Thank You ( Something you don't hear driving )

Cyclists have to share everything, share the road with cars, and paths with pedestrians.

I grew up in a more rural area than the small city I live in now, and never had to contend with any of this.

I remember first moving to Johnstown, and amazed at all the people honking their horns all the time at the intersections. I was very frustrating to me, still is.

Then there is the bike bell, much more pleasant sounding, and more subtle, alerting people of your presence,

instead of blasting a loud noise saying "outta my way jerk."

I found out yesterday and today that people actually appreciate the bell, I always thought of it as an auto horn, 

but alas it is not.

Thank you, thanks for the bell.

How often do hear that driving?

When It Rains, It Pours

Just a friendly math lesson:

+

=

Class dismissed 

Chains

" Are you going to put chains on that thing? " Seems to be the most popular question asked lately,
mean while I am the only person who bikes to work. First I would say " Yeah, right?" as if I will need chains
for the upcoming winter, Now I have been asking if they put chains on their car. ( that they warm up for a half hour in their driveway until they are ready to leave) It seems that the colder it gets, the more people think I am nuts, and I think they are nuts, like my neighbour, he gets picked up (score +1 for carpooling) to go a block away to work! (score -4 for laziness) I used to love in the summer on the trail, I would be getting on my bike, he the truck, I would pass him, and then see the truck pull into his work. Ha, I still beat him, two legs vs. eight cylinders.
My question is: Are people that lazy that when they see you doing something active, they want you to stop?
 I have drawn my conclusion from comments like " Don't you have car?" and the like, What are you experiences feel free to share in the comments below.

In-Laws

Today was a beautiful day in upstate New York, my wife and decided to go on a short ride.
We would have went on a long ride had it not been for us letting my parents use our van. (We could have hauled our bikes to a longer trail)
So I asked Alyssa to call her parents and ask if they wanted to join us, they said yes.
This is one thing really appreciate about my in-laws, their health and willingness to do active things. (polar opposite of my folks)
We had a nice meander out to Mayfield (10mi. round trip)
I really wish that my parents, especially my Mom would start taking better care of herself.
I can't remember one time when my Mom did anything active with us, even when I was a kid.
    On another note, I realize the need to get some more pictures up, the Moses transformation is happening soon and I will try to photograph some of the progress, if not the outcome anyway.

Friday, Bike Friday

The second time I have seen the Bike Friday guy, He snuck up behind me then passed me pedalling quite
quickly, my slow and steady cadence in third on Victor soon was ready  to pass him.
Immediately he shot up a short cut, I stayed steady, and still beat him (if he was trying to shave time)
The steady cadence technique I learned from Moses(my fixed gear), it pays, I don't get worn-out or terribly out-of-breath.

Day One

It was the first commute on my DL-1 (Victor) since the big ben(d)
So far so good it hasn't bent yet, but it is only two rides thus far.
This doesn't mean I am not looking for another bike( I have found one, and might try selling something to get it).
I have been easy on it, unloading the front over bumps( surprisingly easier than you might think, even on that monster)Well I hope all works out for me and Victor.

Trial One

Well, I didn't have enough money with Christmas coming to buy a `61 Rudge with dynohub on CList for $60.
I have very little money, so I attempted to fix my forks on Victor(DL-1).
I removed the brakes then the wheel,( I don't know why I forget to take pictures) removed the fork (yes the bearings went all over) flipped it upside down on the floor and stepped on it, checked the brake clearance, repeated.
After I had bent it back as close as I could, I placed the fork in my oven at 550 degrees Fahrenheit, for about an hour then turned the oven off and let it cool slowly in the oven.
I will post updates on whether it works or not.

The Best Photo Entry Yet

In following EcoVelo's photo contest for a while this has got to win the award for funniest so far...

EcoVelo � Blog Archive � Philippe Mal�part’s Photo Contest Entry

What to do?

My beloved Raleigh Tourist (Victor) is no-longer in commission.I had noticed a while back having to adjust my brakes and my fender scraping the tire a bit.
I didn't think anything of it, I just gave some tweaks and was on my way. Last night I noticed again that my brakes were not working right. Today on me way to work there was a screeching noise and it felt harder to pedal. This afternoon  the noise was even louder, and then I hopped a curb and a brake stirrup popped out
the tire really scraped this time.
Any ideas?

It is the Weekend

I am finally going to post a picture of my wifes `72 Schwinn.
I recently finished it last weekend, don't mind the big-butt saddle, I'm going to replace it soon with the original.