Fearless Gearless

So I am out of shape right now. Too much higher education. Well I have been trying to change that and get in shape in time be able to hang with the likes of the gnome at the SSWC05.

2 Sundays ago

Last Sunday I was right in the middle of writing papers, marking the course I am TAing so it basically had no time when I decided I needed a break. With that, and on no notice, I headed to Race the Ridge, (thanks Keith White and the boys and girls at Local Ride for organizing it) on the ever good advice of long time friend and FG contributor Ian aka the Admiral.

Yes the race did involve gears but to make up for it I road my fixie to the race (legend has it from Vancouver… not entirely true but I don’t want to mess with legend). It took longer than I anticipated and I ended up getting there half an hour before start time. In that time I signed up for my cycling BC license, swapped my pedals and basically jumped onto a bike I have never ridden before in my life and raced a course I have never seen before. So how did I do? I got 3rd (Senior X).

How? I think it all lies in the handy work of Ian who lovingly prepared the bike the night before… thanks you rock dude!

Last Sunday

I promised to run the Vancouver Sun Run, so it looked like no biking for me on Sunday. But I was able to get around this by forgetting my timing chip up at SFU. So I got up at 6 am, jumped on my trusty fixie and road from Vancouver , up Burnaby Mountain to SFU, then road back to Vancouver, got changed and did the Sun Run in about 4o+ minutes. Not outstanding but decent.

Anyone who rides has at some point had a close call with a careless car driver. More than likely you have even been hit (I have). Even worse we may known someone who was killed by an automobile. This May 18, 2005 at 7pm cyclists all over North America will be riding in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on North America’s public roadways.

www.rideofsilence.org

Check the map to see if there is a ride near you.

Currently, the only places in Canada participating are out east. As well there doesn’t seem to be rides South of us here in Western Canada, as Washington and Oregon also lack chapters. Its probably too late this year but I think I am going to look into getting the ball rolling for out here or an official ride.

Until then I think I will work on an unofficial ride, give me a shout if interested. Spread the word

Start training(drink less or more) and get your bikes ready (oil your damn chain) because the Vancouver Street Race Series is starting soon!

Everyone is welcome and the more people the better so tell your ma’ tell your pa’.

Four races on four different nights. Two straight up drag races, a Criterium and a Poker race. Two categories and two classes in both women’s and men’s (depending on how many people come). Fixed gear category open to any bike that has a fixed wheel, they can be run with or without brakes. Second category will be Open and anyone on any bike (as long as it isn’t fixed) can race. Black Belt and White Belt classes to suit all levels of ability. Costume contests every race! Prizes will be awarded to winners of races as well as winners of costume and other contests, for example, The Crappiest Bike to Finish a Race Prize!

First race April 30th, 5:30pm at Central Station.

It’s coming April 29 - May 7, 2005.

The weeklong celebration for what will be their 10th year. It should be a blast I have heard stories of Marla Streb riding naked in the town as part of previous year’s debauchery… on the whole it sounds like good old unwholesome fun!

Now I have had the pleasure of visiting and riding before. All I can say is Fruita, CO is the shitz. I even wrote a blurb or two about the good times, which you can now peruse via the wonders of science (read 1, read 2, and last but not least read 3)

» Read it all, dude!

So I’m sittin here with the weas as he tries to eliminate as many syllables as possible to explain how to post this. I’m not a fast moving stream about this crap, more of a babbling brook. More later; thanks Weas.

This my bio photo for the Histofix webpage. I’ve been riding as much as I possibly can . I’m still trying to fathom a 3500 mile ride-on a fixie,no less. The projected date is mid june to about mid july2006-right about the time I turn 45! Hey Wendell (aka Weez) I’ll take those drugs and alcohol now!

» Read it all, dude!

Apparently, SS championships are becoming all the rage these days. Not only do we have the official, nonofficial SS World Championships But local areas are throwing their own bashes.

Coming up on July 16th, in Binder Lake, Jefferson City, MO there will be the Midwest single speed championships. The entry fee is a measly $15, and there is a class for everyone. If you are in the area and want in you should contact Nick for more info.

» Read it all, dude!

Finally it’s time for the .83 Sea-Town Slam Sprint Series - Round 3! It’s the final round and it’s Friday, April 8th, 2005 at 9:00 PM (meet in the Uwajimaya parking lot, 519 6th Ave S, Seattle, WA). Get ready for a bigger and badder Seattle race location, fast and crazy riding, and one hellova good time! The women’s racing was off the hook last time, and who knows what’ll happen in Round 3! If you’re a newcomer it’ll be a bit tough to land enough points for the grand prizes, but there are still nightly prizes, and there’s even a special prize for the racer with the most style!

» Read it all, dude!

FG has changed once more, I switched from generating the site with blogger to Wordpress. It was an easy move (import feature) and WP is capable and easy app. One good thing is registration is automated. So if you wanted to contribute, sign up for an account and post away. For example, I would love to get listings of Single Speed event in your area, or stories of insane rides, beer runs, basically what every turns your crank. HA get it crank… yeah I know I suck screw you too!

And over the next month or so I will work on giving FG a better looking face.

peace

weasel

Part of single speeding is taking the road less traveled. Why buy a sissy pre-built bike when you can buy a frame set and build one from the ground up. Sure it may cost more, but its the only one in the world and its all yours. Well the PBR single speed, recently featured in Dirt Rag, takes this concept to a whole new level, the frame is made from beer cans (used beer cans of course).

» Read it all, dude!

This bike is going to se ALOT of miles- As am I. I wonder which one will fall apart first? We shall see!

It’s almost time for Round 2 of the STS Sprint Series. If you missed Round 1, or just have no idea what I’m talking about, don’t worry! What we’ve got here is a damn fun three night sprint series located in beautiful Seattle, WA. Each of the three rounds (a night of racing) features a meeting location, and undisclosed race site, and head-to-head drag race style sprinting. Points are earned for participating, placing, and style. There are nightly prizes, and well as grand prizes for the man and woman with the highest cumulative points at the end of all three Rounds. If you missed Round 1 you can still come out and compete for the nightly prizes, and if you do partake in Rounds 2 & 3 you still stand a chance of winning the Grand Prize!

» Read it all, dude!

Oh yeah baby! I can’t get enough of long rides with hurting.

So I headed back out to the big MR (Maple Ridge) to go out for the Sunday road ride. This time I took my geared road bike - GASP- I know I am a polygamous fucker. Anyways riding with gears made it much much easier to go faster! Not that I ever want to give up riding fixed gear.

So the best moment came on the big climb by Stave Lake. Now I am not always the most attentive rider so I was getting my ass kicked by Ian on the fish sign sprints (13 to 2), so I had to redeem myself. Climbing is where I shine and this is where I decided to attacked. I made no hesitation, as soon the first switch back was upon us after the Stave lake damn I was off. Click, CLUNK. Click CLUNK. Click, CLUNK… as I grabbed a hand full of gears. Ian was still on my wheel and I felt great so I though I would up the pain threshold. Got out of the saddle and grabbed a bunch more then held them as I hammered away. I couldn’t believe I was holding the pace! I was spinning away and motoring up the climb at a sick pace. I was even still a bit off redlining. - I figure it has to be all the times I climb Burnaby Mountain on the fixie -

» Read it all, dude!

I noticed this today. This sign is one of many that line a brick path along the waterfront at Norfolk’s aptly named “Waterside Park” (such imagination). These signs have been up for years. Alot of us Norfolk(ians) have been riding there for along time and have many times been hastled by cops on Segways for doing so-threatened with tickets,no less. Because up untill about a week or so ago that sign along with all the others said NO BICYCLES. You can see it’s been painted over-by the city!
I don’t know exactly when they decided that cyling throught the park and along the waterfront was no longer a CRIME-but it’s about time! Thankfully they stll hold those damn rollerbladers and skateboarders at bay!

Wow Norfolk! Is it my imagination or does this suggest that we ride our bikes on mushrooms? Lets hear it for our local elected officials! They really do have our best interest in mind.