It’s that time of the month again, kiddos! Longtail it on down to the Lucky Lab at Hawthorne & 9th this Thursday, 10/16 around 5:30-ish for some great beer. Oh, and food and bikey bike talk.
If you come from out of town (like you, Mr. Snakebite), and mention this ad before I’ve already spent all my money, I’ll buy you a beer!
Note that this event is NOT for women only. Men are welcome and even encouraged!
Can you carry stuff on your bike? Like a ladder, or a couple other bikes, or a few kids, or two weeks worth of groceries? Do people look at your bike and go, Wow, that’s cool. What is it?
Well my friend, if that’s the way you roll, come on out to our first gang meeting. Yes you do too want to be in a gang - don’t pretend you don’t! This gang is being organized by the inimitable Martina Fahrner, and the first meeting will be at the Lucky Lab at 9th & Hawthorne on Thursday, August 28th at 5:00-ish. I’m not sure, but I heard that Martina will be buying beer for everyone. True, I heard it from the voices in my head, but you never know.
Here’s Martina’s original email invite, reprinted without permission:
Ok,
So I would like to arrange a BAHM (Big Ass Hauling Mamas)/PUB (Parent Utility bikes)/Xultant (xtracycle cult member) meeting at the Lucky Lab at a family friendly time (5:00 ish) on Thursday, Aug 29. What do you guys think?Best,
M
What do I think? I think it’s fantastic! I think I will definitely be there! Except that I actually can’t because I’ll be on vacation at the beach that week. Aaarrrrggghhhh! Oh well, I will definitely make the second meeting because I love hanging with my utility biker peeps, and Downtown Cupcake Brown and I love being in a gang. Plus we never turn down free beer if we can help it. Oops, did I insinuate that there would be free beer again?
How about one?
How about 2?
I don’t know how much these guys weigh, but I’m betting it’s over the 200 pounds Surly and Xtracycle say is the limit!
And yes, they are actually riding my Downtown Cupcake Brown, having a blast. This was taken at the Bridge Pedal Expo where I was volunteering for Clever Cycles as a Booth Bunny … OK, Booth Babe … all right, all right, Booth Bitch … yeah, that’s probably better. Anyway, I spent the afternoon showing off Cupcake and making Xtracycle converts. Nothing’s more fun than sharing my passion with strangers!
Oh, and by the way, these guys are 3 local frame builders, but I don’t remember which guy is which:
Did you ever wonder if an Xtracycle would fit in the back of a Trooper? Well, wonder no more, my friends: it will!
The other day, a certain someone, whom I must love very much, asked to be rescued from a too hot, too hilly and too ambitious bike ride, so I busted out the PBK (Polar Bear Killer) and knightinshiningarmored right over. Much to my amazement, the Marin Novato equipped Xtracycle fit right in the back with very little effort and no disassembly.
Look, now I have three kids! OK, they’re not all mine. But they kind of look like they match, so I could pretend they’re all mine. For half a second until their parents figure out my clever ruse. Anyway, here we all are, going for a ride around the strip mall sidewalk. There are 140 lbs of kids on the deck, 30 lbs of dog food in one freeloader, and 7 lbs of dog pee cleaner in the other freeloader. I was really impressed with how the bike handled, although I didn’t put it to a very strenuous test on the strip mall sidewalk. I was even more impressed with how all 3 kids held on, didn’t squiggle, and didn’t fight. Amazing! Life on the X is fun!
And maybe more. But of the half dozen or so bike shops I visited while I was visiting, three rocked and the rest were lame. These are the good ones, in order of closest to our sleeping quarters to farthest.
Now, I judge bike shops by how friendly and chatty the workers in them are. And how helpful. And what kind of stuff they stock. And how pushy they aren’t.
One weird thing, though, is that apparently Vancouver has no XtraCycles. No one is a dealer. No one owns one. That I saw, anyway. People were always stopping me and asking what kind of amazingly cool contraption I was riding. Naturally, I was happy to proselytize, as I am a born evangelist. Portland is where it’s at for the X, people!
Four loads, and room for tons more. The dogs are unimpressed, but I am not.
Just wanted to share.
You may know it as Beltane, May Day, International Workers’ Day, RSS Awareness Day, or maybe even One Month Till Sue’s Birthday Day. But henceforth, May 1st shall be known as Biscuit & Lightning Memorial Ride Day.
Yes, I am sad to report that Biscuit & Lightning have left this earthly paradise and are now simultaneously swimming in the great cosmic wave of unconsciousness and taking a dirt nap in the front yard.
Since Biscuit & Lightning were so beloved of our family, it seemed only natural to take their dead little bodies on a Memorial Ride. So we strapped them onto the back of the X and headed off to a nearby Pizzacato for dinner, where we sat outside and feasted while they waited patiently in their casket on the bike. Our next stop was Dairy Queen, where we again kept a loving eye on them as we ingested copious amounts of ice cream that doesn’t melt when you put it in hot chocolate.
This ride was a first and a last for little Biscuit & Lightning. It was something they never got to do when they were alive, and a real treat for them after they were dead. In fact, they enjoyed it so much that I’m thinking about doing the same thing with my dogs if they ever die.
Now that Biscuit & Lightning are buried, we can’t unbury them, so they will not be joining us on future Biscuit & Lightning Memorial Rides. Rest assured though, Dear Reader, that future Biscuit & Lightning Memorial Rides will be taken. Every May 1st, for as long as we feel like it, we shall ride in memorium of Biscuit & Lightning. If you would like to join future Biscuit & Lightning Memorial Rides, let us know, as we may consider opening the rides to the public. The first Biscuit & Lightning Memorial Ride was kept private at the request of the family, but that may change next year.
Rest in Peace, Biscuit & Lightning.
“Oh my god, Sue, I love this!”
It will be made out of a Marin Novato, and is on order from, of course, Clever Cycles. Shout out to Martina, Tyler and Todd for all their help and advice!
Last weekend (I know, I’m way behind), a guy said that to me at New Seasons. I said, “I love you,” and instantly forgave him for calling me Lady. That was the day that we took the kids on the first of many epic weekend rides. And by epic weekend rides, I mean easy little jaunts around Portland. We rode over the Hawthorn Bridge to Tom McCall Waterfront Park, had a picnic, took a couple turns through the fountain, went over the Steel Bridge, and back up home Clinton. It was a super fun day, and riding through the fountain was my favorite part.
Yesterday was National Take Your Kid to Work Day, and I took one. By bike, natch! We rode 2.6 miles there and 4 miles home. She was a trooper, and I’m very proud of her. I was on my Xtracycle, natch, and she was on her Specialized Hotrock, which is a totally awesome bike. Reminds me of my very first mountain bike, a Specialized Rockhopper. Which I LOVED. Which was STOLEN by very bad evil people. GRRRRR.
I chose a new route for this very special commute: 30th to Ankeny to 12th. It was quite lovely, and only required us to go one block on 12th to get to the office. I might start using it on a regular basis. We still had to cross busy streets without lights, but no one hurled any abuse at us.
The kid did a great job of following orders and stopping and starting when appropriate; I think she’ll turn out to be a fine upstanding Portland bike rider. Now if only I could train all the Portland car drivers…
Or so screamed the long-honking Suburban driver on Northbound 12th Ave. this morning. He seemed to have a pretty strong egoic attachment to that thought. The screaming happened as I passed him - in my own lane - when he was stopped in traffic, after he had passed me - in my own lane. Hmmm, which of us was driving according to the traffic laws? That’s right: me. Which one of us made an illegal pass? Yep: him. Who’s what’s wrong with this city? Neither of us: there’s room for everybody here.
This kind of thing happens to me most days on Northbound 12th Ave. between Hawthorne and Burnside. I’m beginning to think that driver education is what’s needed most for bicycle safety. Both automobile and bicycle drivers need educating. I could go on about all the jackassery I see bikers doing, but I think my boss is almost here, and he’s bringing me bagels this morning. Later!
Notice anything different? From the last post, I mean. YES! Good noticing! It’s the foot pegs! They’re badass, huh? And have you noticed that all the new accessories are steel? Of course you have. Steel is real, baby. As you know. Because you are smart. Real smart.
DIGRESSION ALERT!
What’s up with that radio ad that goes, “Save a buck on a truck?” One dollar is not a huge incentive for me to buy a truck. Or maybe ‘a buck’ is slang for one hundred dollars. Still not enough incentive, though. Then later in the ad they say, “save a quarter on all trucks.” Whaaaaat? Now it’s only twenty-five cents off? JMnJ, that is just not going to cut it, people! Good thing I already have the Mini Trooper and don’t need a $37,999.75 truck. Live free or drive and all that. Bicycle Lifestyle, yeah! OK, that wasn’t TOO much of a digression - I managed to bring it back around. I’m good. Just like you, Dear Reader. Real Good. Worthy of Init Caps Good.
So the foot pegs had a previous life (if only they could talk…sigh) as bar ends. Turns out they fit perfectly on the Free Radical uprights. Or would I say they’re on the H-Racks? Hang on while I go look that up…. I’m back. Looks like the proper term would be V-Rack. OK, so the foot pegs are on the V-Racks. Why are they called V-Racks? They’re not shaped like a V. Anyway, when I took the “V-Racks” off the Free Radical, I found a little rust (all of this is documented on Flickr) on their ends so I lubed them before replacing them. I put pieces of a 700c slime tube over them after installation. I didn’t know it was a slime tube until I cut it and it slimed me. It was new old stock from my drawer o’ bike stuff (slash entertainment center); I don’t have a used one. I figure the tubes will make the pegs less slippery and more waterproof. The tube ends are tucked in, then stretched back over the peg ends - they look like belly buttons. Slimy belly buttons.
My [sic] kids now have the super coolest ride in town. BMX stoker bars! These were the brilliant idea of Tim from A Better Cycle. If you haven’t been there, ride on over right now, ’cause they’re probably open. They have more hours than any other bike store in the universe. Plus they’re way helpful and cool. And cheap!
But let’s get back to talking about the coolest stoker bars EVER. I have to be careful now as I swing my leg over the bike, but it’s a small price to pay for beauty. They’re attached by a plain ole threadless stem and no shimming was necessary.
I also got a pair of bar ends to use as foot pegs, which I will install soon and very soon.
Whoever is lucky enough to get a ride on my X will be the envy of all, the belle of the ball, the grandest lady in the easter parade, and featured in the rotogravure for sure. For sure!
You know, I really do. I get to ride my bike to work every day. Three times a week, that commute includes going to Boot Camp. Either way, the air is fresh, and the scenery beautiful. The ride beautifies my mind, body and soul.
And the people! Just about every time I get on my bike, somebody stops to talk to me about it. Yesterday, I got compliments from the guy who stands on the corner of Burnside, 12th and Sandy - you may know who I’m talking about - the one with the “My wife has MS” sign. He thought my bike was pretty cool and we had a little chat about it. Then on my way home, while I was stopped at the light at 12th & Lloyd, a hot chick stopped to chat with me. Seems she has been wanting an Xtracycle for awhile, and had never seen one in person. She stood really close to me while we chatted, and she even petted me a little (oooh!). The light changed a few times while we stood there, and we moved over to let cars to go around us.
And then there’s my bike itself. That thing was scheduled for the Good Will until I finally decided to Xtrafy it. (Of course, now I know that there are better places to donate a used bike.)
[[ an aside: I'm listening to Sledge Hammer by Peter Gabriel right now, and I'm pretty sure I heard a sound that has been adopted by Survivor. I should Google that. ]]
Where were we? Oh yeah, the bike. Yep, it’s a cheapy Trek 930 that I paid two hundred bucks for 10 years ago. I never really liked it. NOW, though, it rocks. It can haul tons of crap, key components have been upgraded (saddle, grips, seat post binder, pedals, cassette) and now it’s a pretty good little (huge) commuter. I don’t think there’s much more I need to do to it except to replace the brake pads, which I’ve already bought. I was thinking about going full XT, but I don’t really have the money, and now with the new cassette, it’s shifting much better.
So, in short (not), my life is good. I have a great bike or three, a good job or three, excellent family, friends and acquaintences. I live in Portland, which totally rocks. I get to ride my bike a LOT, and in doing so, I get to seriously enjoy the journey. The journey IS the destination - that’s so true.
Sheesh. IE is dumb. Really dumb. Seriously, dear Windows readers, do yourselves a favor and switch to Firefox or Opera or Sarari. It’ll be like getting glasses for the first time!
That makes 10.5 miles on the new saddle. Is it broken in yet? It probably is. They say 50 to 100 miles, but that’s for the average person. I’m sure I’m at least ten times better than average, so my saddle’s done now. Whew, glad to have that over with.
I put Dr. Marten’s Wonder Balsam on it just now because I had it on hand. It’s a wax-based leather conditioner, likely very similar to Proofide which is what Brooks makes and sells. Forgot to put it on last night.
That saddle is so beautiful.
I love Bob Seger, but here I’m referring to my new Brooks B17 Honey saddle. Yep, it pretty much feels like riding a rock. A small rock. A small, slippery rock. Only 50 to 100 miles and it’ll break in and form to my butt! Then it’ll feel like solid muscle, ’cause that’s what my butt is. Like a small, slippery mass of solid muscle that looks hot in tight jeans with a wallet in its back pocket. Yeah, that’s exactly what it’ll look like.
Guess what?? It’s here!
I stopped by Clever Cycles today to try to get a picture of my bike hanging on their wall, waiting to be Xtrafied, but I couldn’t, BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY BUILT! Just waiting for your saddle (a honey Brooks B17) to come in tomorrow. That’s OK, I can wait one more day. So I went home and shortly later the dude (Tyler) called to say that the saddles had come in late today, but there were no honeys. Damn. How ’bout if I come get the bike, then, and get the new saddle later? Sure, no prob.
So I changed into my narrow pants, hunted FOREVER for my keys, clipped the dogs onto their super cool new Shockles Petkeepers, and took off at a run. We got there just in the nick of time, but Tyler said he would have stayed open for me, since he knew I was coming. It took us about half an hour to run there, and I’m sure it’s 20 or 30 miles. Give or take.
Then I got the down low on the BikePortland Happy Hour tomorrow at the Hawthorne Lucky Lab (hey, I just realized I can take the dogs to that … hmmm) from Martina, and the girls and I rode home at a leisurely pace, for we had earned a leisurely pace after our 60 mile sprint to the store.
Now here we are, all 4 of us crammed into my tiny little apartment. The bike is just as long as the couch! I don’t really have a place to put it, so it’ll just sit in the middle of the room for now. I had made a spot for it, but the spot is somewhat diminutive compared to the bike. But what the hell! I’ve embarked on my Bicycle Lifestyle!
Hi, and welcome to my blog about my Xtracycle. Today is Wednesday, March 12, 2008. Last Monday (3/3/2008), I took my old Trek 930 in to Clever Cycles to have it Xtrafied. Well, Xtracycle was behind in their shipping (or production?), so Clever Cycles had no stock. They told me my bike would be ready Monday, but unfortunately they had no stock by then, so now they’re saying Friday (2 days from now).
Will it be ready? Who knows. I do, however, plan to go over there tomorrow and take a picture of my bike hanging up on their wall waiting to be Xtrafied. Anything for my blog!