Citizen Rider

Old Fart on Fixed Gear

Citizen Rider — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:48:00 GMT

A young couple came through on Saturday riding back to Boston. The woman, on a Trek hybrid, had some shifting problems. While my associate worked on that, I discussed route options with the two riders. The woman said, "avoiding hills would be nice...(read more)

Egg Ride

Citizen Rider — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:22:00 GMT

We buy our eggs from a store eight miles away in a part of town called Taylor City. The state line runs right through it, so one side of Route 153 is Maine. If you ever wanted to see the arbitrariness of political boundaries, this is the place. According...(read more)

Good News from Surly

Citizen Rider — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:14:00 GMT

According to an email I just received, the new batch of Cross Checks will be shipped with uncut fork steerers. This will make adjustments to front end height as easy as can be. I can't wait to see the new rear dropout they mentioned on their blog...(read more)

The $12,000 Beater Bike

Citizen Rider — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:00:00 GMT

A wealthy summer resident dropped off his Seven Odonata at the end of Labor Day weekend. "Give it a complete overhaul and anything it needs," he said. With all that titanium I worried that I might not be able blast some things loose. The bike...(read more)

Snot Rockets Alfresco

Citizen Rider — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:01:00 GMT

Allergies or a cold slammed me in the sinuses early this week as I hurried to stuff the season's firewood into the shed before heavy rain moves in this weekend. The bottom of the pile in the driveway had gotten moist and moldy over the summer. I could...(read more)

Dude, that's what the "do Not Disturb" sign is for

Citizen Rider — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:53:00 GMT

A man in Scotland has been arrested for allegedly having sex with his bicycle. According to a story on the BBC News Service , a 51-year-old man was surprised in the act by housekeeping personnel at the hotel where he was staying, after he failed to answer...(read more)

The SERT, my guilty pleasure

Citizen Rider — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:50:00 GMT

When daylight gets short after summer's end I risk riding the Sorry Excuse for a Rail Trail on my way out of town in the evenings. For the past couple of years, traffic has dropped way off as dusk encroaches. This year I started earlier, though, so...(read more)

Exploding Rims and Derailleur Hair

Citizen Rider — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:38:00 GMT

Yesterday this wheel came in on a mid-1990s Gary Fisher. The rider reported that it exploded AFTER he had completed a precipitous descent. "I felt a thump-thump-thump and stopped, but the spokes were all tight, so I started up again. A minute later...(read more)

The surreptitious return of the four missing spokes

Citizen Rider — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:47:00 GMT

As I assemble bikes these days I notice that more of them are coming with 36-spoke wheels. No one has said anything. The bikes just come with more realistically beefy wheels. Shhh!...(read more)

Where's my good citizenship award?

Citizen Rider — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:37:00 GMT

I'm giving up a beautiful day of bike commuting tomorrow because I'm going to a municipal law workshop in the evening in a town 25 miles from where I work and 35 miles from home. I might make the start of the workshop by bike if I sprint out the...(read more)

Bike racing may be hard, but it's easier than growing up.

Citizen Rider — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:54:00 GMT

Why rush to a more relaxed lifestyle while you've still got the fire inside you? Apparently Lance Armstrong really is going to take a shot at Number Eight . It's a no-lose proposition. Just as no one expected him to do well in 1999 as the gaunt...(read more)

Moulton Gems

Citizen Rider — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:35:00 GMT

I came late to the party at Dave Moulton's cycling blog , but I've been digging around in it during the past few days. I love these Ten Commandments . For instance: "2. Thou shall not run red lights, except when there is no one else around;...(read more)

Historical Research Question

Citizen Rider — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:26:00 GMT

What was humans' favorite way to commit negligent homicide BEFORE the automobile was invented?...(read more)

Go Bask in the Hatred

Citizen Rider — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:10:00 GMT

One reason I took up backpacking instead of going further with bike touring in the 1980s was the constant, corrosive hostility I encountered while pedaling. I could endure it while commuting, because I could defend my actions by pointing out that I removed...(read more)

You're Welcome

Citizen Rider — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:35:00 GMT

Dry weather dominated the region today, despite the 30 percent chance of showers we'd been told to expect with the weak cold front passing through. The rain held off because I rode my heavy rain bike. Had I not done so, we would have lost the bet...(read more)