Junk Miles

Reporting on the bike things you tried and liked (and didn’t like) began as a yearly custom on the excellent iBOB (internet Bridgestone Owners Bunch) mailing list, and it’s now an annual tradition. Here’s my (slightly edited for style) list for 2008.

Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:48:00 -0500
From: Adam T <>
Subject: Re: [BOB] It’s Tried & Liked Time Again (2008 Edition)

On Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 10:13 PM, (another ibob) liked:
> 1) Cyclocross.

I’m noticing a pattern here. If fixies are the new rollerblades, I
think cyclocross is the new fixed gear. Here’s my list:

1) Surly Cross-Check. I got the frame and stole the parts from my
touring bike because I seldom tour, and it was a bit of a tank for the
mixed pavement and dirt day rides I like. I still want a nicer
lighter faster long distance all-roads sort of bike, but when I get
one the Surly will make the ideal city bike (for the whole city, not
just the flat downtown bit where all those posey dutch bikes hang
out). I’m half tempted to put an ironic argyle top tube pad on it,
but earnestness is the new irony, so I put some reflective tape on the fender.

2) Schwalbe Marathon Cross tires (700×35). They had more centre tread
than I wanted for those mixed surface rides, but they were in stock
and they felt fairly supple so I got ‘em. I think they might actually
be a little faster than the Tourguard Paselas I was using before, but
it’s hard to tell with all the fluctuations in temperature, wind and
tire pressure. They did OK in the snow, too, though with today’s
storm I think it’s time to cobble together a proper snow bike.

3) Pumpkin Ale (St-Ambroise Citrouille, Post Road, and Great Lakes
Brewery). I never would have thought of it.. but it’s really good.

4) Creative Zen mp3 player. I have no iPod to compare it to, but a
lot of the user reviews I read say they like it better than the Nano.
The earphones sound as good as my AKG monitor headphones, which
impressed me. APart from running I lost interest in portable music
after high school, but I recently realized the streetcar is a lot less
annoying when I’m listening to Miles Davis instead of other people’s
phone calls.

5) Car sharing with www.autoshare.com: besides the convenience,
you’re a better spokesperson for the bicycle lifestyle if you aren’t
cadging rides off friends.

6) Fleece lined jeans from the farm & feed store

I’m ambivalent about the paselas… they roll, they aren’t egregiously
slow, and I reckon I might even appreciate the tourguard layer in
March when the snowbanks melt.

Things I might try in 2009? Cyclocross (though the surly isn’t quite
built for racing, and neither am I, and I cringe at the thought of
removing my fenders). Grand Bois tires. That removable Wald basket
looks good for grocery getting on the non-grocery-getters.

–
Adam “now where did that ski wax go?” in whited-out toronto.on.ca

http://walkonearth.net

Filed under: Other Stuff
Posted By: Adam

The Screw Shoe: I haven’t tried them yet but it was a little slippery the last time I went running, and it’s going to get more so. I can run on ice like I was running on hard-packed dirt.   They work better than those slip-on spike things, but I can’t stop at the store if I’m wearing them. Now my only excuse for not running this winter is pure, honest laziness.

Those are 1/2″ sheet metal screws, by the way.

Filed under: Running
Posted By: Adam